If you have business in the Orlando area and you want your child to have a day out on the town, I would recommend something special. Here are a couple babysitter/daycare options for you.

All About Kids (407/ 812-9300, 800/728-6506) is an Orlando-based childcare company whose staff is very friendly, and won't mind coming to any hotel. They offer both private in-room babysitting services and escorted trips to all of the attractions in the area. All About Kids will send you professional childcare service individuals who are bonded, insured, CPR certified, and have had background checks. They also provide drop-in day care and children's activities for groups. There is a four-hour minimum and it costs $13/hour for one child, and $2/hour more for an additional child.  If you choose to have the sitter start at 9pm or later there is an extra charge of $2/hour and there is a $12 transport fee.

La Petite Academy
(407/586-2505, 866/KIDSSTATION)
In mid-2002, the La Petite Academy Kids Station, part of a nationwide chain of daycare centers, opened in the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. La Petite Academy is independent from Gaylord Palms, and is licensed and insured to welcome any local or visiting children. On the ground floor, a CPR and First Aid-trained staff will watch kids ages 3-14 on a drop-in basis from 9am to10pm daily.  Their facility is large, spotless and well maintained, with a huge climbing jungle gym structure, ball-play area, reading corner, karaoke, rest area with videos and myriad craft projects to explore. Although La Petite Academy staff will do private babysitting in your hotel room for infants ($18/hour), they are not licensed to escort children to the pool or leave the premises.

Kids Nite Out (407/828-0920, 800/696-8105) was founded in 1998 and has been providing relief for parents who want a night out on the town during their time in Orlando.  Both certified and insured, Kids Nite Out operates 24/7 and provides hotel childcare service, event childcare service and hotel pet sitting.  The in-hotel sitter service is for children ages six weeks to twelve years. There is a four-hour minimum at $14/hour for one child with prices increases incremental for each extra child, and all reservations made for after 9pm cost $2/hour extra. There is a one- time transportation fee of $10.  Additionally, there is a mother’s/father’s helper service available for parents who need an extra hand.  Kids Nite Out also provides kids day camps for ages 4-12 at the Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort, including the Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel and the Royal Pacific Resort. They also organize childcare parties for groups from 10-1,000 for weddings and conventions. .

For more information on childcare in Orlando, check out the Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Jennifer Poe is a past summer intern at FTF and has some experience with babysitting. At the time she wrote this article, she babysat her for 8-year-old sister and a 1-year-old nephew once in while.