Would you leave 2 tweens alone?

[Karen V]

I'd appreciate any opinions. I have 2 boys 9 and 13. If they wanted to go on a ride that I didn't (Space Mountain), would you let them go and then meet up with them after? We'll have walkie talkies. Also, if they needed a time-out, could I leave them on say a bench, and go on a ride with my daughter and meet them after?

I have done this at Great Adventure, but I don't have a feel for WDW....haven't been there since I was a kid!!!

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

That's hard to say. My dd, now 15, has been going to WDW since she was 5/6...by the time she was 13, she had been about 9 times. When we were there for her 13th birthday, she was allowed to head off on her own, with her friend who was also turning 13 within 2 days. But, my dd could have given tours around the parks she had been there so often. I really wasn't concerned about her.
Only you could say if they are mature enough to behave in line, without adult supervison. I've been in front of some pretty obnoxious kiddos, there with no adults. Is it safe? Sure, not too much is going to happen to them as long as you are waiting there for them when they get out of the attraction. And only you can know if they are going to 'honor' the timeout by remaining on a bench by themselves.

 

[scheddj]

We let our 11 & 13 yr old dd's go off together in MK. They know the park very well and had a cell phone with them. We set a designated meeting place and time and they had no problem. You might want to use a cell phone instead of walkie talkies, though. We took walkie talkies on our first trip and couldn't get through to each other because there were so many other people using them.

 

[dreamergirl78]

You know your kids best, can they handle a situation like that?

 

[randomDisneyFan3000]

13 year old yes, 9 year old no. whould you leave them at your mall by them selves?

 

[The Sweetness]

Thats an excellent way to judge, if you'd allow them to split off (together) at the mall. When my DD was 13, I was dropping her off at the mall with, or to meet up with friends. Make sure the 2 are velcro'd together though, 9 seems a little green to be on their own (IMO) Have a great time

 

[denisekayt]

I let my 10 yr old enter the ride lines, ride, and then meet him at the exit on his own when it's a ride that will make me sick (Star Tours and Teacups). Teacups I can see him the entire time since it's all open to the outside. Star Tours I can't see him, but I know once he goes inside the building that he can only come out into the gift shop exit so I go and wait for him in there.

10 is not old enough for me to let him wander the park on his own, but rides where I stay right there and wait for him to finish are perfectly safe IMHO.

 

[delmar411]

yes I would and I have. My 2 DDs love Mission Space and neither DH or I will go with them so they go together while I wait with the little one at Test Track and DH and my other DS wait in line at Test Track. Normally they all end up being done at the same time so it works well.

ETA~ my DDs are 10 and just turned 5.

 

[randomDisneyFan3000]

yes I would and I have. My 2 DDs love Mission Space and neither DH or I will go with them so they go together while I wait with the little one at Test Track and DH and my other DS wait in line at Test Track. Normally they all end up being done at the same time so it works well.

ETA~ my DDs are 10 and just turned 5.

I would not let a 5 year old go alone with a 10 year old. 13, 14, 15 yes. maybe 12. not 10.

 

[jessiesue]

At what age does Disney say children can ride without adult supervision? I know there is a certain age but I can't remember.

 

[Alesia]

At what age does Disney say children can ride without adult supervision? I know there is a certain age but I can't remember.

7

 

[Alesia]

You might want to use a cell phone instead of walkie talkies, though. We took walkie talkies on our first trip and couldn't get through to each other because there were so many other people using them.

I second this. Walkie talkies are spotty at best in the parks. You can buy tracfones for about $10 each.

 

[The Hendies]

On a ride by themselves, probably yes. But not much else if they aren't very familiar with the park. Ours were 12, 13, and 15 before we let them wander on their own, and it was their 4 th trip. They stayed together the whole time.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our 10 & 12 y.o. ride Space Mountain by themselves. I walk with them through the queue, take the "chicken exit" while they board the ride, and then meet them at the ride's exit. This system works well for us.

 

[delmar411]

I would not let a 5 year old go alone with a 10 year old. 13, 14, 15 yes. maybe 12. not 10.

Good thing you aren't their parent.

 

[mccathy]

We let our 11 & 13 yr old dd's go off together in MK. They know the park very well and had a cell phone with them. We set a designated meeting place and time and they had no problem. You might want to use a cell phone instead of walkie talkies, though. We took walkie talkies on our first trip and couldn't get through to each other because there were so many other people using them.

We were supposed to meet up with friends, but our cell phones weren't working in the park.

My advice is to set a time and specific meeting place.

 

[parrothead928]

My DD is 13 and we started letting her and her friends wander off at age 12. They had very specific rules and cell phones. Walkie Talkies DO NOT work in the parks!!!! Too much interference. I agree with a pp about the Trac Phones. You can purchase them really cheap at Wal-mart or Target. They are a pay as you go phone!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I think it depends on the kids. I have let my 11 and 9 yr. old go off on their own at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We have season passes, DH and I are never really far off, but we allow them time on their own. This summer, BG had a concert series, while DH and I were in the Festhaus for the concert, the kids were allowed to ride the rides in Germany, as long as they stayed together. The rule was that they had to check in with us every other ride and that worked out well for us. So, yes I might let them go alone on a ride if they wanted to, and we'd even let them get ahead of us too, we always have cell phones with us.

 

[dredick]

the only experience I have with this happened our past trip. My DS 11 does not like splash mtn. We love it. in the past i have sat it out w/him while DH took other DS to ride. This year i wanted to go too! We left DS11 in front of the FP line w/his cell. we told him not to move FOR ANYONE and showed him what the CM's in that area wear if someone bothers him. i was still nervous!! use your gut and educate your kids. that is the best any mom can do. goodluck!!

 

[fla4fun]

It really depends on the maturity level of the kids. Some kids can handle watching a younger sibling at 13 and some can't. Only the parent can judge that for sure.

I was allowed to start spending time alone in MK at age 13, but I wasn't allowed to take my younger (8 y.o.) sister with me. She wasn't very good about paying attention to the rules, and I wasn't very good at dealing with her when she didn't, so she had to stay with the parents. We were both allowed to go around alone together when I was about 16 and she was about 11.

But by 13, I had already been visiting MK for many years, and like a pp said, I could have given tours I knew the park so well. I think that also makes a difference, because if I had gotten into a bad situation, I would have known where to go and who to ask for help. Someone not familiar with the parks might not have that advantage.