Changes coming to minimum age requirement for park entry

[The Mom]

I have no issue with the policy, but telling a school group booked since last July just 12 days before we arrive is unacceptable.

Unless they have no chaperones, they are accompanied by someone over 14, so this rule doesn't affect your group. And if they do not have chaperones, I would question the school's policy.

I don't see this having an impact on tour groups, either.

I think the rule is just to be sure that there is someone over 14 in the park who can be immediately contacted for any reason - from injury to misbehavior.

 

[bandman]

March 23, 2013 is the start date for the new policy.

We arrive on the 23rd. Group trips like this are planned many months in advance.

 

[juniorthomas]

Strange that it just says "a guest over 14" the accompanying party, should be a lot older like over 18 maybe even over 21.

Surprised this WASN'T the case. Give them a year, it'll probably be added.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I have no issue with the policy, but telling a school group booked since last July just 12 days before we arrive is unacceptable.

I don't think they'll give you any problems, but they will give you a heads up next time.

How many chaperones are supposed to be with your group?

 

[bandman]

Unless they have no chaperones, they are accompanied by someone over 14, so this rule doesn't affect your group. And if they do not have chaperones, I would question the school's policy.

I don't see this having an impact on tour groups, either.

I think the rule is just to be sure that there is someone over 14 in the park who can be immediately contacted for any reason - from injury to misbehavior.

We have chaperones. But do they now have to excort the kids around the parks all day or just get them through the gate. No one at Disney can tell me. If they do have to be escorted I would have brought more chaperones and changed various procedures. Again, my problem is not with the new policy but the 2 week notice.

 

[bandman]

I don't think they'll give you any problems, but they will give you a heads up next time.

How many chaperones are supposed to be with your group?

94 kids and 12 chaperones. Disney requires 1 per 10. or maybe that has changed as well today???????????

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Strange that it just says "a guest over 14" the accompanying party, should be a lot older like over 18 maybe even over 21.

That would be difficult given that there are teen parents in this world. And if you're 18, you're an adult. You can handle a child. I'm glad it's not just because I like to take my 11-year-old brother with me in the park sans parents. It wouldn't be an issue if they changed it to 18, since the next time I go I'll be 18, but not 21. IMO, 14 year old can handle themselves and others without issue.

 

[bethymouse]

Title I school system...
Well, I also teach in a Title I school and I couldn't agree w/ you more!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

94 kids and 12 chaperones. Disney requires 1 per 10. or maybe that has changed as well today???????????

I don't think they'll give you any problems. You never know; there could be entire families of that size. Plus, if you have a few 14 year olds that you can spread out among the groups, problem solved. If you have eighth graders, there would be a few 14 year olds in that group, unless my math is wrong. But if you have sixth and seventh graders, that doesn't help.

 

[luv]

I understand. I was thinking I would never let my kids in a theme park by themselves, but my 12 year old, eh, even then, I still don't think so.

And that great for you.

But there are those of us who do drop 12y and 13yo kids off at the mall, movies, rollerblading, theme parks, etc. And it's just a heck of a lot easier to drop and go than it is to have to spend half an hour dropping them off.

I suppose we could encourage them to lie and say they were 14yos, but many people don't want to encourage lying.

But that's the new rule, so that's the way it is. I guess everyone will learn to live with it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Maybe they got the trip as a gift. Maybe they work for Disney and can get in free. Maybe they have a large trust fund. Maybe they own their own company and have made a good living at a young age.

It really doesn't matter. Point is, they should be allowed to take their children to Disney, especially if over 18 but under 21.

Folks, that was kind of a joke (I see now not funny) but in order for someone to have a child 7 years old and still be under 14 they would have had the child when they were 6. Probably not going to happen.

In seriousness, I can understand why they would set that rule, because apparently more and more parents are leaving the young kiddies off at the gate and heading off to parts unknown. Pretty sad commentary on the parenting of today, but it must be happening or they wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of setting up the rule.

That said, however, I still don't think that it was meant to be a one on one, just a someone on one or two or however many can be watched by one. Just so they are not alone, unsupervised. I'm sure that it will not cause any problems for groups with chaperones. Just those small family units that are dumber then a bucket of rocks and let their very young kids roam about without them.

 

[The Mom]

We have chaperones. But do they now have to excort the kids around the parks all day or just get them through the gate. No one at Disney can tell me. If they do have to be escorted I would have brought more chaperones and changed various procedures. Again, my problem is not with the new policy but the 2 week notice.

The wording is a bit confusing. I read it as "the age of admission" has been raised for unaccompanied children, but not that you had to be with them every minute. I think that as long as the chaperones are in the park, and can be reached immediately, you are covered. Lord knows I let my kids go off (with a friend) without me - but they had to check back at a certain location every hour or so. This was pre-cell phone, so I would not be as concerned now.

 

[bandman]

The wording is a bit confusing. I read it as "the age of admission" has been raised for unaccompanied children, but not that you had to be with them every minute. I think that as long as the chaperones are in the park, and can be reached immediately, you are covered. quote]

This is what my group contact at Disney is telling me as well. She is totally unaware of this change as is everyone she has contacted. Hmmm

 

[SirLink]

That would be difficult given that there are teen parents in this world. And if you're 18, you're an adult. You can handle a child. I'm glad it's not just because I like to take my 11-year-old brother with me in the park sans parents. It wouldn't be an issue if they changed it to 18, since the next time I go I'll be 18, but not 21. IMO, 14 year old can handle themselves and others without issue.

Maybe it is because last time I was there I was being kicked in the back of the leg by a little *beeping beep* as we went around the queue of I believe it was BTMR 2011 Christmas, no parents to actually discipline them - and CM's couldn't do anything.

It is nothing about a "14 year handling themselves" it is all about stopping them from ruining other peoples trips - same in restaurants as well but that has more to do with their home life though.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Maybe it is because last time I was there I was being kicked in the back of the leg by a little *beeping beep* as we went around the queue of I believe it was BTMR 2011 Christmas, no parents to actually discipline them - and CM's couldn't do anything.

It is nothing about a "14 year handling themselves" it is all about stopping them from ruining other peoples trips - same in restaurants as well but that has more to do with their home life though.

I agree that 12 year olds don't need to be going around by themselves, but believe me, an adult being with a group of 14 year olds is not going to stop them from acting crazy. I used to ride a bus with middle schoolers, and the driver tried best as she could to get them under control, but couldn't. I think it's more of a safety issue than anything. Most of the time, when kids get to high school, they learn how to conduct themselves around adults in a respectful manner, unless they are cheerleaders or Brazilians, that is. I took my younger brother to MK super bowl night, and believe me, we did not act crazy or in any way try to disrupt others in any way. I've taken him to Epcot several times as well without issue.

Next time that happens, ask the kid to stop. I can't believe that a Cast Member wouldn't do anything about that. It's disturbing another guest in a physical manner, which is unacceptable. There were some Argentinian girls trying to cut in line for Cyber Space Mountain last time I was there. A few words in Spanish from me and an adult stopped that fairly quickly.

 

[SirLink]

I agree that 12 year olds don't need to be going around by themselves, but believe me, an adult being with a group of 14 year olds is not going to stop them from acting crazy. I used to ride a bus with middle schoolers, and the driver tried best as she could to get them under control, but couldn't. I think it's more of a safety issue than anything. Most of the time, when kids get to high school, they learn how to conduct themselves around adults in a respectful manner, unless they are cheerleaders or Brazilians, that is. I took my younger brother to MK super bowl night, and believe me, we did not act crazy or in any way try to disrupt others in any way. I've taken him to Epcot several times as well without issue.

Next time that happens, ask the kid to stop. I can't believe that a Cast Member wouldn't do anything about that. It's disturbing another guest in a physical manner, which is unacceptable. There were some Argentinian girls trying to cut in line for Cyber Space Mountain last time I was there. A few words in Spanish from me and an adult stopped that fairly quickly.

If there is an adult present at least Disney could - they wouldn't of course - punish the Parent. If anything the one positive of having RFID in the ticket media would be they could then call the Parents up and boot the kids from the park...

 

[StarWarsGirl]

If there is an adult present at least Disney could - they wouldn't of course - punish the Parent. If anything the one positive of having RFID in the ticket media would be they could then call the Parents up and boot the kids from the park...

But still, if the kid was kicking you...that's not acceptable. They wouldn't let an adult get away with that kind of behavior. Why should they let a kid do that?

There will always be idiots at Disney, teen age or otherwise, and unfortunately, making it so that anyone under 14 has to be accompanied by an 18 year old won't change that...

 

[Darth Sidious]

No way I was the only one to think that, right? Doesn't he have an ark full of children?

 

[SirLink]

But still, if the kid was kicking you...that's not acceptable. They wouldn't let an adult get away with that kind of behavior. Why should they let a kid do that?

There will always be idiots at Disney, teen age or otherwise, and unfortunately, making it so that anyone under 14 has to be accompanied by an 18 year old won't change that...

If they touched the kid after kicking me - you know that family's lawyer would of pursued a case against Disney. However if the parent or guardian is with said kid they can punish the adult as a result of the kid's behaviour.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

If they touched the kid after kicking me - you know that family's lawyer would of pursued a case against Disney. However if the parent or guardian is with said kid they can punish the adult as a result of the kid's behaviour.

The cast members aren't allowed to touch anyone. But they could have threatened not to let them ride. Just...stupid. Not that I was there to see the situation, but it seems to me that they should have been able to do something. I've seen Cast Members instruct kids before if parents aren't there.