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Minimum age restriction for Disney's Magical Express lowered
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Tinkerbell 8
Well-Known Member
I don't see the problem at all, I got my first job at 13 and was paying my own bills, when I was only 15 I was able to pay for a trip to Disney for me and my father. Some kids are very independent and are able to take care of themselves. Its not like Disney is begging kids to go to Disney alone, as others have said, this could be helpful for kids visiting relatives and their parents don't have to worry as much since they have a trusted company that will be there when the kids arrive.
BigTxEars
Well-Known Member
Seems like a safe concept to me.
Compared to the stupidity of some of the parents in South and Central America recently this is nothing. Dropping off a 12 year old on the DME is like them being in the cradle at the White House compared to dropping a 12 year old off alone on the ABE (American Border Express) from say El Savador.
Compared to the stupidity of some of the parents in South and Central America recently this is nothing. Dropping off a 12 year old on the DME is like them being in the cradle at the White House compared to dropping a 12 year old off alone on the ABE (American Border Express) from say El Savador.
tigger1968
Well-Known Member
Not sure what the big deal here is. Disney is just getting aligned with the airlines on the age required to travel alone. I'm confident that any child traveling alone will be watched over by CMs rather intently. I think the only point of concern is making sure the driver knows he has a child traveling alone and to ensure they get off at the right resort and is met by a family member or a CM.
wilkeliza
Well-Known Member
According to what I have read with proper upon request parents or guardians can be notified that the motor coach has arrived and where their child was specifically dropped off.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
And I remember we were too scared to let our son out of our sight anywhere for 2 minutes. Oh... I get it... we were parents that gave a darned about his safety and well being.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Fantastic. Your dad must have been proud of your resourcefulness.
But stupid me.... for years I spent my paper route money on comic books, soda and candy bars when I could have gone to WDW.
.
BigTxEars
Well-Known Member
I am no doubt a over protective parent of 3
In 2011 we stayed at POR, I remember letting out son who was 17 at the time take the boat to DTD alone, and I was still nervous. Kid is like 6' 2" and old enough to drive and I was still a little freaked out
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I am no doubt a over protective parent of 3
In 2011 we stayed at POR, I remember letting out son who was 17 at the time take the boat to DTD alone, and I was still nervous. Kid is like 6' 2" and old enough to drive and I was still a little freaked out
About the same age we let our son start venturing off on his own at WDW.... but he had to have his phone on and check in periodically with us. DW was a wreck too the whole time until he rejoined us for dinner later that night.
BigTxEars
Well-Known Member
This past June we let our 16 year daughter and her 16 year old friend go to DTD alone for a girls day out. That was a big step for a dad
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
I can barely find my way to the magical express let alone get on the right bus... And I'm old. More power to ya 12 year olds!
HakunaMatata89
Well-Known Member
when i was 12/13 i was roaming the WDW property on my own so getting to the bus shouldn't be too much different.
EOD K9
Well-Known Member
So what silliness would you like to see?
matt9112
Well-Known Member
Disney is just making a cash grab at the lucrative 12-15 year old demographic.
tea just shot out of my nose....not because its funny...because it is true.
Metilinos
Member
I'm 23 and I still don't like flying alone
As long as it's a well-monitored situation, then there's no big deal. Any parent who is sending their 12 year old off alone must not be too concerned or feel some form of security; or else they're insane to let them trek alone.
wild01ride
Well-Known Member
If we could put all the sensationalism aside for a moment (likely the bulk of which is coming from people who don't have kids, as ascertained by the tone...).
A perfect example is this past June when we vacationed in WDW with our son and brought along a family of friends plus one additional [child] friend.
We purchased airfare early on and the other folks procrastinated until just weeks before the trip. By then, they were forced to purchase fare on a later flight. In this case, the family (including adults) had all purchased tickets on the later flight. However, if they had purchased tickets when we did, the "late addition child friend" would have ended up on the later flight by herself. One of the options would have been for her to use DME by herself to meet us at the resort when the flight arrived.
Seems like a very reasonable option to me as opposed to sending her by herself with a lone cab or shuttle driver, particularly because Disney would be tracking her location every step of the way via the dastardly MagicBand!
A perfect example is this past June when we vacationed in WDW with our son and brought along a family of friends plus one additional [child] friend.
We purchased airfare early on and the other folks procrastinated until just weeks before the trip. By then, they were forced to purchase fare on a later flight. In this case, the family (including adults) had all purchased tickets on the later flight. However, if they had purchased tickets when we did, the "late addition child friend" would have ended up on the later flight by herself. One of the options would have been for her to use DME by herself to meet us at the resort when the flight arrived.
Seems like a very reasonable option to me as opposed to sending her by herself with a lone cab or shuttle driver, particularly because Disney would be tracking her location every step of the way via the dastardly MagicBand!
I actually see quite a few unaccompanied children flying into Orlando. We volunteer for Give Kids the World and greet families at the airport. We are there a couple times a week and see at least one per week being passed over to a guardian at the airport by the airline employee.
