Walt Disney World Kid's Clubs and Parent's Night Out: How to Ditch the Kids and Have Them Love You for It!

Disney World is a popular destination for families. Check out their advertisements: kids of all ages smiling and laughing, racing into Mickey's waiting arms, dressing like princesses and fighting like pirates. All while Mom and Dad smile fondly at them thinking, "Just three more hours until we drop you off at the Kid's Club and then the night is ours! Mwaaaahahahahaaa!"

Yes, even at the Family Vacation Capital of the Southeast, adults can sign their children up for fun and frolic while they enjoy some signature dining, nightclubs, or just an evening alone in the hotel room. Five of Disney's deluxe hotels offer these clubs for all potty trained children ages 4-12. For the bargain price of $11 an hour per child with a two hour minimum, your kids can play video games, board games, watch (Disney!) movies, do arts and crafts, play with many available toys and play group games with the counselors and other children. Included in the price is also a full dinner your kids can pick from a menu and a snack or treat later in the evening. Hours typically are from 4:30pm to midnight, and it's the rare child who is ready to leave when their parents come to get them.

So where are these magnificent clubs? Scattered across the resorts, the Kid's Clubs are located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Resort and the Beach Club. Each resort club offers a fun and safe locale for kids and enough romance to make it worth the trip for parents.

Simba's Cubhouse - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Even if you're not staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, this is a great evening destination. Stop and take a look at all the animals with your kids before dropping them off at Simba's. They can settle in to the cozy room where they have the run of the place while still supervised by excellent Disney Cast Members. You can spend a romantic evening enjoying the unique and elegant dining experience of Jiko, a signature restaurant with an excellent menu and equally excellent wine list. After dinner, enjoy the ambiance at Victoria Falls Lounge and then take a stroll around the resort grounds before picking up the kids. They'll have a blast and you'll have a night to remember!

Cub's Den - Wilderness Lodge

The first of the Magic Kingdom resorts with a kid's club on our list, Wilderness Lodge is a magnificent testament to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The Cub's Den, located just off the lobby between the Lodge and the Villas, is another small and intimate kid's club where your children can enjoy the best Disney babysitting has to offer. Wilderness Lodge offers up another signature dining experience with Artist Point, and very few other resorts have the absolute outdoor romance that Wilderness Lodge possesses. Have dinner and follow it up with a cozy lounge in the chairs on the beach, watching as the Electric Light Parade sails past. Listen to the sights and sounds of nature and enjoy each other's company before picking the kids up to go back to your room or resort.

Mouseketeer Club - Grand Floridian

The smallest in size, this Magic Kingdom resort's Kid's Club is a good place for your children if your destination is the Grand Floridian's restaurants. Citrico's, Narcoosees, and the five diamond Victoria and Alberts are all premiere adult dining destinations and having your children at the Mouseketeer Club will keep them nearby. This Kid's Club is used primarily by families staying at the Grand Floridian, but does welcome other guests of the Disney World Resort. After your gourmet dinner out, the marina is a magical place to sit and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks display. In fact, Narcoosee's patio is ideal for the viewing, and they pipe the music in for the full experience.

Neverland Club - Polynesian Resort

This Kid's Club is the grand daddy of them all. A large sprawling building where kids enter by climbing in through Wendy's bedroom window, and where adults can't make it past the front check in, this is a definite kid favorite. Full size arcade games, a dinner buffet, and a large screen for movies make this a destination for every trip. If you are looking to stay at the resort for the evening, the Polynesian has Kona Café, an Asian inspired restaurant where you can enjoy a great meal. If your plans instead take you to the Grand Floridian, you're just a monorail ride away. So if your kids prefer the Neverland Club, you can forego the Mouseketeer Club and have them stay here. And speaking of just a monorail ride away? This is a perfect Kid's Club for those nights when you want to have an adult's only evening at the Magic Kingdom. And regardless of what you do? You can find pure South Seas romance in a hammock on the Polynesian beach. Tiki torches and island music set the ambiance.

Sandcastle Club - Beach Club Resort

If Epcot and any of the magnificent World Showcase restaurants are your destination, then the Sandcastle Club is the perfect choice. Just a walk away from Epcot through the International Gateway, this club is a great place for your children to enjoy their own activities while you explore the adult side of Disney. The Beach and Yacht Club are the home of the Yachtsman Steakhouse, so you can stay close for signature dining, and the Boardwalk is a boat ride or walk away. Imagine strolling down the Boardwalk or through World Showcase alone, able to sit and enjoy an adult beverage and some conversation. The Sandcastle Club is the perfect place for your kids to be entertained and happy while you enjoy what this area has to offer.

The Kid's Clubs do require advanced reservations, which can be made by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE or by inquiring at your concierge desk. Calling ahead will require a credit card to secure the reservation (no charges will be made) and you have up to 24 hours before your reservation time to cancel with no penalty. When you check your kids in, you will receive a pager so you are never out of touch.

Nervous about whether or not your kids will enjoy what the clubs have in store for them? The Cub's Den offers an open house during the day where kids and their parents can explore and enjoy crafts and check out what there is to do.

Disney World is for families. And adults. And any and everyone else. So drop your kids off and enjoy your evening. And if you feel a pang of guilt when you realize just what a wonderful time you had without them, consider this: when you pick them up and see what a great time they had you'll realize they don't even realize they were ditched. In fact...they love you for it!