Would you let your teens "be free" at WDW

[travel with kids]

We will be staying for a week at WDW. Our children, ds, 18 & dd, 13 are both expecting to "be free" (as they put it) from us some of the time. I am fine with it, but DH is a bit nervous (especially with downtown Disney). We have been to downtown disney, but only by car. We will be using wdw transportation this trip (staying at csr) What are your opinions?

Thanks

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I assume they will be together. I think they will be fine. The busses are easy to follow. I assume they have a cell phone. We let our DD14 go off for a couple hours to ride a few things her sisters didn't want to (same park, same area, just different rides). She kept in touch (calling us) telling us where she was and how long the wait was. I consider myself overprotective and DH had to convince me, but it was fine. I would not have let her go on the busses by herself, or anywhere far from where we were, but I would have if she was with an 18 year old brother, if she had one.

 

[gemstone1952]

I've been allowing my kids to travel the world even before they were teens. Of course, they all "grew up" here and I know they know how to get around and get help. My youngest is now 17--I allowed him to go with his elder siblings (5-10 years older than he is) from the time he was 7 years old. I allowed them to go alone when they were 12 years old. Never had a problem. Disney security has talked to them when they tried to take the creative route back to our resort (my husband and I have also been spoken to for doing that too). One son thought he could take his bike to the magic kingdom--a bus driver told him to go back. I know my children know how to keep safe so I don't worry at Disney. I think it is a matter of comfort for you, as the parent though so you should probably do what you think is right for your kids. You know them best, but in generall, Disney is pretty safe and security is everywhere, whether you see them or not.

 

[lulugirl]

Yes, I think they are plenty old enough to be on their own, assuming they are responsible and will stick together.

 

[DWGal210]

For your older kids, I think it would be fine. My family went when we were younger and I remember my brother and I going to Fantasmic by ourselves. I want to say he was 12-13 and I was 14-15. We rode the bus to the park and rode back, and both times the buses were packed. We stayed together and didn't separate. When the show as over, we had to come right back to the hotel.

It's all about your comfort level; I myself would put down some rules. For example, no going to the restroom by yourself, stay together and don't separate, etc. If you can trust the older one not to lose it, I would suggest sending a cell phone with him/her so that they could call you and check in with you each 1/2 hour or something.

The only hesitation I would have would be letting the smaller kids tag along...sometimes the older ones can get excited and into their own thing and neglect to really watch the younger ones.

 

[DWGal210]

Some of your are probably reading that post and thinking, 'what??' Somehow in my semi-tired state I read that you had younger kids too. Jeez. Someone needs to go to bed early tonight.

To reiterate - yes, to me it would be fine to let them have their "me" time without mom and dad.

Have a good time!

 

[christa112]

I would let them stay together. I wouldn't let the 13 yr old off by him or her self. Obviously an 18 yr old is an adult so they can pretty much do what they want.

I think this is a definate to each their own question.

 

[Nie0214]

My 16yo brother went to DisneyQuest on his own during our last trip while my mother and I went to Animal Kingdom. He got lost on buses (men and directions ), but he got his alone time and we weren't worried. He had his cell phone if there was a reason to contact us.

I went to WDW @ 17 on a school field trip with 30 other 17-18 year olds. I also went at 18 with my uncle and aunt, who gave me time to go off on my own if I wanted. I think your children are old enough (provided the 13yo is with the 18yo).

 

[daisyduck123]

By being free, I would mean:

1) the 18yo could hang out by himself, the 13yo could only go w/ the 18yo
2) they could hang out/ walk around the resort together
3) they could go off in the park together if we (the parents) were at the same park

 

[momx2]

Well, since the 18 yr. old can legally move out on his own I say YES to his being alone. The 13 yr. old should be allowed to go out with her 18 yr. old brother. I see no problems with that. I probably would not allow the 13 yr. old to go to a park by herself, but just about everywhere else at the resort.

 

[zurgswife]

By being free, I would mean:

1) the 18yo could hang out by himself, the 13yo could only go w/ the 18yo
2) they could hang out/ walk around the resort together
3) they could go off in the park together if we (the parents) were at the same park

To expand a little on this.....

1) The 18yo could do what ever
2) The 13yo would be free to roam the same park as the parents if they had a cell phone. (Heck my 13yo dd went to DTD without us...but she has grown up at Disney so I was fine with it.)
3) The resorts either could do what ever as long as they told me what general vicinity they could be found.
4) The together could go to any park they wanted as long as they were able to communicate via cel

 

[donac]

My guys are 5 years apart also. When we first started letting them go they had to stay in the same park and stay together. We would get together for meals. After we were comfotable about things we let them go to another park without us.

 

[delmar411]

well your 18yr old is free to do whatever they want whenever they want so not sure why s/he was included in the question.

But if you 18yr old is willing to have their 13yr old sibling tag along then I don't see why not. Unless you 18yr old wouldn't actually pay attention to the 13yr old or stay with them.

 

[miprender]

A few months ago someone posted this question about her 17 year old daughter and friend. While I now think that 13 & 18 is so young(I'm an old fart at 36) my friends and I would head up to Hampton Beach, NH from RI when we were only 17 ourselves. Still can't believe my mom would let us do that!!

I think if the 18 & 13 are staying together then maybe I would allow it if it were my children. Thankfully I still have a few years left to worry about this.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

18 year old should be allowed to do whatever.

13 year old. . .I think it depends upon the 13 year old, the crowds, and your own personal level of worry. I don't know your 13 year old. I've known some I wouldn't trust and some I wouldn't have a problem letting roam, so long as they had their cell phone on them at all times. Most are probably somewhere in between.

But I don't think I'd have a problem letting most 13 year olds I know go somewhere with most 18 year olds I know, and especially around Disney I'd be fine. And just think, you've got the perfect threat for the 13 year old. "If you don't start acting like a mature young lady/gentleman you have to go the park with your father and me tomorrow!"

 

[travel with kids]

Thanks for the replies.

Let me clarify my question. Yes, ds is 18 and really is not really the issue. It is the 13 dd that is the question. And yes, they want to do solo adventures around WDW.

Our concern with downtown disney (even for the 18 year old) is our own experience. Several years ago (Feb 2007) our family stopped by down town disney for dinner before boarding DCL the next day. Traveling in a large group, we split up letting the young adults and teens go there own way. My BIL received a call from his son and said that one of the teens had just been pick pocketed . We were upset but understood that it can happen anywhere, even at WDW. When we reached the boys at the security office, the officer told us that it happens more then one would like to think and that downtown disney did not have the same security as the parks did and people tend to let their guard down thinking that they are at WDW (which makes sense). Because the boy had his key to the world card in his wallet, he had to have a new one issued when he arrived at the ship the next day (that is another story, another thread ) however, while getting a new one, the DCL agent told my BIL that downtown disney was not a place for young people alone at night and continued to tell him of all the various issues that people encounter. All of which can happen anywhere but would like to think that WDW was above the usual street carnival behavior.

So, with that lodged in our memory, DH is a bit concerned with our kids (yes, even the 18 year old) going to DTD alone. I am hoping that you all can convince us that WDW and DTD is not THAT bad and that from your experience, would be fine.

Again, thanks for your replies.

 

[sk!mom]

18, of course- he's an adult. 13, no not alone but if they get along well and would stay together then fine.

 

[momx2]

Well, I think you can express your concern of going to DTD to your 18 yr. old and tell him you would rather he didn't go there alone after the last experience, but it is still his final decision. I would have to say with that experience I might not let my 13 yr. old go to DTD without me, but let her go with her brother anywhere else. Her alone in a park I wasn't in without her brother, I'd have to know the child, it depends on her maturity level. I think only you and your DH can make that decision.

 

[Nie0214]

Well DTD is hopefully not as bad anymore now that Pleasure Island is closed.

 

[delmar411]

Well DTD is hopefully not as bad anymore now that Pleasure Island is closed.

I agree. That was a large part of the crime problem.

I will say, I've never felt unsafe at DTD.