Baby Center Rules?

[ORMom2Four]

After nearly being kicked out of the baby center with a stern, "He is too old to be in here!" from the CM's in there (brought in my young disabled son to change his diaper), I'm worried about using it again with my 19 month old twins.

I've read that you can only bring in one baby per adult (so I can't bring both girls). I've also read that you can not bring in older children with you, only the parent and the baby can go in.

What, exactly, are the rules? I don't want to be embarassed using it again

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The small potties are for under 42". I had no problem bringing in my 4.5 yr old to use the potty while I changed the baby.

If you don't mind me asking, how old was your son?

 

[ORMom2Four]

The small potties are for under 42". I had no problem bringing in my 4.5 yr old to use the potty while I changed the baby.

If you don't mind me asking, how old was your son?

He was around 4 at the time, still in diapers but training (he was not fully trained until the age of 5.5--he is disabled). It made me pretty mad--there was only one other mom in the entire place and the CM's sat at the front gabbing to each other. I don't know why they gave me such a hard time. I took him in by myself and intended to change a diaper.

I read that another mom was told her older children were not allowed in, but then another post said her older children loved being in there while she fed the baby....so I'm a bit confused by the rules of the center. I also read that one parent can only bring in one child.

We would love to use it this time with our twin girls but I don't want to go through the embarrassment again

 

[PinkBudgie]

Well, I can't answer your questions about twins in the baby center ( I have twins but didn't take them when they were babies. ) but just for information for anyone else, my sister, Lavenderpeach on the boards, has a son with some disabilities too that also prevented him from being potty trained. She took him to the first aid center and used one of the examining tables to change him on. He had a back brace that prevented her from doing it standing up. The several times I was with her, they were very accommodating to her. Just something to keep in mind.

If they have a silly rule about twins in the baby center, maybe you could try the first aid center?

 

[tiggerjay]

Sadly I don't know if there are any posted rules but when I took my DNe6 and my DS18mos to the baby care center to change my DS diaper, my DNe could sit in the lobby while I changed DS diaper. It wasn't an issue. I was fully prepared to say that I was there as a single parent so having my DNe6 sit outside wasn't an option. I would do that with twins as well if I had them. What they don't want to do is be responsible for your other child or baby sit, nor do they want the whole family to come in. Anyone who can wait outside, should. Also if you have special circumstances, let them be known. But the first aid center is an alternate and right next door.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

They can't discriminate against children with disabilities. It's called the Disability act. You can tell them that the next time they try and tell you that you can't use the facilities!! That's a lawsuit in wating. They could get in SO much trouble for that!
As far as age or the amount of children. We were a family of 6 when we used it last. We are now a family 7. Dh and I brought all the girls in with us. I changed our youngest at the time and Dh brought our 3 year to their little potties. Our other two daughters 7 and 6 were with us. It's not like you can leave your children outside in a theme park alone!
Bottom line it's there for families. That can't discriminate because your child isn't "baby enough"! Ludicrous!

 

[danielephant]

wow! I didn't know their were rules. But wow those seem silly! My daughter is 3 and 43 inches

 

[roobug]

We've gone in many times with our twins, I've taken them to the park by myself when they where babies and now that they are 3 we still use the baby centers. I have never been turned away or told that I have to have another adult with me. When they were still nursing I was able to bring them both in with me to nurse and it was never an issue then either.

 

[Malcon10t]

They can't discriminate against children with disabilities. It's called the Disability act. You can tell them that the next time they try and tell you that you can't use the facilities!! That's a lawsuit in wating. They could get in SO much trouble for that!

Wow.... What a response. Just threaten and demand? I deal with these types of issues frequently, and perhaps you don't understand the ADA. They can turn her away, and they won't be in a bit of trouble. This attitude is what hurts the disabled more than anyone knows. They are NOT required to allow a 37yo disabled person in the baby center to change their diapers, and your rant above would say they are. Disney goes far above the ADA act. Before you start making threats, you do need to know your rights. They don't have a right to use the Baby Center.

Simple alternative that I know a lot of people with children with disabilities use once they are over 3 is to use the First Aid Center next door. They are better equipped to handle a larger child. It is called "The Baby Center". I understand that is was convenient to the OP, and perhaps she wasn't aware of the First Aid station. The FA station is very handy for those with children who have disabilities. They have a lot to offer there. (We have been there many times!) The staff is extremely caring and very helpful. The Baby Center should have told the OP about it, instead of just turning her away. They could have handled this situation much better.

Can you imagine if every family that came in to change a diaper brought 7 people in? There is a limit on the number of people allowed inside the building at one time, set by the fire marshal, so yes, they may ask that anyone not needed inside to please wait outside. The other side is if everyone is inside, they may have to make people needing to change or breastfed wait outside until enough people exit to meet the fire codes.

Too often, people have attitudes "Its what I want and it doesn't matter if it inconveniences others", and don't consider what other's needs may be.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

There was no threat in my statement. Op said that there was only one other mother in there at the time. It sounds to me like the CM could have been more courteous to her! Did they tell her she could use the first aide center. I didn't read that in the Op's post.
I'm sorry you feel that 7 of us it too many to be in there. The CM I had that day I had no issues with us in there at all. As many people who have answered on the thread it seems that the experiences have been vastly different. Sometimes we need to vocalize our needs in order to be heard. (Not that Op did anything wrong.) My point was that there has to be accommodations somewhere, that Disney has set up for families of disabilities.

"Wow.... What a response. Just threaten and demand? I deal with these types of issues frequently, and perhaps you don't understand the ADA. They can turn her away, and they won't be in a bit of trouble. This attitude is what hurts the disabled more than anyone knows. They are NOT required to allow a 37yo disabled person in the baby center to change their diapers, and your rant above would say they are. Disney goes far above the ADA act. Before you start making threats, you do need to know your rights. They don't have a right to use the Baby Center. "

I thought we were talking about a 37 month old and a set of twins. As far as them not having to accommodate and that it isn't the law. When we opened or new daycare center in 2008 it was the law that we have some where to accommodate all children and their disabilities in regards to bathroom issues. I assumed that everyone would have to. I'm sorry if I was under the wrong assumption.

 

[Malcon10t]

I thought we were talking about a 37 month old and a set of twins. As far as them not having to accommodate and that it isn't the law. When we opened or new daycare center in 2008 it was the law that we have some where to accommodate all children and their disabilities in regards to bathroom issues. I assumed that everyone would have to. I'm sorry if I was under the wrong assumption.

We are talking about a 48+ month old. However, a disability is a disability, and if it is open to all with disabilities, then it would be open to a 37yo also. My point was that after a certain age, Disney does opt to have you use other areas.

You are correct that you were required to be able to accommodate all children and their disabilities with regards to bathroom issues in your daycare. You are correct that Disney is required to accommodate the disabled. Look at every bathroom in Disneyland, the stalls are there. Using your analogy/assumption, since there is a bathroom in the Baby Center, it would be required to be wheelchair accessible. But it isn't. The ADA requires that Disneyland have access, it doesn't require they have it in every room. Like I previously said, they should have been told they could use the First Aid Center. Just like in your daycare center, if it was in your home, you would be required to have a bathroom for someone with disabilities, however, not all your bathrooms would need to be wheelchair accessible. The ADA is very complex, and not widely understood. DIsneyland is probably the most ADA friendly business I have every been in.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I think we are disagreeing on what constitutes Reasonable Accommodation and unreasonable accommodations. The ADA sites that business provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. In my eyes a reasonable accommodation would be to allow 48+ month old to use the Baby center. Which is there for families. Not allowing this family to do so would mean she would have to use the changing facilities in the adult bathrooms which have a weight limit. So then her only other alternative is to then use the dirty floor in the bathroom. Since no one bothered to tell her that she could use the first aide center.
Your comparing of a 48 month child to a 37 yo adult is just an inflammatory argument and I'm not even going to go there. If they are not willing or able to accommodate her in the baby center then it's both their legal and moral responsibility to let her know where she can go. So that she can be accommodated and they failed to do that.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think it's very odd that OP couldn't change a 4 yr old in the baby center. Like it or not, some kids take longer to potty train with or without a disability. I honestly expected OP to respond that her child was older like 6+, that would make more sense in why they'd be turned away.

As far as number of people, a toddler can use the potty while one parent changes a diaper without needing a second parent in there. But only because the two rooms are adjacent. But if you've never been in there before, you may not know that. And I can see thinking two parents may be needed if both kids needed to be attended to immediately.

OP it sounds like you encountered some rude CMs.

 

[Malcon10t]

I think we are disagreeing on what constitutes Reasonable Accommodation and unreasonable accommodations. The ADA sites that business provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. In my eyes a reasonable accommodation would be to allow 48+ month old to use the Baby center. Which is there for families. Not allowing this family to do so would mean she would have to use the changing facilities in the adult bathrooms which have a weight limit. So then her only other alternative is to then use the dirty floor in the bathroom. Since no one bothered to tell her that she could use the first aide center.

In your eyes, where do they draw the line? 5?, 6?, 7? The ADA does not require a baby center. Without a baby center at all, what are the options? I 100% agree the staff should have suggested the First Aid Center. However, we differ on what is "reasonable accommodation." Just because it is something that works for the person does not mean Disney has to provide it.

Most of those with disabilities in their life, who visit Disneyland somewhat regularly are aware of the First Aid Center. It is a very nice center. I highly recommend the OP use them. We are in there at least once a trip, and the staff is extremely accommodating, and they have plenty of "extras" should you need help or products. One time we were in there with our service dog as he had sat on gum at the Tiki Room. The physician's assistant there even went to the Plaza Inn to get peanut butter to help get the gum out of the coat. They usually have stickers and buttons for both the child needing the center and those who are just siblings there with the child. Characters have been known to visit in there. My nephew (4) thought he was a VIP when he went in there with us.

 

[Bambi&Thumper]

i love these little debates... awesome! But seriously if you have to go you have to go.... who cares how old you are? If there isn't a sign posted no kid say under 10 allowed who cares then? If I saw a disabled 37 year old getting changed or using a private family baby care center- who cares? That family goes thru alot just to be in the parks and deal with all that needs to be dealt with. Really to harass someone over any human that needs a toilet is just wrong. If they are so concerned with this issue- then why not just build a disabled center like they did a baby center? Problem solved. Sorry you had to go through all that crap. Those must have been the new untrained Cm'S.

 

[ORMom2Four]

i love these little debates... awesome! But seriously if you have to go you have to go.... who cares how old you are? If there isn't a sign posted no kid say under 10 allowed who cares then? If I saw a disabled 37 year old getting changed or using a private family baby care center- who cares? That family goes thru alot just to be in the parks and deal with all that needs to be dealt with. Really to harass someone over any human that needs a toilet is just wrong. If they are so concerned with this issue- then why not just build a disabled center like they did a baby center? Problem solved. Sorry you had to go through all that crap. Those must have been the new untrained Cm'S.

I bet they were new

DS is 9 now and fully trained - no need to bring him in anymore. We will only have the twins who are in diapers.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I think the biggest key is there are OTHER changing station throughout the park!!! I work in SpEd, so I get all the laws, and such...Was he running around, screaming, etc.? What disability? Sometimes, when children to no look disabled it get confusing. What made him stand out? We took at 6YO, she's a shorty, in to pee when I change the 1YO diaper, I think it is all in how the children are acting.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think the biggest key is there are OTHER changing station throughout the park!!! I work in SpEd, so I get all the laws, and such...Was he running around, screaming, etc.? What disability? Sometimes, when children to no look disabled it get confusing. What made him stand out? We took at 6YO, she's a shorty, in to pee when I change the 1YO diaper, I think it is all in how the children are acting.

The disability is a non-issue. He was 4 and I know more than one 4 year old boy that still isn't full potty trained.

 

[tiggerjay]

Returning to the OP's sentiment over the issue:

Disney goes beyond most businesses I've ever been at with special accommodations for baby changing and nursing needs. How many other places have these sorts of facilities. It is fantastic to be able to use something else for changing diapers then what is in the common bathroom. This is a nice bonus...

Since there isn't any other place that is like this, it is not surprising that we might have expectations about how something like this should or might work. Sometimes those are even reasonable expectations. However, when in doubt, as you are, I would suggest simply going in with an open mind and then asking. See what their reaction is and go from there.

As you can see there has been various experiences from other guests and no firm set (or at least followed) rules and thus you might have a different encounter each time. I don't think taking anything on this forum as concrete rules and then expecting them to be accurate will be helpful. Heck, I would even say if there was something on Disney's website about the rules (or ADA rules) and printing them out and then forcing your rights while in the park isn't going to be productive at all. At most, what I would do is go with the flow, and when necessary ask for an exception or accommodation and be thankful for what I do receive. If I feel like I wasn't accommodated appropriately, I would not hesitate to make it known later at City Hall or written correspondence. But the last thing you should be doing is fuming for the rest of your trip over how unfairly you were treated. But, I have always found them friendly and helpful.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

The disability is a non-issue. He was 4 and I know more than one 4 year old boy that still isn't full potty trained.

I disagree due to the fact that his disability could be behavior related and if he was tall, they would kindly ask him to leave. Again, there are other places to change a toddler, young boy, etc.