Unsupervised teens

[boldlyreal]

My DH and I are thinking of going to Pleasure Island while we are at Disney in Dec. To do this our DS-16 would be in charge of our DS-14 and DD-12. Will our resort have issue with them being in our rooms without us for a few hours? We plan on letting them order pizza and watch their movies and play their games on their PS3.

 

[gardenia]

There ARE state laws on child endangerment that say you can't leave children 11 and under alone in a hotel. Those laws gets enforced all the time in Florida. But since your children are older, that doesn't apply.

But you're hundreds of miles from home, away from everything familiar. What if there's an emergency? I have kids 17, 15 and 10, and I wouldn't leave them except for maybe a trip to the ice machine. They're not small adults, they're KIDS and I'm responsible for them.

 

[slappy magoo]

There ARE state laws on child endangerment that say you can't leave children 11 and under alone in a hotel. Those laws gets enforced all the time in Florida. But since your children are older, that doesn't apply.

But you're hundreds of miles from home, away from everything familiar. What if there's an emergency? I have kids 17, 15 and 10, and I wouldn't leave them except for maybe a trip to the ice machine. They're not small adults, they're KIDS and I'm responsible for them.

Just out of curiosity, do you ever seperate while in the parks? "OK we're going to see Philharmagic, you guys go to Space Mountain, we've got reservations for 1 at Crystal Palace don't be late, go!" Never that sort of thing?

Growing up in NJ, it wasn't uncommon for my whole family to go to Six Flags Great Adventure, everyone kinda splits up (especially if friends went with us or met us there), and we all just did our own thing and met at the giant teepee or fountain when it was time to have a meal or go home. I may have been with my brother who was 10 years older. I may have just been with best friend. We were trusted, and therefore, were trustowrthy. We knew not to talk to strangers, and how to call for help in the event of an emergency. And Six Flags is run like a condemned asbestos factory compared to WDW.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

But you're hundreds of miles from home, away from everything familiar. What if there's an emergency? I have kids 17, 15 and 10, and I wouldn't leave them except for maybe a trip to the ice machine. They're not small adults, they're KIDS and I'm responsible for them.

Well done arent you sooopper. How thins the air on the moral high ground?

17 and a kid???!!!!! I was in the Air Force at that age, qualified as a marksman and was 100 of miles from home with no such thing as a cell phone.

But then we werent wrapped in cotton wool.

 

[figmentmom]

Well done arent you sooopper. How thins the air on the moral high ground?

17 and a kid???!!!!! I was in the Air Force at that age, qualified as a marksman and was 100 of miles from home with no such thing as a cell phone.

But then we werent wrapped in cotton wool.

:ROFLOL: SAK!!! :ROFLOL:

 

[NadieMasK2]

Well done arent you sooopper. How thins the air on the moral high ground?

17 and a kid???!!!!! I was in the Air Force at that age, qualified as a marksman and was 100 of miles from home with no such thing as a cell phone.

But then we werent wrapped in cotton wool.

Well done, sir.

I'm just wondering how the 17 year old will feel with his parent living in the dorm room next year? Gotta cut the ties sometime or they won't be able to survive in this world.

 

[MouseMadness]

Well done arent you sooopper. How thins the air on the moral high ground?

17 and a kid???!!!!! I was in the Air Force at that age, qualified as a marksman and was 100 of miles from home with no such thing as a cell phone.

But then we werent wrapped in cotton wool.

:sohappy:

If my seventeen year old weren't capable of holding it together with her siblings, I'd consider myself a miserable failure as a parent.

 

[SallyShine]

We did this the last few years, they enjoyed the independence and didn't abuse the trust we showed them. They even toured the parks on their own, but preferred it as a family. Now there's a shock

They suprise you sometimes. When we suggested the older two go off on their own, they were bummed we even asked. I guess, when their friends aren't around, they actually like us!

 

[chris chris]

There ARE state laws on child endangerment that say you can't leave children 11 and under alone in a hotel. Those laws gets enforced all the time in Florida. But since your children are older, that doesn't apply.

But you're hundreds of miles from home, away from everything familiar. What if there's an emergency? I have kids 17, 15 and 10, and I wouldn't leave them except for maybe a trip to the ice machine. They're not small adults, they're KIDS and I'm responsible for them.

(looks at gardenia)gardenia im standig up for u.(looks at other members) guys so wat if she dosen't feel comftorble with leaving her kid alone those are her or hims pareting styles. would u like me to go to your house and judge ur parenting styles? or if you dont have kids maybe i will tell your momma or leagle guardian!

 

[MouseMadness]

(looks at gardenia)gardenia im standig up for u.(looks at other members) guys so wat if she dosen't feel comftorble with leaving her kid alone those are her or hims pareting styles. would u like me to go to your house and judge ur parenting styles? or if you dont have kids maybe i will tell your momma or leagle guardian!

I think gardenia handed out the judgements first :lol: :shrug:

OP didn't ask if WE knew if her kids were able to be left alone, she asked about laws. Laws question was answered, laws don't apply, so there we are. OP feels her children are mature enough to handle a night of playing games in a resort room. I'll leave my 13 year old watching her sisters while I run to the store for an hour or so at home, and I far from feel she isn't mature enough to handle this. Doors stay locked, and they know the rules.

I think kids are completely babied anymore. They are capable of far more than we give them credit for. And they milk it big time :lookaroun

 

[figmentmom]

(looks at gardenia)gardenia im standig up for u.(looks at other members) guys so wat if she dosen't feel comftorble with leaving her kid alone those are her or hims pareting styles. would u like me to go to your house and judge ur parenting styles? or if you dont have kids maybe i will tell your momma or leagle guardian!

I'm with Christy, Gardenia got the jump on the judgment thing. :ROFLOL: If she's not comfortable leaving the kids, that's fine for her. The OP IS comfortable, and with kids that age, I would be, too. :wave:

 

[Hrudey3032]

Well at 11 I was coming home after school and was by myself until mom got home from work at 530-6p.I knew the rules,had her work number and could always call my dad if something were to have happened as he was a Sheriff's Deputy and could get help to me ASAP.Needless to say I think your kids will be fine as long as you lay the ground rules.

 

[dandaman]

We did this the last few years, they enjoyed the independence and didn't abuse the trust we showed them. They even toured the parks on their own, but preferred it as a family. Now there's a shock

Reverse psych: it's a beautiful thing. :lol:

 

[Carolyn1717]

Don't worry. There is absolutely no federal or state law that would allow Disney to dictate to you about whether or not you can leave children alone unsupervised (although the State CAN have a say in the matter) in the hotel. And even if there were a policy, exactly how would they know unless they are secretly spying on the rooms. It's already disturbing that they have biometric data on you. The only reason children 17 and under can't rent their own hotel rooms is because they cannot be legally held to a contract and therefore cannot be held liable for any damages. As the guardians, it is up to you to decide whether or not a 16 year old can handle his younger siblings alone. If they cause damage, you are legally responsible, so they should have absolutely no problems.

For Fossee 76 - Disney will reserve rooms for kids under 18. They do it all the time because there are many 17 years olds who get Disney as grad gifts. However, Disney has a form that is sent to the parents, and the parents take full responsibility for any damages that might be incurred. So the parents are still on the line for the behavior of these kids.