Bathroom while in line

[jennab]

So this year DS (3.5) is potty trained. Of course though he is at that stage where he doesn't necessarily want to go when you ask, but more like at the most inconvenient times!! So if we are all in line and let's say DH takes DS to go potty will there be any issues with them catching back up to me in line, or do we all need to somehow get out of line and start over again? Just started to think about this.. Never realized how easy diapers can be

 

[newestkg06]

We are going to do some planned potty breaks where everyone goes, no arguing (and yes that is not easy with my 4 yo), but it should cut down on the surprises. Best times for this: right before you get in line for a show, right after lunch, etc. We'll be trying to stay very hydrated, so we'll be going more often than normal. I think if you talk about it and prepare him before you go that we're ALL going to go, it might make it easier.
I don't know the etiquette, but I think I would just wait to enter the line until my group was all together. Now, if you were already in line and he had an emergency, I would think that would be okay?

 

[jennab]

That's what I mean, like if we are in line and it's a "I need to go potty right this second" thing!!! I will try to do planned potty before getting in lines too, but you know how kids can be with the say they don't need to go then 10min later they do...

 

[momto2js]

You will have many people here say too bad, so sad, leave and wait again. We have had the issue several times and there are a couple of options. Generally, if you have one adult that can stay in the line and on take the kid, the cast member will let you merge in the fast pass line or will help you find a good merge point. I have handed the kid over the ropes many times and never had a complaint. Especially, when they were in line in the first place. Getting out of the line is not always easy, you must decide whether you are closer to the door or the chicken escape. I have found that cast members have been quite helpful in this situation. Good luck

 

[powellrj]

What we always did was everytime we passed a restroom, we stopped and went. No questions asked, you just went. If you asked my kids they would always say no, they didn't have to go, but we just always made them go to the restroom and most times they could go at least a little bit, so we didn't have to leave the lines.

 

[momto2js]

While at home you may want to practice going when you don't need to go. Most everyone can ALWAYS pee a little. If you are hydrating like you should, it should never be a problem. We also go at nearly every restroom we pass, but I had a child with an overactive bladder and he HAD to go alot. I got good at getting out and back in to lines. I found that most folks were VERY understanding.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

For a child that young, I say hold your spot in line and have the other parent take the child to the potty, then come catch back up. It's not fair to the kid that he had to potty RIGHT Now, and I'm sure all the other riders will be glad that he told you he needed to potty, instead of peeing in the line or on the ride. He shouldn't be made to start all over waiting.

 

[Minnie-Maniac]

So this year DS (3.5) is potty trained. Of course though he is at that stage where he doesn't necessarily want to go when you ask, but more like at the most inconvenient times!! So if we are all in line and let's say DH takes DS to go potty will there be any issues with them catching back up to me in line, or do we all need to somehow get out of line and start over again? Just started to think about this.. Never realized how easy diapers can be

I don't think most people would have a problem with this. My little brother years ago had to immediately go to the potty when our family in line and my Dad took him out of the Line(It was for Peter Pan's Flight) and when they came back the weaved there way back through the line with no problems from anyone from what my dad said.

 

[Happyjen27]

You shouldn't have a problem. Most of the people in line behind you will see you walking toward the exit with a little kid, and then upon seeing you on return won't bat an eye. Although my daughter was mortified I told people we were taking a potty break, I said that here and there on the way out, so that people would remember us when we were returning to the front of the line to join our family.

 

[Gracie09]

Just so you know it's not easy to leave and come back. You have to go upstream against hundreds of people to leave. The lines are not designed for you to easily get back To where you left.
We have the one goes we all go rule and we also go before any line where the wait is more than ten minutes or the ride is long. If they refuse to go then if they say they have tongi while in line I take them out and the rest of the group goes on the ride and we meet them after the ride is over. Amazingly we haven't had to do that more than once even with young 3 year olds.

 

[gatormom2tots]

I think *most* people get it...as most people have children and have been in your position. My husband and I don't even think twice or blink an eye at this- for us it is simply part of the experience with a preschooler and are just thankful we are NOT in that boat right now with our kids...(though now that I think about it, we WILL be there with our youngest next summer with a 2 1/2 year old....arghhhhhh).

That being said, we do try to avoid the situation-mandatory bathroom breaks about every 90 minutes or sooner if a meal was just eatten. Also bring a change of clothes- my oldest daughter didn't make it once as we RAN out of Laugh Floor to the bathroom.

I definitely wouldn't stress....try to avoid the situation if you can and judge it by how easy it will be to join your party. And if its more than you and 1 kid ( the older ones decide they want to go to), generally best to step out of line and rejoin.

And honestly, if somebody gets bent out of shape about a mom and a 3 year old joining dad after nearly peeing their pants, that is really their issue and don't let it bother you.

Also, we have ALWAYS found castmembers very helpful in this situation- there have been 2 occasions were we approached a cast member about stepping out of line to rush a kid to the bathroom and then they graciously escorted us back into any easy access point in the line to join my husband and other kids.

 

[RachealM]

I've seen it happen quite a bit and we've had to do ourselves on the occasional long line. It's something that happens, even with regular potty breaks in between. Most people are really gracious about it, so I wouldn't worry

 

[jennab]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Makes me feel a lot better We do plan to try and "force" him to go potty every 1 1/2 - 2 hours but you never know when there is an emergency!!! Hopefully since we are going at a slower time the lines won't be too long either!

 

[JimmyBean42]

The majority of people are understanding. We ran into one situation this year where we just had to re-wait. DS (4) and I were going on Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers without DW and DD (2) b/c they went to the Pooh ride. Once we got up to the front and almost boarded he of course had to go. So we got out of line (and weaving through traffic backwards when minutes from the boarding is not the most fun) & ran to the bathroom in Tomorrowland. Since DW was not inline with us at the time and there was no one up front who were were riding with, we just re-did the line. Since it was later in the day there wasn't too bad of a wait and honestly it was my fault b/c I didn't take him to the bathroom before we got in line. I stick with the advice everyone said already - have them go in with you even if they say they don't have to go. Chances are they can go a little.

 

[scrapquitler]

We do mandatory "Its time to use the bathroom" stops (even now, with youngest being 12!) to avoid having to leave the line for an emergency bathroom stop. It's not easy to leave the line and then get back in it.

Even as a parent, I find it annoying when it happens and another parent is bringing their child back in line simply because in many places, the line is NOT that wide and it is uncomfortable and inconvenient to have people trying to pass by you, especially when it is hot. I just don't want to be that close physically to someone walking by me. The one time we were in a line for an excessively long time (it broke down or stopped unexpectedly after we were in line, and we were going to just wait for it to reopen because we were told it wouldn't be long), and my DD had to go, we just left the line. We felt that it would have been rude to have left and come back. After that, my daughter NEVER argued when I told her to try to use the bathroom before we got in a line.

 

[luvmy2babies]

My son’s first trip after training was at age 4. We went often and when we went, we all went, no questions. And my son was much better than my daughter at that age. My son’s been totally reliable and practically trained himself. From very early on he only had accidents while asleep. I have learned over time I can believe him if he says he doesn’t have to go; but on trips like this I really don’t ask anyone if they need to “go” while we are there. We just go. My daughter (my older child) at 4 and 5 years-old would look you right in the face and say she didn’t have to go and 5 minutes later be in a state where if you didn’t get her to a restroom immediately, you’d be changing her clothes. Learned the hard way then not to even ask if we were going to be in a line.

Even now at 12, my daughter will get into the vehicle after leaving a building and suddenly (like less than 5 minutes later and 5 minutes from home) claim to need me to stop. When questioned she will try the “I didn’t have to go then” route. She’s healthy so I know her bladder doesn’t fill that quickly. She didn’t take the opportunity to go when she had it. I’m the only adult when we travel so there’s no leaving the line and going back because there’s no one to leave in our spot. We go every 1.5 to 2 hours or so and always go before a show or a long line and always go right after meals. So far we have never had to leave a line. My son's pretty predictable too though. #2 comes around the same times each day.

But you'll probably be fine. DS and I were in line for Pooh once. DD had originally opted out of riding so I left her in the gift shop where the ride exits. Not too much later, I felt a tap on my shoulder and she was there. She had changed her mind. She said she had no issues getting to us.

 

[puffkin]

The way many of the lines are, it may be pretty difficult to find your party again in line. What I would suggest is stopping as often as you can (like ever hour) and doing a quick break. We typically avoid lines longer than 45 minutes so, but if you do jump in one of those, definitely hit the restroom before getting in line. Yes it is a pain, but it should make everyone's life easier in the long run!

 

[JimmyBean42]

I can only imagine the horror experienced by all those parents who waited 3+ hours to meet A&E with there little ones. Although in that case I could see the entire line being tolerant since probably 80% of that line needed to leave to use the bathroom at some point.

 

[cleverclovers]

I used to ask my daughter of she needed to go to the restroom. If she said "NO" I usually told her to "go and try anyway - just in case".

 

[quagmire0]

Try your best to get him to go at strategic times. Obviously, if you see ahead of time that the queue is 30+ minutes, it's best to go find the nearest bathroom and then get in line. But, as you well know being a parent, it's going to happen. So, expect the worst and hope for the best. If it happens, get out of line and go to the bathroom. Remember that it's a vacation and not a do or die situation. You'll find time for that ride later.