Only minors (no adults)?

[ilusionista]

Hey we are from another country, we were planning to travel to Orlando, ands stay at any of Disney World's Resorts but on the reservations website, there isn't an option to book rooms for only 4 children (it says the maximum age is 17 for children and 18+ are adults, we have 16 and 17 years old each one of us). We would need to travel alone cause that is the purpose of the trip and we can't afford to pay an extra person.

Are only minors rooms allowed at WDW Resorts? If not, why? And are they allowed at any Orlando hotel at all? Thanks!

 

[Jedi]

in the us the minimum is 18, in some places it is 21

 

[Comebye]

No "minors only rooms". An adult must be registered in each room.

 

[ancestry]

Legal age in the US is 18 in most places. Disney is great because they allow you to get your own room at the age of 18. Many place in the US require a person to be 21 before they will rent them a room but Disney allows it at 18.

You asked why? In the US you can not enter into a contract until you are 18. Meaning you must be 18 to be able to legally agree to the terms and conditions of a room rental and to be able to sign for a credit card. Under 18 legally the establishment can't hold you responsible for anything since you aren't able to enter into a contract.

 

[Mrsjvb]

sorry but you will not be able to get a hotel in the US anywhere, on or off the resort if you are not at least 18( and like was posted many hotels require you to be 21)

same with renting a car. (in fact 21 is the minimum 98% of the time with much higher rates if you are under 25)

oh and additionally, you will need to be 21 in order to register with minors under 18 in the same room. ( and cruise lines require 25!)

its a liability issue( and maturity..)

 

[ilusionista]

Oh that sounds so unfair But which would the solution be? I wouldn't sign the contract or anything I mean, my parents would, so what can we do?

 

[Allison]

You can't do anything. You must have someone 18 or older in the room.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Oh that sounds so unfair But which would the solution be? I wouldn't sign the contract or anything I mean, my parents would, so what can we do?

nothing. your parents must be present to sign you in and stay in the room with you. you have already stated that that is not going to happen and that you will be in the country alone

in fact I am not even sure you woudl be Allowed to ENTER the country as a minor unless you are on a student Visa without your parents or other legal guardian

 

[ancestry]

Oh that sounds so unfair But which would the solution be? I wouldn't sign the contract or anything I mean, my parents would, so what can we do?

I'm not understanding what is unfair. In US an adult is always responsible for any one under the age of 18 unless they are an emancipated minor. People under 18 do not have certain legal rights and abilities in the US. The parent or guardian is reponsible for the child under the age of 18. In the US you are a child under the age of 18 and in some places it is the age of 21.

Most parents in the US would not allow their under aged children to travel outside of the US without parental or other adult supervision (ie school trip, etc).

If you dont mind me asking, what country are you from?

 

[TwoIfBySea]

"Unfair" isn't the right term, since the policy applies to everyone uniformly, but it is a huge shame that the United States doesn't have the tradition of teenagers traveling alone. It is quite common all over Europe.

When I was 16 years old, I traveled alone (with another 16-year-old friend but no parents) all over France and England. We did not try to stay in hotels, however -- we stayed with family friends. It was a wonderful experience. I never had to find out if we would have been allowed to check in to hotels, but we had no trouble doing anything else by ourselves -- buying train tickets, meals, checking ourselves back in for our return flights to the US, etc. This was in the pre-credit-card days so we paid cash (or used Travelers' Checks) for everything.

The bottom line, though, is that while you will have a big problem trying to do certain things by yourselves in the United States, but with luck it will all work out. You can probably get into the country, but you should have notarized letters from your parents giving you permission.

You won't be able to rent cars or stay in hotel rooms, but you might be able to find smaller private accommodations (bed & breakfasts or inns) that will allow you to stay as long as you either pay with cash, or have your parents pay in advance with a credit card.

Good luck with your travel plans!

 

[ilusionista]

I'm from Argentina. What's the problem of travelling alone? It doesn't make a difference between having 17 or having 18 for a trip. Plus many teenagers do lots of things alone here, which is much more insecure than the USA, let alone Orlando, let alone a Disney park.

 

[minnie mum]

Okay, is this just me being way too cynical and jaded? Looked at the OPs post count and name. A thought sprang to mind: do we or do we issue a troll alert? (Where is the troll smiley?)

 

[Mrsjvb]

you will not be in Argentina. you will be in America..as such you are held to American societal standards and local laws.

'when in Rome' and all that.

American teens are raised differently. less responsibility and thus less maturity. correspondingly, less ability to make mature decisions at a younger age. as such Businesses are not inclined to allow them such latitude.

 

[sillylily]

Okay, is this just me being way too cynical and jaded? Looked at the OPs post count and name. A thought sprang to mind: do we or do we issue a troll alert? (Where is the troll smiley?)

This! I call TROLL!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Have you thought about checking out hostels for your stay instead? I believe there are a couple in Orlando.

 

[ilusionista]

I understand I will be in America and I'm glad I will, but it's a little bit exaggerated in my opinion, don't some states allow people to have a driving license at 16? I find that too require a much bigger responsability than managing yourself alone at a hotel.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I know that teenagers can type, write and speak very well but this thread has me a bit miffed. Just typed and spoken well.

 

[Diegosmom]

I am surprised that a parent would let a 16 travel to another country alone. I travelled to Spain at 15 but with a teacher (and my sister came and she was 19).

I know different countries are different but still what if something happened to your child and they were that far away?

 

[Disneygal27]

the problem isn't in trusting you to do anything, its legalities. they cannot legally give you and your friend a hotel room, since you aren't of legal age in the US. they could get into a heap of trouble for it, and face some serious consequences. I'm sorry if it doesn't seem fair to you, but that's just how the rules are in the US. I don't see any way for you to get around it, unless you have an adult on the reservation and to check you into the hotel. Even if you're the most responsible teenagers in the world, Disney can't have the liability of underage kids alone at the resort. Like a PP said, american teenagers are notoriously immature, so Disney does have some valid reasons for following the rules this way (and as a college student, trust me. there are WAY too many immature young "adults" running around)

 

[Mrsjvb]

I understand I will be in America and I'm glad I will, but it's a little bit exaggerated in my opinion, don't some states allow people to have a driving license at 16? I find that too require a much bigger responsability than managing yourself alone at a hotel.

nope. for one at 16 it is a permit only which RESTRICTS the driving.. not at night and must have a licensed driver in the car as well.

I am gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are legit. doesn't mean that you are ready to handle being alone in a major American metropolitan area which is full of unsavory types who would think nothing of preying on some unsuspecting tourist. of any age. but ESPECIALLY kids.