When do teens go to the park alone?

[westjones]

It is hard for me to imagine what my kids will be like at different ages. They (twins) are only 9 right now. I was just wondering; at what age are teens able to go around at the parks alone and then just meet up with parents at a specific time and place?

One of the things I loved about DVC was being able to get 2 bedroom units when the kids are older (so both of us have privacy). I figure one day DH and I will be able to go to Epcot and enjoy going at our own pace (without trying to get on the rides all the time).

So when do teen start going around the parks alone? I was 18 when I did it (but that was my first trip to WDW and we were on a class trip).

Just wondering what others have done.
Thanks,
DJ

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Is 14 a good age? 15 is too old, they'll be driving the next year. 13 seems a bit young. Perhaps I'm conservative, I see that some parents let thier 9 year old kids go to the pool area by themselves and they are not around to watch them.

 

[PamOKW]

Since every child is different, I would generally use the same judgement as letting them go around a mall in or near a large city. I think starting out with you and/or your husband being in the same park with established meeting times & places is a good work to work into eventually letting them go on their own. By 18, they could be in college so they should have free run of the whole resort. Multiple trips will help them know how the transportation works, where the parks are, etc. (This was originallly posted to the DVC Board). I would think you could start weaning them towards independence beginning at 12-13, especially if they stick together.

Of course, this is MHO since I don't have any children.

 

[TiggerFreak]

It probably depends on the individual. If they are responsible let em go Our daughter and her best bud have been let loose in the parks on their own since they were 14, with no problems. We set a few guidlines, such as when to be back, no DowntownDisney without us, letting Mom&Dad know what their plans are and checking in once in a while. She was given a cell phone to carry and it worked out fine for the past 3 years.

 

[ncligs]

We stayed at OKW in Feb (Presidents week) with our DD(16) and niece (14), and we let them go to MGM alone. We watched them get on the bus(MGM) at OKW and she has a cell phone. So we told her to call us every 2 hours to check in. Told them what time to be back at OKW. Everything worked out Ok, and they had there independence.

 

[drusba]

I agree that it mostly depends on the particular kid. Our now 17 year old has been going since two and started excursions on her own at 12, but she was completely familiar with the transportation system by that age and has always been independent and responsible. For the younger one now 12, I am not sure we will let her go alone as she tends to get lost in her own house.

 

[LovetoTigger]

My son is taking his best friend when we go to WDW in late May. They are both 14 (will turn 15 in the fall). My plan is to go to the same parks, but let them go their own way for a few hours. We can then meet for lunch and split up again. I'm considering taking them to Disney Quest while I shop or relax. I figure this will be plenty of independence for them at this point (especially since I'll have most of the spending money!) This will be the first time DS has taken a buddy, so there will be no living with his excitement until then. It will also be new for me since when they go their way, I'll be touring by myself. That should be a new experience! Can't wait!

 

[SusanD]

Last year we let our 15 and 13yo spend time at the parks only meeting back or checking in periodically. The only rule was they needed to stay together and keep their cell phones on. It worked well for all of us. My husband and I got some down time and the boys rode the same thrill rides over and over again.

 

[CarolynFH]

Both of our kids are experienced WDW guests and know their way around the World as well as each park. When they were 14 we started letting them go off on their own in the same park we were in, and at 15 we'd let them go from the resort to the park alone. We always have established meeting places & times, plus communication tools available (personal radios or cell phones).

 

[tripletvan]

By the time we go home in November our children will be 13, (can't belive it!) They are very comfortable around the BW and we let them poke around by themselves when we were there in the spring. We also let they "run the show" when we did the transportation thing last time a few of our trips to the parks to see how many smarts they have and they all made thr right choices so we know that they can make it home.

The being individuals is right on target! I describe my kids as having to be in the center of "the Box" the other as trying to make the box into an oval, (doing it his way!) and my DD who is looking for the box hoping she will stumble into it. And these kids were all born at the same time! If they were together I may feel comfortable with them going into Epcot or MGM without us. As ususal we would probably say go ahead and one of us shadow for a bit to see how they do and when we feel comfortable then let them go.

 

[oshun]

I agree with most that it depends on the teen. I let my teenage daughter (14) and her friend (14) go on their own. My daughter has been going to WDW since she was 8 yrs old 2 times a year and knows the parks by heart. She is also very mature for her age, so I let them go on their own and caught up with us at dinner or lunch. My daughter told me, when we got home, that she missed her family and would have rather of done things with the family. Who knows what is right and if they will have more fun on their own.

 

[Kallison]

Well my oldest will be 13 next trip, but I wouldn't want him wandering around by himself. I tend to let the younger ones slide earlier than him. Probably when he was 15 I would let him and the middle DS who would be 13 go off in the same park. They haven't asked yet, so I don't bring it up. We were there two weeks after 9/11 and the parks were so empty we let them take short sojourns for food or wait outside an attraction if they didn't feel like going on. I guess a lot of variables would come into play for me, how crowded the parks are etc.

 

[Luvinit]

You could always bring walkie talkies with you. It would require you to be at the same park...but I think its a good stepping stone. Regardless though...IMO I think 9 is to young to allow children to be alone anywhere.

 

[Eeyore2U]

DS was started on his own at 10/11. At 13 he and a friend had the free to go off on his own. At 14 he had the ability to go off by himself. On our last trip at 16 he and a friend went to US/IOA. We ordered TTC for them and off they went.

The key is knowing your child and making your decisions based on what you know, not what other DISers think.

 

[SandraC]

Great thread....my kids are 3 and 9 now, so I'm just learning from you all right now. Knowing my kids personalities, I think dd (9 now) wouldn't be about the navigate the park for years. ds is 3 and I think he could do it now! LOL! S

 

[WDWguru]

Another thing to consider, along with whether they will be smart and safe on their own, is how they will act toward others. Are they courteous and polite when you're not around? With siblings? With their buddies? Keep in mind that it's no fun to have a park experience ruined by a pack of unruly teenagers.

 

[tripletvan]

My one son can get you from the front of MK to the astro orbitor in under 10 minutes through a parade by the time he was ten! Never underestimate the power of a determined child!!!

 

[IvyandLace]

Great thread...I have enjoyed reading everyone's opinions and experiences.

This subject is going to come up next family trip with my nephews (we go every two years with them-and their aunts, uncles, and grandparents are with them-no parents)-they will be 16 and 12. I'm still not sure they would want to go off by themselves a bunch...even though it can slow things down, everyone has preferred to tour the world together so far. It was really helpful when they were younger (plus we don't get to see them that often so the time was a treat to them), but I'm thinking that we might want to split up some next trip.

Anyway, all that to say...thanks! I enjoy hearing what those "more experienced" have to say!

IVY

 

[mikesmom]

I think it's a combination of the child's age, his personality, and how experienced he/she is at WDW. That place can easily confuse an adult on the first (or even 2nd) trip!

We started letting DS go off on his own at age 12. The rules for that were same park and for a limited time, such as 2 hours. We did that to see how well he met us at the designated place and if he was on time. He had been going to WDW almost yearly since he was 7, so he was very comfortable with the layout of all the parks and the transportation. At 14, we let him be on his own in the same park. At 16, we had joined DVC and he brought a buddy. They pretty much go off on their own most of the time except for predetermined activities and family meals.

And you're right. That 2 bedroom layout is great! Plenty of privacy for all concerned, plus less disturbance of people who don't keep the same sleeping hours

 

[Disney Dude]

When you let your kids go off, are they alone or with buddies? There are only three of us, Myself, husband, and 14yr old son. We are staying at the Poly and i told him he could ride the monorail over to CR gameroom as long as he checked in on the cel phone. I want to give him some freedoms but he's by himself and I don't know how much fun that is. What fun is it to be in a park and go off by yourself? What else do teens usually do in Disney by themselves?