My 18yr dd want to go to Disney without her family after graduations with a classmate

[3happydancers]

Awww, thanks. She is my oldest of three girls so I will hopefully be better prepared when my others get to this age.

Your very welcome. Maybe you could let us know how things go. I bet your dd must be thrilled!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

My daughter now 22 went to disney as her high school graduation trip with a friend...she had been many times and knew her way around ...used disney transportation same as you are planning ...they stayed at boardwalk villas and had a wonderful time....it's hard to let them go...especially to wdw without us....but I'd let her go....I'm sure she will be calling you each day letting you know what they did...

 

[3happydancers]

My daughter now 22 went to disney as her high school graduation trip with a friend...she had been many times and knew her way around ...used disney transportation same as you are planning ...they stayed at boardwalk villas and had a wonderful time....it's hard to let them go...espically to wdw without us....but I'd let her go....I'm sure she will be calling you each day letting you know what they did...

You are right about letting our kids go. I thought teaching them was the hard part but nope, just thinking about letting them spread their wings brings tears to my eyes (both happy and sad tears)!

 

[ChristineOH]

A few days after I graduated high school I went to WDW with my three best friends...no other adults. Our parents were thrilled when we told them we wanted to do this because it was much safer than going to "senior week" at the jersey shore like many of our peers were doing!

Isn't that the truth! So many kids parent let them go to the beach, where everyone drinks all week. That is scary. I agree that Disney is a better choice.

 

[Plaid Princess]

My best friend and I did this for our spring break our senior year of high school, once during the summer after, and ended up moving away and doing the college program together in WDW.

Worst case: your daughter gets a case of the Mickey's and takes a job.

 

[despina]

I have a 19 year old and although shes away for college I think I would still leg her go. The only thing I think you should check is the age for checking into the room. Make sure you can be 18.

Yes, 18 is minimum age. That was the first thing I did when this trip came up. So now I have to book it!! She is vey excited!!

 

[despina]

my best friend and i did this for our spring break our senior year of high school, once during the summer after, and ended up moving away and doing the college program together in wdw.

Worst case: Your daughter gets a case of the mickey's and takes a job.

lol

 

[coco392]

could be worse - they could go to Bangkok or Vegas

I would have no problems whatsoever

 

[gtpoohbear]

Honestly, once I graduated high school, the whole concept of my parents "letting me" do anything was gone. I let them know my plans, but as far as both they and I were concerned, I was an adult and free to do as I pleased.

I know it's going to be a hard transition to that type of thinking when my kids hit that age, but I also think that if they aren't ready to go out on their own at 18, they probably won't ever be. And Disney is a pretty tame place for them to get that first experience of independence.

Hope they have a great time!!

 

[Planogirl]

I would have let my son go at that age. Not that I could have actually stopped him but I could have made his life pretty miserable if I was against it!

 

[sharadoc]

A few days after I graduated high school I went to WDW with my three best friends...no other adults. Our parents were thrilled when we told them we wanted to do this because it was much safer than going to "senior week" at the jersey shore like many of our peers were doing!

I have told my DD I will PAY for her to go to Disney World after HS graduation, rather than Mexico, or even the Jersey Shore. I would feel good about her knowing her way around and having a good time without having to worry that she's in a place she doesn't know. I would feel best about Disney World over any other destination.

 

[CarolineB]

I would definitely let them go but have some emergency plans in place:

some examples:

what happens if wallet is lost or stolen -- is there a back up plan for money
what happens if plane ticket is lost
what happens if i.d. is lost -- recommend having two forms of i.d. -- one for carrying with them into the parks like driver's license and one form to keep in the safe (like a passport) so they can fly home on their passport if driver's license is lost
what happens if suitcase doesn't arrive or is lost (suggest carry on only)
bring a small amount of cash into the parks each day / leave rest in the room safe.
Discuss where the non emergency care centers and hospitals are -- are they covered by their insurance? How much of a credit card limit do they have if a high dollar emergency happened?
Is their budget reasonable for food and incidentals?
I think that it would be reasonable to discuss what time they would be back in their hotel rooms each night. It's not like it is a curfew -- it's just a consideration that they could call each parent at a reasonable hour so the parents can go to sleep knowing that their kid is back in the hotel room safe and sound and not be worrying all night.
Does anyone live in the area that could help them if they get into trouble?

There are many books and I'm sure websites regarding single travel and single female travel that would be good to read to get more ideas.

In some ways -- 18 may be a safer age to travel than 21 because at 21 they can purchase alcohol legally.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I'm from Australia and at 18, my friend and I went to Europe for 3 weeks and when we were 19, we came over to America for 3 weeks.

You know your daughter best. If you feel that she's responsible enough, then let her go for it

 

[tartemis]

Honestly, once I graduated high school, the whole concept of my parents "letting me" do anything was gone. I let them know my plans, but as far as both they and I were concerned, I was an adult and free to do as I pleased.

I know it's going to be a hard transition to that type of thinking when my kids hit that age, but I also think that if they aren't ready to go out on their own at 18, they probably won't ever be. And Disney is a pretty tame place for them to get that first experience of independence.

Hope they have a great time!!

This. She is an adult now. The days of "letting" her doing anything are really over.

And I agree it could be worse -- I went to Cancun for spring break my freshman year of college when I was only 18. Trust me, you don't want to know what we did on that trip.

 

[Art 1]

This. She is an adult now. The days of "letting" her doing anything are really over.

And I agree it could be worse -- I went to Cancun for spring break my freshman year of college when I was only 18. Trust me, you don't want to know what we did on that trip.

That depends on how they were raised. I "let" mine go to NYC this week for spring break and she is 21. She is away at school as well and flew out from the city where she attends school. She will still ask us about things like this. She has respect for her parents, she knows we work had to pay for her school and trips like this and respects our opinions.

I would not have "let" let her go to Cancun.

 

[tartemis]

That depends on how they were raised. I "let" mine go to NYC this week for spring break and she is 21. She is away at school as well and flew out from the city where she attends school. She will still ask us about things like this. She has respect for her parents, she knows we work had to pay for her school and trips like this and respects our opinions.

I would not have "let" let her go to Cancun.

I don't really see it as a question of how you were raised. I had wonderful parents, was valedictorian, yada yada.

But, i was on full scholarship in college, paid for the trip myself, and my parents respected that I was now an adult, so, yes, the days of me asking for "permission" of what to do with my life at 18 were over.

Now, it sounds like you were still footing the bill for your kid at 21 -- if that's still the case then sure, your money your rules.

 

[NHKristy76]

Given that she's 18, I'm surprised she asked permission and even more surprised that you think you can deny her.

I'm not being sarcastic... I truly don't understand. Is she asking for you to pay for the trip?!?

 

[gdrj]

Better to go to Disney than some of the other choices out there. We did a pre-emptive strike as DVC members we suggested that she and a friend join us at Disney, we would have let her go but there was no way we weren't going to see Mickey. Since we gifted her and her her friends stay as well as their dining plan it was very attractive to both of them, we met up with them a few nights for dinner but otherwise they did their thing we did ours. Of course she liked being with us when there was shopping involved.

The trip also eliminated the concern of the local beach week where the seniors drive to Myrtle Beach, rent houses, over crowd them, and drink for a week.

 

[DisneyDiana]

I also went to Disney with a friend after HS graduation instead of the shore. We had an amazing time! Your daughter will be absolutely fine. Just a warning though... After that we had the travel bug. Lol Many more trips followed to Cancun, Bahamas, more Disney, etc. We didn't stop until we got married and had our families. I respected myparents tremendously for trusting me. Now we all go together, three generations.

 

[deuceswild10]

I would be more anxious about her going off to college in a few months than Disney with a friend. Let her go.