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olegc
03-16-2013, 09:07 AM
This was posted in OC Register today CLICK HERE (http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/policy-499963-children-age.html)

Really? wow. What's not clear is whether this also means groups can't split up during the day (some stay in DCA, others go to Disneyland). It also means no more drop off.

Frankly - to me it's not just a policy thing - it also ensures that someone with a credit card and possibly the ability to pay for more of a stay at the park is on hand. Anything to boost the bottom line I guess.

You could also say its a way to reduce the size of some of the more crowded AP days - no more drop offs.

Very interesting - and how do you consistently enforce it? (rhetorical question).

AnotherJenny
03-16-2013, 09:44 AM
This was on the news last night. They made it sound more like kids will be questioned at the turnstile. To me that means parents only have to walk a kid through, and can then leave Disney to babysit as usual. But they also said an email will go out to APs, so maybe it will be clearly if and when that email arrives.

olegc
03-16-2013, 09:52 AM
This was on the news last night. They made it sound more like kids will be questioned at the turnstile. To me that means parents only have to walk a kid through, and can then leave Disney to babysit as usual. But they also said an email will go out to APs, so maybe it will be clearly if and when that email arrives.

it sounded like that in the write-up in the register as well. Of course there is letter of, and spirit of, the policy.

MidwayManiac
03-16-2013, 12:17 PM
You could drop your kids off at Disneyland???

I always find out these things after they're no longer allowed. Oh well, my kids have never hit a turnstile without an adult so it's no matter. As someone else said it'll probably lead to an adult getting them through then leaving instead of dropping them on Harbor which is a heckuva lot easier.

Just got me thinking too that 8yo and two cousins (9 & 11) are old enough to get on rides without me but not enter the park. Again, no matter but interesting.

TTFN92
03-16-2013, 01:00 PM
I just hope it doesn't affect the age of a child riding a ride alone. It just seems like steps like this always lead to something else.

MidwayManiac
03-16-2013, 01:20 PM
I just hope it doesn't affect the age of a child riding a ride alone. It just seems like steps like this always lead to something else.

My thoughts exactly.
Not too long ago any age child could ride as long as accompanied by a 7+yo. Now you must be accompanied by a 14+yo if you're 6 or less. The latest and greatest is you can't get in alone until you're 14.

So it's not outside the realm of possibility the next step is to make 14 the hard and fast minimum age to not only 1) accompany small children on rides and 2) get in alone, but also 3) ride without an adult.

ogold72
03-16-2013, 01:40 PM
Maybe there will be criteria or identifying characteristics that they will lok at to try to target kids that are likely there unaccompanied.

I would think they are going to target during the weekdays vice weekends and seek kids alone earlier in the day when crowds are thinner. That makes them easier to spot and thats the prime time that parents that are doing the dropping off would be leaving them unaccompanied.

CMs could "stake out" at Main Street as guests funnel in (and the tomorrowland monorail) - see what kids are coming up the street by themselves. Main Street is not a place that a lot of kids would hang out - no rides there.

Maybe there are markers that are identifying features that a kid there by himself would likely have, like carrying a backpack with items to help them get through the day, since there are no parents to do hold "gear" for them.

AnotherJenny
03-16-2013, 02:20 PM
Maybe there will be criteria or identifying characteristics that they will lok at to try to target kids that are likely there unaccompanied.

I would think they are going to target during the weekdays vice weekends and seek kids alone earlier in the day when crowds are thinner. That makes them easier to spot and thats the prime time that parents that are doing the dropping off would be leaving them unaccompanied.

CMs could "stake out" at Main Street as guests funnel in (and the tomorrowland monorail) - see what kids are coming up the street by themselves. Main Street is not a place that a lot of kids would hang out - no rides there.

Maybe there are markers that are identifying features that a kid there by himself would likely have, like carrying a backpack with items to help them get through the day, since there are no parents to do hold "gear" for them.

They are doing it at the gates.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/disney-america-changes-age-minimum-policy-198610261.html


"If a cast member who is working at the front gates sees a guest who appears to be younger than 14 without someone who appears to be older than that, they will engage in a conversation with the guest," Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown told NBC4.

ogold72
03-16-2013, 02:32 PM
They are doing it at the gates.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/disney-america-changes-age-minimum-policy-198610261.html

Im thinking about parents that walk their kids through the gate, maybe even through the tunnels and then turns around and leaves. Sounds like a lot effort if one did that, but Im sure some will try. Same for the monorail.

I would also think an analysis of what kids with APs that are coming in M-F in the mornings would be a dead giveaway and it would be easy to determine who those guests are.

AnotherJenny
03-16-2013, 02:55 PM
Disney appears to be fine with parents walking their kids through the gates and then turning around and leaving. They said there wasn't a specific issue they were responding too, so probably no need to become the minimum age gestapo. If it becomes an issue, then maybe they'll start checking our molars in the tunnels and at all the entrances to each land off the hub.

ogold72
03-16-2013, 03:23 PM
Disney appears to be fine with parents walking their kids through the gates and then turning around and leaving. They said there wasn't a specific issue they were responding too, so probably no need to become the minimum age gestapo. If it becomes an issue, then maybe they'll start checking our molars in the tunnels and at all the entrances to each land off the hub.

They arent fine with parents walking their kids through the gates and then leaving if the kids are under 14. They do have an issue with that, which is why they are implementing an unaccompanied age policy at DL. Further, The OC Register report said that Disney was aware that kids are being dropped off at the park and left unaccompanied, which is why letters are going out to AP holders with kids that could be effected by the policy change. When they said that there wasnt a specific issue, they meant there was not a specific "event", as in kids were not being assaulted or something else sinister. Thats why they said nothing "triggered" the change in policy.

I originally commented on how they would distinguish which were the unaccompanied kids inside the park, if they were able to get in and are then unaccompanied (such as their parents walked in and then left) and which ones had merely broken from their party to go do some rides. In response you said they were targeting kids at the gates that are unaccompanied and now you wrote they dont have an issue with kids under 14 being in the park unaccompanied so long as the parents came in and then turned right around and left. I dont see how there is any difference with respect to the policy - the kids are still left unaccompanied.

adriennek
03-16-2013, 04:54 PM
I'm totally fine with this policy.

1. There are parents who use Disneyland as free babysitting. I don't think children under 14 should be at the resort without an adult. Or at the very least without someone over 14. I'm glad that Disneyland is going to do something about the free babysitting thing. Sure, parents could just walk their kids in and turn around, but let's face it, parking to walk a kid into Disneyland isn't entirely convenient.

2. I'm not worried about my kids being "off in the parks" without me. Granted, one of my three is over 14, but I wouldn't generally want to send my kids between parks without at least an adult or until they're 14.

olegc
03-16-2013, 07:27 PM
I'm not worried about my kids being "off in the parks" without me. .

Do you believe that should your kids younger than 14 go off without you that they would be stopped - even if they may be going to a favorite snack location or store? Just curious...

AnotherJenny
03-16-2013, 07:50 PM
Do you believe that should your kids younger than 14 go off without you that they would be stopped - even if they may be going to a favorite snack location or store? Just curious...

Don't have kids, but I think that if Disney warns you ahead of time that it's not allowed, then no, they shouldn't.

My take is that they seem to think enforcing it at the gate is enough. I really don't think Disney is getting into the business of questioning every kid they see walking alone through the park.

adriennek
03-16-2013, 08:39 PM
Do you believe that should your kids younger than 14 go off without you that they would be stopped - even if they may be going to a favorite snack location or store? Just curious...

I guess I'm confused. The story says:

"Children under age 14 will have to be accompanied by someone 14 or older to get into Disneyland and Disney California Adventure starting March 23."

Then it says:

"Families with annual passes, some of whom routinely drop their children off at a park for the day, will be notified to ensure they know about the policy change, Brown said."

So I guess, I need more clarification. The impression from the news story is that this policy is targeted at people who drop off their kids for the day, and that the primary enforcement will be at the gates, since they need to be with someone over 14 to "get into" Disneyland. The article doesn't actually quote what the policy is. I completely believe that they're going to make this announcement so that moving forward, when they "catch" the free day care kids, they have more meat behind calling the parents to come pick the kids up.

It sounds to me like they're trying to avoid having truly unsupervised children in the parks. I also suspect that this will mostly be an issue if and when the children are misbehaving and attracting the attention of the CMs. As AnotherJenny said, I really don't think Disney is going to be stopping and questioning every child they see not RIGHT with a parent. That could get old REALLY fast and a waste of resources.

IF it's worst case scenario, yeah, I'll be annoyed if I'm in the parks and I can't let my kids have some limited independence. But I'm not reading worst case in the wording of the article, as vague as it is.

currence
03-16-2013, 09:02 PM
I don't know if their system is set up for it, but if I recall I had to give Disney my children's date of birth when I bought them their annual passes. So Disney could set up their system to flag minors at the gate. That may be easier then expecting children to tell the truth regarding their age, especially since 12 & 13 year olds are not otherwise required to carry ID.

Stopping a child randomly in the park by themselves, or as part of a pack of younger looking kids seems like it would be a lot harder than only enforcing it at the gate.

TTFN92
03-16-2013, 09:36 PM
My thought is that the ones they are trying to stop are the ones that are causing problems and getting into trouble. If you are regularly dropping them off or they live close enough to walk, and especially if they are with a group, they ten to get bored and then cause mischief. If you are taking the time to park and then walk your kids into the park, you are probably more responsible and not the kids they are hoping to keep away. I remember going with a friend when we were 13. I had flown to CA to visit and we went to DL for the day. We just wanted to enjoy our day at DL. I don't think DL cares if those types if kids are there but they have to set a rule. I would doubt that they would start to randomly check if kids have an adult with them unless they are causing problems.

katiesue
03-17-2013, 08:35 AM
My kiddo is 17 now so it doesn't apply to us but when she was that age we had the rule that she had to stay in the same park I was in. No hopping unless I did as well. So it wouldn't have mattered to us anyway. Now that she's older she still has to text or call if she's hopping.

I'm going to take a possibly wild guess and say that I'd bet a lot of the people just dropping their kids off don't have their own passes. I have no idea if this is true or not but seems like it could be a possibility. So having to get them through the gates would be an issue above just the hassle of parking and getting to the gates and back. Even if you parked in DTD and escorted your kid through and left it's not a quick process.

LauraTD
03-17-2013, 09:30 AM
This isn't just a matter of kids misbehaving. If a child is hurt and their parents aren't in the park, who knows how long it would take for the parent to get there and or give consent for care.

Iceman
03-17-2013, 09:41 AM
I'm going to take a possibly wild guess and say that I'd bet a lot of the people just dropping their kids off don't have their own passes. I have no idea if this is true or not but seems like it could be a possibility.

I hadn't even thought of that! If true, Disney can easily track that because the only AP holder at a certain address is a minor. And I wonder if those are the AP holders who will be getting polite letters announcing the new policy. I also agree with the previous poster who said they are probably targeting troublemakers and just needed something "on the books" to be able to round up kids who are causing problems and call parents to pick them up. Disney Security certainly has more pressing tasks than roaming the park looking for innocent kids and grilling them on their age and where their guardians are...

cstephens
03-17-2013, 10:09 AM
This isn't just a matter of kids misbehaving. If a child is hurt and their parents aren't in the park, who knows how long it would take for the parent to get there and or give consent for care.

I was thinking about that too.

ElJay
03-17-2013, 10:26 AM
While I personally feel that Disneyland is one of the most well kept and closely monitored places around. I would never in a million years just drop my kid off at any amusement park (or shopping mall, or sporting event, etc.) if they were under 18 let alone 14...Everybody's different, but to me it just seems irresponsible and dangerous.

fishgal
03-17-2013, 11:04 AM
Personally I believe this is about liability. If anything happens to a child that young at the park, say they injure themselves falling, or there is a ride accident, or someone who preys on children creates an incident with the child. This list of possibilities is endless. Disney could be liable and sued etc, by placing this policy in effect it is putting the liability for the safety of children under 14 firmly on the hands of the parents or older member of their group. Disney cannot be held responsible for anything that happens to the child as a result of a lack of adult guidance and or care. Also it has Disney's back in the event a child needs emergency medical care, someone must sign as the child's guardian and they have to be a certain age to do it. Disney now has a way to enforce that such a person would be available and again a way to insure that they are not liable if no such person is found and permanent injury etc results. It sounds like a good policy.
I'm not a lawyer or anything just guessing here with my 2 cents :)

Malcon10t
03-17-2013, 11:21 AM
While I personally feel that Disneyland is one of the most well kept and closely monitored places around. I would never in a million years just drop my kid off at any amusement park (or shopping mall, or sporting event, etc.) if they were under 18 let alone 14...Everybody's different, but to me it just seems irresponsible and dangerous.I understand the under 14, but under 18? Really? Your teen 16yo daughter can't go with shopping with friends for a prom dress? Or the 16/17yo to the hometown baseball game with friends? What makes 18 a magical age, if they haven't experienced some of this at a younger age to learn?

I was a "mean mom" for the most part. But as they got older, they did learn to do things on their own. My kids did experience Disneyland on their own from 11/12, with me in other areas of the park. They were allowed to go to various events with trusted friends. (There were a couple friends they weren't allowed to go with also.) There is nothing magical about the age 14 or 18 or 21. To just use an arbitrary number and say "At this age, they can handle the responsibility" is a fast way to get into trouble. My younger daughter at 14 was not ready to handle the park on her own, her older sister was well prepared at 11. But 18??

3Princesses1Prince
03-17-2013, 01:08 PM
I understand the under 14, but under 18? Really? Your teen 16yo daughter can't go with shopping with friends for a prom dress? Or the 16/17yo to the hometown baseball game with friends? What makes 18 a magical age, if they haven't experienced some of this at a younger age to learn?

I was a "mean mom" for the most part. But as they got older, they did learn to do things on their own. My kids did experience Disneyland on their own from 11/12, with me in other areas of the park. They were allowed to go to various events with trusted friends. (There were a couple friends they weren't allowed to go with also.) There is nothing magical about the age 14 or 18 or 21. To just use an arbitrary number and say "At this age, they can handle the responsibility" is a fast way to get into trouble. My younger daughter at 14 was not ready to handle the park on her own, her older sister was well prepared at 11. But 18??

Agreed.