"Family" restrooms??

[Hannathy]

Celine - Don't let it get you down. Only YOU know what your child needs and how to handle the situation to avoid ruining the day for your family. When you need to take him into the ladies room, walk in with the confidence that you know what is right for you and don't worry about what anyone else may think.

In certain circumstances like the OP's true, But everyone else most certainly should consider other peoples feelings and needs when they are out in public. Your's isn't the only family at Disney on vacation.

 

[LisaBi]

In certain circumstances like the OP's true, But everyone else most certainly should consider other peoples feelings and needs when they are out in public. Your's isn't the only family at Disney on vacation.

I was speaking to the OP, and specifically to the situation of disabled kiddos who need assistance. I've been in her shoes. I didn't mean that we shouldn't consider others' feelings - my intent was to say that she shouldn't worry about what others, who don't know the situation, think of her and her son.

Without a doubt, the best answer is to find a companion restroom. But that's not always possible (kid needs to go NOW and it's a five minute walk to the nearest companion restroom). It then becomes one of those situations where you just "gotta do what you gotta do."

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Ugh! I'm the OP and this whole thread is really making me feel like crap.

I feel for you.

Personally, I wish all of the "I'll use the companion restroom if I feel like it! " folks could spend just *one* Disney day with a disabled older child.

I bet a lot of attitudes about the use of the companion bathrooms would change, right quick.

There really is a *huge* difference between "but, they're so big and comfortable and convenient!" and "they're the *only* bathrooms in the park where we can fit our DS15, his wheelchair, the clean-up supplies we inevitably need for a bathroom break and ourselves (DW and/or I)."

 

[smidgy]

As for the 'they can't see anything' folks...I can tell you from my own personal experience that they CAN see things...especially if they're looking! A few years ago I was in a stall at MK and needed to deal with a *ahem* time of the month issue. I was in the middle of doing so when I heard a loud 'uh yuck!' comment and looked up to see an eye peering at me through the crack in the toilet door. I admit I swore loudly at the person involved - who appeared to be an 11 or 12 year old boy. I finsished what I was doing quickly and opened the door to see a mother ushering this lad out of the toilets. I shouted to her but she virtually ran out of the door to get away as quickly as possible. I would have followed but I needed to wash my hands.

Now my DD will be 11 on this trip and has recently started her periods...whilst I was angry about my incident my DD would be beyond mortified if this was to happen to her with a boy of her own age...can you even imagine?!

wow, that IS creepy.. so.. you have changed my opinion...

WAIT!!! this HAS to be a DIS first! a discussion changed a person's opinion!

I guess I never meant the 11 year old boys should be in the women's bathroom... there ARE grey areas...

I know when I lost my 8 year old son at Wrigley field, there were 2 entrances and exits. I was born and raised in chicago, and wasn't too concerned about his safety (maybe I shoudl ahve been? but city born) but we lost eaCH OTHER ON THE exit.and, at WDW, there are a few restrooms that have 2 exits. I'm just not sure my 5 year old grandson would be able to figure out where he was and acclamate.
but I defintely would not like a preteen boy peeking in the cracks while I was in the stall.

I just want to back up the people who need it.. those with little boys who don't have a dad with them.. those with kids with disabilities. etc.
Im just the kind of person who always sees the "grey" area. I would be voted RIGHT off a jury.! ""gee, that sounds logical to me" "um, that sounds right also! ":

I just always look for the good in everyone, and think everyone else does too. and try not to judge.

however, agroup of teens in line for the companion restroom? they WILL hear from me.

 

[Iliketink]

Please don't assume people who come out of the companion restroom alone are being inconsiderate or selfish. There are cases where a person needs a restroom with a sink in it - consider someone with a colostomy bag that needs attention or other circumstances where they need to wash up their private areas because of a health problem - so think twice before giving people a dirty look. They may need access to a sink in private.

 

[smidgy]

which is why I try to NOT JUDGE.

 

[KPeveler]

Ok, here is a good rule of thumb - there are TWO parts and you MUST read BOTH for it to make sense.

Part One:
If you CAN use another facility, you SHOULD use another facility. This means if you can use a regular stall, do so. If you need the handicapped accessible stall but not the companion restroom, them try to leave the companion restroom for people with no other choice.

Part Two:
Only the people who are using the facility get to decide if they need that accommodation or not. That means I get to decide if I need the companion restroom, handicapped accessible stall, etc. No one else gets to decide, as no one else is currently connected to my bladder.


I am a full time wheelchair user, and even I have caught myself judging in a situation I shouldn't. And I still feel embarrassed that I did it, and thank Walt that I did not say anything.

I needed the accessible stall on Main Street in Disneyland, and there was a woman with her daughter in the handicapped stall. There were no wheels visible under the door and all other stalls were open. I was wondering (luckily not out loud) if they were using it for convenience instead of out of need. Then the family walks out and I see a girl of around 10 with Down Syndrome.

There is no way to tell what a person needs just by looking at that person. So while we may be impatient or judgmental in our heads, let's try not to share it with others... because someday you may find yourself on the unpleasant end of that judging!

 

[SueM in MN]

Companion Restrooms are large enough for a wheelchair to go into and are set up for people who need assistance in the bathroom (whether or not they have a wheelchair).

• meet ADA wheelchair accessibility standards for size, space and arrangement of the room.
• raised seat, wheelchair accessible toilets with grab bars
• sink
• a single room with a door that can be locked, so there is no privacy from the other people who are in there with you.
• almost all have autoflush toilets
• some have a urinal
• some have changing tables, but most do not

A few examples of people who need Companion Restrooms:

• a mother with an older son who is autistic and is too old to comfortably come into the ladies room with her
• someone who can't walk whose wheelchair doesn't fit into the regular handicapped stalls or doesn't fit into the stall in a way that allows them to transfer (so they can't leave it outside the stall and walk in)
• someone, like my DD, who needs room for a wheelchair and a helper (we don't fit in many of the regular handicapped stalls)
• someone, like my DD, who has wheelchair, needs assistance and don't do well with all the noise in a regular restroom and need a quieter restroom.
• an older man or woman who has to assist their spouse/SO who has had a stroke or other situation that makes assistance in the restroom necessary
• someone with a colostomy or other need that makes being in a bathroom with a toilet and a sink necessary
• and, many other needs that can't all be listed.

The Companion Restroom or handicapped stall are the only toilets some people can use. If they can only use the Companion Restroom, there may be only 4-8 toilets in all of that park that they can use.
Handicapped stalls and Companion Restrooms are made so that people with disabilities are able to use the restroom. They may also be useful or convenient for some people without disabilities. Some people do choose to use them for convenience. But, there are not enough of them to be used that way if everyone who found them convenient used them.
I would like to ask people to consider whether or not they have other options. In some cases, they don't and should be using the Companion Restrooms or the Handicapped Stall. (One example might be a father traveling alone with a young daughter who doesn't feel comfortable bringing her in with him.)
But, please consider whether there are other options before using them for convenience.

 

[spacemountainmom]

Ah but you're obviously not as good a parent as the PP! Only those who 'hover' are good parents!!!

As for the 'they can't see anything' folks...I can tell you from my own personal experience that they CAN see things...especially if they're looking! A few years ago I was in a stall at MK and needed to deal with a *ahem* time of the month issue. I was in the middle of doing so when I heard a loud 'uh yuck!' comment and looked up to see an eye peering at me through the crack in the toilet door. I admit I swore loudly at the person involved - who appeared to be an 11 or 12 year old boy. I finsished what I was doing quickly and opened the door to see a mother ushering this lad out of the toilets. I shouted to her but she virtually ran out of the door to get away as quickly as possible. I would have followed but I needed to wash my hands.

Now my DD will be 11 on this trip and has recently started her periods...whilst I was angry about my incident my DD would be beyond mortified if this was to happen to her with a boy of her own age...can you even imagine?!

I'm with Hannathy on this one - if your son is too old to go in the stall with you then he stays outside or uses the mens room!

To the OP - having said all of the above I work with people with special needs and completely understand your situation but your son is, imho, a completely different scenario from the one I described above...if I were to see a young man, flicking a peice of paper being escorted into the handicapped stall of the women's restroom by his mother I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Exactly! I've never understood people who think stalls actually provide some decent degree of privacy- they pretty much have windows built in, and most kids love to look in on people like little pervs. For whoever kept talking about the fact that home bathrooms aren't gender-segregated, this is exactly the reason why they don't need to be, since no one can watch you from outside a home bathroom, plus they aren't set up in such a way that allows kids to crawl in underneath the door, the way most stalls are. (And yes, I have observed this on numerous occasions- the kids think it's funny to "surprise" people by getting into their stall, and the parents just let them do it. This is more of an issue with littler kids, but any kids tend to put me on edge for something like that to happen.)
Some people who go to Disney aren't parents and therefore don't think badly-behaved kids (or any kids, really) are cute. Parents need to be considerate of the fact that such people may be present.

Thank you ladies for speaking up. I have brought these situations up in multiple threads about moms bringing older boys (without special needs) into the women's restrooms. I am always told by these women that I must be making stuff up as they have never, ever been peeked at or had someone crawl under a door into their stall. Oh yes, they also insist that the cracks are far too small to look through......Really?

I guess I am unlucky since I have had both situations happen to me more than once. I don't get that worked up about someone looking at me, but I do have a daughter and don't want anyone peeping at her. I still don't get why a mother's paranoia trumps any female's right to privacy.

Please don't misunderstand me. I feel for the OP and can imagine it is very hard for her. I don't have a problem with a mother helping a child who needs assistance. I have a problem with mothers who can't let go. I have a 12 year old son too. There are places where I am not completely comfortable letting him go in alone, but I have to. He is TOO OLD to be in the women's restroom and has been for quite some time.

I hope that the OP has a great vacation and that she doesn't encounter any difficulties at the World.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Please don't misunderstand me. I feel for the OP and can imagine it is very hard for her. I don't have a problem with a mother helping a child who needs assistance. I have a problem with mothers who can't let go. I have a 12 year old son too. There are places where I am not completely comfortable letting him go in alone, but I have to. He is TOO OLD to be in the women's restroom and has been for quite some time.

I hope that the OP has a great vacation and that she doesn't encounter any difficulties at the World.

There is a difference between someone helping a child with special needs and someone paranoid that their child will be assaulted in the bathroom.

Boys know. I have a vague memory of the last time my mom brought me into a women's restroom. I think it was at Kmart. I needed to go. She brought me into the women's restroom. I don't think there was even anyone else there, but I told her I should be going to the men's room. I think I was maybe 4 years old.

If your kid tells you that, it's a sign.