Teens?

[mousefanmichelle]

We were in Epcot in May and my 14 yr old ds wanted to go off alone for a little bit -we let him. It wasn't for long and he was in the same park no biggie. Later that day our 3 kids 14,12,& 10 wanted to try to beat us back to the resort so we let them take the monorail and then transfer to a bus alone and meet us at CBR - they stayed together and actually my dh and I beat them by just taking the bus and we waited to finish our drinks!! I felt my 14 year old was def. mature enough to come and go like that and I would say that if it were him and his 12 yr old brother things would be ok but my dd, 10 would stay with us for another 2 years before I let her go with them for a long period of time. It is whatever you as a parent are comfortable with. Only you know your kids.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We have been to WDW many times and my kids know the parks inside out and upside down. They are also just very responsible kids by nature (I am lucky that way). So, starting probably when they were 7 and 9 (but getting clsoe to their next birthdays) we would let tehm spend an hour or so "on their own together" in the same park we were in if we knew where they we going. Usually something like they were going to ride Small World then Snow White and then the teacups and would stay at the tea cups until we were off Splash Mountain and back for them. Back then we discussed which restroom they would use if needed also.
This year we even let DD12 spend two hours on her own at the Studios in Disney Paris (this was our first trip there but we had spent one day in that park before) with plans to meet up with the rest of us later. The rest of us wanted to ride Crush's Coaster again and the line was 90 minutes long. It wasn't fair for her to have to wait with us (she doesn't like coasters) and she was comfotable with the layout of the park. I had no worries about her and she was fine.
I would be completly comfortable with them wandering the same park I was in at this point at WDW and possibly taking transportation and going elswhere if they were together. They are also used to taking trams in Heidelberg on their own which I think makes the public transport at WDW seem less daunting.

 

[duffy]

I'm always amazed at these threads. How on earth are kids supposed to learn to stand on their own two feet if they are coddled and protected so much??

Seems like so many families protect and hover over their kids until they reach 18 and then they expect them to survive on their own. I let my daughter go to Poland alone when she was 16, for 9 months, to live with total strangers.

When she started college, it seemed like every other kids but mine had never been away from their parents, didn't have the faintest idea how to do laundry, had no basic car repair skills, didn't know how to balance their checkbooks, had never scrubbed a tub....

 

[Pixieflip]

I agree, it might depend a lot on the kids. My kids know the Disney parks like the back of their hands, so we are pretty comfortable letting them go off with each other or a cousin for an hour or two by age 11. Certainly not the whole day, but yes a little bit. They know the rules and of course carry a cell phone. The phone really helps me relax.

What can also be tricky is when you are traveling with families who have different ideas about this.

 

[pyrxtc]

I think if they ahve their license and are driving around on their own, they should be able to manage the parks alone too. Free reign on Disney transport to whatever park they desire as long as they promise to answer their phone when I call or call me back when they got off the ride. I think responsibility is key. My DD12 would lose her head if it wasn't attatched so she has while before she can go around the parks herself.

 

[Kriddlet]

I agree, and think it also depends on the kids themselves. I would say 13-14. We went to Disney in 1997, when I was 17 and my little brother was 13, and my parents let us off by ourself, but we had to stay together. I remember it being really fun, being able to do just what we wanted to do.

 

[Disney_Mama]

I agree that it really depends on the kids. My 14 year old would have no problem doing the parks and transportation. But some other 14 year old kids have no clue. Plus I think you need to take into consideration the time of year you are going. If it is crazy time with parks at capacity I would not let my DD14 on her own.

 

[tammyandtommy]

wow what responses! LOL I cant say that I shelter my kids, I allow them to do alot for their ages. Not sure what is considered coddling. What I can say is that I was a child of sexual abuse, and I always worry about my kids. I think that is a natural response. I dont take offense to the poster's response I guess Im just surprised this thread went in that direction... end rant... Thanks again to everyones responses! I have alot to consider ...

 

[labordefam3]

I'm so glad you asked this question. I have loved reading all the responses, plus it's made me think about what I'll do on our next trip. My DD will be 17, and I've never even considered the fact that she might want go to a totally different park on her own.

 

[Andrea from PA]

I voted 11-12, but I have a lot of restrictions.

To me it depends on the crowd level, our family's familiarity with the park, etc.

For example, we live near Sesame Place. It is a small park & our entire family knows the ins & outs of it well after years of visits. I have no problem letting even my 8 yr old go around without parents here as long as 1. she is with a sibling and 2. It is not an overcrowded day.

With water parks & rides, I worry more about the workers paying attention to the timing of the slides

In Disney Parks I would never let any of my kids go off alone except to the restroom (where I pace outside the whole time). I was comfortable enough at Disney Quest to let me 13 year old go alone with cell on vibrate (and I did test him to answer the phone).

I don't think I would ever let my kids be alone in any Disney Park. I would allow them to be in pairs at 12-13 in the SAME park as me. At this point I think 15-16 to be in a different park & use Disney transportation. And that is still in pairs.

I caveat all this with I trust my 9 year old son more than my 13 year old son-- My 9 yr old is very aware of his surrondings & just has street smarts -- the 13 yr old can be in his own little world

 

[picktails]

Each family/child will have different comfort levels, and that's fine. What's not is when parents hold back their teens from valuable independent experience in a relatively safe environment, or when an unfit parent gives free reign to those too young/immature to handle it.
Last trip DS was a month shy of 15 and really just wanted to explore on his own, go back & rides his faves, etc, and I knew I had to let him. My mom had a hard time with it, but he had reached an age where if he was to enjoy this (and other) family vacations I had to let him go. Once he got on the wrong bus & had to transfer, and another time he fell asleep and missed his stop at BC! (Driver was great & drove him back around.) There is no better place on earth to spread your wings and gain some independence.