Marathon Weekend - Babysitting?

[Mickey_Man]

Did anyone use babysitting for Marathon Weekend?

If you did, who did you use?

Any thoughts would be so helpful.

DW and i registered (already) to run the 2011 Marathon. Thinking about logistics of the 3:30am bus ride, and what arrangements we can make for our 8 month old (will be 8 months in January 2011).

 

[syko]

You need to book one as soon as posible as they book out fast!!!!

We had a friend stay the night before each race, but I did look into getting a sitter the average price was $250 per a day!!!!!!!!!

Most peoplw use kids night out.

 

[JoanneNC]

Good Luck - I ended up bringing the grandparents...

 

[Mickey_Man]

Good Luck - I ended up bringing the grandparents...

This is absolutely option #1. The worst part is that I think the grandparents will definitely come, but they commented the other day that they are hesitant to have us put the baby to bed for the night in their room. When told the other option was to baby swap at 3:30AM, their reaction was . Our last two options in that regard are either one of us sits out the marathon or we find babysitting to bring the 3:30AM - 7:30AM and have the grandparents pick the baby up when they get up. I don't really like either option, but not sure what to do if the grandparents are really going to be fussy over the early morning swap or taking the baby in their room the night before. He will be nearlt 8 months by then, so I would presume he will be sleeping a full night. I think the grandparents just haven't thought it all the way through yet.

 

[JoanneNC]

Yeah it's harder with a baby probably. Mine are 3 and 7 and after a few days already in the parks - slept in until almost we were done with the Half...lol

Good luck and I hope you find a solution that works so you both can run

 

[syko]

Could you not get connecting rooms? That way the baby could sleep in your room and whe nyou leave open the door so that the grandpearents can hear and get in if they need too.

 

[Mickey_Man]

Could you not get connecting rooms? That way the baby could sleep in your room and whe nyou leave open the door so that the grandpearents can hear and get in if they need too.

Syko,
that's a really good idea if we need to. We may be using DVC (swapping our Atlantis Timeshare with someone for DVC for the year).

 

[swim-mom]

When my DH and I were away for the first time without our children (12,10,twins 6) we saw an amazing woman around are disney hotel!!! She was walking with baby who was awake and abit tired, this woman was so caring and so attentive I would hire her to watch my children at any time!!!

I was even in the bathroom and she came in to change the baby, and was talking to the little girl as if she was her baby. She was so loving!!

TO make a long story short - I called Disney as soon as we got back to the hotel and asked for the womans name in the event that i need a sitter since I saw first hand how amazing she was.

Please PM me and I will gladly tell you her name, because i have her name taped in my kitchen

 

[MJonesMBA2001]

We're in the same boat, but flipped from you. My wife and I are both running the half. We had some friends lined up to go down with us, but it doesn't look like that will happen now. My parents weren't too thrilled about keeping our daughter, nor coming down to WDW with us. Wife's parents aren't an option. We have a couple of friends in Orlando who may could help, we may leave our daughter with some friends the whole weekend, or we may do the babysitting route too.

We feel your pain!

 

[MJonesMBA2001]

You need to book one as soon as posible as they book out fast!!!!

We had a friend stay the night before each race, but I did look into getting a sitter the average price was $250 per a day!!!!!!!!!

Most peoplw use kids night out.

What is kids night out?

 

[syko]

http://www.kidsniteout.com/ The babysitting service most used at WDW hotels.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

We're in the same situation as you two. We will have a 6 month old baby at the time of marathon weekend, and are planning on bringing the grandparents to watch the little one while we run. My parents are incredibly excited - they LOVE WDW, but said a few years ago that they weren't planning on going again until they had grandchildren to go with - but a bit apprehensive about the idea of having the baby from 3:30 am until early afternoon when we finish the marathon and get back to the hotel.

However, at this point, the baby is all concepts and ideas. If you'll have a 8 month old at marathon weekend time, then you're also still a few months away from your due date. I'm sure the grandparents are still just overwhelmed by the idea that they will have a grandchild, and that it's been a long time since they raised babies of their own. By the time marathon weekend comes along, hopefully your parents will have had spent some time with their grandson and will be comfortable with the idea of spending an early morning with the baby, and that they'll know exactly what to do to keep him happy.

Other people here have some great suggestions about specific babysitting services, so maybe make a reservation, but I would still keep the grandparents as option #1.

 

[MJonesMBA2001]

Can I borrow y'alls grandparents?

My folks are not exactly anti Disney, but they're just not a whole lot of fun, I'm ashamed to say. They haven't taken a true vacation in years, and when I suggested them coming down with us, even with a year's notice, it wasn't very well received.