Kid's Club vs Kid's freedom questions

[MollieW]

Hello everyone! I hope I'm posting in the right place.
I ran into a predicament with trying to plan my family's time at Disney World and give everyone the freedom that they want from each other. I would love to go on a "date" of sorts with my husband at a nicer restaurant at Magic Kingdom or Epcot and have my kids (7 and 11) hang out at the Kids Club. My daughter, however, who will be 12 in a few weeks has been dreading the idea of being "nannied" (as she calls it) and asked me if she and her brother can go around the parks by themselves.

I'm not super sure if that is a good idea, but she is responsible kid. She walks home by herself after school, picks up her brother and babysits him for 2 hours about four times a week. She can also cook dinner for her and her brother by herself. I have let her walk around the mall by herself with her brother while I'm shopping. What she doesn't know is that her cellphone is also a tracking device, and I check her location about every 5 seconds.

So, knowing all this, should I let them walk around Epcot or Magic Kingdom for two hours? I have no true concept of what the parks will be like and I've seen a huge range of answers to this question on these boards already.

 

[DopeyDame]

This thread has some good discussion about that: http://www.disboards.com/threads/enforcement-of-14-yr-old-restriction.3498934/

My oldest is 7 right now, so I haven't been in your exact shoes, but I can imagine letting my kids go off alone for a little bit under the right scenarios when they're that age.
As long as they are in the same park as you, depending on the kids, I would probably think it's just fine. And I totally understand your 12 year olds desire not to go to the kids club.
I might do a lunch date rather than a dinner date, just because sometimes things can get a little crazy/confusing in the dark around fireworks time.

 

[AshleeH]

Only you, as the parent knows for sure. I would allow my just-turned 13 year old some more freedom around the parks. He's very responsible, very polite, and has a better sense of direction than I do (he's also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, which eases my mind). I don't know if I'll allow his brother, even when he turns 16 - he's 9 now and can't find his shoes if they're on the floor in front of him lol!

 

[AJ1983]

The reasonable person in me says that Disney is safe and your two kids should be fine to go around the park alone. The new Mom in me is saying I could never let my 12 year old be responsible for a 7 year own at a place with that many people. I will add that I have been watching a show about a child kidnapped from a very public place in broad daylight, so that is probably influencing my answer here I will add that I totally understand your daughters feelings...at 12 I would have kicked up bloody murder at the idea of a babysitter.

 

[joannamet]

Agent P's Adventure sounds like your answer. Each game is in one country's pavilion in Epcot. The kids can run around and play while you and hubby have a lovely dinner in WS. They will be completely engaged and you'll know where they are.

 

[Ava]

If your 12-year-old has a phone, and your 7-year-old is used to her being his babysitter and understands that she's in charge while they are alone, they should be fine to go around the same park you are in for a couple of hours. I would just have an earlier dinner so you can meet back up with them before the fireworks. As a PP said, it will get crowded and dark in the fireworks area closer to showtime.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

The right kids--I would definitely let do this. We took DH's nieces at similar ages and let them roam together. One thing I was certain about with them that I'm not sure about with my kids is whether or not the youngest will under no circumstances separate from the older. Mine are still a little younger, but the youngest one is so strong-willed, I'm not sure he wouldn't just decide to do his own thing if big brother wasn't doing to please him.

And I agree on the finish before fireworks--it is so easy to get separated in those crowds.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I would probably let them hang out in the room but not roam the parks.

 

[kreckl]

No. I would not let children that young roam the parks alone. Especially EPCOT, which is huge.