Any recent experiences with babysitting services?

[aurxdoc05]

My family of four (myself, husband, girl (age 6), girl (age 4)) is headed to Orlando at the end of May. We are staying at Floridays Resort Orlando. This will be our first trip to Orlando without any additional family who could offer babysitting for a parents' night out and thus are considering using an in-room sitter service. I have read a few reviews, but they are very mixed and aren't very recent. Has anyone had any recent experiences they can share?

 

[phred52]

You know, I wouldn't ever consider having a stranger alone with my kids in a hotel room. Even a bonded stranger I was paying. If I needed an adult night out I might consider a group setting for babysitting .... or maybe not. I guess I've personally seen ... too much .... that can happen to kids.

 

[jodifla]

You know, I wouldn't ever consider having a stranger alone with my kids in a hotel room. Even a bonded stranger I was paying. If I needed an adult night out I might consider a group setting for babysitting .... or maybe not. I guess I've personally seen ... too much .... that can happen to kids.

This is just an unhelpful scare-tactic post that's not remotely rooted in reality.

Kids Night Out gets consistently good reviews. I've used Fairy Godmothers more than a dozen times, but it has been about 5 years, as my son uses the kids clubs now.

OP, I can message you the name of our sitter with FG if you like. She had been a sitter there for many, many years and works for WDW.

We really loved our FG sitters (we had two, once we used once, the other the other 10 times) They were very interesting people, were the grandmotherly type, and came with fun toys. My son loved them.

 

[tigger1972]

Jodifla, would you mind also messaging me with your recommended sitter as well? We are also considering using FG for our next trip. We've done the kids clubs several times with DS, but now we have DD who at 2 is too young, and we need someone just for our one evening "date night" of our trip.
Thanks!
-April

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

OP, have you considered using one of the Disney kids' clubs? We left our two sons at the Sandcastle Club at Beach Club last May and they had a blast. We dropped them off about 5:30 and went to dinner on the Boardwalk, then walked around World Showcase in Epcot shopping and talking until time for Illuminations. We watched that, then walked through the International Gateway back to Beach Club to pick them up about 9:30. It was a nice break! We spent about $80 for the kids' club and that included their dinner and a snack.

There are also kids' clubs at the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. All of those resorts have nice restaurants where you could enjoy a wonderful kid-free meal.

The Dolphin, I think, also has a kids' club, and you get a couple of free hours if you eat in one of the restaurants there.

 

[melser13]

We've used Fairy Godmothers, Kids Nite Out, and Sunshine sitters. The only service I would not recommend is Kids Nite Out. It was a very, very, very bad experience. Fairy Godmothers was fine from what I remember (2007) and the Sunshine Babysitter (2011) was FANTASTIC. I loved being able to text throughout the night to get updates and check in without having to find a quiet place in the park!

We plan on using Sunshine Sitters again sometime soon for all 3 since our baby is too young for the Kids Clubs yet...though my older 2 WISH they could go there... soon enough!

Enjoy your evening out!

 

[justKim]

Can you use the resort kids' clubs if you are not staying on property?

We used Fairy Godmothers years ago when the kids were younger and were pleased, FYI. But it has been 6 or 7 years.

 

[P.I.G.mommy]

We've used Fairy Godmothers, Kids Nite Out, and Sunshine sitters. The only service I would not recommend is Kids Nite Out. It was a very, very, very bad experience. Fairy Godmothers was fine from what I remember (2007) and the Sunshine Babysitter (2011) was FANTASTIC. I loved being able to text throughout the night to get updates and check in without having to find a quiet place in the park!

We plan on using Sunshine Sitters again sometime soon for all 3 since our baby is too young for the Kids Clubs yet...though my older 2 WISH they could go there... soon enough!

Enjoy your evening out!

Can I ask why your experience with Kids Nite Out was so bad? I was actually planning on booking with them in a few days for our vacation in March...I figured I would go with them since Disney listed them on their website...now I'm kind of freaking out

 

[melser13]

Can I ask why your experience with Kids Nite Out was so bad? I was actually planning on booking with them in a few days for our vacation in March...I figured I would go with them since Disney listed them on their website...now I'm kind of freaking out

I think it was the case of bad luck and as with any company I've got to assume 90% of the time the service is OK, Good, or Great, and 10% is really bad. Unfortunately for us, we got the 10%. I have to say, that while we ended up with a bad experience, I don't believe that all of their sitters are this way.

Anyhow - here's what happened... I called and reserved well before our trip for a night out with my DH for my 30th Bday. I requested a younger babysitter, but I knew this was ONLY a request and not a guarantee. Our sitter showed up 15 minutes late, and was an older grandmother - I'd place her in her mid to late 60s. She was exhausted from walking up the steps to our room and stated so - we were at CBR. I went through instructions and showed her where everything was written down including cell #s, routines, and the gift card for food at the Food Court. She jotted a few things down then we got ready to leave. My 3 year old (Dis Clubs were 4 - 12 only in 2009)was a bit upset we were leaving, but my 5 year old was playing with her. SHe was crying on the bed when we left. My DH had to go back for our van keys and he could hear her crying when he walked up to the room. He got our keys and she was still crying and the sitter was still sitting in the chair. We were bothered all night and decided to come back before our 4 hours, from the time she arrived. When we got back to the room our kids were sleeping on the bed in their clothes that we left them in. The sitter was still at the table and our DD3 was half off the bottom of the bed, basically where she was when we left. After we paid her and she left I read the sheet that they are supposed to fill out which stated we did not leave food or money for our kids to have dinner, but we did have a slice of cold pizza inthe fridge. She also charged us for 4.5 hours stating that she arrived right at her time and we were late, which wasn't true. I was quite upset that not only did she NOT feed my kids dinner, but she didn't try to contact us about this problem when we had left all phone numbers. I emailed the owner and received a full refund and he mentioned he would talk with her as this wasn't the first time he'd received a complaint about her.

Again, I don't think this is a common thing for KNO, but it was just our experience and one that will keep us from using anyone else. Another reason why we loved the fact that Sunshine Babysitters HAVE to have a cell phone with Txt so that you can contact them at anytime that you so desire.

Sorry if I scared you, but I truly believe with any service there is that 10% chance of receiving less than you desire.

 

[POOHDRMR]

We used KNO last Aug and had a great experience.We had a college age girl sit for our 2 kids-dd-10 and ds 18 months.I felt confident leaving them because I knew my 10 year old would tell me every second of the night! If it was just my little man I don't think I would have done it.They had a great time-they played with play doh,colored,went for a snack and walk around the resort and played dolls and blocks.It was my dh's 40th b-day and we went to Shula's for dinner.She asked what she could or couldn't do-tv,take a walk,what snacks and such and when we came back a few minutes early they were still out taking a walk having fun looking at the stars.We have already budgeted for 2 nights into this years trip for a little grown up time for me and dh!

 

[Pocahontis]

Is there any services (that someone has had a good experience with) for off-site sitting? We are staying at a gated resort, and I'm pretty sure they do not offer that service. But I would love a night out with DH.

 

[mjkacmom]

Is there any services (that someone has had a good experience with) for off-site sitting? We are staying at a gated resort, and I'm pretty sure they do not offer that service. But I would love a night out with DH.

All these companies are not run by WDW - anyone in the are can use them.

 

[Pocahontis]

Oh Ok, thanks. I have never been to WDW so I did not know that. Thank you