How much freedom in the park for teenagers?

[DisneyOma]

We let the 13 year old twins with us explore the resort together, but neither wanted to do the parks without us as it was their first trip. They are awesome kids, and I'd love to take them again - and I would trust them in the parks as long as they stayed together. They both tend to misplace things (one more than the other) so it would be good for them to stay together in case one lost a phone.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I say if I was in the park.. give them a few hours to wander n be kids. I’d stress stating together. As far as leaving them for a few hours and busing back to a resort? It’s def doable n easy enough once again the Stay Together. Keep the cells charged and Answering text within 15 minutes … they could be On a ride after all. Wishing u a safe trip. They re growing up.. good for them and good for u guys too. Have fun!!

 

[GoingSince1990]

I would say send them on their way, maybe arranging to meet them for lunch or dinner.

 

[scrapquitler]

We are travelling to Disney in October and staying at Bay Lake. It'll be our 6th visit, but first since pre-COVID (2019).

We have 2 boys who will be 14 & 15 when we are there and they are looking forward to have a bit of freedom in the parks.

The 14 year old isn't overly mature, but 15 yo is - has a part time job and makes his way around town with his friends.

How much freedom do you think would be appropriate in the parks? Giving them a few hours alone to wander and then meet up? Would you allow them to stay at a park later than you or go earlier - to MK for example which is within walking distance?

They are pretty adapt at getting around Disney and familiar with the buses, etc. I'm just not sure with how much freedom I'm comfortable with at their ages, but I know some independence would be good for them (and us).

When my son was that age, we allowed him to go off on his own in the park for a couple hours. We also allowed him to take the bus from the park back to the resort a few times (from Epcot to All Stars via Bus, and from HS to Pop via Skyliner).

 

[disney-inspired]

As long as they have a cell phone to keep in touch, I would think they would be fine getting to the parks and touring on their own.
I would set some ground rules/expectations - firstly that the 15yo doesn't split up from his brother and that they check in, whether through a call or text.

 

[tinkerjo]

We let our kids at that age. We have them a gift card for food( pre magic band) and if they wanted to sleep in, come to the park later. They took advantage of the extra magic hours at night and I even let them stay at the MK till 1 AM. To be fair, they each had a friend so there were 2 -16yo, a 15yo and a 13 yo. But they had a total blast!!! They would meet up with us in the parks and we would do some things together and we ate meals together but they probably rode space mountain 15x that night. We were staying at the Ft Wilderness cabins and my kids have been every couple of years since they were little so they knew how transportation works. As long as you can trust them to stay together and have charged phones( maybe even a back up charger) I say let them have some freedom. If they screw up 1x, they lose the privilege. Note: every kid is different and while we had 2 that enjoyed the freedom, we have 2 that preferred to stick with mom and dad even as older teens/young adults.

 

[Lilsia]

At that age and at WDW, I had no problem letting my kids go on their own. They had been going to WDW since they were very young and are very familiar with it, including the transportation. But I also knew that they would not do anything stupid and trusted them completely. You know your kids best but that is definitely old enough for most kids to be on their own.

 

[tguz]

On our next trip, we are taking our boys, son and stepson aged 16 and 17. We plan on letting them roam freely as long as they stay together. They get along great and have similar ride interests. We plan to meet back up for an evening meal or if they want to during the day. Probably won't have park hoppers so we will all be in the same park but we will probably let them use Disney transportation to and from the resort when they want as long as they communicate their plan.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

I think most 15 year olds should be responsible enough to be allowed some freedom in the parks. You know your kids best, and if you think they'd be the type to take advantage then obviously no.... but I don't think you'd be asking this question if you flat out thought your kiddos couldn't handle it. I would make the rule be that iPhone tracking has to be on, that they stay in the same park you are in, and that you meet up at specified times/locations. Like, okay it's 10am, you guys go do your thing and we will meet you for lunch at noon. If they show they can be reliable and trusted to have that freedom, then maybe you extend the period of time they're allowed to be on their own. At 15 your son is only a year away from a driver's license in most states - he's going to have a lot more freedom than this very soon, and you have to start giving him that leeway at some point.

 

[WantToGoToWDW]

At that age my daughter and her friend left me and my dh at MK and went and spent a few hours at TL. My son would sleep in and take the bus to the parks alone and meet up with us. Teens 14 and older can even enter the parks alone.

 

[AmyMac1109]

We let our 17 year old son go to/from and hop between parks on his own. We let our 15 year old daughter go to/from and hop between parks as long as she was with her 17 year old brother. We let her wander on her own in the same park as we were, and we probably would have let her stay later than us if we left, but she always wanted to leave with us. We also let the teenagers go to Disney Springs together. Only rules for any of their tandem or solo wandering was that they had to have their cellphones and a charger with them and respond to calls/texts within a reasonable amount of time, which they did. We're going back soon without the 17 year old, not sure what we'll do with our 15 year old yet. She's been enough times that she'll probably be fine to wander on her own, but she likes to hang out with us because her little brother has a DAS pass.

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

So when I was about 12-13 (about 25 years ago) my parents started letting me bring a friend along and we could go out an about by ourselves. We could use the busses and pretty much go wherever we wanted. Now you have boys so this may not apply to you but... I was pretty boy crazy in my teens and would often meet boys in the parks and once even left the park to go to All star to hang out by their pool(16 years old). My parents had no idea where I was but this was the late 90's and no cell phones.

Knowing how I was in my teens I would be worried having my kids (when they turn teens in 5 years) not at least be in the same location where I am be it a park or the hotel.

Now also with all the find my phone apps and family sharing it will be easier to find out where these kids are.

But like other said you know your kids best.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We've let DD19

 

[mjkacmom]

So when I was about 12-13 (about 25 years ago) my parents started letting me bring a friend along and we could go out an about by ourselves. We could use the busses and pretty much go wherever we wanted. Now you have boys so this may not apply to you but... I was pretty boy crazy in my teens and would often meet boys in the parks and once even left the park to go to All star to hang out by their pool(16 years old). My parents had no idea where I was but this was the late 90's and no cell phones.

Knowing how I was in my teens I would be worried having my kids (when they turn teens in 5 years) not at least be in the same location where I am be it a park or the hotel.

Now also with all the find my phone apps and family sharing it will be easier to find out where these kids are.

But like other said you know your kids best.

I made this mistake with my oldest, both my husband and I did some crazy stuff as teens, and I guess I assumed all teens were the same. She’s 26 and still resents some of my limits (like hard punishments fof getting home late, no boyfriends in the bedroom), turns out she was squeaky clean. Plus she had 4 younger siblings who had it much easier (by 4 and 5 we pretty much gave up).

My parents let me take the monorail to MK when I was 10, while they napped (in the 70’s).

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Mine started when my 2 older kids were 14 and they managed just fine. We did cellphones and 2Way Radios in case they had issues with the phones (I wanted no excuses) and they had a backpack with chargers and bottled water.
They all had lanyards and each had a giftcard for spending money and room charge for food. They have created some of their favorite memories this way and my only other requirement is they must take a lot of photos!
Now that they are 17, 17 and 15 they still love taking time to themselves and even bring friends along to join in!

 

[tguz]

Mine started when my 2 older kids were 14 and they managed just fine. We did cellphones and 2Way Radios in case they had issues with the phones (I wanted no excuses) and they had a backpack with chargers and bottled water.
They all had lanyards and each had a giftcard for spending money and room charge for food. They have created some of their favorite memories this way and my only other requirement is they must take a lot of photos!
Now that they are 17, 17 and 15 they still love taking time to themselves and even bring friends along to join in!

We are going to do the same with our 17 and 16 year olds.......I am going to insist they use the photo pass a lot so we can have lots of pictures of them running around on their own.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

My husband and I love our own time in WDW, so it's a win-win! We usually will stroll with drinks or take in a nice dinner if the kids want to eat on their own and then we buy souvenirs for people that the kids don't know etc..
It's also awesome to see the photos they take, the ones they get and even better the ones that they sneaky take of each other! LOL!!! It all makes for an awesome late night dessert conversation! I try to plan ahead for days they can go off alone and I book Beaches for a super late seating (usually the last one) or we will take some cards to the food court/quick service dining area of our resort and play while snacking and laughing. It's a great way for the kids to escape and have fun and for us all to come together later

We are going to do the same with our 17 and 16 year olds.......I am going to insist they use the photo pass a lot so we can have lots of pictures of them running around on their own.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

We use Life360, it's free and it just gives you additional piece of mind.

 

[David G Farr]

I’d trust my 10 & 11 year old boys more than my 16 year old girl. She has zero sense of direction and very little self confidence, so she wouldnt be sure that she was doing things right. It’s something we are working on.

My boys on the other hand can navigate and figure things out without issue. They don’t second guess. They’re very left brained.

 

[Bjkandma]

Disney policy states that any one age 14 and older can enter the parks alone. We allowed a 14 year old to head o the resort food court on her own. Would never consider her entering a park on her own. In the parks we have allowed her to wait in line at the popcorn stand, where we could still see her. I'm always worried - we certainly are living in a crazy world!!