Kids Alone in the Park--What Age?

[mom2AidanAndEli]

On our next trip our sons will be 12 and 14. They're really, really into the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and want to spend a fair amount of time playing the game at MK. Hubby and I---not so much! My thought is that we all head to the park together but the boys can go off and play their game and DH and I can poke in shops (which the boys hate!), grab a snack, maybe a show/ride the boys aren't as interested in (Presidents, COP, etc). We'd all still be in the same park and they'd have at least one cell phone with them.

They're good kids and I'm not at all worried about them getting in any trouble at all. But will CMs question them, give them any trouble? Is it okay if they're on their own?

Maybe this is perfectly fine, but I'm just really not sure! I'm not an overprotective, helicopter parent usually. They've gone to Scout camp for a whole week without me! They've been to the park four times before, so kind of know their way around, although not experts by any means!

How old were your kids when you first let them go on their own? We've always seen our trips as family trips, so we all do things together. Never really broken apart for something like this before.

 

[JennyDrake]

You're going to have LOTS of people screaming, "OMG I'd never let my kids out of my sight! I could not forgive myself if something happened." <insert eye roll> I turned my young 'uns loose at 12, 14, 16 (their first trip.) And it was before cell phones! And the body snatchers didn't show up!

 

[prudence64]

I believe 14 is the official age they are allowed to be on their own or with younger siblings, so as long as they stay together, that should be fine.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My response to these types of questions is always "Every kid is different. You know your kids best." But by 12 and 14, almost all kids would be fine on their own, especially now with cell phones for communication. They won't be questioned or given any problems by CMs unless they are not conducting themselves in a proper manner (and I'm definitely not saying your kids wouldn't behave themselves, but there are some kids that don't).

My DD was 8 on our last trip. It was the first trip when I allowed her to go to the bathroom without me while I was waiting in line to buy food, stay in line by herself for a few minutes while I ran to the restroom, and go buy a Mickey bar while I waited in a character line. She'll be 10 when we go in May and I will likely give her even a little more freedom.

 

[connie1042]

I left 2 girls in the park and they were 13 at the time. It was to hot for us and the girls wanted to stay. I went back at 11 pm and picked them up. They did just fine.

 

[JillyBean1899]

If you trust them to not be brats or leave the park, 12 and 14 would be fine. As long as they behave themselves, CMs won't bother them. They're more worried about the kids acting like idiots than the ones that act like normal people.

Besides, the CMs don't know that your kids are wandering around unsupervised. For all they know, you are sitting on a bench next to the exit, watching the kids walk into the line.

 

[ucfknight]

You should have no problem letting them go off and explore together, as long as you are confident they are going to stay together and aren't going to act crazy if they aren't your presence. Guests under 14 must be accompanied by a guest 14 or older to enter the park, so you aren't breaking any park rules by letting a 14 and 12 year old go on their own.

I know you said they would have at least one cell phone, but I'd still make sure to setup a time and place to meet just in case they lose the cell phone or can't get reception for some reason.

 

[North of Mouse]

My response to these types of questions is always "Every kid is different. You know your kids best." But by 12 and 14, almost all kids would be fine on their own, especially now with cell phones for communication. They won't be questioned or given any problems by CMs unless they are not conducting themselves in a proper manner (and I'm definitely not saying your kids wouldn't behave themselves, but there are some kids that don't).

If you trust them to not be brats or leave the park, 12 and 14 would be fine. As long as they behave themselves, CMs won't bother them. They're more worried about the kids acting like idiots than the ones that act like normal people.

I agree with both posters. I let mine do it at that age as they could definitely be trusted to conduct themselves in proper manner. They always knew 'consequences' were 'in place', but they never gave us reason to use them.

Go for it - enjoy!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I believe 14 is the official age they are allowed to be on their own or with younger siblings, so as long as they stay together, that should be fine.

Edited: I just realized WDW changed their policy last year. There wasn't a minimum policy prior to last March. But still, it's just a minimum age to enter the park. It does not mean a child under that age can't tour without an adult.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I teach 8th grade, and we take a 2 day trip to Williamsburg every year during which the kids are "alone" in Busch Gardens for 2-3 hours at a time in between check-ins. They are always fine, and since they are in 8th grade, their average age is about 13. Busch Gardens is way more spread out than the MK, so I wouldn't hesitate at all to do this in the MK.

 

[wiigirl]

I believe 14 is the official age they are allowed to be on their own or with younger siblings, so as long as they stay together, that should be fine.

I think around that should be fine.

 

[KimmiP]

What I did with my DD while we were in Epcot, she went off with a friend while we did our own thing (she was 15). The rule was since she had the cell phone she had to text me every hour to tell me where she was at. It was a small thing but it gave mom some peace of mind. The texts went like this:

DD: In Mexico going on the boat ride for the third time
Me: Ok

Simple

You could do something similar with your DS.

 

[summermac]

Honestly my almost 10 year old son could probably go off alone for 2-3 hours. He is very independent, knows how to read a map and actually on our last trip (he was almost 8) I questioned him regarding what he would do if we got separated. He said: "I'd leave the park, go to bus stop # whatever it was (he was right), ride the bus to Sports and go to room # whatever we had and wait for you." Clearly NOT the answer I wanted but he knew what to do. LOL!

Now my daughter.....um...she has a party in her head all the time. I don't know if I'd let her go alone at even 14-15. Haha.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

granted it was a different park, not Disney, but at thast age my girls would do their thing at the park with meet up places and times. since it was summer the main thing i would remind them of it was a long siy and wait at the car with no air for not following park rules. never once had a problem, in fact, younger one, a special needs child, music trip to Disney, i was told her group and 4 others out of 15 were allowed on last day to go to a different park for 3 hours as a reward for being on time for every check in. her keader wanted to know she knew how to do so well. it came from all the times before.

 

[wordwitt]

Just to clarify, kids under 14 are required to enter the park with an adult. This does not mean that an adult has to tour with them the entire time while in the parks. Our daughter is celebrating her 13th birthday at WDW in May and we are bringing two of her friends with us (they will also be 13 at the time). We plan on entering the parks with the girls and then, at least some of the time, letting them set out on their own with designated text check-in times. They are very excited about this, and all of the parents agree that it is a safe way for them to feel a little independent. Since they are responsible, polite, honor roll kids I am not at all worried about possible misbehavior. Also, we will set down some rules and revisit "stranger danger" lessons beforehand.

 

[wuzzy6]

You'll be in the same park, they'll be together, and they will have cell phones with them - I think 12 and 14 is a fine age to explore the park without your direct supervision.

 

[ucfknight]

A child under 7 has to ride with someone 14 or above, but that doesn't mean that a child has to be 14 to be alone in the parks. I believe the waterparks are the only parks with an official age to be alone. There isn't an official policy on what age a child has to be to be alone in the main themeparks other than they cannot go on a ride alone until they are 7.

There is an official Disney World minimum age policy for "entering" the parks alone:


Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations:

Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park

If you’re planning on some adults-only time at Walt Disney World Resort, we offer childcare service and Children's Activity Centers to provide you with the flexibility to enjoy your vacation as you wish.


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/minimum-age/

 

[photo_chick]

OP do you let your kids go off on their own at the mall? Do you let them stay home alone while you go out to dinner or something? And do you have cell phones so they can communicate with you instantly?

My DD 14 babysits DS 11 all the time and I'm good with them being on their own for a little bit. We've got phones if they need us. I'm not ready to do it for an extended amount of time or leave the park with them in it though... but my DS has some special issues that complicate things. If he didn't have the issues he has and was as level headed and responsible as his sister I'd have no problem letting them go on their own for as long as they wanted.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Just to clarify, kids under 14 are required to enter the park with an adult.

Thanks for the clarification. I hadn't realized that WDW instituted a minimum age last year. There hadn't been one for the parks previously. But yes, it's a minimum age to enter the parks alone, not to tour alone.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

There is an official Disney World minimum age policy for "entering" the parks alone:


Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations:

Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park

If you’re planning on some adults-only time at Walt Disney World Resort, we offer childcare service and Children's Activity Centers to provide you with the flexibility to enjoy your vacation as you wish.


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/minimum-age/

Thank you for pointing that out. That policy was not in place before March of last year and our last trip was in 2012 so there was no policy at that time.