american toilets

[lucy_love_]

hi

i dont know if im posting this in the wrong place but here goes anyway and sorry if i am.

last year was our first visit to wdw. our daughter was petrified of the self flushing toilets and they sometimes flushed when she was still sat there as she was only small. i was always in the cubilcle with her.

shes already said that shes worried about usung them this visit. how can i convince her that they are perfectly safe? and has anyone else had this problem with their children?

we dont have these in the uk so since last year we havent come across them to deal with it.

i also have to say when we visited wdw the toilets were always in really good condition and very clean. well done wdw.

thanks in advance

lucy

ps i have told her that nothing can happen to her and that they are perfectly safe. shes 7 years old.

 

[bethbuchall]

My daughter was terrified of those when she was younger, too. If she still lets you in the cubicle with her, you can hold you hand over the sensor. Then the toilet shouldn't flush until you remove your hand, and she will have time to get away.

I've read that other people bring Post-It notes to put over the sensor for the same reason.

Beth

 

[SueM in MN]

I've read that other people bring Post-It notes to put over the sensor for the same reason.

Beth

Post it notes work very well.

 

[DisneyObsessive]

oh thats a brilliant idea!

i used to be scared of them whe ni was younger too. most of the toilets in my college are like that, and sometimes little kids use them when they ar there for elementary education majors to teach and ive heard a few of them become quite alarmed because of it. they are loud and unpredictable, so its totally understandable to be scared.

 

[minkydog]

You beat me to it--Post it notes! My daughter was scared of those flushing toilets too, until she was abut 8-9,so I'd either put my hand over the sensor or a post-it.

I guess you know that all toilets in America are not like that. Many places still have the normal kind

 

[momsgoofy]

Too funny...not that your daughter is scared of those blasted toliets...heck, I'm hum, ah, well...older than 7 and sometimes they still catch me offguard. I just had to chime in with this though when I read the title of the thread.

When I was in college, 3 classmates and I went on an educational trip to France, while I'd lived in Holland for a year and experienced the variety of toliets found in Europe the other 3 girls hadn't...boy was it a hoot to watch them figure out things...more than once I'd hear, "Laura, how DOES this thing work?" We had such fun with the whole experience that when we returned and were giving speechs for other students to interpret (since we were studying to be sign language interpreters), I did one on "The Toliets of Europe". I spoke about the kind with the pull chain, the button on the tank you pushed or pulled up depending on the model, the ones where there were just a hole in the floor with footprints next to it...found that one on the autobon in Germany, and the one that really isn't a toliet at all, but the bidet. Oh, and yes, the unisex restrooms I'd used at Deftling. Oh, those American girls from the midwest had a field day with the idea of sharing a public restroom with a member of the opposite sex.

Well, sorry to have hijacked this for a moment. I do hope your daughter can get through her fears and enjoy her trip. I think the post-it notes are a great idea. I was thinking that using bandaids might work since most parent seem to carry those with them. Also, if you will search the boards...perhaps the Disney for Familes board...for the subject you can find some helpful advice there. I know that I've seen the topic discussed there in the past.

 

[gonemousin']

Your post made me giggle! I remember the first time that happened to my DD, when she was 3 years old...she almost jumped off the toilet! Fortunately, she's decided that it's a funny thing, so we haven't had to combat the fear. But, I can definitely understand your DD thinking it's a bit scary - they're very loud for a little person!

 

[bytheblood]

Post it notes are perfect.

My daughter used to be scared of it as well. I think in most airports, theme parks, etc...there are these auto-flushing toilets now. There are times I wish I had one in my bathroom at home.

 

[Juligan]

Those who are freaked by the self-flushing... don't go to the Chicago-O'Hare Airport. They not ony have self-flush they also have automatic seat liners for your sanitary protection. No, it's true, honest!

 

[njcarita]

every time my 4 year old goes into a public toilet-- she askes me "are these like disneys"--

you should see the relieved look on her face when i say no--- we have to flush these ourselves---

our last trip was 11 months agao-- and the question still comes up--
i guess she has "disney toilet trauma"

 

[lucincia]

I think we should draw the line at having a hydraulic pole coming out and wiping for you!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Just give her a pad of post-its to put in her pocket. She can put one over the sensor when she enters and remover it when she is done.

 

[Diabolicdesire]

I usually just hang a piece of toilet paper over the sensor and it works great too.

Learned this trick after a few go arounds trying to get the seat cover in position and as soon as I turned to sit it would flush right down

 

[cranbiz]

I just saw the automatic seat covers a little while ago. They were at a golf course that I was playing at. It was definately different.

 

[Luv4Disney]

LoL. I'm 21 and the self-flushing toilets still bother me. I'm not scared of them, but I do find them highly annoying!

 

[Micca]

Lucy just tell her that the toilet has only swallowed those under 6

 

[Minnesota]

Minneapolis Airport has these too, my only tip, remove what ever you put over the sensor please. I have come off a plane and found several "used" toilets still with their little post it note tags attached. Not saying anyone here would do that but I can see where little kids could forget.
Minnesota

 

[Luv4Disney]

Minneapolis Airport has these too, my only tip, remove what ever you put over the sensor please. I have come off a plane and found several "used" toilets still with their little post it note tags attached. Not saying anyone here would do that but I can see where little kids could forget.
Minnesota

LoL. Good point.

 

[PaulaSue]

My dd's are too and we come across them often.

 

[44disney]

One more thing on the post-it notes: I forgot to bring some for my DD5 (also terrified of the toilets) but they sell them (with Tinkerbell on the sheets) at a lot of the park stores and hotel gift shops for about $3. And the ones that my daughter didn't use became a little souvenir!