Significantly Upgraded Chaperone Policy for 2026

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TheCoasterNerd said:
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.


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
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Per an extremely well connectted source very knowledgeable in matters related to park security the policy oy requires the adult to be in the park and reachable not physically with you at all times.

AmyUD06 said:
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.
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part of the issue with the old policy was it wasn't from open to close making it basically unenforceable as you couldn't identify those that entered before enforcement started. On top of that a large number of the incidents that happened last year involved guests in the 16 to 18 range who were not covered by the old policy. While I hate seeing it applied this way I fully understand why it is being done especially in light of the takeover threat that had been posted online.
 
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If a chaperone policy is necessary (which it is at these parks because of previous incidents), this should have been the policy all along.

The previous policy of only requiring a chaperone after 4PM was not logically enforceable. Once someone under the age limit without a chaperone was in the park they could stay in the park after 4. Unless security stopped them in the park, ID'd them etc which is not practical and potential a harrassment to legitimate guests. Also, disruptions could have happened before 4.........

With this policy, they cannot even get into the park.
 
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A_Sad_Squirrel said:
The rule applied for employees this past fall during haunt. Going to assume it still applies.
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I don't know what the current SF/KD policy is on employees, 17 years old and under, as far as entering the park during non-working hours. If KD does make an exception for employees 17 and under, then they just need to show their employee photo ID to those that ask.
 
I hate that parks need to have chaperone policies, but remember that the “teen takeovers” that happened at SWO/BGT/APO were so bad that police got called for shots being fired, gun threats, parkwide brawls, etc.

So while I can understand people being upset by it, it’s ultimately the teens’ groups faults for these extremely strict policies.

One of these takeovers was going to happen at FunSpot Orlando, and when they got wind of it, FunSpot immediately implemented a 21+ policy to enter. They then tried to shift it to SWO, but when SWO found out, they immediately implemented a no re-entry policy + chaperone policy. The takeover was eventually canceled.

This issue has gotten too far widespread so I appreciate the parks and local police departments doing their part to ensure that it doesn’t continue to happen.

Edit to add:
You also have to remember that there’s a lot of people who still think of KD as the dangerous amusement park that’s frequented by gangs and prone to violence. I highly doubt KD wants to get that kind of reputation again after having spent so long trying to repair that image over the last 7-8 years.
 
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Understandable policy seeing as to what happened with the whole takeover at Short Pump Town Center a few days ago.

If you’re not aware, Short Pump Town Center, a fairly large mall west of Richmond, just south of KD, had a teen takeover with easily hundreds of people. A huge fight broke out and there were apparently firearms involved, but I’m not sure about that.

My stepmother was there when it happened, and she told me that when she left a store, a police officer had approached her with gun in hand and demanded that she leave the property. Apparently they were evacuating everybody.
 
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Coolguy15 said:
Understandable policy seeing as to what happened with the whole takeover at Short Pump Town Center a few days ago.

If you’re not aware, Short Pump Town Center, a fairly large mall west of Richmond, just south of KD, had a teen takeover with easily hundreds of people. A huge fight broke out and there were apparently firearms involved, but I’m not sure about that.

My stepmother was there when it happened, and she told me that when she left a store, a police officer had approached her with gun in hand and demanded that she leave the property. Apparently they were evacuating everybody.
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I heaed a report on the radio today that said some of the same social media channels that promoted that one and another mall one that is being promoted are involved with promoting the KD while probably not the sole reason for the announcement I would think yhe connection played a role in at least the Hannover County Sheriff's Department's statement.
 
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mwhinva said:
I don't know what the current SF/KD policy is on employees, 17 years old and under, as far as entering the park during non-working hours. If KD does make an exception for employees 17 and under, then they just need to show their employee photo ID to those that ask.
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During Haunt last year, employees who were 16 or 17 had to comply with the Haunt policies on chaperones, so my assumption is that it’ll be the same here.
 
Mushroom said:
Pretty sure @mtorange was referring to visiting the park on their days off…
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Yes, this is it! They had to have someone of chaperone age with them or on property to do anything as a guest during Haunt hours.

Could’ve worded that better for sure if I hadn’t typed that out so quickly. My bad!
 
AmyUD06 said:
Yes, because there are so many "ghettos" around Doswell, VA. :rolleyes: Say what you mean.
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If your mind immediately goes to any specific demographics when talking about trashy behavior (that would be “what I mean”) then that says more about you than anyone else.

Anyways, it’s a shame that like Zachary said, the people who weren’t the problem are the ones most affected by this
 
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Use of that wording, IMO, insinuates a certain visual to most.

Bad actors is what’s happening. Heck some of the richest kids I knew in HS were some of the trashiest people I knew. They were the ones instigating fights, breaking into places, and vandalizing because to them consequences didn’t exist.

After sleeping on this for a night I’ve come to this thought, and it kinda sucks:
So now more people have to go to the park and pay for tickets because of the policy. But the park likely won’t do more to improve security, increase security staff, or install more security cameras.
 
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I just turned 16 and got a job at KD. I guess I'll have to wait 2 more years to drive up to the park alone. They'll probably make it 21 & up that year ironically.
 
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DE_Creative said:
If your mind immediately goes to any specific demographics when talking about trashy behavior (that would be “what I mean”) then that says more about you than anyone else.

Anyways, it’s a shame that like Zachary said, the people who weren’t the problem are the ones most affected by this
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If that's what you meant, you would have said "trashy." You deliberately chose the word "ghetto."
 
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