Teens Alone in Disney world?

[Jacky]

We are going in April and my 12 year old daughter is bringing a friend. Would anyone let them go around a bit by themselves? We have another family going to so if they all went together it would be 1 13 year old, 1 12 year old and 2 11 year olds. i am thinking it would be okay for limited times-- opinions please??

Thanks
Jacky

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I had my 3 ds go as a group. We stayed at the Poly and let them go to the MK. I would say you have to know their maturity level, what you are comfortable with as parents, have rules and plans in place and gone over, have a way of communication etc. (cell phone etc.) Ours are now 17,15 and 13 and I dont have a problem with them going anywhere by themselves on property, but they are older. We also had a strict rule, if one got mad etc, they were never to break up the group and go alone, stay somewhere alone, come back alone etc, it was always together etc, you will have to decide what is best and what your rules will be.

 

[DizneeCM]

We were in WDW last summer with my DS (12 &14 years old), my sister and BIL, and my nieces, 3,5, 12 & 16. While we took the younger kids around the water parks, we let the older 4 kids go around by themselves. We also took the older 4 to Disney Quest and let them go off on their own. We let them go down to the VWL and WL pools on their own. They had a cell phone with them at all times (except when in the water). I don't think I'd be that comfortable sending them into one of the main parks on their own (with the exception of the 16 y.o.).

 

[torianne31]

DH and I plan on letting our DS's (14 and 11) have time by themselves at DQ while we have an adult dinner at the Cheesecake factory. They both have cellphones ---and walkie talkies in case the reception is terrible--. I think the other poster nailed it on the head when she said it depends a lot on the maturity of the child. Our DS11 is more mature than our DS14 and because of that they will probably NOT be allowed to walk around the parks by themselves. They go to the arcades / movies / skating rinks here at home a lot on the weekends, so we know they can be trusted in that environment. I'm not so sure how DS14 will act for our 1st trip to the WDW theme parks. Better safe than sorry on that one...I might just take a leash for him!!!

 

[lovethattink]

My son is 11 and is very familiar with the layout of all the parks. Twice we allowed him and his friend to leave us (we were still eating dinner and they were finished) and go to an attaction in the same park. His friend had a cell phone. They called us when they arrived at their destination and told us how long the wait was. So we finished dinner then met them. Disney has a lot of security, but things can still happen. Watching Prime Time last night gives me 2nd thought of letting him roam free. I'll probably keep the apron strings tightened for a few more years. I no longer let him play in the yard by himself. There have been to many kidnappings and attempted kidnappings in the last few months here in Florida. Just this week there was one at a bus stop of a teen girl and one right at an elementary school. Both got away, but it's frightening.

 

[newholidayx2]

I was talking w/DH just the other night - this summer Im going to let DS (who turns 13 in May) alone to roam more.
In Aug at WDW if he wants to stay behind in the room while I walk the Boardwalk/EpCot countries (while we stay at BCV) thats ok - if he wants more time in Innoventions while I shop in Mousegear thats ok -
Im not going to leave him at WL while I go to MK, not going to let him go to AK while I stay at Pop - but as long as it doesnt involve transportation we'll give it a try - hes a smart kid