Letting Kids Run Loose at DQ

[harperwi]

At Chuck E. Cheese's an employee stamps the hand of every family member with the same number, so you can let your kid run wild without fear of someone outside your family leaving the restaurant with your child.

Does Disney Quest do anything similar? I've never been there with children.

We'll be travelling with a 7 and 10 year old, both boys, and I would like to be able to set them free to roam and play whatever games they like as long as we're there. Their mother, however, who will not be along for the trip, is convinced they may be kidnapped, and I'd really rather not prove her right!

What experience have you had with letting (or not letting) your kids run free inside DQ? Do you think I would be overprotective to insist that they stay within eyesight at all times? I know when I was their age I was set loose by my mother, but we live in a different world than we did when I was 7 years old.

Any thoughts or personal accounts would be appreciated!

Jon

 

[LadyLt]

I don't think I would worry about them being kidnapped. At ages 7 and 10, they should be old enough to know who to go with and to make lots of noise if someone tried to take them against their will. No kidnapper would want all the attention that would bring.

But do you realize that Disney Quest is five stories tall? And it is very dark inside with lots of neon lighting. I would think it would be very difficult when you wanted to find them. At those ages, setting a meeting time would probably not work very well. You might set a policy that they could go wherever they want IF they stay on the same floor. Do you think your sons would remember that rule?

 

[Muffy]

When my DD was that age she would not be out of my site at DQ. She is now 13 and I may let her explore on the same floor as myself but that's it!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Not only is DQ five stories and dark inside, it get very, very crowded and noisy.
I would not let my child roam free there. Nowadays you can't be too careful. It doesn't matter where you are.

 

[cindy_k]

I don't think I would let them go alone. DQ has kind of a confusing layout and its possible to be on the same floor and still get all turned around.

You may want to stick together anyway, there are a lot of rides/games in DQ that are much better as a group. The Raft VR game, The Pirate VR game, The Alien VR game. The Mighty Duck Pinball game. Driving the Aztec cars requires a couple of people.

You should have a blast running about the place together. My son(10) and I last time started playing the old arcarde game Rampage (4 person game). (No quarters needed for these, so when you die, you just hit the red button and keep playing)

Cindy in NY

 

[Eeyore2U]

DS is now 17 and been on his own in DQ since he was probably 11. Not just roaming but on his own. You know your children and how adjusted/responsible they are and how well they would handle any situation. Use that in your decision making. I respect that people want to protect their young but not every child is the same and at some point they need to grow up.

 

[grinningghost]

I'm with Mitch on this one. DQ is a very overwhelming place, but if you feel your kids are responsible and can handle themselves, I think they will be OK exploring on their own. Since they're only 10 and 7, you will probably want to be in the building - but letting them go off while you do your own thing shouldn't be a problem.

Like others have said, DQ has a rather confusing layout. It's sort of "stacked". There's also not alot of floor space to move around on, there's just that much "stuff" in there. If you do let your kids go on their own, make sure they have a watch and set up a meeting time and place. That should make you feel a little better about it.

And definitely - if you know kids - and we all do - they will NOT want to wander out of DQ. It's getting them to LEAVE that's the big problem.

 

[georgina]

I let my 13 year old and 8 year old daughters roam some (together) on their own, but we have been to DQ several times and they know the layout pretty well. They also have to tell me which games they are planning to do so i know where to find them. At 10 and 7, the place might be confusing if they haven't been there before. I don't worry about kidnapping, but them getting lost in the place.

 

[NHLFAN]

I also had the same question a couple years back and was assured by the Disney Security...as long as my son doesn't leave the property...he would be safe.

They claim there is so many undercover security in and around DTD there is no need to worry.

We did set a meeting time and place just so he could check-in with us...

 

[IAN5150]

Sorry to upset the apple cart,But if our responsible for the boys then Be RESPONSIBLE,Why let them run round,Stick to them like glue.

 

[mike230652]

Jon

I have to go along with IAN5150 on this one.

My two kids are now 10 & 12, and have always been sensible/mature .....but there is NO WAY I would have let them wander around out of sight when they were 7 years old.

Ok, LadyLt says they " should be old enough to know who to go with...." but I feel that most 7 year olds would be all too easily convinced by a plausible adult with any number of stories.......and the newspapers around the world confirm this all too often.

They're your kids and it's your decision..........but if you have even the SLIGHTEST doubt, well, I know you'll make the right decision.


mike230652

 

[Schmeck]

No way would I let a 7 yr old be unsupervised anywhere, even at WDW. Anyone can get into DQ, and kidnapping isn't the only bad thing that can happen - how about a pedophile that just grabs a kid and drags him/her into a dark corner or bathroom stall?