S/D childcare questions

[rhiannon]

We will be staying at the Dolphin in Nov. and I have a 14-yr-old son and a 4-yr-old daughter. I know it says on the hotel Web site childcare is for kids up to 12, but I was wondering if I could get away with bringing my son.
When we went on a Disney cruise they were very happy to let him in to keep his sister company. Does anyone know if the hotel has a similar lenient policy?
If not, how closely do they check kids' ages? He looks much younger.

thanks all!!

 

[Alesia]

I'm not sure how lenient Disney is, but as a childcare worker, I have to say that there are age limits for a reason.

 

[Hannathy]

I seriously doubt you would be able to get a 14 yr old boy into a childcare without drugging and tying him up!! Why would you want to? With a 14 yr old I'd be using him as a babysitter ,unless your DD wants to go to the Childcare 'cause it is fun, then I'd let the 14 yr old do what they want at the hotel or in the room, or drop them off at DQ and pick them up on the way back to the room.

the age limit is there for liability and safety reasons, plus insurance.(can you imagine the up roar if someone found out their little girl was alone with a strange 14 yr old boy?)

 

[Blondie]

When we've used Camp Dolphin the past, most of the kids are 10 y.o. and under, lots of small children. Your 14 y.o. will feel really out of place if they were to allow him, which I doubt they would anyway.

 

[rhiannon]

No, I'm basically asking because my daughter doesn't like to go to "kiddie camps" by herself and I'm not crazy about leaving them in the room alone so DH and I can have dinner one nite. I'm afraid there'd be pillow fights. I'd never drop him off alone at DQ, either, maybe I'm overprotective?

Like I said when we went on the Dis cruise, DS was 12 and they let him come into the younger kids' area to keep DD company, several times in fact! He's great with little ones, and the staff loved him so much they made him an "honorary employee" and gave him a hat and badge.
Some older kids do enjoy being "big brother" to younger ones! Plus we always make it worth his while by letting him do something he wants to do as a thank you.

any other tips/advice are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[LadyZolt]

Have you thought about hiring a bonded babysitter to come to your hotel room? Your 4-year-old could play with the babysitter while your DS14 could either hang out there with his sister or perhaps go to an arcade or something (some of the resorts have them -- like the Beach/Yacht club, which your DS could walk to from the Dolphin. The Dolphin or Swan might have one -- I don't know for sure, but I know the BC/YC has one).

Another idea is if you have dinner at one of the parks, you could let your DS go to that park and do some attractions, then meet with you after dinner. For example, Disney MGM is right there and you could have dinner at one of the MGM restaurants while DS rode rides or whatever, then meet up outside Fantasmic and the three of you could go together.

I'm sure it's difficult with the age difference, and I don't think it's fair to ask DS14 to watch the four-year-old if he doesn't want to (and if he did, I'd pay him to do so), but I also wouldn't want someone else's 14 year old son hanging out with my four-year-old daughter in a child care situation just because the 14-year-old's little sister was there, too. As someone posted, at 14 years old, your DS is old enough to be a babysitter himself. You can probably talk over the options with him and ask what he thinks he'd like to do while you have dinner, but I do think that sending him along with the four-year-old to "kiddie camp" is not something that would work well.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[rhiannon]

Thanks, the babysitter is an interesting idea, it would ease my mind about rowdiness if DS watched DD in the room.
My DS honestly doesn't mind doing things with his little sister, even volunteers at her Kindergarten class and the teachers love him. I personally would have no problem with older brothers and sisters in a kid camp with younger siblings to keep them company, after all there are supervisors at all times, aren't there? My guess is they'd end up playing video games, anyway.

as for the baby-sitter has anyone ever used one and what did you think?

 

[LadyZolt]

Actually, I looked at the Dolphin's page on the Disney World web site, and it says they offer "babysitting and child services," so maybe you can call them and ask about it.

Years ago, when my children were 10, 9 and 7 (or so), Disney did have a babysitting service where the babysitter would come to your room. We did that one night and DH and I went to dinner. The kids had a great time with the sitter, who brought games and stuff, and we told them they could order room service (Beach Club) and I think they did that, too. LOL! Kids think room service is just the greatest. <hee hee> Anyway, my experience, although it was over a decade ago, with Disney's babysitting service was fabulous. We didn't worry for a minute. I hope that they are still doing something like that.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[rhiannon]

Wow, they brought games! That would be a great option. One reason I don't want DS sitting for DD in hotel is the boredom factor -- 2 hours with nothing much to do can lead to trouble!
It sounds like you had a good experience witht the babysitter and I love the room service idea. I think I'll start a new thread and see if anyone's used SD sitters. It would also be good if DD gets tired -- her bed will be right there as opposed to getting whiny at kids camp.

Thanks so much for the tip and room service idea! I imagine they'd love the chance to do that.