How old for kids to be alone in the MK?

[tigereye]

Not trying to start a full blown debate. Just wondering how old you'd think kids need to be before you'd let them alone in the MK for an hour? My daughter has a BBB appointment, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the boys for the hour she's in there. They're not interested in sitting and waiting, and, frankly, the lobby is so small that they don't need to be cluttering up the place.

They'll be 12 1/2 and almost 11 at the time of the trip. The oldest stays home frequently by himself, but I know this is a whole different situation.

Any thoughts or advice on what I can have them do during that time? It's just the 4 of us and I'm trying to be sensitive to each of their needs.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd let them go off, staying in a particular area. I've let my older 2 go off at amusement parks and water parks (relatively small ones, like Great Wolf Lodge and Land of Make Believe). However, I have also let them walk across town, many times, as long as they're not alone.

 

[la79al]

If they get along with each other and will agree on what to do with the time, I say let them go pick a few rides to ride. Give them a few dollars and have them get a snack. Obviously lay down the ground rules and let them know where you will be.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I would probably let them walk to nearby attractions but check in with me after each one so I would always know where they are. When they finish one, they would need to come and tell you where they're going next. Also, it might be helpful if the older one has a cell phone or walkie-talkie so you can keep in touch.

 

[ajk912]

When I saw the title of the thread, I was all, omg, this is going to be a fun thread.

But when I opened the thread, I was thinking, Oh, that's no big deal. I would tell them to go off but they need to stay in X land. And you are going to meet them at X place, no matter what, at X time. And a cell phone is really imporant, too.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd let them go without a second thought. A cell phone would be nice if possible, more in case YOU are running late or something but if not possible I'd still let them go.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I would definitely let them go. My kids are 13 & 11 and I would have no problems with them being on their own. I would make sure we could communicate by cell phones though.

 

[SnowandMittens]

You can restrict them to Fantasy Land. There is plenty of stuff for them to do for an hour or so...

Maybe have them ride 2 rides and check back with you, 2 more, check back, etc... I know BBB is in close proximity to Fantasy Land. Make a rule no further than the Tea Cups or IASW.

Cell phones are also a good idea!

 

[aeip1980]

I think it would be okay to let kids this age go off for a bit in MK by themselves. I teach 5th & 6th graders. We let groups of kids this age walk around on field trips at the Zoo with the adults trailing behind. I would make sure they have a phone or know exact where you are and when to meet you. Also, make sure they know what to do in an emergency.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree w/ pp's especially on the ability to reach them part, and with the caveat they stay together no matter what. I agree, the lobby at BBB is tiny considering how many girls and families are in there, and they'd be bored out of their skulls.

 

[tigereye]

Thanks for all the replies. Seems like my initial thought that they'd be ok to hit Fantasyland by themselves isn't out of line. Of course, they're "too cool" to be seen on Dumbo or Pooh by themselves . But given the alternative, I'm sure they'll figure something out.

Thanks again,

Mike

 

[DVCLiz]

Why not extend their boundary by a little and let them go into Frontierland as well? They'd have the shooting gallery to occupy themselves with, and it's really not that much further. LOTS more cool factor for teen boys, though!!!

 

[crisi]

Why not extend their boundary by a little and let them go into Frontierland as well? They'd have the shooting gallery to occupy themselves with, and it's really not that much further. LOTS more cool factor for teen boys, though!!!

I'd let them go where they really want to go - as long as its in the MK and as long as they tell you where they are going when they leave. i.e. if they want to go to Tomorrowland instead of Fantasyland, or head over to Frontierland, that's fine. But they stay in one land (or call you).

Also, just keep in mind that an "hour" at Disney often means people are showing up fifteen minutes late because they got stuck in line. For tweens and teens, this time management might be difficult to grasp. So make sure you let them know exactly what your expectations are for them (e.g. 'you will be here at noon even if it means leaving the line' - or maybe 'if you aren't going to be on time, you need to call.')

 

[CharacterFan]

I was 10 when I was allowed to go off on my own. I had to stay in the same park, and meet with my dad and brother at a certain time. I had my dad's pager number in case I was running late. I wanted to ride Space Mountain and it had a 40 minute wait, but I was supposed to meet him in 30 so I sent him a message letting him know I'd be a few minutes late.
Now with cell phones it would be easier.
I will say I got "lost" once that week. My grandmother took me to the water park and said she wait for me at the bottom of the waterslide. well when I came down she wasn't there. I waited there for 15 minutes and then went to lost parents so they could call my dad and maybe find my grandmother. She apparently went to get a snack and got lost. So I guess really my grandmother got lost.

 

[mom2travel]

Why not extend their boundary by a little and let them go into Frontierland as well? They'd have the shooting gallery to occupy themselves with, and it's really not that much further. LOTS more cool factor for teen boys, though!!!

That's what our DS does at MK when the rest of us go on a ride that he is not interested in. Or just hangs out at XXXX and gets a soda/texts his friends, etc while waiting

Especially since there's two of them, I would think they'd be fine as long as they tell you where they are, have a specified meeting time/place and can get in touch via cell if a delay

 

[mom2faith]

You can restrict them to Fantasy Land. There is plenty of stuff for them to do for an hour or so...

Maybe have them ride 2 rides and check back with you, 2 more, check back, etc... I know BBB is in close proximity to Fantasy Land. Make a rule no further than the Tea Cups or IASW.

Cell phones are also a good idea!

This was exactly my thought!! Great tip!!

Do they text? They can text you several times (even every 15 minutes, or after every ride). If they complain, say "Hey, either you text me 20 times your you can get a Princess Makeover - your choice". LOL!!

Amy

 

[melser13]

I think they are good to go. I was first allowed on my own in Disney (with a friend) in 6th grade. Don't remember how old I was. We were allowed to go do a couple of rides and meet back. We never missed a meeting time, even if we had to run, because that meant the end of the freedom. Usually only a 1 - 2 hour gap depending on what we were doing (no fast passes then!)

You will probably enjoy the time at BBB with your daughter more if you don't have to entertain the boys too!

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I agree with the other members, let them go on their own, preferably with a cell or other communication.
Especially since they can use the buddy system.
They would only be bored, and wasting valuable Disney time waiting for DD at the boutique.

 

[Spacepest]

When I was about 11, my parents would let me and a friend go off on our own in Disneyland California for a couple of hours.

When I was 12 and we went to Disneyworld, my parents would let me and my younger sister go off for a few hours in different parks by ourselves. Since we had park hoppers, and were staying onsite and had bus access, eventually our parents even let us go to Epcot for half a day by ourselves, meeting them back at the hotel room for dinner.

My parents reasoning was, if I was old enough to babysit children (I used to babysit my sister and some of the children of a friend of my mother's at the same time), then I was more than responsible enough to go off to different places in Disney with my sister for a few hours here and there.

This was years ago, before people bubble wrapped their kids, and no one back then had cell phones, and the only people who carried pagers were doctors. Nowadays if parents allowed this, they'd run a good risk that someone could call CPS on them.

(And by the time I hit 16 I was allowed to drive to Disneyland and other theme parks with friends, with no adults supervising).