Do you let your teens roam?

[carcam51]

I realize this will be very specific to parent/child trust leves, but I'm curious more than anything. The last time I was at Disney my boys were 4 and 6 so traveling with teens is new to me! Anyway, my DH and I are planning a trip next June with my two boys (16 and 14 at time of travel) - how much freedom do you give your teens? I'd love for them to ride with us, but I'd also like to be prepared for them to be on their own!!

 

[2forMe]

I would let them roam a lot. Set up specific times for family time I. E. Meal times, rides etc. Maybe teens want to sleep in...so they just meet you later at the parks etc.

 

[Govols1997]

Mine are only 10 and 13, but if they continue on this track of dependability and honesty, I would totally let them roam at that age. Have fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

At those ages, I'd let them roam as much as they wanted, including transportation. Dd15 and ds18 had a school tri to WDW last year, they just checked in with chaperones every now and then (they weren't together(.

 

[J'aime Paris]

For my DD's Sweet 16 trip, we let her and her BFF roam as they pleased.
They stuck with us about 60/40 of the time. When you give teens
independence and choices, it's often surprising how much they will want to be with you, especially if not forced to do so.

 

[crazedprincess]

My girls are 16 and 12 and we are planning on letting them roam a little on their own during our trip this Nov/Dec.

 

[Hikergirl]

At those ages I think I'd let them roam alot and then meet up for certain rides and meals.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

It was hard for me but on this last trip my 14 year old DS wanted to finish the Sorcerers of MK and my DH had to go back to the hotel to do some work. Our girls wanted to do some rides. I told my son to call me at a certain time if we didn't hear from each other and then gave him a time to meet. It was all within 2 hours. He set alarms in his phone. He is very responsible and it made him feel good that we let him go alone. We ended up doing it another time on the trip at the Halloween party - he was so good and we were proud that he always came at the time we said. I am sure they will be fine.

 

[HopperFan]

At 14 they are now of age to be on their own per Disney guidelines so there would be no issue there. I might be more lenient even if my kids were 12 or 13 for short periods of time (they've been going to parks since born). My kids started going to WDW with school at age 14 and were roaming the parks all day with their friends, I didn't think twice. I think your boys will be fine.

The bigger question is how much time do YOU want to spend as a family? I would probably go in with a general plan, like maybe spend the morning together, booking all your FP+ in the morning, having lunch together and then let them go. They can book more FP+ as can you all. Then I would meet back together for dinner and play rest of evening based on where you are.

 

[carcam51]

All great feedback...thank you all for your input and thoughts. I'd love to spend the entire trip together, but I know that just won't happen!! I have to wrap my mind around the fact that they are old!! LOL

 

[iheartdisney44]

I have a 17y/o and 14y/o and let them roam about the parks together. We generally travel together to the parks but I am happy to let them do as they please once we are there. If we have reservations of course I expect them to meet up for those. I just ask that they communicate with me via text every so often so I know they are ok and having fun.

 

[liquid17]

I let my children go off in pairs at around 10/12 and then independently by 13 or so. On our last family trip my younger 2 were 16 and 14 and we split up a few times a day. We all have cell phones and they have been to WDW several times so they know where they are going. And we do eat together twice a day - usually breakfast and then lunch or dinner - and there are certain rides we like to do together, so we get a good amount of family time.

But. We live in Brooklyn NY and they start taking the bus/subway on their own by 13/14 so they are all accustomed to getting around independently.

 

[roseaster]

Yes. With cell phones it is so easy. We tell them what time and where to meet us for dinner, and off they go. If we need them or they need us we are a phone call away, and they have been so many times they know the parks well.

 

[xlxo]

Perhaps try taking them on a Disney Cruise.... with water surrounding the ship.... it will feel like Alcatraz if they try to get away. Pixie Dust should make it more pleasant.

 

[Iowamomof4]

By the time we had been there a few days, I felt comfortable enough to let my 14yo son go over to AK by himself to ride Expedition Everest after we had all spent the day at MK together. We met up back at the hotel later that day and he had a blast on his own. He's looking forward to more opportunities like that on our next trip. He did have a cell phone with him which helped me feel better about the situation.

 

[jevs]

When we go back this year my eldest will be almost 14, so yes I would allow him to go off and do his own thing in the parks. I suspect he won't want to though but time will tell

 

[AuroraRose22]

One thing my mom and I did our last trip was download one of those GPS locator apps on our phones. It worked out really well, so you could tell within a few feet where someone was. That way she could tell if I was still on a ride, or I could tell if she had gone into a store, without having to talk or text all the time. Might be helpful for a parent whose kids have a cellphone and who wants to let their children roam but still have some idea what they're doing.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We're planning to let our 15 yr old and 12 yr old roam on our next trip. First few days we will navigate the parks together mostly, but once they've got that down I don't think I will have a problem letting them do their own thing if they want, whether it be staying later in a park, or hopping a bus to a different one. They are both responsible and will have phones. But I would asses once we are down there depending on crowds, etc. and only if they are together. I do plan on dh and I having a couple of meals together without them, while they do their own thing as well.

I'm actually really looking forward to the kids being more independent this trip. I think time away from everyone at some point is a good thing. Especially since we will be back to sharing a hotel room, and not a condo. We will all need it for our sanity!

 

[carcam51]

All great info...it's been a long time since all of us were in the parks - for me it's been about 8 years, my boys haven't been in about 10 years and my DH, well, this is pretty much his first time all over again since it's been 38 years!!! As I began talking with my kids, they don't even recall a lot of the areas/rides etc - so I may have them stick with me the first few days - at least until we get to the park and they are comfortable. I don't have any problem with letting them go off on their own - we have done two Disney Cruises and they were fine checking in with us then. We all have phones so we won't have a problem keeping in touch. Do you find that the amount of planning you do changes as your kids get older? I am just envisioning my last trip with them when they were little - everything was planned out - what way to walk, what ride to ride, what meal to eat, etc. Of course, I will plan meals and fast passes, but I'm hoping the days will be a bit more flexible with them being on their own a bit.

 

[serenitynow]

We tend to do extended family trips and we have found splitting up once in awhile makes it much easier to have all that family time. I love them all, but sometimes you need your own space. We usually split up for a couple of hours in each park having an outdoor restaurant or seating site as "home base" and set times to return to home base. 2 rules, don't leave the park and be on time for home base or no more free time for you.

It is important to note that everyone has a cell phone in case of a real emergency. You know a Disney emergency, like "Splash Mountain has broken down and we are stuck on the ride" not "we want to stand in the long line for 7dmt so we will be late to home base" No way, Jose. I have noticed that the tweens travel together as a little pack but the teenagers split up.

It's kinda funny to see the kids waiting outside at Pecos Bills waiting for the grown ups to arrive on time. They are busy checking the time on their cell phones just waiting for the chance to say "you are late" to the adults. Now as an adult that is a lot of pressure to make sure to be on time!