Teen advice for DVC stay

[Disneypubgal]

Traveling this Thursday for 10 days at Beach Club with DH, DD (4) and Niece (13, will be 14 next month)....wanted to get some advice on how far those with older kiddies let there older kids go on there own.... Want our niece to enjoy her trip and would like to give her some time to wander over to Beach at Beach club for movies... but do you let teens go to parks (Epcot/Studios) on there own at 13-14 years old????

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Not at 13/14.
At that age, we would let DS go off on his own for a couple of hours, but only in the same park we were in. AND he had to check in with us at a specific time, if he didn't the privelage was suspended.
We were comfortable with this because he was familiar with all the parks after a number of trips and knew his way around.
This last trip, he was 16, and he went wherever he wanted. He still had to check in with us via cell phone though and let us know where he was.

At the Beach Club, I was fine to let DD11 go to the Marketplace for drinks on her own and to the Solarium for Wii tournaments. That is only because again, she is familiar with the resort and knows the layout. She is also familiar with the Rec. staff.

 

[Disneypubgal]

Not at 13/14.
At that age, we would let DS go off on his own for a couple of hours, but only in the same park we were in. AND he had to check in with us at a specific time, if he didn't the privelage was suspended.
We were comfortable with this because he was familiar with all the parks after a number of trips and knew his way around.
This last trip, he was 16, and he went wherever he wanted. He still had to check in with us via cell phone though and let us know where he was.

At the Beach Club, I was fine to let DD11 go to the Marketplace for drinks on her own and to the Solarium for Wii tournaments. That is only because again, she is familiar with the resort and knows the layout. She is also familiar with the Rec. staff.

Great!! So around the resort ok... elsewhere no way!!

 

[dzorn]

I would ask her parents how they feel before you decide.

Denise in MI

 

[Disneypubgal]

I would ask her parents how they feel before you decide.
Denise in MI

I did... but they do not know WDW very well at all and said that we should use our best judgement... so not having a teen myself I figured the folks on the Dis would be able to give some great advice!

 

[joandegennaro]

If your lucky she will meet another teen around her age to hang out with while at the resort. Always more comfortable knowing that there is 2 of them than just the one on their own. It also depends some are very mature and responsible at 13, others are not. It would be great if she has a way of communicating with you via text. That way if she decides to deviate from original plan she is able to let you know what the changes are.

 

[Disneypubgal]

If your lucky she will meet another teen around her age to hang out with while at the resort. Always more comfortable knowing that there is 2 of them than just the one on their own. It also depends some are very mature and responsible at 13, others are not. It would be great if she has a way of communicating with you via text. That way if she decides to deviate from original plan she is able to let you know what the changes are.

That would be great if she meet another teen!!! She does have a cell phone, so communication will not be a problem!! Thanks!!

 

[BeesKnees]

I was allowed to go to the parks by myself at that age. I was just told if I thought I was in trouble to grab a CM.

 

[BeesKnees]

Great!! So around the resort ok... elsewhere no way!!

What can happen at a park that can't happen at the resort? I say it depends on her and how she was raised. As long as she is not the type to panic if she got turned around and she is not a troublemaker let her do as much as you think she can handle. It sounds like her parents trust her or else they wouldn't leave the idea of her being unsupervised up to you. Keep in mind this same girl will probably be driving in 2 years and dating (if she isn't already).

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Maturity & confidence is a big part of it, DS(13) soon to be 14, is mature for his age, 6'1". We grant him quite a bit of freedom, especially during the day time. He has a cell phone which helps all of us keep in touch. In the morning, he'll go down to the Boardwalk bakery to get the morning croissants or at night he'll go down to the arcade no matter which resort we're staying at.

He's not been to the parks alone, that's not much fun really and he's never asked. We're lucky that we've always been able to bring 1 or 2 of his best buds with us, and as long as it's 2 or 3 of them together I let them go without adults. Between the 2 or 3 of them, they have enough sense to do the right thing and to keep the lines of communication open, so that we can catch up to each other without worry! We've left them at Disney Quest for 1/2 a day while we caught a movie and met up afterwards for lunch or dinner!

On the few times we've gone without friends,I've let him run around BCT/BWV without adult supervision, and if he wanted to stay for the movies, I'd be ok with it. He's been to the resorts so many times, he knows his way around and considers them a home away from home. Someone new to the experience might be intimidated.

 

[Disneypubgal]

What can happen at a park that can't happen at the resort? I say it depends on her and how she was raised. As long as she is not the type to panic if she got turned around and she is not a troublemaker let her do as much as you think she can handle. It sounds like her parents trust her or else they wouldn't leave the idea of her being unsupervised up to you. Keep in mind this same girl will probably be driving in 2 years and dating (if she isn't already).

True, but is we are all at the resort I can get to her much faster (assuming we are all at the resort) than if she is at a park, especially animal/magic kingdom..

 

[Disneypubgal]

Maturity & confidence is a big part of it, DS(13) soon to be 14, is mature for his age, 6'1". We grant him quite a bit of freedom, especially during the day time. He has a cell phone which helps all of us keep in touch. In the morning, he'll go down to the Boardwalk bakery to get the morning croissants or at night he'll go down to the arcade no matter which resort we're staying at.

He's not been to the parks alone, that's not much fun really and he's never asked. We're lucky that we've always been able to bring 1 or 2 of his best buds with us, and as long as it's 2 or 3 of them together I let them go without adults. Between the 2 or 3 of them, they have enough sense to do the right thing and to keep the lines of communication open, so that we can catch up to each other without worry! We've left them at Disney Quest for 1/2 a day while we caught a movie and met up afterwards for lunch or dinner!

On the few times we've gone without friends,I've let him run around BCT/BWV without adult supervision, and if he wanted to stay for the movies, I'd be ok with it. He's been to the resorts so many times, he knows his way around and considers them a home away from home. Someone new to the experience might be intimidated.

I think because she is by herself that is the part I am struggling with the most and she has only been to WDW a couple of other times, neither at BCV... I guess we will start off slow and see how it goes!! Thanks everyone!

 

[BeesKnees]

True, but is we are all at the resort I can get to her much faster (assuming we are all at the resort) than if she is at a park, especially animal/magic kingdom..

That is true but I guess I would wonder why you would need to get to her fast? If she is comfortable being alone I wouldn't think she was be scared if she got turned around or something. I guess there is the off chance she could get hurt but what are the odds of it being more than a scrape or a scratch?

I think BB hit it on the head. If she was raised to be mature and confident she shouldn't be prone to panic. You don't want her to be scared at any point or she won't enjoy herself.

Most likely she will give you the cues you need. If she likes to stay by your side she is uncomfortable if she likes to break away and do her own thing you decide how far and what limits to place.

I will say this I loved exploring the parks on my own at that age. Especially (nerd alert) EPCOT which my family was sort of ho-hum about. But I was also allowed to travel miles away from home on my bike to visit friends too so I was used to it. Oh and the first trip where I was allowed to go off on my own was only the second time I had ever been to Disney. We stayed at the Poly and I guess it was no problem for me to figure out to ride the mono to the TTC and then on to EPCOT. My first time over I got back before the agreed upon time so I swung by the contemporary and bought myself a souvenir before returning to the room.

 

[mello]

On our last trip we let our boys, who were then 13 and 15, go down to the pool and hang around the resort now and again, and we let them go off on their own for half days in a couple parks and then meet up for lunch or dinner. They were together though, so not sure if they would have had fun all alone or not . Now that they are 14.5 and 17 I would have no problem letting them go off to a park together without us.

So, I'd say in general, depending upon the personality and maturity of the teen, at 13 you could start with small doses of freedom and work up to complete freedom as they near 18.

 

[adminjedi]

We didn't at that age and still like our kids to be in at least pairs.

 

[extremesoccermom]

I don't know about your neice but I know my daughter would not want to go to the parks alone. It is so much more fun with someone else. As others have posted hopefully she will meet someone at the resort of the same age to play games at the HH or go swimming.
Last year I went with DS19 all he wanted to do was lay around the hotel room so I went on my own. I had a great time but I kept thinking I wish I had someone to share this with.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

My cell phone wasn't configured to work in FL. Couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't getting calls from DS updating me on his wherabouts. Fortunatley he was able to get ahold of his father. When we got back to NH we went to the verizon store and they fixed it. We didn't even realize this had to be done. So make sure your cell phones work there before you let her go off on her own.

 

[Rora]

I was allowed to go to the parks by myself at that age. I was just told if I thought I was in trouble to grab a CM.

Same with me.

Have a great trip!

 

[Disneypubgal]

My cell phone wasn't configured to work in FL. Couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't getting calls from DS updating me on his wherabouts. Fortunatley he was able to get ahold of his father. When we got back to NH we went to the verizon store and they fixed it. We didn't even realize this had to be done. So make sure your cell phones work there before you let her go off on her own.

Very good advice

Thank you!

 

[BeesKnees]

This doesn't apply to teens as much I suppose but I happened to think that when we take children with us we make up an information sheet with a recent picture for every child and every adult carries a copy. The child carries a copy of their own. The information sheet has all pertinent information like name, eye color, age, height, weight, all of the names and phone numbers of people in our party, where we are staying with room number, any medical information (like asthma), and any allergies. Everything is typed up and printed out in advance other than the room number which we fill in when we get checked in. Several fit on a page so we cut them up and fold them to fit in a wallet.

The idea is if the child gets separated from one of the adults we can take that sheet to a CM and get the ball rolling really fast. Also, the child can give their sheet to a CM. They have never been used thankfully but if you spend enough time at disney you will come across some frantic parents and some children on their own. Those have always been quick reunions (child around the corner, etc) but still it happens.