What age to allow to tour alone?

[DCbride]

On our next trip we have 2-17 year old girls (my daughter is one of them) in our group and my in-laws. MIL wants to visit Sea World one day, DD does not. At what age would you feel comfortable to allow your child to visit a park all day without an adult from your party at the park too? The girls want to go to Hollywood Studios while we are at SW, they would just use the Disney transportation during the day.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Well, you certainly know your daughter better than anybody on DIS but I would think that if she's a pretty responsible young lady at home than it will transfer while touring WDW. While our girls are far from ages where trodding off on their own is an option (they're 10 & 3) as we approach the ages of 16ish I would think that they were old enough to travel WDW alone for a day or so.

As long as you outline the guidelines; you know where to meet up with the family at the end of the day or for dinner and make sure to keep in touch via cell phones I think all should be well. WDW, is one of the rare places where our kids are relatively safe.

T.

 

[islangrl]

Depends on the kid. I think 17 is plenty old enough! At 17 I was on Spring Break in Cancun sipping a Corona, while my mom was thousands of miles away and I turned out just fine! (Not trying to make you nervous).

 

[PrincessKsMom]

On our next trip we have 2-17 year old girls (my daughter is one of them) in our group and my in-laws. MIL wants to visit Sea World one day, DD does not. At what age would you feel comfortable to allow your child to visit a park all day without an adult from your party at the park too? The girls want to go to Hollywood Studios while we are at SW, they would just use the Disney transportation during the day.

My personal opinion is that 17 is old enough to be alone. I'm assuming she's either a Junior or Senior in high school? However, I think you should also discuss this matter with the parents of the other 17 year old and get their feelings. If I send my child on a trip with you, I assume she'll be with you. If you know that won't always be the case, I'd appreciate knowing that before you left, not after the fact. JMHO. Either way, I'm sure you'll all have a wonderful time!

 

[NotUrsula]

At 17 I'm not sure why you're even asking, unless one or both of them has some sort of cognitive disability. Someone old enough to go off to college alone should be plenty old enough to handle getting around WDW on her own.

Just FYI, Disney's own stated age limit for being in the parks without an adult is age 8.

 

[imthatgirl]

i would have no problem with that. in fact i think when my kids are 17 i would prefer it

 

[mjkacmom]

At 17 I'm not sure why you're even asking, unless one or both of them has some sort of cognitive disability. Someone old enough to go off to college alone should be plenty old enough to handle getting around WDW on her own.

Just FYI, Disney's own stated age limit for being in the parks without an adult is age 8.

LOL - we used to stay on the monorail when I was a kid, and I was going to the park (just one back then) by myself around 8!

 

[genius118899]

I think she'll be fine. When I was 17, I'd head over to DTD and shop (what else?) while my mom kept my younger siblings at the resorts during the morning. We both had cell phones, and Disney transportation is pretty easy to navigate (I've never, ever used public transportation, and I figured out Disney's system pretty well!)

 

[Nie0214]

17 is old enough imo, but then you know your daughter, and I don't.

At 17, I went on a school trip to Disney with 30 other 17 & 18 year olds. There were only two chaperones and they weren't with us all the time.

This past trip, my brother (16) went to Blizzard Beach and Disney Quest on his own on a day that my mother and I went to Animal Kingdom.

 

[jensen]

Just FYI, Disney's own stated age limit for being in the parks without an adult is age 8.

Seriously 8? I think my DS8 is pretty responsible, but I'd never consider letting him be in those parks alone at this age... I was thinking 15 or 16.

 

[Juls]

at 17 I think they will be more than fine. I am planning for my DD and her friend both 14 (and w the friends DM permission) to be on their own when we visit next year.
Of course my DD has been to WDW many times and knows it like the back of her hand, I have total confidence she knows her way around.

 

[mjkacmom]

Seriously 8? I think my DS8 is pretty responsible, but I'd never consider letting him be in those parks alone at this age... I was thinking 15 or 16.

That was back in the 70's - I also walked to and from school, starting in kindy, 3/4 of a mile, alone. I think I would allow my kids at about 14ish, depending upon maturity.

 

[NMAmy]

DD and a friend have been touring alone since she was 15. Just establish the ground rules with which you are comfortable before you even arrive in Orlando. Our rules are these:

1. Stick together
2. Call Mom if you're going to another park
3. Call Mom if there is some kind of delay getting to the designated meeting point on time. (We meet up for meals)

My dd is very familiar with Disney transportation and the parks. Although she will call me occasionally and say, "Mom, I'm by Space Mountain. Where is Cosmic Ray's again?"

She drives herself around town at this age and she'll be off to college next year. I have no problem trusting her and a friend at WDW.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Depends on the kid. I think 17 is plenty old enough! At 17 I was on Spring Break in Cancun sipping a Corona, while my mom was thousands of miles away and I turned out just fine! (Not trying to make you nervous).

Ahh, spring break, we were 17 and we spent 10 days in Ft. Lauderdale. This was 1982, when Lauderdale was THE spot..

Anyhoo, OP, 17 is plenty old enough. What will you do when she leaves for College?

17??? I can't wrap my head around it that you are even asking the question.

 

[DCbride]

Great comments- thanks! I had already plannned on letting them go for the day. I just wanted honest opinions without saying this is what I am going to do- how do you feel about it? (WDW is definitely much safer than the week I spent at Myrtle Beach my junior year of high school. BUT then again, my parents were way too easy on me.) And I definitely want to thank the PP who reminded me to tell the parent of the girl we are bringing that they will be independent that day. That I might not have thought of.....

And I do have one in college- so I know all about letting go

 

[NotUrsula]

Seriously 8? I think my DS8 is pretty responsible, but I'd never consider letting him be in those parks alone at this age... I was thinking 15 or 16.

Yes, that's what it says on the fine print when you buy tickets -- actually I was being a bit conservative; it's actually 7. The water parks' limit is age 10.

Here it is, from tickets I bought last month:

Persons under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult when attending the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios or Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. If your ticket includes admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, please note that persons under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult

We allow our 11 yo to split up from us when in the same park, with a preplanned meeting time and place. By 13 we anticipate letting him use WDW transport to visit parks on his own as long as he's carrying a phone.

 

[dancin'girl]

WOW!
Why on earth would Disney allow a 7 year old to go around the park unchaperoned? It seems like it would be a liability for them. Kids that age could do something crazy or spontaeous - and end up getting hurt - with no parent around? Sounds wacky to me.
I can remember golfing at Fantasia Mini Golf and my brother climbed up on top of a big mountain display - all the way to the top!! We were all busy playing and then looked up to see him there. He was about 10-ish. My parents were mortified. We were sure we'd be asked to leave. None of the CMs said anything, but imagine if he fell? Imagine if my parents weren't there to get him down? I think 7 is way too young to be in the park alone.
17... well, that's a different story. I know this can't be said for all teenagers, but I'm sure your 17 year olds know how to behave!

 

[imthatgirl]

idk, i dont think a 7yo walking around alone disney is all that bad. not if the parents are close by, in this situation the parents will be at sea world, but if they were in disney i wouldnt see the problem.

this past august that we were there we were eating at scifi. my 8yo daughter wasnt hungry and just didnt want to join us. she was probably just feeling a bit clostraphopic, so i gave her my cell. she knew where we were, shes much too familiar with the parks , and is capable of finding her way around.
she ended up going over and watching the highschool musical parade and then did some shopping.
of course if she wasnt familiar with her surroundings and didnt have the confidence to be alone, i wouldnt have let her go.

its funny while im typing this im reminded of that mother in NYC that let her 10yo son ride the subway alone, then was dubbed the "worst mother on the planet". that poor woman, i felt bad for her.

 

[islangrl]

its funny while im typing this im reminded of that mother in NYC that let her 10yo son ride the subway alone, then was dubbed the "worst mother on the planet". that poor woman, i felt bad for her.

Wow, I've never heard this!! In Japan they send their 5 year old kindergardeners on the subway to school alone all the time. Having to change trains and everything. Have you ever seen those stations?

 

[dancin'girl]

I agree that if the parents are close by, then it's probably ok for the child to go off alone. Every kid is different and some can handle it and some can't. Parents should be able to judge whether their kid is responsible enough to be alone. I do think that parents should be visiting the same park at least. The way the tickets are worded it seems to be saying that its ok for a 7 year old to enter and tour the park alone.