With its abundance of child-friendly activities, restaurants and hotels, Disney World is a dream vacation spot for many families. In addition to all the family fun, Walt Disney World also offers a handful of activities geared towards adults, such as fine dining, swanky bars and romantic carriage rides. So, what happens if you and your partner want a night off from the kids to check out one of these attractions? Is there a Disney World nanny service or babysitter who can take over for a few hours?
“Every day parents put their personal interests on the back burner, and on vacation that too often happens also,” says Liliane Opsomer, co-author of “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids.” “That’s why we recommend you take time off and leave the kids for a few hours in the care of professionals and enjoy time alone.”
There are a number of convenient child care options available at Walt Disney World. Here is a list of our top recommendations so you can familiarize yourself with them in advance of your trip.
Child care options at Walt Disney World
1. Reserve a spot at Camp Dolphin
Located in the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, the Camp Dolphin Children’s Activity Center provides supervised games, crafts, movies and more. It’s open daily from 4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and costs a flat fee of $60-$120 per child, depending on how long you plan to use the service. The fee also includes a meal, a snack and a take-home craft.
When Simon Fielding, father of two, visited Disney World with his family, he left his boys, aged 5 and 8, at a children’s activity center on two separate occasions. “The boys loved it. Our youngest kept asking to go back, even on the nights we didn’t need child care.”
Be sure to plan ahead, as reservations are mandatory. They also only accept children who are potty trained and aged between 5 and 12 years, ruling out any families with young infants.
2. Try an in-room babysitter service
While Walt Disney World doesn’t provide in-room babysitter services, there are two separate companies that do. Both Kid’s Nite Out and Fairy Godmothers provide in-room Disney babysitters that are over 18, insured, bonded, screened, background-checked and CPR certified.
Rates start at $35 per hour for one child, and sitters arrive prepared with age-appropriate toys, activities, books, games and more. As with most child care services, advanced reservations are strongly recommended.
3. Hire an independent babysitter
Find a vacation babysitter.
You can always hire a vacation sitter through an independent site like Care.com. All you need to do is post a job with the date, time and location that you’ll need a babysitter. Background checks can be run through the site and you can always schedule a Skype interview with any potential sitters a few days prior to your trip.
4. Bring your nanny along
There’s no Disney World nanny service, but if you already have a regular nanny, you can ask if he or she will come with you to Disney World to watch the kids part-time.
Offer the nanny a bit more than their usual rate and explain what will be expected during that time: what the hours will be, where he or she will stay, what activities to do with the kids, etc. Remember, you will have to pay for the nanny’s travel, lodging and food, but it can be worth it to have the nanny you (and your kids) already know and trust.
5. Book a balcony
When you book your hotel, request a room with a balcony or veranda. When the kids are asleep, you and your partner can sneak out to the balcony and enjoy a late-night drink or snack together. It’s an inexpensive way to snag a few minutes of grown-up time.
6. Get a room — of your own
If you’re looking for more than just a midnight balcony chat with your spouse, consider booking separate but adjoining rooms for your family: one for the kids, and one for you and your sweetie.
Alternatively, look for a condo, AirBnB or house swap. As long as your kids are old enough to be in their own room, this is a great way to get a little privacy. You can be in the same space as your kids and have your own bedroom.
7. Outsource to friends or family
Invite your own parents along on your family trip. It’s not only a great opportunity for your children to spend quality time with Grandma and Grandpa, but it’s also handy if you and your partner want a night off.
If your folks aren’t able to come along, why not consider planning your trip with some friends who have children around the same age as yours. It’s Walt Disney World — surely you won’t have any trouble finding another family that’s interested in coming along for the fun. This way you can share babysitting responsibilities. You and your partner can stay in and look after all the kids, while the other couple hit the town, and vice versa.
Have other vacation plans? Check out these tips for vacation child care options.
Original article written by Claire Cooper
