Age for Kids in park without parents

[Bruegge]

Got a ressie for V&A on June 24th 2014. I told DD15 and DD10 they were on their own for 3+ hours while Mom and I celebrate our 25th Anniversary. I said "go do what you want"

Both Mom and DD 15 asked if they were "allowed" to be in the parks, monorails etc without adult supervision.

Givens: that I'm blessed with two great, well behaved, smart kids and that DD10 will listen to DD15 (especially when she is going to get whatever she wants) Both have Phones, and are staying at GF for the week. And they (obviously) have to stay together...no single lines..

So... my question is Is it ok to let them go to a park on their own? Would you let your kids given the same info? I'd love to know the YOUNGEST age you would let your kids go to the park by themselves.

Thanks Again All

Scott

[Ian]

Are your kids Disney World veterans? In that, they'll have no problems navigating around and not getting lost?

If so, yeah I think I'd be okay with that. In this era where everyone has phones and you can have them "text check in" with you every hour on the hour or something, I'd probably feel comfortable with them going out and having a good time.

[JerseyDad]

Got a ressie for V&A on June 24th 2014. I told DD15 and DD10 they were on their own for 3+ hours while Mom and I celebrate our 25th Anniversary. I said "go do what you want"

Both Mom and DD 15 asked if they were "allowed" to be in the parks, monorails etc without adult supervision.

Givens: that I'm blessed with two great, well behaved, smart kids and that DD10 will listen to DD15 (especially when she is going to get whatever she wants) Both have Phones, and are staying at GF for the week. And they (obviously) have to stay together...no single lines..

So... my question is Is it ok to let them go to a park on their own? Would you let your kids given the same info? I'd love to know the YOUNGEST age you would let your kids go to the park by themselves.

Thanks Again All

Scott

....if they had been to a WDW park before ...and knew "the system" ....I'd say 12-13 yrs old.

....I only base that on my own daughter ...and her friends who were of the same age ...at MK about 5 yrs ago. She and her friends were all competitive cheerleaders together since they were 5 yrs old ...and stuck with each other like white-on-rice. So when they (a group of 6 of the girls including my daughter...ages 12, 13, & 14) wanted to "do" the MK 'alone' (no 'old' people) ...and we let them. They were not allowed to leave the MK without calling us (they didn't want to ...although they did express a desire at a point to get on the monorail to go to a gift shop in the Contemporary they'd seen while going to Chef Mickey's)

....I think now ...with phones, etc...for communications ...it's a bit safer ...particularly at WDW ...even if they were going to another park on WDW transportation. I'd be a bit more wary if they were to go to DtD ....since it's really just an outdoor unlimited access mall.

[Scar]

You may want your 15YO to have ID. They won't let anyone that looks under 14 in without someone who is 14 or older.

[disneymom15]

I think we let our daughter venture off alone when she was 13.

[polarbear72834]

I wouldn't let them park hop, but would let them go it alone at the same park I was in. Check in by text every 30 min to hr. and they stay together..

[Jen1984]

I would let them go. You know your children better than anyone, and how responsible they are (and how well they know Disney). As long as you get regular updates as to how they are doing, and you're happy that they know where they are going, then yes. If you can't let them be a little bit independent at Magic Kingdom, where can you?

Hope you really enjoy your meal!

[1DisneyNut]

I will start by saying WDW is a realitivily safe place. It isn't a place where child abductors are roaming freely. There are too many checks along the way that would give away the identity of a would be abductor.

With that said, any place where a nut can access somewhat freely I would still be a bit concerned. Downtown disney would be a no go and even though you have to go through a gate, to/from/around the resorts would concern me a little.

The 15 year old would be fine around WDW but the 10 year old would concern me because you don't really know how the 15 year old might handle an emergency type situation if one were to arise. We never let anyone go unsupervised until at least 13.

If it were me, I would escort them to/from the Magic Kingdom gate and once inside they should be fine.

[ThanxForNoticin]

As someone mentioned before, you know your kids best. We allowed our sons some of their own "free" time when they reached 12/13 - no problem. It seems to me that having a 15 year-old supervising a 10 would not be an issue, especially if they are responsible. If something happens, there are plenty of cast members around to assist - and you are probably only a cell phone call/text away. I bet it would be a lot of fun for your daughters to enjoy that time together.....

Maybe you can answer your own question - how comfortable will YOU be? Do you think you can enjoy a nice dinner together without constantly checking your phone during dinner?!

[buzznwoodysmom]

My kids are about to turn 12 and 14. They have been going to Disney since they were babies and probably know their way around as well as I do. I would have no problems allowing them to go to MK while we dined at V&A. Not sure how I would feel about them venturing farther out tho. But I am a somewhat protective mom. Lol. They just grow up too fast and I am not always ready for it!

Like others have already stated, only you know your children well enough. As far a it being allowed by Disney, I would think so. 15 is definitely old enough to go into the parks without a parent.

[Janmac]

I'd have no problem with your plan.

After all, isn't the 15 year old going to be driving next year (or soon).

Jan

[Main Street Jim]

The "official" WDW policy is that no one under the age of 7 may roam the parks without someone age 16 and over.

Since both are over the age of 7, you should be OK. Make sure they know their transportation options to get back to the resort (4th stop on the Resort monorail, or a boat/launch from the front of MK). Make sure they know that if they have problems, to either get ahold of you guys (you're only one Monorail stop away), or to talk to *any* Cast Member, or go to City Hall/Guest Relations.

Congrats on the anniversary, enjoy your dinner at V&A, and tell the kids to have fun!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

100% yes - let them go and have fun!

My DD is 15, and she's started going to school in another city. (We live in the suburbs and she's in a school downtown). She takes the subway, the streetcar, etc. on her own. We make sure she has her phone and she calls/texts as needed.

Disney is safer than that. Your kids sound like "good" kids, and there are lots of CM's around if they need help. Especially since they are together, I wouldn't worry at all.

[kakn7294]

I thought Disney raised the ages last year and that anyone under age 10 had to be with someone over age 14? Regardless, your kids meet the age requirements and if you trust them, they should be fine.

[ransam]

I think it depends on the kid. My niece is about 14 and no way would I want here to roam WDW w/o us.

[11290]

Official policy changed to this about a year ago:

Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations:
• Magic Kingdom Park
• Epcot
• Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
• Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
• DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park

[Tekneek]

You may want your 15YO to have ID. They won't let anyone that looks under 14 in without someone who is 14 or older.

"looks" is the key word. My son was 12, but about my size and nobody ever looked twice at him going in by himself. We went in different lines just to see if anyone would even ask and nobody said a word. It just depends on the person.

[Arielfan98]

They sound alright to me. Did that for the first time with my boyfriend in August and we both are Disney veterans. I knew exactly where I was going 100% of the time.

[Main Street Jim]

"looks" is the key word. My son was 12, but about my size and nobody ever looked twice at him going in by himself. We went in different lines just to see if anyone would even ask and nobody said a word. It just depends on the person.

But, as a 12-year-old, he's also an "adult" as far as theme-park tickets go. Now, if he had tried to get in with a *child*-priced ticket (age 3-9), someone probably would have stopped him. If you mean no one stopped him because he "was by himself", maybe they figured he was with the people in front of or behind him.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

It sounds like it wouldn't be a problem for your children - but folks, please, also consider that your kids need to be respectful and not unsupervised hooligans when out of your sight. The parks are not a high school or mall hallway . . . .

We have encountered several of THAT variety, too.