Bathrooms?

[OKW Lover]

Not being a Mom, nor ever having been a Dad either, please explain to me what there is to fear of a boy using the men's room at WDW? No, I'm not trying to start anything - I seriously don't understand the concern.

I noticed one of the posts mentioning that there might be two exits from the restroom and the child could get confused and go out the wrong one. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any like this at WDW - and I've been in just about all of them. Actually, now that I said that I do recall one in the Millenium Village building (which isn't used currently) at Epcot that did have two exits. But I don't recall any others.

 

[dumby]

Not being a Mom, nor ever having been a Dad either, please explain to me what there is to fear of a boy using the men's room at WDW? No, I'm not trying to start anything - I seriously don't understand the concern.

I noticed one of the posts mentioning that there might be two exits from the restroom and the child could get confused and go out the wrong one. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any like this at WDW - and I've been in just about all of them. Actually, now that I said that I do recall one in the Millenium Village building (which isn't used currently) at Epcot that did have two exits. But I don't recall any others.

Do you watch the news? There are some pretty sick weirdos out there. I would not take the chance of someone kidnapping my child or trying to molest my child. I know at a place like Disney World you would hope they would be safe but I just want take that chance. We had an incident in my home town of a man in the boys bathroom, at the Library of all places, and he tried to molest a 12 year old boy. I live in a place where things like this normally do not happen. Anyway for these reasons I will be keeping my eyes on my child at all times.

 

[Cbarr]

I would NEVER let a 5yo go into a bathroom alone! Too many weirdos and perverts out there so not a chance!

 

[maps]

The one horror story that still sticks in my mind was where the aunt took her nephew to the bathroom (I believe the family was camping). She stood outside the door waiting for him and when he didn't come out she went in and found that someone slashed his throat.

It's not an urban legend since this was all over the news at the time. It's definitely an extreme case scenario but enough to scare the bejeebers out of me.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

Unfortunately, there are child molesters that will hover at child-friendly places, like Disney, as well as parks, schools, libraries, purposefully waiting for an opportunity, and a young child alone in bathroom is a target. I've been bringing my nephews with me to various places for years [they are now 18 (and 6'1"), 13 (and 6') and 8]. When they go in the men's room I wait outside for the two younger ones, and will give a yell in to them if they're taking too long. Believe you me, I would be in there in a heartbeat if I didn't get a quick response.

 

[Ronda93]

I second the no peeping! I remember a thread a while back where a mom or grandma had taken their daughter into a Disney restroom. Everyone in their own stall and there's suddenly a boy howling in pain. He had stooped to look under the girl's door and she kicked him. Too funny.

I understand taking them in with you. I traveled to WDW with five year old twin boys. The problem I have it what to do with them when they're done, but I still need to go. I'd usually send them back outside to another adult in our group, but what if that's not an option (only one adult).

Tactics please! I have a nephew trip to look forward to someday.

 

[Terri C]

I would take him to the ladies room but let him go into the stall by himself with you waiting by the stall door. Good luck!

Terri

 

[tar heel]

I would take him to the women's room or use the family restrooms. Some of the WDW restrooms have multiple entrances/exits -- would be really worrisome waiting outside. He's just a little tyke. My son is 11 and way too old to go to the ladies room, but sometimes I get really worried standing outside waiting for him when the two of us are out together. WDW is not a problem -- he has two big brothers and a dad!

 

[fanofdisney]

Take him into the ladies' room. My son is 5 and says the same thing. I just tell him it's okay for little kids to use either bathroom. I'm also trying to teach him there are bad people out there without scaring him. In such a big public place, you never know what kind of creeps are around.

 

[WillCAD]

Ya know, I have to commend all of the folks in this thread who take that extra special care of their kids. I see so many examples of bad or careless parenting these days that it's refreshing to see so many folks who really think about every aspect of their child's safety and welfare.

However, I also think that maybe a few of you are worrying a little too much. The bathrooms at WDW are some of the safest in the world, and are the perfect place for kids to make their first attempe at going to the bathroom on their own. Most of the WDW bathrooms only have one exit, and most are busy enough to make it impossible for anything bad to happen inside. WDW bathrooms are a whole lot safer than the local mall!

The age where this is appropriate differs from kid to kid. I have always used five as a basic starting point; most of the kids in my family became smart enough and responsible enough to go into a public bathroom alone (with me waiting right by the exit) at about five or six. By age seven, there wasn't a kid in my family that I didn't trust to go into a public bathroom alone.

It's like teaching them to swim; I wouldn't just throw them into the deep end of the pool with no preparation, but they have to get their feet wet sometime. You can only keep them in the kiddie pool for so long.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Just to take a side on the minority here, I don't think it's a big deal if you let him go by himself. I'm a man and I see boys as young as 4 or 5 in the bathrooms at WDW all the time. I'm not saying that bad people don't exist at WDW, and I know bad things have happened there before, but the bathrooms are so crowded and so many people at Disney have a paternal instinct that unless it's a way off the beaten path restroom, nothing is going to happen. Someone would intervene. I know I would, and I know I wouldn't be alone if anything ever happened.

Keep in mind that mens bathrooms are a lot more open than womens bathrooms. It's not like you can really go and hide in a mens bathroom like you could in a womens bathroom. If something happens it will be obvious enough for people to get involved.

On the flip side, only do what you're comfortable with. No one is going to object either way. If you feel more comfortable taking him in the bathroom with you, it's not like anyone at WDW is going to feel intruded upon. I do agree with the above poster on making sure that little boys and girls don't look through the cracks. A good thing to point out before any trip, anywhere

 

[robinb]

My mother and I are taking my nephew in about 3 weeks and he's 5. Do you think we should let him go in the boys restroom alone with one of us right outside or do you think its okay to take him into the women's room. Often times he hates to do this because he says "but i'm not a girl I can't go in there" Just would like a few opinions on the subject. TIA!!

He's only 5. I would bring him into the ladies room with you and just tell him that other boys use the ladies room too. Have his mom and/or dad prepare him for it in advance so you don't get too many complaints on his part. I would have a different opinion if he were older.

However, I also think that maybe a few of you are worrying a little too much. The bathrooms at WDW are some of the safest in the world, and are the perfect place for kids to make their first attempe at going to the bathroom on their own. Most of the WDW bathrooms only have one exit, and most are busy enough to make it impossible for anything bad to happen inside. WDW bathrooms are a whole lot safer than the local mall!

ETA: I totally agree with this. The spooky boogie-man molester kidnapper always comes up when discussing this subject. It's a bathroom at Walt Disney World. Not a rest stop on the Interstate at midnight. I think we parents should protect our kids from real dangers and IMO the bathrooms at WDW pose no danger whatsoever.