How old is old enough?

[HMHunters]

Question for the parents out there --

How old do you think kids should be before using WDW transportation on their own? These are kids that have been to the world many times and know it like the back of their hand.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

Ewww...yikes. That's a tough question. I don't know if I'll get flamed for this...but maybe 16?

My initial thought was 18, since that's legal adult age. But then I wondered if that was too strict. So I went for 16

 

[Hannathy]

I would guess 13-14. I have no problem with kids this age using public transportation at home alone and I consider Disney a safer place than most.

 

[AllyBri]

I'm thinking about 16 also. I might let them do a short run with cell phones for about an hour or so. Depends on so much.
I don't think we let our DDs out of our sight till they were married.

I just went back and checked the ages of your children, I think they are too young. But you will get a lot of ops here.

 

[Sweedee]

I wouldn't let my 14yo!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I was 16 and armed with a cell phone. Was allowed to take the bus to MGM and Planet Hollywood

 

[ducklite]

How old are the kids? When DS was about 14 we began to let him take the bus on his own with limits.

But let me tell you, sometimes things happen.

We were staying at the Polynesian and DS went to the MK for the extended hours where resort guests can pay $10 for and extra four hours that extend pretty late into the night. It should have bene easy, right? He gets on the monorail and comes back to our resort. Not.

The monorail had been struck by lightining or something along those lines and wasn't working. So he asked how to get back to the Polynesian and was told to take a certain bus. That bus ended up dumping him at the TTC. Now he had never done a transfer there, and at night in the dark, the TTC can be pretty confusing to get to the bus stops to the Polynesian by foot if you hadn't done it before. I was pretty peeved that they were expecting guests to walk from the TTC to the Polynesian at 2:00 AM.

Just keep this in mind, things can happen unexpectedly, and if your kids aren't old enough to figure out how to handle a kink in the owrks, you might not want to let them go off by themselves.

Anne

 

[ccw]

Have let two 12 year old boys stay longer than we did late one night at MK and then catch bus back to resort but that was about ten years ago...maybe would not do that now. This March we had three sixteen year old boys with us and we were perfectly comfortable with them being totally on their own (with curfews and cell phones, of course!). We only let our son drive our car within OKW so the Disney transportation system was a real peace of mind thing for us and made it very easy for the boys to have some independence!

 

[goofy4tink]

Just a few things to keep in mind. Kids, even the good ones, tend to behave differently when their parents aren't around, and they are with other kids. It's almost a 'pack mentality'. Yes, my kids have fallen prey to it in the past.
So, with that in mind, my dd (who also knows WDW like the back of her hand) is going to be finally allowed to be in the parks, with her gf, on their 13th birthday trip in Oct. However, they will have cell phones, and have to check in with us on a regular basis. I won't allow them to travel outside the parks by themselves yet. Perhaps in another year or so. As ducklite says, things happen. I would much rather ere on the side of overprotectiveness than be sorry.

 

[CleveRocks]

It depends on the maturity level of the kids, and their experiences.

Growing up in the Philadelphia public school system, I had to use regular public transportation buses to get to and from school starting in 7th grade. The nearest bus stop was about 3 blocks from my house, and certainly not within view of my house. I was 11 years old when I started 7th grade.

My wife's middle school started in 6th grade, so in her neighborhood there were 6th graders having to take SEPTA buses by themselves.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I was 11 when my parents let me. That was another lifetime ago.

DS12 is extremely responsible... I might consider it for him next year however, letting DSalmost9 tag along is a different story.

We do let them go to the arcades or get a snack alone (with cell phones).

Only you know your child.

If you are undecided or unsure in any way then I say wait.

 

[siobhan1997]

For me not even sure probably 16, my DD is a very mature 12 year old, but for me there are too many pedophiles out there. TOO SCARY, I won't even let my DD roam around the resort on her own.

 

[Sandi]

I'm thinking 14 or 15 for my DD (now 11) and then only if she is with another friend in whom I have confidence. DD is very responsible and mature. I'm not, however, worried about her behavior so much as other people's.

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

My parents started letting my sister and I go when I was 14 (she was 11). They sent us with their phone and pager.

 

[seashoreCM]

You might try practice runs. Have your child take you to some random locations (obscure locations with respect to the child's point of view). For a greater challenge, do a resort to resort trip or a park to park trip. If your child appears to accomplish this with confidence you should feel at ease letting him or her go off alone.

Another practice idea, if you have cell phones, have your child go back to the resort (or go to the park) first. You follow about a half hour later or sufficiently later so you are out of sight of your child. Use the cell phone to verify where your child is.

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

 

[twinklebug]

It depends on the maturity level of the kids, and their experiences.

Exactly what I was going to say Eric.

My eldest when he was 12 acted more mature than most 17yo.s ... looked it too LOL. I know he could have handled traveling form MK back to the room well. Not to say I wouldn't have been nervous.

My DD now at 12 is quite mature but she will not be left to navigate a roadway even at 20 Let's say common sense is not her strong point.

DS (now 9) has always had an itch to be independent, but is too quick to jump on the wrong bandwagon. He won't be given freedom until he's ... 35?

Each child is different.

 

[ducklite]

Keep in mind that there is limited cell service in parts of the AK and MGM on some carriers.

Anne

 

[HMHunters]

Thanks for all your input! My kids would be travelling from the resort (where they'd be with some relatives) to meet us at the entry of a park, so there isn't much time that they'd actually be on their own. I figured there would be many varied opinions on this one! My DH, who went to WDW every year of his childhood, was allowed to wander about with his younger brother from a very young age. I think his mindset is still back in the 70's instead of the 2000's! Our cell phones have always worked throughout the World for us, so I'm thinking I can let them do this. (deep breath...)

 

[disfanRN]

At 16 they can pretty much drive themselves to the park, My DD is 11 and In my head I wouldn't let her until she is 21 but reality has to take hold. I am probably guessing I would let her around 14 or 15. Although I would not let her do Downtown Disney at night at that age. She has also been to Disney alot and is pretty mature. I guess we will cross that bridge when we get to it. Good luck.

 

[DVC-Don]

Our kids are now 14 & 15 and out next trip (which starts tomorrow!) we'll let them off on their own. They each have a cell phone.