Disney should lighten up with their age requirements

[minijeanie]

Our next trip is end of March....DD is marching in parade with band. DS just found out his coach will let him go on the trip...


I tried to get our DS on our flight to no avail. He has to take a later flight.

Disney will not allow him to go on DME bus because he is not 18. He is 16 and will be taking a friend with him.

I now have to rent a car for the day to pick him up


How ridiculous is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The airline had absolutely no problem with putting him on a plane by himself. In fact he could of been as young as 13 to travel alone.

So.....

Let's put this in perspective. my 16 yr old son can travel around the world on a plane but can not go on a bus to entertain a 30 minute ride to his resort..


LIGHTEN UP DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get With the Times

I have no explanations or excuses for you

this is Just DEAD WRONG

 

[deedeetoo]

Can he take a cab? I would think that the cost of a cab for him and his friend to get to WDW would be cheaper than the cost of renting a car. Plus you don't have to go through the hassle of getting and returning the car and driving to the airport.

 

[minijeanie]

Yes he could take a cab!!!

but I am a little uneasy about that.


not sure what or who will be the driver

and a cab is not cheap either

No!!!

I will rent the car, but trust me, I am sending a nasty letter to WDW about this...

because it is just wrong

w

 

[DebbieB]

It's Disney's bus, they can make the rules. They don't want to be responsible for someone underage.

 

[BCV23]

It's Disney's bus, they can make the rules. They don't want to be responsible for someone underage.

And there is no charge for ME.

Do any airlines let him fly free?

 

[minijeanie]

It's Disney's bus, they can make the rules. They don't want to be responsible for someone underage.

what could possibly happen to a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old in 30 minutes driving to their hotel.

please bear in mind that both these individuals have gone to school all day and then played a sport for 2 and 1/2 hrs........

now it is time for them to go to the airport..they check in by themselves., check their luggage, find the right terminal, right departing arear, plus their own seats on the plane....wow!!!!

yet when they get off the plane,......

they are too young to board another bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[calgarygary]

I'm not going to get into the whole age debate but have you considered phoning DME to see if they aren't going to change/bend the rules, could they provide you a trip to the airport to pick him up. Could save you the cost of the car rental.

 

[jctwizzer]

Maybe they've had trouble with unaccompanied 16 year old jerks. It happens

 

[minijeanie]

I'm not going to get into the whole age debate but have you considered phoning DME to see if they aren't going to change/bend the rules, could they provide you a trip to the airport to pick him up. Could save you the cost of the car rental.

Yes!!

Spoke with them this evening...their recommendation was to get the car.
said that bottom line would be a hassle trying to get one of us to come backto airport via DME to pick up son and back to resort via DME>

their words!!!!!

 

[minijeanie]

Maybe they've had trouble with unaccompanied 16 year old jerks. It happens

Rather that than 3 or 4 babies screaming their heads off!!!

 

[DebbieB]

what could possibly happen to a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old in 30 minutes driving to their hotel.

please bear in mind that both these individuals have gone to school all day and then played a sport for 2 and 1/2 hrs........

now it is time for them to go to the airport..they check in by themselves., check their luggage, find the right terminal, right departing arear, plus their own seats on the plane....wow!!!!

yet when they get off the plane,......

they are too young to board another bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a general rule, not specifically aimed at your children. There are probably kids that age who are not capable of taking care of themselves as well as yours. They could end up with a bunch of 16 year olds fooling around on the bus with no adults there to take responsibility for them. What are they going to do if that happens, just throw them off on the side of the road? I've worked as an insurance underwriter and having unsupervised children (yes, they are considered children until 18) presents a huge liability exposure. I wouldn't just laugh it off, "what could possibly happen". It's a liability risk they just don't want to take, especially considering it is a free service. Again, it's their bus, they can make whatever rules they want. They also don't allow underage kids to check into a hotel without an adult.

 

[seashoreCM]

How much later is his flight? You could wait at the airport for him and take him and his friend on ME.

There are lots of people of all ages who feel intimidated near a group of teens not supervised by an adult.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CPer'sMom]

Rules are rules for a reason, same with policies ~~ whether we happen to agree or not. Happens everywhere, every day. At least you know what Disney policy is ahead of time and can make other arrangements. Don't let it ruin your trip!!

 

[NotUrsula]

You could buy them two Mears shuttle tickets to the Swan; it would be around $40 for 2 one-way tickets. Buy them adult fares and they will be able to walk right on with the tickets in hand. Mears accepts cash just fine, too.

From the Swan they can boat over to MGM and take Disney transport directly to your resort, or meet you wherever you might be. You could go ahead and take their luggage for them so that they won't have any coming off the plane.

 

[manning]

I will rent the car, but trust me, I am sending a nasty letter to WDW about this...

because it is just wrong

w

Try a polite letter. Remember the vinegar vs sugar rule.

 

[crashbb]

what could possibly happen to a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old in 30 minutes driving to their hotel.

please bear in mind that both these individuals have gone to school all day and then played a sport for 2 and 1/2 hrs........

now it is time for them to go to the airport..they check in by themselves., check their luggage, find the right terminal, right departing arear, plus their own seats on the plane....wow!!!!

yet when they get off the plane,......

they are too young to board another bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they are mature enough to do all that, why aren't they mature enough to take a cab?

 

[Tink415]

hmm, my daughters boyfriend has joined us on 2 trips where he had a later flight, once by several days and the 2nd time by about 8 hours. No problem with ME either time. I said that not everyone in our party would be arriving at the same day or time (obvious with our flight info) and I was told it wouldn't be a problem. He was 16 and then 17 for our last trip 4 months ago. Either the rules have changed or because I didn't ask for special instructions for teens it didn't come up. If the teen is mature enough to follow the same instructions given to adults it shouldn't be an issue..but I can certainly understand why Disney would have such a rule and not want to be responsible for teens. I think a Mears ticket would be a good alternative, or a towncar service. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[DawnCt1]

Do they have to show proof of age? If they have vouchers for DME, why not just have them get on?

 

[missmun52]

If they are mature enough to do all that, why aren't they mature enough to take a cab?

thats my question.

you have many options. You can put them in a town car, or do mears. You dont have to rent a car if you dont want to.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> two Mears shuttle tickets
Does Mears accept unaccompanied minors? The teens might be commingled with Disney Cruise and (non-Swan) ME guests on the bus that goes to the Swan.

It would be interesting to find out what Disney officially says regarding this subject. For all I know it might be a fall-between-the-cracks oversight.