Kids Clubs - Pros and Cons.....

[asjlopi]

Sounds like everyone has had great experiences. We unfortunately were very disappointed with the Kids club at Wilderness lodge. My wife and I were going to California grill and the kids were excited to go to the kids club. We were greated by someone with a very very low energy level. My kids are pretty flexible and generally good with almost everyone; however, this person did not bring cheers. They also were expecting lots of other kids which, to our dismay ended up being just them and one other child. Just hard when they know they can be in the Magic Kingdom but are stuck. It was safe childcare but little beyond that.

 

[Desnik]

One of the times my kids were at the Sandcastle club it was just the 2 of them and 1 other child. They still loved it. They really loved the one on one attention. They each had a CM to themselves. I guess my kids just love being the center of attention!LOL They had so much to play with and do in there that they didn't need other kids to entertain them.


asjlopi
Sorry your kids didn't have a good time! Maybe it's just they don't have very fun energetic CM's at the Cub's Den. I would still give another one a try. My kids loved Sandcastle Club and have been there many times and never had a problem. Also, the Neverland Club is really great too. If you can convince your kids to try one again, take them to the Neverland Club. They won't want to leave! Also, most, if not all the kids clubs have a "free play" time. Usually it is a few hours before they open for babysitting. You can go in with your kids, meet the CM's play and get the feel for it before you let your kids stay there.

 

[Mcbruns]

What is the information for the Fairy Godmother service?

We used a Fairy Godmother for 3 kids in 2005 and they were very happy with her (as were the adults). It was nice having them asleep when we got home. I also believe you can stay out later than a kids club. I can't find their website, but you can search on here. You may also find more info on the Disney Resort thread.

 

[eva]

We used a Fairy Godmother for 3 kids in 2005 and they were very happy with her (as were the adults). It was nice having them asleep when we got home. I also believe you can stay out later than a kids club. I can't find their website, but you can search on here. You may also find more info on the Disney Resort thread.

Thanks! I would love that website. I searched here and googled it with no website results.

 

[Mississippian]

Sorry your kids didn't have a good time! Maybe it's just they don't have very fun energetic CM's at the Cub's Den. I would still give another one a try. .....Also, the Neverland Club is really great too. If you can convince your kids to try one again, take them to the Neverland Club. They won't want to leave!

Everything I've ever heard or read says the Neverland Club is by far the best. This tends to feed upon itself as people from any of the monorail resorts or the Wilderness Lodge all take a quick trip to the Polynesian to use the Neverland Club.

 

[Desnik]

Here is a link to the WDW childcare FAQ, at the bottom is the info for the Kids Night Out where they come to your room. I couldn't find the info for Fairy Godmothers.

http://allears.net/pl/childfaq.htm

 

[Desnik]

They seem to have their own website:
http://www.kidsniteout.com/

From doing a search here I found this info for Fairy Godmothers:

Fairy Godmothers
24 hrs - 7 days a week

Mgr: Gertrude Ridgeway

(407) 969-9847 and toll free 877-611-4314

I also read some threads where they say they are no longer in business.

 

[rhodymom]

We have used Kids Nite out for the past 3 years for my son and will be using them again on our trip for our son(5) and daughter (1). They have been great imo. Bring age appropiate toys for the kids and everything.

The only thing youneed to know is they cannot take the kids swimming (or even give them a bath). It says so on their site, and they remind you when you call to reservice. I am sure it's arisk mgmt thing.

 

[jaurban]

We have used Kids Nite Out and were pleased. I don't think either sitter service allows the sitters to take kids swimming. I probably wouldn't want them to do that anyway.

 

[culli]

Great topic but WOW $11 an hour and we have 3 kids - $33 hr. $150 for 5 hours out....maybe it is a fair price and I just have a little sticker shock . Seems for that price the mouse himself should come watch the kids!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Our Grandson has been going to the Kid's Clubs for the past couple of years and loves them. We usually pick one night for the adults to go out to a nice meal and Connor goes to whichever one is closest to where we are eating. So far he has done the one at Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge.

 

[west&east]

Any feedback in Simba's Clubhouse at AKL?

 

[Rileygirl]

My three kids have been to Peter Pan, Simba Club, and the Cub Den.

Hands down, Peter Pan is the absolute favorite with the kids. They LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. In fact, they begged us to go out another night so they could go back (we did not do it though, it is darn expensive for three kids! - for the <ahem> alone time we had while the kids were at the club, I felt like a high priced - you know what! )

I am not sure why the PP club appeals to the kids so much, maybe its because of the 'climbing through the window' thing, or maybe its the crafts, or maybe its the cm's. I will say that it appealed to ALL my kids too, which I found shocking, as my 10 year old (going on 18) loved it just as much as the younger two. We took them here on two different trips, first time when they were 5, 6, 9, and then 6, 7, 10.

Simba's club - my kids said they did not enjoy it as much as PP. They were a little older on this trip, so that may be a factor. Also, they prefered the 'buffet' dinner set up, rather then 'ordering' a meal at the Simba Club. I also thought that the room was much smaller then the PP club, but I could be wrong on that. We took them here when they were 6, 7, and 10, we wanted to try Jiko (amazing restaraunt!!!)

Cub Den - my youngest two stayed here at ages 8 & 9. They were ho-hum with this club, they liked it, but did not say they had a great time, or ask to come back. They begged very hard to do Peter Pan, infact the 13 year old said she wanted to do Peter Pan if that is where the kids were going - I told her she was too old, she didnt care!

That is just my impression of the 3 clubs based on my kids attitudes on them. All the CM's at the three clubs looked very personable and enthusiastic. I am not sure what the heck they do at the PP club, they must sprinkle the kids with pixie dust or something, they didnt want to leave, and they talked about it as one of the best Disney moments for them. If you are eating at a monorail resort, I would highly recommend the PP club for you. Just drop them off on your way to the restaraunt, and pick them up after. Its easy to do on the monorail. (If you are thinking of alonetime with your spouse after the meal, consider taking cabs to your destination. The time you save on transportation will more then offset the cost of the cab if you have two or more kids in there)

 

[snowbunny]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost positive that DVC members get a discount on the kids clubs.

Yes they do. We received a 10% discount at Simba's Cubhouse last year at AKL (which my DS 10 absolutely loved).

 

[Thenwood]

Yes they do. We received a 10% discount at Simba's Cubhouse last year at AKL (which my DS 10 absolutely loved).

I have also used the Kids Nite Out Service for the last 3 years. They are wonderful. When you call to make the reservaion, they let you know they will not take the kids swimming or give them a bath. They will meet you where ever you want at what ever time. They have a $25 location fee with a 3 hr min. It was $20.00/hr regardless of how many kids you have (of course there is a max but it's over 4 kids). They will also come with a car full of age approperiate games and toys. They will not be responsible for any children over the age of 12. You also get to choose when you call for the reservation what gender of sitter you want as well the age. I haven't had any bad experiences at all with them.

 

[Laurabearz]

Great topic but WOW $11 an hour and we have 3 kids - $33 hr. $150 for 5 hours out....maybe it is a fair price and I just have a little sticker shock . Seems for that price the mouse himself should come watch the kids!!!

Yeah steep for us too. $33 bucks an hour.... at home sitters run us 10-12. So we go out together at home and hang out as a family at WDW lol