Letting Kids "Park Hop" - Opinions ?

[jcvalenti]

I'm sure people have differing opinions on this, but here's my situation:

We usually travel in a large group, comprised of about 5 families (my sisters and some mutual friends). We're about 50/50 adults and kids, with the "kids" ranging from 17 to 8. The kids have all been to Disney many times, are well familiar with the parks, and are extremely responsible and well behaved. The little ones know to follow the older ones, and the older ones are very conscientious about keeping an eye on the little ones.

We're going to parks in early August, and the kids are really excited about doing some stuff on their own. They've been working on some scavenger hunt games, and talking non-stop about their favorites rides and snacks they want to get. One of the things they brought up is how they might like to park hop together while the adults hang out in the World Showcase on a couple of afternoons (apparently kids don't think Tutto Gusto is as fabulous as I do).

What are people's opinions on letting the kids do some stuff on their own ? I certainly don't have a problem letting them do Future World while we're in World Showcase, but what about letting them hop a boat to go to Hollywood Studios for a few hours ? My understanding the younger kids could get in if escorted by anyone over 14.

Many of the kids have cell phones, and all are well familiar with how to behave while in lines and around other guests.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I'd be fine with it with some organization. I would try to team up one 14 or older with one younger and they had to stay together.
So long as they follow a buddy system I would be fine with it and have done this with our children.

 

[DopeyDame]

Assuming the kids are generally responsible and well behaved, I wouldn't have a problem with it at all. Sounds like fun!

 

[asmit4]

As long as the older ones are paired up with the little ones

 

[GotLabradors]

Sounds like you have your bases covered. I would have no problem letting my kids go off on their own in a park with which they are familiar. I do it with my 10 y.o and his buddies here at BGW. My rule is that if they miss a meet time by more than 10 minutes, then they're stuck with me the rest of the day.

 

[LilyWDW]

I think I would be okay as long as the older ones are not horribly outnumbers by the younger ones. Are you sure that the younger kids in other families will be willing to listen to the older ones from another family? I mean, only you and the other families know them well enough to know for sure obviously lol.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Youngest is 8, you said? Then no problem as long as they are ALL well behaved. My cousin and I used to go with our mothers and grandmother and he and I would leave the "old ladies" to play by themselves (we were early teens, we thought they were old ). He was 10 or 12 and I was 14 or 16 and we had a blast by ourselves.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I'd say go for it. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve touring theme parks without adults. But I know it's not a terribly popular point of view.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Sounds like fun to me. You know whether they are responsible enough to handle it or not, so tell them to have fun and send them on their way.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I wouldn't be comfortable with it but I'm a paranoid freak so don't listen to me.

 

[nkereina]

I' I certainly don't have a problem letting them do Future World while we're in World Showcase, but what about letting them hop a boat to go to Hollywood Studios for a few hours ?

In reality, what's the difference? If the kids are up at Spaceship Earth and you're back at Tutto Gusto, they still have a pretty good distance to travel back to you in case of emergency. And they are far enough away where you wouldn't be able to check on them every few minutes. So whether they're a mile away in FW or a couple miles away in DHS, I don't htink there's a difference. I say give it a whirl!

 

[MartDM]

I wouldn't be comfortable with them traveling to a different park. Even with responsible teens and well behaved youngsters, anything can happen in a foreign environment and I'd want to be within running distance if I got a call that there was some sort of problem.

 

[GillianP1301]

I see no issue with this at all. Lay the ground rules clearly and reinforce their understanding of what to do in case of emergency. I would probably build in some regular touch points via phone or text for my own comfort.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Seems reasonable with a buddy system. That way no one gets accidentally left behind.