I know, I know…. this is a FAMILY vacation. But there are certain things that its just difficult to do with a little one in tow. For example, this trip we decided to go see Cirque du Soliel at Downtown Disney . It was fine for my 6 year old to sit through, but it would have been TRAUMATIC to bring my 21 month old! She would have been squirming and ruining it for the rest of us FOR SURE.
So, we decided to try out the “babysitting services” we had heard others use in the past. These services are not by WDW employees, but the companies have been screened and have been doing business with Disney for a long time. If you are staying off-property these services are available, just ask at your hotel’s front desk or check the phonebook.
The company we were referred to was Kids Night Out.
(from their site) Kid’s Nite Out is not just a babysitting service! We can provide a fun, well-trained caregiver to accompany your family to area attractions if you need a mother’s or father’s helper.
We care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. We also care for children with special needs. (please call for details)
Our professional caregivers will arrive at your hotel or resort room wearing our signature purple polo shirt with the Kid’s Nite Out logo embroidered on the left side. They will also be wearing a Kid’s Nite Out nametag and identification badge. Our professional caregivers arrive prepared with age-appropriate toys, activities, books, games, and arts & crafts.
Advance reservations are recommended. We are able to book in-room childcare reservations up to 3 months in advance. Our reservation staff is available from 8:00am to 9:00pm 7 days a week. They may be reached at 1-800-696-8105, extension 0.
In-Room Childcare Rates*
1 child – $14.00 per hour
2 children – $16.50 per hour
3 children – $19.00 per hour
4 children – $21.50 per hour
5 or more children, please call 1-800-696-8105
15 minutes before the time we had arranged our sitter, Lori Roy (who I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ASKING FOR) arrived at our room. She filled us in and made us feel quite comfortable with her. She had been a pre-school teacher for years and had started working at Kid’s Night Out to make a little extra money. She had brought some toys with her and also asked for permission to take Josie out on a quick walk in her stroller later if Jo seemed to get bored. When we returned she gushed about how much fun they had and Josie didn’t even get up from where she was playing to greet us.
I know this seems scary and I’m sure something bad COULD happen, but this company is pretty large and has established a REALLY GOOD relationship with Disney (who is really careful about who they associate and recommend to their vacationers). Background checks, etc are done on the sitters and you can ask for the specific age range and gender you prefer.
There are certain restaurants where bringing kids is not recommended! So take a night to yourself and enjoy some babysitting. They come to you, they entertain your kids, you have fun. Sounds like a good deal to me. 🙂 I highly recommend it!
