Under 14? Cannot enter DL or WDW alone

[Sgt Mickey]

I do think it is a good rule. BUT I agree with the if you are 10 and need an adult ticket then Disney should consider that old enough. I have never let my kids go into the park alone and we have never split up. BUT this time my dd who is 13 is bringing a friend. I didn't plan at all to let them go to the park alone but was going to let them ride some rides alone.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Good point about the tickets. Maybe they need to increase the child ticket price to 14 too x Wouldn't like them to increase the age of children's meals though. I can't see many teens getting their daily nutritional needs from Disney's kids meals!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I remember going to Disney World way back in High school and the kids ticket I believe went up to 12. I think that is a good age. Still a kid but on that brink of being a teenager and knowing it all

 

[Buckalew11]

I have to disagree with you a little on this one. I think kids are growing up way too fast. Six year olds talk on iPhones, now. 10-year-olds are wearing make-up. We had an issue a few years ago with 5th graders sending nude cell phone photos... 5th graders! When I was in 5th grade, boys still had cooties.

However, I do think that 12 or 13 would probably be more accurate. And it's ironic because Disney considers 10-year-olds "adults" when it comes to park tickets. I would argue that if they have to purchase an adult ticket, they should also be allowed to enter and exit the park by themselves.

I believe Disney's reason for an adult ticket price at 10yo is because at that age, they are able to ride and do everything in the park so they are able to get full use from an adult ticket.

There's a lot of difference to me between that type of thinking and thinking one should allow a 12 yo to roam through a park alone or kids without adult supervision.

 

[tarheel618]

I have to disagree with you a little on this one. I think kids are growing up way too fast. Six year olds talk on iPhones, now. 10-year-olds are wearing make-up. We had an issue a few years ago with 5th graders sending nude cell phone photos... 5th graders! When I was in 5th grade, boys still had cooties.

However, I do think that 12 or 13 would probably be more accurate. And it's ironic because Disney considers 10-year-olds "adults" when it comes to park tickets. I would argue that if they have to purchase an adult ticket, they should also be allowed to enter and exit the park by themselves.

This was my first thought, bet Disney won't change this policy.

 

[mrsklamc]

Actually the most recent price increases had me wondering if they were moving toward one price for kids and adults.

 

[ICF]

14 ---- what will a boy do if he has to go to the bathroom and mom isn't with him?!??!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I believe Disney's reason for an adult ticket price at 10yo is because at that age, they are able to ride and do everything in the park so they are able to get full use from an adult ticket.

There's a lot of difference to me between that type of thinking and thinking one should allow a 12 yo to roam through a park alone or kids without adult supervision.

I understand Disney's reasoning for the ticket prices, and I don't really have a problem with the new age requirement to enter. I'm just pointing out that it's pretty hypocritical on Disney's part.

 

[MichelleVW]

Honestly, 14 seems too old in this situation. I would have made it 12, if at all. By 12, I would take public transportation in my hometown to go see movies with my friends or head to the mall or library. I was also babysitting other kids at that age.

We keep taking away responsibility from our children and then wonder why kids are less mature these days.

I agree. My girls were 12 and 14 when they were allowed to head off into the parks by themselves with Disney transportation. They were Disney vets who knew how to work their cell phones and stay together. We didn't split up much, but sometimes they just drove us nuts and we sent them off on their own.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I understand Disney's reasoning for the ticket prices, and I don't really have a problem with the new age requirement to enter. I'm just pointing out that it's pretty hypocritical on Disney's part.

I disagree that there's an hypocrisy on Disney's part. "Typically tall enough to meet the engineering safety requirements" has no relationship to "average age with the level of maturity to navigate and behave in a theme park without a legal adult".

 

[marcyinPA]

I have to disagree with you a little on this one. I think kids are growing up way too fast. Six year olds talk on iPhones, now. 10-year-olds are wearing make-up. We had an issue a few years ago with 5th graders sending nude cell phone photos... 5th graders! When I was in 5th grade, boys still had cooties.

However, I do think that 12 or 13 would probably be more accurate. And it's ironic because Disney considers 10-year-olds "adults" when it comes to park tickets. I would argue that if they have to purchase an adult ticket, they should also be allowed to enter and exit the park by themselves.

on the bolded!!

 

[ManyMinnie]

Good. Disney isnt your personal babysitter.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, I'm guessing WDW has their reasons. Must have had some trouble with under 14yos in the park to change the rule.

And really, if you turn a bunch of 7 and 8th graders alone, you might have more trouble than, say, sending 2 siblings into the park who are 11 and 13. Often kids in a group are a bit rowdier--maybe that's what brought the change on. I'm sure something did.

 

[wilkeliza]

This is just a revamp to an old rule. The old rule was 7 but I have been seeing it change over time with no announcement because during breaks and summer there are a lot of local parents who use WDW as a babysitter. They would drop their kids at the turnstiles give them money and a lunch tote and kiss them goodbye. It is crazy what parents think are safe. I'm hoping this will help this problem of the littler ones who this was happening to. I personally don't think 8 and 9 year olds should be able to spend a full unsupervised day at Disney.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think 12 would have been a fine age to enter the parks alone. My DS did when he was 12 to meet up with us.

This new rule is going to affect us on our next trip. I posted about that on the thread on the theme parks board.

I can work with it but it's going to be annoying for me to walk from the very back of the park to the front and exit and then meet up with DD13 and then enter with her and then walk back to the back of the park again. I'm sure I'll get over my annoyance once my tired legs recover.

 

[mom2rtk]

I personally don't think 8 and 9 year olds should be able to spend a full unsupervised day at Disney.

I do too. But I still think 14 went a little too far. 12 and 13 year olds should be fine. Many girls that age actually babysit other kids.

 

[tvguy]

14 ---- what will a boy do if he has to go to the bathroom and mom isn't with him?!??!

Unless I am misreading the rule, they only have to have the adult with them when they enter the park, not the entire time they are there.

 

[tvguy]

I have to disagree with you a little on this one. I think kids are growing up way too fast. Six year olds talk on iPhones, now. 10-year-olds are wearing make-up. We had an issue a few years ago with 5th graders sending nude cell phone photos... 5th graders! When I was in 5th grade, boys still had cooties.

However, I do think that 12 or 13 would probably be more accurate. And it's ironic because Disney considers 10-year-olds "adults" when it comes to park tickets. I would argue that if they have to purchase an adult ticket, they should also be allowed to enter and exit the park by themselves.

Certainly the topic for another thread. My kids had to wait until 16 for a cell phone, after they were driving. But my mindset on cell phones is clearly different, I'm looking forward to being retired and getting rid of my cell phone.

 

[ICF]

Unless I am misreading the rule, they only have to have the adult with them when they enter the park, not the entire time they are there.

It was a joke referring to this near 40 page thread that at least originally was about moms who take their boys with them to the bathroom, cause the men's room is just too scary!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3077651&page=38

 

[CaliBear]

I think it was probably a bigger problem in Disneyland where there are a lot of locals. When I visited back in 2005, I remember seeing lots of groups of kids hanging out in the parks without adult supervision. It's like their parents let them hang out there after school or something. You don't really see that at WDW.

But I like the idea. People might complain, but it's a rule put in place for their own safety.

I grew up in California and during my preteen years, I often went to DL with friends. One of our parents would drop us all off and pick us up in the evening. It was a fun, safe place for us- one of the only places my parents let me go without an adult present. We weren't doing anything wrong. Just having fun. I don't see why local middle school-aged kids at the parks w/o supervision are a problem.