Thoughts please...DD15 & DS16 -travel together on WDW buses to parks w\o adult- SAFE?

[bratray]

hello

staying at POR, me, DH, DS16, DD15 and DS4- the teens want to venture on their own and ride the WDW transportation to water parks and theme parks occassionally without their "old fashioned" parents- is this safe???should i be concerned......

i do trust both of them and would of course tell them to stay together- but ya never know with so many wackos....

anyone have this same issue and what did you do?
suggesions please

thanks

lisa (the over protective mom)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I would not worry in the least. There is a ton of security in the parks and the busses are safe. When my daughter and her friends were allowed to venture off on their own and they were fine, they were in the same age category as your daughters.

 

[kilee]

I think their ages and the fact they'll be together should make it okay. I would definetly set strict check in times, but I would think they'd be safe. If you have a family plan w/ muliple cell phones that is a great way to keep in touch througout the day.

 

[bratray]

yes, we all have cell phones- being a over protective parent i insist they never leave home without their phones and will gladly incur the long distance charges just to have peace of mind by them checking in on their phones

even with the phones i just wanted some others opinions on 2 teens being on their own

thanks

lisa

 

[JimmyMartin]

We allowed our daughter who had just turned 16 to do it alone. She had been several times before. We stayed off property and she used all the transportation there. It is never a problem. Her best trip was riding a boat from Disney studios to Epcot/international gateway.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by bratray
yes, we all have cell phones- being a over protective parent i insist they never leave home without their phones and will gladly incur the long distance charges just to have peace of mind by them checking in on their phones

even with the phones i just wanted some others opinions on 2 teens being on their own

thanks

lisa

Kudos to you, the parent for being one. You cannot be over protective. I used to be called the "smother mother", not a bad thing, IMHO.

 

[babyblues68]

My kids aren't old enough right now, but if I was faced with this I would probably feel pretty safe at Disney. The security seems very tight to me. And it's a plus they'll be together and have cell phones to check in.

My mom use to drive me crazy with being overprotective. She's gone now and I can't tell her how much I appreciated it now. I'll go thru life repeating the same with mine...hope one day they'll understand....the world is just not safe.


Lisa, your teens are blessed to have you care so much.

Tammy

Off-site 12/2001

 

[Dogslider]

I am also known as an overprotective mom, if there really is such a thing. You seem to have trust in your in kids, so I think they should be fine. If it were me I would set strict rules as to staying together etc.. Would tell them that the first time that missed calling in at check in time (by more than 10 minutes) they would lose the privilage and would be forced to ride It's a small world 1 time for each minute that they were late! That ought to take care of any problems.

Pam

 

[mrssalvaggio]

Dogslider, I love the way your mind works!!!

 

[wdwnut]

hi: our kids range in age from mid teens to mid twenties. they have been able to spend some time with their buddies( without parents) for years. i really do trust disney. you have to make sure the kids will stay together and let them know they will lose this privilege if they screw up. we would usually arrive at whatever restaurant we had ps for and find them waiting for us to make sure we were on time!

 

[susy]

I have seen lots of teens on the buses. Even though there are "wackos" out there, the buses and parks are full of families and concerned, loving parents who do watch out for other kids-haven't you found yourself, saying, "Who does this child belong to? Oh, okay, there is the mom." I remember a post about a 16yo girl that was being harrassed by man at the Poly and another man stepped in to save her.

My niece and nephew (14 and 16) take the city buses down here in south FL and I wouldn't hesitate to let them on their own at Disney.

 

[oshun]

Went in February with 3 - 14 yr olds. They did go on their own but we stayed in the same park, met for dinner and met a few times inside the park at certain times and places. I did, however, let them go to a water park one day by themselves. 2 of the 14 year olds have been there about 9 times and are very familiar with the transportation, etc. I went over the rules with them many times and they seemed mature enough to go on their own. They loved that little bit of independence and had a safe and wonderful time. If you feel that they are mature enough then I would let them venture a little on their own. It is good for them but make sure they stay together (safety in numbers is how I feel). We are now taking 2 - 15 year olds (twins - it's their birthdays) and a 16 year old and they are looking forward to venturing out on their own and meeting us again for dinner, etc. Have a safe and wonderful trip!!

 

[Mic]

Last year, we let my 14-year-old daughter and 3 friends take the bus from MGM to OKW alone, before dark. There was a man on the bus asking the girls to go to his room with him, but another passenger intervened before anything really happened. I was comfortable letting the girls go to/from the parks on a bus, but I did not let them go to Downtown Disney. Every girl had a 2-way radio locked on our code and subcode, and they were not even allowed to go to the restroom alone(I know this would be impossible in your case). Now my daughter has a cell-phone, so I worry even less about her and younger teen daughter walking around the parks without us. The older girls get a lot more things done without us and our 2 younger children slowing them down. The 1 thing that surprised me on our last trip was how often the girls chose to stay with us, SIL, and her 2 young boys. I don't think they split from us but once, so if this is the 4-year-old's first trip, they may choose to hang around and enjoy the "magic" through a child's eyes.

 

[cathie]

My sister & I are both very overprotective with our kids, but felt completely at ease letting my 14 yr. old son & 11 yr. old nephew take the Disney bus on their own from our resort. They had a cell phone with them & we set a meeting time & they met us right on time. I think it gives them a sense of independence & confidence that we let they go off on their own for a while. We travel to Disney twice a year & feel it is a very safe place for families with all the security. Relax & enjoy your vacation!! Cathie

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Mine do it all the time! In fact, we have let DD(14), at the time, and two friends go alone to the parks. Okay, at first I was being the nervous mother but they had a great time and I quit worrying. As long as they stay together!

Make sure you have "check-in" with mom times set up!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[4greatboys]

Last year was the first time my 2 oldest were allowed out just the 2 of them. They were 15 and 12. Both are very responsible and follow the rules. They had a great time. With a cell phone oe radio atleast you can contact them if you start feeling worried.

 

[Eeyore2003]

DS was 16 when we went last time and did fine on his own a couple times. In fact, I think it was good for him.

 

[Mattsmom]

Another parent of teens checking in. Mine have been going on their own for awhile. We have never had a problem.

They do stay together and carry a cell phone for my peace of mind. They went off on their own more when they first got the privilege. Now it's not such a big deal. Every so often they decide to go to DQ instead of with us.

 

[FrizDiz]

As long as they stay together I don't think they would have any problem at all. I would however go over with them what to do in an emergency (ex. find a cast member when in danger, make sure they know how to reach you in an emergency, not to go anywhere but the parks etc.)

 

[Terry S]

This is so interesting. My kids are almost 6 and 7 now and they have asked so many times when they will be able to go on thier own. They know the parks like the backs of their hands already. I test them all the time while we are there. When we are at a spot and about to head somewhere, I have one of them lead us there. (We go twice a year) Anyway, we have talked about this quite a bit and they already have a "plan" sent up. They figure when they are 11 and 12 they can split up from us while we are in the same park as them and meet somewhere in 2 hours to check in. Depending on how they do with that, they figure when they are 13 and 14 they can get on a bus and go to a park by themselves (with each other). Of course, this all depends on maturity, but they have such fun talking about thier big "plan".