Teens?

[tammyandtommy]

I promise no flames here, I know I am an overprotective parent. I was wondering at what age you would or have allowed your teens or preteens to explore parks alone? Just parks your in or do they use the transportation service alone? Should I post a poll? Make it anonymouse?

 

[perpetualplanner]

No flames from me. DH and I were just discussing this last night and we disagree. We're headed to WDW in 16 days with Dniece and DNephew who are 16 and 18 respectively. My DS's are 14 and 10. DH thinks they should all be allowed to go off if they stay together - I'm ok with DS14 but not with DS10. We camp with them once a year and last year DS14 (then 13) and Dnephew 18 (then 17) had DS10 and when they returned said "I don't know where he is he's here somewhere". He was fine and at the camp store and returned shortly but not the warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[tammyandtommy]

See Im just not sure Im ready to let them loose, but maybe Im overreacting. I let them ride to the park and the pool together but that is in our small community. WDW has soo many strangers and the place is huge

 

[robinb]

My DD has been going to WDW since she was 4 months old. She probably knows the parks better than I do. I would allow her to wander the same park as I am in the next year or two, so I put down 11-12. I don't know when I would allow her to go to another park or come home on her own. I have to see how being on her own in the same park goes.

 

[IDoDis]

DH and I were just discussing this on our recent WDW trip. We figured that for our next trip which will be in two or three years where DD will be 15 or 16 and DS will be 12 or 13, we'd let them go off on their own, but they'd have to stay in the same park as us. If DD were with someone her age (15 or 16), I'd probably let them go to a different park. I'd make sure she checked in with me via her cell phone each hour though.

At the ages they are at now (10 and 13), they had to stay with us.

 

[DVCLiz]

My daughters are 5 years apart, so I would have let them go someplace at WDW "together" and without me when they were 15 and 10. They work well as a team and they would have been fine taking the bus or boat by themselves.

I let DD15 and her BFF go by themselves to the parks last year during spring break - they would have been 14 1/2. Both of my girls are very familiar with WDW and the transporation system, etc. I don't let them go anywhere without a cell phone - usually it's a "Mom, how do we...?" call and I can walk them through - "Now go out of the park and turn to the left - no, keep going past the boat launch. Do you see all the big buses? Yes, walk that way..." kind of thing.

I'm much more comfortable with letting them practice being out in the "world of strangers" at WDW - they have a certain comfort level but also an equal "off home soil" vibe so they have learned in a familiar place how to manage themselves with strangers, etc. I'm more comfortable letting them do it at WDW than I ever would be at the mall.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I think it depends too, My 16 DN who lives with me and my DD I would let go off on his own for a while in the same park. My DN16 who doesn't live us with I wouldn't unless she was with him.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd love to let dd12 (almost 13) and ds11 off by themselves with a map - dd has no sense of direction, and I think it would be good practice. The other day, I had no one to pick her up from her voice lesson, so I mapquested directions to her grandmother's house, a 10 minute walk. She did it, but I had to push her (she walks all over town to places she knows how to get to, and with her friends). The funny thing is, our town is 3 miles long, she's been to her grandparents' home thousands of times, has been going to voice for a year! Ds11 would fine his way, no problem.

 

[GRUMPY D]

we let dd (10 ) take her brother ( 5 ) run to the food court in the resort to get us drinks and run to the room after we get off the bus , and we let them run ahead of us in the parks ( they stay within eye site ) and ride some rides by them selfs and we wait at the exit or bench close by

 

[Piglet121794]

On my next trip(being a teen myself) I am going with a friend. My parents told me that I was allowed to go it alone seeing that my best friend is coming with me on this magical vacation. But i think 11-12 years old is a little too young. 13-14 should be fine as long as they are responsible and understand their boundaries.

 

[tammyandtommy]

piglet, thanks for the teens point of view!

 

[Doc CW]

15-16 is when my mom let us go off and do our own thing in WDW.

 

[poegirl30]

Last year, my dd(16) took my ds (13.5) and my nephew (almost 14) to ride all the bigger rides while DH and I took our 2 yr old to ride the little rides. They had to stick together (and couldn't leave the park), and we met up for lunch/dinner. We texted and sent pics, and it was fun to see what they were doing. I think that it worked out well.

 

[MichelleVW]

I voted 11-12, but the stipulation is that they are together.

My girls have been traveling the park alone, including buses since they were 12 and 14 I think.

They are both well traveled and know the rules about staying together, don't go anywhere with strangers, etc.

Just Saturday I put them on a plane alone to fly to Germany with a flight change in Amsterdam BY THEMSELVES. Their dad was waiting for them in Germany, but they were on their own in Amsterdam. I think they might have flipped out if they hadn't had freedom to do Disney/airports/malls/etc by themselves all these years. (yes, I was a little nervous about the flight change in a foreign country, but all went well).

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Last year we let dd who was 13 go to Animal Kingdom alone for 3 hours while we were in Epcot. She has been there a few times so we thought it would be alright. Of course I was a wreck the whole time she was away from me! Not sure if I will let her again. She did fine, but I was too stressed!

 

[debraW76]

I think it mostly depends on the children, their maturity level, and your circumstances. This last trip I was alone with 5 kids for a few hours in AK. The big kids wanted to ride EE but the little ones of course could not. So I let the three older ones (ages 6,8,&9) stand in line together while I waited by the exit with the two smaller ones. They had a cell phone and I talked to them until they were on the ride. The first 4 minutes I was fine but the last 10 or so I was a nervous wreck and was glad the park was closing so we wouldn't have to do it again!

We also went to DQ and it was nearly impossible for us all to stay together. We stayed in the same room together but each child was playing their own game while I found a spot to stand where I had a good view on all of them but could touch the baby. I was a nervous wreck but luckily we made it through with no incidences.

I think that by age 12-14 we may try letting them stay in the same 'land' as us but will use the buddy system. Then if that works well we might just try staying in the same park the next year. Call me sexist but I will probably let the boys use Disney transportation at 16 but my daughter may never use it alone until she is an adult.

I agree with the PP about Disney being a good safe environement to prepare your kids for the real world. My SIL and niece went with us for a few days and my SIL wouldn't let my niece go to the bathroom alone and she is 18!

 

[KitKat_Tink]

I, personally, wouldn't be comfortable going around the parks alone and I'm 16
It might be becasue I don't visit WDW often as I like closer to DLR. I've been going around DLR since I was about 12 alone or with my brother who is 2 years older. WDW is huge and there is so many places to get lost. I'd much rather have someone else in the park with me. But I may be the exception to teenagers.

 

[MichelleVW]

I, personally, wouldn't be comfortable going around the parks alone and I'm 16
It might be becasue I don't visit WDW often as I like closer to DLR. I've been going around DLR since I was about 12 alone or with my brother who is 2 years older. WDW is huge and there is so many places to get lost. I'd much rather have someone else in the park with me. But I may be the exception to teenagers.

My teens know WDW like the back of their hand and feel totally comfortable wandering around without me. They take the bus/monorail/boat/whatever to get where they need to go.

March 08 they left Pop and went to the Pirate and Princess Party all by themselves. Yes, I texted them quite often to find out what they were doing and if they were ok, but they were fine and had a blast.

But they are together....so it's a little different than walking around alone.

 

[tammyandtommy]

its interesting to see everyone differnt opinions, Im not sure what to do yet, I am considering letting them in the same park??????? DO I dare? LOL

 

[perpetualplanner]

you could try it say 1/2 to a full hour before a Dining reservation. Then you'd all be able to see how it felt - were you too nervous, did they show up on time or in a reasonable time, were they nervous. If that works then maybe up it to 2 hours or so the next day. Just a thought - still not sure how our situation will work out but I'm sure I'll be the nervous wreck.