Childcare and Theme Park Nanny Services at Walt Disney World and Disneyland
Twinkle Toes Nanny Service
Planning a Disney World vacation is exciting but can also be quite overwhelming, especially for families with children. Between managing ride schedules, keeping everyone entertained, and navigating crowds, the experience can become stressful. Enter the unsung hero of the theme park experience: the theme park nanny. Hiring a theme park nanny at Disney World can significantly enhance your vacation experience, allowing you to make the most of your time in the parks without the added stress.
I know it sounds crazy. Why would you take your kids to Disney World and then get a nanny service to watch them or help you while at the parks? Well, you want to enjoy the time in the parks with your kids and reduce stress! I see much hate online when people say they're getting a theme park nanny. But the benefits far outweigh any criticism anyone can give you. Do you want to experience an adults-only night out at Walt Disney World? Or just need a helping hand around the parks! Here are some tips for finding the best childcare in Orlando.
Let's talk about the different scenarios.
Date Night at California Grill
Disney Date Night
Disney is home to some truly amazing restaurants. Although most of them are kid-friendly, there are some dining experiences that I prefer not to share with my children for a few reasons.
First and foremost, the cost can be quite high. Some of these meals are very expensive, and my kids would probably prefer spending time with a nanny who can engage them with crafts and activities rather than being at a fancy restaurant with food they might not fully appreciate. For example, my husband and I recently dined at California Grill, where the price per person for food alone was $89. It was definitely a splurge. While the children's meals are discounted, it's still hard to justify spending over $30 for something like macaroni and cheese.
During our trip to Walt Disney World, my husband and I made sure to set aside some time for ourselves to enjoy experiences that may not be suitable for the kids just yet. We had a wonderful meal at California Grill and also caught the Cirque du Soleil show, Drawn to Life. We're excited to take the kids to the show when they're a bit older and can truly appreciate it. These experiences allowed us to relax and reconnect, which is incredibly valuable when traveling with kids, especially in a high-energy place like Disney. It was a nice break in the middle of our vacation, knowing that the kids were having a great time back at the room.
Disney Theme Park Nanny Days
Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World Resort
My family has a significant age gap between our youngest child and the twins. Because of this, there are many rides that our youngest cannot go on, but the older three kids can. Having a theme park nanny with us at the parks allows us to keep her with us and have a great time with all the kids, while also providing us with a helping hand. This reduces stress for both me and my husband. It's reassuring to know that if we want to go on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, there's someone we can trust to stay with our daughter, so we don't have to use rider switch.
If our daughter falls asleep at the park and needs a quiet place to rest, our theme park nanny can find somewhere indoors to take her. Or if she needs a break while the rest of us want to keep going, the nanny can take her to the Baby Care Center, where she can have her diaper changed and spend some downtime in the sitting area.
We had a Man-ny accompany us to Typhoon Lagoon from Twinkle Toe Nanny Service so that we could ride family rides with the older kids. Then he even went to the Typhoon Wave pool with our oldest so I could take a break from looking after our youngest children. The kids had the best day, and I had very little stress because we had a helping hand!
Time with the BIG kids to do Family rides
A theme park nanny is not just a babysitter; they are often well-versed in the Disney experience and can create tailored experiences for your children. From meeting their favorite characters to enjoying age-appropriate rides and activities, a nanny ensures that your little ones have just as much fun as you do.
Nanny Support for Large Families and Groups
Traveling to Disney World with a large family or group can be challenging. Keeping everyone together and ensuring all the kids are entertained can be a logistical nightmare. A theme park nanny can provide invaluable support by assisting with child care and helping coordinate activities.
They can accompany children on rides, manage snacks and meal times, and even help with stroller parking and navigating the parks. This extra set of hands allows parents to enjoy the parks without feeling overwhelmed.
We recently went to Disneyland in July of 2024 with three families, and each family had a child who was three years old or younger. We hired a theme park nanny to help us with the little ones. With the nanny's assistance, we could go on rides together as a group while she took care of the little ones, so they didn't have to leave us. She was always able to accompany them on rides, which gave me the chance to experience the rides with my older kids. Hiring the nanny was the best decision we could have made, as it allowed us to enjoy the park as a family without feeling stressed.
Disney Nanny Cost
The cheapest and BEST option is always family. We are SO lucky that one or two grandparents come along on many of our trips. If you don't have grandparents, but aunts, uncles, cousins, or anyone who can go with you, that is always a big help!
But for the times we need to pay for extra hands like everything at Disney World, this also comes with a price tag. Getting theme park Nanny’s you know are well vetted, background checked, and have good recommendations doesn't come cheap. We are talking about a minimum of $25 per hour, even if it is one child. I will give pricing below for a couple of agencies we have used in the past. Of course, just like anything, these prices could go up. These are the prices when we use the service.
The only Disney-recommended nanny service is Kids Nite Out. Anytime Disney recommends something, you can almost be sure they have vetted them properly, and our experience with them was wonderful. Our cost in 2022 was $34 an hour for four kids.
The other agency we used in 2022 is Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency (this is a national chain.) The pricing was much more reasonable, but they only watched one child at the theme parks, and this was a Typhoon Lagoon day. This cost was $25 for one child per hour, and they were one of the only agencies that would go to the water parks.
Our other go to service is , Once Upon A Nanny LLC. We have used them several times now and have been happy each time. They are the best about texting updates and sending pictures. They have a large group of nannies an Ms. Cyan the owner is very active on social media and very responsive. We love using them especially now that the kids are a little older.
My Guidelines for Disney Nannies
It took me a long time to get comfortable with someone watching my kids in the hotel room. It is STILL EXTREMELY rare, and I did not allow it until this year when my oldest was ten years old. On top of that, all my kids have Gizmo watches and can call me.
At the theme parks, I am more comfortable allowing nannies to come along with us because I am there! However, male nannies are still hard for me, and I have to meet them the day before they watch my kids. It's a bias I am fully aware of, but I must go with how I feel. But the agency will ask you if you are comfortable before they book one for your family.
Overall, this has been only a positive experience for us because we are only willing to use well-vetted agencies with background-checked nannies! I know I have met nannies from Care.com and other agencies at the parks too! If you had an extraordinary theme park nanny, drop a comment below!
How To Pick the Best Disney Nanny Service For Your Family
If you have very young children who are infants and toddlers and you are weary about leaving them alone, I trust only one service, Kid's Nite Out. They are the Disney-recommended agency, so with that recommendation, you know the company will do everything in its power to ensure the reputation is at the highest standard. You will get a progress report of all the activities the kids do, including crafts and eating, and will stick to a bedtime routine. They are the most strict, according to my kids, and I understand that because, again, they have that Disney recommendation and want to ensure they provide top-notch service. If I only had children under five and this was my first time leaving them with a nanny, you would feel the most comfortable with them. They also have employees that work in the Disney Community Halls as well. So if Disney is willing to hire them to take care of kids, you know they are great. Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive option.
My preferred nanny service is Once Upon a Nanny, click the link to read my personal review. And here are my reasons why, my youngest is two years old, and my oldest is 11; essentially, my older kids are already watching my youngest child. Even when I had the service come with my eight-year-old twins and the two-year-old, my daughter is like another mother to her two-year-old sister, so I was comfortable. Once upon a nanny had excellent caregivers, but it's more laid-back. They don't come with a bunch of crafts, and they don't give you a progress report, but they are very quick to text and send you pictures. They are like having a highly qualified background check for Babysitter that is college and young adult age. I would trust them with an infant or toddler, but I understand at that point in my life when I had three under 3. I wonder if I would've been as comfortable. Now as a seasoned mom, I am more relaxed. But I understand when you're raising only toddlers and infants, you want the highest recommended service. We love Once Upon a Nanny; we are using them again in our upcoming trips. But I do recommend them for slightly older kids if you feel you re not ready to leave your infants. But I have a blog post just on their agency, that is how many times I have used them and trust them.
Twinkle Toe Nanny Services, I have nothing but good things to say about the service. They are a franchise, so you will find them throughout the United States. They will go to water parks, and that is something that kids' night out will not do you. It's hard to find any services willing to go to the waterpark. This is an excellent option if you plan on spending time at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach and you need that extra hand if you have a toddler or infant. We recently had them watch our kids again in July of 2024 and they were amazing. We were staying off property and it was a last minute booking. The nanny sent me so many pictures and even CLEANED out entire room. The kids had such a blast with them and it was wonderful to know that I have another nanny service I can rely on.
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Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? You're in the right place! At Well Hello Magic, we have tons of helpful resources to make your Disney vacation as magical and stress-free as possible. Whether you're looking for advice on the best time to visit Disney, tips on finding the perfect character meal, or learning how to skip the lines with Lightning Lane, we've got you covered.
As a therapist by trade and a mom of four, I use my expertise in understanding personalities to help you discover your "Disney Enneagram"—a fun way to tailor your Disney vacation planning to suit your family's needs or large group dynamics, ensuring everyone enjoys the magic in their own unique way. With my firsthand experience navigating Disney with babies and toddlers, I'll share all my best tips to make your trip smooth and fun for everyone. Plus, check out some of our family’s favorite rides at Magic Kingdom—there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Make sure to explore our blog for even more Disney planning guides and insider tips!
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Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming, but you don't need to worry because we have got your back! Here are a few blogs to help you get organized!
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I am so happy to be on this journey with you.
