No discussion yet on the new chaperone policy buried in KD’s FB post yesterday?
Significantly Upgraded Chaperone Policy for 2026
- Thread starter sotomexx
- Start date
When I saw this last night I was honestly pretty shocked. That policy is VERY aggressive.
I am convinced that it will create a far nicer park environment for everyone else in attendance (and honesty the staff) so it's hard for me to be too opposed to it, but at the same time, I'll be honest: I feel pretty bad for the well-behaved teens out there today. It's a real shame that kids today can never have the experience I had growing up. I was regularly dropped off alone at BGW with a couple friends starting around age 13 or 14—even before I had a cell phone.
I didn't really have parents or friends' parents who wanted to go to the park much and, had that been a restriction, I probably would have only ended up there a couple times a year instead of probably nearly every other weekend like I managed some of those years. I feel in love with BGW because I spent so much time there growing up. A lot of my best memories through my teen years were from times I was at the park under circumstances that are now banned by Kings Dominion. Hell, I spent a ton of money at BGW too during those years—money that would have gone to video games or something else had it not been for my ability to frequent BGW.
My friends and I were pretty chill, pretty respectful, and pretty sane and I don't think we caused anyone any annoyance. The majority of seemingly-unaccompanied teens I've seen in the parks in the years since have been fine too. Sadly, I do have to concede that behavior overall in parks has deteriorated since I was a teen (and especially since COVID) and, regrettably, parks have no way to filter the good, respectable kids from those who want to come in, cause trouble, and film their misdeeds for TikTok. I hate that everyone under the age of 18 has to suffer because of that and I wish there could be some sort of compromise middle ground. Just can't imagine what that would look like.
I am convinced that it will create a far nicer park environment for everyone else in attendance (and honesty the staff) so it's hard for me to be too opposed to it, but at the same time, I'll be honest: I feel pretty bad for the well-behaved teens out there today. It's a real shame that kids today can never have the experience I had growing up. I was regularly dropped off alone at BGW with a couple friends starting around age 13 or 14—even before I had a cell phone.
I didn't really have parents or friends' parents who wanted to go to the park much and, had that been a restriction, I probably would have only ended up there a couple times a year instead of probably nearly every other weekend like I managed some of those years. I feel in love with BGW because I spent so much time there growing up. A lot of my best memories through my teen years were from times I was at the park under circumstances that are now banned by Kings Dominion. Hell, I spent a ton of money at BGW too during those years—money that would have gone to video games or something else had it not been for my ability to frequent BGW.
My friends and I were pretty chill, pretty respectful, and pretty sane and I don't think we caused anyone any annoyance. The majority of seemingly-unaccompanied teens I've seen in the parks in the years since have been fine too. Sadly, I do have to concede that behavior overall in parks has deteriorated since I was a teen (and especially since COVID) and, regrettably, parks have no way to filter the good, respectable kids from those who want to come in, cause trouble, and film their misdeeds for TikTok. I hate that everyone under the age of 18 has to suffer because of that and I wish there could be some sort of compromise middle ground. Just can't imagine what that would look like.
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TheCoasterNerd
Previously known as @coasters_bgw
I think if you're able to drive you should be able to enter a park without a parent. It's not like something magically changes the day you turn 18. But driving teaches responsibility- so if a kid can drive themselves to the park they should be allowed to. Also remain WITH the group? So what if the parent (like my dad) likes to walk for exercise at parks while I like rides? Does he just have to suck it up and ride coasters with me and then throw up? Or do I just have to skip rides?
Lots of issues with this.
Lots of issues with this.
Exactly. I want to just go to the parks whenever I want to, my dad can't always and if he does he likes to walk. Especially when I'm photographing, I'd rather not have him there distracting me. Why punish everyone for the actions of a few. TBH, will probably end up cancelling my pass partially because of this. Not sure if/when I'll be back as this significantly degrades the experience for families, tweens, teens, and young adults
You summed up my feelings better than I could haha.
That said, if its enforced anything like the chaperone policy has been in the past, it's mostly an empty threat that they're hoping for voluntary compliance with.
I'm most disappointed in the Fast Lane changes haha.
I often times go with my boys (11, 9) and take my nephews (who are 13 and 15) and we break up into groups depending on who wants to ride what. They are great kids with a cell phone I can reach at any point. I’d be devastated if this happened and they got in trouble for going to Twisted Timbers while we were at Pantherian. I understand the intent of this policy but hope it’s more enforced on bad behavior and not just “here are some kids just enjoying the park with no visible adult right next to them”.
While I agree, I'd argue that makes it the absolute worst kind of rule.
People who seek to follow park rules will not visit because they don't want to break the rules. People who don't care about the rules will try to come anyway and many will likely get in.
With inconsistent rule enforcement they're literally creating a filter to filter out the rule followers.
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They have employees under 18.... If your're an employee with a badge then I assume you get a full pass? What if they wanna go to the park on their off day? Still need an adult there even though they literally work for the park?
The rule applied for employees this past fall during haunt. Going to assume it still applies.
Thats actually fucking stupid lol
I am a teenager so I am experiencing this policy firsthand. This means I will legally be able to drive myself to the park alone(once I'm 16 years and 3 months old), but will not be able to enter the park. This sort of hostility towards minors sucks. It sucks that they are limiting minors coming into the park based off of some minors actions.
If you can go in and just let them go as they please then it doesn't fix anything. It's a placebo fix. Either enforce it all the way and upset people or don't do it at all imo.
Yeah I feel like it’s more “the parent is available when the kid misbehaves” than “the parent has to be with the kid at all times”
Plus I don’t think this will really be enforced, it’s more of an excuse to kick unruly kids out
Plus I don’t think this will really be enforced, it’s more of an excuse to kick unruly kids out
So typical 2026 SFEC inability to communicate anything? Got it LOL.
I haven't been to a park in years, certainly not since any of these policies were put in place. Is it really that bad now? I'm around teenagers a bunch and honestly don't notice massive differences from when I was that age myself.
I wouldn't say the wording in the post is confusing. I'd say this email response is in direct contradiction with what KD posted to socials.
"All guests 17 years of age or younger must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone age 21 or older for entry into Kings Dominion and must remain accompanied throughout the duration of their visit."
This isn't ambiguous at all. Anyone under 18 has to be accompanied at the gate and must remain accompanied throughout the visit. KD uses the same word for at the gate and throughout the visit. If KD didn't mean to say what they said, it's just more proof that communication at KD is a real clown show right now. Any reasonable person would read their social media post in exactly the way we are all thinking. If they didn't mean that, that's fully and completely on them.
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So the assuming the chaperone policy is just "the chaperone has to be in the park at the same time as the kid(s)" what difference does the parent make? Is it just so the kid can leave the premises assuming that the chaperone is the source of transit to and from the park? It doesn't seem that the chaperone is there to prevent them from making bad choices.
I’m….I’m unsure how to move forward. Like there’s part of me that feels bad and part of me that doesn’t feel bad saying this:
It sucks for the parents of the majority of well behaved teens that the minority has impacted this, but its necessary to pay this pain.
And to me it’s wild what’s happened with a whole generation that there’s admiration and views over being destructive.
Sooo, maybe it was put into effect because of this:
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Wow they must be really excited for that ai generated 30th anniversary FoF merch!