What age do you let your kids roam the parks?

[Minnie-Mickey]

When my kids were younger maybe 9ish. They were approached at a store by an elderly woman. DD has a very unusual hair color so we are used to people saying something to her since "forever". Anyway this woman starts talking to them about her pet mouse she has in the car. Before I know it the kids are wondering toward her to go outside. Lucky for me kids were no more than 3 or 4 feet away. I stopped them. All my talks did nothing as they did not think an old lady could be bad. They still remember it as I was so upset. When I was younger a man came up to a friend, my sister and I in a car undressed. He wanted us to go somewhere. I was also 9 or 10 ish. (40 years later I still have that picture in my head) I maybe over protective but I agree with Tinkbyday. Too young. My kids almost went and to be honest I almost went. Kids have a picture of what evil is and sometimes evil does not fit what there picture is in their head.
As far as going alone. DD 12 can go on a ride alone but I am at the exit. When we go this summer maybe I will let DS 14 and DD 12 off for a few minutes but to be honest maybe no. I remember the pool incident as well. It does not seem that long ago. Plus it is a family vacation.

 

[Simba's Girl]

I have been keeping an eye on this thread...and DH & I discussed it last night...

We would be comfortable allowing our 2 older girls freedom to roam inside the park we are currently in or within our resort (exception of IN the pool) now at 9 & 12 TOGETHER for up to two hours.

Next year when we go, probably will feel the same way (they will be 13 & 10)...together, briefly inside the same park-not on transportation BUT perhaps in the pool (they are getting better at swimming) and maybe walk or monorail to a park while we "finish up" (or make up a "story" that we need to finish up) whatever we're doing and meet us (plan to stay at monorail resort or BC/YC). I do agree, as a country bumpkin, that WDW is a wonderful place to teach about public transportation and how to get around in a bustling place-without the stresses of an actual city.

I would let them park hop and use disney transport probably when the oldest is 15 (then she can take BOTH her sisters-youngest is 5 right now) and the middle can do the same as the oldest with the youngest when she is 12 (youngest would be 8 then)

That said...we just got back from the library and farmer's market...all of us except the OLDEST started walking to the farmer's market the RIGHT way-so makes me glad we're not in Disney now! (Her explanation was that she doesn't walk around there enough-but we drive by there quite often!!!) Her head is in the clouds sometimes...

Also wrt the crazies-they are out there, we can protect ourselves (because we are not immune either) and our kids from them to as much as sanely possible or go way overboard.

My goal is to teach them to be independent, confident, responsible adults-I can do that by loosening the apronstrings a bit and WDW is a nice contained place to do that where reasonable boundaries and expectations can be set and enforced.

 

[chloe4ever]

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

Ummmm......

 

[chloe4ever]

My Goodness I would hope so!!!

 

[chloe4ever]

The media, and sadly tons of parents have bought into it, teaches us that there are bad people (aka men) who are just waiting to snatch, touch, molest and harrass our children. The world is scary and not safe for kids. Kids are not safe.

It really makes me angry. It makes me angry for all the great guys in my life who feel like they cannot talk to a child, heck even smile at a child, without people acting like they want to harm the child. It is sad to teach kids that strangers should be avoided and feared. Men in particular.

My poor bf loves kids. But he has learned not to smile or say hi because there have been plenty of dirty looks, kids snatched away by their mothers to a "safe" location and kids scolded for talking to the "bad stranger". One time in line at our local store, the kid in front of him while he was checking out kept smiling and reaching out for him. My bf high fived the kid and the mom noticed and said, "Don't you dare touch my son!" What a paranoid world we are creating for our kids.

And to answer the OP's question: I would let my kids roam the park starting around 9/10.

 

[Cafeen]

Ummmm......

I'm getting the gist that it's the kid's choice here, not the parents' choice. At least that's how I read it.

Of course, I HAVE been known to read things wrong, but usually in the negative not the positive, so perhaps I finally got one right .

(As far as the topic at hand, I have no input as I have no kids , though I'm sure my parents wanted me to go off on my own when I was 13 at WDW... and half the time I ended up doing just that, because I was walking too slow)

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

My oldest was in 8th grade (14) when we ran into some classmates of his at DHS during spring break. I let him wander for a while with them but he was always very very responsible.

 

[dzorn]

Absolutely! I would think most parents strive to prepare their children to go out into the world - I do not, however, agree that at 9 years old or even at 15 years old, roaming around Disney unattended is what will accomplish this - matter of fact, I'm quite certain there are many other, successful ways of accomplishing this and as I've said in a previous post, I do allow my child certain freedoms that are, IMO, age appropriate.

On our local news channel - there was a segment recently about how children react when put in certain situations - A Mom is in a room watching as they are taping this and they have her son, about 10 years old, at a park and this guy walks up with a cute dog which the boy goes crazy over, petting him and playing with him - and then the guy asks him if he wants to take him for a walk and the boy takes off with the guy. The guy with the dog was an actor working for the news channel - anyway, the Mom was shocked - she said they had talked about this type of stuff many times and she was completely convinced he would know how to handle this...

Listen, it's obvious I am not with the majority here, and I'm perfectly fine with that - I'm comfortable with the way I raise my child and feel like I can be successful at a balance of safety and independence.

A local park were security is not everywhere not to mention park employees everywhere and exits are limited is very different than a local playground that is wide open and does not have park employees within shouting distance.

My DD is only 13 but has special needs I would feel comfortable letting her go off with her younger sister if they actually liked the same rides and would stick together, they both know the parks like the back of their hands. Every time we go to an airport, take a bus I have them direct me where to go so I know when it is time the are able to do it themselves. At 16 my mom would let us go to Cedar Point a couple of hour drive away and that was before cell phones. I cannot image not letting a 16 year old have a little independece in a safe enviroment like WDW.

Denise in MI

 

[tinkbyday]

A local park were security is not everywhere not to mention park employees everywhere and exits are limited is very different than a local playground that is wide open and does not have park employees within shouting distance.

My DD is only 13 but has special needs I would feel comfortable letting her go off with her younger sister if they actually liked the same rides and would stick together, they both know the parks like the back of their hands. Every time we go to an airport, take a bus I have them direct me where to go so I know when it is time the are able to do it themselves. At 16 my mom would let us go to Cedar Point a couple of hour drive away and that was before cell phones. I cannot image not letting a 16 year old have a little independece in a safe enviroment like WDW.

Denise in MI

First, it's obvious many feel the same way you do and whatever you are comfortable with as a parent is obviously your decision - I certainly am not judging any other parenting choices and really appreciate the same.

Secondly, to think that your children are safer at WDW - if anything, I would put money on the opposite - but again, if that's what you want to believe, your decision. I am preferring to take off the rose colored glasses even when I am at my happy place (Although admittedly, I don't wear them too often anyway).

Lastly, I don't disagree that at 16, a little independence is warranted, I said just that in a pp as well. It's younger than 16 that I would be and am less apt to allow certain things.

 

[tinkbyday]

When my kids were younger maybe 9ish. They were approached at a store by an elderly woman. DD has a very unusual hair color so we are used to people saying something to her since "forever". Anyway this woman starts talking to them about her pet mouse she has in the car. Before I know it the kids are wondering toward her to go outside. Lucky for me kids were no more than 3 or 4 feet away. I stopped them. All my talks did nothing as they did not think an old lady could be bad. They still remember it as I was so upset. When I was younger a man came up to a friend, my sister and I in a car undressed. He wanted us to go somewhere. I was also 9 or 10 ish. (40 years later I still have that picture in my head) I maybe over protective but I agree with Tinkbyday. Too young. My kids almost went and to be honest I almost went. Kids have a picture of what evil is and sometimes evil does not fit what there picture is in their head.
As far as going alone. DD 12 can go on a ride alone but I am at the exit. When we go this summer maybe I will let DS 14 and DD 12 off for a few minutes but to be honest maybe no. I remember the pool incident as well. It does not seem that long ago. Plus it is a family vacation.

Thank you for sharing and you couldn't be more right. This type of stuff happens more often than some would like to think or believe - I also had an experience as a young child that I will never forget.

I just think it is unfortunate that there are some that believe this to be media hype or overdone - it is, so sadly, a reality. I do not go overboard talking about this type of stuff with my child, but I have had the discussion and she has watched the news from time to time when things like this were happening in our city.

 

[thatcrazydisneygirl]

My parents let me tour the parks with a friend as early as age twelve.

 

[akclayton]

When my brother and I were 12 and 13 our parents let us roam the parks. We did have strict check in times like others have mentioned. We didn't have phones back then so we didn't have any other means of communication. I think 2 years later, they gave us 2 way radios. When we were 12 and 13, we were there for 10 days. My parents kept us with them the first 2 days and once they realized that we understood the transportation system and our way around the place, they let us go. But, if we didn't check in we would lose freedom to roam together and would have to stay with them. I know that there were times when we were in different parks than them and sometimes they would be back at our campsite at FW and we would be in the parks.

My nephew is 16 right now. When we went in June, there were times my parents and us just let him do whatever he wanted to do. If he woke up late, he'd come to the parks and meet up with us or our parents. (We weren't touring with my parents). He has been 3 or 4 other times to Disney so he knows his way around. Plus, cell phones make things so much easier.

I think it just depends on how much you trust them.

 

[miami305]

If you let the evening news frame your reality, then I've been killed or tortured a dozen times. #MiamiLife

 

[Hannathy]

When my kids were younger maybe 9ish. They were approached at a store by an elderly woman. DD has a very unusual hair color so we are used to people saying something to her since "forever". Anyway this woman starts talking to them about her pet mouse she has in the car. Before I know it the kids are wondering toward her to go outside. Lucky for me kids were no more than 3 or 4 feet away. I stopped them. All my talks did nothing as they did not think an old lady could be bad. They still remember it as I was so upset. When I was younger a man came up to a friend, my sister and I in a car undressed. He wanted us to go somewhere. I was also 9 or 10 ish. (40 years later I still have that picture in my head) I maybe over protective but I agree with Tinkbyday. Too young. My kids almost went and to be honest I almost went. Kids have a picture of what evil is and sometimes evil does not fit what there picture is in their head.
As far as going alone. DD 12 can go on a ride alone but I am at the exit. When we go this summer maybe I will let DS 14 and DD 12 off for a few minutes but to be honest maybe no. I remember the pool incident as well. It does not seem that long ago. Plus it is a family vacation.

This is why you don't teach that stupid "stranger danger"

We have always taught "talk to anyone you want, go NO where with anyone"
My kids have met some wonderful people and learned some fascinating things talking to strangers, everywhere from the grocery store to the beach, to airshows, to Disney.

 

[NLD]

This is why you don't teach that stupid "stranger danger"

We have always taught "talk to anyone you want, go NO where with anyone"
My kids have met some wonderful people and learned some fascinating things talking to strangers, everywhere from the grocery store to the beach, to airshows, to Disney.

This is great, I'm going to steal this in the next discussion with dd. Thanks.

For the people who are amazed at letting kids younger than teens go off...

I am curious, don't your kids do any school or club trips? Do the school trips always make them stay with a chaperone?

When we were eleven (sixth grade), we went on a two-night camping / leadership trip. We had chaperones in our cabins, and lots of structured activities, but there was also unstructured time where we were allowed to roam the grounds as we saw fit.

When we were twelve (seventh grade), we went to Hershey Park for the day with school. There was no requirement to stay with an adult. There was pick-up time and we'd better be back to the buses by then.

When it comes to stranger danger, I am more worried about people we know than the ones we don't. Working in mental health, I see every day people who were sexually abused as kids.... so far every single one of them was abused by someone they knew.

My daughter is naturally cautious. On the last trip (just turned 8), it didn't even occur to her to ask for time on her own. And at that age, unfamiliar with the parks, I would have said no. But again, by age 12 or 13? after going over the map, reminders about how to get help, and with a buddy? Yeah, I'd be fine with that.

I'm less worried about WDW than the park. She still doesn't go to the park alone (and our house juts up against it--it's right out our backyard), mainly because there are no sight lines from our yard to the playground and because if she got hurt and no one was around, how would she get help? And yes, it's crossed my mind someone could forcibly snatch her and shove her in a van and drive off.

But WDW has a ton of people around and two kids together are safer than one. She knows how to spot CMs, and they are everywhere. She's cautious by nature and while this might sound naive, I really can't imagine her going with a stranger somewhere. She's just not naturally trusting. She's also highly responsible and actually takes what we say to heart--yesterday she went bowling with her summer playground program, and she'd brought along her own money to spend on extras. It was her money, she was there without her parents, and her best friend started playing arcade games. Know what she did? She watched. And came home with her money. I asked, "Why'd you watch, didn't you have money to play?" She said, "Daddy told me not to spend money on that." Dh had told her not to waste her money on arcade games. And she listened... all alone and with peer pressure involved.

She is a rule follower at heart, she is cautious, and she's smart.

Ironically the cautious part means she's not itching for independence at a place like WDW. But when she does want it, it's precisely why I'll be willing to let her go with a buddy.

 

[nchulka]

I just think it is unfortunate that there are some that believe this to be media hype or overdone - it is, so sadly, a reality. I do not go overboard talking about this type of stuff with my child, but I have had the discussion and she has watched the news from time to time when things like this were happening in our city.

So you won't let you kids be alone without you because of the stuff you see on TV news about kids being abducted or abused. What about all the stories on the news all the time (much more often than the ones about kids) where grown women are abducted/raped/killed? Does this mean that you never go out without your husband, because anything could happen, and it does happen all the time, just watch the news!

 

[mjkacmom]

So you won't let you kids be alone without you because of the stuff you see on TV news about kids being abducted or abused. What about all the stories on the news all the time (much more often than the ones about kids) where grown women are abducted/raped/killed? Does this mean that you never go out without your husband, because anything could happen, and it does happen all the time, just watch the news!

This is one of the reasons I let my kids learn to be independent. They will be adults for a lot longer than they will be children. Yes, there are people out there who prey on innocent people. They choose their victims carefully, looking for those who lack confidence or street smarts. These are learned skills. We do babysteps here (I just started letting dd11 walk to her friend's house, 4 blocks away - she's really small, and ds14 was able to do this earlier, not logical, I know).

 

[pigletto]

To answer the original question..

This summer my 15 year old dd and her 15 year old friend will be given room to roam by us. Most likely we will split up at the same park and meet up at specific times for meals etc.
They are great kids, will have a cell phone and I have zero concerns about their ability to be respectful and follow the rules.

If they want to sleep in while we hit rope drop and come meet us where we are that will be fine too. This will be dd's 7th trip and she knows the transportation very well.
I'll set limits to make sure it's still a family vacation and we're spending a good amount of time together. To be honest though I don't imagine it will be a big deal. Dd likes to spend time with us.. AND I have the wallet so that helps.

 

[scrapper2k]

We tour as a family. My cousins went with two other cousin families and everyone stuck together, kids 3-20. They can roam by themselves everywhere else ( I used to roam in Six Flags at 12) but when I spend thousands of dollars to make this trip happen, my enjoyment is in watching them experience the park.

 

[scrapper2k]

I just want to add that for those parents who would let their kids roam, it completely depends on the child. My 13 yr old nephew would be perfectly fine, he was reading maps at 5 and telling us where the restrooms were, he could definitely roam and take care of himself. His older sister is clueless about where she is, so it's not an age thing.