In Room sitting on the Disney Cruise

[D L and K's Mom]

I posted this question on the Cruise board but then thought this might be a better place for it. Does anyone have any idea why Disney does not offer "in room" baby sitting?? We were able to take advantage of "in" room sitting at Disney World. We put DS to bed and then we had a wonderful dinner at the hotel restaurant while someone from Fairy Godmothers (whom I checked out before we left and who I spoke to before we left home)watched him. We loved the idea that we were just a "page " away if there was any trouble. DD went to one of the Clubs. PLEASE don't take this this wrong way WE LOVE OUR SON. We would just love to have been able to do some of the things offered on the ship that we were unable to do with him (Palos, the shows etc.) Our DD loved going to the kids clubs!! Because of the nature of DS's disability (he had a stroke) they would not take him at the Clubs. We ended up "splitting up" DH would take DD to the show and I would take DS back to the room and get him ready for bed. While he slept I would sit on the verandah and read. This WAS a vacation in itself. The next night we switched. One night (Disney Dreams ) we were able to go as a family as DS was in a great mood and not ready for sleep yet. We were able to take him in his chair and sit in back and enjoy the show. DS is in diapers and is at a 1-2 year old stage and he usually needs to be asleep early or else he is very very cranky. I did check out other cruise lines and some of them do offer this type of in room or group sitting service. We loved out Cruise and we would never change cruise lines (Disney just spoiled us in so many ways and DS loved the characters!! And the attention he go..well it was magical) Any ideas why Disney does not offer this service themselves or contract out as they do in the park???Thank you

 

[teri]

That truly does not seem fair, and it is something that I think would need to be addressed to the special needs reservations coordinator for the cruise lines. I used to have her name, but I can't search for it right now.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I hope that this didn't seem like a terrible post. We had a wonderful time on our last trip!!! I can't begin to tell you all the little things on the cruise that made it special for DS. I was jsut wondering if anyone new as to why the sevice is not offered. I have the name and 3 of the woman who handles the Special Requests. She was very helpful but, DS is unable to fit into the catagories they use for the "Clubs". I am going to write a nice letter to the cruise company just saying that I think this would be a valuable service and see if I get a response. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[teri]

It would certaily be to their advantage to make the cruise ultra-special-needs-friendly, many more families would choose that option, I am sure. I have heard wonderful things about the cruise!

 

[TrlyScrumptious]

I didn't think it was a terrible post at all!

In fact, your outlook and the way you creatively made this vacation work for your family gave me the courage to consider trying a Disney cruise.

We rarely, rarely use a sitter at home, and even then, only a responsible adult (a teaching assistant or therapy aide). Our son also goes to bed and sleeps quite soundly very early in the evening. We give up a lot when we have sick or disabled children. If a very well-screened adult were available for Special Needs childcare onboard a Disney cruise, it might be something I would be willing to try. (Somehow, it seems 'safer' to me to leave a child with a sitter on a cruise than in a hotel, although I realize intellectually that's not true. Don't anyone take offense at that...it's difficult for me to leave our son with anyone, nevermind someone we don't know well.)

I suppose they don't provide much in the way of in-room childcare because they assume most children will want to take advantage of the onboard group activities while their parents are having fun elsewhere? Let us know if you hear that they have interest in providing this!

 

[CarolAnnC]

DCL did offer "in room" babysitting on an as available basis for awhile. They suspended the service, however, due to manpower/staffing issues. They basically had signups for kids club counselors to volunteer to work during their time off as in room babysitters. As most are working very long shifts already, as does most of the ship's staff, there was not always someone available to staff the positions. Hope this sheds some light on the issue for you.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the answer CarolAnn. I thought the answer was probably something like that. Plus they probably didn't get much call for in room babysitting since most kids would be able to go to the Kids Clubs.
It would be a nice service though.
I think the people who post on this board understand that we all need some time away sometimes (that's why they have respite care on land). Our jobs as parents are really 24 hours a day since many of our kids need constant supervision even when they are older.
Let us know what response you get from the cruise line, D and Ls mom.