What age do you let your kids roam the parks?

[Chelley00]

My boys were 13 and 11 and we let them go off on their own in the parks. They had a cell phone and they were instructed to call and check in every so often (at a time we agreed upon) and they HAD to stick together at all times.

 

[Karl66]

...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, absolutely. My sister and I were 16 and 13 respectively when our parents let us loose in MK by ourselves. This was in 1979 when there were no cell phones. We got along just fine as long as we met up with the parents at the right times. It would seem that with the easy communcation of today letting them go off by themselves would be an even easier decision. At least try it out and see how it goes. You can always reign them in if it doesn't go well.

 

[sbeaulieu]

When we "graduated" 8th grade the entire class went to the local amusement park, Kings Dominion. So we were probably 13 or 14. Every kid was on their own and was expected to meet up at a certain time at the end of the day. Every kid made it back on the bus. I had already been allowed to roam this park myself at 12 as we went every year for a swim team trip.

In the age of cell phones I think letting them roam is even more feasible. Just set some guidelines and if they cant follow them they can't go off alone the following day.

 

[tinkbyday]

Holy Cow! I am really, truly in the minority here - I would absolutely never let my young child roam around WDW or any amusement park with or without a phone. I might consider at 16 or 17 if she were buddied up, but certainly not younger than that.

Am I the only person aware that pedophiles spend their time at amusement parks - this is like a candy store for them - hence the two recent issues at resort pools where creepy men exposed themselves to young girls under the water. I won't even go into the 20/20 show I just watched last weekend about people looking exactly for this scenario to snatch young pretty girls and sell them on the internet as sex slaves

If anyone thinks WDW is safer, that is a huge misconception. I also do not understand how anyone believes sending them off with a cell phone will do one thing to help if something awful like the above were to happen.

I'm sure that I will be considered overprotective and that is perfectly fine - I will accept that - we all do have different parenting styles.

 

[superdisneydork]

I'm in my mid-twenties and when I booked my upcoming solo trip my mother tried to get my dad to follow me "...just in case"

When I was 14 my brother (22) and myself took off fairly often with cell phone (just one, they were expensive then!), our parents realized trying to keep up with us was futile, as long as we kept in touch, it was no problem.

I agree it depends on the kids, but if they're reliable and will check in, go for it, while I wouldn't ever think Disney is a place completely devoid of badness (case in point) it's safer than your average place. Plus as long as they in the park there's never a helpful CM too far away.

My 9 year old doesn't go in the front yard without someone watching her. Ugh.

Ugh? I'm confused, unless you're bothered by the idea of independent children?

 

[MartyM]

Holy Cow! I am really, truly in the minority here - I would absolutely never let my young child roam around WDW or any amusement park with or without a phone. I might consider at 16 or 17 if she were buddied up, but certainly not younger than that.

Am I the only person aware that pedophiles spend their time at amusement parks - this is like a candy store for them - hence the two recent issues at resort pools where creepy men exposed themselves to young girls under the water. I won't even go into the 20/20 show I just watched last weekend about people looking exactly for this scenario to snatch young pretty girls and sell them on the internet as sex slaves

If anyone thinks WDW is safer, that is a huge misconception. I also do not understand how anyone believes sending them off with a cell phone will do one thing to help if something awful like the above were to happen.

I'm sure that I will be considered overprotective and that is perfectly fine - I will accept that - we all do have different parenting styles.

You have to also understand that quite a few people here who came from that type of upbringing feel that its oppressive nature nets a negative for the family and the child as well. A lot of folks also feel that spending time dwelling upon the terrible things that might happen creates a fearful mindset that is not beneficial to well-adjusted children or families.

I'm not saying that your family isn't well-adjusted. I'm just saying that there are folks out there who feel this way.

 

[Chelley00]

Holy Cow! I am really, truly in the minority here - I would absolutely never let my young child roam around WDW or any amusement park with or without a phone. I might consider at 16 or 17 if she were buddied up, but certainly not younger than that.

You do know that at 16 they can drive a car by themselves to go places where they'll be alone with people, right? At least at Disney there are enough people around they can get help if needed.

 

[photo_chick]

I'd trust my 12 year old with a group of her peers in the park. I feel like I've taught her well enough that she can handle that much independence. If she were a little older, like 15 or 16, I'd probably trust her alone.

 

[Hannathy]

You do know that at 16 they can drive a car by themselves to go places where they'll be alone with people, right? At least at Disney there are enough people around they can get help if needed.

And if they work at a camp as a counselor are responsible for taking younger kids to parks!!! But they can't take themselves........

 

[Sheaboys]

I think 12yrs old is fine to let kids out on their own, with a group, with a cell phone and with regular checkins. I let my kids 14, 12 and almost 10 go together in Six Flags, I am in the park and they checkin after nearly every ride and meet up after like 4 rides. I also have young kids, so I stay with them, while the older 3 do the coasters and wild rides.

Will I let them go off in Disney, yes, it think I am going to make 2 of them be the "fastpass runners". Will I let them stay off by themselves, probably not, but not because they are not old enough, but because it is our family vacation. We have not vacationed since 2010 and even then it was with 6 other families. This is our first alone vacation since 2005, and then we only had 3 kids.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I would say around 9-10. That's my kids ages and I have no problem with them doing this at Six Flags where we have season passes and go all the time. I see Disney as more of a family vacation so I wouldn't let them do that there simply because I want us to spend time together, but I think by those ages they are perfectly fine to go around by themselves

Wow 9 or 10 - I have two sons that exact age (going into 4th and 5th grades) and I would never. They are very responsible but that is just to young for me. I don't leave them alone at a mall yet even. Middle school age seems more right to me.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Holy Cow! I am really, truly in the minority here - I would absolutely never let my young child roam around WDW or any amusement park with or without a phone. I might consider at 16 or 17 if she were buddied up, but certainly not younger than that.

Am I the only person aware that pedophiles spend their time at amusement parks - this is like a candy store for them - hence the two recent issues at resort pools where creepy men exposed themselves to young girls under the water. I won't even go into the 20/20 show I just watched last weekend about people looking exactly for this scenario to snatch young pretty girls and sell them on the internet as sex slaves

If anyone thinks WDW is safer, that is a huge misconception. I also do not understand how anyone believes sending them off with a cell phone will do one thing to help if something awful like the above were to happen.

I'm sure that I will be considered overprotective and that is perfectly fine - I will accept that - we all do have different parenting styles.

100% with you.

 

[miami305]

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

We roamed amusement parks middleschool age back in the 80's. Due to the decline of civility in our country and the increase of predatory behavior, I would hold off until age 14 before letting DD roam a park.

Children have to learn how to handle situations when mommy and daddy aren't there. You can't keep them tied up with the umbilical cord until age 16 and then expect them to handle dating, peer pressure, and all the jerks society has to offer. Children need the opportunity to practice decision making skills and the confidence that comes from successfully making decisions on their own.

 

[jenlov]

Holy Cow! I am really, truly in the minority here - I would absolutely never let my young child roam around WDW or any amusement park with or without a phone. I might consider at 16 or 17 if she were buddied up, but certainly not younger than that.

Am I the only person aware that pedophiles spend their time at amusement parks - this is like a candy store for them - hence the two recent issues at resort pools where creepy men exposed themselves to young girls under the water. I won't even go into the 20/20 show I just watched last weekend about people looking exactly for this scenario to snatch young pretty girls and sell them on the internet as sex slaves

If anyone thinks WDW is safer, that is a huge misconception. I also do not understand how anyone believes sending them off with a cell phone will do one thing to help if something awful like the above were to happen.

I'm sure that I will be considered overprotective and that is perfectly fine - I will accept that - we all do have different parenting styles.

No, you are not alone, lol. I'm right there with you! I cannot imagine leaving my 9 yo by himself at home, much less at a park. My husband thinks that our oldest 2 (15g,14b) are old enough to go off by themselves in the park. I think I would be ok if it were in the same park, and they went off to ride something while we did something else (with cell phone and meeting place planned within an hour or so), but to let them stay at the park without us or just roam around the park all day away from us, no. Anyway, so he asked them the other day if they wanted to do this. A big, fat "no" from both of them. I expected it from my son, as he has always wanted to stay close to us anywhere we go. My daughter is a bit more adventurous and even she said she doesn't want to. I'm ok with that. LOL! And my 15yo won't be getting her license at 16 anyway, so that won't be an issue. One of our stipulations is that our kids have to be able to help pay for their insurance, and there's no way she'll be ready for that.

 

[rcraw45425]

Our two girls traveled from CR to DHS and MK by themselves at 13 and 15. Both had cell phones and checked in throughout their adventure.

 

[tinkbyday]

You have to also understand that quite a few people here who came from that type of upbringing feel that its oppressive nature nets a negative for the family and the child as well. A lot of folks also feel that spending time dwelling upon the terrible things that might happen creates a fearful mindset that is not beneficial to well-adjusted children or families.

I'm not saying that your family isn't well-adjusted. I'm just saying that there are folks out there who feel this way.

I respectfully disagree that waiting until a child is 16 to allow them to roam freely at a place like WDW is oppressive or creating a fearful mindset - I'm not preaching to her that bad things will happen to her and quite honestly, this has never come up because we general just go the two of us - I'm just stating my opinion as the OP had asked.

I'm not holding her hostage or placing her in a bubble - she goes to school, participate in sports, has attended sleepovers (as long as I know the parents fairly well), takes walks around our suburban neighborhood with friends (and the dog), etc. - I, personally, would just not be okay with having her roam around a place like WDW at an age younger than 16 years old.

 

[tinkbyday]

You do know that at 16 they can drive a car by themselves to go places where they'll be alone with people, right? At least at Disney there are enough people around they can get help if needed.

Well, not actually where I live - they are only allowed a permit and have to drive with an adult, but nonetheless, my post clearly stated that at 16 or 17, I would consider it - it's the posts for children 9, 10 and even 12 that are just surprising to me.

 

[tinkbyday]

100% with you.

Thank goodness - I am not alone here!!!

 

[kaligal]

I respectfully disagree that waiting until a child is 16 to allow them to roam freely at a place like WDW is oppressive or creating a fearful mindset - I'm not preaching to her that bad things will happen to her and quite honestly, this has never come up because we general just go the two of us - I'm just stating my opinion as the OP had asked.

I'm not holding her hostage or placing her in a bubble - she goes to school, participate in sports, has attended sleepovers (as long as I know the parents fairly well), takes walks around our suburban neighborhood with friends (and the dog), etc. - I, personally, would just not be okay with having her roam around a place like WDW at an age younger than 16 years old.

I'm not trying to be snarky in any way here. It's an honest question.

Is it your goal, as a parent, to have raised a child who is prepared to go out and take on the world when they reach the age of 17 or 18?

If I've overstepped, you can tell me to go to hell. I won't be offended or tattle on you.

I wonder this all the time when reading DIS posts. I've sort of come to the conclusion that some parents have decided that their children aren't going away to college...or won't need too much prep for it. But I don't know...which is why I'm finally asking.

 

[Laila Bryce]

I was roaming MK anb Epcot et al @ 13 on my own and survived.