Disney with a nanny

[MinnieSweetheart]

We have been together for over 6 years and he has made a few comments about how this trip is going to be "way more special" than Our past vacations... I'm not trying to get my hopes up but I've been waiting for this for a long time and it would be so awesome!

I hope he's not a jerk like my old coworker. He kept faking like he was about to propose. He would start these little monologues and get her all hyped and then let it go nowhere. He proposed 3 days after they got back from Disney. He said it was too cliche?? Poor girl kept getting excited and he was pranking her.

 

[Squirlz]

Its not the fact that I can't handle my kids LOL that's a funny statement though We go to Disney quite often as we are Florida residents. Just parents looking for a little moment of alone time while on vacation. We are not pawning them off. And if I'm not mistaken don't they have childcare at most of the resorts at Disney? Yeah they do. A lot of people do it. Of course I would never leave my child with someone I don't know. So I don't think it's unreasonable to want to spend a nice dinner alone with my boyfriend while their aunt hangs with them in the hotel room. Or go ride Space Mountain while she takes them for ice cream.

I knew a reply like that would be coming and you handled it with aplomb! That's just the way it is here. Kudos to you and have a great trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

I hope he's not a jerk like my old coworker. He kept faking like he was about to propose. He would start these little monologues and get her all hyped and then let it go nowhere. He proposed 3 days after they got back from Disney. He said it was too cliche?? Poor girl kept getting excited and he was pranking her.

That's pretty awful. I hope she pranked him back in her answer. Repeatedly. Or ran the other direction.

 

[jimim]

By your definition, I think many people have used a nanny, and the nanny's name is Grandma.

Yup. I being my nanny and manny every trip in the winter but that's because they do so much for us during the year. It's a trip for them to enjoy with their grandchildren. My wife never lets me ask them to watch the kids though cause it's a vacation for them to relax. Lol

 

[Amazynglydisney]

I hope he's not a jerk like my old coworker. He kept faking like he was about to propose. He would start these little monologues and get her all hyped and then let it go nowhere. He proposed 3 days after they got back from Disney. He said it was too cliche?? Poor girl kept getting excited and he was pranking her.

He's not a jerk but I hope he would never do something like that! A proposal would be amazing anywhere but one at Disney would be magical. Who cares if it's too cliche!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

That's pretty awful. I hope she pranked him back in her answer. Repeatedly. Or ran the other direction.

Yes, they were pranksters with each other. I think it would drive me crazy though.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

He's not a jerk but I hope he would never do something like that! A proposal would be amazing anywhere but one at Disney would be magical. Who cares if it's too cliche!

I hope you get one soon and your happily ever after.

 

[larryz]

That's pretty awful. I hope she pranked him back in her answer. Repeatedly. Or ran the other direction.

I thought that's what the "cake feeding ritual" was all about...

 

[mjkacmom]

Its not the fact that I can't handle my kids LOL that's a funny statement though We go to Disney quite often as we are Florida residents. Just parents looking for a little moment of alone time while on vacation. We are not pawning them off. And if I'm not mistaken don't they have childcare at most of the resorts at Disney? Yeah they do. A lot of people do it. Of course I would never leave my child with someone I don't know. So I don't think it's unreasonable to want to spend a nice dinner alone with my boyfriend while their aunt hangs with them in the hotel room. Or go ride Space Mountain while she takes them for ice cream.

While I think there is nothing wrong with bringing some extra hands to have some alone time, your statement "of course I would never leave my child with someone I don't know" was just as judgemental. Many of us have used drop off kids clubs, or hired sitters we haven't met, and there is nothing wrong with that either. Some of my best baby sitters started out as strangers.

 

[larryz]

... your statement "of course I would never leave my child with someone I don't know" was just as judgemental...

I think, implied in that statement, is the unstated phrase, "...unless they're trusted by someone I trust..." At least, that's how I read it.

 

[mermaidwishes]

We brought our nanny the summer before last, and I am contemplating bringing her again...even though my kids are all older now. With 4 to 6 kids coming (not sure yet), even though they are older (9 and up), they have a lot of different interests and want to do different activities. Having the nanny along lets us split into groups and meet back for meals, and allows hubby and I to have the occasional dinner alone.

Plus, my nanny (who is totally awesome and the kids actually want her along) knows all the little ins and outs, like the fact that you can get free cups of water (with ice and straws) at most food vendors. So, for example, we'd go find a spot for a parade while she'd get in line to get water for everyone. A whole summer week in Florida, and no one ended up dehydrated or sunburned. With a big family, that makes a difference!

So, to the original poster, just make a list of things you'd like to do while at Disney that might not be kid-friendly, and see which ones will fit into your schedule during the time your aunt/nanny is looking after the kids. Don't feel guilty for a minute...your family vacation is yours, and that can include whoever you feel makes it a better experience!

 

[bumbershoot]

But we are hiring her as their nanny for the trip!

She definitely knows she will be working and what we are expecting of her. We have been putting together an itinerary for the trip and she will know exactly what her duties are.

Those two bits of info could have changed the responses from the first moment.

Saying you're bringing a nanny, then we find out it's the childrens' aunt, is confusing. Hence all the requests for more info and comments on how that's not really a nanny. In the future, include ALL info that you have about your question; we aren't mindreaders, and we have to make sure we have the info.

I didn't ask for rudeness. I asked for opinions and strategies.

I saw no rudeness. I saw confusion over nanny vs aunt.

Who cares if you bring a nanny or not? People are strange.

She's the one who put the question out there. Conversation is allowed to happen.

However, I think most people are confused with your usage of the term nanny. This is because it actually can impact responses. A nanny is a occupation where a person,usually with special training, is employed to care for children in a household whereas a babysitter is someone who takes charge of a child while the parents are temporarily away.

YES.

Of course I'm biased because of a relative who uses grandma all the time, for everything, and doesn't like it when grandma isn't available. Meanwhile, grandma is my aunt and I'd like to spend some time with her, but she's unavailable to me now.

The two trips to Disneyland when DS was 3...those would have been grand if I'd had a nanny (or had the money for a nanny). I could have actually felt as though I were on vacation, rather than just doing our normal stuff while in a hotel and at a themepark. First trip I was exhausted at the end. Second trip I was even more exhausted. DH and DS (who was and still is incredibly attached to me and never wanted me to be away from him) sent me on a weekend solo trip so I could "go go go" and have the trip I wanted. Huh, the cost of a nanny could have been about the same as that solo trip, now that I think about it.

 

[china mom]

We just got back from a November trip and we brought along my 83 year old mother and her caregiver. From the outset, o had no intention of having her help with the kids (11 & 13) but one night when DH and I stepped out for a date night she volunteered to keep an eye on them. They ended up going to dinner together.

We used the time to enjoy the Food and Wine festival.

The trip worked out so well that I upgraded Mom and our wonderful caregiver's tickets to APs and have just booked a short January trip.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

an aunt is not a nanny or sitter, unless you are paying her to watch the kids for you.

if you are bringing along a relative or relatives with the expectation that they will take care of your children while you do other things, make sure the relative(s) know and understand that you have that expectation, and that they know how much time you expect them to spend watching your children.

It sounds as though you might be paying her. If you will be paying her, make sure she knows exactly what she is expected to do for her payment. What's the aunt's boyfriend there for if she is working? Is he being paid to watch the kids too or is he on his own while she is on duty? He needs to understand what his options are too.

 

[DenLo]

delete.

 

[wilkeliza]

an aunt is not a nanny or sitter, unless you are paying her to watch the kids for you.

if you are bringing along a relative or relatives with the expectation that they will take care of your children while you do other things, make sure the relative(s) know and understand that you have that expectation, and that they know how much time you expect them to spend watching your children.

It sounds as though you might be paying her. If you will be paying her, make sure she knows exactly what she is expected to do for her payment. What's the aunt's boyfriend there for if she is working? Is he being paid to watch the kids too or is he on his own while she is on duty? He needs to understand what his options are too.

OP already explained that and stated that everyone is clear of the expectations and things will be done as a group, as seperates, and with aunt and boyfriend acting as nanny with everyone getting an "itenerary" before the trip.

 

[mdsouth]

Okay that totally makes sense now! Thank you so much I'm excited to be here and meet new people and discover all there is to know about Disney World so when I go I can make the most of my trips!

My Friend and I did just that on our trip in February. We brought her son along, who has Asperger's syndrome, we called the babysitting place and got a babysitter who specializes with kids with ASD, and she and I went to Epcot for a few hours. Her son (9 years old), had a blast with the babysitter. My Friend gave him arcade money and food money and he had his own little adventure. So enjoy your time and don't let the nay sayers get you down

Welcome to the Dis! Since you have a child with special needs, I would suggest you check out the Disabilities forums. There are lots of people like yourself who are parents of a child with special needs. There are two Disabilities forum. One shares ideas and experiences taking trips to WDW. This forum will be a great resource for you while planning your trip. The other is a Disabilities Community forum to share experiences and just to talk with others dealing with similar issues on a daily basis at home.


As for suggestions on what to do on your own time, away from kids, I will suggest what others have done. Pick a place for dinner that you would go to with the entire family due to its more adult-friendly atmosphere or just because it has food that you might like to eat that the rest of the family would be reluctant to eat. Or go on those rides/attractions that do not appeal to the rest of the family but do appeal to you.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Amazynglydisney]

While I think there is nothing wrong with bringing some extra hands to have some alone time, your statement "of course I would never leave my child with someone I don't know" was just as judgemental. Many of us have used drop off kids clubs, or hired sitters we haven't met, and there is nothing wrong with that either. Some of my best baby sitters started out as strangers.

Yes but as a parent of a special needs child I just feel the need to be a little more precautionary. No judgement at all it's just my preferred way of doing things.

 

[Amazynglydisney]

Those two bits of info could have changed the responses from the first moment.

Saying you're bringing a nanny, then we find out it's the childrens' aunt, is confusing. Hence all the requests for more info and comments on how that's not really a nanny. In the future, include ALL info that you have about your question; we aren't mindreaders, and we have to make sure we have the info.



I saw no rudeness. I saw confusion over nanny vs aunt.



She's the one who put the question out there. Conversation is allowed to happen.



YES.

Of course I'm biased because of a relative who uses grandma all the time, for everything, and doesn't like it when grandma isn't available. Meanwhile, grandma is my aunt and I'd like to spend some time with her, but she's unavailable to me now.

The two trips to Disneyland when DS was 3...those would have been grand if I'd had a nanny (or had the money for a nanny). I could have actually felt as though I were on vacation, rather than just doing our normal stuff while in a hotel and at a themepark. First trip I was exhausted at the end. Second trip I was even more exhausted. DH and DS (who was and still is incredibly attached to me and never wanted me to be away from him) sent me on a weekend solo trip so I could "go go go" and have the trip I wanted. Huh, the cost of a nanny could have been about the same as that solo trip, now that I think about it.

Either way I'm not an author and I don't feel the need to include every single little detail as I am a mom of a two year old and a 5 year old ASD child so I'm a busy gal but my boyfriends mom is the one who originally referred to HER DAUGHETER as our nanny so I just went with it because she used to watch our children every week for an agreed amount of money And still Occasionally does and other than that I don't feel the need to explain myself anymore

 

[TLSnell1981]

By your definition, I think many people have used a nanny, and the nanny's name is Grandma.

My first thought was Grandma!