Hiring help with kids in the park

[blakeandjenn]

Hi, I'm new here! I am planning a trip to Universal and Disney in November for my family (husband and two children 1y and will be 5y). This will be our third time at the parks since we had children, but we usually go with family, so we've been super spoiled with having help. My husband and I both want to be able to ride with my oldest, rather than having to split up the whole time. We also love rides, so would like to ride some of the thrill rides together. We are considering hiring someone from a service to go to the park with us to stay with our 1 y/o while we ride with our older and stay with both while we ride. I know someone on here has to have done this, I just really need some reviews that aren't just off of the website. I've called kids nite out ( http://kidsniteout.com/ ) but they have you buy a park ticket for the sitter. I would love to know if anyone has used extra hands ( http://vacationsitterfl.com/ ), their sitters have season passes I guess? There's a park fee, but not as much as a park ticket. It's so stressful, I'm seriously considering trying to take someone with us, but since we're going during the school year it's hard.

Thanks so much!

 

[cjparker0110]

I've never done that but was wondering if you have thought about just bringing someone along? We are paying for my sister-in-law to come with us. Yes...it's a little bit spendier, but it is someone we know and that our kids know as well. We will do the child swap stuff so she can ride things, but at least my wife and I can ride together! We will even have other family (of mine) already there, but they only see us once a year so I don't know how well the kids would do being "left" with any of them. My sister-in-law lives 3 blocks away and sees our kids all the time. They love her (favored aunt) and will be comfortable being with her while mom and dad go on a couple of rides.

I just wanted to offer that idea to you because sometimes kids don't do well with a complete stranger. And you are always taking a risk when hiring someone from a service.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Aliceacc]

If you can swing it, why not? Do you have a regular sitter who could come? I know my teenage daughters would jump at the chance if a neighborhood family offered it to them.

But keep in mind-- you're now a family of 5, and I imagine your sitter will want, as a minimum a bed to herself. So it may cost you a bit in larger accommodations.

But make sure to keep an eye on the amount of time you and your husband spend with the youngest member of your family.

 

[JC Butterfly]

I have used Extra Hands for the last four years! We have had Victoria meet us in the park for help and my sons referred to her as their "sister" for the week. She would sit with a napping baby, or take the older one on a ride while I sat. She stayed in our hotel room with both boys so my husband and I could have an evening out. She cooked meals for us at our request and really very easily integrated into our family. She had an hourly rate and an "all day" rate (some of the nights she stayed overnight with us when we had a rental home with an extra bedroom). It was so effortless and reasonable that we kept using her - even when we did Universal instead of Disney! We met her before she founded the company and have seen her partnerships and dreams grow! We're excited to meet some of the other members of her team this year for our crazy requests! (but yes, they all have season passes so you don't have to pay that fee)

 

[blakeandjenn]

I have used Extra Hands for the last four years! We have had Victoria meet us in the park for help and my sons referred to her as their "sister" for the week. She would sit with a napping baby, or take the older one on a ride while I sat. She stayed in our hotel room with both boys so my husband and I could have an evening out. She cooked meals for us at our request and really very easily integrated into our family. She had an hourly rate and an "all day" rate (some of the nights she stayed overnight with us when we had a rental home with an extra bedroom). It was so effortless and reasonable that we kept using her - even when we did Universal instead of Disney! We met her before she founded the company and have seen her partnerships and dreams grow! We're excited to meet some of the other members of her team this year for our crazy requests! (but yes, they all have season passes so you don't have to pay that fee)

Oh my gosh I'm so glad to hear someone that has used them. We are still considering taking someone with us, but not sure we can afford to pay for an entire vacation for someone plus pay them! Did you buy her food and drinks? I didn't see an all day rate, I'll have to call. Thanks so much for the info!!

 

[JC Butterfly]

For our first trip, I talked with the nanny about a plan for each day (we hired her for 10 days). Sometimes we bought her food and drinks, sometimes she prepared food for herself and the kids at the condo, sometimes I just provided her with cash to make her own quick service choice and incorporated that into her "dinner break". Since we had several days where we were asking for her to be with us for 14+ hours, yes we provided some "breaks" so she could take care of her needs without responsibility. But those first encounters were done before she founded Extra Hands so I don't want to steer you wrong in whatever her current policy might be. Basically, it's not reasonable to expect someone to pack their own food to bring in the parks so their only option is to go out. It may not be *necessary* to buy them food/drinks but I kind of thought about it as "hosting" and that's what is expected.

I went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO earlier this year (I realize, not the same). I agreed to pay for my friend's tickets & meals in exchange for her help. So, didn't have to "pay" her. While it worked out ok, I felt like I was constantly compromising what was ideal for our schedule because it felt more like her vacation too. The benefit of hiring a vacation nanny is it is NOT their vacation . . it is their job so as long as you stick to the agreement you can start and end your day as you like, take a nap time when you like, etc and since you are paying them for it, you don't have to feel guilty . . .but maybe that's just me. Basically, I feel like I get a better vacation value hiring a nanny than bringing along someone on our vacation.

 

[blakeandjenn]

For our first trip, I talked with the nanny about a plan for each day (we hired her for 10 days). Sometimes we bought her food and drinks, sometimes she prepared food for herself and the kids at the condo, sometimes I just provided her with cash to make her own quick service choice and incorporated that into her "dinner break". Since we had several days where we were asking for her to be with us for 14+ hours, yes we provided some "breaks" so she could take care of her needs without responsibility. But those first encounters were done before she founded Extra Hands so I don't want to steer you wrong in whatever her current policy might be. Basically, it's not reasonable to expect someone to pack their own food to bring in the parks so their only option is to go out. It may not be *necessary* to buy them food/drinks but I kind of thought about it as "hosting" and that's what is expected.

I went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO earlier this year (I realize, not the same). I agreed to pay for my friend's tickets & meals in exchange for her help. So, didn't have to "pay" her. While it worked out ok, I felt like I was constantly compromising what was ideal for our schedule because it felt more like her vacation too. The benefit of hiring a vacation nanny is it is NOT their vacation . . it is their job so as long as you stick to the agreement you can start and end your day as you like, take a nap time when you like, etc and since you are paying them for it, you don't have to feel guilty . . .but maybe that's just me. Basically, I feel like I get a better vacation value hiring a nanny than bringing along someone on our vacation.

That is exactly what I was thinking about hiring someone. We could just do our vacation how we want to do our vacation. Honestly I didn't know there was an all day rate, so we were thinking something like five hours a day, that's why I asked about food and drinks. When are you going this year? I can't wait to hear who is going to be with you guys. Did you just keep requesting the same girl in the past? Sorry, I have so many questions. I'm just so happy to hear good things. Thanks again!

 

[JC Butterfly]

So, just to be clear, when I met Victoria it was through Care.com and she had not yet established all of the perameters I'm sure she has now. I had conversations with her through email for weeks before our trip and one phone call before arrival so I already felt like I "knew" her. At the time, she took her hourly rate times 12 and called it her day rate. For our first year, that rate was $150/day. Which meant as long as we were reasonable about giving her breaks/meals/time off and sufficient sleep, we could devise our plan how we wanted. My husband spent a morning going fishing and I had help in the parks. I spent an evening going shopping on my own and he had help at the parks. Plus we got to have some meals out together and have her take one boy so we could have time with just one boy at a time. Basically, every combination of family time and relaxation. And our first day was spent entirely with her so she could watch us with our boys and vice versa.

We used her day rate on our second trip as well and contracted her for several all days. By our third trip, we didn't use her as extensively. We hired her for one in-park day and a couple of evenings out. Fourth trip it was just for evenings out.Not because we weren't happy with her, it's just each trip our needs changed and our boys are older with more stamina now!

My next trip is planned for mid August for 10 days. I am driving from Wisconsin to Florida with my 4 and 6 year old boys and will be at WDW for 4 days before my husband arrives. At this point, I am planning to have Victoria help me on arrival to get settled into our room and let the boys play with her a bit and give me a break! So, the minimum is 4 hours but I'm looking forward to just chatting it up with her too. Then we'll have one day that's a full day in the park with her or one of her employees. Victoria actually doesn't go out into the field much herself anymore because she has grown her company to where others do that part and she does the scheduling, etc. Her season pass has lapsed and she's not sure if she will renew before our trip, so I agreed to let her fix me up with anyone of her choosing . . .I say that because I already have a good history with her, and she knows what I'm looking for so I trust her judgement. Whether it ends up being Victoria or a new person, I won't be leaving my kids alone with her until we've had a couple of hours together in the park so she can get to know my boys' personalities and see how I discipline,etc. My plan will then be that I take one boy to do some one one one stuff with me while the other does some one on one stuff with her for about two hours, and then we'll swap. I'll give her a couple hours off in the afternoon and then she'll come back and help put the kiddos to bed while I go explore on my own for a bit and then pick my husband up from the airport. For that day, my rate is $200. I don't think it's cheap but I think it's a good value. Money is "funny" with people . . .we drive old cars, live well below our means, etc but we have stressful jobs/lives so when we finally get the chance to vacation, we need to make sure that we can really relax . . .that's what I find a vacation nanny does for our family!

Anyway, that might be way more info than what you are after but if you have any other specific questions, let me know!

 

[wilkeliza]

I would be wary of any business that offers a VIP tour and claims they can get you the exact same service as the Disney VIP tours. If it is just the baby sitting that is good but I wouldn't use their VIP service.

 

[blakeandjenn]

So, just to be clear, when I met Victoria it was through Care.com and she had not yet established all of the perameters I'm sure she has now. I had conversations with her through email for weeks before our trip and one phone call before arrival so I already felt like I "knew" her. At the time, she took her hourly rate times 12 and called it her day rate. For our first year, that rate was $150/day. Which meant as long as we were reasonable about giving her breaks/meals/time off and sufficient sleep, we could devise our plan how we wanted. My husband spent a morning going fishing and I had help in the parks. I spent an evening going shopping on my own and he had help at the parks. Plus we got to have some meals out together and have her take one boy so we could have time with just one boy at a time. Basically, every combination of family time and relaxation. And our first day was spent entirely with her so she could watch us with our boys and vice versa.

We used her day rate on our second trip as well and contracted her for several all days. By our third trip, we didn't use her as extensively. We hired her for one in-park day and a couple of evenings out. Fourth trip it was just for evenings out.Not because we weren't happy with her, it's just each trip our needs changed and our boys are older with more stamina now!

My next trip is planned for mid August for 10 days. I am driving from Wisconsin to Florida with my 4 and 6 year old boys and will be at WDW for 4 days before my husband arrives. At this point, I am planning to have Victoria help me on arrival to get settled into our room and let the boys play with her a bit and give me a break! So, the minimum is 4 hours but I'm looking forward to just chatting it up with her too. Then we'll have one day that's a full day in the park with her or one of her employees. Victoria actually doesn't go out into the field much herself anymore because she has grown her company to where others do that part and she does the scheduling, etc. Her season pass has lapsed and she's not sure if she will renew before our trip, so I agreed to let her fix me up with anyone of her choosing . . .I say that because I already have a good history with her, and she knows what I'm looking for so I trust her judgement. Whether it ends up being Victoria or a new person, I won't be leaving my kids alone with her until we've had a couple of hours together in the park so she can get to know my boys' personalities and see how I discipline,etc. My plan will then be that I take one boy to do some one one one stuff with me while the other does some one on one stuff with her for about two hours, and then we'll swap. I'll give her a couple hours off in the afternoon and then she'll come back and help put the kiddos to bed while I go explore on my own for a bit and then pick my husband up from the airport. For that day, my rate is $200. I don't think it's cheap but I think it's a good value. Money is "funny" with people . . .we drive old cars, live well below our means, etc but we have stressful jobs/lives so when we finally get the chance to vacation, we need to make sure that we can really relax . . .that's what I find a vacation nanny does for our family!

Anyway, that might be way more info than what you are after but if you have any other specific questions, let me know!

Thanks so much for the info! I think I actually saw her add on care.com! Initially we thought we were going to find someone off there, that's great to know you did that as well. thanks again!