How old would you allow your children to get on a ride alone?

[DawnM]

I don't mean wander the parks alone, I just mean get in line and ride a ride alone?

For example, last time we went to Hollywood Studios, my oldest asked if he could go on Rockin' Roller Coaster while we went on TOT. He was 10 and we said no.

He will be 11 in Feb. and I would feel a little more comfortable with him meeting us somewhere after riding the ride. would you think this is still too young?

Dawn

 

[RMulieri]

I think that age is fine.I would do it .

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I don't think it really matters what age - I think it matters more how mature he is. My husband has 2 cousins who are 11. One I would feel fine letting her ride a ride by herself and meeting up as soon as she got off. The other? No way would I let her out of my sight LOL.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd have no problem with having my kids go on a ride without me. Heck, dd12 went to the diner after school with her gf's yesterday for a while, and then walked home. As long as I knew where the exit was, and that I could get there before the end of the ride, I'd let all of my kids ride (also knowing that there's no WAY my 6 and 8 year olds would be brave enough for that particular ride).

 

[mareed]

We have a similar experience, but sort of in reverse! Our oldest DS (who is now 12) does not like to ride RnR, but DH, DS 9, and myself do! I think starting when oldest DS was 10 or 11, we'd let him sit out on his own and wait for the rest of us to ride. We did leave my cell phone with him and he knew how to answer it and also how to call DH's phone if needed. He had a set area he could be (i.e. sitting outside the ride or inside the RnR store). We've also let the 2 DS's go on a ride on their own for the last 1 1/2 years or so while we the parents waited outside. I'd guess this started when they were 11 & 8.

This last trip we let them have the most independence yet in letting them stay at Star Tours and ride again with fastpasses while we left to ride Tower of Terror. They had to stay together and once again, they had my cell phone (on a cord lanyard around oldest DS's neck). They then walked to the TOT store stopping at Indy Jones store along the way and were there waiting for us when we exited the ride. I felt comfortable doing this and letting them go that far on their own because of the following:

• They both knew their way around the park
• They would stay together
• They're not the types to start fighting with each other
• They had a cell phone

I agree with others who generally say that 11 is fine, but it does depend on individual maturity level. It's fun having your kids grow up and become more independent, but it can be difficult to know just exactly how much room to give them!

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

It depends on your kid. Mine are still MUCH younger than yours, but I'm willing to bey that my (now) 3-year old will be going on rides by himself by the time he's 7 -- the twins will probably have to be 21 before I'll let them out of my sight at the parks . I know that Disney doesn't allow for kids to go on rides without supervision until they are at least 6 years old.

 

[Allison]

I don't think he is too young especially if you wait in line with him and use the chicken exit when he gets on. You could meet him right at the exit.

 

[TheRatPack]

We saw a little girl getting on Mount Everest last year (she actually shared a car with my oldest son) and she was probably 6 or 7? I let my 13 and 14 year olds ride things by themselves, and sometimes take their little brothers/sister but still....I never felt comfortable with them riding things by themselves until maybe 11 or 12 and those were the wide open rides like dumbo, teacups...etc.

 

[Brer Shay]

I'm fine with DS (9) & DD (7) riding the rides alone with each other, but I do walk the line with them and meet them at the exit. They're only alone on the actual ride.

As PPs said - it depends on the kid. I'm sure DD will be able to be on her own before DS is, just who they are. Sounds like your son has shown responsibilty in the past with it and did okay. I'd probably try again and see how it goes.

 

[Del]

I would wait in line with my child and then meet up after.

 

[scrappinmom]

I think it depends a whole lot on the child. My oldest dd is one of the most observant/responsible teens I know...she was that way from the get go...I let her go on many rides before her sister was tall enough..she would have been 10. Her younger sister who is now 9 1/2 & willbe almost 10 on our next trip...I wouldn't even let go to the bathroom alone! Heck she'd wander out the wrong exit, forget where to meet me, & talk to everyone around her, and probably decide to ride again without even bothering to find me. Oldest dd was always just very cautious and much more responsible even at a younger age.

 

[Trixie15]

If I'm going to wait in line with my dc so they can ride a ride, I'll be danged if I'm not going to ride it, too!!!

But - I can see how that is an option for people who have no interest in riding a ride or get motion sickness (like my dad), etc. and it makes it possible to let the kids ride.

I'm going to say, depending on personality, around 9 or 10 is an age I'd feel comfortable letting the child get in line and ride the ride by themselves.

 

[lntsmom]

If so, then let him do it! If you think he might try to get out of the restraints or mess around, then don't.

One idea...you might look family with an odd number and ask if he can ride with them.

It wasn't the big rides, but when we went to DL there was a mom who had a boy and a girl. She noticed I had two boys and asked if her younger son could ride with mine on Buzz. They had so much fun that they begged us to let them ride again! It was a wonderful moment!

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!

I have a DS who will be 11 in Feb. too!

We're heading down soon (see my countdown ticker below). I would never let mine ride alone. Just the thought of, "What if the ride broke down & he were stuck on it w/out myself or DH?" makes me cringe.

 

[SmallWorld71]

DS9 rode RnR on his own on our last trip but I did go with him in the line and met him at the exit. I was O.K. with this for a couple reasons:
1) He's been on the ride before and knew what to expect.
2) He doesn't panic in emergency situations and I knew he was level headed enough to follow directions if the ride ever broke down.
3) He's been to Disney enough times that he knows what to do if we ever get separated.
While it definitely depends on the kid, I think it would be a reasonable thing to do if you are comfortable with it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just the thought of, "What if the ride broke down & he were stuck on it w/out myself or DH?" makes me cringe.

I think that's a really good thing to take into account. Not how we as parents might feel, but how the kid would do and feel and act in such a situation. Would they burst into tears? Don't let them into that situation. Would they be just fine and see it as an adventure? Let 'em go!


My friends and I were wandering Great America in CA at 10-ish...not all day, and we'd meet up with whatever parent brought us every so often, but we had large spans of time being on our own. It was great, and we had fun, and didn't get into trouble.

 

[starbox]

I don't like Space Mountain but it's my kids' favorite. I've been letting my two kids ride it together since they were 8 and 10. I walk through the line and then take the chicken exit once they get on the ride - then wait for them on the chicken bench.

And SM did break down with them on it once!!! They called me on the cellphone and said don't worrt - they were fine and got to see the ride with the lights on!