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

[NHdisneylover]

Here in Pennsylvania all you need is the name of the person and the county. If you do get a hit the webpage shows you their birthday and where they lived at the time then you can figure out the age and guess from there.

As other posters pointed out--people MOVE. Heck, my 16 year old has lived in 5 US states plus Germany--and I have had well over 20 addresses. TO really have a good background check done you;d have to have a SS# or fingerprints. Even then, in the US would that bring up anything from when I lived in Spain or here in Germany if there were anything to bring up (there's not ) ?

I also agree that it is odd to try to get a background check on everyone like that. I think it also provides a false sense of security because just because someone has not been caught, or not hurt a child before, does not mean they won't in the future.

I always ask my wife "are you 100% sure, Or 90% sure" ....that nothing will happen.


Most things in this life require "pretty sure" everything will be fine...But when its something that you absolutely can not lose.....

Nothing in life is 100%. Realistically most ten year olds are put in more danger riding in the car to school or the store or whatnot in a typical week than the danger they are in spending some time alone at WDW.

Absolutely I would. In fact, I like the shooting arcade idea mentioned upthread - instead of having him sit on a bench with nothing to do but think (maybe about "what ifs" if he's a generally anxious child) leave him in a place with something fun to do and instructions not to leave for any reason. Not only will the time pass more quickly for him, it also won't be as obvious to a casual observer that he's alone.

I would NOT, on the other hand, recommend the chicken exit. It is after the stretching room, and if he is scared of the ride I can't imagine that it would put him in a good frame of mind to wait alone for the first time!

I don't get the comments that dismiss the idea as though it is crazy. At 10 my kids were walking to school and friends houses, biking to the ice cream shop, and playing pick-up ball at the park. Only on the DIS could something as simple as sitting on a bench waiting for the rest of the family generate 30 pages of mostly "OMG no way!" responses with that "how horrible that you'd even consider it" tone. Yes, there are bad people in the world. The good far outnumber them. Yes, bad things happen. Most of the time, however, life is business as usual. The whole trend of trying to protect against even one-in-millions dangers is doing far more harm than good; for every kid "saved" from a kidnapper or predator there are hundreds if not thousands "saved" from age-appropriate independence.

GREAT point about the stretching room being before the chicken exit. That was the part that bothered DD the most

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Absolutely I would. In fact, I like the shooting arcade idea mentioned upthread - instead of having him sit on a bench with nothing to do but think (maybe about "what ifs" if he's a generally anxious child) leave him in a place with something fun to do and instructions not to leave for any reason. Not only will the time pass more quickly for him, it also won't be as obvious to a casual observer that he's alone.

I would NOT, on the other hand, recommend the chicken exit. It is after the stretching room, and if he is scared of the ride I can't imagine that it would put him in a good frame of mind to wait alone for the first time!

I don't get the comments that dismiss the idea as though it is crazy. At 10 my kids were walking to school and friends houses, biking to the ice cream shop, and playing pick-up ball at the park. Only on the DIS could something as simple as sitting on a bench waiting for the rest of the family generate 30 pages of mostly "OMG no way!" responses with that "how horrible that you'd even consider it" tone. Yes, there are bad people in the world. The good far outnumber them. Yes, bad things happen. Most of the time, however, life is business as usual. The whole trend of trying to protect against even one-in-millions dangers is doing far more harm than good; for every kid "saved" from a kidnapper or predator there are hundreds if not thousands "saved" from age-appropriate independence.

This almost seems off topic, but there is actually as chicken exit in the stretching room. It takes you through a short hallway and then out by the by the exit. I used it with my son so we could avoid the stretching room.

 

[Simba's Girl]

Still not sure what we would do with our 10 yo but I do think it's smart to educate your child and for parents to weigh the risks. I sat behind 5 cars dropping off kids at dance today. Two of the cars waited to watch their 12-14 year olds walk into the building. Now if you can't let her walk 20 ft from the car to the door without keeping an eye on her then you have a problem. The risk in that situation is about zero. Helicopter parenting I say. What in the world will they do when those kids get to college?

I hardly think that waiting for someone, anyone to walk into their destination is "helicopter" anything. I think its polite and caring. For crying out loud I remember my DH doing it when he dropped me off when we were dating! I fully admit I do this when DD runs into dance, not even sure why really, just want to see her off/in and the girl dances 6 days a week! LOL This is the 10 year old I'm talking about...the one I allow to walk two houses down from us to her friends (we live in a rural area), the one I would allow to wait outside a ride for us, but probably suggest do something else more exciting in the meantime and meet up later.

 

[Cyrano]

Late to the party.

Folks keep it civil otherwise this thread will be no more

 

[troll buster]

I hardly think that waiting for someone, anyone to walk into their destination is "helicopter" anything. I think its polite and caring. For crying out loud I remember my DH doing it when he dropped me off when we were dating! I fully admit I do this when DD runs into dance, not even sure why really, just want to see her off/in and the girl dances 6 days a week! LOL This is the 10 year old I'm talking about...the one I allow to walk two houses down from us to her friends (we live in a rural area), the one I would allow to wait outside a ride for us, but probably suggest do something else more exciting in the meantime and meet up later.

I agree. You don't know if that was the reason they were waiting, but even if it was you shouldn't make it your concern.

 

[Granny square]

If we all had to agree, we would miss space mountain, Winnie the Pooh, it's a small world, haunted mansion, hall of presidents, splash and thunder mountains, pirates of the Caribbean an the jungle cruise the trip they ranged from 4-13. I can't imagine even visiting at that point. Instead we went on some together and some separate. And everyone got to spend plenty of time together.

Of course, we homeschool do we were all together all of the time.

 

[Love Tink]

I hardly think that waiting for someone, anyone to walk into their destination is "helicopter" anything. I think its polite and caring.

I'm guessing you don't spend a lot of time in car drop off lanes.

The majority of us aren't in love with the 10% of people who hold up the line by sitting in everyone's way being "polite and caring" while the rest of us wait.

There's a difference between waiting in someone's driveway for your kid to get inside and sitting there, unmoving, when there are 50 cars behind you waiting to drop off their kids.

 

[troll buster]

I'm guessing you don't spend a lot of time in car drop off lanes.

The majority of us aren't in love with the 10% of people who hold up the line by sitting in everyone's way being "polite and caring" while the rest of us wait.

There's a difference between waiting in someone's driveway for your kid to get inside and sitting there, unmoving, when there are 50 cars behind you waiting to drop off their kids.

If thats the case.

 

[stasijane]

To answer the question that was asked. I would, My DD now 13 always waits for me where the ride exits. She dont ride, I do and since its just the two of us it works out good this way. If she were under 10 I dont know if I would but we never had to worry about that. Both myself and my daughter and independent. Only you know your child, If you feel he would be ok and wait for you then I see no problem with it.

 

[kandb]

OP here-I was speaking to my son today about how he would feel if he waited for us when we went into HM. He said, "Oh, like last year when dad left me out, when he brought Kelly and Morgan into mission space?" Apparently, last Sept. when we were at disney with my children and niece, my dh had my son wait in the gift shop while they went into misson space. He was fine with it and said he was reading the books the whole time. I am a worry wart but I think disney is a safe environment and find it hard to believe that someone would ever abduct a child from there. As I said before, if I told my son not to talk to a stranger or go with anyone else, I am 100% sure he wouldn't.

I know this might sound sexist? but it seems to me that most abductions are of girls. To be honest, I wouldn't leave my daughter alone, even in disney. In all the abductions that I have seen in the news, I can't even think of one that has been a boy. Unfortunately, girls are
a target for sick, evil individuals (I am sure everyone knows the reason).

 

[Peter Fan]

Ever hear of Jeffery Dahmer?

 

[lizzi6692]

OP here-I was speaking to my son today about how he would feel if he waited for us when we went into HM. He said, "Oh, like last year when dad left me out, when he brought Kelly and Morgan into mission space?" Apparently, last Sept. when we were at disney with my children and niece, my dh had my son wait in the gift shop while they went into misson space. He was fine with it and said he was reading the books the whole time. I am a worry wart but I think disney is a safe environment and find it hard to believe that someone would ever abduct a child from there. As I said before, if I told my son not to talk to a stranger or go with anyone else, I am 100% sure he wouldn't.

I know this might sound sexist? but it seems to me that most abductions are of girls. To be honest, I wouldn't leave my daughter alone, even in disney. In all the abductions that I have seen in the news, I can't even think of one that has been a boy. Unfortunately, girls are
a target for sick, evil individuals (I am sure everyone knows the reason).

Not all perverts like little girls. I would honestly say it's probably 50/50 or skewed more towards males being targeted more often. Girls are just more likely to admit something happened.

 

[Granny square]

Ever hear of Jeffery Dahmer?

Or Adam Walsh.

Op that said, your son sounds like a smart cookie. He'll be fine. . Have fun!

 

[kandb]

Yes, I have heard of those boys that were abducted, I just forgot. Maybe the more recent ones seem to be all female. Either way, it's is unimaginable for any child or family to go through that. Unfortunately, it's the way the world is and the way it will always be. Thanks for all the opinions on the subject, I understand everybodies thoughts and ultimately it is the parents decision, since they know their child the best.

 

[Peter Fan]

Not all perverts like little girls. I would honestly say it's probably 50/50 or skewed more towards males being targeted more often. Girls are just more likely to admit something happened.

So true! I forgot about the catholic priest scandal and that coach just recently.

 

[littlejen22]

OP here-I was speaking to my son today about how he would feel if he waited for us when we went into HM. He said, "Oh, like last year when dad left me out, when he brought Kelly and Morgan into mission space?" Apparently, last Sept. when we were at disney with my children and niece, my dh had my son wait in the gift shop while they went into misson space. He was fine with it and said he was reading the books the whole time. I am a worry wart but I think disney is a safe environment and find it hard to believe that someone would ever abduct a child from there. As I said before, if I told my son not to talk to a stranger or go with anyone else, I am 100% sure he wouldn't.

I know this might sound sexist? but it seems to me that most abductions are of girls. To be honest, I wouldn't leave my daughter alone, even in disney. In all the abductions that I have seen in the news, I can't even think of one that has been a boy. Unfortunately, girls are
a target for sick, evil individuals (I am sure everyone knows the reason).

You don't have to take someone out of the park to rape them male or female. I am not saying don't do it because of this but just because someone cannot get a kid out of the park without suspicion does not mean you cannot so something.

 

[Granny square]

Well anyone can be murdered anywhere. But there are decidedly few spots in the parks that are secluded enough to rape anyone. The parks are filled with people, light and security. Perpetrators want seclusion and there are far easier places to get victims. That is why the cast majority assault known victims.

 

[lizzi6692]

There are undercover security guards everywhere in the park. If someone tried to take a kid that didn't know them somewhere secluded enough to rape them(if such a place even exists within the parks, I doubt it does) they wouldn't make it 3 feet before they were stopped and questioned. And if the kid knew to scream and try to get away it would be far less than 3 feet.

 

[Missyrose]

A recent article from The Washington Post:

Five Myths About Missing Children

Stranger abductions, such as the case of the three young women in Cleveland, are fearsome because they appear random and so often involve rape or homicide. But children taken by strangers or slight acquaintances represent only one-hundredth of 1 percent of all missing children. The last comprehensive study estimated that the number was 115 in a year.

 

[Talking Hands]

Sure I would let my child wait outside a ride for me. My grandchildren are another story.
Honestly I wouldn't let my child wait outside until I felt they were old enough to be in the parks without my supervision. Once my daughters were 14 and 10 I allowed them to ride while we waited for them. When they were 18 and 14 I allowed them to head for the parks without me or me go without them.