In Room Sitters

[zstyles]

I have searched but didn't find anything but if somone knows of another thread or can just reply here that would be great!

We are planning to go to dinner one evening and want to leave our DD 6 in the room with a fun sitter. I know there are choices in some guide books which are listed below but what experience has everyone else had?

Kids Nite Out
Fairy Godmothers
All About Kids

Anyone?

 

[zstyles]

I think everyone is out of the office today

 

[delmar411]

I'm planning on using Kids Nite Out because they are the 'official' on site sitters. Lots of great reviews.

I have used Fairy Godmothers before but that was back in 2002. It was a 'grandmother' type who watched DD and she really was wonderful. Expensive but wonderful! LOL

 

[*pixie*dust*]

****disclaimer*****This is a sincere question. Not intended to insult at all. It is probably just me being overly protective.***

Are you at all nervous leaving your child with a stranger in a hotel room? I have always thought having a sitter for an evening at WDW would be nice but the idea of a stranger in the room with my child always creeps me too much.

 

[sandy0904]

There will be 3 couples going in November and each of us have a toddler. It has crossed my mind about getting an in room sitter for one night so that we can have a nice quiet dinner but i don't think i would feel comfortable leaving them either....at least not at their age.

 

[mjkacmom]

Friends of mine have raved about Fairy Godmothers, and I've only heard very positive things about all of the in room sitters here on the DIS. I wouldn't hesitate to use them, but your child might prefer a kids club. I've also used onsite daycare and sitters on other vacations, and had no fears.

 

[Miss Ang]

****disclaimer*****This is a sincere question. Not intended to insult at all. It is probably just me being overly protective.***

Are you at all nervous leaving your child with a stranger in a hotel room? I have always thought having a sitter for an evening at WDW would be nice but the idea of a stranger in the room with my child always creeps me too much.

I agree with you completely. I can't even imagine leaving my kids alone in a hotel room with a complete stranger. But evidently a lot of people do it since it has such great reviews.

 

[KristiMc]

Have you checked out the kids clubs? They are for kids age 4 and older. We took our boys to the Neverland Club and they both loved it.

 

[delmar411]

****disclaimer*****This is a sincere question. Not intended to insult at all. It is probably just me being overly protective.***

Are you at all nervous leaving your child with a stranger in a hotel room? I have always thought having a sitter for an evening at WDW would be nice but the idea of a stranger in the room with my child always creeps me too much.

I agree with you completely. I can't even imagine leaving my kids alone in a hotel room with a complete stranger. But evidently a lot of people do it since it has such great reviews.

With my first she had tons of sitters and went to daycare as I was working FT, going to school PT and still trying to have some sort of life. So while it was a little weird to have a stranger in our hotel room with DD, I wasn't concerned because she was used to sitters. And the companies do a lot more background checks than even I could do on a regular sitter at home, yk?

This time around, I'd really like an evening with DH. We haven't had a night out alone in years and that's really pitiful. The kids will all be out of diapers so I don't have to worry about diaper changes. It will be late evening when we head out so it will be time for bed shortly after we leave. And I have my oldest DD who will be almost 12 to also keep an eye on things. We are staying in a 2bedroom villa so the sitter wont be trapped in a regular hotel room with 4 kids either which lessens the creepy factor for me. (the sitter sitting in the dark doing nothing is the really weird part for me)

I'm still on the fence about it as I don't leave the kids with anyone other than an hour or so at the gym in their center a few times a week. Even that took me the better part of the year to deal with. LOL

 

[natnelliesmom]

At 6 years old, your daughter can use the kid's clubs. Much more fun than sitting in the room with a sitter. I believe the clubs are open late, so just plan your dinner time around the closing time. They feed them, amuse them and she'll have plenty to do to make the time pass quickly.
My DDs loved them on our last trip and my DH and I had two child free evenings.
We tend to be a bit overprotective, so we actually chose restaurants in the same resort as the kid's club we chose.
Worked very well for us!

My friend used Kids Night Out on their last trip- and was a bit startled when she got back to find that the sitter had taken the kids to the resort for dinner. She had used the room key to charge their meals.
Not that she minded really- but she didn't realize they would be leaving the safety of their room.
So if you do go with a sitter- make sure you lay out your ground rules and expectations clearly!

-Sarah

 

[Cibahwewah]

We used Fairy Godmothers in January. We had a very nice 40-something lady named Chris. We didn't have the kids nap that afternoon, and after pizza for dinner in the room, they were asleep by 6pm. DS woke up for a couple minutes to say hi to Chris and then went back to sleep, DD never woke up at all. She just sat and quietly read a book all evening and let them get their rest. DH and I enjoyed a romantic dinner at California Grill. Expensive, but worth it. Next time we definitely want to repeat "date night" and we'll try the Neverland Club, since both kids will be old enough, but the advantage of the in-room sitter was that the kids went to bed early and slept hard after a long day at Epcot. The lady that owns the agency and answers the phone is so nice and helpful and very sweet. Just like a Fairy Godmother, I suppose.

 

[zstyles]

Thanks all..we booked the Kids Nite Out for a late dinner reservation..they were very nice on the phone and I am sure our DD 6 will be passed out by 8pm anyway...