Enforcement of 14 yr old restriction

[wilkeliza]

Oh please. CPS is not going to investigate kids alone in a theme park. Do you also think babysitting is illegal in the state of Florida? Good lord.

I said research it as I didn't know what the local laws were. It is possible in states with laws about children being alone that CPS can be called when children are found out by themselves. Do you not remember the story of the parents in the North East who have been called on twice for letting their kids walk to their neighborhood park? Another poster pointed out that in Florida there is no hard and fast rule but it is always best to check with the local laws so you have all information before making a decision.

 

[GeraldineW]

On our last trip my DD11 wanted to stay in the room and relax while we went to DHS. About two hours later she changed her mind and wanted to meet us. She traveled by bus from GF to DHS with no problem but the driver had told her (and we had already known) that she would not be let into the park. We met her at the gates to get her into the park, she was not going to be allowed to enter DHS by herself being under age 14.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I look fairly young for my age. One a trip to Disney my freshman year of High School (when I was fourteen) I had a CM come up and ask me how old I was an where the rest of the party was. They were all riding Splash Mountain, and I was waiting for them, as I hadn't felt like getting wet.

It took maybe ten seconds of explaining and I happened to have my school ID on me, so that became a non-issue. I'm not sure that's common though, but I was asked. Granted, people say I look like I'm twelve even though I'm almost eighteen now, so who knows what age I appeared to be as a fourteen year old.

 

[Nancyg56]

My question is if you know that Disney rules state that children must be 14 to enter the park unaccompanied, why are you trying to break the rule? I know you want to let them go alone, but you are knowing trying to circumvent the park rules, and IMO, that is just wrong. Are you planning to tell the kids to lie about their ages if asked?

I don't know, this just screams "The rules do not apply to me" and I must be testy today, because it rubs me wrong.

 

[buzzrelly]

Last April we left EPCOT and my kids 13 and 11 wanted to go to the MK to play SOTMK, but I wanted to go lay by the pool. We took the resort monorail and they got off at the MK and my DM and I went back to BLT. When DD was tired of playing SOTMK, she called me and took the monorail back to the CR and met us by the pool. We all relaxed for a bit and then later on went to the MK to meet DS13 who was still there. No issues at all.

And honestly, at the time I didn't even realize there was an age rule. We also let them walk to Disney Quest while we stayed at the marketplace and shopped and ate.

 

[Gracie09]

I said research it as I didn't know what the local laws were. It is possible in states with laws about children being alone that CPS can be called when children are found out by themselves. Do you not remember the story of the parents in the North East who have been called on twice for letting their kids walk to their neighborhood park? Another poster pointed out that in Florida there is no hard and fast rule but it is always best to check with the local laws so you have all information before making a decision.

There are no regulations in Florida. And the kids in the other example were much younger (and I personally think cps completely overstepped there but that's not the discussion here).
Op my niece and nephew were just 14 last year when we visited. They went to the parks every night by themselves. No one blinked an eye.

 

[DisneyOma]

I wanted to go lay by the pool.

OMG, that's just so wrong, LOL! The images in my head - did you get arrested for public indecency?

 

[buzzrelly]

OMG, that's just so wrong, LOL! The images in my head - did you get arrested for public indecency?

?

 

[rastahomie]

That must be an awkward training session for CMs tasked with enforcing age requirements.

"If a girl looks like she has boobs, she's probably 14. If a boy looks like he has peach fuzz on his face, he's probably 14."

 

[BlueFairy]

They are old enough to ride alone (older than 7) or together. They will probably be asked their ages at rides, but they do meet the requirements. The CMs even do this with a parent standing there before they let a young child ride Dumbo alone or occupy a row alone on something like Barnstormer.

They are not old enough to enter the park alone or accompany a child younger than 7 on a ride without someone older than 14 present.

Just presenting as clarification for some posters. It sounds like OP is familiar with the letter of the rules.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

My question is if you know that Disney rules state that children must be 14 to enter the park unaccompanied, why are you trying to break the rule? I know you want to let them go alone, but you are knowing trying to circumvent the park rules, and IMO, that is just wrong. Are you planning to tell the kids to lie about their ages if asked?

I don't know, this just screams "The rules do not apply to me" and I must be testy today, because it rubs me wrong.

This was my thought.

It is one thing to not know the rules. It is another to know them, but to decide that they don't apply to you.

 

[Nancyg56]

This was my thought.

It is one thing to not know the rules. It is another to know them, but to decide that they don't apply to you.

Exactly. I cannot understand this mentality, and then to ask folks here to validate the practice by reporting how strict a CM is. I have no idea how Disney is in regards to holding people accountable, but I have to wonder if the childe got hurt, who would be spoken to and reprimanded....the CM's who let the kid through, or the parent. I would imagine the CM at the gate.

 

[Nancyg56]

They are old enough to ride alone (older than 7) or together. They will probably be asked their ages at rides, but they do meet the requirements. The CMs even do this with a parent standing there before they let a young child ride Dumbo alone or occupy a row alone on something like Barnstormer.

They are not old enough to enter the park alone or accompany a child younger than 7 on a ride without someone older than 14 present.

Just presenting as clarification for some posters. It sounds like OP is familiar with the letter of the rules.

OP understands the rules but chooses to disregard them.

 

[hsmamato2]

OMG, that's just so wrong, LOL! The images in my head - did you get arrested for public indecency?

It's a (bad) grammar joke folks!!! I think the pp meant 'lie' by the pool lol

 

[MakiraMarlena]

7 is old enough to ride alone. 14 is the required age to enter the park alone.

I don't think you will have an issue with CPS (unless something really bad happens) but the DIS really isn't into advising anybody to go ahead and break Disney's rules because they know what the rule is, but they disagree with it for whatever reason.

 

[bumbershoot]

On our last trip in 2014 my DD were 12 & 5. Our girls wanted to ride the Little Mermaid ride together but the CM asked my DD how old she was and then wouldn't let them ride together because she wasn't 14.

Different rule than what the op is asking about.

 

[Nancyg56]

7 is old enough to ride alone. 14 is the required age to enter the park alone.

I don't think you will have an issue with CPS (unless something really bad happens) but the DIS really isn't into advising anybody to go ahead and break Disney's rules because they know what the rule is, but they disagree with it for whatever reason.

This is true. I can only speak for myself, but if I know that there is an age requirement I follow it. I also don't tell anyone how to circumvent the rules. I always say just because you can, does not mean you should

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

OP seems to know what the rules are & was not asking for tips on breaking them. Honestly, there are no "tips" in this case. The kids go alone or they don't.

I don't think factual discussion of potential consequences (or lack thereof) constitutes a discussion on how to circumvent the rules. Nobody is saying, "The third CM from the left always eats a Mickey bar at 8:02 AM, so make sure they go through that way."

Personally, I don't care whether OP sends the kids by themselves or not. That's between OP & Disney. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

 

[UConnJack]

Yes, I know what the rule is, and yes, we are thinking about breaking it. I am not asking for advice how to circumvent the rules, as the above poster indicated, we either let them go in alone or we don't. I was just wondering what people's experience has been with the rule's enforcement since they increased the age a couple years ago. I appreciate everyone's input, even those who say we shouldn't for whatever reason.

That said, criticizing someone for "breaking a rule" is a pretty unstable high horse to sit on. Everyone breaks rules. Everyone assess rules and laws, weighs the consequences of breaking them both to themselves and other people it may affect, against the potential benefit to them, and then decides whether they should follow it. Everyone. Unless you have never driven over the speed limit, always make a full stop at every stop sign, etc., you aren't coming from a position of moral authority.

This is a rule almost everyone believes came out of crowd control efforts at DL, trying to reign in the practice of locals using DL as an all day or after school "day-care". Even Disney has all but admitted that. From what I have gathered, they don't even try to enforce it, particularly at WDW. Possibly breaking this rule on our 7-day vacation to WDW does not affect anyone else, I am not harming Disney or inconveniencing other guests. If my children were untrustworthy, unruly (yes, I see the irony of using this word), and inconsiderate, I wouldn't even be considering it. Honestly, my children are more considerate, mature, and capable than many of the adults I encounter in the park. They have been going for years and certainly know the parks and overall WDW resort better that most. And in this day of cell phone, wifi, and GPS, kids are never "alone" anymore anyway. So, in my evaluation of whether we should follow this rule, I have decided its not important to follow it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The thing to take away is that IF your children are asked their ages, and they give their true ages, they won't be allowed to enter the park. and ages are asked sometimes. Not never, and not all the time.