What age do you let your kids roam the parks?

[zoom8942]

I think it also depends on how well they know the park. A kid that has been to WDW 1 or 2 times or never I would not let roam the parks much. A kid that knows the parks well I would let go off at 12-13, if I was in the same park. I once let a group of my kids plus friends ages 16,15,15,13( they were all to stay together) go on their own basically all week, and they used the late EMH, and transportation sometimes 2am when they came in. I was a wreck but they were having the times of their lives.

 

[arlsdimples]

Two years ago DD was 13 and DS was 8 we would let her take him to certain attractions in MK, AK and HS. We would also let her go to stores she wanted or pick up fast passes or go on a ride by herself in the park with meeting up soon afterward and she had a cell phone. I was pregnant and DH had vertigo so neither of us could do any type of thrill ride.

Last year when they were each a year older we let the two of them go off and do their thing in every park together meeting up at certain times or afterward. Since we had a 5 month old with us it just was more practical since there were many rides they wanted to do that we did not or could not. It allowed me to nurse or DH and I took the baby to meet characters or just took it easy with the baby. I swear I think these kids know every park but AK better than their own neighborhood. AK we always get lost in I have no idea why.

Years ago when DS was a baby and DD was about 6 we took my then 13 or 14 yr old BIL along with us. One night we had a sitter come to stay with the kids while DH and I went out. We told BIL he could go out as well and how to use the bussing system. He was perfectly fine however DH got in trouble with his mother for doing this.

 

[msmith07101]

Depends what you mean by roam the parks. My 8 yr old could go to the food court to refill his mug, or go to a gift shop or go get a snack on his own at the parks, or go anywhere with his sister who was 14 (like the pool, other rides, the arcade) My DD at 14 was allowed to stay in a park if we were leaving and ride the bus back on her own.

I think in upper elementary and middle school they can go off on their own in the park we are in. By high school they can go off completely on their own, ride the bus, return by themselves. And especially if they are with another kid.

I was thinking letting them go off on their own (16YO & 13YO together), to ride rides that they might want to ride together. I am fine with my 16YO son roaming on his own. I am not sure how my sister would feel about her 13YO roaming around with him. Seems like the general consensus is that most of you let your kids do it before the age of 13, knowing what your kids are able to handle.
On the other hand, like someone said...you want to spend time together on your family vacation...so that is an issue too. I was just thinking of suggesting it for the older kids to make the trip a little more fun and adventurous for them...give them a little taste of freedom.
Thanks everyone!

 

[tofubeast]

I celebrated my 12th birthday at Disneyland. My parents let me pick a friend and we spent the day there. This was way, way before mobile phones. We checked in a few times throughout the day. I felt so grown up!

 

[Butterbunkins]

...without a parent/adult? I know this is very subjective...and might even vary from park to park, but I am curious at what age you are comfortable with letting kids or teens go and do their own thing? Planning a trip this fall, and my 16 year old is on the fence about coming on the trip
So I get it...he doesn't want to hang with me the whole time. But we will be there with my sisters family, which includes my sons cousins, the oldest, being 13. Would you let a 16 and 13 year old go off to ride some rides by themselves? Why or why not? The cousins are girls, if that makes a difference.

Yes, I would let a 13 and 16 year old go off by themselves....with rules to follow. I was 12 when I was allowed. Way before cell phones.

 

[Forensicmom]

I also agree that it depends on the child and how familiar they are with the parks.

We went last year for our first trip and my DS was 17. I refused to let him stay in the parks by himself after we left. He wanted me to let me then 12 yo dd stay with him and I said NO.

This year is a little different. We are going back in November again and my DS s now 18. We will have two neices (22 and 26). I will let me son go off with them. I will NOT let the 13, 11, and 8 year olds go off by themselves.

I know it's a family park but there can still be creepers anywhere. After spending 10 years with a local police departmen as a CSI, I saw alot of things that happen in the best of places, so I may be a little more cautious then some but I'll be happier knowing they're safe.

 

[popcenturylover]

On our last trip to WDW our son & older daughter were 17 &15. We let them roam around & ride the buses back & forth to the parks. We did have meet up times and curfews.

 

[DISvirgin1]

. at 16: too young to roam around wdw alone or with cousins. .. at 18: old enough to go to Afghanistan?

My thoughts exactly! I would totally let my 13 yo and 16 yo roam Disney. With or without phones...(phones, IMO, can be very distrating and take away the ability to sense/react to a dangerous/creepy situation)
And while they are "creepers" everywhere I would hope that by teaching my kids how to act/behave in situations they will know how to deal with that when the time comes. They don't just magically gain that knowledge when they turn 18, or 21...

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, now 18, has been going to WDW since she was 5. She has been so often that she could probably give tours!!! So, when we went to WDW to celebrate her 13th birthday, with another mom and her birthday celebrating dd (child birth class buddies!! The girls were born within 2 days of each other), we decided to allow the girls to go off on their own. The other mother was more than a bit hesitant, but we were in MK, and my dd could get around there with her eyes closed!!! So, off they went. They both has cell phones. The funny thing??? The girls got caught by the parade. The other girl called her mom, telling her that they were going to be a little late because of the parade, but that Kate seemed to know a way around the hordes of people. So, they girls arrived at the train station tunnel area about 6 mins late. The other girl stood there, telling us all about how Kate had cut through all these shops and such...really knew what she was doing.
Then, dd headed off to WDW with two of her friends last month....high school graduation trip. Other parents wanted to know who went along as an adult!! Ah, no one??? These girls are heading to college in a month...I think they can do WDW on their own.

So, you have to know your child. As long as they have a way to contact you, then they should be fine any time after 13 or so.

 

[madcat]

maybe it's my job (l.e.) but I feel like a really over protective mother. I wont let my 12 and 10 year olds go off too far on their own, they are both pretty mature for their ages and follow the rules when they stay home by themselves (for just a few hours). Would I let them ride a ride by themselves? sure I would but I would probably be waiting for them close to the exit. I know that they will eventually want to go out on their own but right now I am still enjoying the fact that they are not too "cool" for us and want to spend time with us.

 

[mom2rtk]

maybe it's my job (l.e.) but I feel like a really over protective mother. I wont let my 12 and 10 year olds go off too far on their own, they are both pretty mature for their ages and follow the rules when they stay home by themselves (for just a few hours). Would I let them ride a ride by themselves? sure I would but I would probably be waiting for them close to the exit. I know that they will eventually want to go out on their own but right now I am still enjoying the fact that they are not too "cool" for us and want to spend time with us.

You should think about letting them make some short trips around the parks themselves (as long as the older one is along). Maybe to go get FP's or to go get a Dole Whip. It's a great place to let them spread their wings a bit. I let my daughter go get FP's to RnR while I was waiting out in front of BatB when she wa 10. At 11 I waited in front of the hat while she did the same thing. This year I'll let her go a little farther for longer. I don't do this at home at the mall or places like that, but Disney gives you an awesome opportunity to get the ball rolling.

 

[madcat]

You should think about letting them make some short trips around the parks themselves (as long as the older one is along). Maybe to go get FP's or to go get a Dole Whip. It's a great place to let them spread their wings a bit. I let my daughter go get FP's to RnR while I was waiting out in front of BatB when she wa 10. At 11 I waited in front of the hat while she did the same thing. This year I'll let her go a little farther for longer. I don't do this at home at the mall or places like that, but Disney gives you an awesome opportunity to get the ball rolling.

Thanks mom2rtk, I just might let them do that on our next trip. baby steps.. more for me than them

 

[Pixiedust34]

...without a parent/adult? I know this is very subjective...and might even vary from park to park, but I am curious at what age you are comfortable with letting kids or teens go and do their own thing? Planning a trip this fall, and my 16 year old is on the fence about coming on the trip
So I get it...he doesn't want to hang with me the whole time. But we will be there with my sisters family, which includes my sons cousins, the oldest, being 13. Would you let a 16 and 13 year old go off to ride some rides by themselves? Why or why not? The cousins are girls, if that makes a difference.

My kids will be 14 and 16 on our next trip and if they want to they are welcome to break off a bit and roam on their own.

My 14 yo requested time all by herself in the World Showcase to do that new Phineas and Ferb activity at her own pace, and I'm fine with that. In fact, I love the idea because that frees me to do Off Kilter and/or British Revolution at my own pace. This would be the first time she'd be alone (no parent or older brother) in the park and I think the independence would be fun for her. Ds will probably prefer to hang out in Innoventions, which is OK.

I like to take a lot of photos, and I'm also OK with them taking the bus back to our resort early on our AK day if they want to swim rather than hang out in the park after lunch. I can stay at the park and photograph to my heart's content, and will meet up with them at the resort later.

I know that Stranger Danger can happen anywhere, but I can't think of a better place than WDW to let the kids spread their wings.

ETA: On past trips, they have done attractions on their own and met up with me later, they've been at the pool while I would make a refillable mug run or go back to the room to change, etc. We've built up to the complete independence of letting them roam now and then on their own if they want to. Both are very familiar with WDW (no maps needed to navigate the parks) and the transportation system.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks mom2rtk, I just might let them do that on our next trip. baby steps.. more for me than them

Absolutely! I know how you feel!

I still remember the first time I let my oldest wander across the park at age 12 to get a Dole Whip while we waited for a ride he didn't want to do. It was the strangest feeling...... ever! But Disney gives parents a great place to let the kids try out their newly sprouted wings.

p.s...... It doesn't get any easier. Sending him off in his own car into the city for his first day of college last fall was the hardest yet. But if you take baby steps along the way, it does help.

 

[Cap'nJack'sMum]

Yes, I would let my 16 and 13 year old go out alone at WDW. No problem. When I was 17, a friend and I drove 16 hours to Yellowstone National Park to work for the summer. No cell phones, no parents checking up on us. We called them every night when we found a place to stay.

If the kids have a cell and know to stay together, they're a-ok.

 

[jason10mm]

I think you need to break down exactly what your fears are and do a risk assessment.

1. Kid getting kidnapped? HIGHLY unlikely inside a park at WDW. Very few private areas, lots of visibility, few exits.

2. Kid getting lost, crying, having a break down? Ok, maybe make sure they can read a map

3. Kid getting into trouble, shoplifting, jumping out of rides, graffitti. THIS is probably the most likely of the bunch, at least for boys. Probably happen whether you are around or not.

4. Meeting other folks for a little vacation romance? Well, in a park where would they go? More of an issue at a hotel. And your daughters are more at risk of a predatory male at home, I don't think too many single men cruise WDW looking for underage girls to seduce. I'd be more wary of letting them hang out at the hottubs at midnight if this is your fear. I don't think CMs have much time or opportunity to hit on them either.

If your kids can negotiate a shopping mall I think they can handle WDW alone. Dragging them along to all the nostalgic things you want to do is the surest way to alienate teenagers, in my experience.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

My cousin and I were allowed to go off on our own when we were 13 and 15.

 

[NMAmy]

I let dd and her friend wander on their own and from park to park at 13. She was very familiar with the parks and the transportation options and we never had a problem.

We'd meet up at different times and for meals but it gave them a chance for some independence and made for a much nicer trip for everyone.

I can't imagine my dd at 18 having to ask permission to go off on her own or with a friend at WDW or really anywhere to tell you the truth.

 

[Forensicmom]

I should add to my post that it's not my kids I don't trust. It's the strangers we don't know. Yes, my kids have all been trained to look out for strangers and what to do. My thoughts are more outside the parks and riding the transportation back to the hotel. There are ALWAYS opportunities for bad things to happen. So, I, as a parent, want to avoid them while on vacation. We go as a family and will stick together.

At home, my now 18 year old drives himself places and has more freedom. My 13 year old is NOT allowed to hang out at the mall.

But please remember, that everyone is different and while some are completely fine with letting their kids go off and have more freedom, it does not make the rest of us wrong.

 

[NLD]

Age 9 with a friend (also age 9)--allowed to roam DL for periods of time, with meet-up times scheduled. (Pre-cell phone era.)

Age 12 with a friend (also age 12)--dropped off for the day at a park, picked back up in the evening.


Not sure when I'd let my daughter go off by herself at WDW specifically. She's 8 yo and only been twice. On our January trip it wasn't an issue--never came up--and there was no one for her to wander with, anyway.

I'm thinking maybe age 13 we'll start letting her invite a friend, and at that age--if the other parent approves it--I'll probably be okay with her plus the friend roaming around together. Certainly for short blocks of time (two to three hours), and probably also staying in the park if I've left and meeting us back at the hotel... depending on what the friend's parent was okay with.