BCV and sandcastle club question

[gopherit]

Wondering if it's ok to use Sandcastle club if you AREN'T staying at BCV? I assume so -- but confirm?

Is cost still $10 per head per hr? (Sure wish there was a DVC discount... or even a sibling discount? Buy 2 get one free, LOL!?) With 3 kids the concept is a bit daunting.

Wondering too about walk from there over to Palio... and we DVCers still get 20% off there right? (If I'm gonna plunk down money for 3 kids to stay in Disney's care, gotta save $$ where I can!) How's the food / ambiance over there (Palio's)?

We will be at SSR during this part of our trip. PLease correct if I'm wrong -- are BCV and VWL the only DVC resorts with a club like this (due to the resorts they are attached to -- BC/YC and WL)? Harbor CLub at BWV closed. Can't remember if OKW has one -- know they do kid activities but don't recall a club. Poly has one, right? And GF?

THANKS!

 

[nisiemouse]

I can't help you with Palio but yes you can use Sandcastle Club if you aren't staying at BCV.
You are also right about available locations. There is also one at the Contemporary and AKL. If you are going to Palio I would use BC. We have used the Sandcastle club for a night on our last three trips and my ds really looks forward to it. The only other club we have used is the Contemporary and we preferred the BC.
It is pricey but we don't get a sitter very often at home and enjoy the night out at disney. We have two kids. Three is quite costly.
I don't know if you would consider a private sitter but it might be cheaper.
Have a great trip!

 

[lacool]

Yes, you can use the club even if not staying at the hotel. We have used the Neverland club when not staying at the Poly. We used the Sandcastle club in June and the kids LOVED it. They asked to go back the next night, but at $10/hr per kid ... I don't think so! Enjoy Palio! We are planning to try it for the first time this October.

 

[erikthewise]

The Sandcastle Club is great, but there is also Camp Dolphin which is MUCH closer to Palio and probably just fine. See http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/childfaq.htm

The ambience at Palio is pretty good. We just went there for pizza so I can't comment on the food, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Wow... prices have really jumped from when we needed to use the daycare centers.

Back in the early 90's... pricing was:

GF: $4.00/hr for first child; $0.50/hr for each additional child
Contempory: $4.00/hr for first child; $0.50/hr for each additional child
Neverland (Poly): $9.00/hour/child, no mulit-kid discount
Sandcastle Club: $4:00/hour, no multi-kid discount
In-room: $8.00/hour for up to 3 kids

For the centers, we primarily used the GF when we had 3 small ones. We only used Neverlandland once when we left our youngest behind from the HDD. We also used the Sandcastle club a few times, but not many.

We used the in-room babysitting service a lot... we sweated bullets the first time we got a babysitter... and then we requested the same sitter for every trip over the next several years until we did not need babysitters anymore.

One final thing... My wife and I had a babysitter come by our house (our real house) every wednesday night for about a decade or so... and that was our "date night". I cannot recommend that highly enough! I also think it is good for the kids to see that you want time alone as a couple.

/Jim

 

[rocketriter]

My wife and I always take a date night at WDW. We usually set it up with either Kids Nite Out or one of the resorts (we've used Cubs Den at WL), and then have a long grown-up meal at the Brown Derby, followed by whatever. The kids like the time away from us, too.

 

[rinkwide]

DVC Membership: $20,000
Four Airline Tickets to Orlando: $600
2 Kids In The Sandcastle Club: $20 per hour

Adults Night Out at Walt Disney World: Priceless