Babysitting services?

[gris gris]

Hi, I'm new here!

Our trip is planned for the Nov/Dec 06 and we'll have 4 year old and 6 month old. The last time we went our daughter was 4 months but we had 8 family members with us. Babysitting wasn't an issue!

This time it's just us and DH & I are thinking about maybe 1 night out. Can any of you fill me in on your experiences with Disney babysitting? How does it work? Are you nervous to leave your kids?

 

[Rowlf]

We used KNO when DS was 15 months old so that DH and I could go to V&A's - we had her come back the next day so that we could go ride Mission: Space and ToT together. It was a bit scary at first, but it was clear that the older woman they sent was QUITE experienced and had been through the nervous parent thing many times.

It worked out very well - when we came back after riding rides, we found them outside going for a walk as we were getting off the monorail. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[jodifla]

We've used Fairy Godmothers a half-dozen times and been quite pleased. The first time, we stayed at the hotel and had dinner, so we could go back and check on them.

Since then, we go all around WDW, confident that DS is sound asleep and being well-cared for.

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

Also, if you do a search on this board for "child care" or "babysitting" you'll fins many other threads from people having the same idea as you! This link may help too:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/childfaq.htm

Have fun!

Bob

 

[disneymom3]

Okay, I am coming on this thread to warn you that some people can be really obnoxious on this board when giving their opinions about babysitting. Please please please if you get any of those responses, do not let it color your opinion of the whole board.

We have used Fairy Godmothers and loved them. Not in the budget this time around or we would be doing it again. We were a little nervous to begin with before the sitter arrived, but once she got there, the kids just loved her. She brought a bag of toys and took the kids to the playground at the resort. We had allowed close to an hour extra before we needed to leave and we left after less than half an hour. The kids had a wonderful time and were all asleep when we came back. The next morning they wanted to know where she was.

 

[gris gris]

The next morning they wanted to know where she was.

LOL that's funny!! You're like "hey what about your mom & dad??"

I'll do some searching on the board and thanks to all for the welcome. And the warning I wonder what the obnoxious opinions would be, that you shouldn't leave your kids at all?

I guess mostly I'd be nervous that the babysitter who showed up was in disguise and wasn't a real babysitter. LOL I watch too many crime dramas!

 

[gris gris]

PS - Bob P I had checked out that site before, the clubs look like fun! But we'll have a baby with us along with the 4 year old and it seems that the clubs are for older kids.

 

[tjmw2727]

PS - Bob P I had checked out that site before, the clubs look like fun! But we'll have a baby with us along with the 4 year old and it seems that the clubs are for older kids.

Hi I am not bob but I was going to piont you to that link as well. I also wanted to tell you to scroll down to below the "kids clubs" as she has a section on in room childcare that would apply to your situation:

Try scrolling down to where you see this:
What if my child is too young for one of the clubs? Or what if I'd prefer to have a babysitter come to our room?

She also has a great section on traveling with baby and preschoolers that may be helpful.

We never used the babysitters in Disney so I can't recommend but that is only because our kids were old enough to use the kids clubs by the time we needed them. FWIW my girls love the kids clubs and always ask for a night out without parents LOL - we endulge them of course!

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[Rowlf]

I wonder what the obnoxious opinions would be, that you shouldn't leave your kids at all?

Yep. That's pretty much it. Sigh...

 

[jworthy]

I wouldn't recommend fairy godmothers, we tried using them but they plain messed up. We sat in our room all ready to go and they simply didn't show up. The lady said she screwed up in setting up our reservation and didn't offer an apology or any way to make it up to us. The whole night was a bust....but at least I didn't have to pay $68

 

[disneymom3]

Wow, that is a bummer. I have never heard a single complaint on here about Fairy Godmothers before. They had us call when we got into the area to confirm our room number, did you do that and they still messed up?

I will say that the woman who runs it does not have a very good phone attitude.

 

[jworthy]

I called them twice, once before we left and once after we left....she tried to blame it on us saying my dw called and changed it to the following night. My DW never called. She somehow got us confused with another family staying in the same resort. The only real upsetting thing was she wouldn't allow us to shorten it to 3 hours nor give us any discount for another night.