Childcare services - Fairy Godmothers

[Goofy4Disney]

I'm sure someone here might be able to help. For POFQ, it says "Babysitting and childcare" in the amenities area. Is that a Disney operated service? If so, what age groups will it cover?

And as for Fairy Godmothers, has anyone used their services? We're needing a babysitter for 3 grandkids - a 5 yr, and two 1 yr olds, which and Fairy Godmothers works for that age group. The problem is my (will be 13 at the time) son is obviously not in the 4-12 yr old age range. So what can I do with him? Do I have any choices here? Thanks.

 

[JamesMom]

I think the Disney website listing of 'babysitting and childcare' refer to the availability on WDW property - NOT at POR. There are no childcare/babysitting services at Moderates, Value or DVC resorts not attached to Deluxes (OKW or Saratoga). As a Disney resort guest, you can pay for the nightime childcare centers at the deluxe resorts (reservations recommended, ages 4 and up, toilet trained, $10 hr, meal included).
Haven't used any childcare service, yet. Plan to use one several times on our upcoming Sept 07 trip. Will most like use Kids Nite Out which is trained by Disney but is the most expensive ($16.50/hr for 2 kids +$10 transport charge + tip). Other services is fairy godmother and All about kids.
The 13 year old could probably hang by himself. Maybe take the bus to DisneyQuest - that should kill an evening - if you are comfortable with that.
Hope that helps.

 

[VAgal76]

I used the kids clubs at the deluxe resorts and DS loves them. I've also used FGM babysitting service in 2005 and was extremely pleased.

I think they will care for the 13 year old if requested along with the others.

 

[pperfectmom]

I'm debating back and forth between a mod and a deluxe for our September/October trip. We will definately need childcare one night because I would really like to go the Party for the Senses. Our problem is we will have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. I know my older DD would love the kid's clubs, but I'm afraid DS will need her to be comfortable with a babysitting service. Neither of them have ever stayed with anyone that wasn't a close friend or family member so I probably shouldn't split them up. I wish the kid's clubs would take younger kids that are potty trained(keeping my fingers crossed that he will be before the trip). What would you all do? On the subject of the 13 year old, there is no way I would be able to relax if he was off on his own. Maybe you can ask the sitting service if he can just hang out with them. I don't see how they would have a problem as he would be no trouble.

 

[VAgal76]

For your situation why don't you budget for hiring FGM services and all the kids will be together. They won't take them to a park unless you pay for their themepark admission and food/drinks. They will stick around the resorts, go to the playground, arcade, etc. You'll need to designate what is okay activity and what's not. My sitter brought a ton of age appropriate toys, but DS just assumed to nap, eat and watch cartoons. Just factor in the amount per hour plus tip as part of your vacation costs.

 

[LibertyLover]

I've used Fairy Godmothers and been very happy with their services. In fact, the first time we ever left our daughter with a babysitter it was a Fairy Godmother's sitter. They come with activities for the child to do, like stickers and coloring, and my daughter was so captivated that when we returned from dinner (our first adult dinner since we adopted her almost 2 years before) that she didn't want the sitter to leave.

 

[lpandorf]

Does anyone have information on how to contact FairyGodmothers? We may be taking a trip in June and I could use a sitter.
Thanks!

 

[LibertyLover]

Try (407) 969-9847 and toll free 877-611-4314

 

[Goofy4Disney]

Oh I know... there is no way I could relax either if I were to leave him alone! Not that he isn't mature enough to stay on his own, and he's no trouble, it's just for my own piece of mind. I *might* let him choose a park to attend (he would know not to leave of course until we returned) but even then that's a little hard for me to swallow. I'd have to think about that more.

We're wanting to go out at night so that we may take our DD and son-in-law for an "adult's night out". They've never been to Disney, and we'd like to show them Pleasure Island, etc., so they have an idea as to what all is available to do at Disney (we plan to bring them back again in 4-5 yrs & we're trying to show them as much as possible this time!). I believe there is a 4 hr minimum with these childcare services and that's the very most amount of time we'd want to spend.

 

[VAgal76]

I wouldn't let your DS13 go to park by himself either this day and time. I completely understand the hesitation. It would be different if he had a buddy to go with. Just tell him he needs to help the sitter out but you're okay with him going to the arcade nearby IF he checks in routinely, etc.

Adult nights only are a MUST in our household. When DS gets the notion that he wants to hang with us anyway I tell him tough noogies. I let him pick the kids club to lessen the blow.

 

[MOCHAGIRL2]

I am pondering what to do with our ds' ages 16 and 11. My fiance and I would like to go to Pleasure Island for the evening. The 16 can be on his own, but the 11yr.old is not, but he complains he's too big for a babysitter. Of course, I would worry the whole night if I left them in the room together. I am wondering if there is something the younger one can do with someone responsible for a while that wouldnt seem like babysitting. It would only be for a few hours.

 

[Selket]

I think that there might be a maximum age that one of the sitting services can legally watch a child - perhaps 12 years old is the oldest? I think it best to just give those two services a call (FG and KNO) and talk to them about it. It may not preclude him from being in the room but perhaps they couldn't take responsibility for him or something.

I used FG for my younger son when he was 20 months old and I apparently got the ditziest sitter they employ - she arrived late, was knocking on the wrong door at the hotel (luckily we were watching for her and guessed it was her at someone else's door!) and didn't bring any toys (left them in her car). Long story short....but I would probably use KNO rather than FG if I was going to do it again. KNO did the childcare service at a conference we attended a couple of years ago at WDW and I thought they were great....more professionally run, etc.

 

[goodferry]

We have used both services in the past, and like the Kid's Night Out service the best. Both were great, the Fairy Godmother we got was a lot more uptight and much less fun the than sitters we had through KNO. We did let our 13 yo with the sitter with no trouble. I think I would be hesitant to let him go off alone at that age, if he had a cousin with him or something like that, maybe, and definitely now that he is 16 we would.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I really wish disney would have some kind of "teen club".

Out oldest is 14 and I wont let him go off in the park alone. It would be nice to get an adult night out for a few hours.

 

[LisaNJ25]

double post

 

[wendylovesdisney]

How do you find the number for Kids Night Out? -Wendy