How old should they be before you let roam?

[Sammie]

My 16 year old niece and her 17 year old friend was approached by a Disney CM, about meeting him after work and when they refused he was sexually rude to them.

Please do not let any of your children roam Disney by themselves especially females and even males when they are young.

I would not recommend, anyone that is younger than what you would let them roam free at a large mall in a strange city.

Disney is no different. And cell phones there do not always work.

 

[phyllis1966]

I'm with the majority here. My DD is 9 and I would never feel comfortable with her roaming around by herself...and so help me if she decided to "let me hear about it" if she saw others she thought were her age wandering around. I love her and want to help her to become an independent adolescent, and eventually, an independent adult, but not this way - not yet!

 

[JennSaint]

Another Mom here who thinks 9 is too young. Just like some of the other poster have said there are weirdos everywhere. Even at WDW.
Our trip next month will probably be the first time I let my boys go to the arcade at the hotel without me & DH. My oldest will be 14 in March and my youngest is 12 1/2. I might let them go to some rides in the park without us but they will be with their older cousins who are almost 18 & 15. And myself and DH will be in the same park.

 

[Happy99]

We have taken our children to WDW every years since they were 2 yrs old. I would never consider letting them go off on their own at 9yrs old and they know the layout of WDW very well

They are now 12 and 14 and if they asked we would let them go on their own ahead of us or to get something to eat or drink at the quick service location at the hotel but only if they stayed together

 

[ChrisKsAngel]

I would never allow my DD (10) to roam the resort by herself. But of course that is just my opinion.

You have to consider how mature your DD is and make a decision that you are comfortable with. Even if you trust your DD, you have to stop and think about all the other people - those are the ones I don't trust!!! You never know who else is staying on that resort and you never know what may happen if you are not there. If you fill the least bit uncomfortable or unsure of letting her go off by herself... then go with her. Aren't vacations about spending time together anyways?

 

[KatMark]

It comes down to what YOU are comfortable with. My oldest son (now almost 23) was very mature at a very early age, and at the age of 9 and 10, I would let him walk from our room to the food court. My youngest (now 20), no way would I let him walk across the path without supervision--two VERY different children.

As I said, it will come down to what you are most comfortable with.

 

[redrosesix]

Yup, I do agree with all of you. Although I think my daughter is mature enough to go where she says she's going, and to find her way there on her own, I also realize that really anybody can get into the resort areas. It's not like at our campground, where people who are not guests cannot get past security and where she is tagging around with the rec staff almost all the time.

I think I feel comfortable easing up on the supervision a little bit eg. reading my book while she's in the pool, letting her go ahead of me when we're on our way to the resort arcade etc. On the other hand, I would never do this in the parks.

The cell phone: I ordered that for her after reading about that 15 y.o's experience at Space Mountain. Since the phone is basically free, I decided it would be best if she can reach me if we get separated - don't want to rely solely on the CM's to reunite us.

BTW, if I hadn't thought 9 was to young to roam at WDW, I wouldn't have started the thread. There were a lot of kids (some younger) hanging out on their own last year -- I'm just not comfortable with it. Even a small mishap could cause a lot of bad memories and WDW would never be the same for her.

Thanks for the ammunition. I lay down the law here, but at least I can tell her that other parents would do the same. She's not the only one who has to be supervised at 9, no matter what it looks like.

 

[brergnat]

Have you considered any of the supervised kid's activities? Like the Wonderland Tea Party at the GF (I'm not sure if she'd be into that). I just wonder if she REALLY wants to be on her own, or if she just wants to do something without her parents. Maybe she just wants some time to do "her own thing", but that could be something DISNEY supervised, not "mom supervised", you know? Look into it...maybe a manicure at the GF spa. That would be something a bit "grown up". Although, you'd have to go with her.

 

[hannah_03]

I think 9 is way too young also.
We allowed our 14 year old son to roam alone on our last trip for one day. I worried the entire time but was giving him some needed space.
I think it truly depends on the maturity level and personality of the child. I trust my son not to talk with strangers because he's not as personable as my daughter is.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I haven't read through all the replies yet but I think 9 is too young to roam alone.
My DD is 9 and I wouldn't want her to roam around alone even with a cell phone.

My DS is 13 and I just started letting him go to the arcade alone. Even though he swims like a fish I still won't let him go to the pool alone. He hasn't asked to go anywhere else alone so I don't know what I'll decide until the time comes.

 

[mackay_j]

never not in a million years. I won't let my 16yr old go and wonder around on her own never mind my 11 yr old. They go and wonder together but that only since the oldest was 14yr. I won't let my younger girl even go to a tiolet in a park without me or her sister. We rented a condos above a condo my parents rented out I would watch my younger girl go down and then in before I would close the door and my parents would do the same when she wanted to come back. Your 9 yr old may be very mature and reliable, but its not realy her you have to worry about.

 

[Missus Toad]

I was allowed to go from the Poly to the CR to watch movies and play arcade games with my sis when I was 10 and she was 9. Granted, this was back in '81 or so, and maybe I wouldn't do the same with my daughter in this day and age, but we had a blast and never had a problem. Just sharing to offer another perspective.

 

[Luvamouse]

Thanks for the ammunition. I lay down the law here, but at least I can tell her that other parents would do the same. She's not the only one who has to be supervised at 9, no matter what it looks like.

OP-- I also think from reading this whole thread again that this is not about anyone criticizing your DD and her ability to make wise choices and be smart and independent--NOR do you suggest anyone is! But for her sake, unfortunately, it is about the rest of the world that she may encounter. While most people are inherently good, there are people who simply aren't. It is great to be able to let her know that however bright and independent she is, although she may see other kids alone, the safest place for her is within earshot/eyesight with small exception. Independence is great when you're a kid, but as some others have posted about their teens coming back early, sometimes freedom is overrated I think you were right to get a feel for what others do before telling DD and feeling guilty. Have fun!

 

[roozlilone]

I have a 9 year old and I would never let her roam the World alone even with her 11 year old sister. Too many potential problems, IMHO.

 

[Booyakasha]

I am suprised about some of the comments and ages people have posted in this thread. 9 is too young to be given "roaming rights" but there are those that mentioned 13 14 even 16 and 17 as too young. That is a bit over the top. Especially in Disney. There has NEVER been a case of child abduction or assault on Disney property. It is a pretty safe place. Obviously all kids are different but at some point they need to learn resposibility.

B.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'll try a totally different tack here. You won't see many kids alone at the pool at ASMu, so I don't think she'll feel like the only one with a parent nearby. You will see other kids in the water without an adult standing right next to them. Mostly though the parents will be supervising from the side.


I don't know about the campground you mention. I think a campground in someplace remote and scenic is one thing, esp if your daughter has friends she knows to hang out with. Put that campground (and I know this is sort of a silly idea) just outside of a big city and I think it would be totally different.

At WDW, she won't know anyone else. While the WDW parks are pretty safe, Orlando-the-city is a pretty high crime area.

If you are asking the question, then clearly you have doubts about whether it is a good idea to let her roam. It's probably wise to opt on the side of caution.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

I think that 9 years old is way too young to allow her to go off by herself. I was 14 before me and my brother (who is 3 years younger than me) were allowed to wander around without my parents. Whenever I did wander around, I was always with my brother - I was never allowed to go anywhere by myself. I'm really not sure why you would want to go around WDW by yourself. The point of a WDW vacation is to have fun and spend time with your family.

 

[bookgirl]

I probably would not let my 91/2 year old nephews "roam" but I would let them go to designated places by themselves. If we were in a close building I would let them go get a soda and come back with a cell phone, or I would watch them go to the life guard on duty pool, then stay on thier own for a short time. I would probably even let them run around in a defined area by themselves. Like the playground/garden area between two buildings or go to the arcade or gift shop while we were finishing eating. I do believe in giving them some independence but boundries are a good thing. They don't go to far with out someones' cell phone but they also go both together and by themselves. Letting them go independant in small controlled ways are how they learn to be self relieant and independant young adults. But no open roaming or excursions beyond 10 minutes.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I am also in the no catagory. I think that nine is way too young, even in the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[NYTiz]

i would not let a 9 year old out to roam alone.