Anyone ever invite babysitter to WDW?

[WendyinNC]

I've booked a trip for myself, DD8, DD6, and DS4. DH can't go.

I was thinking about inviting our babysitter (21). I would definately pay for her plane, tickets and meals. She would share a room with us. She wouldn't babysitting (per say), just another set of adult hands. Would I need to pay her, or is a free trip to WDW enough?

 

[momofbuzzfan]

When I did a lot of babysitting as a teenager the families I would babysit often invited me to go on trips with them. One family took me to WDW once and DL once. They payed for all of my expenses (we stayed off site). I helped out with the kids and babysat a couple of nights when they went out. To me a trip to WDW was MORE than enough payment! But at that point in my life I had only been there one other time. IMO a free trip to WDW is more than enough!!

 

[llp479]

We've taken our au pair to WDW every year. We pay all expenses, and usually she'll watch the kids one night while we go out. We pay her usual rate for the week, but by law, we're required to do this. We actually have had a couple of the girls try to give us the money back, and most have bought small gifts for us while there.

This Thanksgiving, we're taking our au pair and another with us. The other au pair is with the family from you-know-where, so we want her to at least have one positive experience from her year in the US.

 

[LisaZoe]

Wow, I wish my employers had offered to take me on a vacation when I was a "mother's helper" (take what a nany does and add in some cooking, cleaning, errands, etc.). I did, though, get 2 weeks of paid vacation each year as part of our agreement.

If your sitter is a full time position, would she be getting paid if you don't take her with you? If not, I'd talk to her about the trip and explain your expecations upfront, such as what you'd pay for, what her duties would be, etc. then explain that she wouldn't be paid for the week. However, if she'd be watching the kids while you and DH went out for an evening (something I'd do in your position), I would pay her - probably higher than her usual rate. If she would be paid anyway while you are on vacation, I think you should pay her for the time at WDW at the usual rate. This way, she wouldn't be out any money except what she chose to spend on the trip.

 

[WendyinNC]

Thanks. My sitter is not a full time position. Actually, she works from 1-3pm watching my DS after preschool while I work from home. So, she really won't be missing much in the way of income or, on the other hand, it wouldn't take much to compensate for lost wages. She has been helping me with all three children for 5 years now and is really part of the family. I'm a little nervous about taking all three to WDW by myself and thought it wouldn't cost me too much more to take her along. That is, as long as I didn't have to pay her wages for 24hrs a day for 5 days.

Sounds like it would be okay to just pay her expenses. She would have a free trip and I would have an extra adult along to help take kids to bathroom, take DD 8 and 6 on Space Mountain while I had DS 4, and all the other things I have been wondering how to juggle.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I babysat a lot as a teen and a paid trip to WDW would have thrilled me. I think I would have felt funny taking an hourly wage on top of that.

 

[LisaZoe]

Yes, if she is a part time sitter, I think a free trip to WDW should be more than enough compensation for any "sitting duties" she may perform for you, i.e. watching DS while you and the 2 DDs go on a ride he wouldn't like. If she doesn't want to go, I bet you'd get a few volunteer sitters from these boards iun exchange for a free trip

As a single mom, I can certainly understand how an extra adult along can be reassuring. When DD, then not yet 2, and I went to DLR last year, I was very happy that my sister was able to come with us. Even though I only have one child, it was nice to have her there to help with a variety of things, from getting the luggage and car seat through the airport to carrying a food tray to the table while I pushed DD in her stroller. One thing we did, though, was to spend a little time on our own (DD and me) while my sister went on some of the "big kid" rides that DD couldn't go on. You might consider giving your sitter that option for a few hours on a day or two (depending on how long your trip will be).

 

[dg39]

Explain to her your plans and that your dh cannot go. Tell her the trip is hers if she wants to go and would be going as a friend and not a babysitter, but you'd appreciate the help. Tell her her transportation, meals,tickets and room would be on you, but everything else(and there's nothing else,imho) she would be paying for. What your paying for is more than enough and I honestly don't think she would expect to get paid. Just tell her point blank that she wouldn't be getting paid at all this way there's no misunderstandings. I bet she jumps at the chance to go, as many of us would. Have a great time....

 

[gigi1313]

i think it's a great idea and i think it would be well-received!

i recently had four different teenage girls offer to come along on our trip to babysit... they were practically begging me! one even offered to pay her own way! dh made me turn down the offers, although it was quite tempting for me!

 

[Laurabearz]

I thought I would post our outline I have drawn up for our upcoming trip... We are Laura and Ozo, sitters are C&D. The Character meals are optional, as our sitters are not morning persons... we will provide them money to eat at their hotel (modestly) or spring for any and all CMeals they want to attend. We are not paying our sitters beyond the costs of the trip, oh and for C's birthday I am treating them to HHN, the last night of the trip.

We always bring freinds/sitters and it works out well... Time off for them.... time off for us.... time all together....

Arrive Beach Club Villas 6pm POOL.... Eat in room (optional night for C&D)

Monday
DAY late start day....C&D to BCV by 11:00 POOL 8-1 hopeful for a nap... http://tagrel.com/Tours/DVC/SAB2003/SABSlideShow.htm you can see why we want extra hands here... the place is huge!

NIGHT 5:10pm Chef Mickeys at Contemporary () (Dinner optional for C&D) Magic Kingdom Cruise with Tina's clan aprox. time 7pm, wishes at 8pm (everyone, required)

Tuesday
DAY early start day (8 am meet BCV) Magic Kingdom Cindy/Laura/Ozo swap out with Charlie. C&D may show up at MK around 11am

NIGHT 4 pm Food and Wine for Ozo and Laura, Kids do the Boardwalk with Cindy and Derek.

Weds.
DAY 9:30 am Cape May Character breakfast (optional breakfast for C&D, Cindy should arrive by 1130ish for swimming) POOL

NIGHT Leave for MK at 330 pm for 430 PS Liberty Tree Tavern and MNSSHP!

Thurs.
DAY early start day (BCV 9am) Universal Studios http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website/index.html?__source=RGMN We wont be going to IOA this trip.

NIGHT 4 pm HHN for Ozo and Laura, Kids mini golf, .... other... maybe chill out in room... watch movies, color, computer time....beaches and cream ice cream parlor, arcade, lots and lots of options. McDonalds play land....

Friday
DAY Epcot 9:50 am Storybook Princess Breakfast Aukerhaus Epcot (optional breakfast for C&D, but they should hook up with us at Epcot around noon)

NIGHT IllumiNations cruise 8:15 pm (leave from Yacht Club, located next door to Beach Club Villas)(C&D HHN 6pm) FOr C&D,,, This is the US/IOA website for HHN..... http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/hhn/2004/overview.html This next linnk is a fan site with spoilers.... click if you dare......... http://www.hhnhq.com/

Saturday
DAY POOL maybe a Park..AK to ride Dinosaur C&D arrive by 11;30 7 pm flight out...

 

[foofanella]

We paid her her weekly wage. We also invited her son (18) to come with us - I couldn't imagine asking my nanny to be happy with my kids in the "happiest place on earth" while she was thinking about how her son had never been there. We paid his hotel and meals, she paid for his airfare (and we gave her most of 2 days off to spend with him)

I think if you gave her an "honorarium" - some spending money so she literally didn't have to bring a cent then you would have a fair deal. \

Just my $.02 - I think she'll be delighted!

 

[worlddreamer]

When I was in high school, and had be babysitting for several years for a widowed mother of 2, she offered me the following options: I could go with her and the family on the trip to "help out" (which meant ride the "scary" rides with the kids) and have to pay for souveniers only, or I could stay behind and house sit for more than my regular wage. I think those are fair options that give the sitter a choice, although if she really needs the cash it will be a hard one! I would not have expected compensation while on the vacation!