How old to be independent?

[house_of_princesses]

When I was a young teen my folks allowed my sister and I to go to the parks on our own. If we went with another family, the children went on while the folks enjoyed the resort. That was a few years back!

My question: At what age, if any, would you allow your children to tour the park with a buddy/sibling? It hasn't come up yet, but the age of independance is upon us (12). She's mature and responsible, but......

What do you think?

 

[mickeysaver]

Wow, the answer for this one varies from kid to kid, but in general, I wouldn't let a kid go off alone at WDW in a park or DTD unless they were at least 14 or 15 and I was in the same area. I can't say that I would let a kid go from the resort to the park without me being there too unless they were at least 16 or 17. But, that's just the opinion of someone without kids of their own. Mickey

 

[house_of_princesses]

For someone without children, you're about where I was thinking. And I have four DD's!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

i would say at least 14 or 15.

 

[Eeyore2U]

DS went to DQ at 10 or 11 by himself. He was off in the same park at 13 and off on his own at 14. I tihnk YOU need to determine what your comfort level is with the situation. What are the rules at home? Should the rules at WDW be different? Only you can decide.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Also depends on the situation. If the kids have been to the park before and are familiar with where they're going, you have cell phones or ways of keeping in touch, I would not be so concerned.

Depends on the kid, but I would not let anyone younger than 11 or 12 to wander around alone. But children who are used to handle themselves on their own after school, during school breaks and are more adapted to being on their own can perhaps handle a few hours in the parks on their own. Just make sure you teach them how to seek help and where to turn to to contact you.

In the end, it is up to the parent's instinct to know whether the kid can handle it or not. If you don't feel it is right, don't plan on it then...

 

[house_of_princesses]

Thanks, everyone! I think I just wanted to know that other people do this, that no one knows of any situations gone bad. I personally listen to my gut. If it says no, I listen.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I have little ones, but have seen alot of kids on the buses to and from the parks. Anyone under 14 is with a parent. 16 and above seem to be with a few friends (both sexes - good mix).

I would allow my child to meet me at certain times from age 11-14. As my child gets older and more responsible, I would allow them to go it "alone" in a park after age 16 with at least 3 of their friends.

It's only my opinion and experience from what I have seen.

Hope it helps.

 

[Bill From PA]

Thirteen was the year each of our 3 kids seemed old enough to us. They never disapointed us.


Bill From PA

 

[InstImpres]

When I was a young teen my folks allowed my sister and I to go to the parks on our own.

house_of_princesses -

Everyone is obviously different. I vacation there on my own often, but for our family trip, at 30 with my DH, and 5 year old "Gram and PopPop" thought we weren't old enough to be on our own.

Guess I'll always be Daddy's little girl

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I just read the other day that the age limit for a child to travel on WDW transportaion with out a parent is 12. I had never heard that. That being said I agree that each parent must decide what is right for his or her own child. I would however advise to start small and build up just as you would giving independence at home. Start by letting them go on a ride, while you go on another ride in the same area. Next let them go to another area of the park for one or two rides and then meet you. Increase the time until they are independent in one park before you consider letting them go to another. I think for me the big thing is going in twos. I have an only child and I am not all trilled about letting him go off alone. We plan to start giving a little freedom trip after next when he will be 13. That is the year we also plan to bring a friend for him. Things might change a lot before then but that's my thinking right now. I say 13 for short times apart in the same park,and at least 16 for a different park but that is just IMHO.That of course is with cell phones in excelent working order!!!


Jordan's mom

 

[Eeyore2U]

I have a question? Why is 16 a "magical" age to for a child to go off by him/herself? Do you use the same rules at home?

DS is a 16 year old junior in high school. If we didn't let him sprout his wings his mother would be going to college with him in a year and half.

I'm curious if the rules are more stringent in WDW and why?

 

[house_of_princesses]

Jordan's Mom, I am not surprised that there is an age limit on travelling on the transport systems. Actually, I think it's a good thing. Do you remember where you read it? Thanks!

 

[Joyciemc]

I may be comepletely wrong, but I thought I remembered reading that kids over 7 were allowed by themselves in the parks. I just remember being outright shocked by that. Am I making this up, or is it true?

 

[beansmom]

DS went to DQ at 10 or 11 by himself. He was off in the same park at 13 and off on his own at 14.

No offense, Eeyore, but I would never let my 10 year old go to any place like that alone.

I have a question? Why is 16 a "magical" age to for a child to go off by him/herself? Do you use the same rules at home?

I don't think any age is a magical age. It depends on the child and situation, but I wouldn't let ONE, that is a single, child wander around Disneyworld alone until they were 17 or 18. The world is just too dangerous.

DS is a 16 year old junior in high school. If we didn't let him sprout his wings his mother would be going to college with him in a year and half

Yes, you do have to let them grow and explore the world but hopefully in a kind of 'controlled' environment. My dd is 13, almost 14, and now I will let her go to the local mall with friends but I still wouldn't let her go alone. Who would know if she went missing? AND I make sure she has phone call money at all times. And she may go to movies with peers but she would not be allowed to go to 6flags without adult supervision. While my child may be very mature and responsible for her age, she is still subject to peer pressure and we all make bad judgement calls.

I'm curious if the rules are more stringent in WDW and why?

The rules really aren't more stringent (well, maybe they are) at WDW but I think, for me, the difference is that if my daughter gets in a jam at home, she has father, brothers, family, family friends that she can call for help. A thousand miles from home nobody knows her or cares enough about her to go out of their way to 'rescue' her.

JMTCW. We did have a rather heated thread about this a few weeks ago. For your persual http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=340372

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I read about the age limit for the bus service over on the family board. The post was about charging limits for early and pre teens if you want to try to do a search. The topic got a little off tract and became much like this post in dealing with freedom for teens.

I think the age 7 limit is for ridding a ride alone in the park. For example if you and your DH did not want to ride Space Mt. at age 7 you can let your child ride alone.

Jordan's mom

 

[karenrc]

We just got back from an 8 day trip last night. Our 2 sons are 14 and 17. We live in a pretty safe suburb of Portland, Oregon. I may be crazy, but I think WDW is a much more controlled environment than home and felt very safe letting them navigate alone. The transportation back to our doorstep at AKL vs drving or being driven by friends at home, cast members everywhere, etc. contribute to that feeling for me. Granted they are older than the kids most of you are talking about.

All kids certainly are different and it depends on what they're ready for. My DS14 went off within the parks alone but mostly went with us or his brother between parks and resort. That was really his comfort level - he is more shy than his brother and prefers someone along to do the talking. DS17 probably would have liked ditching us for all 8 days. He stayed at Downtown Disney later than us quite a few times (I confess that we once let him stay in the Adventurer's Club without us even though he's a few weeks shy of being 18). One night the 2 of them ate at Rainforest Cafe together while DH and I went to California Grill. They had a great time. So did we.

 

[DizneyGurl]

The best thing about Disney is it's so easy to get around, and a good place for teens not to have to hang around with the adults all day. Every two years or so a group that I'm involved with at school goes to Disney and us kids are pretty much let loose for a few days - 8th grade to 12th grade. We only have to phone in at night once we get back so our advisor knows we're still alive. Parents trust us to go cuz we're the "good kids" and Disney is so hard to get completely lost in, and not make it back to your hotel.

2 years ago my best friend and I hopped on the wrong bus home and wound up at someplace other than the All Star Music which was where we were staying the the bus driver actually just took us back to our hotel since nobody else was on the bus with us.

Disney's a great place for school trips, transportation is easy and it's a blast to go with all of your best friends.

 

[3MouseMom]

I'm not quite at the age in question yet (mine are 10, 6 and 3), but I believe it is more than just how trustworthy the kid might be. I might trust my child, but there are other people out there I might not trust!

If your 15 or 16 year old son is a strapping 6'2'', 175lb kid, he may be safer alone than a petite 15 year old girl. Believe me, I'm not sexist, just thinking of the reality of it. I think the buddy system--2 or 3 kids together at all times--is the only way to go for kids 17 and under.

As for younger than 15 or 16: If I had a couple of 13-14 year olds who want to go ride some rides alone while I'm in the same area, I'd probably go along with that as long as we had check-in and/or cell phones. Different parks? No, this would not work for me personally, I'd be too nervous.

Age 10-12 (or maybe even 13): I still want them with me. My dh and I split up and take turns riding the bigger rides with our 10 yo DS, so he gets plenty of time away from his little sibs. This year he even got a day alone with dad at Universal while I took the younger girls for a "princess" day. No offense to anyone, but personally I would never let him go alone to DTD/DQ (and I trust him, just not others around him).

(I won't be joining my son at college, but I know I'll be tempted! LOL!!)

 

[Eeyore2U]

No offense, Eeyore, but I would never let my 10 year old go to any place like that alone.

I can only tell you what worked for us.

I don't think any age is a magical age. It depends on the child and situation, but I wouldn't let ONE, that is a single, child wander around Disneyworld alone until they were 17 or 18. The world is just too dangerous

And imho, they need to learn to deal. As I said, DS will be in college just as he turns 18. I can't wait for then for him to grow up.

And she may go to movies with peers but she would not be allowed to go to 6flags without adult supervision. While my child may be very mature and responsible for her age, she is still subject to peer pressure and we all make bad judgement calls.

We live 9/10 of a mile from Canobie Lake Park. DS and friends were going there at 12/13 in a group. It's no different then the movies. He was working there at 14. As far as peer pressure, he is trust worthy enough to earn the right to make a mistake.

but I think WDW is a much more controlled environment than home and felt very safe letting them navigate alone. The transportation back to our doorstep at AKL vs drving or being driven by friends at home, cast members everywhere, etc. contribute to that feeling for me. Granted they are older than the kids most of you are talking about.

My sentiments exactly

2 or 3 kids together at all times--is the only way to go for kids 17 and under.

Would you make a 16 year old do this at home?