What do you think?

[SamanthaR]

Hi. We'll be heading down to Universal at the end of this month. I'll be taking DS age 6, DD who is 11 and DD's best friend who is also 11. My DD knows both of the parks inside out.

The situation is do you think the two 11-year-olds are old enough to split up and go on the rides they want to go on? They insisted that they do not want to hang around us and go on all the "baby rides".

Father of DD's best friend was very adamant and made it clear to me that he wants his daughter monitored. He feels very uncomfortable for the girls to split up because of all the crazies out there.

I tell the girls rules are rules. No splitting up because the father wants it that way. I explain to them I'll REALLY be held responsible if something happens to them.

The girls are so unhappy about this. They are such good kids and never have gotten into any trouble. The friend is 5'5" and big and is mature for her age. I have a feeling this may not be an enjoyable trip. Help! Any suggestions? What do you think?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Father of DD's best friend was very adamant and made it clear to me that he wants his daughter monitored. He feels very uncomfortable for the girls to split up because of all the crazies out there.

Sounds like you will have to honor that.

Will you be staying at an on-site hotel? If so, you can consider leaving DS at the Kids Camp type program back at the hotel for an afternoon while you take the girls to enjoy all of the "grown-up" rides.

 

[SamanthaR]

Yes, we'll be staying at the Royal Pacific. I'll have to look into the kids camp. Thanks.

 

[mickeyfan2]

IMHO they are way to young. Also you need to honor the wishes of the friends father.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I think you should honor the father's wishes too. Tell them to be glad they're going and stop complaining. I think 11 is too young to let girls out on their own in a big place like that. In the state that I am from (not FL) it is illegal to leave children under 12 home alone. Just because one of the girls is big for her age and has never gotten into trouble does not mean nothing could happen to her. Remember Natalee Holloway? 11 year olds do not possess the experience for the quick thinking they would need to avoid a predator.

 

[lrauers]

We have been going to US for the last 15 years, my children are grown now. I would not consider letting 11 yr olds go off by themselves. It's not so much concern about wierdos, it's just that the parks are SO big and if it's crowded it would be easy for them to get separated from each other, a possibility I would eliminate.

 

[SamanthaR]

Thanks all. Girls are trying to weasel into having their way just like trying to get an extra night out of me at Universal. No much how much whining and complaining they do, I still put my foot down. Boy, I can hardly wait until those teenage years..........and it's coming around real soon!

 

[robvia]

We let our daughter and friend do it last year, but they were 13 at the time. They both had cell phones, and we could call them for free because we live in FL and have a plan that covers the entire state. So we always knew where they were the entire time, and even set up a meeting at the HRC for lunch.

 

[LupineLady]

We were there last week; very crowded and lots of "odd" characters around; no way would I let 11-yr old girls lose on their own!!!

 

[ChrisFL]

I would say most definitely "NO".

A few weeks ago, Americas' Most Wanted showed a person who was in Orlando, going to different hotels to find young girls, he took them into bushes etc. etc.

They finally caught him, judge gave him NO jail time at all just house arrest, and he finally ditched that and hasn't been caught AFAIK.

The police were FUMING about the judge's ruling and it was very clear they wanted this person locked up for a long time

 

[D3K]

My DS is 11 (will be 12 in Sept) and there is no way in the world I would let him run around Universal or Islands by himself. It's a shame that we live in a world where we have to watch our kids more than our parents watched us.

 

[MrsMud]

You have to stand firm and not allow them to go off by themselves, first because your dds friend's Dad insists, but also because they are too young, IMO. IMGONNABE40 had a good idea, see if your son will stay at the kids club and take the girls out to do whatever they want for a couple of hours. If not, they will have to take turns. Your son will have to wait with you while the girls go on the big rides and they will have to wait for him. That's just he way it is, unfortunately