Bring Babysitter or not?

[LisainCalifornia]

Why don't you try renting one of the two-bedroom villas at the Grand Californian? That way you'd have plenty of space and separate bedrooms. I rented DVC points for our upcoming DLR trip in June and that is less expensive than reserving this type of room through Disney.

Just a thought -

Lisa

I would just say---have you ever tried to do this? It is impossible. I have tried so many times, and apparently you have to reserve many months out, and even then.... not possible. Plus, the cost of a 2 bedroom villa is really darn expensive, right?

As far as taking the babysitter, I wouldn't do it. It is really okay that your 2 year old is demanding. Many families have this situation going on. We do! I think in some ways it has helped our older and younger child to adapt to our "middle child" who had some issues. It is a learning experience for all. Our child is special needs (on the spectrum)--which can be difficult for vacations, but I have found that these family trips bring us all closer. Sometimes forced togetherness is a blessing in disguise.

As far as the babysitter, she would need her own space (room) and of course tickets to DL and some expenses paid as well as salary to make it worth her while. Even then, you really have to approach it delicately, because she may feel that she has to say "yes" to the offer. If you are worried about feeling uncomfortable with the situation, just imagine how she feels! It would be more uncomfortable for her, I think. Give it some thought. I know you are just trying to make everybody happy, which is your job as mom. I totally get that!

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Just saw the thing about Fullerton Childcare Agency on Mousesavers, does anyone have any input on them? Prices?

I read they are good, and offer in room sitting services. That would be GREAT for our needs, because we'd only need someone a few times, for maybe 5 hours each. I could coincide it with our toddlers naps and go nuts with out oldest for those hours. Considering what I had budgeted for flying out the sitter, and her tickets, etc, I'd be saving money too.

The only thing is my toddler, as I said, is pretty wary of strangers and I worry he'd be overly frightened of being left in a strange place with a stranger... BUT if the babysitter was REALLY GOOD and friendly then I think he'd be okay.

Any thoughts on Fullterton Childcare?

We used them back in Nov of 2007 for my then 2.5 and 6 yr old- it worked out great for us. Some would not be comfortable with this but I did a lot of research prior and felt it was as safe as using any sitter (there is always risk, even with someone you know). She was on time, older, brought a ton of fun things to do and was great with my super whiny, shy youngest one. We used her for about 3 or 4 hours one evening.

Hope that helps with your decision!

On another note- as a current nanny (and a mom to 2 of my own) if you brought your sitter you would def need to provide her with her own room (and park tix, expenses, etc). It's one thing if they are family but with a sitter she would be "working"- and you def wouldn't want her in your family space- and she wouldn't either!

My two kids are very different needs wise- my oldest is special needs (Aspergers and OCD) and HATES fast, spinning, high rides. That leaves very little when we are in DL but we make it work. When he was younger we just didn't do it (or did rider swap) and now that he is 11 he just sits out.

My youngest is a daredevil but also very anxious and shy with strangers (not outgoing like my oldest). In general very different kids and very different interests in the park (my oldest wants to do characters, my youngest, even at 7 is terrified to talk to them).

Each year we go our touring strategy changes as they get older and we can do more or less of certain things. And we never feel like our vacation isn't awesome My kids are very tolerant of each other because they just have to be!

I'm sure whatever you decide will be great, but I wouldn't bring another person along. Just enjoy the parks with both your kids and make it work. You will look back on it later regardless and think of how great it was to take them when they were little and laugh at how crazy that trip was. They grow up so fast!!! We still look back and think of how my youngest used to ride Pirates with a blanket over her head, or how my oldest would freak out with crowds and complain about walking too much. And now we deal with a moody pre teen who sulks a lot and a girl who is super demanding and wants to do everything. Just how it is though! Each trip there is some new challenge- we just embrace it!

I'm sure your oldest would love some individual attention - so maybe just do a few hours with Fullerton. If not, he won't look back and wish differently I'm sure. Hey, he's in DL! He'll be happy regardless

Sorry to ramble- have fun planning!!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We used them back in Nov of 2007 for my then 2.5 and 6 yr old- it worked out great for us. Some would not be comfortable with this but I did a lot of research prior and felt it was as safe as using any sitter (there is always risk, even with someone you know). She was on time, older, brought a ton of fun things to do and was great with my super whiny, shy youngest one. We used her for about 3 or 4 hours one evening.

Hope that helps with your decision!

On another note- as a current nanny (and a mom to 2 of my own) if you brought your sitter you would def need to provide her with her own room (and park tix, expenses, etc). It's one thing if they are family but with a sitter she would be "working"- and you def wouldn't want her in your family space- and she wouldn't either!

My two kids are very different needs wise- my oldest is special needs (Aspergers and OCD) and HATES fast, spinning, high rides. That leaves very little when we are in DL but we make it work. When he was younger we just didn't do it (or did rider swap) and now that he is 11 he just sits out.

My youngest is a daredevil but also very anxious and shy with strangers (not outgoing like my oldest). In general very different kids and very different interests in the park (my oldest wants to do characters, my youngest, even at 7 is terrified to talk to them).

Each year we go our touring strategy changes as they get older and we can do more or less of certain things. And we never feel like our vacation isn't awesome My kids are very tolerant of each other because they just have to be!

I'm sure whatever you decide will be great, but I wouldn't bring another person along. Just enjoy the parks with both your kids and make it work. You will look back on it later regardless and think of how great it was to take them when they were little and laugh at how crazy that trip was. They grow up so fast!!! We still look back and think of how my youngest used to ride Pirates with a blanket over her head, or how my oldest would freak out with crowds and complain about walking too much. And now we deal with a moody pre teen who sulks a lot and a girl who is super demanding and wants to do everything. Just how it is though! Each trip there is some new challenge- we just embrace it!

I'm sure your oldest would love some individual attention - so maybe just do a few hours with Fullerton. If not, he won't look back and wish differently I'm sure. Hey, he's in DL! He'll be happy regardless

Sorry to ramble- have fun planning!!

Loved reading this, and could identify with it so much! Thanks for sharing. And you are right, it is sometimes the not so picture perfect parts of the vacation that you look back on and laugh as they get older. We still talk about how our son (our oldest) was deathly afraid of characters (we didn't know this until we went)--and he actually ate his dinner under the table of Goofy's kitchen. He was 5 years old that trip. It was stressful at the time, but now it is something that we all laugh about (he is now 18).

My middle daughter has Aspergers Syndrome, and I have too many crazy stories to even share here--but they are now funny and endearing--but at the time it is a little whacky for all of us as family. It definitely made my other 2 more tolerant of not only her, but of all different kinds of people.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Just saw the thing about Fullerton Childcare Agency on Mousesavers, does anyone have any input on them? Prices?

I read they are good, and offer in room sitting services. That would be GREAT for our needs, because we'd only need someone a few times, for maybe 5 hours each. I could coincide it with our toddlers naps and go nuts with out oldest for those hours. Considering what I had budgeted for flying out the sitter, and her tickets, etc, I'd be saving money too.

The only thing is my toddler, as I said, is pretty wary of strangers and I worry he'd be overly frightened of being left in a strange place with a stranger... BUT if the babysitter was REALLY GOOD and friendly then I think he'd be okay.

Any thoughts on Fullterton Childcare?

I haven't used them but have heard good things about them. You could arrange for the same sitter for each time you want to use them so your youngest wouldn't have to "get used to" a new person more than once.

 

[Mugglemama]

If you had the resources to afford to provide her with her own space, I'd think it might be really nice to have her along. I also second the idea that letting her bring a friend would be the best route in that scenario.

This year will be our first Disneyland trip where we'll be doing something similar. Only, it isn't our babysitter (we actually don't use babysitters). Instead, our oldest daughter, who is 20, is flying in after wrapping up her junior year of college. We have done one other DLR trip with her since she started college a few years ago (we did many DLR trips before she started college)...but this one is different, because her boyfriend is joining us, too.

Soooo...since the kids get along GREAT with the boyfriend, and since the boyfriend is EXTREMELY tolerant of the kids (and quite frankly, my DD20 is nicer to her 14 year old brother when the boyfriend is around, lol...), they've agreed to take one or more of the kids off our hands for an hour or two here and there during the 6 days we'll be in the parks together.

We are (obviously) getting them their own hotel room. But already, my DD20 has offered to let her DS11 and/or DB14 hang out in their room whenever they want and even sleep in there on some nights if they're all having too much fun and don't want to break it up.


DH and I have NEVER had any time in the parks alone in 19 years. And while we're both pretty sure that we'll feel a little "naked" without everyone, even if it's only for short periods of time....the truth is, that it will probably be a REALLY fun change-up for our kids.

I hope you can find a way to afford an extra hotel room (you could consider staying off-site in a less expensive hotel....the trade would be worth it, IMHO). None of my children could probably be classified as "high-maintenance" as far as behavior in the parks go (never had one throw a tantrum or really freak out while at DLR..knock on wood...), but one of my children struggled with OCD issues that made other types of outings sometimes really challenging. Granted, all of her siblings learned to help her cope (and that was a great thing for them to learn how to do), but we did usually have to cater to her ability/inability to handle certain situations. Thankfully, after removing gluten and adding proper fatty acid supplements - all OCD symptoms/behaviors are 99% non-existent now, so life is much easier these days. But I would think that in your specific situation...that you all might have a MUCH better time if you just have some backup now and then, in the form of your babysitter.

Note: Not sure what you're spending on your hotel room, or if you are willing to stay somewhere cheaper...but we have to keep certain aspects of our trip on a "budget" level this time because of the extra person we'll have along and because of other activities we have planned for our non-disney days . We got our rooms for under $70 per night total (including all taxes and fees). It's far from being a posh hotel (in fact, it's technically, a *motel*), but we've stayed there before without problems, the parking is free, it's within walking distance of the trams, and they also have a free breakfast thing which I think just includes donuts, pastries, fruit, milk, etc. (we're usually gone before they start breakfast there, so I'm not positive exactly what they have...). It's the Super 8 on Disneyland Drive.

 

[Escape2Disney]

I'm a single parent with significant health issues. When my girls were young, the only way I could take them to Disneyland was if someone came along to help. One year it was a trusted older teenager who was watching them during the summer. Another year it was my ex-sister in law.

This allowed the kids to continue to have fun while I rested or took care of medical details. After the first day or so, we got into an easy routine. My younger DD and I would take a nap while my older DD and the sitter would go hang out in the park. If I wasn't feeling well in the afternoon, she'd take both to the park while I slept. If I had a burst of energy, she'd hang out and rest or do her own thing while I went to the park with the girls.

The only real problem I had was being jealous a few times. It was hard for me to see them go to have fun when I couldn't be with them. That was my issue, not theirs

Was it awkward? A little at first. But for us, it allowed for great family vacations that met everyone's needs.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I'm a single parent with significant health issues. When my girls were young, the only way I could take them to Disneyland was if someone came along to help. One year it was a trusted older teenager who was watching them during the summer. Another year it was my ex-sister in law.

This allowed the kids to continue to have fun while I rested or took care of medical details. After the first day or so, we got into an easy routine. My younger DD and I would take a nap while my older DD and the sitter would go hang out in the park. If I wasn't feeling well in the afternoon, she'd take both to the park while I slept. If I had a burst of energy, she'd hang out and rest or do her own thing while I went to the park with the girls.

The only real problem I had was being jealous a few times. It was hard for me to see them go to have fun when I couldn't be with them. That was my issue, not theirs

Was it awkward? A little at first. But for us, it allowed for great family vacations that met everyone's needs.

I appreciate what you are saying here--but it doesn't seem to be the same situation as the OP. She does have a partner going with her--and you did not. That is a very different situation.

All the same, I also have a child with health issues, and it has worked out for me to take her and my other child on the same trip without my husband. We are all more flexible on these trips. It isn't easy, but it does work for us.

When I do go with my husband, we divide and conquer when all else fails. I go with the high needs one (a mom's lot in life) and he takes the other 2. We reunite for something like dinner or fireworks. It really does work out okay for all involved. It isn't perfect, but life never is, right?