When can kids do parks on their own?

[timC]

Need some second opinions on this...I'm sure it's been asked before, but it's a hard topic to search on. We're trying to decide if it's time to let our 2 boys spend some time at a WDW park or perhaps Disney Quest without parents supervision.

We've got 2 boys, age 14 and 11. Our 14 year old is well behaved, and responible. The younger one is comfortable following his big brother's lead. They're thoroughly familiar with WDW, having gone twice/yr for the past 5 years. DS14 would have a cellphone with him at all times, and of course, there will be ground-rules: no leaving the park; set a meeting place; don't blow all your cash on ice-cream...etc.

UPDATE1: I wanted to add, we'll mostly enjoy the parks together. It's just that 1)DW and I are not big DQ fans, they are. 2) DW's knees can't handle a full day in a park... 1/2 day {evening} would be okay. 3) They've done it all... having some independence will give them a new exciting perpective.

UPDATE2: Thanks for all the great advice. Here's some additional info. We'll be staying at the Beach Club Villas. I'd like to try them out at Epcot first. I can walk them to the entrance. If all goes well, they can take then boat to MGM the next morning... They've done this enough times to know how the boat works. DW and I will probably meet then for lunch somewhere in the park, or call them home. For DQ, I'll definately drive them to/from. Other than that... We'll be together.

UPDATE3: One more thing... In addition to the cellphone, I can make'em both carry a 2-way radio, in case they get separated.

What else should I think about? Has anyone else gone through this?

 

[Schmeck]

I've seen Disney's rules for unsupervised children at the parks, waterparks, and Dq on their website once, a while ago, but I can't find it anymore. I know the ages were pretty low, like 10 years old to be at a theme park alone?

You know your kids best - do you leave them home alone? If they don't get along, have a disagreement, what do they tend to do? My girls are about the same age - 13 and 11. The 11 yr old gets a bit stressed out sometimes when her sister is in charge of her, especially in places other than home. I know they're not ready for the apron strings to be cut at WDW yet. But if your kids seem to do well together when decisions have to be made, etc, then why not give them a few hours one day to see how it goes. You could even be at the same park, just not together for a bit.

 

[tjmw2727]

11 and 14 seems young to me, then again, I don't know your sons and my oldest is 10 (a very young 10!). When we did a trip with my bil and sil our neices were allowed some freedom in the same park for a few hours at a time. It was nice as they were 12 and 14 at the time and the younger sisters and cousins were all 8 and under. They didn't have cellphones but were great about being at the right spot at the right time and had the walkie talkies in case they needed to reach anyone. For us it worked out well as it was a family vacation so we could do meals and parades together but the older kids didn't have to ride fantasyland rides and the little kids didn't have to wait while others rode space mountain.

I do worry about DQ more than the parks since admission isn't required to DTD and unless you took them and picked them up it seems a bit trickey to manage.

I think I would give them a few hours at a time in a particular park or at the resort and see how that goes and how they handle any disputes. If that works well then maybe they can handle the responsibility ~

Have a great trip and remember that they just may want the opportunity to spend more time with you, on vacation its almost cool to be with the "rents".
TJ

 

[kerry34]

IMO, 14 yrs old is fine. I know this is a tough topic and the way I feel is that if you know your son, and you feel he can handle the responsibility of watching the 11 yr old for a little while, he would probably do fine. If your 11 yr old listens to him as an authority figure when he has watched him in the past, then you probably wont have a problem. If he has a cell phone that is even better. My mother would have loved that when I was 14 yrs old. Maybe you should give it a try in a contained area of the park first, maybe say adventure land, and you can keep an eye out for a bit to see for yourself how they are handling things. I am sure whatever you decide though will be the right decision for your kids. Have a great time.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

When we were in the parks last year DS and his cousin were both 11 and beged to go off aone. WE set 13 as the year they could do this and my other nephew will be 11 at the time will want to tag along. Now off alone on this 1st trip will be an hour or two, in the same park and with cell phones and strict rules. Last year we let them get in line while we waited at the end. They too are pretty confortable getting around in the parks. I say to start with a little bit and work up as they prove themselves, but never out of the same park or with out phones on this trip.

Jordans' mom

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

We have had this conversation with our soon to be 14 (Feb) and 16 (May) year old DD's for our May 2005 trip. We have agreed to let them "escape" from us as long as they are in the same park. They both have cell phones and so do DH and I. Personally I wouldn't let them go to another park without us. I don't think they would feel confortable either, at least I hope they wouldn't!! Because the answer is NO! (just in case you are reading this Kayla and Stephanie!!)

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

11 & 14 seem too young for me but I don't know your boys. Do what feels right.

 

[jokan]

Depends on your kids I think 14 is plenty old enough however in this day and age I wouldn't let any child out of my site for very long.

 

[DisneyPhD]

As others say it does depend on your kids, but it sounds like you trust their judgment an think they can handle it. When I was 14 I went to Florida and WDW with a church youth group for Spring Break and while there were adults around, we spent a great deal of it "on our own." (I did this trip for the next 6 spring breaks, some as high school, some has college student but then I was chaporneing the 14 year olds.)

Cell phones are a great idea.

Personally I would feel more comfortable going with them and then spliting up and being somewhere in the park at 1st (nice restrant, quiet place to sit and rest.) Or maybe leaving and meeting them back in a few hours instead of them getting to the park or DTD themselves. (at least at 1st to see how they do.) It also depends on where you were staying. If you were really close by like a monorail resort for MK or SSR for DTD.

They do have to grow up sometime. As I read someone else say, if they (14 year old) isn't ready to spend a few hours alone at a theme park, how are they going to be ready to live on their own at college in 4 years?

 

[alicenwonder99]

My 17 year old dd and my 13 year old dn are going off alone on our upcoming trip. We are planning on coming back to the resort earlier and I know the girls will want to stay until closing. I trust the 17 year old, but the 13 year I would NEVER allow her to go by herself. She just hasn't shown me that she is responsible enough. But I do know she will listen to our 17 year old, so that's why I'm allowing them to go off alone.

We have it planned that the girls will call us on the cell phone when they are leaving the park so we can approximate when they'll be back to the resort.

We are also going to spend a couple of hours with just me and dh while the 2 teens have our 6 and 4 year olds. I would never allow them to be at different park because the 2 younger children are too much responsibility for the teens (I'm sure it would be ok, but I'm not taking any chances).

Will your 11 year old listen to the 14 year old? We are letting the girls go off to whatever parks they want to on some days, but you will probably want your boys to stay at the same park you are and to check in frequently. I would tell the boys that the first time they don't check in on time, that's it...no more going off on their own for the rest of the day (or trip). Don't use your WDW vacation to test your boys' responsibility. Start giving them a bit of freedom (with responsibility), like letting them go off after school but calling in to check it...or something like that. See how they do. If they aren't responsible boys at home, don't expect them to be responsible at WDW.

Good luck.

Mary

 

[Peteyi]

Hello,

I think 12-14 would be a fine age to allow my son to go to any of the parks on his own. He is currently just 2 so I have a long time to prepare myself for it. )

When I started highschool 12/13 I needed to take a public bus and two NY Subways to get to school. Our parents had no choice but to let go..... Thinking back to that time (23 years ago) I think that it was a good trustworthy age.....

 

[VAN]

I'd say based on your current remarks, that you should be all set. I've seen this question asked before and it really comes down to the individual kids and now just their ages.

It sounds like they should be okay and you've covered the bases with the cell phone in the event of an emergency.

 

[bdcp]

Back in the "old days" before cells phones, my sister (then 15, myself 16, and cousin, 14) had the run of Six Flags Over Texas. We really just went and rode what we wanted and met up with our parents and younger siblings (8 and 10) later at a predetermined time. I think with cell phones and the relative safety of WDW, 11 and 14 would be fine as long as they both understand that if your rules and the park rules aren't followed, they will forfeit any freedom for the rest of the trip. The 14 year old should definitely be okay, and the 11 year old probably will too. My boys are now 18 and 21 and we have given them different amounts of freedom over the years depending on where we were and for how long, and I'm pretty strict. The last time we did WDW, they were 12 and 14 and the reality is, they were perfectly happy staying with us in the parks. It's a family vacation and unless you live close by and go often, they should be content to be with you for the trip.

I would make them meet you or call you every couple of hours just to check in and have meals together. That's some freedom for them and peace of mind for you.

 

[eeyore0062]

I can't imagine sending my 10 year old into a park by herself. There really is no magic age... much depends on the individual child. Many will be OK at 13, and others may have to wait longer. I think the buddy system works well. Just make sure you have a cell phone and they have a cell phone so you can keep in touch.

 

[hegs65]

I am having a hard time deciding what to do about this same situation. I was thinking of allowing my 13 & 16 yr old boys to venture off from us this trip. don't know that I will go as far as to let them just take off and do what they want though. I think they will be okay as long as they are in the same park as us and if they have their cell phones on. They tend to argue a bit so I am not sure that this will go over too well. Also, the 13 yr old is far more adventurous than his older brother. (My 16 yr old is a 6ft, 245 lb football player but he is a fraidy cat when it comes to rides- go figure!) While the 13 yr old may be excited with his new found freedom, I fear that he will quickly learn that his brother might hold him back a little lol. As the others said, you know your own children so I guess you have to judge. Just my 2 cents........

 

[bubbasmom99]

I was 16 and my brother was 11 when we were let loose at Disneyland at night for the first time.

 

[stacy6552]

Having grown up near Dinseyland, I can remember having the run of the park with friends by the end of the 6th grade.

Not only do you need to evaluate your kids, but also take a look at yourself. Are you going to be a nervous wreck your whole trip? If so, its not worth it. But if youre cool, and theyre cool...well then Cool, go for it.

 

[momof2sons]

It all depends on your children and their responsiblity.
We have split up in our family only if in the same park.
Four hours at a time. Our ground rules stay together, don't fight, be courtious of others, meet at certain time, have fun, and if you need anything Mom and youngest DS are in fantasy land, ect.. (look for the stroller with the lime green bandana). That is the ride or attraction we are on or at.

DS when he was 13 went to pool to swim, food court, and walks around resort during DS2 nap times by him self.

DS15 and friend 15 at the parks for first time by self.

 

[JoyMouse]

My girls are 16 and 12, I offered but they want to stay with us and I am so glad that they do!

 

[wovenwonder]

I just recently purchased my tickets on line. I have to say that the procedure they have set up to order the new MYW tickets is terrific!

I printed out my receipt and skimmed the Terms & Condition and thought when I read this one --

Quote:
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.

So -- that is the official word from Disney. I'm not sure how many parents would agree with it though!