The Never Land Club: Child Care at Walt Disney World

This was our family’s first time using any of Disney’s Kids Clubs - facilities where your kids can go for a fun, supervised night out while the parents have an evening to themselves. We never really had much use for the kids’ clubs as we felt a family vacation was to be spent with family. And we never were quite sure how our kids would do since the only baby-sitters that they have had since birth have been relatives.

But October 30 was my birthday and my husband, Bryan, and I were going to have an adults-only meal at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We were looking forward to a meal where the kids didn’t inhale their food and were ready to go on to the next activity in the space of two breaths. So off we went to drop off Stefan, age 9 and Caitlin, age 8.

We arrived at the Never Land Club building at Disney’s Polynesian Resort around 5:00pm, which was our Advanced Reservation time. As you walk in, there is a small check-in desk where we were greeted by one of the staff. Stefan and Caitlin received their name tags and promptly were invited to “fly off to Never Land” while Mom and Dad finished filling out the paperwork. I have to say that the staff was very thorough in having multiple ways to get a hold of parents. We gave them our cell numbers, were given a pager, and our resort room information was also taken down. We were also given a receipt and had to bring that particular sheet back to claim our children. We felt very confident that everything was under control and our children would be very safe.

I wanted to fly off to Never Land and check this place out myself! You enter Never Land by walking up three steps and going through a window ~ just like Wendy, Michael and John did when they flew out their window to Never Land. Just inside that window was what I would call a craft and reading area. There were a couple rocking chairs, a table with chairs sized just for kids with crayons, markers and craft stuff. On the wall were drawings and creations from what I guessed were previous visitors to Never Land Club.

Around the corner, you could see the tree, beneath which should have been Peter Pan’s hideout, but instead housed a plethora of arcade games that the kids could play to their hearts content. In the largest area was a big screen TV showing a Disney movie, but there were also Legos and other types of toys and activities spread throughout this room. I was impressed with the large area and how there was plenty of room to roam around. We felt that the needs of active kids as well as kids that preferred a little more quiet time would be met.

When we walked in to pick up the kids, we showed our receipt and a staff member went to corral our children. They didn’t want to leave! When we finally got them out, they were able to select 2 prizes from a giant treasure chest. They each chose a Mickey straw and a little treasure chest to bring home.

I asked them how dinner was. They had chicken fingers, pizza, macaroni and cheese, plus milk and apple juice to drink. Not the healthiest of meals, but its popular kid food that pleases just about everything that walks in their door.

The kids enjoyed it immensely! To quote my daughter, Caitlin, “Can you and Dad go on more dates at Disney World so we can come back here?” So I have to say that we had a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to take my children there again.

Disney also operates several other Kids Club facilities on-property. The Sandcastle Club is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Mouseketeer Club is at the Grand Floridian, Cub's Den at Wilderness Lodge, and Simba’s Cubhouse at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. So depending on where you are staying, or where your adult plans are located, there are several options for you.

The cost is $10 per child, per hour. Hours are generally 4pm-12am. The dinner buffet is usually served at 6pm, but ask about the hours when you make your reservation. Reservations are required and a 24 hour cancellation policy applies. Make your reservations with Disney Dining by calling 407-WDW-DINE. You may make your reservations up to 6 months in advance.

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Updated 06-03-2011 - Article #657 

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