how old until you let your kids roam free?

[crisi]

I feel that hotel rooms can be dangerous so you have to be careful. How would you ever find your child if someone took them in a hotel room?

Sending kids in pairs is a good safeguard.

How would my husband find me if someone took me from the hotel room?

 

[lugnut33]

My girls are 13&10. Last year at DL I let them spend about an hour in Toontown alone, and then about an hour at Cali Adventure (basically they just rode Cali Screamin' over and over).

I think this August they might want a bit more time alone while in a park. Of course we'll be in the park also and we all have cell phones.

 

[Alexander]

DS (12, 7th grade) and 2 nephews (12 and 13,7th and 8th grades) went on their own back in December. DS will also be with a friend (13, 7th grade also)next week on their own. We will be in the same park, but they will be able to go off on their own with cell phones.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Interesting thread! We used to let our kids go in their own "car" at Winnie the Pooh when they were 6 and 4, and we were in the car behind them.
We let them go together without us when the oldest was in 7th grade, and we were in the same park, but leaving from our hotel, riding the bus there and back from the park--didn't happen until the oldest was 15, I think, and I was a wreck, thinking they would get lost. Since they have been going to Disney since they were babies, I needn't have worried. They were fine!

 

[BeccaG]

Wow, good question and lots of thoughtful response. My parents accidentally let me tour another So cal park, called Knott's Berry Farm, on my own when I was seven. Our group split up around dinner time, one to get food, the other to get the sweatshirts our of the locker. Each group thought I went with the other. I just calmly went to the prescribed meeting place and waited. I don't recall my parents being overly concerned, especially since they didn't know I was missing until after the fact and since that was the kind of kid I was, but I definitely don't think it was intentional!

As a lot of folks said, I think knowing your kid and their street smarts and awareness of their surroundings is important. Your question is a good one and I hope you arrive at a decision that works for your family.

 

[twinklebug]

My son officially started going to the parks 'alone' last summer at 13. He'd text me when he wanted me to find him so we could have lunch. Touring the parks and going on rides alone was fine with him, but he did not like the idea of eating alone I did miss his company, but the freedom he experienced made him so happy and he was very content to spend more time with the family in the evenings.

before DS was allowed to venture off on his own I reviewed basic safety rules and made sure he understood anything that involves being outside of the parks is to be transportation directly to and from the rooms.... no messing around.

 

[disfanforlife]

Wow, now I feel really strict. My kids are trustworthy, I guess I just worry too much. As i said in my earlier post they have not asked to go off on their own. Disney is our together time and we just have always stuck together.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We let DS and DNiece roam when they were 14. DS had been there several times and was comfortable with park layouts as well as the Disney transportation. They both had phones and were given specific instructions about checking in and where and when to meet. If they were going to change locations, they had to let us know before they left the current location as well as when they arrived at the new location. They also had to stay together at all times. They knew if any of the rules we gave them were violated they would be with us for the remainder of the trip.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Our 2 yo thinks he can go on his own....he is fast!!!!

 

[schoen]

I am just thinking about school trips here, but when we were in 7th grade (so 13) we had a field trip to cedar point (big amusement park in OH). The bus dropped us off at a certain time, we had to meet up with a chaperon once or twice durng the day, but we were otherwise on our own, and met the bus when it was time to leave.

We did the same thing in high school at Disney when I was a freshman and a senior (by spring of my senior year I was 18 though...)

13 and 14 year old kids baby-sit right? I did...

so I think it is just what you and your kid are comfortable with. cell phones should ease anxiety a little. Although...

 

[RLRDA]

Your thread just reminded me that I have to change my middle DS's age to 12 now since his bday was a few weeks ago .

When we take our trip in August the older 2 boys will be 14 and 12 (entering 9th and 7th grades). I think we'd be fine letting them roam close by (same park or resort) if they are together. Letting either of them roam alone....not sure but I'd probably say "no"...it would depend on the situation.