No Adults w/kids in A&E FP line?

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

In the event that I can't get 3 A&E fastpasses can I send my girls in without me?

The 8 year old (who turns 9 the month after our trip) can certainly hold her sisters hands (5 & 2 -- so no FP needed) and we have MM so I'll get photos.

Aside from the fact that I think it sucks that adults have to waste 1 of 3 precious FP+ choices on a character M&G if they aren't ACTUALLY meeting the character (we hang back and take pictures), I'm worried about getting 3 or 4 FPs (to have H come along). It seems much more reasonable to snag 2.

I'm just not sure what the "rules" are for waiting in line.

 

[lizzi6692]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no and that anyone under 7 has to be accompanied by someone 14 or over.

 

[ziravan]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no and that anyone under 7 has to be accompanied by someone 14 or over.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

DCF laws do not allow anyone under the age of 12 to be on their own. The age is older for a child to be responsible for one or more other children. I don't think saving a FP+ is worth putting your children in a potentially unsafe or scary situation when the younger ones wonder where mommy and daddy are. As safe as Disney seems, it is filled with strangers, and they aren't always the nice kind.

 

[cel_disney]

Everyone over 7 needs an adult - but children under 3 do not need a FP - so you still need 3

 

[kmb584]

DCF laws do not allow anyone under the age of 12 to be on their own. The age is older for a child to be responsible for one or more other children. I don't think saving a FP+ is worth putting your children in a potentially unsafe or scary situation when the younger ones wonder where mommy and daddy are. As safe as Disney seems, it is filled with strangers, and they aren't always the nice kind.

In Disney a child 7+ can get in line and ride an attraction alone. Those under 7 need to be accompanied by someone 14+.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can have a photo taken with the characters also....just hand your camera to the attendant or photographer there. Also, why would you want to miss the excitement of your kids seeing Anna and Elsa?
Besides, none of your kids are old enough to be left on their own in a line! I'm certainly not a 'helicopter' parent, but I wouldn't allow kids that young to be in line by themselves. I was nervous leaving my 13 y/o outside the Mummy attraction at IoA/US while we went on it!

 

[mom2rtk]

DCF laws do not allow anyone under the age of 12 to be on their own. The age is older for a child to be responsible for one or more other children. I don't think saving a FP+ is worth putting your children in a potentially unsafe or scary situation when the younger ones wonder where mommy and daddy are. As safe as Disney seems, it is filled with strangers, and they aren't always the nice kind.

Are you saying I broke the law when I let my 11 year old go get fastpasses once?

 

[ghtx]

You can have a photo taken with the characters also....just hand your camera to the attendant or photographer there. Also, why would you want to miss the excitement of your kids seeing Anna and Elsa?
Besides, none of your kids are old enough to be left on their own in a line! I'm certainly not a 'helicopter' parent, but I wouldn't allow kids that young to be in line by themselves. I was nervous leaving my 13 y/o outside the Mummy attraction at IoA/US while we went on it!

But OP is asking in case he/she is unable to get FPs for everyone.

As PPs have said, no, OP, your three kids will not be able to enter the queue without an adult since some of them are younger than 7. And you will not be able to enter the FP queue without a FP for yourself.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Are you saying I broke the law when I let my 11 year old go get fastpasses once?

Maybe you should start a "Rent a grandparent" program to go along with your "Rent a baby" program.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe you should start a "Rent a grandparent" program to go along with your "Rent a baby" program.

Hmmmm........

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Answer's no as noted. An 8 year old will not be permitted to supervise a 5 and 2 year old at an attraction. She can go by herself but not with the younger 2. They have to have someone 14 or older with them.

As for the being on their own under age 12, they have to be with someone at least 14 to enter the park...but once they've entered, it's 7 to experience an attraction alone, and under 7 must be accompanied by 14 or older.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Are you saying I broke the law when I let my 11 year old go get fastpasses once?

I am a Mandated Reporter in my state, and I take child safety very seriously both as a professional and a parent. The laws vary from state to state. Florida's Department of Children and Families (or whatever it is called in that state) may have more lax laws. In my state, DCF states that anyone under 12 is not to be left home alone. A child must be 14 or older to be responsible for other children.

Going off for a couple of seconds/minutes with you monitoring how long your child is gone is not breaking the law. Ultimately, what is important is for your child to feel safe. You knew where your 11 year old was going. It may have taken just seconds, and she may have been in your sights for the majority of that time. Letting a child that age have some controlled independence is healthy. Leaving your 11 year old to take care of two other very young children would be breaking the law in my state.

A 7 year old is not old/mature enough to be responsible for herself, let along be in charge of two little ones. That is definitely breaking the law and extremely unsafe and inadvisable.

I would have hoped that child safety would be a higher priority to parents. It upsets me that Fast Pass+ takes precedence over a child's well-being.

 

[Drusilla]

My dds are 13 and 9. We just had the A&E FP+ discussion last night since we were figuring it out together. If I'm reading this right, I COULD get 2 FP+ and send them into the line together unsupervised... It never occurred to me to do that and last night I told them that if we couldn't get 3 or 4, we couldn't meet A&E this trip (DH would gladly sit out if I could get 3). They understood and were OK with that.

Now knowing that I could send them together is good information but that still doesn't mean I should (and personally I wouldn't but that's just me).

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I am a Mandated Reporter in my state, and I take child safety very seriously both as a professional and a parent. The laws vary from state to state. Florida's Department of Children and Families (or whatever it is called in that state) may have more lax laws. In my state, DCF states that anyone under 12 is not to be left home alone. A child must be 14 or older to be responsible for other children.

Going off for a couple of seconds/minutes with you monitoring how long your child is gone is not breaking the law. Ultimately, what is important is for your child to feel safe. You knew where your 11 year old was going. It may have taken just seconds, and she may have been in your sights for the majority of that time. Letting a child that age have some controlled independence is healthy. Leaving your 11 year old to take care of two other very young children would be breaking the law in my state.

A 7 year old is not old/mature enough to be responsible for herself, let along be in charge of two little ones. That is definitely breaking the law and extremely unsafe and inadvisable.

I would have hoped that child safety would be a higher priority to parents. It upsets me that Fast Pass+ takes precedence over a child's well-being.

For what it's worth, according to this site, Florida has no minimum age limit for latch key laws. It also appears that only Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oregon have specific laws. A few other have recommendations, but not law on the books. The majority of states of no law or recommendation for latch key kids.

 

[Drusilla]

Can you imagine that line if a bunch of parents decided to send their kids into line unsupervised??? Mass chaos!!!

 

[NYDisGuy]

A 7 year old is not old/mature enough to be responsible for herself, let along be in charge of two little ones. That is definitely breaking the law and extremely unsafe and inadvisable.

A 7 year old can't be in charge of a 5 year old. That 5 year old would need someone 14+ to ride with them. But the 7 year old can ride alone

 

[Summertinkerbell]

For what it's worth, according to this site, Florida has no minimum age limit for latch key laws. It also appears that only Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oregon have specific laws. A few other have recommendations, but not law on the books. The majority of states of no law or recommendation for latch key kids.

That makes me sad that children aren't a higher priority. Child safety can't always be left up to the parents. Even with my state's strict laws, terrible things happen to children every day. We don't have enough case workers to handle all of the neglect and abuse.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

That makes me sad that children aren't a higher priority. Child safety can't always be left up to the parents. Even with my state's strict laws, terrible things happen to children every day. We don't have enough case workers to handle all of the neglect and abuse.

Children aren't a higher priority to whom? It's not about children being or not being a priority. It's about me knowing my child and when she is and isn't ready to stay home. The state doesn't know my daughter. I do.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Children aren't a higher priority to whom? It's not about children being or not being a priority. It's about me knowing my child and when she is and isn't ready to stay home. The state doesn't know my daughter. I do.

It is a shame that society does not make children a higher priority. I was speaking globally, not personally. I am very passionate about this topic because it is my life's work. I see things every day that would shock you. Things that you cannot "unsee."

My comments were not directed at you in particular. You actually sound like a very thoughtful and responsible parent, and I wish you well.

I will be getting off my soap box now before I offend anyone else unintentionally.