How old before you let kids on their own

[pcoleman]

At what age do you let your kids go by themselves in the park? How long do you let them go?

[Main Street Jim]

The first time I tried it with my oldest two, they were 14 (DD) and 12 (DS); this was back in about 2003. We were gonna sit down for the parade and fireworks at MK, so my (ex) wife and I decided to try and let them go off on their own so they didn't have to sit for two hours. Told them, "Be back here by 7:30".

7:30 comes around...they don't show up. 7:45...8:00...still no sign. They finally came back around 8:15, after the parade had started and the east side of Main Street/the Hub was a *mess* with people. When asked why they came back late, my oldest says, "Well, we got in line for Pirates, and it was a 40-minute wait."
"What *time* did you get in line?"
"7:20..."
:-/ Kids...LOL...

Oh - we didn't have cell phones back then, either. ;)

With pre-teen/early-teen kids and letting them go off on their own, I'd make sure that:

1) They *know* the park *very well*.
2) They know *where* and *when* they're supposed to meet up with the adults/rest of the group.
3) They know *what* to do in case they can't find you. Either have cell phones, or know how to talk to the Cast Members and how to get to the "Lost Children" center (if needed) in each park.
4) They know NOT to talk to, or walk off with, any strangers (the creepy kind).

Set a few rules, and you should be good to go ;)

[SBETigg]

This really depends on the kids. Mine were 12 and 14, but we started small, same park, same park area, they had to stay together, and it was a short separation with a pre-arranged time and meeting place. As they got older, we expanded a bit. They were finally able to explore parks without us by 17 and 15, but even then we preferred they stayed together and we all had phones.

[magicofdisney]

We began around 14years also. So far it's been in the same park as me. Additionally, he had a cell phone. I'm not sure how I would have felt had he not had the phone. However, I was 13 when I first did this. It was on a school field trip. I guess the primary difference was there were groups of us.

[mechanic]

10 with sibling. 12on own. They've closed park on emh at 13.

[1DisneyNut]

It always worries me to see people relying so heavily on cell phones in these situations with teenagers. Teens constantly play with their phones and run the battery dead without thinking ahead about possibly needing it in an emergency or not being able to find their parents.

We always have a prearranged meeting point whether someone is going off on their own or just in case one of the smaller children get lost or separated from us somehow. We use the focal point of the particular park (front court yard of the castle at Magic Kingdom, under the hat at Hollywood studios, spaceship earth at epcot, tree at animal kingdom). We actually had to use this once and it worked out perfectly.

With all that said, around 14 or 15 is when we start letting them wander on their own.

[BrerGnat]

*I* personally was allowed free reign of WDW when I was about 14. There were no cell phones. No two way radios. There was trust between our parents and my sisters and I, and we knew the property VERY well by that point, having visited WDW often.

We'd spend entire days on our own, only meeting up with our parents for dinner at a prearranged place/time. We had our own hotel room (parents next door). We came and went as we pleased, for the most part.

I think 13/14 is around the time most kids are ready for the responsibility.

I'd honestly argue that if you feel your child NEEDS to have a cell phone on them at all times when they are apart from you at WDW, they are probably not ready to be given that much freedom.

[minnie04]

I would say around 12/13 for my kids only because we always traveled with a large group. The older kids liked to go off on their own so my two older ones got to go. We didn’t have phones at the time either, but they knew the park well enough to be ok wondering. I guess it would depend on the child too. We always made sure they were together at all times no going to different rides and it worked out. It's funny now when we go and they are older 20/16/8 they want to hang with us more...lol. As soon as we enter the park I’m already giving them the "stay together" talk and they look at me and say "why?" we are staying with you guys... It's nice to know they still like us :D

As far as the phones. I always have everyones number in the group just incase someone doesnt answer (if they decide to go alone)

[Melanie]

Visiting as often as we did, we allowed our kids to go off without us when the oldest was 13 and the youngest was 11. They had phones, and we were always in the same park.

[magicofdisney]

I'd honestly argue that if you feel your child NEEDS to have a cell phone on them at all times when they are apart from you at WDW, they are probably not ready to be given that much freedom.

To me, a cell phone is like having car insurance. I don't NEED it full time for myself. I have car insurance primarily because of the other nut jobs out there. And accidents do happen, even for responsible adults.

[garymacd]

We tried to get our girls to go off on their own; but they always considered our Disney trips to be family time and spent just about every minute with us.

Good thing we like them!

[BrerGnat]

To me, a cell phone is like having car insurance. I don't NEED it full time for myself. I have car insurance primarily because of the other nut jobs out there. And accidents do happen, even for responsible adults.

I guess my point was more along the lines of, if your kid is not resourceful enough to know how to contact you or seek help in an emergency without use of a cell phone, then they are probably not ready to be out and about exploring WDW on their own. What if they lose the phone? They need to be able to fend for themselves without that crutch, IMO, before I'd let them out to explore.

Remember how "new" cell phones are, in the grand scheme. When I was 14, they didn't exist yet.

If there is a true emergency, your kids will be able to contact you on WDW property, even if they don't have a cell phone on them. But, they need to know what to do/who to find, etc.

[azcavalier]

The DW and i were just discussing this yesterday. Our older kids (15 and 12) are actually not going with us this year. But the next time that they do, we would let them go off on their own if they wanted. We decided that we would have to give them a cell phone, though. We'll see. We usually go during the fall, when school is in session, and now that the older one is in high school, we feel more and more like he can't be out of school for a week.

[SBETigg]

If there is a true emergency, your kids will be able to contact you on WDW property, even if they don't have a cell phone on them. But, they need to know what to do/who to find, etc.

Even with cell phones and even with you in the same park, you want to know they could get help and ask the right people when needed, of course. It's not always the strangers that seem or look creepy that turn out to be creeps. Also, I think it helps that Disney has a great transportation system. Knowing that your kids would know how to get back to your resort and the room without you alleviates some of the stress of missing meet-up times.

But also, I think you need to know what your kids are like without you around them. We've all seen those kids in the park that make us wonder what their parents were thinking in letting them go off alone. And none of us think our kids are like those kids, but sometimes, yes, they are.

[mydisneygirls]

I know I will be the only one saying this!! My DDs are 14 and 13 and the age that I will let them off on their own will be 18. Disney or not, it only takes seconds for something to happen and I'm not willing to take that chance.

[Dulcee]

Sister was 9 I was 14. And never totally "alone." More the parents were on one side of the park and we we're strictly told DO NOT LEAVE THE PARK. lol My parents were over protective.

[CosmicRay]

We were talking about allowing our kids to go off on their own on our next Trip. But we will give them a cell phone. One reason for the phone is because if they have a question or want to meet up sooner, they can call us.

[riley1129]

The first time I was totally alone I was 16... like different park

[CuteAsMinnie]

Last trip DD was 17 and DS 14. I didn't feel well one late morning whie at MK and really needed to go back to the WL. I felt soooo bad so we let the kids stay at MK ONLY and we met them for dinner. They had an absolute blast but we would not allow them to leave MK nor did they ask.

Anything younger than this age would be a no go for us.

Next trip they will be 20 and 17 and we're fine with them going wherever they'd like and now we have the response, "isn't this a family vacation? Why would we want to go our own way?" :secret: I'm sure by the time next summer rolls around they will love to do SOMETHING on their own.

[texas211]

I would say this would depend if you plan on letting them charge on their room keys.. If yes, I'd say 46 is a good age to let your children alone. If no, younger :)

[Disney-4-Me]

I let my boys go from our room to the Captain Cook's on their own at the Polynesian when they were 9 & 12. It's not too far from Captain Cook's to the shops. My younger one 'bought' me a ring. Of course he charged it on the room key!

The next time they went off on their own they were 23 & 26!

[LVT]

I have 2, they went together wherever at 12 and up. Now mine are in their 20's and tend to hang around, when they come with us they are mostly with us.

[Mousemates]

we let ours have a couple hours alone to do their own thing (same park-usually epcot or MK) when they were 11 to 13. They both had some great adventures eating on their own and talking with cast members.

[lovemy3girls]

We let our 3 girls go off together and do the big rides while we take our small boys in their stuff. The girls are 10, 12, and 14 and all have cell phones just in case. We stay in the same park. Last time we were there for the weekend, we let our 2 older girls stay longer at Magic Kingdom and take the bus back to our resort. They were fine, got on the right bus, got off at the right stop, and all was well. They know Disney like the back of their hand, though, because we are locals. And I still wouldn't let them go without cell phones.

[Darbylew]

We waited until one of them was 16 and still wanted them in a group at least two together.
Never let one go by themselves without one other to be with them. Safety in numbers I aways say.

[disneynarula]

I would say they need to be in high school at a minimum.

[K8screen]

Nowhere is 100% safe, but I would say WDW is safer than the average town or city. So, would you let your child go into your local town alone or with friends? If so, I dont see why you wouldnt let them go off on their own at WDW. If you wouldnt let them go into town alone, there is a judgment call to make, but I dont think many people would not let a 17 year old out alone, in the daytime anyway. The nice thing about this thread is the number of people who say their kids CHOOSE to stay with them. I think they are more likely to be happy to stay with you if they know you trust them to have some freedom if they want it, and you dont make a big deal about doing everything together.

[garymacd]

I just re-read this thread and wanted to share a story that happened just a couple of years ago. Our two daughters, one niece, her mother and two neighbours went with us to WDW and had great time. At one point, one afternoon, our oldest daughter was not really feeling like doing BTMRR. It was right around afternoon parade time and we were going to leave right after we rode it to get ready for dinner at California Grill. Keep in mind that all three girls are in their 20's and quite bright.

She told us she would be sitting right by Peco's Bills to watch the parade and would meet us there when we were done and could get back across the road. We couldn't find her! We looked everywhere for about an hour. Time is now slipping away. I knew she wouldn't be kidnapped. I would take great pity on the idiot that tried that, and she's too smart for the, "Your parents are injured and sent me for you" ploy, so I knew she must be somewhere around.

I sent the rest of the party back to the resort to get changed and bring our clothes to the Contemporary Resort while I continued to look for her, getting more and more frantic with every passing minute and every time I walked up and down in front of Pecos Bills and over the bridge by Splash Mountain.

Finally, I heard someone running up behind me. It was her. Tears all around. Big hugs. We eventually made our way to CR, had a drink and met up with the group; but here is what she told me:

She couldn't find a place to sit where she said she would wait so she had to move. She waited a long time in her new place (and I guess I must have passed her several times). She was just about ready to give up finding us and head back to the resort when she saw this rather distinctive (not distinguished) walk and unique form walking up and down the street. She had just gone into one of the shops and said that she had lost her party.

The CM took her name and resort and a message that she was going back to the resort. Had I gone into any shop and said that we were looking for a member of our party, that message would have been available to me on any computer terminal in the Magic Kingdom.

All this happened because her cell phone had died. Please tell your children this if they get separated from you. I didn't let go of her until we saw her mother.

[1DisneyNut]

I just re-read this thread and wanted to share a story that happened just a couple of years ago. Our two daughters, one niece, her mother and two neighbours went with us to WDW and had great time. At one point, one afternoon, our oldest daughter was not really feeling like doing BTMRR. It was right around afternoon parade time and we were going to leave right after we rode it to get ready for dinner at California Grill. Keep in mind that all three girls are in their 20's and quite bright.

She told us she would be sitting right by Peco's Bills to watch the parade and would meet us there when we were done and could get back across the road. We couldn't find her! We looked everywhere for about an hour. Time is now slipping away. I knew she wouldn't be kidnapped. I would take great pity on the idiot that tried that, and she's too smart for the, "Your parents are injured and sent me for you" ploy, so I knew she must be somewhere around.

I sent the rest of the party back to the resort to get changed and bring our clothes to the Contemporary Resort while I continued to look for her, getting more and more frantic with every passing minute and every time I walked up and down in front of Pecos Bills and over the bridge by Splash Mountain.

Finally, I heard someone running up behind me. It was her. Tears all around. Big hugs. We eventually made our way to CR, had a drink and met up with the group; but here is what she told me:

She couldn't find a place to sit where she said she would wait so she had to move. She waited a long time in her new place (and I guess I must have passed her several times). She was just about ready to give up finding us and head back to the resort when she saw this rather distinctive (not distinguished) walk and unique form walking up and down the street. She had just gone into one of the shops and said that she had lost her party.

The CM took her name and resort and a message that she was going back to the resort. Had I gone into any shop and said that we were looking for a member of our party, that message would have been available to me on any computer terminal in the Magic Kingdom.

All this happened because her cell phone had died. Please tell your children this if they get separated from you. I didn't let go of her until we saw her mother.

This is exactly why it bothers me that so many people rely on cell phones. This thread is full of "only if they have a cell phone" posts. Everybody knows that teenagers can't leave their cell phones alone and run the battery dead without thinking. It happens all the time so you need to have a contingency plan. I didn't realize WDW had a message relay system like that in place and it is good information to have. Thanks for sharing this tip with us. This definitely will be included in our "if you get lost contingency plan" next trip.

[minnie-mouse]

Don't think I ever will let them roam by themselves. We go as a family and like to spend every minute together! :mickey:

[Butters]

My DD is 2 so not even close to an issue yet, but growing up vacations were family time. The only week in the year we got to spend 7 straight days with no school and work in the way.

That being said, when I got older I wanted to venture off but was given the "family time" speil... I didn't get it but I went with it... Now that I'm a parent I see why my parents did this and am glad they did. I plan to keep them with me not for safety reasons but for the reason you only get one chance to raise your kids and create memories... Ok off my soap box... :mickey:

[Aurora]

In the 1970s, my sister and I were allowed to go off at ages 14 and 13. Last year my family traveled with my sister's, and we had five kids in our group ages 12 to 16. We let them go off several times with specific meeting plans later. Since we had two more children with us who were younger than 8, it worked out well for us.

Here's another post discussing the same thing:

http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=193632

P.S. My teenagers are also allowed to walk a few blocks from our house in Chicago to the corner store if they are with someone, and my 16-year-old is allowed to take the bus or el train, also if she is with someone. Even though it's hard to let them go as a parent, it helps them develop some social intelligence to be able to do these things. So being on their own at Disney is much less of an issue for them. But every family is different -- what works for us may not work for other people.

[disneykidsince1970]

My sister and I have been going to the park literally since the day it opened (My dad worked there on opening day). My parents were divorced and had rather different parenting styles.

Mom wouldn't let us out of her sight! (and still doesn't like to!)

My Dad was letting us walk around alone at when we were 8 and 10. It was the 70s, no phones, etc....but plenty of crazy people!! I don't know what he was thinking. We did know the park very very well (the World was a lot smaller then!) but we knew every bathroom, shortcut, nook and cranny like the back of our hands. I only recently relayed this story to my mom and she totally freaked out - 30 yrs later! At the time, Nik and I totally loved it - we were mature for our age but still.... way too young!! Thank God nothing ever happened.

Now, I have a 5 and 7 yr old and can't imagine letting them go off on their own (despite my 7 yr old's desire to be 12 already). I am sure that this will happen eventually....but, I hope that we are building family traditions, etc. and that they would like to hang out with us - at least most of the time!? :)

Crazy time those '70s.... I wonder what my Dad doing during all that time we were off on our own?? :blush:

[kakn7294]

My oldest daughter was in 8th grade and on the band trip. We also went at the same time but encouraged her to hang out with her friends. Instead, her group latched onto us for a portion of the trip (I guess we are either the fun parents or we were the source of all things $$$).

Both daughters could go off together now but choose to hang out with us. We do have what we call the "evacuation plan" - when we are exiting an attraction, especially the stadium shows, they are to stick together, exit the attraction, move off to one side away from the exit, and text the parental units their location if we get separated.

[FriendsofMickey]

I am not sure when; however, maybe 16, maybe not.

We were at the parks in June with another family. The daughter 12 years old, was allowed on her own. She was playing the Sorcerer's game as was her mother, so they had split up. I felt so uncomfortable knowing this and tried to keep tabs on her the best I could. At one point, she called me on the cell. Some guy had approached her and tried to force her to trade her star card. She was really upset. Then she got knocked down during the rush for the parade and walked on.
I told her to stay put and we found her. For the rest of the week, she stuck to us like glue.

This young lady is what I would call pretty mature for her age, but at 12 they are still children.

I know that Disney is fun place and seems fun; however, there are a lot of 'weird' people out there that would not think twice before taking advantage of a child left alone.

To me, it is a matter of safety. You can be overprotective, but if you are under protective and something happens, you cannot erase it and try again. What is done is done.

I say 16, because I assume they will be driving and allowed to go places by 16. However, only time will tell.

[luvmyboys4ever]

This is the question DH and I are asking ourselves this year. DSs are 14 and 12 and we are considering letting them do a little exploring in the same park. I'm nervous, but that's just me. We'll probably let them go, but they probably won't even want to. We are a tight knit group and we enjoy our time together. That being said, if the young one smells something good, he might just ditch us to chase the smell down! :walk:

[Gator]

I'm still holding out hope that my kids will always want to hang out with me at WDW.

I know. Denial.