What age would you allow your kids to go off without you at WDW?

[MrsPinup]

Like my thread topic asks, "At what age would you allow your kids to go off and do rides without you?" If you set a time restraint, example: meet back at the Walt statue in 2 hours, gave them a phone, perhaps, and/or a watch - would you do it and at what age?

 

[MSSANDRA]

At 11 we let DS and his same age cousin go on one ride and return to us waiting at a bench, or into a store and back to our nearby location. At 13 we would let the two of them, go off for a couple hours in the same park and then meet back up. Always with a phone. Reality was, they rarely requested this and we spent most of the trips together. The next trip he was 15 and no other kids along. We would have been fine with him having time alone but he had no desire to do that.

 

[boltfan]

This will be our first trip where I will allow my daughters to go off alone together. They will be 15 and 17. Our last trip was just my youngest and me, so that wasn't an issue, and before that they were only 11 and 13, so there was no way that was happening!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Like my thread topic asks, "At what age would you allow your kids to go off and do rides without you?" If you set a time restraint, example: meet back at the Walt statue in 2 hours, gave them a phone, perhaps, and/or a watch - would you do it and at what age?

This is going to vary widely in opinion. According to your signature, you have an 11 and 9 year old. According to Disney, the are old enough to ride without an adult (Disney says they have to be 7).
The question I would ask myself is, how would they be in the event of an emergency? It's not unheard of for a ride to break down. I think almost everyone on here who has been to WDW a number of times has been on a ride when it's broken down, at least temporarily. Will they be able to calmly stay in their seats if the ride stops for an unexpected amount of time? Will they be able to follow the directions in case of an evacuation?

Some other questions: Can they navigate the parks OK/ read a map? Will they get along with one another and stay together? Are you sure they won't fool around on rides?

In general, I'd say somewhere between 10-12 for most kids for going off on their own, but there are always those who mature earlier or those who need more time.

ETA: Just wanted to point out that you need to be at least 14 to ENTER a park without an adult.

 

[HWFerry2000]

When the rest of our family was tired and wanted to leave the park early, we would let our older kids (12 and 14 at the time) stay in the park until closing. They always knew which bus to get on.

 

[MrsPinup]

This is going to vary widely in opinion. According to your signature, you have an 11 and 9 year old. According to Disney, the are old enough to ride without an adult (Disney says they have to be 7).
The question I would ask myself is, how would they be in the event of an emergency? It's not unheard of for a ride to break down. I think almost everyone on here who has been to WDW a number of times has been on a ride when it's broken down, at least temporarily. Will they be able to calmly stay in their seats if the ride stops for an unexpected amount of time? Will they be able to follow the directions in case of an evacuation?

Some other questions: Can they navigate the parks OK/ read a map? Will they get along with one another and stay together? Are you sure they won't fool around on rides?

In general, I'd say somewhere between 10-12 for most kids for going off on their own, but there are always those who mature earlier or those who need more time.

ETA: Just wanted to point out that you need to be at least 14 to ENTER a park without an adult.

We have another 14 months until we go, and they will be 12 and 11 then. It is right on that cusp of me feeling comfortable. They are actually very well behaved and very responsible. We don't allow them phones, but thought a pay-as-you-go phone would be perfect for the trip (if we decide to do this.)

The only reason it is a thought, is that we have the baby girl who will be 2 and the types of rides the boys will be allowed on will not be suitable for her and "her" rides will bore them.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We have another 14 months until we go, and they will be 12 and 11 then. It is right on that cusp of me feeling comfortable. They are actually very well behaved and very responsible. We don't allow them phones, but thought a pay-as-you-go phone would be perfect for the trip (if we decide to do this.)

The only reason it is a thought, is that we have the baby girl who will be 2 and the types of rides the boys will be allowed on will not be suitable for her and "her" rides will bore them.

I think 12 and 11 are reasonable ages for what you are proposing. That said, if you are on the cusp, then I would try doing things in slightly smaller and more controlled doses. Rather than giving them complete freedom for a couple hours, you could do things in "sections."
It would look a bit different in different parks, but using AK as an example:
Say you are in Dinoland - you could send to two older kids to ride Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl, while you and the 2 year old go several rounds on Triceratop Spin. This way, you are all in the same area, but everyone gets to have fun. For the most part, every "thrill" ride has something nearby that a little one would enjoy doing.
And don't forget about baby swap, your 11 and 12 year olds might be more inclined to want to stay together when they realize that having a baby along can get them extra turns on their favorite rides.

That said, while there are certainly some rides that the 2 year old won't be able to go on, there are very few "kiddie" rides at WDW. Most are designed to be enjoyed by the whole family. I set a rule with my kids many years ago that you are not allowed to complain about others choices and unless you are scared, you ride and are happy about it. (or acting happy - ride It's a Small World with my teenage boys and you will hear them gleefully exclaim their delight...)

 

[MrsPinup]

I think 12 and 11 are reasonable ages for what you are proposing. That said, if you are on the cusp, then I would try doing things in slightly smaller and more controlled doses. Rather than giving them complete freedom for a couple hours, you could do things in "sections."
It would look a bit different in different parks, but using AK as an example:
Say you are in Dinoland - you could send to two older kids to ride Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl, while you and the 2 year old go several rounds on Triceratop Spin. This way, you are all in the same area, but everyone gets to have fun. For the most part, every "thrill" ride has something nearby that a little one would enjoy doing.
And don't forget about baby swap, your 11 and 12 year olds might be more inclined to want to stay together when they realize that having a baby along can get them extra turns on their favorite rides.

That said, while there are certainly some rides that the 2 year old won't be able to go on, there are very few "kiddie" rides at WDW. Most are designed to be enjoyed by the whole family. I set a rule with my kids many years ago that you are not allowed to complain about others choices and unless you are scared, you ride and are happy about it. (or acting happy - ride It's a Small World with my teenage boys and you will hear them gleefully exclaim their delight...)

That is a really good compromise! My DH was trying to convince me to do a character meal with DD and sending the boys off (they aren't interested in them anymore). He got a blank stare. I do not think that would fly at all.

 

[MandiC]

For me, I am not sure. My girls will be 11 and 9 on our next trip and there is no way I would let them go off on their own at that age. You just never know, sex stings with Disney employees (and other theme parks) have been on the news a lot lately as unfortunate as that is. As of right now I would think 14, but maybe 12 depending on how mature they are at that point.

 

[Mainst]

I don't have an opinion but another non obvious food for thought. Disney is a very large place. Someone mentioned an emergency on a ride and how well would they handle it.

What about other emergencies like unexpected weather or security threats? Would they panic? Would you panic if cell phone service was down or clogged and you couldn't call them or know where they were?

Perhaps having a big picture what if the park suddenly closed where we would meet spot. Etc...

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd be fine with the oldest being 12 or so. Ds11 rides his bike around with friends, and he doesn't have a cell phone yet. My kids started going out to lunch with friends around 10 or so. At WDW, there is help everywhere.

 

[ZellyB]

We have talked about this with our upcoming trip. Our girls are 11. I think I'd be comfortable letting them go ride something on their own and then rejoining us at a nearby bench that we've agreed upon. I would consider letting them roam some more on their own possibly, but they don't know the parks that well as we don't go often.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

12 when I was in the park, 14 going to park to park or resort to park, but they've been there plenty and know the routines

 

[MrsPinup]

Thanks everyone! We have over a year so there is plenty of time to re-evaluate my kids and make sure a plan like this will work, as well as going over rules and safety.

 

[tonga]

To me a lot depends on the maturity level of the kids and how well they know the parks. When I was younger, my brother and I would be allowed to go off with friends starting at ages 11 and 13. We were in a group of 4-5 kids, all knew the park well, and had a designated meeting time and place with our parents who were in the same park.

DS is 5 and our only child, so we're a long way off for deciding for him. But, based on his personality at this point I think he will be ready when he is about 12 or so, if he is with a friend who can also be trusted to make good decisions. I wouldn't let him go off alone at that age, he'd have to be with at least one friend or cousin. And we'd be in the same park, with cell phones and clear instructions about time and place to meet and how often to check in with us.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We wouldn't have considered it until the boys got their own phones. The youngest was 13 at that point which I think is a good age to venture off if they want to. Truth is, our boys (now almost 16 and 19) have never expressed the desire to go off without us. Dad and the younger guy are the thrill seekers, older guy and I not so much. We often send them off to a coaster while we do something else.

 

[TravelMommy]

Whatever age I would let my kiddos go to NYC or Chicago, Boston, etc is the age I would let them go around WDW alone. WDW is like any other major city as a destination and I make sure they are aware of the safety concerns when traveling in any big city.

 

[sbmorasch]

Honestly I don't know have kids so I don't know but I would never let them go off on there own. Disney to me is a family place and I would want to experience as much as I could as a family as I can. Now that's not saying I would not let them go on rides wile I sit and wait for them outside but I would meet up with them right as they where leaving.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

A few years back my oldest didn't want to do Fantasmic with us. SO we let him go on rides alone while we went. He had a phone. I think he was 14. Last year when he was 17 and just graduated we all went to Hollywood studios and dh and I went to celebrate my birthday so he took the rest of them on rides. The twins were 12 and my dd was 13. Actually she brought a friend last year and we let them go and ride together. Last year we gave the boys more opportunities too but they wanted to stay with us.

Before we say yes to anything we try it in small doses so that may be the key. Hey you have an hour meet us back here and go from there.

 

[lady_hlh]

We let our DD and her friend go off alone to go on rides last year when they were 12. My DD had been to WDW 8 times so she knows the parks really well and both the girls have their own cell phones.