Love Disney? This cool aspect gig helps you to flip your ardour into revenue on the most magical place on Earth.
Disney nannies assist vacationing households navigate theme parks and babysit children whereas their mother and father play.
Should you love theme parks and have prior youngster care expertise, it’s a enjoyable and distinctive strategy to choose up some additional money.
We’ll break down the whole lot it’s essential to learn about this quirky aspect hustle, together with job tasks and common pay charges.
There’s a Surprisingly Large Demand for Disney Nannies
Disney nannies are an more and more common area of interest inside youngster care.
Educated babysitters can accompany households to theme parks to lend a serving to hand. Or, if mother and father want a break, a nanny can come over and supply in-room care at a close-by lodge or resort.
Some nannies will even take your children to Disney World for you.
It might appear to be a wierd service. In spite of everything, aren’t you imagined to spend time with your loved ones on trip?
However in keeping with two Disney nanny businesses we spoke to, enterprise is at all times booming.
“Dad and mom want an additional pair of fingers or an evening off generally,” mentioned Alison FitzGibbon, CEO and Founding father of Theme Park Nannies in Orlando, Florida.
FitzGibbon, a mom of three who began her enterprise 4 years in the past, had prior expertise screening and coaching nannies for her personal kids. After her household visited Disney World (and in the end moved to Orlando), FitzGibbon mentioned she seen a niche within the youngster care market.
“I spotted all kinds of individuals may use a Disney nanny,” FitzGibbon mentioned.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than requests began pouring in — from grandmothers who want additional assist maintaining a tally of their grandkids at Animal Kingdom and {couples} who wish to tour the Epcot Meals & Wine Competition with out little ones in tow.
“We’re a really small firm and I house out the bookings, however I nonetheless obtain about three to 4 inquiries every day,” mentioned FitzGibbon, whose company employs between two and 7 nannies.
Cyan Nardiello stumbled into her Disney nanny job final 12 months.
A full-time faculty scholar on the College of Central Florida, Nardiello started nannying for an area household in 2018 to earn some more money.
I would like individuals who can sustain with the children.
Nardiello, 22, is a lifelong Disney fan and annual move holder. Someday, she acquired permission from her nanny household to take their daughter to Magic Kingdom as a deal with.
Nardiello posted a video of their journey on Tik-Tok beneath the username themeparknanny.
“It was the very first video I ever posted on Tik-Tok,” Nardiello mentioned. “It completely blew up.”
She’s not exaggerating — the September 2020 video has greater than 2.6 million views.
Quickly, mother and father from throughout the nation have been flooding Nardiello’s inbox to request her hourly price.
The UCF scholar launched Once Upon A Nanny LLC in October 2020 and labored solo the primary 4 months.
However after gaining nationwide media publicity, Nardiello realized she wanted to develop quick to maintain up with demand.
She now employs eight different ladies, with bold plans to develop to each Disney park world wide.
“We’ve most likely nannied and helped 200 children at this level,” she mentioned.
There are different firms on the market, too — Nanny-Land and Sunshine Babysitters additionally make use of folks in Central Florida.
Different ladies have taken up the entrepreneurial spirit, comparable to Nanny in The Kingdom and Mouse Home Nanny, each catering to the Disneyland California market.
It’s not simply Disney parks, both. Nannies can accompany households to Common Studios, SeaWorld and different main points of interest.
The best way to Land a Disney Nanny Job
So what precisely does it take to be a Disney nanny?
FitzGibbon and Nardiello each mentioned this dreamy-sounding gig isn’t for everybody — and even most individuals. It’s numerous arduous work.
Earlier than you seize your fairy godmother gown and tiara, right here’s what it’s essential to know.
1. You Must Stay Close to a Theme Park — and In all probability Purchase an Annual Move
Should you’ve ever deliberate a household trip to a theme park, tickets are costly.
Each FitzGibbon and Nardiello already had annual passes to Disney World earlier than beginning their companies — and also you’ll most likely want a Disney annual move too if you wish to take children to the parks.
Simply take note these passes are costly — actually costly.
The one annual Disney World move accessible to non-Florida residents runs $1,300 for the 12 months. You may unfold it out over 12 months, however you’ll nonetheless have to make a $205 down fee.
Cheaper annual passes exist for Florida residents, working from $400 to $900 a 12 months — however these choices include blockout dates and different restrictions.
Dad and mom want nannies for different theme parks too, so you could possibly discover annual passes at Common Studios, that are extra inexpensive at $400 to $600 a 12 months.
Nevertheless, not each Disney nanny has an annual theme park move.
Little one care professionals with no move stick with what’s often called “resort work,” the place they babysit a number of youngster at a lodge whereas their mother and father get pleasure from a date evening out.
“Not all of our nannies do in-park youngster care,” FitzGibbon informed The PNW. “So for these solely doing inns…it isn’t wanted.”
No matter your pass-holder standing, you will need to dwell close to a serious theme park to make the gig work. Theme Park Nanny requires workers to dwell 60 miles or much less from Orlando parks.
However theme parks function world wide, so that you don’t essentially have to dwell in Central Florida to be a Disney nanny.
A digital company referred to as Nanny-Land says it caters to households in any respect Disney places worldwide.
2. Create Magic Even When It’s 95 Levels Out
Being a Disney nanny may be very bodily demanding.
Princess attire and fairy mud apart, you’ll be strolling a number of miles at Walt Disney World throughout scorching Florida summers.
Add in humidity, and The Happiest Place on Earth can really feel like a sweltering swamp throughout the busy season, sometimes March via early September.
“It’s not for the faint of coronary heart,” FitzGibbon mentioned. “It might attain 113 levels generally with the warmth index.”
Each FitzGibbon and Nardiello mentioned they largely search for college-age ladies to carry out Walt Disney World park work.
“I desire to rent youthful folks as a result of Disney may be very taxing,” Nardiello mentioned. “I would like individuals who can sustain with the children.”
Older profession nannies can nonetheless discover this aspect gig, however FitzGibbon mentioned she personally prefers to assign these caregivers to look at children on the resorts as a substitute of theme parks.
You’ll additionally want snug strolling footwear and loads of water all through the day — regardless of how previous you might be.
3. Be Enjoyable, Modern — and Extraordinarily Accountable
You’ll want a particular mixture of agility, creativity and most of all diligence to be a Disney nanny.
Watching different folks’s kids is a large accountability and issues get hectic at theme parks. Maintaining observe of toddlers, diaper luggage, strollers and the whole lot else is difficult sufficient — add in hundreds of vacationers unfold throughout 100+ acres and it’s straightforward to get overwhelmed.
FitzGibbon and Nardiello practice all their nannies — even ones with prior expertise.
As enterprise homeowners, the onus of retaining children secure falls on their shoulders, so that they take security significantly.
Neither proprietor reported having any points, however fixed diligence is at all times high of thoughts.
“A child can get misplaced or out of your imaginative and prescient so rapidly at Disney,” Nardiello defined. “You need to be additional cautious.”
Conducting fixed headcounts and retaining households on schedule on the parks means it’s essential to be organized and conscientious in addition to accountable.
FitzGibbon takes new hires on a full walk-through coaching day on the park, often along with her personal three kids in attendance.
She additionally purchased a life-sized child doll to verify nannies know correctly change a diaper and burp an toddler.
With regards to babysitting at resorts, nannies want to return ready.
“Don’t go there empty-handed,” FitzGibbon suggested.
Deliver some diapers, snacks, board video games, coloring books and age-appropriate toys to maintain little ones entertained throughout your go to.
With Covid-19 security precautions nonetheless in place at most parks and resorts, it’s smart to pack additional face masks and disinfectant wipes, too.
“Households on trip overlook to carry staple items with them generally,” FitzGibbon mentioned. “The extra ready you’re going in, the higher your expertise can be.”
4. Have Some Prior Childcare Expertise and Suggestions
You’ll want some youngster care expertise in your resume to land a theme park nanny job.
Each FitzGibbon and Nardiello mentioned they search for candidates who love working with children and have accomplished so in knowledgeable setting.
Expertise can embrace babysitting, working at a church nursery or daycare, lifeguarding, nannying, educating, finishing an early training internship or working as a camp counselor.
Prior work within the hospitality business — and navigating theme parks — is a pleasant plus.
Take into accout some Disney nanny businesses could have stricter necessities than others. For instance, you might want a minimum of three years {of professional} youngster care work after the age of 18 to get a name again.
If most of your youngster care expertise is babysitting siblings or watching your buddy’s children, an company should rent you in case your references are good. However be ready to bear extra in depth hands-on coaching in that case.
Most businesses (and particular person households) are in search of a minimum of two good suggestions from prior employers or households you’ve labored with up to now.
As with all childcare job, you’ll bear a felony background and driving report test. You’ll additionally have to be CPR/First Assist licensed.
Lastly, theme park nannies should comply with theme park masks insurance policies and so they’re inspired to be vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19.
5. Perceive This In all probability Received’t Be a Full-Time Gig
Many theme park nannies do that work on the aspect whereas holding down different youngster care jobs. Others are full-time faculty college students trying to choose up some additional money.
The pay is OK — however in the event you work for an company, you received’t obtain the complete $25-$35 hourly price households pay. The company at all times takes a reduce.
FitzGibbon and Nardiello have been reluctant to share the precise pay their nannies obtain.
“Our workers is paid a hard and fast price that goes together with the present charges in our space,” Nardiello mentioned, including that every nanny often works three to seven hours per week on common.
You’ll make a minimum of minimal wage, which is presently $10 an hour in Florida. In accordance with Certainly, the common hourly price for a childcare skilled in Florida was $11.46 in 2021.
Some businesses, like Sunshine Babysitting, provide 24-hour and short-notice youngster care. Nannies keen to select up uncommon shifts, together with holidays and/or weekends, could enhance their take residence pay.
After all, you could possibly at all times launch your individual babysitting service the way in which FitzGibbon and Nardiello did.
However beginning a enterprise entails vital danger — particularly within the youngster care business.
“It’s so much to deal with — from managing different folks to incorporating your online business,” Nardiello mentioned. “You want to be sincere with your self, and determine if the danger is well worth the reward.”
Rachel Christian is a Licensed Educator in Private Finance and a senior author for The PNW.