Question about teens

[justmitype]

How do you all feel about letting a 14 and 15 year old walk around the parks by themselves? My son is pretty mature, but I'm still not 100% sure I feel comfortable with this. I figure I could give the boys a couple of hours on their own and be in touch by cell phone. I do hope the cell phones work in the park. What's your opinions on this?

 

[WL Fan]

Our boys were 13 and 15 when we were last at WDW, and I had no problems with them doing their own thing for part of the day. They attended Fantasmic by themselves without a problem. I guess it depends on how your son handles unexpected events, mine have fairly good sense and I can trust them to manage. As far as I know, cell phones work just fine in the park.

Have a great trip!

 

[grinningghost]

We took 2 14 year olds a couple years ago and it was no problem letting them go on their own. They had a cell phone, so we could call them and leave messages if they were on a ride or whatever.

It's actually quite nice to let them go on their own because you can have your own fun without a teenager sulking that you aren't doing what they want to do at every given moment.

 

[SJSKJ]

I actually let my DS 13 and DS 11 go off on their own for short spands of time. An hour here, 30 minutes there. They did just fine. Of course my 11 year old is to me, more mature and responsible than my 13 year old! I didn't hesitate or feel unsure about letting them go at all.

 

[justmitype]

Thanks so much. I really feel my son can handle it and his friend has twice the "street smarts" than my son has! My hubby & I want to be with them some of the time, of course, for great photo ops and just Disney fun, but I think they would really have a good time for a couple of hours on their own. I think I'll play it by ear and if they want to wander, I'm gonna let them be. I'm bringing my lap top with me, so I'll let everyone know how it goes. I can't wait!

 

[kkaisu]

Thanks for asking this. I was just getting ready to post the same thing and saw yours. My DD will be 14 when we go and are going with her dance studio. I am sure she will want to go off with her friends some, and have been trying to decide how I feel about it. At the amusment park at home she goes all day with friends and no adult, but was not sure about WDW. After reading about otheres I am sure with her cell phone and friends she will do fine for a while.

 

[Beachangel]

My sister lets her 15 yo roam freely around the parks. She has a cell phone to stay in touch.

 

[Aalore]

I think they will be fine. Just make sure you have a way to contact them, and check on them from time to time. I'm sure they will enjoy the parks more if they get to go out on their own also.

 

[marksor]

Just came back and had our 17yo and 15yo sons along. We barely saw them all week outside the hotel room. They had cell phones and we did communicate by them a lot during the week. It worked out fine. The only way they would leave the property would be by taxi which they would not be willing to pay for. They were content park-hopping on their own all week. We all met three or four times for sit-down meals during the week. The cell phone service inside the property worked very well. for us.

 

[dyna]

I think teens would be as safe or safer to go on own at the disney parks as they would be anywhere I'm not sayin just turn them loose but they should be able to handle a few hours.

My DD will be almost 16 next time she goes I think the rule will be we all stay in the same park. At least for the 1st day or 2 till we see how it goes. Myself I would not mind if DD took a friend who had parents willing to buy park ticket and pay for most of their food but I know DH would never agree to it so not even bringing that up.