Letting teenagers go it alone?

[ortegah]

We're going in 26 days! Anyhow, we are two families going together. The older girls are 17, 14, 13 and 11. If they stayed together as a group, do you think it's safe to let them go do their thing and say, maybe meet us back for dinner? My girls(14 and 11) have already been there so they know their way around pretty well.

What do you think?

 

[Harlie]

Well the youngest is over the age of ten (which means in my area that they can be left unattended without a sitter legally) and all but the youngest are over the age of twelve (which means in my area that they are able babysitt)

I think you have to know the kids and if they are responsible give them a cell phone to take with them and it should be fine, but I would be calling every hour to check up.

 

[ortegah]

Yeah every one of them have their very own cell phone, so even if any of them got lost from the rest they can call each other. And all the girls are extremely responsible

Hmm, this leads to another question I'll go ask on the ddp board

 

[MSSANDRA]

As long as they all get along, the younger ones will obey the oldest and no other issues are involved they should be fine!

 

[ortegah]

Yeah they all get along very well

One of the things I was concerned with was if there are any policies about the teens running around without their parents or anything. Also just the general safety of it all. In the dining plan area I also asked about them getting their own counter service meals

 

[DevilDuckie]

I would let the older two go, definitely. The 13 year old, probably since she's not much younger. The 11 year old... I'd ask the older girls how they feel about it because really what is happening at that point is that they are responsible for her and it's unfair to just assume they're okay with it. Specifically, I'd ask the 17 year old how she feels. 11 is still a kid, not a teen.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I would let the older two go, definitely. The 13 year old, probably since she's not much younger. The 11 year old... I'd ask the older girls how they feel about it because really what is happening at that point is that they are responsible for her and it's unfair to just assume they're okay with it. Specifically, I'd ask the 17 year old how she feels. 11 is still a kid, not a teen.

Yea definitely a good idea to let them ALL go separately, and then give the older kids a little time to themselves as well (so they can fell independent and look at boys and such)

The youngest might feel left out if the others go off without her, so you can counter that by doing "something special" with just the younger one....the 13 yr old might even be more interested in the the "something special' then going off alone, depending on her maturity.

 

[ortegah]

They're actually all very close to each other. The 17 and 14 yr old pair up and the 13 and 11 yr old pair up, so I think it should work out pretty well. And if they want to do something different or stay with us, they are welcome to as well. I just know that they'd enjoy being together rather than hanging around boring mom and dad

 

[Darcy03231]

We did this when we were there this summer. DD (16), DS (14) and DN (12) all went off on their own, but had to stay in the same park as we were. We kept in touch by cell phone. DD was "in charge" and if the other two gave her any trouble they knew they would be stuck with me for the rest of the trip. It all went fine.

 

[disalways]

We are doing this in two weeks... Our three oldest BFs ds 14, my dd 13 and BFs dd 12 are all going to have the freedom to hop on the monorail and go to Magic Kingdom. Our rule will be that all three of them must stay together. My dd will have her cell on her at all times, so we can text her easily.

My two youngest, twin ds 9, will hang with me and BF when the teens/almost teen go off together.

 

[ortegah]

Cool, I'm glad to hear someone else is doing this as well! Can you post back here when you get back and let me know how it went?

 

[ortegah]

We did this when we were there this summer. DD (16), DS (14) and DN (12) all went off on their own, but had to stay in the same park as we were. We kept in touch by cell phone. DD was "in charge" and if the other two gave her any trouble they knew they would be stuck with me for the rest of the trip. It all went fine.

Great to hear! I'm sure things will go smoothly

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

I remember when I was 13, a friend of mine and myself went off on our own. Everything went fine, and this was BEFORE cell phones.

 

[ortegah]

I remember when I was 13, a friend of mine and myself went off on our own. Everything went fine, and this was BEFORE cell phones.

I can't imagine what we ever did before cell phones!

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

I'd say they'd be fine- they'll be in a family orientated place which is well staffed, just remind them if they need help they can go to CMs if they need help just like anyone else.

 

[ortegah]

Oh yes! I will definitely tell them that. They're all really good about asking people for help

 

[disalways]

Cool, I'm glad to hear someone else is doing this as well! Can you post back here when you get back and let me know how it went?

I sure will. I have to say that the teens/almost teen are thrilled to have this responsibility and freedom.

 

[snugglepeas]

when I was 16 I went off all over disney property with my 15 year old cousin and on the same trip my 11 year old brother and 11 year old cousin were allowed to go off together within the park that my parents were in. and this was 12 years ago before everyone and there mother has cell phones

 

[Chicago262]

That makes me feel better. This year when we go in October, my kids will be 13 and 11. DH and I would like to do the Dolphins in Depth program while the kids go on rides at Epcot (the 11 year old is too young for the program). They are both very responsible and get along great. They know the parks better than we do so we thought they would be okay by themselves, but didn't know if anyone else ever let their kids go on rides alone.

 

[jdvm]

I think they'll all be fine...we have four daughters as well. It depends on the individuals, but iId be reluctant to make them stay together all of the time. Perhaps let them split up two and two for at least part of the time.
John