Bathrooms at disney

[seawitch0313]

I'll be going alone with my two boys (9 and 7 at time of travel) and I was wondering how the bathrooms are set up at Disney. I wouldn't have a problem sending them in the boys while waiting outside, but it makes me nervous to think about them going in the boys, then me going in the girls and them waiting outside for me to get back cause we all know the girls room moves slower than the boys. Is there a 'family bathroom'? Do alot of moms bring their boys in the bathroom with them? Mine are getting kinda old for that tho
My 8 year old always goes in the boys when we're out and about, but I've only recently let my 6 year old go in with him as I'm paranoid about child predators lurking in the mens room.

I guess I could designate a spot for them to wait for me, but still it makes me nervous. That or have a catheter inserted so I don't have to go to the bathroom myself, lol

 

[antree]

Every time I am in Disney I see young boys with their mom including not so young boys in the bathrooms. My son is 5yrs old so I know how you are feeling.
The way the bathrooms are set up is, there are two wall the outside wall and the batroom wall so there is a small walk way as you enter most bathrooms, you can have the boys wait there for you as you go in, if you don't want to take them all the way in. In each park there is a care center, if you are too worry I am sure you can go to the bathroom in there.
There are benches outside most bathrooms too.
Whatever you decide to do, just tell them to hold hands and don't move until you come out.

 

[TravelinGal]

At least with the women's restrooms all the stalls are enclosed! Not like taking a girl into the men's bathroom where they have the exposed urinals and the girls might see something you might not want them to see.

I would probably be a bit shocked/surprised to see a boy that was in the 9-10 year age range in the women's bathroom, but it's not my place to judge! I don't know if it's a single mom or a child that has a non-visible disability (like autism) that can't be left alone - As long as my door is shut, it's not a problem to me.

Do what you need to do! If you don't feel safe leaving them alone, then don't! You're the mom!

 

[Hannathy]

I was at DW with my DS who was 8 and every bathroom has a bench very close to it so we would split up and who ever was done first would wait on the bench. It also worked when I had to go and he didn't-kids have bladders the size of watermelons-at least boys. There are always people around and we never had any problems and you have 2 to stay together so even better. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Princess Roo]

I think they'd be find going by themselves into the men's room. There are benches right outside just about all of them - especially the ones in the more central areas of the park (as opposed to ones that are in the restaurants, for example.) Another thing is that most bathrooms are pretty crowded...not prime predator territory, KWIM?

 

[seawitch0313]

Ha, I just had a funny thought. I was thinking we could work on the bathroom routine in the time before our trip then thought "Ha, thats rich, all this planning I'm doing for this disney trip, now we're going to practice going to the bathroom while down there!' lol!!

I'm not so worried about my DS seeing anything in the bathroom, I'm more worried about other moms and girls being offended. It would just be my youngest if I'm still worried about it when we go, my oldest is at the point where 'Thats the *girls* room!!'

Thanks for everyones responses!

 

[tmarquez]

I'm not so worried about my DS seeing anything in the bathroom, I'm more worried about other moms and girls being offended. It would just be my youngest if I'm still worried about it when we go, my oldest is at the point where 'Thats the *girls* room!!'

Thanks for everyones responses!

People will not even blink at a 6yo boy in the ladies room. If they do...well...they need their head examined. Take him if it makes you feel more comfortable and don't think twice about it. I have a DD, but if I had a boy he would be in there with me at 6.

 

[checkwriter]

Or you could use a companion restroom. Here's a link to a locations guide:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disabgeneral.htm#Rrooms

 

[redheadx3]

I have two boy 10 & 5. They go into the mens by themselves. Of course the rules are to stay together and the 10 yr to help the 5 yr old. I ususally finish before them unless I have to wait in line. I have yet to figure out what takes them so long. There as been several times that I am yelling for them just outside the mens door. I think you will be ok to let them go in by themselves, just restate the rules each time. Afterall, they are little men and will think and listen like a man.

 

[LilGMom]

While I'm not at that point yet since my oldest ds is only 6, I will tell you that it is not uncommon to see boys in the ladies restroom. When my oldest is closer to 8 and if for some reason dh can't take him to the restroom I will more than likely have him use the companion restroom.

I believe there is a companion restroom at basically every location where there is a regular restroom.

 

[G8RFAN]

I'll give you the dad perspective. Honestly, I have no problem with DS06 going with DW to the restroom. Many times I see dads taking their DD's in the men's side, however, I do feel a little uncomfortable if they appear to be closer to 9-10ish which I think would also be when I would tell DS that he would have to go with me instead of mom if not by himself. The parks have many companion/family bathrooms scattered about. Most of them are next to the standard bathrooms and some of completely separate.

 

[Barb D]

One thing you have to be careful of is that some of the restrooms have more than one exit. It would be easy to get confused and go in one way but out the other. Tell your boys to look around and make sure the surroundings look the same, and if not to go back in and then out the other way!

 

[hollyb]

Ha, I just had a funny thought. I was thinking we could work on the bathroom routine in the time before our trip then thought "Ha, thats rich, all this planning I'm doing for this disney trip, now we're going to practice going to the bathroom while down there!' lol!!

I'm not so worried about my DS seeing anything in the bathroom, I'm more worried about other moms and girls being offended. It would just be my youngest if I'm still worried about it when we go, my oldest is at the point where 'Thats the *girls* room!!'

Thanks for everyones responses!

Who cares if the they are "shocked" your son's safety comes first. What will anyone see anyway the stalls haves doors on them. DS is 9 and he comes in with me to the girls bathroom. So no trama has happened. LOL

 

[MSSANDRA]

My DS was 9 the first time I let him go alone at WDW. I was really not too comfortable with it but he was fine. I chose a out of the way bathroom (One close to space Mountain), and asked a dad comming out if there was more than one way in or out. The biggest thing was I had to go too and I really did not want DS waiting outside for me. As with all WDW magic there was another mom is the case situation so we sent to boys together and we went really fast. I was done first so waited with both boys.

9 was really the youngest I was willing to do this and I was more comfortable at WDW than many other places. I think sending him or taking him with you are both ok. Only you know if the 9 year old can watch the 6 year old or if you should take him with you.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Do what you need to do! If you don't feel safe leaving them alone, then don't! You're the mom!

Well said Travelingal!

 

[DreaGirl]

I say do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I wouldn't even look twice at boys your sons age in the ladies room. You don't want to spend you vacation time worrying about bathroom time. With Mom, they will be in and out. On their own, there may be some playing ect. that can take time.

 

[Golden Rose]

I don't know what the best thing to do about it really is... my son is just two so we haven't faced heading to the bathroom alone, but I'm already worrying about it for the future. I'm pretty paranoid, myself, and we have a particularly pretty boy, which we've been told really is prime predator target. (Not handsome, pretty... when his hair gets at all long, people stop us all the time to tell us what a gorgeous girl we have, even if he is in very "boy" clothes.)

On the other hand, I know I've seen a lot of very unhappy ladies in line when a woman brings an apparently more than 7 or 8 year old boy into the very long ladies bathroom line when there is no line at the men's. And I know I've been an unhappy lady in a stall when someone lets their 5+ year old boy crawl around under the doors into another person's (say, my, for example) stall.

You're lucky to have an older boy to go with him! But if you're not comfortable letting them go in together, then I would think you ought to bring him into the ladies' room with you.

 

[twinmum]

First, I can relate to your problem because we have twin sons, age 8. My husband is a very busy guy and I am often alone with the boys. I cannot send them off together because one of our sons has is physically disabled. You need to do whatever makes you feels safe.

However, please note that there is confusion around the "companion" restrooms. You'll note that the link to the info is found within the info for disabled guests, because that appears to be Disney's purpose in providing the,...and we love them! Understandably, "companion" is not the clearest name for them, and many families do use them. We saw the confusion when we used them during our visit.

One of our sons has cerebral palsy and was using his wheelchair during the trip. He needs assistance in the washroom. We really appreciate companion washrooms because they allow him to receive the assistance he needs while maintaining his dignity (he really doesn't like it when he has no choice but to come to the ladies room so that I can assist him).

Please remember that disabled guests using the companion washroom have no other options. Given your need to keep your kids feel safe, you may also feel you have no choice. I just need to warn you that not everyone using the companion washroom may see it that way. There was a thread on the DIS that got VERY heated on the "rights" of various types of groups to use these washrooms and I can see it is a real sore point for many!

Have a great trip!