How old would your child have to be to be alone at the parks?

[Freyja]

You have to remember that some 13 year olds have not been raised to think independantly and make wise choices. So, the poster of that statement is probably very smart in knowing that her child isn't mature enough.

MIne would die if I treated him like that. He knows he is smart and is able to make good decisions.

Live and let live, as you said!

I do remember that and that´s why I would never tell anyone else when to let THEIR kids run loose in the parks. Just don´t want to get written off as a bad parent for letting my kids do it.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I do remember that and that´s why I would never tell anyone else when to let THEIR kids run loose in the parks. Just don´t want to get written off as a bad parent for letting my kids do it.

I thought that came out sounding odd...I hate that! I removed your quote so that it didnt' sound as though I was disagree...when I was agree, and pointing out why!

 

[Freyja]

I thought that came out sounding odd...I hate that! I removed your quote so that it didnt' sound as though I was disagree...when I was agree, and pointing out why!

I´m sorry, my bad!

Thanks for the comment about my website

 

[Trixie15]

I think when the older two are 12 and 13 I'll feel ok about letting them loose for a few hours (with rules, staying together, cell phones, same park, etc.) Once they are 14 and 13, I think it would be ok if they took their 11 year old sister with them for a few hours. Once they are 15, 14, 12, and 9 I think it would be ok if the older two each took one of the younger two out for a few hours. I really think it depends on the maturity level, though.

Right now I don't have to worry because they are only 6, 5, 3, and 5 months. Whew!

 

[themudd4]

revently my BIL & SIL went and took my nephews who are 17, 14, & 5. I suggested that they allow the 17 & 14 year old to kind of do their own thing since the 5 yr old is very babyfid and they would be bored having to stay in the area without thrills and such. Well they allowed them very little free time and it was mostly while at the resort.
Now for my kids...My DD13 is great and I know I could trust her, but it is not her I worry about. Maybe in a few years, and if she had a friend her age to be with...but not alone! My DS6 (will be 7 next week) I am guessing that he will be 18 before I let him out of my sight. He is my baby and I love him but he is going to be trouble from the word go!

 

[KimK2006]

My DD11, has been to Disney at least once a year since she was 2.5. She knows the parks well. I wouldn't let her go off on her own alone, but some other families are coming with us in the fall. She and a couple of the boys will be 12. We have talked about letting them do some things on their own, but only if they stay in the same park we are in, and only if they STAY together. We let them do this this past summer on the Disney Cruise. They were so good at following the rules. They knew it was a one strike, you stay with your parents the rest of the trip!

Now, I don't see my DS7 being able to do this for quite a while. He has a LOT of maturing to do!!!

 

[MommaPooh]

DD(13) and DS (11) are allowed to go off on their own as long as they (1) stay together, (2) keep their cell phone and call us at a set time and (3) meet us at a designated time and place.

 

[chobie]

My dd has been given alone time at the parks since she turned 12. She will stay at one part of the park while the rest of us go on the rides. It is only for about an hour at a time. We are in the same park as her and we have cell phones and I call about every ten minutes which is probably too much, but she doesn't mind.

My son is only 9 and I'm not sure at this point if I would trust him at age 12. We'll have to see.

 

[ep4244]

I'm taking a solo trip next week. My mother told me she was worried about me being alone in the parks.

I'm 36.

Did you borrow my mom - I went on my Solo 37th B-day trip and my mom insisted I call her daily. I felt like I was 16 again, but I'm glad she cares.

My DD's are 9 and 11 and have asked about when I'll let them go alone, I do let them stay in a store at WDW if I need to use the ladies room, I've let them sit and wait for the fireworks while I grab snacks, and while at AKL this past trip I let them go to Mara while I finished getting ready - I came down and they had bought their breakfast and were sitting watching cartoons and eating (I think it was all of 10 minutes alone). My 9 year old is very dependable and level headed. I'm trying to ease them into independence without pushing them over the edge. They also each have a cell when we travel that goes with them everywhere. And that GPS chip I had implanted in them helps also (just kidding...maybe)

 

[pearlieq]

It's totally dependent on the kid, of course, but assuming a reasonable level of maturity I would let an 11 year-old go off with another kid of the same age or older if we were in the same park. I think that would be OK.

I would probably be willing to entertain the idea of the kid going by themselves from the hotel to the park around 14-ish. I figure if they're old enough to catch the bus to high school every day they can be old enough to catch the bus to a park. Plus they could always call us or turn to a CM for help.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

It occurred to me by the time I was on page 3 of this thread that I have indeed let DS13 go on his own, at MK.

I had completely forgotten about it! It was during MVMCP and I was determined to see the Christmas parade. DS didn't want to watch it, so I let him go ride Space Mountain while I watched the parade from Main Street.
He was given orders to meet up at the Confectionary shop after the parade.
Sure enough, he was waiting for me! He was quite happy, as he rode Space Mountain twice.

I plan to allow him much more freedom on our trip this summer, allow him to explore the parks on his own if he wants. However, I don't think I will let him ride disney busses by himself or let him go in Downtown Disney all alone.

 

[ILUVPOOH1]

I let my son 13 walk around the park we are in by himself. He does fine and he carries his cell phone. This is a personal choice based on his maturity level. When he is 14 I will probably let him ride the bus to another park.
Just some quick background. My son is VERY independent. Last fall, when he was 12, he was chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Wash. D.C. This conference is attended by middle-schoolers from across the nation who have shown academic excellence and leadership qualities. He spent 1 week living in a dorm with other kids. Had to be self-sufficent (including remembering to take his allergy and asthma meds, take care of his braces and set his alarm to wake up and make it down for b-fast on time and get to all his classes) without a parent there to direct him. He loved it!! Not to mention that most of these kids came to D.C. from across the country and flew UNACCOMPANIED STATUS!! At 12 years old!!
I think it depends on your child. You have to do what makes you comfortable and what makes your child comfortable.
By the way. My son will be flying to Boston this summer for the NYLC Alumni conference. Another week on his own without mom and dad around.

 

[disneystick]

My teens were 14 and 16 last yr. and they were allowed to be on their own...but they always had to be together. Which they agreed - hard to believe since one they are brother and sister. And we are have cell phones to keep in touch.

 

[edk35]

My kids ages are listed below. My kids have never gone to the parks by themselves...my 13 year old will run over and check a ride time for us and call us on his cell to tell us and maybe ride something ahead of us ....maybe since he ran all the way there before we got there. My oldest and 13 year old have gone on some rides without us......and my oldest has taken my 8 year old on some stuff too...but NO to them being in a park by themselves getting to the parks on their own. So NO to my 13 year old as far as him going off to the park on his own. My daughter just said she would only do it if her brother went with her. We have let them branch out a bit these last two Disney trips. Also, they don't seem to mind hanging with us either. So as long as they are happy being with MOM and DAD.....it's all good.

 

[Machta]

I've been following this thread with a lot of interest, and I have a couple of thoughts:

1. I would have thought that parents would be more likely to let boys go off alone earlier than girls, but it seems as if the opposite is true. What do you all think? (BTW, I have one of each.)

2. Cell phones seem to make a big difference as to whether or not a parent would let a kid go off on their own. Thoughts?

3. Do you think you are more or less likely to let your kid go off alone at WDW or at home?

4. I would love to hear similar thoughts as to what age you allow your kids to have charging priviledges on their room key card.

My boy is now 14, and we've let him go off on his own both at home and WDW for some years now. It helps that he's a boy scout and has had that training, and it also helps that he's almost 6' and looks more like a senior than a freshman! We have even let him ride his bike to youth group & scouts at our church (about a mile away) after dark, so long as he has the proper lights & safety equipment. It's been good for him to learn to be out & about on his own, and I don't worry. Much.

 

[chobie]

I've been following this thread with a lot of interest, and I have a couple of thoughts:

1. I would have thought that parents would be more likely to let boys go off alone earlier than girls, but it seems as if the opposite is true. What do you all think? (BTW, I have one of each.)

2. Cell phones seem to make a big difference as to whether or not a parent would let a kid go off on their own. Thoughts?

3. Do you think you are more or less likely to let your kid go off alone at WDW or at home?

4. I would love to hear similar thoughts as to what age you allow your kids to have charging priviledges on their room key card.

My boy is now 14, and we've let him go off on his own both at home and WDW for some years now. It helps that he's a boy scout and has had that training, and it also helps that he's almost 6' and looks more like a senior than a freshman! We have even let him ride his bike to youth group & scouts at our church (about a mile away) after dark, so long as he has the proper lights & safety equipment. It's been good for him to learn to be out & about on his own, and I don't worry. Much.

1. My son just seems to not have as good as judgment as his sister did at that age. Does not seem as mature, as aware of his surroundings and he does not seem to be as aware of safety issues like his sister. I would worry about my son going on a ride and doing something stupid and getting hurt. My dd just doesn't act that way.

2. The cell phone makes me feel better. Not really sure if it helps of not.

3. Not sure.

4. My kids have been allowed charging priveleges since they were old enough to sign their name on the card. They get a real kick out of buying their own breakfast at the food court or charging a snack here and there. They know what they can and can't use it for.

 

[Freyja]

I've been following this thread with a lot of interest, and I have a couple of thoughts:

1. I would have thought that parents would be more likely to let boys go off alone earlier than girls, but it seems as if the opposite is true. What do you all think? (BTW, I have one of each.)

2. Cell phones seem to make a big difference as to whether or not a parent would let a kid go off on their own. Thoughts?

3. Do you think you are more or less likely to let your kid go off alone at WDW or at home?

4. I would love to hear similar thoughts as to what age you allow your kids to have charging priviledges on their room key card.

My boy is now 14, and we've let him go off on his own both at home and WDW for some years now. It helps that he's a boy scout and has had that training, and it also helps that he's almost 6' and looks more like a senior than a freshman! We have even let him ride his bike to youth group & scouts at our church (about a mile away) after dark, so long as he has the proper lights & safety equipment. It's been good for him to learn to be out & about on his own, and I don't worry. Much.

I am more likely to let my DS go off in a couple of years than I will be letting DD go off at the same age. He´s more mature for his age, is very sensible and street-smart.

Cell phones make a HUGE difference to me. Let´s face it, they might run into problems and those problems are most likely practical and not kidnapping etc. If they get lost, loose their money, feel sick, lonely etc. they can give us a call and we can sort things out.

My kid would never go off at Disney if they weren´t used to going off at home. So I´d say I´m more like to let them go off at home, since it would always start that way in this household (and has).

I imagine that DS 12 and DD 10 would now be allowed to have charging privileges. I don´t fear at all that they´d abuse them.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I was 12 or 13 the first time I took a friend and having 15-20 trips under my belt at that point, we were allowed to go off on our own for a couple hours at a time since mom knew I knew my way around the Magic Kingdom better than my own town I think, LOL! This was before cell phones were convenient pricewise. . . no one had them that wasn't "rich" then, LOL, so we'd meet up every so often, then head back out on our own. I was 16 the next time we took a friend and at that point we were heading off on the bus to go to the parks on our own for the evening.

 

[WillJenDisney]

I was 12 and my cousin 13 when my parents let us roam free in the parks. And that was from the hotel to the parks and back on our own. That was part of what made Disney so special was that they could let us go and have no fear. Now I would have considered myself mature for the age, so I would say it depends on the kid. We would tell them where we were going in the morning and when we would meet up again and then we were off. My 14 year old brother went around with my 15 year old cousin in the same way on that trip. Kids like being given freedom if they're responsible enough for it, and Disney is as safe as you're going to get.

 

[pugcrazy]

I would not let my DD13 go off alone at WDW or in any large setting. Is DD13 not trustworth or intelligent? Not at all. I trust her & believe she is VERY capable of making good decisions. It is the other people out there that I do not trust.

I will be allowing her to go to WDW when she is almost 16 with the High School Band (they go every other year). She currently wants me to go as a chapereon. I have told her I would most likely fly (they travel from Texas by bus)to WDW & be there at the same time she was there, but not responsible for a bunch of teenages. She can call me & meet up for a meal paid by Mom that isn't CS if she wants. I can be there to see her march in the parade at Disney. That is a moment I want on tape! And DH & I can explore WDW on our own for the first time.

I am not overly concerned since she will be with a large group of friends.