Would you let your child wait for you outside of ride???

[tchrchgo]

Yeah, most likely....especially if the wait time was short and the kid didnt have a problem with it.

I'd trust my 10 year old to sit by themselves for 10-15 mins and play on a phone and wait for us without wandering off.

Last December I took my twin 10 yr olds alone to universal. One son didn't want to do Harry potter so I left him by the butter beer cart with my cell phone to play on, and he was fine!

 

[PrincessJo]

After seeing how easy it was for men to snatch 3 innocent girls from a Cleveland street and hide them for a whole decade... no way would I leave my 10 year old alone in a huge theme park.

But that's just me.

 

[mjkacmom]

NO WAY. No ride is worth the gamble. If my child were 15, then I'd probably do it. At 10, not a chance.
There are too many things that could go wrong. What if the unthinkable happened like what happened at the Boston Marathon and you were separated from your child?

Yeah, and don't send them to school either - remember Sandy Hook?

 

[mjkacmom]

After seeing how easy it was for men to snatch 3 innocent girls from a Cleveland street and hide them for a whole decade... no way would I leave my 10 year old alone in a huge theme park.

But that's just me.

Weren't they in their late teens/early 20's? So girls that age shouldn't be alone in public either?

 

[PrincessJo]

Weren't they in their late teens/early 20's? So girls that age shouldn't be alone in public either?

The youngest was 14. You can't protect your children everywhere, but when I can over something as silly as a ride... I will opt to protect my child.

 

[chartle]

In 2004 at DHS my wife waited as I rode ToT with another couple on our trip. A little girl, about 6, sat next to my wife and struck up a conversation. "My dad said you looked like a nice lady and I should sit with you while re rides ToT" She was at the park with her dad and her mom was back at the hotel with her brother. Hey, her dad was right, my wife is a nice lady!

That Dad did put your wife in a horrible position. Did he expect your wife to stay with her until he got back and be responsible for her?

Oh and I'm sure wife is a nice person.

 

[tjmj9801]

That Dad did put your wife in a horrible position. Did he expect your wife to stay with her until he got back and be responsible for her?

Oh and I'm sure wife is a nice person.

I was thinking about this, too. I wouldn't ever assume that a CM or even a nice looking stranger should keep my child company even for me to use the restroom. Certainly not for a ride.

 

[disney1990]

Yeah, and don't send them to school either - remember Sandy Hook?

Agreed. I found Disney a great middle ground to allow my children some freedom. A relatively safe environment. My granddaughter walks about a mile every single morning - in the dark - to catch her bus to school - and then stands by a busy street waiting for that bus to come.

At 10, she was allowed to get in line to ride Rock n Roller Coaster, while her Dad road Tower of Terror, because they wanted to ride 2 different rides. She has a cell phone.

Maybe the difference of opinion comes from where people live. Because in cities, children as young as elementary catch the subway or city bus to go to school every single day.

Our children and grandchildren have always been given freedom - freedom to go outside and ride their bikes, freedom to go into the woods and play with their friends.

 

[mom2rtk]

You have to understand that everyone here is answering based on the 10 year old in their own lives. And there is a WIDE disparity in personality and maturity level among 10 year olds.

A few thoughts:

1) Typically I would support having him go through the line and use the chicken exit at the last minute. But if he doesn't want to do the ride, he probably doesn't want to do the stretching room. So that's a no go.

2) My opinion varies on a young 10 year old (closer to 9) and an older 10 year old (closer to 11).

3) Of my 3 kids, I would have been good with leaving 2 of them sit but not the other. They are all different. If I did leave them, I would make sure they have a cell phone and my number.

4) Disney is a great place to start letting kids spread their wings a little. While no place is completely safe, it is a more controlled environment than, say, the local mall. (For example, Disney parks typically have one public exit and the mall has many). I have enjoyed giving my 12 year old little bits of freedom at Disney that she would not get at home.

5) Parents get that it is important to keep kids "safe". But it's also important to teach them independence and the ability to make decisions and solve problems without us. Too many parents make all of their child's decisions and hover over them up til the moment they turn 18 then turn them loose with none of these skills. Disney is a great place to take some baby steps in this direction.

6) If you are still uncomfortable, maybe do the ride at rope drop when you could at least minimize the time it would take.

 

[palmbeachmom]

My thoughts are that if a 10 year old is too anxious to ride HM, then I don't think he would probably be self-assured enough to sit ALONE in a very busy area full of strangers for any amount of time. It's not so much a safety issue in terms of people bothering HIM, but more his comfort level with being ok by himself for awhile. Also, I agree with other people, send the other 2 on to ride and you wait with the 10 year old. It's not a question of whether or not it's "safe", it's more of a question of are you willing to put your kid's needs before your own wants... but that's just my two cents

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Just me but I would not enjoy the ride worrying about my child.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jaykorf001]

My son is only 4 and I can't imagine what he'll be like at 10 but I know I was going to Worlds of Fun in KC alone with friends by the time I was 10. And it's a large park. Only you know your son and whether he's comfortable being by himself under that scenario. Do what you think is right for your family. Have a great trip.

 

[Love Tink]

It's not a question of whether or not it's "safe", it's more of a question of are you willing to put your kid's needs before your own wants... but that's just my two cents

I see a lot of this attitude here - and people who say things like, "You go to Disney World for the kids, not for you."

Personally, I work hard to teach and remind my kids that they are not actually the sun and the Earth does not revolve around them. Parents who make every decision based on what their kid wants, and treat their children like babies well into adolescence are not doing their children any favors in the long run.

I'd rather have kids who know how to be flexible and know how to take care of themselves.

 

[forever11709]

My mom and I talk about this all the time think about the price it cost to get into Disney World if someone wanted to take or do something to a kid they would go to a free place not one that cost an arm and a leg to get into.

That being said when I was 10 I was flying 100% unattended from Indianapolis to Denver, many times with long layovers. Only you know your child and what they will or wont do. Personally I dont see a problem with it

 

[mjkacmom]

The youngest was 14. You can't protect your children everywhere, but when I can over something as silly as a ride... I will opt to protect my child.

At 14, my kids walked 1 1/2 miles alone to school. You say it's something silly like a ride - I think it's a great opportunity for a child to develop some independence in a safe environment. Would I let my 10 year olds walk 1 1/2 miles alone to school? No. But they do walk 1/4 mile on a route with crossing guards at almost every street. They will walk the 1 1/2 miles in a few years.

Could I drive my older kids to school? Absolutely. I choose not to.

 

[mom2rtk]

My thoughts are that if a 10 year old is too anxious to ride HM, then I don't think he would probably be self-assured enough to sit ALONE in a very busy area full of strangers for any amount of time. It's not so much a safety issue in terms of people bothering HIM, but more his comfort level with being ok by himself for awhile. Also, I agree with other people, send the other 2 on to ride and you wait with the 10 year old. It's not a question of whether or not it's "safe", it's more of a question of are you willing to put your kid's needs before your own wants... but that's just my two cents

I wouldn't make that assumption. My middle child would not have wanted to ride Haunted Mansion at age 10. Yet he has always been very mature and responsible. He's just very "cautious". That caution has helped him make some great decisions along the way to adulthood.

 

[bdklein]

Of course this is just my opinion, but I would never ever do that! !

What is the age that you would allow it?

 

[gwmort]

Last trip I forced my DD8 to ride Splash mountain.

My wife went back to the room early leaving me with DD8 and DS7. DS7 really wanted to ride Splash Mtn and it was our last night in MK so it was the last opportunity, DD8 was very scared of it.

I did everything I could think of to coax, cajole and bribe her into it but nothing worked. When we got in line I told her I'd let her wait at the exit so she wouldn't freak out we were in line. When we got to the loading area I chickened out about leaving her by herself and forced her to ride. She screamed bloody murder the whole time and it wasn't fun for anyone. I am properly ashamed I did it.

On reflection I think she would have been fine waiting at the exit while we rode if I had let her not board. We're going back next month and she is now 9, if the same situation arises I would let her wait while we rode (not while we wait in line though, she can use the chicken exit).

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't know. I figure at 10 a kid is old enough to be stationed right outside the ride and drilled with "you do not leave this bench, and don't go anywhere with anyone no matter what they say, and if someone bothers you then get a cast member involved." But all kids are different. The parent would need to determine the maturity level of their child and how likely they are to do what they have been told.

The youngest was 14. You can't protect your children everywhere, but when I can over something as silly as a ride... I will opt to protect my child.

The three women in the current Castro case were walking on the street and Castro offered them rides. They got in his car. One thing to teach kids (and young people) is never get into a car with anyone who just offers you a ride. At any rate he was not a stranger to the 14 year old, she was friends with his daughter. If your friend's dad offers you a ride, do you take it? May not be a good idea but she apparently thought nothing at all of it.

 

[bdklein]

No one wants to think of bad things happening at Disney, but unfortunately they do.
I wouldn't take that chance. Too many crazies in the world today.

What has ever happened between a stranger and a kid at a WDW Theme Park??