Any reviews of Kid's Nite Out childcare services?

[kandmwedding]

I've never planned a trip with kids before so I've never had to look into childcare. Two of the kids will be too young to be left with one of the resort childcare services, so an in-room service is the only option. Have you used this company before? How was your experience?

 

[hddanis]

We just got back from our trip and used them. Karina was WONDERFUL! She brought games, cards and coloring pages for the kids. She asked if it was ok for them to watch tv (it was, but they were too busy with other things) go outside (yes, to the balcony to watch the fireworks and the shuttle launch) she kept a log of what they did. She was great and we plan to use them again when we go back as a family next October.

 

[johnsonet]

We've used them several times and each experience has been very good.

The caregivers are always very professional, bring age-appropriate activities and fill out a form of how the evening goes re. what the children do and what they eat, etc.

I would use them again in a heartbeat.

 

[WildernessBride]

I am happy to hear that!! We were planning to use them this trip but I was a little concerned about it, but the service sounds good. Thanks for putting my mind to ease.

 

[shoegirl1020]

Are they equiped to deal with special needs kids (developmental delays) and will they take the kids swimming?

 

[Aneille]

I used them in December. I just recently found our reciept with log on it.

We had Summer and the kids had a blast and I will definetly use them again.

 

[kandmwedding]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

 

[BrianD]

Are they equiped to deal with special needs kids (developmental delays) and will they take the kids swimming?

I have read that they can deal with special needs kids, if you let them know in advance. You'll probably find a better answer about that on the disABILITIES board.

We are in the same boat you are. We have a special needs child and are considering Kids Night Out for one evening on our next WDW trip. We've never left our children with a babysitter at WDW, but we would really like to go to dinner and the Candlelight Processional, and I know our son wouldn't have it!

Not sure about the swimming though.

 

[lklasing]

They won't do swimming, by my understanding.

We used them on our last trip and I would definitely use them again. Our only issue is that my girls are much older than yours (almost 9 & 11 at the time of the trip) and they really enjoy younger (late teens-early twenties) babysitters. I requested a younger sitter and was told they would do what they could, but made it very clear that they couldn't promise anything. When our sitter showed up, she was definitely grandmother age, much to my daughters' chagrin. She was very nice and very responsible and I had no worries at all with leaving her with my girls, but she wasn't very much fun. I think she wasn't into the 'tween age too much. Having said that, I think KNO would be perfect for younger kids! I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Have fun on your trip!

Leslie

 

[Aneille]

They won't do swimming, by my understanding.

We used them on our last trip and I would definitely use them again. Our only issue is that my girls are much older than yours (almost 9 & 11 at the time of the trip) and they really enjoy younger (late teens-early twenties) babysitters. I requested a younger sitter and was told they would do what they could, but made it very clear that they couldn't promise anything. When our sitter showed up, she was definitely grandmother age, much to my daughters' chagrin. She was very nice and very responsible and I had no worries at all with leaving her with my girls, but she wasn't very much fun. I think she wasn't into the 'tween age too much. Having said that, I think KNO would be perfect for younger kids! I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Have fun on your trip!

Leslie

FYI for your next trip, Summer was younger. College aged. So you could try requesting her.

 

[lklasing]

FYI for your next trip, Summer was younger. College aged. So you could try requesting her.

Thanks! I'm going to try to remember that!

 

[johnsonet]

They definitely do not bathe them or take them swimming. They do take them out and about if you want. For example, when we stayed at the Polynesian and used Kids Nite Out, we asked the young woman to walk our girls over to Captain Cook's for supper and then to the arcade for a little game time. We gave her a room key and some cash and everything went smoothly. We were concerned about everyone going a bit stir crazy, being confined to the hotel room for 4 or 5 hours. For us it worked well.

There is a 4-hour minimum, FYI. You may not need/want to be gone for all 4 hours but you do have to pay for the full 4.