Turning Our High Schoolers Loose in Disney

[WDW*Dreamer]

My wife is a high school chemistry teacher. For the past several years a couple of the science teachers at her school have taken a group of AP Chemistry and AP Biology students down to Disney for a long weekend and to participate in the Disney YES programs. Last year my wife and I went along as chaperones. Dispite staying off-property (a first for us)...We had a GREAT time! The kids were perfect, and we are going back this February (staying on-property this time).

Here is my question. We don’t put a lot of restrictions on the kids while we’re at Disney. These are 15-19 year old young adults. They are all top students (not that good grades guarantees a responsible person, but I think it generally improves the chances). We will require them to meet for breakfast at a specific time and place so we can confirm there were no problems in the night. They are required to participate in at least one YES program during the trip. And, we will have a curfew time when they must be back at the hotel. We will NOT allow them to go back to the hotel during the day. The chaperones will take turns manning the resort area to confirm this. We generally run across small groups of students all day long at different parks and we will often gather together informally for lunch. Getting the kids to honor our “lights out” command isn’t a problem, they’re usually exhausted at the end of the day. And, despite the fact we don’t expect any problems, after lights out we put a small strip of tape across the outside door/door frame of each room so the kids will know they can’t sneak out without being caught. The ultimate deterrent to any trouble is, we make Mom and Dad sign a pledge that, should their student break any of the rules, Mom and/or Dad will drive down from Atlanta to pick up their kid and take them back home. I don’t think this has ever happened.

We do not travel the parks in a large group. Typically the kids break up into groups of 4-6. They are not allowed to go off alone. They must always have another student with them. The chaperones spread out through the four parks so that, should a kid need help, there’s always someone nearby. However, the kids are NOT constantly under the watch of a chaperone. They are free to move about the parks as they wish, as long as they make it back to the hotel at curfew time.

My wife and I do not have a problem with this. Since our kids became teenagers we have allowed them to roam the parks together without us. They want to dash from ride to ride. We want to sit and watch Voices of Liberty, so it works out well. We have continual cell phone access and meet for meals. So, turning these high schoolers loose in Disney didn’t bother us.

However, some of the parents of students we talk to are shocked that we don’t go around the parks as a single 50-person group or at least in smaller groups with an adult assigned to each group. They won’t let their kids go with us because of this (which is ABSOLUTELY their right and 100% their decision).

However, these are young adults, not middle schoolers. In the next couple years most of these kids will be in jobs or away at college and left to make responsible decisions on their own every day. If they can’t survive a day at Disney without someone there to monitor their every action, that’s a problem.

What do you think? Are we taking too big of a risk turning these 15-19 year olds loose inside the Disney parks, or is it reasonable to expect that these teenagers should be able to survive a day in Disney without constant adult supervision?

I welcome your input.

(Sorry for the long post)

 

[SaraJayne]

I think your rules are fair and reasonable for older teens.

But I'm probably not the best person to ask...I let my 13 year old son and a friend loose in Epcot for the afternoon.

 

[bethbuchall]

I think it's sounds like you have the perfect arrangement worked out and that you have thought it all out well.

Of course, maybe I'm just an irresponsible parent. My daughter went on a Washington, DC day trip with the History Club at her high school when she was 16 that worked much the same way. Small groups were allowed to roam as they pleased with chaperons in the area (students had all the chaperons cell phone numbers) and everyone had to meet for dinner. I'm also allowing her to go to Europe this spring with the History Club (she will be 17). They will meet for two meals a day, but they will not spend all their time as a large group nor will they always have an adult with them.

My kids have also been allowed to tour Disney World apart from the family at times. (Though most of the time we all want to be together there.)

 

[NMAmy]

I've been letting dd and a friend go off on their own in the parks since she was 14. It's absolutely reasonable to expect teens that age to be just fine on their own.

 

[Magpie]

I think your arrangements sound perfectly reasonable for that age group!

I'm curious to hear what kind of objections people might have. I suppose if my teenager had a hidden disability, such as ADD or Aspergers, I might not want them in an unstructured environment like that.

But for MY kids? Sounds like a terrific experience.

Heck, my husband and I told our kids that when we stay on site at Universal Studios, they'll be allowed to take the cell phone and head down to the parks without us grownups. They'll be 13 and 14 years old.

 

[NotUrsula]

Personally I think your rules are as strict as they could reasonably need to be.

What I would do to understand the reluctant parents' POV and see if there are reasonable changes that should be made would be to ask them what, specifically, that they are concerned might happen?

The odds are fairly good that if they are forced to look at the issue objectively and in detail, their fears will be accounted for by your procedures.

The only other measures that I think MIGHT be reasonable if they would address specific issues would be to take their room keys away from them at breakfast if they have separate ticket media ("they might sneak back to the room and have sex before you caught them").

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd have no problem with that - heck, I'm trying to convince dd14 and her friends to take the local bus to the mall when they're bored! I also gave her free reign on our last cruise, as long as she stayed in certain areas, was never alone, and came back to the cabin by 1:30 am.

 

[Hannathy]

I think your rules are fine.

to put it into perspective my DD's orchestra went to Italy when she was in 10th grade and your rules are pretty much what they did in Italy! let alone only in Disney. they went off in cities alone in Italy and to the beach alone whatever they wanted to do.
Actually they didn't keep anyone back at the hotel, they could go and come as they needed and they didn't tape the doors. so you are stricter.

My Sister takes her band every other year and your rules are similar to hers, they don't take the kids around in a group. the kids are on their own and check in like once a day. and this includes 9th graders.

 

[Kirby]

I've been a chaperone for numerous band trips for 150+ kids. Your rules sound the same as ours. The only time that we had the kids stay with chaperones was when we took them to New York to play in Carnegie Hall. Letting them run wild in New York City wouldn't have been too good an idea.

I'd say, if the parents have a problem with your rules, then they should be the chaperones on the trip.

 

[look1angel]

My wife is a high school chemistry teacher. For the past several years a couple of the science teachers at her school have taken a group of AP Chemistry and AP Biology students down to Disney for a long weekend and to participate in the Disney YES programs. Last year my wife and I went along as chaperones. Dispite staying off-property (a first for us)...We had a GREAT time! The kids were perfect, and we are going back this February (staying on-property this time).

Here is my question. We don’t put a lot of restrictions on the kids while we’re at Disney. These are 15-19 year old young adults. They are all top students (not that good grades guarantees a responsible person, but I think it generally improves the chances). We will require them to meet for breakfast at a specific time and place so we can confirm there were no problems in the night. They are required to participate in at least one YES program during the trip. And, we will have a curfew time when they must be back at the hotel. We will NOT allow them to go back to the hotel during the day. The chaperones will take turns manning the resort area to confirm this. We generally run across small groups of students all day long at different parks and we will often gather together informally for lunch. Getting the kids to honor our “lights out” command isn’t a problem, they’re usually exhausted at the end of the day. And, despite the fact we don’t expect any problems, after lights out we put a small strip of tape across the outside door/door frame of each room so the kids will know they can’t sneak out without being caught. The ultimate deterrent to any trouble is, we make Mom and Dad sign a pledge that, should their student break any of the rules, Mom and/or Dad will drive down from Atlanta to pick up their kid and take them back home. I don’t think this has ever happened.

We do not travel the parks in a large group. Typically the kids break up into groups of 4-6. They are not allowed to go off alone. They must always have another student with them. The chaperones spread out through the four parks so that, should a kid need help, there’s always someone nearby. However, the kids are NOT constantly under the watch of a chaperone. They are free to move about the parks as they wish, as long as they make it back to the hotel at curfew time.

My wife and I do not have a problem with this. Since our kids became teenagers we have allowed them to roam the parks together without us. They want to dash from ride to ride. We want to sit and watch Voices of Liberty, so it works out well. We have continual cell phone access and meet for meals. So, turning these high schoolers loose in Disney didn’t bother us.

However, some of the parents of students we talk to are shocked that we don’t go around the parks as a single 50-person group or at least in smaller groups with an adult assigned to each group. They won’t let their kids go with us because of this (which is ABSOLUTELY their right and 100% their decision).

However, these are young adults, not middle schoolers. In the next couple years most of these kids will be in jobs or away at college and left to make responsible decisions on their own every day. If they can’t survive a day at Disney without someone there to monitor their every action, that’s a problem.

What do you think? Are we taking too big of a risk turning these 15-19 year olds loose inside the Disney parks, or is it reasonable to expect that these teenagers should be able to survive a day in Disney without constant adult supervision?

I welcome your input.

(Sorry for the long post)

We did exactly this with our HS band who happen to march at the MK back in 2002 & all but one kid, who was with a group, got in trouble & sent home. Some parent's can be over protective (I am) & or they know their kid well enough that they'd want them on lock down I was Band President at the time so I was one of the chaperones & still was able to enjoy myself.
I personally had no problem sending my 3 teens off throughout the park, there was always check in time too.
I think everyone will be just fine, they are all old enough to know better but there is always that one...
Have fun & enjoy!

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

That's pretty much how we did it in high school, though we were required to meet up with our assigned chaperone once or twice while in the parks. I think the only things I would be concerned about as a parent is the fact that the kids are allowed to park hop alone and that there are no mandatory check ins throughout the day. Just my opinion.

 

[MushyMushy]

Whenever my daughter's middle school band traveled anywhere, the band director had a really corny saying. "No onesies, no twosies, no threesies: only foursies or moresies."

So if middle school kids are fine going off in groups as small as four, then I would think high school kids would be fine in groups of two or more.

FWIW, when we take our next trip, we plan on letting our 15 year old and her 13 year old friend tour the parks alone. We're insisting they go to breakfast and dinner with us, and maybe lunch if they want.

 

[geffric]

Your plan sounds fine to me.. that is what HS band does.. been to Hawai this way, WDW and this year they are going to DL.. the kids have a great time and see a chaporone if needed but most of them are good kids and can handle themselves fine..

 

[snarlingcoyote]

The HS band in my hometown, the one my dear relations are members of, goes to Disney once every 4 years. Over the years the band director has learned. The kids are set loose at X hours and must return at Y hours. If there IS poor behavior on the part of a student, they are forced to remain in the presence of the band director (whom they are, every singe one, intimidated by and a wee bit scared of) for a period of time. 30 minutes for the first offense, then longer. For really bad behavior or multiple repeat offenders, the parents are called and the child is put on either a plane or bus at the parents' expense and does not go on any of the "fun" band trips ever again. (There is one kid I know of - not a dear relation, thankfully - who dissappeared on a JRHS trip and made the entire band wait 45 minutes for him - intentionally hiding. He will never, ever go on another band trip.)

Uhmm. . .one suggestion that I thought was really brilliant and loved. The school gave suggested $$ amounts for various things the kids might want to buy and what a QS meal costs at Disney and what sodas cost and the info that water is free. Breakfast was paid for (they stayed off-site), so that left lunch and dinner. Each child's parents were also given a set of envelopes, pre-printed with their dear child's name and a date; one envelope per day They put money in each envelope. The chaperones then doled each envelope out each day.

But anyway, I think your rules are great. I feel sorry for the kids whose parents won't let them try their wings out in a place as safe as Disney.

 

[WDW*Dreamer]

Thanks everybody for your input. I feel much more confident now.

 

[aprilgail2]

That is exactly how our school handles it--only difference is that they go every two years and when my daughter goes she will be in 9th grade and that makes her only 13-- so you havea bunch of 13 year olds running around disney on their own- the good thing is that they only take the kids if they have good grades and no behavior problems.

 

[JLTraveling]

Goodness, I can't believe this would even be an issue. I traveled all over the place with my HS debate team, and our coach (male) was the only chaperone. We were expected to be on time and fully prepared for our debates, but otherwise we were on our own. We didn't even have a boys' room and a girls' room--we had a "sleeping room" and a "staying up late room." His theory was that nobody would have sex in front of everyone in the late room, and if they tried in the sleeping room they'd wake everyone up. It always worked out fine

When I was a kid, I spent summers at day camp. We did field trips all the time to WDW and other area theme parks. The rule was, we had to be at least 7 to go off without a counselor (since that's the age Disney requires). Ages 7 to 9--at least three in a group. Ages 10 and up, pairs were fine. If we were late for the bus at the end of the day, there were penalties--30 minutes or less, have to stay with a counselor on the next trip. More than 30 minutes, can't go on the next trip. More than one offense, no more trips all summer. We all not only lived, but learned a lot of responsibility. Can't fathom why it would be an issue for teens

 

[MaleficentFan]

My mother and DH work at the same high school... they have each chaperoned the senior class trip to Disney and I have accompanied them more than once. Your rules are much the same that our high school has had in place each year. The kids are required to turn in their room keys to a chaperone each morning so they don't have access to their rooms during the day (they have separate park passes). They must always travel with a buddy. The group meets up at the resort around 5 to allow them to shower or swim or nap... then they hand in their keys again and are told when they can get back in their rooms that night. They make sure everyone is in their assigned room before the kids are "locked" in for the night... they do the tape on the doors thing as well. They each have a list of everyone's cell phone numbers. They do one organized breakfast and one organized dinner. The parents and kids are made aware that if they act out mom and dad will be called and required to pay for a ticket on the first plane back to Jersey. So far.. no problems. And the kids have had a wonderful time each year. It's not an easy trip for the chaperones... lack of sleep is tough since you've got to wake up before they do and stay up much later to assure they stay put. Add that to walking around in the heat all day... it's rough. But the kids are a lot of fun...

 

[HeyMickeyUSoFine]

I'm sorry. Say what ya'll want, but I could never allow it. I don't care how much you talk to kids, kids will be kids and they will do stuff they don't have any business doing....we did and our kids will too. Furthermore, they don't have to have access to the room to get into something they shouldn't. Middle-high students at our local school were caught having sex behind some attraction on one field trip. So as a parent, I wouldn't allow it because even though I don't have any problems out of my kids....I still wouldn't put anything pass my kids. As a patron of the park, I don't want to deal with unruly teen-agers. You send kids out without supervision and their language becomes extremely vulgar and some tend to talk about things in line that smaller kids shouldn't hear. I'm the type of person that doesn't like "grown" kids, so it could turn into a real problem.

As a matter of fact, I think the schools need to stop these multi-day field trips period. Let the parents take their kids to Disney or wherever.