When did you get to go around WDW by yourself?

[jlw29]

I'm wondering if I'll get different responses from the teen board than the families board!

We are going to WDW at the end of the summer. My DD's will be 14 and almost 12 for this trip. When we went last January, the girls had to stay with us (or one of the other adults) all the time. I plan to let them have more freedom this time. Since we're staying onsite this time, I THINK I'll let them take the buses to / from the resort as long as they're both together. They both have cell phones to keep in touch. They are pretty responsible kids (the older one more than the younger), but I always worry about the other people out there who may not have my girls' best interests at heart.

What do you guys think? Is it too young to ride the resort buses? Is it too young to go off on their own at the park when we're there too? Or should I trust my kids to be responsible? They will be eagerly watching your responses!

 

[life of the party]

14 & 12?
That's the exact age of me & my sister on our last trip!
And that's when our parents gave us more freedom.

I think its a good age, but you as a parent can only know if they are responsible enough for it.

Also, me & my sister didn't really enjoy going around the parks by ourselves, but we had fun going about the resort.

 

[baby<3]

When I was 16, my parents let my brother (13) and I wander around by ourselves. When I went with school last year (age 17), I was essentially chaperone less. We only had to check in with them in the beginning of the day and the end.

 

[MushuGirl06]

I turned 16 last year during out trip to WDW. It was EMH has Magic Kingdom and my youngest brother was sick with a virus of some sort and my mom and dad were very tired so they told me and my brother who was 14 at the time that we could go to MK because we wanted to try and make it to midnight but that didnt happen but it was still fun though! All we needed to do was call them every once ina while to let them know that we were okay.

 

[BabyPiglet]

My mom let me and a friend run around MK when I was 15.

I think 14 & 12 are perfectly fine ages to be by themselves in the parks (with you in the parks with them), but I would be hesitant about letting them ride the bus, etc by themselves.

Just my opinion, but you know your daughter's better than me!

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

Depends on the responsibility I think. I never really asked to go around on my own, sometimes just running to get fastpasses and meeting my family when I was 14 or so, and my little brother would come with me sometimes as long as we stuck together. Cell phones are very good to have too, of course. Considering if im responsible (and know WDW like the back of my hand) I would probably have been aloud to do it sooner. Knowing the parks helps alot too, you feel safer and all.

 

[Sparx]

My mom let me and a friend run around MK when I was 15.

I think 14 & 12 are perfectly fine ages to be by themselves in the parks (with you in the parks with them), but I would be hesitant about letting them ride the bus, etc by themselves.

Just my opinion, but you know your daughter's better than me!

 

[DollfieDreams]

ive been going by myself for years. probably about when i turned 13. maybe even younger than that. i dont remember. but i barely go with my mom anymore. if i do, its usually to take her to the food and wine festival. we love going to epcot together.

 

[imabrat]

My mom let me and a friend run around MK when I was 15.

I think 14 & 12 are perfectly fine ages to be by themselves in the parks (with you in the parks with them), but I would be hesitant about letting them ride the bus, etc by themselves.

Just my opinion, but you know your daughter's better than me!

Ditto. I was allowed to go around the parks alone while my parents were in the park too. Buses were a no-go. Please remember that WDW is not immune from rapists/child predators/etc.

 

[♥Ariel♥]

i always go with my cousin gracie so now my parents take my lil bro who is five with them and my cuz and i go by our selves. but i belive it was 2 years ago when i was 12 almost thirteen, so my cousin had was about a week away from her 10th bday. but if you wanna get all technical i was 12 she was nine. but i usually say 13 and 10.

 

[nj90]

I was 14 went I got to go around Disney "on my own". I went with my Chorus to perform, and they originally had a strict schedule for us to follow. They ended up throwing it away and letting us just go where ever.

 

[Cinderelli16]

I was 14, my brother was 12 when we were able to go to the parks by ourselves. I actually like being with my parents when we go to the parks, but there are times when us kids want to be by ourselves.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Ditto. I was allowed to go around the parks alone while my parents were in the park too. Buses were a no-go. Please remember that WDW is not immune from rapists/child predators/etc.

If anything, WDW probably attracts more. It's a gaurenteed spot for lots of kids and parents with their guards down.

 

[::Snow_White::]

I answered on the family board too.
I probably will be able to when I'm 17.
My mom would freak out if I went by myself last year when I was 15.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I haven't been since I was 13, and I wasn't allowed then. I wasn't even allowed to wait for my family to get off a ride that I didn't want to go on. I needed someone with me. It was purposes of not getting lost. It's kind of like, we're not gonna have our cells, we're from Canada, the roaming would be ridiculous, and my parents weren't gonna trust me at 13 to meet them somewhere at a certain time.

I probably owuldn't be allowed to wander on my own now, simply because it'd be a family trip and my parents take the 'family' part of it seriously.

 

[PurpleDucky]

14

 

[minniemouse440044]

well this year my parents are going to eat at teh Yachtmens grill or something like that, and im taking my brother to magic kingdom then my parents are going to meet up with us their. I am 15 and my brother is 10.

so me and him will ride one of the buses to magic kingdom and be there by oursleves for about 3 hours.
so if that helps?!

 

[StitchfansJr]

I went back to Magic Kingdom last March for EMH with my 28 year old sister. She figured that I'd be fine since I was with her (I'm 14)

 

[hkrox]

When me and my sister went when we were that age, we didn't really go to to parks alone. But we went to the pool and around the resort. So they could probably at least do that.