In Room Babysitting - Please Help

[MousseauMob]

Has anyone used the babysitting service the GC refers you to for in room babysitting? We have one child with us not old enough for Pinocchio's Workshop. Any details or impressions of the babysitting service would be greatly appreciated and helpful!

 

[joeysmommy]

I wish I could help you out with this.
I got as far as GCH faxing me the babysitting agreement form.
I just didn't feel comfortable with leaving my kids in our hotel room with a stranger..background checks or not.
When they are old enough to go to Pinocchio's Workshop we'll stay at DLR again.
Last time we brought along our 19 yr old niece and she was more than happy to babysit since we treated her to a week at DL.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I've seen this question asked maybe 3 times in the last year and a half (I asked once), and no one has offered any information on an experience.

Because of that, we also decided not to use the service.

 

[LKHomemail]

babysitting feedback on cruises ... not disney cruises

we have cruised a lot and have gotten really bad feedback on the on room babysitting. in some cases staff have served liqour to kids under five and other criminal activities have taken place. from what i understand the day car that is provided on the main decks with lots of kids / care givers / public activities is excellent. i would be afraid of a sitter in my stateroom.

 

[MousseauMob]

Thanks everyone, I'm rather nervous about it - which is why I had asked the question.

 

[joeysmommy]

Mousseau-
It's a good question to ask.

I really wanted some adult time at DTD with my husband while at DL, my niece was just nice enough to offer. She lives in So Cal so she said she could go anytime and it was no big deal for her to hang out with her little cousins in the room. So sweet!

But when I was considering using the babysitting service I thought to myself' 'This is crazy to let an adult you do not know to be in a hotel room alone with your children'. It's what most parents try to NOT do, and I just wasn't comfortable taking the risk.

I'm sure there are very trustworthy and honest people who work for the babysitting service, I just wasn't willing to take that chance.

I'm a worrier by nature so I worry enough for all 4 of us

 

[Adi12982]

Maybe you can call and ask for credentials/references. It is interesting for people to think it is odd to have a stranger in your hotel room when I baby-sat through undergrad and I was a stranger to many of the people and they left me alone in their whole house with their kids and even left me the car seats to take their kids places. I'm sure many of you may not do this, but it doesn't seem any crazier than having a new babysitter in your home. . . .

 

[blackerbys17]

Well, no matter how trustworthy they are, if you feel nervous about it you will have a miserable time worrying and you will be unable to relax. In your case I would say forget it.

In my case I've done it before but at WDW, not DL. We used a service called Fairy Godmothers and they sent us the most pleasant lady ever. We got a night out at PL and the kids had a great time! However, I will say this: I have an 11 year old and a 3 year old. If it was just the 3 year old by himself I may have felt differently, 3 year olds can't defend themselves. But, with and 11 year old boy in the room, no worries.

I have left my little one in the public daycare room on our last cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl. We came back at midnight and he was still up! He had a great time though, didn't want to leave. Thankfully my youngest son turns 4 this Nov. so when we go in the fall he will finally get to stay at the Cub's Den, which is the Wilderness Lodge daycare center.

Point is, do what you feel comfortable with. If you think it's a bad idea, it probably is.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Have to agree with some others that I wouldn't because I would be too nervous!! (Then again, I don't use sitters at home that I don't know either) What if the person just left the hotel? I can't imagine coming back and my kids were gone!! Hope you figure out a way to do it!!


Andrea

 

[MousseauMob]

Thanks again everyone!

 

[grizbuzz]

I used in room babysitting services at the Grand Californian last year. The service was professional and I was able to interview the babysitter by phone beforehand. I was a bit nervous about it, but the kids ended up really liking the sitter -- she was younger (under 20, I'd guess) and the kids immediately took to her. They mostly just watched movies in the room and I had the sitter call me every half an hour - just to be sure things were ok. We were out for probably 3 hours and the sitter managed to get my 1 1/2 and 3 year old to sleep. I was a little nervous, but my experience was good. And it was so nice to have an evening alone without the kids.

 

[staley7580]

I used in room babysitting services at the Grand Californian last year. The service was professional and I was able to interview the babysitter by phone beforehand. I was a bit nervous about it, but the kids ended up really liking the sitter -- she was younger (under 20, I'd guess) and the kids immediately took to her. They mostly just watched movies in the room and I had the sitter call me every half an hour - just to be sure things were ok. We were out for probably 3 hours and the sitter managed to get my 1 1/2 and 3 year old to sleep. I was a little nervous, but my experience was good. And it was so nice to have an evening alone without the kids.

Thanks! thats great info, its nice to hear from someone who has done that before. We have thought about doing it too, but havent worked up the nerve... I think that we will give it a try!

 

[MousseauMob]

Thanks grizbuzz, it's nice to hear a good experience.

 

[noryglory]

Hi Bob. I remember your question about Pinocchio's Workshop a while back. Did you ever get confo. on if there's any way they can actually confirm the age of your child (ie request a birth certificate)? I highly doubt it. I recall you saying she is very close to the age cutoff. (ie almost 5). I would definitely send her on her way if she was mature enough. Age cutoffs are entirely arbitrary. Some 8 yos are probably a bigger pain than your almost 5 yo would be--it all depends on your child's maturity. Height and weight restrictions are a different story.

IMO, I wouldn't stick my kids with a sitter at Dis. You're at Disneyland! I know you were trying for a nice dinner one night. But unless your kids are being watched in a central place like the Workshop I don't know how you could enjoy your evening wondering what was happening up in that room.

 

[MousseauMob]

The confirmation I received was from Concierge saying I couldn't register her because she wasn't old enough. Now what that actually means at the place, I'm not sure. We wanted to try the Napa Rose for dinner, but if we can't work it out then - hey, I'm at Disneyland, I'm not going to complain!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Grizbuzz, that is so good to read! I am in the middle of setting up a babysitter through the company the GC recommends. I actually talked to a woman today about it. I am so nervous about it, I never leave my kids with anyone but my family (not even DH's family, only mine). My DH and I are running the DL half marathon together and need a sitter while we run. I am going to set it up and worst case, if I feel uncomfortable after I meet the sitter, DH will stay with the kids and I will run it alone.

I will be sure to report back in september after I get back.