Would you leave your 12-year old alone in hotel room?

[Mkrop]

I admit that I am not comfortable with it, but don't mistake that for my kids having a lack of independence. I don't need to leave them alone in a hotel room in order to give them that



I don't see the big deal about parents wanting a date night, but for me it wouldn't be during my family vacation. We plan a family vacation to spend time together as a whole. We have our own time (each and every one of us) during our regular daily lives. Family vacation is just that for us, a family vacation. Dh and I don't need to present ourselves as good role models by doing a date night during that vacation, we've spent our lives being good role models to our kids. In fact, I'd argue that making sure a family vacation is spent as a family has done that

I agree with all of this. For us a family vacation is just that, time to spend together. DH and I can have a date night at home. My kids are not lacking independence bc I never chose to leave them in a hotel room by themselves. They get plenty of opportunities at home. DS15 watches DS9 all the time so we can go out. I asked DS15 if he needed a break from us and mentioned this thread. He said..."maybe if I had a friend with me, I liked to go or stay with the friend, otherwise isnt the point of a family vacation to be together!"

I dont think I would have left oldest DS in a hotel room at that age. He is a very smart responsible kid, but sometimes lacks common sense A hotel is a whole different ballgame than at home.

 

[smkohn]

I used to relish the time I got alone, well, pretty much anywhere. Vacations included. We went on our first (and only so far) Disney Cruise when I was 12. I was too young to hang out in the teen center, but there was no way I was getting shoved into the kid center, having to have my parents sign me in and out. This was before they got smart and put pre-teen centers on the new boats. So, I spent the days wandering most of the time. Sometimes I went back to our cabin and lounged around, spent a lot of time by the pool, ate way too much free pizza. One night my parents decided to have dinner alone at Palo, and told me and my brother (who is 4 years older and was aloud in the teen center) to make sure we made it up for dinner at least. My brother blew off dinner, so it was just me at the table. The nice table full of 6 honeymooning couples next to us invited me to join them, but I would've been just as fine eating alone.
I'm not a parent, but I don't see the problem with letting the 12 year old spend some time alone if she wants. I also don't see the problem with vacation date nights. There are plenty of restaurants down at Disney that have that nice, romantic ambiance. Sometimes its nice to go to a special, unique restaurant on a date, and if that happens to be an opportunity that presents itself on a vacation I say go for it!

 

[Granny square]

Lol, we have homeschooled for 16 years at home all day most days. Being together is an integral part of our lives. Amazingly we like one another and we like time on our own, with individuals and as a family. Wonder of wonders, lol, that goes for vacations too.

No one has to go on dates. And people aren't hateful bad parents or unloving families if they want time alone. What a bunch of nonsense.

Eta: I've always been a reader, as have my entire family. And vacations always meant a new stack of books to enjoy, now conveniently located on one thin device. The chance to tuck in and read in quiet for a couple of hours is and was a treasure. . I intend to take my kindle to the lobby early some morning with a tall cup of coffee and enjoy some quiet time. Lol, when I was young, I'd sneak up early and go to the lobby and do the same so I wouldn't wake my mom and sister up.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I was watching an old Dateline last night about a 30 something woman that was raped in her hotel room. I got to thinking about this thread. Just food for thought.

 

[Granny square]

I was watching an old Dateline last night about a 30 something woman that was raped in her hotel room. I got to thinking about this thread. Just food for thought.

Sad, but I doubt that it occurred with the door locked between the woman and the rapist. Was she in the hallway? I doubt she was following 12 year old kid guidelines.

I was bright enough at 12 to keep a door locked and latched. My kids are too.

 

[dogluva]

I was watching an old Dateline last night about a 30 something woman that was raped in her hotel room. I got to thinking about this thread. Just food for thought.

Yes and on the new today someone died in a car accident. And a million other things that can happen but probably won't. I refuse to have my kids live in fear.

 

[Granny square]

Yes and on the new today someone died in a car accident. And a million other things that can happen but probably won't. I refuse to have my kids live in fear.

You mean you will let your child ride in a car even though it has been proven to be dangerous?

 

[dogluva]

You mean you will let your child ride in a car even though it has been proven to be dangerous?

Well it is food for thought.

 

[Granny square]

Well it is food for thought.

Peanut brittle?

 

[sissy_ib]

I was watching an old Dateline last night about a 30 something woman that was raped in her hotel room. I got to thinking about this thread. Just food for thought.

Humm, I'm 30 and I am going to WDW and Washington D.C. all by myself in the next few months. I guess I should cancel since there is no way I will be safe in the room alone.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Sad, but I doubt that it occurred with the door locked between the woman and the rapist. Was she in the hallway? I doubt she was following 12 year old kid guidelines.

I was bright enough at 12 to keep a door locked and latched. My kids are too.

Actually there have been issues nationwide with hotel room keys, so people have been able to just open the door and get back into rooms. This is why it is super important to bolt the door.

Not sure if the new Disney RFID keys will eliminate that or not. I have no idea how they work and if they reset after checkout to a new code or not.

 

[Granny square]

Actually there have been issues nationwide with hotel room keys, so people have been able to just open the door and get back into rooms. This is why it is super important to bolt the door.

Not sure if the new Disney RFID keys will eliminate that or not. I have no idea how they work and if they reset after checkout to a new code or not.

I was driving cross country alone at 17. Mom says lock the door, which includes the bolt so I did. My kids could have followed that instruction at 7. Sort of my point. Hunted down the dateline show and the interviewed woman talked with the guy in the dark hallway. NOT saying this is ok. Just saying it is a different situation than the op was describing.

 

[dogluva]

Peanut brittle?

Yes, exactly! Because our little 12 year old peanuts are very brittle! We must supervise them every second or they may break.

 

[Granny square]

Yes, exactly! Because our little 12 year old peanuts are very brittle! We must supervise them every second or they may break.

Hahahaha, I'm tired of snowflakes anyway!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I was driving cross country alone at 17. Mom says lock the door, which includes the bolt so I did. My kids could have followed that instruction at 7. Sort of my point. Hunted down the dateline show and the interviewed woman talked with the guy in the dark hallway. NOT saying this is ok. Just saying it is a different situation than the op was describing.

I wasn't referring to her particular story. People have been robbed and attacked in their hotel rooms by previous guests or employees being able to simply open the door with keys as old as 10 years. Some chains and franchises rarely change(d) the locks. Perhaps this has improved, especially with the new electronic locks.

I moved across the country alone at 19 and had traveled with friends from the age of 16. I'm still concerned about the safety of hotel rooms. Everyone needs to be careful and be aware that they aren't 100% safe. Plenty of people do not bolt the door at all times when inside the room, so if you're going to leave your children there alone, just double check and make sure even you can't open the door before heading out.

 

[sissy_ib]

I wasn't referring to her particular story. People have been robbed and attacked in their hotel rooms by previous guests or employees being able to simply open the door with keys as old as 10 years. Some chains and franchises rarely change(d) the locks. Perhaps this has improved, especially with the new electronic locks.

I moved across the country alone at 19 and had traveled with friends from the age of 16. I'm still concerned about the safety of hotel rooms. Everyone needs to be careful and be aware that they aren't 100% safe. Plenty of people do not bolt the door at all times when inside the room, so if you're going to leave your children there alone, just double check and make sure even you can't open the door before heading out.

Most hotels these days use electronic door locks. Any key card RFID or not, should be coded for a certain time frame. It should expire the day you check out. I have not been to a hotel with regular keys in years and years.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Most hotels these days use electronic door locks. Any key card RFID or not, should be coded for a certain time frame. It should expire the day you check out. I have not been to a hotel with regular keys in years and years.

That may be. I really only stay in Disney hotels in the US. I've found a lot of European hotels still have regular keys except for big chains. I think I even had a regular key at the InterContinental in Madrid.

I'd guess a lot of motels and independent hotels/franchises also still have old fashioned keys, and the outdoor motels especially have had problems.

At least it's good to know the RFID keys recode for each guest.

 

[Mkrop]

Most hotels these days use electronic door locks. Any key card RFID or not, should be coded for a certain time frame. It should expire the day you check out. I have not been to a hotel with regular keys in years and years.

I just read an article, I tried to google it and could not find it. But it said that hotels, well known chains are having huge security breaches with the new RFID cards. There is some tool that can be used to jam up the lock and open it. It didnt mention WDW hotels but it did say that there were issues and most hotels did not know until after someone rob one of their guests.

 

[sissy_ib]

I just read an article, I tried to google it and could not find it. But it said that hotels, well known chains are having huge security breaches with the new RFID cards. There is some tool that can be used to jam up the lock and open it. It didnt mention WDW hotels but it did say that there were issues and most hotels did not know until after someone rob one of their guests.

I'd believe it. Any technology can be hacked. Very different though from someone using a 10 year old key to get in.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My husband and I go out at least once by ourselves during our WDW vacations.
Last time we were in WDW with the kids DS was 12, DD 7.
We were staying at the GF and left them so we could go have a couple drinks at the bar.

DS had a cell phone if he needed us and they both know "the drill.".

I may be paranoid but I don't think I'd go far , just have a drink or dinner at the hotel we were staying at. But I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
We buy the kids snacks, they get their PJ's on and lay in bed and watch a movie while we're gone. Gives them some time to wind down too.