Has anyone reading ever used the babysitting services offered by the Disneyland Resort hotels? This is an outside contracted service. Babysitters come to your room and stay with your children there. I'm interested to herar from people about their experiences. If you'd rather not post on this board, please e-mail me? (AdrienneK@MousePlanet.com)

Thanks!
Adrienne K

You read my mind!

I was going to ask about WDW outside babysitters. It's hard for me not to be paranoid about letting a stranger (licensed, bonded, whatever) watch my child, but I've read several trip reports where folks really love it. I mean, I guess if I used it once and things went well, I'd feel more comfortable about it, but it's that first time...!

Wow!

It's like you read my mind too... I am headed to DL in August and we are staying at the DLH. I was wondering about the babysitting referral service myself. The original posts on this board look old, but maybe we could re-kindle the discussion?

:)

I would also love to hear about the DLH babysitting referrals as my in-laws have bailed on us for babysitting one night while we're there to celebrate our anniversary. It's okay in a way, we've decided to take the girls to our Gallery viewing of Fantasmic (which is probably the only way they'd be able to see it anyway) and we'll work out a dinner date another time. But if we could get a babysitter for a few hours, it would be fun to do some rides together (like when we were "a courtin"). Hopefully someone who's used the service will post a message.

I leave for Disneyland on August 25th, after I return from my vacation, I will post a message regarding my Disney hotel babysitting experience. I'm probably just going to take the plunge and do it (I do, however, have a "source" who can run a quick background check on the person who comes to babysit my son). I will include the name of the person who does it and the service they represent.

Wish me luck!
- Abraham
:(

Good Luck, Abraham! I look forward to your report when you return-- Thank you!

Adrienne K

Adrienne K. did a report several weeks ago on the new GCH child care center "Pinocchio's Workshop". The article says that guests at the GC get first openings, but that it's open to all DL hotel guests.

All child care workers in licensed facilities in the state of CA have to have a background check and be fingerprinted. So, that is another way to go, if one is nervous about leaving kids with strangers-count me in!

As an aside, has anyone used this service? I would be curious to hear about your experience.

Jan

True, but I am sure that all the babysitters offered by DLR are licensed and fingerprinted--they would not want to have any question about that if (God forbid) a problem arose, trust me.
The child care facility is open to limited ages--I forget, but I think it's three and over. Those with wee ones may need to use the babysitting services instead.

It's always very tough to leave your children with strangers--particularly when they are very young and surroundings are unfamiliar. I could never do it when mine were under three but I also missed out on some special times with my husband because of it. Tough choices...
:)

Originally posted by lisap
True, but I am sure that all the babysitters offered by DLR are licensed and fingerprinted--they would not want to have any question about that if (God forbid) a problem arose, trust me.
The child care facility is open to limited ages--I forget, but I think it's three and over. Those with wee ones may need to use the babysitting services instead.

A couple of clarifications:

1-- Disney does not run the in-room babysitting services offered at the DLR hotels. They have an outside agency that they recommend to guests. These sitters are not Disney employees although I'm pretty certain that they'd be required to be fingerprinted by state-law.

2- Pinocchio's Workshop has a minimum age of 5-y/o. Here's a link (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/ak010706.htm) to my article about this center at the Grand Californian. (thanks for the plug, tjrj ;) )

Adrienne K

This may not be very helpful, but I called DLH yesterday to inquire about the babysitting agencies they recommend. I was forwarded to Concierge who said they'd fax the info to me. I thought I'd receive a list of the agencies, but in fact received a "Childcare Waiver" which basically states that I understand that the agencies have absolutely positively nothing whatsoever in any way shape or form to do with Disney (okay it was more legal sounding than that and takes up half a page to say it). Then you have to sign at the bottom. With no further instructions I suppose I am to assume that I sign this form, fax it back and THEN I'll get the list from them.

I'll keep you up to date on my strange journey into babysitting land!

As an aside however, I doubt I'll use the service. I'm
a). too paranoid and overprotective and
b). found out last night that my baby doesn't dig bottles enough to leave her for more than an hour or two anyway.

Originally posted by adriennek


A couple of clarifications:

Adrienne K

Thanks for clearing it all up ;) Could not remember off the top of the ole noggin.

Erin--I always try to keep these things in mind when facing the whole leave my child or not question:

a. This will not be the last time I'll ever get the chance to have a fun evening alone with my husband.
b.. Our babies are up and gone before we know it--there will come a time we wish the kids will want to spend time with mom and dad ;)
c. If it does not feel right--trust your instincts.

Now that my kids are getting older they are already spending the night at grandmas etc. and I feel a bit wistful for the days when I was the only caregiver for them.
I think that was a soapbox! Sorry.

Okay, (wiping the mist from my eyes as I imagine my daughters' college graduations).... you're not on a soapbox. I totally agree. It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm being overly protective and paranoid. Fortunately, I have a husband who's almost more protective, so it's not a problem to ditch the babysitting thing. We're taking our 3 month old along to the Napa Rose (she's a cheap date anyway) and our 2 1/2 year old will go to dinner with our in laws after all. So it's working out (as I said it would).

BTW, I think I'll bring a bottle to the Napa Rose so as to avoid all the issues we discussed in the "Breastfeeding at DL" thread! My lovely little outfit would have to be almost completely removed to allow access anyway (and that just wouldn't be discrete!).

If I find out more while in DL about the babysitting thing, I'll post on my return. Leaving tomorrow! Yipes.

Thanks again to all of you for your info., support and wisdom.

Erin

I researched and called. Here is the answer I got:

Childcare services are unavaliable in Disneyland parks and at the resort hotels. An INDEPENDANT organization called the Fullerton Childcare agency, however, provides in-room sitting for infants and children. If you pay the tab, they will even take your child to Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure. All sitters are experinced and fully licensed to drive, and the agency is fully insured against theft. The basic room rate for in-room sitting for one or two children is $40 for the first four hours, with a four-hour minimum, and $8 each hour thereafter. The charge for each additional child is $1 per hour. Combined familys are charged $2 per our for each child from the nonbooking family. There is no transportation fee, but the client is expected to pay for parking when applicable. All fees and charges must be paid in CASH at the end of the assignment. To reserve a sitter, one or two days advance notice is requested.

You can reach the agency by calling: 714-528-1640

Thank you Lacrosse Boy!

I will take your information and use it and tell everyone how it went.

5 more days to Disneyland for me!

Hi gang,

First, let me say that it was a pleasure to meet Adrienne, Doc Krock and the boys on my visit to Disneyland last week! It was quite a treat to come all the way down from Idaho and meet them in person - what luck! Of course, I met them in the Baby Care Center (who would have thought to look there?).

Second, I have to apologize to everyone on this message board because I did not use the babysitting service at the Disneyland Hotel. I thought that my wife and I would enjoy a night without my son around so we could go on all the "big" rides in Disneyland or go out dancing somewhere, but we found that because we used rider switch and the single rider lines, we were able to ride everything we wanted to without worrying about hauling the baby around. When I visited the parks as a single guy I used to think it would be impossible to enjoy the larger rides with a child, but on this trip I found I was wrong. Also, by the evening time we were too tired to go dancing (what were we thinking?). We walked a long distance every day in the park and it would have killed our legs to go dancing - and we would have ruined the next day in the parks!

It would have helped to use a sitter if we had spent the evening in DCA, but my wife did not really like that park, so we only went there for a few hours during the day and watched the Electric parade (which was awesome, my son LOVED it!). There really wasn't much my son could enjoy there.

So, I'm sorry for the long explanation and sorry that I could not contribute any babysitting info, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of activity that can be enjoyed by families that have very young children - it was no burden to us!

- Abraham

Originally posted by Abraham Rocha
Hi gang,

First, let me say that it was a pleasure to meet Adrienne, Doc Krock and the boys on my visit to Disneyland last week! It was quite a treat to come all the way down from Idaho and meet them in person - what luck! Of course, I met them in the Baby Care Center (who would have thought to look there?).


Hi, Abraham. It was a kick to meet you at the BCC. I've had people approach me at the Hub or if I'm wearing MP clothing, but that was the first time someone "randomly" recognized me! I guess at the BCC it wasn't so random?

So, I'm sorry for the long explanation and sorry that I could not contribute any babysitting info, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of activity that can be enjoyed by families that have very young children - it was no burden to us!

Glad to hear that you and your wife had such a great time with your adorable son!

Adrienne K

To all parents considering child care services in their rooms: We visit Orlando every year and have been since my 3 children were 3 mths old. As parents we were scared to have a stranger come to our room to watch our children but in the WDW Book there are the names of agencies which come highly recommended. We used ABC MOTHERS, NANNIES AND GRANNIES. They are the best we've had the same sitter now for 3 years and couldn't be more happier. They treat your children with love and respect and these ladies all have children of their own and some our grandparents. I say to anyone considering using an agency call them, you will not be disappointed....they are my family away from home.

Great advice. I contacted ABC Mothers at 407-857-7447 and their rates are considerably higher than Sunshine Babysitting, but if ABC Mothers comes highly recommended I may reconsider and use them instead.

Thank you.
World_Traveler