Would you let your kids go by themselves?

[Ready to go in Ok]

We are going to WDW this June. Going are me, DH, DD16, DD14, and DD11. The 16 and 14 year old recently started asking if they would be allowed to venture out on their own. I am not really sure about this. I understand why they want to go, but I am hesitant. Anyone know if there is an age limit on admission? Like if under 16, must be accompanied by adult? I would be comfortable with them going their own way in the same park as we are in, but they are talking about going to a separate park. Not because we aren't going where they want to go, but to be "grown up" I suppose. Any help would be great!

 

[Traveliz]

No rule to the effect of under 16 must be accompanied by an adult - in fact for rides you just have to be 7 to go on them alone. So as far as the rules are concerned they can venture off (except into clubs at PI).

I would think the 11 year old would be very sad to be left out of the venturing off on their own. Typically we stay together but do some split offs - those that like RnR all go together while the others go get fastpasses for something and go on Star Tours an extra time - stuff like that.

Liz

 

[greenyskp]

As long as the 16 year old and 11 year old stay together, I dont see why not. Assuming you know your children, and you know they are responsible enough to do this.

Just have very strict meeting times. And explain that if they arent there at that time they wont be allowed off again. If you all have cell phones, establish check-in times. Have them call at certain times and you can expect a call at certain times.

My parents let me take my brother around so my parents could have alone time and we never had any problems. My brother and I are 8 years apart. I felt so grown up being able to do that and I called my parents on the cell at certain times and had to be back (either to the hotel, or a designated meeting spot, at certain times) The Disney bus system makes this entirely possible.

I think all kids should experience this. When your 16, the last thing you want to do is hang out with your parents all day. (now i wish i could hang out with my mom all day! haha) So let them blow off some steam, they'll be appreciative of the time you do spend together. (even if its several years later)

Not to mention, assuming your kids are in public school...
In marching band in high school we went to theme parks all the time. at 13/14 your allowed to venture off with your friends without adults. But you have specific meeting times and you have to stick to them, OR you get stuck with the adults (who never ride anything) all day. We went to london as well, and ventured off alone.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyWisher]

The age that they need to be accompanied into the park is under 7. Scary huh? But I guess they have that age because of schools that take kids for the day. We let our daughters go to the parks alone starting when the oldest was 14 and the middle was 12. The oldest was very responsible (in fact they came back 30 mins before they were suppose to, she was worried it would take longer to get back to the resort)and yes I worried a good bit but they knew where everything was and how to get to the resort busses. If you have 2 cell phones why not let the kids take one so then you can call to see if everything is ok. But remember the cell phones will not work inside the rides so its not that they are ignoring your call but that its just not going through.

Maybe I'm different because with my school I went to Disney for the first time without my parents when I was 11 and again when I was 13. Actually as my girls got older it was harder to keep them with me and youngest DD (she's 10 younger than the oldest). They would go with us to MGM to ride ToT and RnR with the youngest (my girls are daredevils, they love every ride) then they were off to a different park or shopping at DTD.

As long as they go and stay together they should be fine.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

So long as your 16 year old is watchful and keeps an eye on your 11 year old they should be fine. Just really make sure they know how to handle their money, some kid tried to pick pocket me under Cinderella's castle on our last trip (caught the little bugger, I wasn't happy about that) so you woulnd't want them having their money swiped. Like make sure they stick it in a wallet attatched to a belt or something similiar. Kids have a tendency to just shove money in their pockets (BAD IDEA!). That being said, besides that, they should be fine. My parents started letting me out on my own at 15 with my friends they would be bring (also 15) and we were always fine. I also used to go off alone with my sister when I was younger (theres a 10 year difference between us) but when she was 16 and I was 6 I remember going off with her for awhile and being fine. The sibling bonding time is actually good, though I bet my parents were sweating bullets until we got back.

 

[WDW LOVR]

Our youngest two sons are 16 and 13 and have been venturing off on their own for at least 2 years now. We give them a cell phone and arrange a time and place to meet and everything works out fine. They know they have to stay together and they have to call us if there are any problems/concerns, but the only call we've ever got is can they be away longer.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I know I am probably just being over protective, and I hate that! I always said I was going to be a "cool" mom. My 14 year old actually has a better handle on the transportation system, and I don't doubt that she could get where she wanted to go. Also, we will be taking 2 cell phones with us, so they could absolutely take one with them and check in periodically. Just scary thinking of my babies, er ah, young ladies going off on their own. More of a mom issue though I guess....

 

[cindy_k]

I would probably let my son go at 16 but then he's 12 now and has been to WDW twice a year since he's been 6.
He tells me how to get places now.

Just make sure they understand the transportation system.
I also create an index card for our Family Trips (6 adults - 2 kids) with all Priority Seating times, and park hours on one side, and everyone's cell phone numbers on the other side. I give them to everyone so we can meet up and communicate.

 

[KK Cat]

Treat it as practice for the future. At 18 they are adults and will be doing their own thing, you have to start somewhere. I am in my 30s now, but on school trips to Dublin, London and Paris we were let free for 2 or 3 hours at a time (and given strict instructions etc) even at age 8 plus we were let free in Dublin Zoo and in shopping centres! Now I do think the 8-12 thing was crazy (although we were fine) but as teens it should be fine so long as they are comfortable with where they are and the transport etc. As a previous poster said, strict instructions with dire consequences if not obeyed etc ) You know your own kids and whether they are sensible or not, some are featherbrains but most kids of that age should be well capable.

 

[Bill From PA]

We cut our three loose when they hit 12. Our daughters are 20 months apart so Meg was 12 nd Liz was 10. Bill From Pa jr had to wait as he's the youngest by 6 years. Never had a problem.They knew the transportation system, and if WDW isn't safe, nowhere is.

Bill From PA

 

[WDW LOVR]

Good to hear from you Bill, haven't seen a post from you lately.

Still looking forward to the time we can tip one together. The wife and I will be there in 9 days so we'll raise our glasses together at the Pub to ya!

 

[opal]

On an extended family trip my dd and nephew (then 13/14) were anxious to assert their freedom and do the parks alone. We set up a meeting place and time. Off they went! While I think they enjoyed their new freedom, they seldom asked again to go off alone much after that. I think they missed being with the rest of the group. They would sometimes stay til the end of "E" nights when the rest of us were too tired to keep going.

We also took one of dd's friends with us when they were about 17. Now that trip the only time we saw them was when they ran out of money and were hungry They had the best time! Six years later and they still talk about it!!

I always felt they were safe. They always stayed together and never missed a meeting time.

 

[Bill From PA]

Hey, Scott and Laurie, have a great time! I'm spending more time here now as I just bought our airfare for our 2006 trip, March 3 - 12. Long way off, but once I've got the plane tix, the trip is 'real'. If you need an excuse to raise a glass, May 8 is my birthday.

Bill From PA

 

[maxaroni]

I know I am probably just being over protective, and I hate that! I always said I was going to be a "cool" mom. My 14 year old actually has a better handle on the transportation system, and I don't doubt that she could get where she wanted to go. Also, we will be taking 2 cell phones with us, so they could absolutely take one with them and check in periodically. Just scary thinking of my babies, er ah, young ladies going off on their own. More of a mom issue though I guess....

I only have one child so it's not really an issue but I can relate about the mom issue. I'm right there with you on that one.

 

[disney1990]

We let our daughter tour the park by herself starting at 14 (she had to stay in the same park we were in). We would meet up with her periodically during the day -- such as meet us at 11:30 for lunch. When she was 16, she was allowed to go to any park she wanted to (but not Downtown Disney alone). She loved it because she could hit the singles lines and travel through the parks much quicker than being with her Mom and Dad. By the time she was 14, she knew the parks like her back yard because starting at age 5, we were at Disney at least twice a year.

When she was 18, she spent 6 months on the Disney College Program.

Alas, now she is 20 and back in college.

Boy they sure grown up fast!

 

[3xthecharm]

I would say yes to the two older ones together. Second the cell phones. Maybe agree to meet for a PS later in the day for a meeting place. As far as dd11 I would say no because you are talking the June crowds. If it was a low crowd time maybe, but even adults can be seperated from each other in big crowds.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My kids have been running around DL by themselves for a few years now. Within the past 2 years I let them roam between DL and DCA (with their cell phones.) They are pretty familiar with Disney rules and I would have no problem letting them roam about WDW once we all took the Monorail, boats and a few bus trips together. They are already talking about doing MGM while I am at the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot!

 

[DisneyBen]

I began to go by myself to the different parks two years ago, when I was 14. It really worked great, especially since my sister was 6 at the time and she and my parents would go back to WL to take a nap and swim. Of course, I did not need to rest (being an energetic teenager), so I would go to a different park and ride the rides over and over again.

But keep in mind that I had already been to WDW over 10 times and knew everything about the parks and transportation system (being a huge WDW trivia buff). If you do let them go off on their own, be sure that they have a cell phone. I am sure that you have already experienced the bus system at WDW and know that sometimes you have to wait for buses. When I saw that this was going to happen, I would call my parents and let them know about the delay, and they would either wait for me at WL or meet me at our afternoon park.

As long as you are able to communicate with your kids, I think the two oldest would be perfectly fine to go off on their own at WDW.

 

[Meezers]

I guess the question I would ask is....would you trust the 16 year old to babysit or drive a car?

At 16 I was driving my own car and my job in the summer was as a lifeguard at a rather large pool...and I was the most requested babysitter in town!

Maybe let the 2 older go off for a short trip and then decide if the younger one should be able to go. I would be hard to be the one left behind and 16 really is old enough to watch out for an 11 year old if the 16 year old won't take advantage of the power position.

Best of luck!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

"Absolutely" in the same park, "maybe" in another park....unless you have reasons and circumstances pointing you in a "no way" direction (If so, trust your gut.)