childcare

[gregb]

I've heard some good things about the childcare at Disney, but I'm leery of leaving my kids with a stranger. Anyone have an experience to put me at ease?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

How old are your kids? Are you planning to use the Kids' Clubs or in-room care (e.g. Kids' Night Out)?

I've never used the in-room sitters so I can't provide insight on that, except to say it seems everyone raves about their experience with KNO and the Fairy Godmothers.

I did use the Cubs' Den at the WL on our last trip. DD (then 5yo) loved it so much the first night she begged to go back for another night. And just recently I was talking to her about a hypothetical future trip (I'm keeping the timing of the next one a secret so I can surprise her), she asked if she could go to the Kids' Club every night.

 

[jkstewart1800]

we have used many different sitter services over the course of the past 6 years all around the country. All with wonderful results.

For the past two years I have used Fairygodmothers in Orlando. They have been around for over 20 years, and use only moms and grandmothers for their sitters.

They are very old school, you won't even find them on line. You have to call the cell number and speak with the owner who books the ladies.

We loved Vivien so much the first time around, we asked for her again last august, and will use her this summer too.

They come to your room with toys and games, very cute.

I think the only restriction is that they don't bathe the children or take them swiming.

It was/is fabulous to have time with DH by ourselves.... nay - it is essential while on a vacation!

 

[derncare]

Wow - this really stressed me out to think if someone coming to the room to stay with my children alone whom I don't know. At least at the kid's clubs, there are tons of kids there and it is public which makes me feel like it would be safer. We are thinking of using one of the Kid's Clubs when we go in November and I am a bit stressed about it.

Julia - how much do you pay an hour for Fairy Godmothers? And did they give you recommendations? How did you find out about them?

I'm a freak, I know. lol

 

[jkstewart1800]

I always feel like the safer choice is having someone come to your room.

I bet we could spend hours, days even coming up with all sorts of horrible things that could happen to our kid in either situation and most likely none of them would ever come true!

I found fairy godmothers through the unofficial guide book. I like the fact they only use (older) moms and grandmothers, instead of college age girls or boys.


I have had young ladies also through different services.... one had been a personal nanny for over 5 years.

Most of the time that we choose to go out is at night. My 6 year old may be able to stay up until 10pm or so but my 3 year old couldn't... and plus I want them to get the best nights sleep possible.

Funny story: my aunt and uncle were visiting our room as we were all getting ready to go out to dinner 2 years ago. Vivien arrives and it turns out that my uncle knew her late husband! small world since we were in florida and my relatives are from new england!

Vivien gives us a reduced rate since we are military, but the standard rate is (i think) 14.00 and hour for 2 kids. Which is a better price than the clubs.... i think....

 

[derncare]

That is a really good point re:them getting a good night's sleep. I didn't think of that. At the time of our next trip, I'll have a 8 year old and a 4 year old so she needs the sleep for sure. Both of them actually have pretty early bedtimes. Anyway, I think I will try to book Vivien if she is available. Can you send me her number, Julia? Thank you so much for your recommendation!

 

[jodifla]

Vivien isn't our main sitter at Fairy Godmothers, but I do agree...she's just great!

 

[derncare]

Vivien isn't our main sitter at Fairy Godmothers, but I do agree...she's just great!

Do you recommend someone if Vivien is not available?

 

[jkstewart1800]

I will dig up FG main line..... and pm it to you. I too am intersted in knowing someone else's favorite at FG . Do share.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

My girls went to Simba's Cubhouse at AKL. We went back to pick them up at 9:30pm. They didn't want to leave. We had to go and sit by the pool for another hour to kill time while they finished playing.

 

[Neriberi]

DD will be 3 when we're at Disney, so we can't use the activity centers, but I would really love some references for childcare. We'll be celebrating our wedding anniversary and would like a night out for a grown up dinner! Any advice would be very much appreciated, as well as the number to Fairy Godmothers. Thanks in advance!

 

[Finkelly]

I was searching the disboards for info on the clubs. I dont have any info on the FG's. I think it depends on the ages of the kids. Mine are too old to want to be stuck in the room. But if you want them put to bed, the sitter in the room would be better.

My kids have gone to Simba's club 2 years in a row and have asked again if they can go. They love the crafts, video games and the attention. My daughter is 11. She has only 2 years left and she is sad about it. We would drop them off right at 4:30 and have 3 hours to ourselves and then still back to the room by 8:00 to get ready for park the next day. It was More than enough time for a peaceful dinner and a long quiet walk. We learned the first time when we rushed to get back after 1 1/2 hours and they didn't want to leave , we left and came back an hour later. Both still didn't want to go.

I would like to try another club so we can eat somewhere else. Have heard things like "this club small" compared to others or video games were old and things like that. We have not had a bad experience yet. But I would like more information. The only pictures I could find were of Neverland. That club seems babyish for an 11 year old, but who knows. She might like it. Would love to see what any of them look like compared to Simba's Club or if they have been updated. If anyone has info or knows of another thread, that would be very helpful for all of us!

 

[syncsk8mom]

We have used Kids Night Out on 2 seperate occasions with 2 different sitters. Both we EXCELLENT!!! One was older and one was younger. My DD is VERY SHY and VERY not comfortable with strangers so we were very worried both times, but these women are very carefully screened and trained and DD took to them especially the older women. She came with crayons, toys and coloring books. She even got my picky eater to eat her entire dinner!! She was priceless and somewhere I have her name so I can request her again!!

Good luck with your decision

 

[cmusschoot]

I used Kids Nite Out on a past trip to Disney when my kids were 1 and 3. I have never left them with anyone other that grandparents...so I was SUPER nervous! I called and got all sorts of references from KNO.

We were staying at the cabins in Fort Wilderness. She came directly to our cabin and brought age appropriate toys with her. They do not do baths or take the kids swimming.

You can request a specific sitter or you can request a "type" of sitter, male/female, college/mom/grandmother...etc.

You are "assigned" a caregiver 24 hours (or more) before the time you need, at that time you can check specifics on that person.

I had a great experience and would use them again.

One downside is that they are VERY expensive.
Happy "parents nite out"...enjoy!

 

[Heidijs]

Where are the kids clubs located and is there a minimum stay for them? My DD is 4 and I'd like to know we have a few options if we decide to venture out a few hours on our own. I think she'd enjoy the Kids Club environment etc...where are they located? Or what's the closest one to POFQ?

 

[Finkelly]

You may have to pay a minimum, but you can get your kids whenever you want. The following hotels have them: Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom & Wilderness Lodge. Most are pretty close to the check in.

 

[Zeebs]

We also used Vivienne from Fairy Godmothers, the women who answers the phone is a bit gruff but we couldn't fault Vivienne.

She arrived with a bunch of toys and seemed quite disappointed that the kids were going to be in bed asleep. I was putting them down when she arrived.

We were staying at Windsor Hills and she happily travelled there.

I like the idea of the kids clubs - obviously if you are staying on site, but not until they are at an age where they can handle another late night. We liked that the kids got a good nights sleep. They were up ready to go to the Magic Kingdom the next morning bright and early while us adults were moving a bit slower LOL.

I like the OP and others who have asked was a bit nervous and researched both Fairy Godmothers and Kids Nite Out on these boards and just general web searches and couldn't find one bad thing said about them and I figure in this day and age if there was something that was really bad that had gone on it would be on the internet. Our meal at Californian Grill was a lovely kid free, evening our first in a very very long time.

Kirsten

 

[disdrmg]

What are the ages for children at the kids club at the different resorts? Does anyone know the fee?

 

[hmacmahony]

We used kids nite out, I did not like fairy godmothers. The lady on the phone acted like I was bothering her by asking if the babysitter they sent over would know how to use an epi pen. After that, I canceled with them, and would never call them back.

With kids nite out, I was on the phone for 45 minutes going over my two kids ages, their sex, what they liked, what I wanted them to do while we were gone, we talked about the epi pen, etc etc. I was very much put at ease with them.
The morning of (we actually hired them to watch our two youngest for the day, while we took our two oldest to discovery cove), our babysitter showed up early, with a huge suitcase of toys. We gave her money to take the kids to the cafeteria for lunch, told her she could do anything with them at the resort (we were actually staying at the nick hotel when they came). We were gone longer than expected, and I was a wreck by the time we got back. But, no need, we walked into the hotel room to find my 1 year old happily playing with toys, and my 4 year old making playdoh cookies. She actually asked us to leave so she could play with her new friend longer.

Its been over a year since we were there, and used them, but my daughter (who is 5 now), just asked the other day when mommy and daddy were going to go away again so she could play with her super fun friend who brought her playdoh and a barbie with a pink dress to play with.

I would not hesitate to use them again, it was a wonderful service.

 

[legallyblond98]

"Kids night out" is the Disney babysitting service? Is that right?

We're staying at WL later this spring and our youngest daughter will be just 2 weeks shy of her 4th birthday... I hate to ask this (but you know where I'm going...) how strict are the clubs with the age requirement?