How old, is old enough?

[baler31]

1) We let our kids and grandkids roam early.
2) At ages 7 & 10. they were on their own.
3) Rules
. . . meet at specific times in specific places
. . . can spend the money they brought and today's allowance
. . . must stay together
. . . before they left us, they had to tell us their general direction
. . . and, if possible, the rides they wanted to do
4) Never had a problem.
5) And, frequently, they just stayed with us.
6) Knowing they could roam seemed to be more important than roaming.

This, but my kids had phones as well. At 13 & 15 they should be fine in the park, especially if you are in the same park as well.

 

[Jasperann]

As long as my child had a 'buddy' to go off with I think 13 and up is fine. As long as they are in the same park as you are. My DD and her cousin went off on their own for EMH at MK one night of our last trip. They both LOVED it!! My DD was 13 (almost 14) at the time and her cousin was 18. But my DD has the freedom at home to ride her bike over to her friends house (which is about a mile away) or go to the park for a few hours. I think it depends on the trust level you have with your children. If you don't think they can handle a little freedom, then don't allow it. You are the parent above everything else.

I was 9 when I was first allowed to go off on my own in an amusement park. I remember that time very clearly. My cousins and I had a wonderful time in the rain that day while the parents hung out under the picnic area...

 

[angierae]

At 13 and 15 I definitely would, but I guess ask yourself this question: Would you let them go off for the day by themselves at home? DD is 16 and I have no problem dropping her and a friend off somewhere (the local water park, a mall, the downtown area of our city (city of 50k, not 500k, but still) etc.

For their 8th grade class trip the kids went to Cedar Point and they were sent off in pairs with only a few check-in times with the chaperones. Those kids were 12-13 (granted, Cedar Point is smaller than a Disney park, but the kids were younger, too.)

And like several people have pointed out, high school kids that go to Disney for band trips are 14-15-16 years old and they're set loose in there, as well. Our next trip, DD will be 17 and her BFF will be 16 and I figure they'll be off on their own most of the time - I will let them park hop, etc no problem.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Many years ago, my parents had a medical conferences in CR (I was 14 yrs old and a cousin 15) we went on our own to MK/Epcot (the only parks openned at that time). We might our parents for dinner and hanged our the hotel at night by ourselfs. But I was baby sitting at that age too.

 

[Kelrykengab]

At their ages, I would say yes as long as they remain in the same park you are in and they have to personally check back in with you at a set time maybe 2-3 hours later. The fact that you can text each other to check in during that time is nice too. This also depends on how well they know the park. We have only been 3 times as a family, but my young kids already know the parks pretty well and my son did ride Mission space on his own when he was 8 (we were waiting for him right outside the gift shop). He did fine and was so proud of himself. However, what really matters is how comfortable you are with it. After all, you are their mom. Enjoy your trip.

 

[TallandGoofy]

as a whole, i'm just not comfortable about it. Many people are, and that's fine, too. I remember reading a comment from someone who had let their 12 yr old park hop by themselves. It's not something that i would do, but ultimately it comes down to the parent. If you honestly feel that it would be okay, and you don't have any hesitation about it, i'd say go for it. Everyone knows the stuff that can go wrong, and we all know that, on average, none of that stuff does.

It sounds like you're pretty leary about it. If that's the case, i would say don't do it. Would you be able to relax and have a good time, or would you be too concerned with how they are doing? If they don't go off by themselves, it won't be the end of the world. This is one of those instances where just because it's right for other families, doesn't mean that it's right for your family.

+1

I wouldn't do it if I wasn't 100% comfortable. Mine are only 7 and 3 now so I can't say for sure how I'll feel when they're teens. WDW, while a great, fun, wonderful place IS still a public place. Things can and DO happen there - they don't get publicity, obviously, from Disney - and I would treat it (as others have mentioned) as I would other public places (e.g. Mall, movies, waterpark, etc...)

 

[wahoostampingirl]

My twins are 9 (they'll turn 10 before our trip in August) and I'm starting to see them wanting that first taste of independence at Disney. My ds asked if he and his sister could go on a ride by themselves on our next trip and I'm sure it won't be long before they want to go off by themselves for a few hours.

They know the parks well and I'm planning on letting them go off by themselves when they are about 12 for a few hours at a time. I'm looking forward to spending some time at Disney with dh doing some of the things we want to do that the kids don't. I think a 13 and 15 yo will be fine by themselves for awhile.

 

[DizBelle]

If you wait until your ready, it may never happen.

 

[WrenNCuckoos]

I know WDW is much bigger than Disneyland, but I grew up close to Disneyland and by 12 or 13 my friends and I were going without parents for the whole day there. It was back in the pre-cell phone era, so we couldn't easily keep in touch or anything. Thinking back, I must have been even younger the first few times I went without having to stay with a parent. I'm thinking I was 10 with a parent (mine or a friend's) in the park and 13 without.

I think 13 and 15 is plenty old enough to give them freedom within a particular park.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I was 15 when I first went to a WDW park on my own. However, I grew up going to WDW several times a year, so by that point it felt like a second home to me.

When I was 13 or 14 my parents tried letting me go off on my own while they were in the park with me. Example, we would go to MK, ride Splash Mountain together and then I would venture off to ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion on my own and schedule to meet up with them in an hour and a half at a pre-determined location.

With cell phones, it is easy for them to text you updates so you know that they are ok. If you aren't comfortable letting them go to a park entirely on their own, I'd suggest letting them branch off from you for an hour or two as a trial run.

Now, at 26, spending solo time at the parks WDW is one of my favorite things. Don't get me wrong, I adore my family and our trips are all about being together, but having the freedom to do whatever I want without regard to anything else is fantastic! In life, generally, we try to do things for others, so having time all for yourself is blissful

 

[dchronister]

Thank you for all the replies. This was also kinda a poll to see if I am toooooo overprotective, because I know I am. Yes, I know that I will never to ready. My nephew that is going with us, this will be his first trip back since he went at the age of 2(doesn't remember any of it) with his brother on his brothers wish trip. So, if that tells any of you why I am over protective, now you know why I have an issue. Yes, my children suffer because I have seen first hand what it does to a family that has lost a child (sickness), divorced and my nephew pretty much lives with me when he isn't at college. I am trying to give them some space, they are at the age where they like to boy look. Oldest is very mature, but youngest is gonna give me some grief. So, I'm thinking maybe let them go off for a hour or so and then meet back up, see how it goes from there. I know I have a problem, trying to fix it before I damage my kids, lol. Thanks again for the opinions. See ya in June.

 

[mill4023]

At 13 and 15, I'd definitely let them have some time on their own in the same park we are in. We let ours do that for a couple hours when they were 10 and 13. Traveling around WDW outside the parks would be different. I probably wouldn't feel comfortable with that until the youngest was at least 15.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Ummm...I was 17 (the age of your eldest) when my grade took its senior class trip to Disney World. Very few chaperones...plane rides there and back...check in required twice a day (breakfast and dinner). And of course, 3 months later we were all at college.

The first time I walked around a theme park with unchaperoned friends (not Disney, but not a small park) I was probably 12.

 

[rlahansler]

We were there last month and we let our 11 and 7 year old go to the Arcade in our hotel by themselves while we were in our room. My husband gave them a walktakie so he could check on them. We are going again hopefully in 2-3 years, when my oldest will be 13 or 14 and he has already asked if next time a friend can come, so I am sure thats when he will ask us to go on his own when we are in parks. By then he will probably have a cell phone.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I've been thinking about this for our upcoming trip too. I think I would let DD & DS go off on their own for a few rides, especially since DD has a cell phone. Since they're younger, they would have to stay in the same park. DH is a little more strict so I don't think the idea would be so hot with him.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

As a pp stated it really depends on the maturity level. That being said as long as they stay together and you are elsewhere in the park. Then yes I would think the could go off and meet up with you at a designated time and place within the park. Free reign of the entire property I am not so sure I would do that.

 

[mrspopeye]

I like the baby steps idea someone mentioned- we did that some last year when our girls were 15/11. We would sit down in the middle of an area, like Tomorrowland for instance and they could go wherever in that area and check in every once and a while in person or by text. They actually came by a lot more than necessary. They knew not to leave an area if the pavement is changing. Then we would move to another area. This year they will be 16/12 and it is our 5th trip, so I feel like I can give them more freedom within a whole park this time. I would not be comfortable with them roaming to and from the parks and hotels outside of the gates. I used to work in a theme park as a teenager and is was very common to see many kids over 10 roaming on their own.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I think for me at 15 and 13, provided that they have proven they are trustworthy, I would be comfortable with them on their own as long as 1. they are in the same park we are (I wouldn't be comfortable with them leaving the park for any reason) 2. they stay together and 3. they have a cell phone so we can stay in contact

I know that when I was 17 and my brother and cousin were both 15 we were allowed to got to other rides etc. (no cell phones then) and my brother did get lost that trip in MK because he was unclear of the meeting place LOL It was kind of scary but it wouldn'y have been a problem now with cell phones.

 

[disneynanacat]

Two years ago I took both my granddaughters, age 5 & 14, along with the oldest DGDs friend who was almost 16 at the time. My oldest DGD knows the ins & outs of WDW as well as I do after countless trips. Plus, she's always been very mature for her age. There were times we all hung together, like meals etc., but mostly the two oldest did their thing while my youngest DGD and I did ours.

I hadn't plan it that way, but that's the way it sorta worked out. We'd always go to the park together in the morning and ride a few rides together. The big girls would go off and do the big rides the youngest couldn't do. It came up that the youngest wanted to go back to the resort and swim and the older girls wanted to stay. I let them stay without us. They knew how to get the bus back to the resort, they'd done it hundreds of times. I stayed in contact with them on our cell phones almost constantly though....check in every hour.

Heck one day, the little one didn't want to go to Animal Kingdom the morning we had that scheduled. (She was kicking herself after we got home from the trip though.) The two big girls went off and had a ball, while the little one and I swam, had a nice sit down lunch at The Turf Club, SSR, and chilled out in the room. It was the most relaxing day I've ever had on a Disney trip!

 

[sunshineNJ]

I say if your not comfortable with it don't do it. Anything can happen and does. I think there are bad people everywhere. A place like WDW there could be people looking for teens wandering alone. I say stay together.