Dumping the Kids at Disney World

So you've planned the big trip. The kids are thrilled: Disney World! A family vacation, sure, but it's really for the kids. They have to come along. Right? But they're so obnoxious. Wouldn't it be great to just ... dump them somewhere, for a little while?

Well, proud parents, Disney won't let you down. After a grueling day in the parks, you can dump your kids at one of Disney's six Kid Activity Centers, each a supervised depot for potty-trained pre-teens of all shapes and sizes (kind of like an orphanage, except most of the parents come back). Your children will be monitored and perhaps pitied as you lustily pull off your Mouse ears, don your party clothes, and cruise Disney for a good time, kid-free.

Okay, fine. I'm exaggerating. These Activity Centers, according to Kristin Ford of A Mom and the Mouse, her blog for the Orlando Sentinel, aren't so bad. In fact, she and her husband recently left their children at one of them for a few hours while they had some kid-free fun. She had a good look 'round her Center and shares what she saw.

The Activity Centers are located at Disney's upper-end resorts (though not, surprisingly, at the Contemporary) and each one is themed to match. The Animal Kingdom Lodge has Simba's Clubhouse, the Never Land Club has the Polynesian, and so forth.

The Centers are fully equipped with toys, games, and books, and children may also spend their time watching movies (let me guess: Disney movies?) or playing video games on the Wii or Playstation. Kids there at dinnertime can order what they want to eat from a menu.

It's not free, though. Disney charges $11.50 per hour. A deal? I think so.

I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'm jealous of Kristin Ford's children. I wish, years ago, my parents had dumped me at the Never Land Club while they did what they usually did when they were alone: sit quietly. It would have been better than where I usually got dumped: in wooded areas; without shoes. I have issues.

Contact the Author: Bob McLain

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