How do you Parent's Night Out?

[4theloveofdisney]

We are going to WDW for a long weekend (Thanksgiving until Sunday). For some background...My Dad lived with us for 4 years until he died in 1999. My Mom lived with us on and off after that for years. My MIL has lived with us for almost the past 6 months while going through a divorce (not including the 5 months last year before she reconciled).

My Mom broke her hip this summer and she lives in Florida but still hasn't gotten permission to travel from her doc but if she had permission, she would be here from Thanksgiving until Christmas.

So...we are planning on spending Turkey Day with my Mom in Florida but she isn't well enough to travel with us to WDW. We can't stay where she is. MIL is staying home and keeping down fort (we need a break!) and we only have Friday/Sat. to do things as a family/couple.

I am a SAHM, very active in my children's school and in our community. DH works many long hours and we could seriously use a break with our family but also with just each other. We never go out - the last time we did was when we were on the Disney Cruise in Jan/Feb and the kids went to the clubs!

My MIL does NOTHING to help with the kids even though she is living here - she says she will watch them but the VERY few times she has watched them they are wandering off - in neighbors yards, have painted their entire hands with nail polish or just done something so stupid that you have to wonder if she is doing this on purpose!?!?!?!

So...have you done kid's camps or hired a nanny from Fairy Godmother? What would you do? We just need some "us" time!!! But and I mean that BUT - not at the expense or safety of our children.

If you look at my siggy, you can see we have been to WDW many times and it's always all about the kids - everything is all about our kids and we wouldn't have it any other way!!!! Still, I think we could be all about "us" for at least a few hours!!! Our kids are or will be 4, 7 and 9 when we go.

Any suggestions?

Signed...wrapped with guilt!

 

[Nicolepa]

I have done the in room babysitting. Not fairy godmothers, but the other one and they were fabulous. My youngest finally turned 4 so our last trip we did the daycare at the Yacht Club and the kids had a blast. When we returned after dinner, my youngest, who usually hates going places, told us to come back later!

 

[tjmw2727]

We have used the kids clubs at the Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Dolphin and our dd's LOVE them. The favorite hands down is the polynesian. The kids do crafts, have playtime, watch a movie or play video games if they like and have dinner. My kids consider it a "night to themselves" and ask for it every vacation.

allears has a great section on the kids clubs and in room sitters.

Enjoy -
TJ

 

[4theloveofdisney]

We have used the kids clubs at the Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Dolphin and our dd's LOVE them. The favorite hands down is the polynesian. The kids do crafts, have playtime, watch a movie or play video games if they like and have dinner. My kids consider it a "night to themselves" and ask for it every vacation.

allears has a great section on the kids clubs and in room sitters.

Enjoy -
TJ

Do you have to stay at that particular resort to be able to use the kid's clubs?

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I have done the in room babysitting. Not fairy godmothers, but the other one and they were fabulous. My youngest finally turned 4 so our last trip we did the daycare at the Yacht Club and the kids had a blast. When we returned after dinner, my youngest, who usually hates going places, told us to come back later!

Thanks for the info! I'll check into it.

 

[disneydancer1969]

1. about your mil i feel bad for you.
2. hire a nanny from dis
3. i am so sorry about your mom's hip. i send her some pixie dust.

good luck with your plans!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

1. about your mil i feel bad for you.
2. hire a nanny from dis
3. i am so sorry about your mom's hip. i send her some pixie dust.

good luck with your plans!

Thanks for the Pixie Dust!!!! (And advice!)

 

[jiminy]

THere is NO NEED to feel guilty about wanting couple time. And honestly, I am a believer that kids need time away from mom and dad sometimes too!! We have used the sitting service at WDW and they were great. No problems at all. We also intend on using the kids clubs on our next trip. We used the clubs on our last cruise and they were awesome, so I have no fears about the clubs at WDW.

Have fun and quit your guilt trippin!