Child care questions

[Marseeya]

Have any of you used either the in-room childcare or the ones offered at the resorts?

I'd like to plan at least one evening for my hubby and me to go out. My 9 year old could go to the one in the resort, but the 14 year old... what to do with him? I'm wondering if I couldn't just get an in-room sitter for the 9 year old and he can just hang out. What would you suggest?

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Bump....

I have this question, too. But mine are 3 and 8 years old.

Anyone?

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

I'd like to know too. My son will be 4 when we go, and I'm already scared to death about leaving him with someone so me and DH can go out!

 

[SleepingUgly]

Someone else asked this question last month, and got some smart-aleck responses about how we could possibly leave our children with strangers, so just a warning that you may get some less-than-friendly answers here.

As for us, we are planning to use Fairy Godmothers at least one night during our eight-night stay at WDW in May. We want to head to MGM one night during EMH and ride ToT without the kids freaking out at even walking close to the building, heh. We also hope to use in-room babysitting another night, so dh and I may have a nice quiet dinner out, just the two of us. All Fairy Godmothers are older women and have had their backgrounds checked thoroughly. I've heard many good things about them -- never any complaints -- and what better reference than word of mouth?

We have two DDs -- 5 and 2. The 2-year-old is too young for the Kids Klub activities, which is why we are relying on in-room help. I've heard some complaints about the Kids Klubs -- no "real" organized activities, cost ($10 per child per hour) -- but have not hear anything bad about the in-room babysitting services. I'm sure my kids will be just as happy and safe as all others have been before them.

Linda

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Does your 14 year old have the maturity to sit for your 9 year old. How would you feel about a dinner at the resort you are staying at and having the older child be in charge while they eat pizza and watch TV. With cell phones you could be in constant contact.

Jordan's mom

 

[Meredith'sMom]

I'm wondering this as well. We have a seven month old and we'd like to go to EMH at the MK one night. We have never left her at night, though, so we'd be very nervous. Truth be told she would just be sleeping, but still . . . Nevertheless, DH and I would like to ride some rides together and my mom (who was originally coming as well) is probably not going to be able to make it.

 

[Marseeya]

Someone else asked this question last month, and got some smart-aleck responses about how we could possibly leave our children with strangers, so just a warning that you may get some less-than-friendly answers here.

To each their own, know what I mean? Working mothers do this when they have no family to babysit, and as long as the service is legitimate what's the problem? My kids have never been left with a sitter before and I don't have a problem with parents who do this. Who is anybody to judge?

At any rate, I called Fairy Godmother's and I thought the woman I talked to was great. The rate is $14/hr per child with a minimum of 4 hours, plus at least a $12 transportation fee. YOu have to pay cash and you need to give them a week's notice. When I called, she asked the dates of our trip and entered it in the system and said even though we're not sure if we'll use the service, at least she'll have that spot reserved for us and will knock off each day as it comes the week before (if that makes sense).

In our case, they would charge for the 14 year old and he would have to stay with them at all times, like if the sitter took them around the resort to the pool or arcade. I think we're going to play it by ear. If my son could just hang out on his own in the room I wouldn't mind so much, but I don't want him to have to be stuck doing what his sister wants to do, and I don't want my daughter to be stuck in the room. I might look into Simba's clubhouse instead.

 

[Marseeya]

Does your 14 year old have the maturity to sit for your 9 year old. How would you feel about a dinner at the resort you are staying at and having the older child be in charge while they eat pizza and watch TV. With cell phones you could be in constant contact.

Jordan's mom

He does have the maturity to watch her and has been doing it for the last year or so. But I wanted to do something where they could leave the room and I don't feel comfortable with the two of them going out without an adult. He would be perfectly content staying in the room playing computer games on one of the laptops, but she'd be bored out of her mind.

 

[SleepingUgly]

Is that $14 per hour for EACH child? So for my two girls, it would be $28 per hour? I thought the $14 per hour included a maximum of two kids. Yikes, if it's $28 per hour, we may have to rethink our plans!

Linda

 

[Nicolepa]

We used the Disney in room sitters in September and she was awesome! She came with her own toys & videos. They colored etc. Both were asleep when we got home. We NEVER use a sitter, this was the second time ever (mine are 2 & 4).

I don't remember exactly how much it was per hour, but it wasn't per child (maybe $1 or 2 more per hour but not the full rate). There was a 4 hour minimum. By the time we added in the transportation charge, tip etc it was like $100 for 5 hours.

We wouldn't hesitate to use them again!

 

[nucpharm29]

We are planning to use Kid's Nite out for DD (16months) in april. Their rate is 14/hr for the first child plus $8 transportation fee ($16.50 for 2 kids). They take credit cards only and request reservations 2 weeks ahead of time. I've read great things about this service on this board. The website is www.kidsniteout.com, but you do have to call the 800 number to make reservations.

 

[CEDmom]

If I were in the OP's position and didn't feel the 14 yo could be left in the room on his own I'd opt for the in-room care. The person could take both kids to the pool, the arcade and get them something to eat. For us personally though since we have just DD5 I'd opt for one of the kids clubs. I think DD would handle being away from us better in a group setting than with just a strange sitter.

 

[Nicolepa]

We are planning to use Kid's Nite out for DD (16months) in april. Their rate is 14/hr for the first child plus $8 transportation fee ($16.50 for 2 kids). They take credit cards only and request reservations 2 weeks ahead of time. I've read great things about this service on this board. The website is www.kidsniteout.com, but you do have to call the 800 number to make reservations.

This is what we used. They were awesome! Like I said my kids don't ever have sitters so my oldest was very upset we were leaving. She took right over and the kids had a blast!

 

[Nicolepa]

For us personally though since we have just DD5 I'd opt for one of the kids clubs.

I can't wait for my kids to be old enough to go to the kids club! We always keep the kids on Pacific time when at Disney so we could stay out till they close at midnight and they would be fine!

 

[Desnik]

For a 14yo and a 9yo I would probably leave them with an in room sitter. I am almost positive they can bring the kids to the arcade at the resort and pool. I think I would feel comfortable with that. I have heard great things about Fairy Godmothers and kids night out. It really comes down to what you feel comfortable with.

I do have to comment on this so I'll put my flame suit on now! First I must say I am a SAHM and my kids do not stay with a sitter. They are 2yo and 7yo. My mother watches them maybe once evey 3 months!LOL Having said that I guess it's obvious I don't like to leave my kids with a sitter. I don't know how anyone could leave an infant alone with an in room sitter and be comfortable with it on vacation. I know working moms do this all the time. I'm not talking about that. If you are on vacation, and you have made the decision to bring your infant, why do you have to have a night out alone? There are alternatives. Leave the baby at home with a relative to have a short time away with spouse, bring a relative, nanny, whatever, someone you know and trust with you so you could have that time alone. I just have this fear with a stranger in a hotel room with no one else around. I might feel differently if maybe an older sibling was there.

This past trip was the first time we left DD at a kids club. She was almost 7yo and we took her to the Neverland Club at the POLY. She was dying to go and I felt really comfortable with this place. It was safe, organized and fun. DD can't wait to go back. DH and I had dinner with our DS at Ohanas and picked her up within 90 mins. No 4hr minimum.

I really don't mean to offend anyone in this post. I just really would like to know how alot of people leave infants alone on vacation with an in room sitter. I maybe need some of that trust so I can have a life!!!LOL Maybe I'm the one with the problem? Go ahead, you can tell me, I can take it!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Desnik:

I completely understand your position. I can only think of two things that would reassure some.

If your oldest daughter stayed with the baby with the in-room sitter she would probably tell you if anything happened out of the ordinary. This is my plan for our 8 and 3 year old. They bring games, crafts and such with them so I don't think they would just be watching TV.

Secondly, I have to believe that this company would not be around, much less be approved by Disney, unless they had the highest of standards. There are two services as I understand one is the baby sitters (usually younger) and one provides more "grand-motherly" types for the service. You might feel comfortable with one over the other.

 

[Marseeya]

I really don't mean to offend anyone in this post. I just really would like to know how alot of people leave infants alone on vacation with an in room sitter. I maybe need some of that trust so I can have a life!!!LOL Maybe I'm the one with the problem? Go ahead, you can tell me, I can take it!

I don't think you have a problem, but I also don't think people with different comfort levels are wrong either. When mine were babies, there's no way I would have left them with an in-room sitter, but not so much because of the whole "stranger" aspect, but because I didn't like leaving them with anybody. I can definitely understand mom and dad wanting a night out without the kids, especially if they don't get vacations like this very often.

I've decided to let the 14 yr old stay in the room and go to the arcade on his own, and I'm going to try to get the 9 year old to go to Simba's Clubhouse. She'll love it! Regarding the 14 yr old, he's 5'8" tall and 180 pounds. While it's possible someone might want to mess with him, they'll get one heck of a fight in return

 

[ReggieB]

My son is 4 1/2 It has taken me a long time to leave him with anyone! He started pre-school last September and I had never been without him for that long (3 hours) It was a real adjustment, however he is such an outgoing kid I knew it was really going to be more my problem than his. Amazingly I adjusted within a couple of weeks!!

In October we had a meal at V&A's, my son went to the Mousketeers Club at the resort. I thought it was pretty small, but the staff were very friendly and there were lots of toys to play with, as well as plenty of supplies for drawing and the such like. I think they had video games too. He loved it, wanted to go back the next day! My husband was out with him in the grounds of the GF, when a cast member started waving and saying "Hey Ben!" to my son, so I guess he left as much an impression on them as they did on him!!

And you know what? I was fine, I had a great meal, didn't worry at all, (well maybe I thought about how he was doing a couple of times) I felt reassured with the pager, and I wasn't far away. It was a pretty big deal for me..but it turned out not to be. So I guess you could say we both grew a little that day!!!

 

[zzammmi]

To each his own. We all love our children and try to ensure their safety and comfort.

 

[robyn323]

ZZammmi said it all (did I spell that right?)