How far "out" is your adult night out when using the kids clubs?

[disneyfool_1202]

This will be our first trip to the world where we are going to "bite the bullet' and take time for OURSELVES! I think the last time we had a dinner as just adults in WDW was our honeymoon!! We are traveling with friends and have 2 adult nights planned. We are staying at AKL so plan on using Simba's clubhouse- My friends have been putting their daughter and son in the clubs since the daughter was four- she's now 10 and their son is bumming that he's now too old to go into the club! (he's now 14). My kids are 8 and 10 and had a very successful experience on the Disney Dream (they outlasted me every night and DH had to PULL them out of the clubs) so I'm thinking separation anxiety will NOT be an issue. They are looking forward to going.
Here's my concern- my original understanding is that night 1 we were going to use the club closes to Epcot, as our dinner is IN Epcot. Apparently, I was wrong. My friend informed me she has every intention of just keeping the kids at AKL since that's our hotel, and that way we don't have to really drag tired kids anywhere when we get back.
While I was totally fine with Plan A, Plan B is creating anxiety. Her plan makes sense- why drag kids to a club across WDW just so we can have dinner in Epcot, while they will (most likely) be perfectly fine in Simba's the whole time.
But having NEVER USED THE CLUBS I'm still a nervous wreck about it.
I'm not looking to be flamed if I do this or consider doing this.
I'm asking for people's EXPERIENCES on what has worked for those of you that HAVE done something like this- was it a good experience, bad? Why?? Did you feel safe? Did you not? Did anything go wrong??
My friend is an RN (as I am) and said "anything goes wrong they call 911, then call you. Trust me - THAT doesn't help...... My son has food allergies (severe to nuts). All the kids going with us know how to use his epi-pen and it will be left with him. They are left at the dance studio for hours on end while I am home and they are safe there. But THIS is a whole other ball of wax!!!! (FYI our second night out is at Jiko so I'm TOTALLY cool with that- we are right there!!).

 

[Poohs Pal]

I have to agree. I wouldn't want to drag tired kids across disney after a night out. My niece has used Simba's several times now and her girls are 8. They always beg to stay longer and they are usually the last to leave. You can also make arrangements for them to have dinner at Simba's.. I would think but am not positive the CM's would have to know how to use an epi-pen.. Our girls like your friends 14 year old son will be devastated when they become to old for Simba's.

 

[RMulieri]

I had left DD at the Sandcastle Club at the beach club resort ( where we were staying) we went spent the night off property completely and everything was fine.When we got back to the club it was so nice to just carry a half asleep child up to the room.The caregivers at the clubs are aware how to use Epi pens and they have all your info on file if needed

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Thank you! Does anyone know if I need to call this far ahead to make reservations or do I do it the day of??

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

You do need to call ahead to make a reservation. If it's 2 weeks out, I would definitely call.

The only time we used a kids' club, we took them to Sandcastle Club at BC, then went to eat on the Boardwalk and into Epcot. However, we were staying at CSR (no kids' club there) so we didn't have the option to leave them at our resort. Our kids had fun and enjoyed the break from us, I think.

At the ages of 8 and 10, I would not hesitate to leave my kids at the resort kids' club and go to another park. I would think they are pretty self-sufficient most of the time, just need cursory adult supervision.

 

[MSSANDRA]

No flames ever....

Here is what we have been comfortable with. Older DS, we were fine with the kids club where we were eating dinner at but did not choose to leave him at a resort we were not at.

Little DS has life threatening food allergies and we will not leave him at the clubs. I am sure they are trained to handle them, and he would be ok but we would be too anxious to enjoy an evening. He is however 6, and we are just getting ready to let hi start to self carry. He does know how to self administer but would never trust him to do it for a long time yet!

If you do not have a car, I would be sure you are set to use a taxi if needed to get back to the club in a hurry. Also be sure what the dinner menu looks like at the kid's club. I would reconsider one that would serve uncrustables or other forms of peanut butter or desserts with nuts.