Teenagers & Disney

[jurgens824]

We are taking two teens (both 15) to Disney. How much freedom should they have at the parks and at our Disney resort? What have others done with their teens?

 

[msmayor]

I think a lot of it depends on the maturity level of the teens and their familiarity with the WDW resort and park area itself.

On our last trip in August, we told our kids (17 and 14) that they could indeed go off on their own, but had to remain together at all times. This was their fifth trip to WDW and because of that they were both very familiar with the park layouts, and knew what to do in terms of getting from place to place using the monorail or buses. They both had cell phones to stay in touch with us. It worked out fine.

 

[RobinFabulous]

I was SHOCKED when we were there to see sets (2 or 3) of youngish girls getting on the buses together (like 15 or so) I can't imagine letting mine go off that young. There are a LOT of people there. I would probably let mine go off in the same park, but that would be it. I think it's different from going to the mall or movies in your own hometown.

 

[jurgens824]

I think that I will probably let them go on their own in the parks (with planned meeting times and places). I'm not comfortable with them attempting to navigate the bus system on their own.

 

[jstbcuz]

Last time we were there, we let the girls (15, 12) go off together as we knew they wouldnt want to be with us with a 2 year old the whole time. The rules were they had to stay together, and they couldnt leave the park. They did a good job and called when they would get off a ride or they would call and say they were going to go eat.

I do think it helped that they had been to WDW several times so they knew the layout of where they were at.

 

[::Snow_White::]

I'm almost 16 and my mom would never let me walk around by myself. She would let me wander the same store she was in but not in the parks. I didn't mind having to stay with them though.

I think it depends, I know I wouldn't let my teenagers because I'd worry too much. If anything I would let them walk the park but not the navigation like some said. I know I'd be fine walking the parks and probably good with the navigation, but I don't really ask to go off by myself.

 

[Z.Black]

I was probably 16 or so the first time I was allowed to go off to a park by myself, bus system and all ... maybe a bit younger. I was definitely able to wander around on my own (in the same park) when I was 14 though, and I vaguely recall one time of being allowed to head back to the room through the bus on my own. Mostly it was when I didn't want to ride a ride others in the family wanted to ride, and would pick a different one. However I was completely without funds at the time, so sticking with the 'rents was the best way to have access to money/souvenirs/food.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd let them go off on their own. Heck, when I was 16, my friends and I were taking the bus into NYC for the day! And that was back in the day when Times Square was not a very family friendly place.

 

[kim929]

We went last month with a bunch of preteen/ teenagers. the oldest were 3 15 yr olds. We let them go off on their own in the parks each day, met up numerous times, and don't forget the handy dandy cell phone. I did let the 2 15 yr olds that were traveling with me go back to the hotel one day by themselves. While we were at the hotel, they were allowed to go to the food court by themselves, the pool etc. they could not go it alone, they had to stay together, but that wasn't a problem since they were connected by earphones anyway. You never saw them apart for longer then a few min.