At what age independence?

[snapdragon]

Hi. Please can someone tell me at what age young people are allowed into the parks unaccompanied? Also, at what age would you allow your children to wander off to do their own thing on a day when you were all in the park?

Thanks :)

[Whitequeen]

DS will be 12 when we next visit and I will let him tour whichever park we are in on his own. He will have either a cell phone or walkie talkie (whichever one I haven't washed that week :wink: ) with him.
I have no qualms about his safety but the minute he abuses my trust he'll be following me round constantly. :lol:

[ukwdwnut]

my DS was 15 on last trip and didnt want to go off on his own with his cousin, they wanted to stay with us and have fun :D which was fine by me, i wanted to see him have fun :)

[Johnie]

We let Alysia and her friend go off by themselves in the same park as us when she was 12. We had walkie talkies. They were very responsible.

This past Dec., she went off with kids of members here. They all had cell phones and were responsible as well.

It depends on the kid IMO.

[Josette]

I guess it would depend on how mature and responsible they are. I don't think I wander around too much, because everyone but my mom rides everything.

Just make sure they know where to meet you, and they have a radio or cell phone with them.

[miraclemoments]

I agree, it depends on how mature the child is. I let DS explore on his own several times on this last trip, around the parks we were visiting, the resort, and a couple of times to Disney Quest at DTD. He took his cell phone with him, and was EXCEEDINGLY responsible and mature...You are the best judge of your children :)

Having said that, I don't know if Disney has a set age limit on how old they must be to tour the parks, that's an interesting question. I assume if they are hold enough to get themselves through the turnstile? :D

[tushypat]

The last trip Poppy was 10 and we let her go into shops on her own but we waited outside and made sure she knew which exit to use but this year she will be 12 and more than capable of going around a park on her own (though I doubt she'll want to) but only if we are all in the same park. Not sure what Disney's policy is on age limits for unaccompanied minors. Anyone know?

[Johnie]

oh I know this! Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or over. This is for MK, MGM, Epcot and AK. That is in my AP holder.

[Whitequeen]

...and they have to be 11 to enter DisneyQuest on their own.

[Melfuzz]

I think they are ok in groups at a teenage age. I am not sure about alone. But then when you are young you want to be with someone to ride the rides with you. Its no fun by yourself.

[Mouselander]

Hummmm? It really just depends on the person. My DD would have loved to be on her own at 10 or 12 BUT... we have not been able to get our DS to venture off on his own and he is a teen! I think the main reason is 'cause the kid sister would expect to tag along with him! :D

Cell phones or walkie talkies are a must for me though!

[marivigi]

Groups of teenagers... :eek: thats like asking for trouble!! :lol:


I think I was 14 the first time they let me go off onmyown, but I didnt go too far, as has been said, I wanted people I knew in the rides with me, but I did enjoy going into shops on my own

[d_dreamer]

the age limits are 10 for regular parks without adults, and 12 for water parks. II think that if the kid knows how to get around with the busses, they should be able to go out. Theres no specific age, but deffinatly dont let them go alone if they're under 13.

[Mickeymac]

This past Dec., she went off with kids of members here. They all had cell phones and were responsible as well.


No, SHE was the responsible one...

...so says the woman who had to continually call her as her own son wouldn't answer his phone... :angry:

[cmdbuddy]

I'm 18, and I still don't mind hanging out with my family during our trips. Mainly because if I went off on my own, I'd be just that- on my own. If I had friends there, they would let me venture off, but WDW by yourself isn't that much fun.

That being said, I do get to go off with my 9 year old sister sometimes. But we try to make it a family vacation as much as possible. I think in May I'll spend a lot of time with Allison, because we're really close and I haven't seen her much because of college. We just play it by ear.

[tajainaz]

We were allowed to go off on our own at Disneyland beginning at age 10. It was pre-cell phone and pre-walkie-talkie era, so we had to meet the family at a designated place and time. If we were 5 minutes late, our roaming privileges were suspended!

But Disneyland is much smaller than any of the WDW parks and the world was a much different place at that time. We also lived near Disneyland and were there quite regularly.

Essentially, it comes down to the child or group of children. Some will be responsible, some won't. Parents usually know their own children best! :)