Babysitting?

[sarehm]

Can anyone tell me how to go about getting a babysitter and the costs involved? Thanks!

 

[LisaDKG]

When we went in Sept with my DD31/2 and DD6 my husband and I contacted Kid's Nite Out who have a website and operated in WDW. They sent out a sitter right to our hotel room while we went out for dinner to California Grill. It cost about $80 for 4 hours for our 2 kids. There is a 4 hour minimum. The trouble was, the night was just 3 days into our trip, we were having a great time altogether, and I guess I wasn't really ready for a grownup-only night out (the end of our trip might have had me singing another tune). When our sitter arrived, she didn't really seem that INTO it KWIM? I thought she would have games and activities with her but my kids said they mostly watched TV and my son played his video game. We fed the kids in advance but left 20 bucks to go for a walk and get ice cream. The receipt she left said that yes the kids had got ice cream but that she had got a chicken stirfry for herself - I thought this was pretty weird but then I had a vague sort of memory that maybe the operator had said the sitter would require a meal? - I really can't recall. No biggie, we always leave snacks for our sitters at home. Also, we we returned, I ducked into our bathroom super quick (after the few drinks with dinner!) and when I came out, she had already split.
For the price I totally was uninpressed (although it might just have been our sitter. The reviews I read here seemed really positive). I wouldn't use a sitter's services again during a holiday in general unless there was an event that was for sure adult's only. I have to admit, I felt really guilty that we had left our kids with this lackluster sitter - and usually I am ALL for parent's time out!

 

[Bob P]

There is lots of info here...costs, phone numbers, reviews, etc. Plus info about the Kids Clubs at WDW resorts.

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

 

[gaelic grace]

We used a sitter from Kid's Nite Out in March. It was a very positive experience. We had an 8, 4,4,and a 3year old. We had the kids bathed and had pizza ordered. The sitter was wonderful a good mix of firm but fun. We explained that the kids had a busy couple of days and that we wanted them to play a little and then go to bed. There was an extensive check-off sheet and questions to answer including specific channels the kids could watch or if they could watch. We ended up letting the oldest watch one show in one room while the younger girls watched another show in the other room right before they went to sleep. She came with games and coloring books and played with the kids. We got nothing but rave reviews from the kids. The cost at 20.00 an hour was only a couple dollars more an hour than what we would have paid for 4 kids at home. In fact the kids ask about her now. I will definitely use them again. Of course the kids are all old enough to tell us exactly what happened and know how to call us on the cell phone if necessary.