Kids on their own in the parks? What age?

[Disney Mommy 3]

I would be OK with my DS14 and DS11 exploring the park, although we do tend to stick together on vacations. They've been enough times that they can navigate easily. I don't think I would let them take DD7 with them though as she has a tendency to get distracted and I would be afraid she'd inadvertently wander away. I'd say it depends on their relationship and how responsible they each are.

Just had to comment on your comment...my kids are boy, boy, girl and same ages!!! I agree with all you said..same here... I think my boys would watch out for her...but she would try to be the Mother Hen and they may regret taking her!!! Ha!!! I would let the 3 of them go off to a different ride or something though----we go when it's off season...so I think they would be fine. And ds14 will be almost 15 next trip!

 

[crisi]

It is one of those "depends on your kids" and also "depends on the level of freedom" - my son was also around seven when he started doing rides by himself (Mom waiting for him at the exit because I only want to ride BTMRR two or three times).

Last trip he was ten and we were in Future World. It was the last night and my daughter had not seen Minnie. So we had to stand in line late at Epcot to see Minnie. He was tired, and didn't want to see Minnie, so we gave him a cell phone and sent him back to Boardwalk (he's made that walk 50 times before). He made it back, but was too scared to be in the room by himself so we found him and his Gameboy in the BW lobby.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Just had to comment on your comment...my kids are boy, boy, girl and same ages!!! I agree with all you said..same here... I think my boys would watch out for her...but she would try to be the Mother Hen and they may regret taking her!!! Ha!!! I would let the 3 of them go off to a different ride or something though----we go when it's off season...so I think they would be fine. And ds14 will be almost 15 next trip!

Funny about the kids being the same ages; pros and cons to them being so spread out. I let DS11 take DD7 on the Barnstormer this past Feb. while I was in the Toontown Tent and they had no problems. But, she's definitely at the age where she thinks she is old enough to take care of herself but doesn't always make the best decisions, so she doesn't always think her brothers are right.

 

[MrsPooh]

My girls were 15 1/2 and 10 1/2 at the time of our last trip. We did allow them to go by themselves and had no problems at all. Sometimes it was them going one way by themselves while we went another and at other times we were at the resort while they went to MK or Epcot. The oldest had a cell phone in case of emergency and they are good at looking out for each other so I was not concerned. I did not allow them to go to Downtown Disney or a water park by themselves though. We were staying at the Poly and transportation was easy from there so I think that helped my decision.

 

[~armywife~]

oh my gosh ...

maybe it's because i live in such a small town. maybe i've heard too bad news stories. maybe i'm just too overprotective. i know it's disney and it's hard to relate that bad people might be at disney, but i would be nervous about letting my 9 year old wander for too long on the other side of the park, or be out of the park i was in, even if he/she was with an older sibling.

 

[kate_wdw]

I agree with PPs that it depends on your children's personalities and relationship. As long as your DS is likely to watch over your DD, and your DD is likely to listen to him, I think it should be fine.

When I was a camp counselor-in-training at 13 or 14 years old, I was responsible for watching small groups of young children (about 5 kids, 7 years old and younger) at both an aquarium and an amusement park. If it makes you feel better, I didn't lose a single one.

 

[Santana]

I was allowed to wander around the park on my own at 14, with a cell phone. Granted, I'd been to Disney World at least four times by then, so I pretty much knew my way around.

 

[eyor44]

We let DS begin being by himself at 13 while we were at the same park. At 14 he was allowed to go to a park by himself. We just make sure he knows how to get there and get back to the resort (if we are at one and he wants to go to another). Sad thing is DD7 knows the bus/monorail transfer system better than DS.

 

[D C]

My girls were 15 1/2 and 10 1/2 at the time of our last trip. We did allow them to go by themselves and had no problems at all. Sometimes it was them going one way by themselves while we went another and at other times we were at the resort while they went to MK or Epcot. The oldest had a cell phone in case of emergency and they are good at looking out for each other so I was not concerned. I did not allow them to go to Downtown Disney or a water park by themselves though. We were staying at the Poly and transportation was easy from there so I think that helped my decision.

We're staying at the Boardwalk, and I could see letting them go to DHS or Epcot while we're at the hotel, or let them wander Epcot while we're sipping on some wine in France. I'm sure they would be fine wherever we allowed them to go.

It would probably be one of those rare times when they see a mutual opportunity to do something a little out of the ordinary and thus team up.

It helps knowing that there are other people with similar age kids that have done the same.

 

[Evi]

I second the cell phone part. I'd only feel comfortable letting them run off together if they both had cell phones and I also had one so that if for some reason they got split up they could call me and each other to make sure everyone got back together. I'd also have a huge talk with the both of them explaining of the importance of sticking together and making sure they look out for each other and giving them directions on what to do if they get split up.

 

[henderkm]

My DD's were 13 and 15 before I let them venture out without us. But they already knew the parks from visiting several times.

Kathy

 

[dsnycrzy]

I think they will be fine. My kids are DD17, DS14 and DD7. The 2 big ones would be fine, my little one would get on their nerves so I wouldnt make them take her, they may try to lose her on purpose.
If they get along well like my older kids, I'd say let them make memories of their own.

 

[brergnat]

Absolutely old enough (both of them together).

As long as you are confident in the older one's ability to navigate the WDW resort transportation system, and you know the 9 year old knows how to handle herself if she gets separated from her sibling, then I wouldn't think twice about it.

Heck, at 15 years old, I had a full time after school job babysitting a 6 and 8 year old. I used to take them all over the place in our city on bikes...

 

[Zoesmama03]

If 15 year old is mature enough I'd say go for it with cell phones and scheduled meet up times. Check in with them by text every 15 minutes and I think they'd be just fine. But again that is totally up the maturity of the 15 year old. My dad let us go off when I was 15 and my brothers were 14 and 13 or so. That is a bit different than 9 but as long as the 9 year old has the cell phone numbers memorized she is probably mature enough to ask a CM in a shop to call one of you.

On a side note it is soooo true that even with low crowds kids can disappear from sight in seconds. My best friends older kids both got lost for a few minutes at MK. That was with 3 adults watching but as long as they have a system in place for notifying the other. If possible make sure 9 and 15 year old each have their own phones in case they did get separated for any reason. I'd highly recommend a prepaid from Virgin Mobile you can get a basic phone for $10 and purchase $20 in minutes program all the cell phone numbers into it. This is what I would do in the situation if the 15 year old is mature enough.

 

[ms_missy66]

I guess the cheese is standing semi-alone on this one but no way in heck would I allow my 9 year old go alone with someone under 18 years old. It's not about the maturity or temperment of the children. It's more like the situations that could arise that would require some pretty adult thinking. What if they got separated. What if someone got hurt. Would the 15 year old ever say, "Okay, you go on this ride and I'll go on another and I'll meet you back here?" There's NO chance liberties would be taken while the cat (mom and dad) is away? I've been 15 and have known plenty of 15 year olds. They're not adults.

I admit, I'm a protective mom. I also have kids who are 5 and 7. Perhaps I would have a different opinion when my kids are 15 and 13. But for now, having a 12 year old niece who is a completely wonderful and responsible child, no way would I let her go into the parks alone. I'm responsible for my children until they are 18. Imagine the headlines about a nine year-old left to her own devices or at the mercy of others' in WDW? Would that be child neglect? Endangerment? I don't know.

I'm sure this post will strike a nerve with someone. But do take it with maybe two grains of salt. Again, my children aren't nearly old enough so this opinion isn't based on experience. I full admit that. Plus, you know your kids best. There are exceptions to every rule.

 

[MomtoAlexnWilliam]

I think you are getting really good advice about how to decide if you should let the 15 and 9 year olds hang out in the park alone.

If my 15 year old was 'adult' sized and responsible and has a history of really watching the 9 year old, then go for it! If you have any doubts whatsoever then don't do it. If something happened, you would never forgive yourself.

Sidenote: To the mom who lets her 6 and 8 year olds explore Six Flags alone....I would like to share my perspective based on almost 15 years as an attorney in the area of child laws. In my state we do not have a specific age that children may be left alone without adult supervision. That said, generally, 10 is the youngest accepted age that a child could be left at home alone with safety procedures in place. When a child under the age of 10 is found alone by the police/DHS (even in a safe home -- and I would argue that a safe home with locked doors is much safer than an amusement park with thousands of people milling about), the parent is generally charged with a crime and the child is removed and placed into DHS custody. Whether or not the child should have been left alone or was capable of being left alone is sorted out much later.

I am sure your children are responsible and mature for their ages or you would never let them roam. However, they are still the size of 6 and 8 year olds and no match for an adult aggressor. I hope you'll take into consideration my perspective.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd highly recommend a prepaid from Virgin Mobile you can get a basic phone for $10 and purchase $20 in minutes program all the cell phone numbers into it. This is what I would do in the situation if the 15 year old is mature enough.

I know your kids are younger, but I can't imagine there is a 15 year old out there without a cellphone (maybe an Amish one?). I was 10 years old (back in the day), and went to WDW alone (stayed at CR). There were no cellphones. I would have absolutely no concerns at having dd14 take dd9 pretty much anywhere. At her age, I was taking the bus into NYC.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I guess the cheese is standing semi-alone on this one but no way in heck would I allow my 9 year old go alone with someone under 18 years old. It's not about the maturity or temperment of the children. It's more like the situations that could arise that would require some pretty adult thinking. What if they got separated. What if someone got hurt. Would the 15 year old ever say, "Okay, you go on this ride and I'll go on another and I'll meet you back here?" There's NO chance liberties would be taken while the cat (mom and dad) is away? I've been 15 and have known plenty of 15 year olds. They're not adults.

I admit, I'm a protective mom. I also have kids who are 5 and 7. Perhaps I would have a different opinion when my kids are 15 and 13. But for now, having a 12 year old niece who is a completely wonderful and responsible child, no way would I let her go into the parks alone. I'm responsible for my children until they are 18. Imagine the headlines about a nine year-old left to her own devices or at the mercy of others' in WDW? Would that be child neglect? Endangerment? I don't know.

I'm sure this post will strike a nerve with someone. But do take it with maybe two grains of salt. Again, my children aren't nearly old enough so this opinion isn't based on experience. I full admit that. Plus, you know your kids best. There are exceptions to every rule.

No, cheese, you are not alone. I would in no way shape or form let my 9 yr old wander the parks by herself, cell phone or not.

I guess it would depend on how mature the older one is.

 

[Michelle and crew]

At 10 I was flying cross country by myself. My kids can all get
around a Disney park on their own. My best map reader is my 11 year old. So, yes, I would have no problem letting the have some freedom in the park. But, then again, my 16 year old spent a month in japan last year with 4h.

 

[gr8mommy]

I would have no problem with a 15 year old being responsible for a 9 year old. As long as you trust he would react appropriately if something out of the ordinary were to happen (injury, she's out of sight for a moment) then I don't see anything troubling about it.

A 9 year old alone? Never. But that wasn't the question.