Childcare facilities at WDW

[DisneyLover75]

Hi!

I have two children, DD is almost 5 (11/26) and DS is almost 4 (1/19) and I've taken dd to disney twice now, and used the in room sitter the first time, and tried the Mousketeer Club at the GF once, and Neverland Club at the Poly.

Of these, I have found the the Neverland Club is really the place to be. My daughter had a blast, and completely didn't care that I left!

On the flip side, the Mouseketeer Club was just a little room with toys and tv, etc.

Is that how most of the facilities are, or are there others like Neverland Club?

My DS is autistic, and I'm hoping to get him potty trained by next year when I take the kids to WDW so I can use the clubs instead of the in-room care. I think it's alot more fun for my kids if they can play with toys and other kids, etc.

My friend and I were thinking we'd like to go out a couple of nights and do the things that the kids wouldn't appreciate, like Epcot's world section or shopping in DTD, or a signature dining.

I'd like opinions, please, on whether you think I should just save up the extra $$ for the child care, or if we should spring for the premium plan, so the child care is included?

Also, how do the child care centers compare?

TIA

Katie

 

[lindsmom]

I'm bumping, because I'd really like to hear if anyone has opinions about the kids clubs...

 

[Passions71203]

Bumping

 

[DisneyLover75]

Thanks for the bumps! I really appreciate them, because I'm really undecided about all of this. Has anyone taken their kids to the child care center at WL?

 

[lindsmom]

I'm trying to decide between Simba's (is that at AKL or WL?) and Neverland. There seem to be pros and cons for each. Of course, when the time comes, our daughter may just freak out and it won't matter!

 

[lindsmom]

Bumping.... someone out there must have experience to share!

 

[DawnM]

I would actually like to know too. We have never used any childcare while there but I am considering a trip with just the kids and my youngest is too small for some things my older ones would like to do. If I could have a couple of times to leave him in a daycare type place, I could take the older boys on the things they would like to go on (and I would like to go on!)

Thanks,!,

Dawn

 

[beachwarmer]

I will give my experiences:

Our DD was 4 when she went to both Neverland Club and Simba's Club. She was never in daycare and only attended a small private preschool 1/2 days three days a week.

The Neverland Club was busier and had more kids at it. It was themed really well and she thought it was cool. She had a good time but did not rave about it. She liked the craft they did. The cast members working were young adults. The security was good with alarms whenever anyone came back throught the window(entrance to the room) and the doors as well. The kids did not get as much one on one attention.

She then went to Simba's Club a few days later. She loved it. The room was pretty big with tv and craft areas. The people working were older ladies. There were only a few children in the club and she got a lot of attention. They were great about giving her dinner and see that she ate some. This is her choice for a favourtie.

If you are a member of Tour Guide Mike he has photos of Simba's club interior in the child care section.

Hope that helps.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Thank you for your input. That was helpful indeed.

From my perspective, NeverLand Club was more fun for my child. She loved the hustle and bustle and the choices of activities. I think she was a little worried in the Mouseketeer Club since it was very quiet with very few children and only one room. She didn't mind it, but she definitely loved NeverLand Club. So much so, in fact, that she wanted to go back the next night.

If anyone has experiences with these places, please share! Thanks!

 

[beachwarmer]

Thank you for your input. That was helpful indeed.

From my perspective, NeverLand Club was more fun for my child. She loved the hustle and bustle and the choices of activities. I think she was a little worried in the Mouseketeer Club since it was very quiet with very few children and only one room. She didn't mind it, but she definitely loved NeverLand Club. So much so, in fact, that she wanted to go back the next night.

If anyone has experiences with these places, please share! Thanks!

I forgot to mention that we were there during a low season in February. At Simbas's Club there were only three children for the entire time. They were really good about letting us know that the club was not busy and offering us other options if DD did not want to stay with so few other children.

You know your children's personalities best so if they like the excitment etc of the Neverland Club they are really not going to get that at the other ones. I read all the reviews (Here and TGM) prior to choosing the two we were going to use and Neverland, Club Den at WL and Simba's Club were the best three overall rated. The one at GF always got the worst reviews and the Beach Club one not much better as they seem to be the smallest with the fewest facilities and space.

 

[DisneyLover75]

There are reviews of all of the child care places? Sorry for seeming obtuse, but where? I'd love to read them.

 

[beachwarmer]

Tour Guide Mike has a section about Child Care and has reviews and comments from people who have used it. There are not hundreds but enought to give you an idea of what each one was like.

Here on the DIS I just did a search on the forums for the various kids club names and variation of "kids clubs". I then just read all the threads that came up with people's views of the various clubs. I made note of any helpful info about each one.

Hope that helps.

 

[mikymouse]

I took my just turned 4 and almost 6 year old to Simba's Club house during our trip. They loved it so much that they had to stay until Milk & Cookie Time even though we had finished our dinner at Boma's earlier... so we just hung out at the pool bar after dinner for a bit which was nice.

The kids wanted to go back every night the rest of the trip because they had so much fun. I think part of the appeal to my kids was actual "Kid Down" time after a busy first few days and our very first Disney trip... they wanted to do some normal kid stuff with other kids like coloring/crafts. There were only 4-5 other kids in the clubhouse with my two children... so not very busy to me.

I loved the staff and the very discreet location at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I remember it being very low key so it might not be a good fit for your kids if they liked an exciting/busy environment. I was so impressed with the staff at Simba's that I wrote a letter after our trip to guess services with lots of compliments for this kids club.

 

[Belle1962]

Do they bring in animals or can you see the animals from Simba's? That would clinch it for my DGS.

 

[mikymouse]

Do they bring in animals or can you see the animals from Simba's? That would clinch it for my DGS.

I know that they do not bring in the animals inside but you might be able to see the animals from the windows. It was dark when we arrived and I didn't notice the view plus we were staying at AKL so the children got use to seeing the animals everywhere. You can definately see the animals at different points all over the lodge...we loved it there. I would contact Simba's Club House directly.There did seem to be alot of kid oriented activities at AKL in general... great staff.