Any moms out take their boys solo?

[danjoealexis3006]

We are leaving in 3 weeks to go to DW! My DH and I got talking about the trip and it occured to me that he will not be their to take the boys to the bathroom! My DSs are 9 and 6 and they wouldn't be caught dead going to the girls bathroom with me ( and I really think they are to old anyway)! Is there family restrooms and if not how did you handle it?

 

[NYMomof4]

I'm the mom to 3 boys and 1 DD. I took my oldest on solo vacations a few years ago and insisted that they go together to the boys room while I lingered outside the door Now when I have my DS5 alone, he does come in the ladies room with me, even with his protests. If the boys go together, I feel better about it, but with the youngest only, he comes with me.

Hope this helps. I have not seen any family restrooms that I can think of at WDW.

 

[Mkrop]

I saw several restrooms in Disney where you can all go in, they are not everyhwere but they are there. I know there was one by TT in Epcot, cant think of the others right now.

I take them in with me but watch out this topic can get ugly.

 

[marlynnp]

Yes, there are companion restrooms.

 

[Mkrop]

Another one by Buzz ride.

Maybe they are marked on a map????

 

[Princess Roo]

I'm with the OP in thinking that (at least the 9 yo) is too old, especially for someplace "safe" like DisneyWorld. I would send the boys in together and wait outside the door.

"Funny" story about this: As I was walking into the restroom at the movie theater the other day, a man outside looked really worried and asked if I'd check on his 4yo daughter who had gone in there a while ago. I easily found her in there - she was standing at the sink with a confused look on her face. I told her her daddy was outside and asked if something was wrong. She couldn't figure out which was the hot and which was the cold water and didn't want to leave without washing her hands or take the chance of burning herself OR ask a stranger! So...she just stood there. I was realizing how much harder this issue is for fathers, as I would bring a 4yo boy in a women's restroom no problem, but would be unsure whether it's appropriate to bring a 4yo girl into a men's restroom (without the private stalls for everyone).

 

[myramsy]

If it was me...I would send both boys together and wait right outside the bathroom door. I'm sure there will be no problem.
Have a great trip!
me ; DH ; DS(8)

 

[dvcbnd]

As a mother of 3, 2 boys and one girl, I can relate to your dilemma. I do remember seeing companion bathrooms in WDW. One is at the entrance to World Showcase (right side upon entering before Canada). I'm sure there are others but I can't remember if they show them on the maps. I'm sure it will all work out. You can probably ask at Guest Relations. Have a great trip!

 

[dvcbnd]

After my last post, I went to check some old WDW park maps for you. All 4 parks do have companion bathrooms. They are also the handicap bathrooms and show up on the maps as such. Hope this info helps you out and sets you more at ease. Have fun!

 

[bookgirl]

My nephews are eight. I only let them go to one door bathrooms and I stand right outside of them and wait. If I absolutly can not avoid the two doors I make sure I am in a position to watch both and I make them promise to come to the one I let them go in, and I call out about every 30 seconds.

 

[ReneeQ]

For those of you that go solo with "older" boys, how/when do YOU go to the restroom? I understand you can stand by the door of the men's restroom waiting on them to come out. But where do you "put" them when YOU have to go into the women's restroom? Even a companion restroom, they can go in and you wait outside the door. But when you need to go in, if they wait outside the door, you can't see them. They could be snatched before you come out.

I am taking my 9 year old nephew solo in April 2008. Last time just the two of us went, he was only 6, and I made him go into the women's restroom with me. We each went in our own stall, side by side stalls if possible, and I made him talk to me every few seconds, or made sure I could see his feet. (I'm more over-protective of him than my sister (his mom), but I don't want to have to tell my sister I lost her kid! )

We've also gone into the companion restrooms when we were other places solo, and we turn and face the wall so each other can "go." But he's getting older and is getting uncomfortable with that. And I'm uncomfortable letting him go in the men's room alone.

What do you do with a 9 year old boy, if he's the only child?

 

[lclark0621]

I'm with the OP in thinking that (at least the 9 yo) is too old, especially for someplace "safe" like DisneyWorld. I would send the boys in together and wait outside the door.

Disney, is like any other theme park. While it is "safe" in comparison to other places, please dont ever let your guard down just because you are on vacation or in Disney. We all love the Mouse, but he can't protect our kids 100%. That is our job as parents.

Given that the OP has 2 boys, and you are comfortable with them using the Men's room, I would make them go together. Explain to them they will both have to look out for each other. Have the conversations about it. Also stand at the entrance & dont be afraid to call out to them. Make sure they know if they dont answer you are coming in & dont care if it embarasses them (that will make then answer...LOL!)

 

[disykat]

Make sure they know they are bathroom buddies for the duration of the trip and they will be together any time anyone has to go or they will be stuck going in with you.

My boys were willing to watch out for each other when I was in the bathroom and anytime either one of them had to go - mainly because they were terrified of the alternative!

My younger son kind of liked it - he felt very important when my older son had to go and he got to "supervise."

In busy areas, I felt okay sending them in together at that age. In more isolated areas I made them talk or sing constantly. They knew if they were quiet for a minute I was coming in! (Or if I was the one in the bathroom, I might come running out with my pants down!) Shear fear of mortal embarassment kept them talking/singing so I knew they were safe.

 

[Princess Roo]

For those of you that go solo with "older" boys, how/when do YOU go to the restroom? I understand you can stand by the door of the men's restroom waiting on them to come out. But where do you "put" them when YOU have to go into the women's restroom? ...

I would probably still send a 9yo separately into the men's room and wait for him to come out. Then I would have him sit on a bench out in the open - maybe near a CM - and go into the women's room. Just seems safer to me so that I can hear if they call for me.

Disney, is like any other theme park. While it is "safe" in comparison to other places, please dont ever let your guard down just because you are on vacation or in Disney. We all love the Mouse, but he can't protect our kids 100%. That is our job as parents.

I completely agree, which is why I put "safe" in quotes. I feel that WDW is completely safe if you behave reasonably. There are places (a rest stop in the middle of the night, for example, which I would try to avoid in general!) where I would still bring a 9 or 10 yo boy in the women's restroom with me rather than send him alone. I just don't think WDW is one of those places where you need to be THAT protective. Children won't end up in an almost empty bathroom where someone can take advantage, there are lots of fathers around, plus you can hear if they yell for you.

 

[tinkandpan]

I also am a huge fan of the baby care centers when you have to go. Like someone said- it's okay to send the boys in together but you might not feel so comfortable leaving them on a bench while you go in. If you use the baby care center- you can explain the situation to the attendant in there (it usually isn't crazy crowded) and you can put them in the benches inthe little waiting/eating rooms while you go.

 

[danjoealexis3006]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I am lucky that my sister and her DD is comming along so someone will beable to supervise while I go to the bathroom. I will get a map when I get there and locate the restrooms. I also thought about them being bathroom buddies and sending them in with walkie talkies. I just feel a little nervous about this in todays world. I know people are good in general but...... I will also do my best to make sure that there are many people in the bathroom also. I am looking for more suggestion and hope I don't start an arguement. I have found this board SO helpful!:

 

[Coll0610]

A couple of years ago, DH was sick in the room a couple of days, so DS10 and I went to the parks without him. I have to go much more frequently than he does. We would agree on where he should wait for me - on a bench or next to the drinking fountain usually. He knew that if he ever wasn't where I told him to be, he would have to go in with me so he always stayed where he was told. When he was going, I would ask before he went in if he planning on a "short" or "long" trip. (His "long" trips can take 15 minutes). That way I had a better idea of when to worry about him if he didn't come out.

 

[MSSANDRA]

One word of caution is to be sure that the bathroom only has one way in and one way out. some have two and one even opens into differnt lands at the MK. My DS was 9 the first time he went alone at WDW. Just him and me at the time and i had to go too. I asked a CM nearby to be sure that it was a one-way bathroom. I went while he went and told him exactly where to
stand if he beat me out. i went REALLY fast and beat him out. it turned out another mom in the same situation was there at the same time so we asked the boys to watch for each other. If you are truly uncomfortable, take him along with you. i saw a lot of 8-9 year old boys in the ladies in jan.

 

[bzzymom]

I took DS in alone when he was 4 and 7. When he was 4, we used the ladies room, he was in the stall next to me. I told him he had to stay in the stall until I left my stall. He would be done before I even started. When he was 7, I felt he was too old to go in the ladies room, and we used the family/companion restroom.

 

[Hannathy]

I went last summer with my just turning 8 yr old DS and we went separately and had a meeting place. Almost all the restrooms have a bench close by so we would pick the spot and whoever got done first would wait there. Did this for several days and never had a problem.