leaving kids alone in hotel room

[mm1971]

I think it depends on the children and maturity level of the oldest. We were OK when DS was 11/12. He is very responsible and it with a few simple guidelines there has never been any issues. At 13 and 11, they can stay home alone for a few hours at a time now as well. We live in a neighborhood that is very close so any needs they have, they can just go to the neighbors. DD11 has started babysitting for the family across the street as well as long as we are home and has had no issues.

 

[barkley]

first thing I would do is call the hotel and find out what their rules are. a state can have a law, but an individual business can impose stricter rules as a condition of staying there.

we were at a Disney property several years ago and witnessed a big argument between a guest and a manager. the guest was LIVID that he was being told that his son could not be left alone in the room AND had to be with an adult at all times. he was yelling about how his son was 13 and not a little kid. the manager kept his cool and kept repeating about how a condition of staying at the property was adhering to the rules, and if the parent did not want to adhere they were welcome to check out.

I don't know what Disney's lodging property rules are, but didn't the recently change the park rules such that a kid has to be 14 to enter alone? that might be their lodging rules too, but I would call and check.

 

[robinb]

first thing I would do is call the hotel and find out what their rules are. a state can have a law, but an individual business can impose stricter rules as a condition of staying there.

we were at a Disney property several years ago and witnessed a big argument between a guest and a manager. the guest was LIVID that he was being told that his son could not be left alone in the room AND had to be with an adult at all times. he was yelling about how his son was 13 and not a little kid. the manager kept his cool and kept repeating about how a condition of staying at the property was adhering to the rules, and if the parent did not want to adhere they were welcome to check out.

I don't know what Disney's lodging property rules are, but didn't the recently change the park rules such that a kid has to be 14 to enter alone? that might be their lodging rules too, but I would call and check.

That's odd since years ago the minimum age to enter the parks alone was 12. I guess I'm just a scoff-law by not getting the front desk's permission to leave my tween in the room alone.

 

[luvmy3]

Florida doesn't set an age by law but recommends 18, http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm.

18? At that point they aren't latch key kids, they are legal adults who could have their own apartment.

I find it ironic that a 15 year old can drive a car with a permit yet FL doesn't recommend they stay home alone at that age.

 

[crisi]

That's odd since years ago the minimum age to enter the parks alone was 12. I guess I'm just a scoff-law by not getting the front desk's permission to leave my tween in the room alone.

And on the cruise ship they give self check out at ten (IIRC). I suspect that was a CM making stuff up (as they are prone to do).

 

[PEC]

You might could win an argument that the teenager in the room alone is more dangerous. That said, first you may want to check Florida Law. Most are 12 years old give or take a year. I have 12 year old twins and I dont think right now I would have them keep the 5 year old GD for an extended period but in a year or two that will likely change. We would now let them stay while we do a 10-15 short run to the store and I would say a year ago we wouldn't. When a child starts getting around 12 you get a feel of maturity/responsibility level. Not really are they a good kid or not but can they make the right decisions. Some need a little more time while others don't. Bottomline you know your child just make sure you know Florida law.

 

[barkley]

That's odd since years ago the minimum age to enter the parks alone was 12. I guess I'm just a scoff-law by not getting the front desk's permission to leave my tween in the room alone.

I remember when that was the age they allowed to enter the park as well but they changed their policy back in March of this year.

 

[crisi]

You might could win an argument that the teenager in the room alone is more dangerous. That said, first you may want to check Florida Law. Most are 12 years old give or take a year. I have 12 year old twins and I dont think right now I would have them keep the 5 year old GD for an extended period but in a year or two that will likely change. We would now let them stay while we do a 10-15 short run to the store and I would say a year ago we wouldn't. When a child starts getting around 12 you get a feel of maturity/responsibility level. Not really are they a good kid or not but can they make the right decisions. Some need a little more time while others don't. Bottomline you know your child just make sure you know Florida law.

MOST states don't actually have laws, they have guidelines. And they have guidelines for a good reason.

Kids mature at different rates and people have different situations. You might need to leave an eight year old home for an hour or two alone as a latchkey kid in order to work - and our society would rather have that kid home alone that have you getting welfare so that you can be home when they get home from school. You might have a thirteen year old who is very mature, and you might have a seventeen year old who needs constant supervision due to disabilities or discipline issues. So states have guidelines that allow social workers to step in when they need to, while retaining the flexibility to hire a thirteen year old responsible babysitter for an evening when she lives across the street and her mother in home if there is a problem.

 

[robinb]

I remember when that was the age they allowed to enter the park as well but they changed their policy back in March of this year.

Yes, I know that. My point was that the story you were relating about a 13-year old not being allowed to stay in their Disney resort room alone (according to the CM on duty) took place years ago when the age to be alone in a Disney park was 12. While I'm sure that you witnessed the exchange, I think that crisi is right and the CM was making stuff up. Maybe s/he had been a bus driver before staffing the front desk .

 

[barkley]

Yes, I know that. My point was that the story you were relating about a 13-year old not being allowed to stay in their Disney resort room alone (according to the CM on duty) took place years ago when the age to be alone in a Disney park was 12. While I'm sure that you witnessed the exchange, I think that crisi is right and the CM was making stuff up. Maybe s/he had been a bus driver before staffing the front desk .

or the kid was causing issues when unsupervised. if a kid is left alone in a room (or in public areas on a property) and nothing negative happens I doubt it would be noticed or commented on but if they are disturbing other guests and management gets complaints or they cause some kind of problem that staff has to respond to management may take action. it's common for lodging to have the right to eject people if management perceives them to be causing health/safety issues OR interfering with other guest's enjoyment of the property. that provides wiggle room for management-they will usually try to work with people if it's not a health/safety issue and negotiate an agreement (like your kid has to be with an adult supervising them) but if the person doesn't agree or fails to carry through then I believe they are within their rights to eject.

 

[robinb]

or the kid was causing issues when unsupervised. if a kid is left alone in a room (or in public areas on a property) and nothing negative happens I doubt it would be noticed or commented on but if they are disturbing other guests and management gets complaints or they cause some kind of problem that staff has to respond to management may take action. it's common for lodging to have the right to eject people if management perceives them to be causing health/safety issues OR interfering with other guest's enjoyment of the property. that provides wiggle room for management-they will usually try to work with people if it's not a health/safety issue and negotiate an agreement (like your kid has to be with an adult supervising them) but if the person doesn't agree or fails to carry through then I believe they are within their rights to eject.

Is that what you overheard?

 

[mumto3girls]

or the kid was causing issues when unsupervised. if a kid is left alone in a room (or in public areas on a property) and nothing negative happens I doubt it would be noticed or commented on but if they are disturbing other guests and management gets complaints or they cause some kind of problem that staff has to respond to management may take action. it's common for lodging to have the right to eject people if management perceives them to be causing health/safety issues OR interfering with other guest's enjoyment of the property. that provides wiggle room for management-they will usually try to work with people if it's not a health/safety issue and negotiate an agreement (like your kid has to be with an adult supervising them) but if the person doesn't agree or fails to carry through then I believe they are within their rights to eject.

It would seem that something must have occurred, otherwise how would the manager even have known that the 13 year kid was unsupervised? As I said up thread, we left our three at AKL this summer while we went out to dinner. They were not allowed to leave the room. Our oldest is 13. Our only concern was that siblings might fight. I wouldn't think twice about leaving her in the room by herself and I suspect that would be true of most 13 year olds.

 

[barkley]

Is that what you overheard?

pretty much. manager saying that they had discussed the concerns previously with the guy and that the he (guest) had agreed to take action to get kid to stop but it was continuing and the manager had actually gone to the room and could hear what was occurring down the hall, and when he went to the door the kid was alone in the room. manager said that the problem seemed to have been solved after their previous discussion but that must have been when an adult was in the room with the kid so to continue their stay the adult had to be with the kid.


i give the manager credit for taking the comfort of the other guests into consideration. we stayed at a hotel once and had to be moved to another floor because of a group of noisy kids in an adjacent room. management tried to find their parents but they had gone to dinner off property and the kids claimed not to know the cell number we ended up getting comped for one night's stay but it was a p.i.t.a. to have to repack and unpack everything for the move.

 

[mistysue]

Thanks for the suggestions and opinions. I find it to be such a strange issue that the kids clubs and babysitters will not take a 13 year old, but it is in that fuzzy area where many of them really cant be alone. I forsee a few years of romantic dinners with DD at the table in our future.

 

[drstrangelove]

How old should kids be to be left with younger siblings at a hotel?

I'm not thinking of doing it yet, but I noticed that the kids clubs/babysitters only watch up to age 12. So when I have a 13 year old, my younger ones will be 5 and 7. Assuming they get along at that age, would that be safe, or even legal, to leave my 13 year old with my 5 and 7 year olds in the room if DH and I went out for dinner together? Does anybody know if Florida has specific laws or guidelines for something like that?

For my family, 13 would be old enough for my oldest to watch a 5 and 7 year old, but it depends on the people involved. The 5 and 7 year old, and how they behave and listen, are as relevant as how mature the 13 year old. Good luck with your decision.

 

[asmit4]

I agree with Drstrangelove- it's all about the dynamics of your family.

We have a 22 month old, and our babysitter (not family) is 13 years old. She is AWESOME and we LOVE her and so does he. I would argue that many 13yos are not mature enough to babysit- siblings or otherwise for more than 30 minutes or an hour but each child and family is different. We trust our 13 year old babysitter enough to leave for several hours for a nice dinner out no problem.

 

[cjbcam]

When it comes to Disney because 10 and over is considered an adult they should not have a say as to anyone ten or older coming into the parks or being in the rooms by themselves. Disney set that age so it makes NO sense for them to say 14 to get into park etc. or they should have to adjust prices so that ten year old kids are still kids.
My personal opinion 12 at home by themselves or watching siblings. Then if you have no problems at home make a judgement call when away from home.

 

[maxiesmom]

When it comes to Disney because 10 and over is considered an adult they should not have a say as to anyone ten or older coming into the parks or being in the rooms by themselves. Disney set that age so it makes NO sense for them to say 14 to get into park etc. or they should have to adjust prices so that ten year old kids are still kids.
My personal opinion 12 at home by themselves or watching siblings. Then if you have no problems at home make a judgement call when away from home.

Ten and over are only considered adults for the parks. For the resorts the are still children until the age of 18.

Even if that wasn't the case, as long as you are buying a product from a company, they can set terms and conditions for that sale. If Disney wanted to state that kids had to be 14 years and older to stay alone in a room, they could. You would have the right to then not rent a room from them.

 

[lucyem]

Depends on the kids. There is a world of difference between who can be left and who can't

Its not all about age. It is also about maturity and sibling dynamics.

 

[Gracie09]

Ten and over are only considered adults for the parks. For the resorts the are still children until the age of 18. Even if that wasn't the case, as long as you are buying a product from a company, they can set terms and conditions for that sale. If Disney wanted to state that kids had to be 14 years and older to stay alone in a room, they could. You would have the right to then not rent a room from them.

This. Although the adult ticket requirement at ten really isn't unusual. Hershey park it's 9, universal 10, bush gardens, 10 etc