Childcare Question-please help?!

[JMADgrad]

Our Disney AAA details just arrived in the mail and we will be in the world in just a few short weeks...but I have a dilemma. My dh and I are going to dine at the Cali Grill on a Sunday evening with other adults...we are staying at AK, but I was wondering if we could put our children (ages 12 and 8) in the "kids club" at Poly or GF because I am concerned that with a 9:30 ADR at CG we will not make it back to our own hotel childcare option (Simba's Club) before the club closes at 12...I don't want to spend the evening worrying about whether we will make it back and possibly have to cut our evening short. Do you have to be a guest at those resorts to use the childcare there? We have a car, but having never been before, I don't know if it is realistic to expect to eat and make it back to AK in the time frame I mentioned....anyone have any advice? (Also, if we put the kids at GF or Poly, then we could collect them after our dinner and go back to MK with them, because I think that evening is EMH at MK)

 

[Traveliz]

Our Disney AAA details just arrived in the mail and we will be in the world in just a few short weeks...but I have a dilemma. My dh and I are going to dine at the Cali Grill on a Sunday evening with other adults...we are staying at AK, but I was wondering if we could put our children (ages 12 and 8) in the "kids club" at Poly or GF because I am concerned that with a 9:30 ADR at CG we will not make it back to our own hotel childcare option (Simba's Club) before the club closes at 12...I don't want to spend the evening worrying about whether we will make it back and possibly have to cut our evening short. Do you have to be a guest at those resorts to use the childcare there? We have a car, but having never been before, I don't know if it is realistic to expect to eat and make it back to AK in the time frame I mentioned....anyone have any advice? (Also, if we put the kids at GF or Poly, then we could collect them after our dinner and go back to MK with them, because I think that evening is EMH at MK)

You can make reservations for whichever kids club you prefer to use -- no need to be a guest of the hotel. I think the Poly one would be good for your kids -- especially if they like video games - they have a small room of them available for the kids to use included in the price of childcare.

Liz

 

[JMADgrad]

Great news! Thanks!

Does anyone happen to know if the childcare options at the deluxe resorts charge the same rates?

 

[webray]

You can use any kids club you want. Also, don't rule out the Kids Night out in room option. We have used them for our granddaughter and they are fantastic!

 

[G&J's Mom]

We have used KNO too. It was nice not having to rush back. Very professional and the kids loved the babysitter.

Denise

 

[karen2669]

Use the Kids club at the POLy or grand. Does CR not have one??? If anything should happen you are really close. And Murphy's law. If you are close and take care to make sure you are in "arms"reach they won't need you...but if they are back at AKL and you are at the Contemporary they will surely have some emergency that will ruin your evening. Enjoy your night out and have the kids close by....then sleep in the next day. Then everyone has fun.

 

[stitchlovestink]

it's been about 4 or 5 yrs, but we used the Neverland club in the Poly (we weren't staying there either) and the kids enjoyed it. Younger DD had an absolute blast. she thought it was really cool to 'climb thru the window to enter NEVERLAND'. They are really great. I was very very protective of them at that point (they were about 8 and 11) and had NEVER left them w/ a sitter (except nieces, aunts or grandparents, and my BFF). I asked about background checks, age/sex of workers, how they handle emergencies... the person in charge that night even let me 'tour' the club before we left them. I wanted to see 'behind the scenes', because they really have you fill out your paperwork in the office and the kids go thru the window to the club. I however, did not have to climb thru the window for my tour. Also keep in mind that they do offer (and it is incl in the hourly price while it's out like 5pm to 8pm or so) a kid friendly buffet. think mac & cheese, chicken fingers, hot dogs, etc.... so if they are going during that time, you really don't need to feed them (and I justified the cost a little as that I wouldn't have to pay for the 2 meals for them since they were eating there. ) Good Luck w/ your decision. I'm sure that everything will go fine.

 

[JMADgrad]

Thanks so much to everyone for all of the great pointers ...it sounds like I have some options! I think I may give the Poly a call and see if they have space - not sure that the contemporary has a childcare, as I have not seen it mentioned in the guidebook.

 

[mommylo]

Hi, for our upcoming trip, we will be using Kids Nite out, Simba's club(AK), and Cub's Den (WL) for my 6 year old autistic son. I heard a lot of good things regarding KNO, so we are using them when we know we might be out late and using the other ones for dinner purposes only. None of them are cheap though. KNO charges a min. of 4 hours + transportation and the other ones are just hourly rates.
Good Luck in your decision. You will have a great time at California Grill