Babysitter for in the parks

[nelsonkg]

Hi! Has anyone used one of the sitter services to accompany you in the parks? It will be myself DS5 and DS11 and I want my 11 yr old to be able to ride what he wishes to so I need an extra pair of hands to keep my 5 yr old company during these ride times.

 

[mjkacmom]

Can't he just ride alone?

 

[MScott1851]

Tell you what...you pay my way and Ill keep your kid company.

I spent most of our last trip riding Goofy's Barnstormer over and over or picking up sticks off the ground with my 2 year old while DH rode the 'good stuff.' At least your 5 year old is potty trained & can make conversation!

 

[brymolmom]

The good news is that with a 5 and 11 year old - depending on height of 5 year old - they BOTH should be able to go on just about everything. For the maybe 3 or 4 things that the 5 year old isn't big enough to do - the 11 year old can go on alone. I would just get a FP for him for each of these so that you aren't waiting forever at the exit.

 

[MSSANDRA]

To answer your question, I think that you can use Fairy Godmothers to hire someone to go to the parks with you. You would have to pay their fee, transportation cost, admission to the parks and maybe even meals in the parks so it would be very costly.

As others have said, it really may not be the issue you think it will. DS is 5, and I think there are only about 2 or 3 rides that he is not tall enough to ride. Now, your five year old may not choose to ride everything she can, but most rides are ok for her. Your DS can indeed ride alone, using FP or single rider line on a few things. You might have to have them compromise a little too, she will ride, or wait on him to ride star tours and he agrees to sit through small world or whatever. We had a 5 year old and a teen last trip and it was no problem at all.

 

[nelsonkg]

I guess I should have been more specific. I have been to WDW many times and I am familiar with the rides. I do not want my DS11 to ride alone and my DS5 is not adventurous. I would love to hear from someone who may have used a sitter in the park. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[Leajess99]

It sounds like it may become expensive to hire someone for in the park especially if you have to pay their hourly rate, transportation, ticket, and possibly meals. Is there a friend or family member that could go with you??

Personally, I would pay someone I knew and trusted to go on the trip over hiring someone.

 

[AlixaLock]

I totally know where you are coming from! I love the idea of giving your 11-year-old a day when he can ride with mom and yet the whole family is still together in the parks. We haven't done this at Disney, but we've done it at the beach and it worked out great. We have used Fairy Godmother's for in-room sitting and they are amazing ... can't recommend them highly enough. I don't see why it wouldn't be the same in the parks.

Whatever ends up working out for your family ... have a blast!

 

[Schmeck]

How about using one of the kids' clubs for your youngest, and taking your oldest to a park one evening? Might be less expensive, and a fun experience for your youngest, playing with other kids instead of hanging out with one hired stranger.

If any of the babysitting services do have in park sitters, I'm sure they would be great!

 

[denisecolby]

If your budget permits, how about bringing a friend for your 11 year old to pal around with and go on rides with?

I know of one friend who inquired about in park babysitting and was shocked at the price. It would of cost her about $300 for one day! What she ended up doing was googleing for local highschools in the area and talking to one of their guidance offices.She is a teacher herself so may of had connections. She managed to get an 18 year old girl who was recommended by the school as being very responsible and had experience babysitting. Because she lived close, she already had her florida resident tickets. She worked it out with the girl to pay her $10 an hour, 3 hours a day, for 5 days. I think she also paid for her CS lunch every day too.

Not sure why you wouldn't want your 11 year old to go it alone on a ride. but I'm sure you have reasons. We let our 9 year old grandson go on rides we don't ride and just wait for him at the exit. We've done it many times and haven't lost him yet! We do all have cell phones just in case.

 

[Granny square]

We took one of my older nieces and nephews a couple of times to pal up with my older son/sons. They love their cousins and the chance to have them for the week was awesome for all of us. We made sure that they got to do special stuff too. Scuba diving at the living seas, parasailing, bass fishing, and Tom petty. It was a huge win win situation for us.

Mscott, that was my life for a long time! I hope your trip had some higher points, lol!

 

[SmallWorld71]

This is from Kid's Night Out's website; I have seen lots of positive reviews on using them to babysit at the resort:

Additional Information
Water activities are not permitted. (bathing, boating, swimming)

When traveling to a theme park with a caregiver, transportation cannot be by private vehicle. Shuttle, chartered transportation, taxi, or Walt Disney World transportation service is acceptable.

Please be aware that theme parks do not allow our caregivers admittance for free. A mother’s or father’s helper will need a theme park ticket purchased for their admittance.

Our caregivers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reservations may begin as early as 6:30am and/or may begin as late as 11:00pm. There is no limit to the number of hours that you may utilize the services of a caregiver. (During the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, reservations may be booked as early as 3:00am.)

If a caregiver is needed for an eight (8) hour shift or more, we request that a meal be provided for the caregiver.

We accept credit card as the only form of payment. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted for your convenience.

Our caregivers are able to accept a gratuity in cash if you feel that you were extended exemplary service.

 

[spel]

Like others have mentioned, you'll need to pay park admission for the Fairy Godmothers, which gets pricey. There is a kids club in the Poly, I believe, where you can bring your 5-year-old and spend the evening with your 11-year-old riding the rides at MK. I think that would be such a special time for the two of you. Best of luck!

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I guess I should have been more specific. I have been to WDW many times and I am familiar with the rides. I do not want my DS11 to ride alone and my DS5 is not adventurous. I would love to hear from someone who may have used a sitter in the park. Thanks everyone for your input.

I completely understand where you're coming from! It's nice as a parent to be able to ride the rides with one child, while not forcing a child who doesn't want to ride to do so.

We've never used the on-site services, but we have brought along our nanny a couple of times for this purpose (plus, she gets to have a blast with the kids, whom she loves and who love her and it made for a much more pleasant trip!

If the expense of bringing a sitter into the park is too great for what you want to spend, then I second (third?) the idea of using the kids club at the Poly one evening to give you some one-on-one time with your older, more adventurous child. It's not ideal, but it is the best compromise I can think of.

Good luck!

 

[nchulka]

This is from Kid's Night Out's website; I have seen lots of positive reviews on using them to babysit at the resort:

Additional Information
Water activities are not permitted. (bathing, boating, swimming)

When traveling to a theme park with a caregiver, transportation cannot be by private vehicle. Shuttle, chartered transportation, taxi, or Walt Disney World transportation service is acceptable.

Please be aware that theme parks do not allow our caregivers admittance for free. A mother’s or father’s helper will need a theme park ticket purchased for their admittance.

Our caregivers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reservations may begin as early as 6:30am and/or may begin as late as 11:00pm. There is no limit to the number of hours that you may utilize the services of a caregiver. (During the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, reservations may be booked as early as 3:00am.)

If a caregiver is needed for an eight (8) hour shift or more, we request that a meal be provided for the caregiver.

We accept credit card as the only form of payment. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted for your convenience.

Our caregivers are able to accept a gratuity in cash if you feel that you were extended exemplary service.

It seems to me that people who did this on a regular basis should have an annual pass. That would make a lot more sense! If their job is babysitting kids in the parks shouldn't their employer provide them with a pass.

To the OP most of the rides are so tame I don't think you will have trouble all riding together. For the handful of more adventurous rides that your 5 year old is tall enough for just doesn't want to ride, you can all wait together and just have him go out the chicken exit and wait for you and your older child to ride It's kind of boring for him, but if you use fp it shouldn't eat up too much time!

 

[Schmeck]

It seems to me that people who did this on a regular basis should have an annual pass. That would make a lot more sense! If their job is babysitting kids in the parks shouldn't their employer provide them with a pass.

No, they don't have to have an annual pass, as it is not their job to babysit in the park - that's just a request some parents make, and thus the parents have to pay for the employee's entrance. That's the policy set by the company.

 

[DISNEYNV]

How about using one of the kids' clubs for your youngest, and taking your oldest to a park one evening? Might be less expensive, and a fun experience for your youngest, playing with other kids instead of hanging out with one hired stranger.

If any of the babysitting services do have in park sitters, I'm sure they would be great!

This is a great idea and alternative to a park sitter. We have had our two kids at The Neverland Club at the Polynesian and they both looooovvvvved it! My four year old wants to go back! It's relatively inexpensive and they are in great hands. You and your older child can relax and rode while your youngest has fun with other kids. You can call to make reservations ahead of time and the hours are evening ones. They even give them dinner and snacks.

 

[codimouse]

I guess I should have been more specific. I have been to WDW many times and I am familiar with the rides. I do not want my DS11 to ride alone and my DS5 is not adventurous. I would love to hear from someone who may have used a sitter in the park. Thanks everyone for your input.

Let me know what you find. I always take a nanny from home on the vacations we may need help. We pay her way as if she were a member of our family.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

I have brought a sitter to the park with my sister. Between us we had 2 kids, but it just made it easier. Worked out great. I used someone not affiliated with Disney-bought her a ticket, meals, drinks, etc. Totally worth it.