Advice only - No flames please...

[sk!mom]

Sure, if you are as close as the hotel lounge and she has a way to contact you if problems come up. I assume that the 12 year old is responsible and used to supervising the 2 year old.

 

[jonestavern]

I think if your 12 yo was very responsible and had experience watching your 2 yo than I think it would be ok to leave them for an hour or so to go for a drink in your hotel.

I'd go before the 12 yo normally goes to bed. I wouldn't want him/her to fall asleep before you got back in case there was an emergency. I'd also have him/her call you every 20 minutes or so to check in. I wouldn't call the room because it might wake up the baby. If the 1st check in call doesn't come I'd go back to the room immediately.

I would find out what the hotel's evacuation policy is in the event of a fire. To me this would be the biggest risk assuming your child understands not to let anyone in the room or leave the room under normal circumstances.

everything in quotes is how I'd go.
it would also depend on the 2 yr old's disposition--do 12 & 2 get along well? is 2 yr old a handful?
Territory Lounge is in the WL. Yes, it is rude for yr cell to keep ringing--do you have a vibrate mode? use that.
Make sure the room is locked & have 12 yo throw the chain lock. also lock the patio doors.
Tell 12 yo under no circumstances will you send anyone to the room to get them & not to open the door for anyone, no matter what they may say. If there is an emergency agree on a password, this will give 12 yo a measure of authority to use & feel comforted by.

Have a swell time!
Jean

 

[D3K]

I would not do it, I would not feel right leaving my kids in a hotel room by themselves even if I was going to be close by. (NO FLAMES) but Orlando was in the news 2x last week (at least here in FL) one time a man tried to snatch a 12 year old girl in a stairwell at her hotel and the other time was for a boy that was sexualy assualted at Wet & Wild water park.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I like the balcony idea but a cell phone or a baby monitor would be good. This trip my DD baby sat for my nephews (Staying in same hotel POR a few rooms away) she had a baby monitor that I could talk to her and she could talk to us......my dd is 14! She babysits here all the time but was a little worried about babysitting in a hotel..."What if someone knocks on the door", What if....what if...... ...it worked out fine, no problems. My brother and sister-in-law went out with DH to POLY and I stayed home with my 2 little ones. We didnt want to chance putting them all in one room and then moving them later. I was tired so I stayed and read in our room and DD baby sat nephews in the other room and watched tv......

 

[TinkerbellMama]

For me it would depend on the 12 y.o.'s maturity level and experience watching the baby. Does the baby wake up often? Would the older child know how to handle it?

When I was around 12 my mom would leave me in charge of my younger siblings. One Saturday morning she left us watching cartoons and went out to the store. She was only gone about 45 minutes but a kitchen fire broke out (don't ask how, LOL). I was able to put out the fire because I knew how to treat a grease fire (DO NOT THROW WATER ON IT!!) and I have always been calm in an emergency. I also watched my newborn brother often when I was 14 with no problems.

That said, I think it also makes a huge difference that you will still be in the hotel itself. If anything were to go wrong, you could be there in minutes. If you do it, have the older child call to check in often, and try not to be gone longer than an hour or so.

Would I do it myself someday? My gut reaction was no, but thinking about it, I'd have to say maybe. It all depends on the 12 y.o. in question and whether he or she is capable AND WILLING enough to take on the responsibility. Good luck!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Okay, you guys might think I am nuts...and I guess I probably am but when my DS who is now 19 would stay home when he was young, I would tell him he couldn't eat! I know, I know, I am neurotic , but I constantly thought, what if he is shoveling the food in (as he thinks eating is a race - which I think helped him in boot camp!!) and chokes!? I always fed him before I left and then told him - "Don't eat anything!!". Of course, in his lifetime he has swallowed 2 legos, a fortune in coins and who knows what else because he always (to this day) puts everything in his mouth ...go figure! I hope that now that he is overseas, he is trying to refrain! No telling what all they find laying around that he might chew on...

My DD7 never stays home alone and on the rare occasion that I have my DNiece17 babysit, I feed them before I go out and tell her to try (without DD realizing or she would want food just to spite me ) to keep her entertained and away from the snack cabinets!!

Thanks, Now I have something else to worry about!

But you hit a really good point. You should never leave you child with anyone 12, or 50 that does not know basic first aid. EVery parent and every one that stays with a child needs to know how to handle choking, not breathing, burns, cuts, and even CPR.
My DS 13 learned all this through boy scouts but there are courses through Red Cross, YMCA's, Churches etc.

My then 11 year old got choked really bad on a taffy piece of candy once. It was so scary but I knew what to do. Seems the candy had melted and he had put it in the freezer to get it firm again. .

Kids are precious. They need our protection.

Jordans' mom

 

[littleprincessmom]

I also like the Balcony idea (and, in fact, this is what DH and I did last December at WL while DDs napped !)

But...as many others have said, you know your daughters best. I started babysitting at age 9 and by 12 was far more able to handle an emergency situation than many college age students I know. If you are comfortable and the 12 year old is comfortable and you have cell phones, then by all means go for it! Just reiiterate the safety rules and I'd also make sure she knows how to call the hotel operator just in case the cell phone did not work for some reason.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Do you honestly believe the halls of the WL are littered wih "pervs" waiting for he odd chance of a 12 year old to be left alone? And that they could talk their way into the room?

Call me paranoid, but yes, I think there is a possibility of this. Pervs don't hang out in dark alleys...they hang out where kids are...WDW is a great place to find kids.

I wouldn't do it. They way we deal with it is by getting a 1 BR villa at a DVC resort (renting points). We can put the kids to bed and have our alone time in the living room with our own bottle of wine, etc.

If you decide to leaver the 12 y.o., you can try this: request a room close to the lounge area and get a baby monitor in addition to the cell phone. The newer one have a really long range. This way, if something does happen and the 12 y.o. panics and can't call on the cell or whatever, you still know what is going on.

 

[Laura22]

My opinion is having a drink is not worth risking your children's safety. There's no reason you can't bring the drink back to your room.

Plus, how would you even enjoy yourself if you were worrying about the kids the whole time?

You obviously have doubts about it or you wouldn't be posting for advice. Trust your instincts.

 

[Suzanne74]

Personally, if I felt my 12yr old was mature enough and has handled the 2yr old before (which she obviously had) then I certainly would do it. I babysat when I was 12yrs old in 2 acre homes with no one around for miles. I am the optimist who feels that yes, you shoudn't open the door to strangers but if something happens, at least there are others around to help like with evacuation, etc... At home, there is no one around. Have kids been snatched from their own homes with their parents inside, yes but I have never heard of someone breaking down a hotel door, esp in WDW with people in every room and snatching a 12 and 2yr old. Someone could put a negative spin on leaving just a 12yr old in the room, or a 16yr old in the room, or even a 16yr old with a fairy godmother babysitter. Heck, I know a mom who still gets a babysitter for her son who is freshmen, reason? "Well, what if he has some of his friends over, or what if the house catches fire, what if he has a seizure" Poor kid will go to college with a babysitter in his dorm room instead of another student!

Should you and your 12yr old be prepared yes, paranoid - no. It isn't the same thing!! IMO, life is too short to be neurotic and is has negative affects on your heart/mind and your kids after awhile. My 5yr old nephew won't even go in the water at a pool because my sis and bil are so neurotic they don't think he should swim on his own until he is 8yrs old and hover over him. Now he won't even go in with someone holding him now because he is just plain scared and learning paranoia. His 3yr old cousin (my niece) swims like a fish with no swimmies from lessons and teaching from her parents (my other sis.) So if both fell in a pool, who is safer?? 1st sis, neurotic, 2nd sis prepared. Two VERY different things. I know it isn't the same thing as what you are asking but I don't want you to feel guilty or think you are less of a mom for not hovering or being there every single minute.

I think my own dauther at 12yrs old who has learned babysitting, first aid, responsibilites is better off caring for my 2yr old then a 18yr old stranger or even a fairy godmother (stranger - right?) I think the 2yr old would feel safer as well, if they woke up.

Literally you will just be in the lobby and will have a cell phone or wakie talkies. Before you go, put the 2yrs old to sleep, get the 12yr old a surprise book (or something) and some snacks. Have her bolt the door, make a passowrd, go to the lounge, do a test run on the walkies or cells and then sit down and enjoy yourself.

off my soapbox

 

[jodifla]

OP, just keep in mind the DIS boards have many nervous nellys who don't use babysitters at all. Any type of babysitting thread brings the replys of, basically I wouldn't do this, because I care about my kids, as if you do not.

I concur with those who say you know your kids best, and if the 12 year old is responsible and comfortable in that situation, and the 2 year old isn't too much of a wild child, all should be fine. In a worst case, the 12 year old could just grab the 2 year old and come to the lounge to get you.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

The cell phones combined with the fact that you are still in the same building would do a lot to set my mind at ease.

Ditto that... it's the same building! It's A drink- she didn't say drinking all night long. LOL with cellphone so she can reach you and I would assume about the time (or after) the 2yr old is already asleep but the 12yr old isn't (mine would still be up late- but that might just be my eldest daughter... I know not all kids prefer to go to bed late) -and in the same building.. I don't see anything wrong with it. 12yr olds babysit here- and the parents sure aren't in the same building at that time either!

Depends on the kid though. But flame away... I let my eldest daughter do many runs down to the food counter during our last 10 day stay to refill her drink and such. She even watched my 5yr old at the baby pool while I walked a few feet away to get clothes out of the dryer! (gasp!!!! The shock of it all LOL)
I might not do that everywhere but I felt it was safe enough at disney's All star resorts. *shrugs*

 

[*Fantasia*]

Get a bottle of wine or beer and some cheese/crackers/grapes on your way back to the room. This way no one leaves the room. You can sit in the balcony, close the curtain and have your private drink. I think that's solves the problem.

However... if you want to lounge around with your drink, then just take the kids to the kid's club early so you can take your time and enjoy your drink. I think that solves the problem.

 

[Suzanne74]

However... if you want to lounge around with your drink, then just take the kids to the kid's club early so you can take your time and enjoy your drink. I think that solves the problem.

You need to be 4yrs old to enter the kids club - she has a 2yr old.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I agree that if the 12 yo is a responsible one, as long as it is legal in Florida, then it would be o.k. Its not like you are running off to Pleasure Island. You are in the same hotel, you have cel phones, the 2 yo will probably be sleeping and the 12 yo watching tv, playing video games, whatever. Make sure that they are told not to open the door for anyone and if you are just gone for a bit, it should be fine.