When I was a kid, my family generally traveled to Florida with a babysitter. There were three of us kids, and more often than not, we traveled with another family that had a kid or two. So, my parents would invite one of our regular teenage babysitters from my hometown to come with us.
The adults golfed and went out to dinner without any worry about who was watching the kids, and the moms got a break.
Fast-forward to my adult life. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that vacationing still required a lot of work from me. We went on a couple of trips that I would classify as anything but relaxing.
And that’s why I recommend at least one night out for mom and dad during a Central Florida vacation. But who’s going to watch the kids? If you can’t bring a babysitter with you, you have two options: A resort childcare center or an in-room babysitter.
Resort Childcare Centers
A handful of Walt Disney World resorts have childcare centers. They include the Neverland Club at the Polynesian Resort, Cub’s Den at Wilderness Lodge, Sandcastle Club at the Yacht and Beach Club and Simba’s Clubhouse at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. While some of the details vary, these centers are generally open from 4 p.m. or so until midnight. They are for children ages 4 to 12, who must be completely potty-trained (no pull-ups allowed). They serve a kid-friendly dinner and children play games, do crafts and watch movies. There are often video game systems available as well.
The current cost is $11 per hour. It depends on the resort, but, in general, you do not have to be staying at that resort to use the children’s activity center there. For example, you and your husband could plan a quiet dinner at Artist Point and drop off your children at the Cub’s Den while you dine, even if you are staying at Pop Century.
My daughter’s personal favorite childcare center is Camp Dolphin at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. She loves spending evenings there and actually asks when she can go back. And she is enthralled with Miss Thelma, a longtime employee of Camp Dolphin. Camp Dolphin is $10 per hour. One big benefit of using Camp Dolphin is that if you dine at Todd English’s bluezoo, Shula’s Steak House or Il Mulino (all wonderful restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin) OR if you get a spa service at the Mandara Spa, you get two hours of childcare for free. That can really help cut the cost of your date night.
In-Room Babysitting
If your children are too young or you are planning to stay out later than midnight, in-room babysitting may be your best option. There are several services available in the Orlando area, and most hotels have a particular one that they recommend, so check with the concierge at your resort.
While I have not used in-room babysitting, Kid’s Nite Out is the most recommended service. In fact, Kid’s Nite Out is the only service recommended by Walt Disney World, and you know Disney has vetted it very carefully before recommending them.
In general, in-room nannies will come to your room at any time during the day or evening. They will watch your children and keep them entertained, feeding them only as you have authorized and taking them outside the room only if you tell them to. (You can hire nannies to take your children into the parks, etc., if you are comfortable with that.) The employees are screened thoroughly and are required to have first aid and CPR training. Many of the nannies bring toys, games or movies to play with your children.
In-room nannies also allow you to ensure that your children are in bed at a particular time, and the cost can be cheaper than the children’s activities centers if you have multiple children, so be sure to run that comparison.
If you’re looking for a place to go on a date night in Central Florida, my husband and I recently enjoyed a great night out in downtown Celebration, including dinner at the Columbia Restaurant. I wrote about it during my guest-blogging stint at i.seekissimmee.com.
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