WDW Childcare Questions

[slk537]

Our upcoming trip is the first we'll be taking while DS is 4...so we'd love to try some of the childcare areas at the resorts. He is very outgoing and has been on his own a bit at the resorts (at SSR while we signed the papers for our DVC add on) and loved it. So I'm not worried on that end. But a few questions for those of you who are experienced with this...

1. Can you use the childcare at a resort if you are not staying there? We will be a VWL, so I know we'll try the Cub's Den, but what about the Neverland Club?

2. Do you usually stay at the resort where they are, or leave? I am nervous to leave him at WL while we go somewhere else...but I'm not sure. Do any of you do this?

3. How far in advance do you make reservations and who do you call for this?

Thank you all so much!

 

[TiggerStac]

I have called WDW and asked them some of these questions. You do not have to be staying at the resort to use their club...you don't even have to be staying on property. I didn't specifically ask about GF, but I have heard on here that most of the time you have to be staying at GF to use theirs, as it is small.
You call the 407-wdwdine 90 days in advance, just like restaurant reservations.
We are planning on either staying at hotel son is in or going to a nearby hotel...ie, going to caligrill and bringing son to neverland club.
Our son is going to be turning 4 the day after we arrive (we are going for his bday) so it will be our first experience.

 

[mom2cinderella]

We left our kids (then almost 5 and 6 1/2) at the Neverland Club last fall while we went to the Happy Haunts Ball. They were there from 6 p.m. until midnight and are STILL talking about how great that place was. They keep asking when they can go back. I felt really comfortable leaving them there, and I am super picky about who watches my kids.

Michele

 

[Mom to Jordan]

All of the resorts that have kids clubs are deluxe hotels with nice resturants. AT the WL, try Artist Point, at the Contemporary, there is California Grill, at AK there is Jinko's ,. at the dolphin there is Fresh or Shula's. At the GF there are lots of choices. YOu can enjoy a nice meal and still be near by in case you are needed. Many parents need that security to enjoy a nice meal. Transportaion from one resort to the others can take a while and WL is not on the monorail route.

Jordans' mom

 

[missminniemouse]

On past trips we've used several of the kids clubs. We left the kids at the Beach Club and went into EPCOT for supper and Illuminations. After that we took a stroll around the lagoon area...from International Gateway to Boardwalk, by Swan and Dolphin and finally back to get the kids. We had a very relaxing evening and the kids had a ball.

This past December we left the kids at GF while we and a friend of ours had dinner at V&A. We weren't staying at GF at the time, so I'd check it out even if you're not staying there. Yes, the space did seem quite small, but there weren't that many kids there that night either. I think it was our 2 kids and 2 others.

Also this past December used the kids club at WL while we had dinner at Artist Point. Before dropping the kids off, we went on the sleigh ride from WL first as a family. They really loved this!

So I guess what I'm saying is we generally stay within the area of where the kids are. They've always loved going to the kids clubs and we've always enjoyed the evening alone.