Is this reasonable for a 13 and a 14 year old?

[Magpie]

My kids are wondering if they'll be allowed to explore US and IOA on their own when we go for a week in December.

We'll be staying on-site (at the RPR). They'll have cellphones. They'll promise to stick together.

Is this reasonable? Would you let your kids do this, at 13 and 14 years old?

 

[PrincessKara22]

I don't have kids (I'm only 24) but I definitely think this would be fine. Just have certain check in times either a call or a meet up place. I've never been to Universal but I don't think it would be any different than being at Disney.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Our twins are 12 and we've recently discussed this because they are now in jr high and are going on day trips with school where there is minimal supervision (Six Flags, etc). DH and I agreed that when our kids are 14 they will be old enough to go around WDW or US by themselves. They will have to stick together, call in at certain times and if Mom decided to call to check up, Mom will want to talk to both of them to make sure they didn't go off by themselves.

As long as you are staying onsite and they know how to get around the theme parks and back to the hotel, I would think they would be just fine.

 

[gdaysboi]

A few questions:

Do you let them shop alone?
Run around at the high sport sporting events by themselves?

And when you do, Do they get into trouble or are they good kids?

If you trust them and they are good kids, US and IOA is more like a shopping mall with rides and is safe. However, if you don't want to miss out on family experiences or they tend to get into trouble go with them.

 

[Magpie]

A few questions:

Do you let them shop alone?

Absolutely - I love being able to send them to the grocery store whenever I realize I need something!

I also let them take public transit to school alone - but I don't yet let them take the bus to the mall by themselves. They've gone in groups with older teens, though.

Run around at the high sport sporting events by themselves?

No opportunity to do this yet.

And when you do, Do they get into trouble or are they good kids?

Oh, they're definitely good kids!

If you trust them and they are good kids, US and IOA is more like a shopping mall with rides and is safe. However, if you don't want to miss out on family experiences or they tend to get into trouble go with them.

Thank you, and thanks to all the PPs, too! We'll be staying for a week, so I think we'll have lots of opportunities for family experiences. However, my husband likes to nap in the afternoon, and I was thinking that I'd like to go back to the hotel with him and leave the kids at the park.

I'm glad to know that I can do that!

 

[mom2monkiesx3]

My son is 12 1/2 and there is now way I'd let him roam in such a large place alone yet. I think it just depends on each individual child, the maturity level and how often that child has been left alone. I stay at home and my 12yr old is not allowed to stay at home alone yet. We live in a VERY small town so he has not had experience with large crowds alone.

I say make sure their phone service works in the parks and if YOU feel comfortable with it then it should be ok.

 

[MonorailNate]

If they are good kids, I would have no problem with it as long as they stay together.

 

[ChrisFL]

When I was 12 *cough*19 years ago*cough*....

My mother would be working at USF and I'd walk around the park and do the attractions on my own...it was always fine, I never felt unsafe (but I'm a male also, it could feel different for a solo female)

I think the parks are very safe. The only time I'd ever question that is during HHN sometimes

 

[mjohnson96]

Many of the cell carriers also have the family locator so you can tell where your kids are. This might be a good option to look into trying out during your time when you are there. Most carriers have a month trail periord so you might be able to not have to pay for it or only pay for 1 month fee.

I used to do this when I was younger, my younger sister and older brother used to be able to walk around. We just had to check in at the designated meeting place, since no cell phones back then.

 

[donaldduck352]

I think the parks are very safe. The only time I'd ever question that is during HHN sometimes

I been letting my kids roam alone since they were 12,with cell phones of coarse.But never,I mean never during HHN....

Universal Resorts are very safe with alot of security that you never see.But if something was to happen,I've seen security come running in seconds.

For example one time on the Hulk a fight broke out in line and security was there along with TM's in under 10seconds.We consider it very safe.

 

[Hedy]

My kids are wondering if they'll be allowed to explore US and IOA on their own when we go for a week in December.

We'll be staying on-site (at the RPR). They'll have cellphones. They'll promise to stick together.

Is this reasonable? Would you let your kids do this, at 13 and 14 years old?

I was allowed to go off on my own when I was 12 in Universal (pre-IOA).

 

[damo]

I wouldn't have an issue with it. As long as you know they are responsible and will just be doing rides, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[momblanch]

How safe would you all feel it would be to allow DD12 (chicken) to wait in child swap area for certain rides, while DS18 and I rode? She is responsible and will have a cell phone, but I'm not sure.

 

[damo]

How safe would you all feel it would be to allow DD12 (chicken) to wait in child swap area for certain rides, while DS18 and I rode? She is responsible and will have a cell phone, but I'm not sure.

I think she is fine.

 

[picktails]

When DS was 12 & DD9 they went to child swap while I rode ToT with my mom - they were afraid of everything and we just wanted to ride something! Funny, by the time DS was 14 he was riding the bus and going to parks alone so he could ride all the coasters/thrill rides over and over! Middle schoolers go on school trips and are mostly unsupervised at theme parks, so as long as you trust them, let them have fun!

 

[xApril]

I think they would be fine. I go alone, though I'm a few years older, my mom feels perfectly fine. She just wants me to speak with her until I'm inside the park, then she feels there's enough security/team members around to make sure I'm safe.

 

[petals]

We went with a troupe of dancesr in 2008 and the 12-18 year olds all went around parks parentless while we were there

 

[Lucky4me]

No problem with leaving an older child in the swap area.

I would also allow a 13 and 14 year old loose in Universal. Perfect age to safely test their wings if they can be trusted not to do anything stupid. Just give them a time to check in.
ds and his best friend were 11 and 12 when they made some great childhood memories together in Disney World. 17 years later, they're still talking about the thrill of being allowed to run around the parks by themselves.