I need the best strategy to get from Epcot to a childcare center.

[allysetraskos]

So we (DH & DS5) plan on doing a ADR breakfast as early as possible hopefully between 8am-9am at Akershus in Epcot... 12:30 is the snorkleing experience that my son is is young to go to so we planned on taking him to a child care center.
My question is which would be most convenient to get to? Neverland @ the Polynesian Hotel, Sandcastle @ the beach club hotel or Camp Dolphin @ Dolphin... Idk if any are in walking distance or monarail or boat...
Also do you think there's enough time to do rides or meet n greats after breakfast and still take him to childcare and be back on time?
Any advice?

 

[SchmittyUD]

Dolphin and beach club are both within walking distance and there is also a boat for them.

 

[allysetraskos]

Do you by chance know how far of a walk.. My son is a dawdler he doesn't move very quickly, I'm just wondering if its less then like a quarter mile or half. From beach or dolphin to Epcot entrance.

 

[livndisney]

The child care programs are evening programs. For example Camp dolphin doesn't open until 5:30pm.

http://www.swandolphin.com/kids/campdolphin.html

http://www.wdwinfo.com/just_for_kids/childcare.htm

 

[Ali]

It was a 20 minute quick walk to the dolphin, which is all the way at the end, so it will be less than that to the BEach club. I would guess 10 minutes from the IG if walking slowly.

 

[allysetraskos]

The child care programs are evening programs. For example Camp dolphin doesn't open until 5:30pm.

http://www.swandolphin.com/kids/campdolphin.html

Ohh no I didn't know that online they didn't list times so I just assumed that were open during the day!

 

[LSUfan4444]

That's going to be hard.

I'd think you're either going to have to cancel Akershus and use Kids Nite Out in your room so you can snorkel, or cancel your snorkeling.

 

[tjevans]

We used Fairy Godmothers (not Disney, but a third-party service) for our then 17-month old and were very happy with it. They come to your hotel room, will take the child to the park, whatever you tell them they can and can't do.

 

[skateshome]

That kind of stuff just scares the crap out of me.....I don't see how yall do it.
But if it works for you that's all that matters.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That kind of stuff just scares the crap out of me.....I don't see how yall do it.
But if it works for you that's all that matters.

The sitter in your room, or the kids clubs? Or both? Just curious.

 

[skateshome]

The sitter in your room, or the kids clubs? Or both? Just curious.

I guess I would feel better about the kids club....safety in #'s.
But no way could I leave my children with a complete stranger in a strange town. DW has talked about hiring a sitter where we live and that even scares me. Everyday day is a gamble I know.....but why risk something like that if you
don't have too. Just my opinion. YMMV.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

As PPs mentioned, the WDW kids' clubs don't open until either 4:00 or 4:30. Kids Night Out and Fairy Godmothers are both well-respected childcare providers that could watch your child in your hotel room. I've heard that you can hire someone from KNO to accompany you to the parks, but you have to pay for the park ticket for them. I don't know if they'd be comfortable keeping your son busy at Epcot while you do the snorkeling experience, but you could always call and ask.

 

[paxsarah]

I guess I would feel better about the kids club....safety in #'s.
But no way could I leave my children with a complete stranger in a strange town. DW has talked about hiring a sitter where we live and that even scares me. Everyday day is a gamble I know.....but why risk something like that if you
don't have too. Just my opinion. YMMV.

Why risk leaving your child with a caregiver who has been screened, background checked, reference checked, and interviewed through an agency like Kids Nite Out whose success depends on parents' satisfaction with their safety and attentiveness? At some point in most parents' lives they're going to have to leave their child with somebody, and with all of those safeguards in place I think an established provider with screening procedures and positive reviews is one of the less worrisome situations I can think of. There are risks in every choice we make every day. It's not like we're saying "Go to Craigslist and call the first babysitter you find there."

 

[ferd]

I guess I would feel better about the kids club....safety in #'s.
But no way could I leave my children with a complete stranger in a strange town. DW has talked about hiring a sitter where we live and that even scares me. Everyday day is a gamble I know.....but why risk something like that if you
don't have too. Just my opinion. YMMV.

I absolutely agree. I worry enough when I leave my DD2 with family members, and I know they love and care for her. I've seen too many news reports of Child care providers leaving kids in hot cars and all sorts of crazy stuff. I just personally don't need my 'away' time that badly to risk leaving my child with a stranger. To each their own. It's just my personal feeling on the subject.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Why risk leaving your child with a caregiver who has been screened, background checked, reference checked, and interviewed through an agency like Kids Nite Out whose success depends on parents' satisfaction with their safety and attentiveness? At some point in most parents' lives they're going to have to leave their child with somebody, and with all of those safeguards in place I think an established provider with screening procedures and positive reviews is one of the less worrisome situations I can think of. There are risks in every choice we make every day. It's not like we're saying "Go to Craigslist and call the first babysitter you find there."

I agree with this. I know someone who works for kids night out and th process to become an employee is very intense. Also, my husband and I have zero family on both sides, so our one date night a year is in Disney. The mass majority of people are NOT pediphiles, but sadly we live in a negative media run world. For the one bad story, there's tens of thiusands of great ones you didn't hear of. We have been happy with all our Disney care experiences.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I guess I would feel better about the kids club....safety in #'s.
But no way could I leave my children with a complete stranger in a strange town. DW has talked about hiring a sitter where we live and that even scares me. Everyday day is a gamble I know.....but why risk something like that if you
don't have too. Just my opinion. YMMV.

I was just curious, thanks. We've never done either at WDW. I think I would feel more comfortable with the kids clubs too.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have used the kids clubs so many times...never once have I had any anxiety over leaving my kids there. It's good for the parents to be able to cut that cord a bit, plus...get the kids used to being around new people...win, win. Only betters their social game.

OP - I think KNO might be your only option due to the kids clubs not being open. Is there a later snorkeling (after 4pm) or would you and DH be able to do split shifts for it if you are not comfy using the sitter services available?

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

I absolutely agree. I worry enough when I leave my DD2 with family members, and I know they love and care for her. I've seen too many news reports of Child care providers leaving kids in hot cars and all sorts of crazy stuff. I just personally don't need my 'away' time that badly to risk leaving my child with a stranger. To each their own. It's just my personal feeling on the subject.

I have seen several reports of children being left in cars and every single one was by a parent. They didn't do it on purpose but it still happened. Lots of "family" members do crazy stuff. If I was too afaid to leave my child with a caregiver that was as investigated as these seem to be, I would look at myself to see why. Are you going to let your child go to school, to activities with friends?

 

[allysetraskos]

Thanks for the info.. I would feel bad if I left my son in the hotel room bored at Disney that's why I was looking more towards a childcare center so he has other fun things to do but watch a TV... I'm going to try to look into possibly hiring somebody from a company to go to Epcot with us and take him around, I've seen it at MK before there was a girl in a Scottish looking outfit with a barret (I'm assuming her companys uniform) helping a older father with his 5 kids... I know the companies exist its just a matter of finding a reputable one.

 

[allysetraskos]

We have used the kids clubs so many times...never once have I had any anxiety over leaving my kids there. It's good for the parents to be able to cut that cord a bit, plus...get the kids used to being around new people...win, win. Only betters their social game.

OP - I think KNO might be your only option due to the kids clubs not being open. Is there a later snorkeling (after 4pm) or would you and DH be able to do split shifts for it if you are not comfy using the sitter services available?

Unfortunately they only offer the snorkeling once a day :./
Time to replan! lol