Teens alone in the parks

[LadyJanel]

I have always been rather overprotective of my kids. My DH is still a stay at home dad even though our kids are in HS because we feel it is important that they have someone around to help out and depend on. Even so, our kids have been touring the different WDW parks since the youngest was 12 and the oldest was 14. At first it was just while we were in the same park. After a few times it became they went to one park during the day while we were at another park. Now that they are 14 and 16 they know the WDW transportation system better than my husband and I do. They have each taken a friend several times and those parents have also been okay with them going in pairs with cell phones.

I don't know what grade your 15 year olds are in but they are less than a year away from driving at least. They could also be a year or two from college -- I graduated from HS soon after I turned 17. How many field trips has your daughter and her friend been on with their school? I know our kids have been on trips to Epcot, New York, space camp, Kennedy Space Center, and more where the school pairs them up with a "bus buddy" and sends them on their way with teachers stationed at strategic checkpoints and check-in times. These trips started as young as 5th grade.

I know it is hard -- trust me, I know -- but you can't be by their side every minute. They are growing up and need structured, controlled freedom and responsibility to be able to handle circumstances on their own.

WDW security is very good. Prepare the girls. Set rules and guidelines and they will be fine.

 

[Muffy]

Thank you, everyone for your comments and advice. I'm still leaning towards letting the girls go to Epcot for Illuminations and possibly MGM alone.

Madge, I agree with you about EMH after dark! Your advice is so true. I want them to have fun but not after 9pm! I would go crazy if they were out alone at midnight

dgaston, Yes, DD feels very safe at WDW and knows her way around well. I will give them a chance but probably limit them to Epcot and MGM at night. I feel better about my decision knowing you made similar ones with your children. Thanks neighbor!


Muffy

 

[Disney Spaz]

Just as an added comment. Last March my then 14 and 15 year old DS's were allowed to go out to all the parks until they closed. It was Easter week so it was until 1AM some nights. Both boys have been to WDW so many times in the past few years they know it like the back of their hands. We set times they had to call us regardless of where they were and would ocasionally suprise call them just to check in. The first night I was terrified and my DH thought I had lost my mind with all my worrying. But once I realized that they walk home from school, they hang out at the mall with friends alone and are in situations where they must use their common sense to keep themselves safe everyday I realized it's WDW and there are tons of CM's to help if there was a problem. On a seperate note I am now pregnant with our only daughter and when I talk to my DH about letting her out til 1AM in WDW with another teenager he looks at me like I lost my mind.

 

[DVCLiz]

Granted I'm almost 23 and have no children so take my opinion for what you will, but ITA with the comment above. Even if you trust your daughter and her friend, it's also a matter of the other thousands upon thousands of people around them that you know nothing about. Sure, WDW feels safe and sure you don't hear about much crime there aside from shoplifting, but you have to keep in mind that Disney is very careful of what is made public and what isn't. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean there aren't a bunch of slimebags lurking around ready to do something terrible. And as someone else said, if you're already doubting the idea, I wouldn't do it. JMO.

Sorry, I don't agree with this at all. There aren't thousands and thousands of shifty-eyed suspects needing to be monitored - they're just people having fun in a theme park. And I don't think there are any slimebags lurking around ready to do something terrible, much less a whole BUNCH of them. The rules of personal safety certainly apply, but I'd be much more concerned about the crowd at a typical mall or shopping center than I'd ever be about WDW.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We let all our ds be alone in the parks. We always go over the family rules, make sure they have all their admission tickets, money, etc. We go over their transportation options. We have only had a problem once. They were playing in the contemporary arcade and the monorail back to the Poly shut down. Smart thinking ds said they would go and get on a dtd bus and then transfer to the poly bus there. The bus driver asked them where they were going that late at night and he told them. The driver took them directly to the Poly instead of going to dtd. Worse they told us there were no desk people out at either resort. They saw them come out from the back much later. I always go over the scenarios , what would you do in case etc. Make sure they get the proper transportation etc. This time they came home alone to the Swan from MVMCP and they come back late from DQ too. I do stress that if they have a fight or disagreement they cannot leave the other ones etc and be alone single anywhere.

 

[Soarin' Rocks]

In November, we let our DD14 take her best friend (who is very well-behaved and pleasant to be with or else we wouldn't have taken her along). I asked her friend's parents their opinions on letting the girls go off on their own and they were okay with it, as long as there were guidelines. Then we sat the girls down and went over the rules (ALWAYS stay together, keep cell phones on, etc).

The girls had a blast at DW!!! They took advantage of EMH late nights each night while we were back at the resort exhausted. Of course, we didn't go to sleep until they were back and they did check in by phone several times each night. We always knew where they were and what their next step would be. My DD knows DW and how to get around using Disney transportation better than I do so I was quite comfortable with her ability to get back to the resort.

The girls were happy because they got to ride the rides they wanted, eat the food they wanted and hop around when they wanted. We actually spent quite a bit of time together at the parks, restaurants, and the resorts, but when we were tired, they kept going and everyone was happy!

I should also mention that the girls spent a lot of time at Hersheypark last summer hanging out with their friends, so they were used to being on their own in an amusement park with all kinds of people.

Just wanted to share our experience...good luck in your decision!!!!!

 

[TheBellhop]

This is an opinion coming from a 14 year old, but by the time I go to WDW I will be 15. We are going with my cousin, who will also be 15, and his mom. Please try not to disregard this opinion, just because I am a teen.

My parents have allowed me, by myself, to go out into WDW alone because they know that I KNOW the parks very well. I know how to get from each park back to the hotel, I know where the ride locations are...I just know the parks very well. I have no idea about your daughter, but I recommend her learning the exits and such. Have her call you every 45 to 60 minutes and let you know that they're fine and such. It's also a matter of personal opinion, like most DISers here have said. Is your daughter mature and responsible?

 

[shelby_36]

Sorry, I don't agree with this at all. There aren't thousands and thousands of shifty-eyed suspects needing to be monitored - they're just people having fun in a theme park. And I don't think there are any slimebags lurking around ready to do something terrible, much less a whole BUNCH of them. The rules of personal safety certainly apply, but I'd be much more concerned about the crowd at a typical mall or shopping center than I'd ever be about WDW.

unfortunately it only takes one slimebag and a few minutes for your child to be harmed. A few hours of freedom at disney hardly seems like a chance worth taking.

 

[MickiMouth]

I have no problem letting the teens go their own way in the parks day or night as long as I'm in the same park and we can contact each other by phone. I wouldn't let my DD (who is 15) and her friend in the parks alone at night. It's just not something I'm comfortable with. I think there are plenty of things to do at the resort. Just my opinion, I should add DD thinks I'm overly protective- tough

 

[Muffy]

Thank you for all the comments! Keep them coming! Thanks!

 

[snowbunny]

She goes to movies with friends and school dances with friends, etc. She does not go to the mall alone. Most of the time she has friends over or she goes over friends homes.

This is the same approach we take with our DD, she's a little younger. It's not a matter of trust, I trust her implicitly. However she makes judgments as a young teen, which is what she is.

If it is OK with the friend's parents, I probably would allow them to visit Epcot or MGM during the evening (one park, no walking back and forth in and out of different parks), for a specific amount of time, say 2 hours. With a phone call as they are getting ready to head back to the hotel.

 

[tfiga]

Take this with a grain of salt since my children are still 4 and 6, but I would let them go. Yes, there are dangerous people everywhere, but at a certain point children need to have the freedom to make decisions, accept responsibility and learn how to handle uncomfortable situations. I do not see that it would be possible for someone to take a child out of the park nor can I see an assault going unnoticed. Keep in mind that most of the adults in WDW are parents and I for one would interfere if there appeared to be a problem, for example teen boys or men following and/or harassing young girls as I believe most other people would too. I think WDW is one of the safest places to allow your daughter some freedom.

 

[twojo21]

my parents allowed me to be out at night without them, i know wdw well & i was a mature & trustworthy teen. you can always give them a cell phone too.