Dealing with overactive bladder in a 7 yo at Disney

[encinc]

We're planning a trip later this year with our two DSs. Our 7 year old is currently being treated for an overactive bladder. He has a timer that goes off every hour to remind him to use a toilet. I'm hoping that we might be able to increase the time before our trip, but I'm not optimistic it's going to happen.

Does anyone have any tips for managing his need to pee frequently at Disney? There's no way that he'd consider pull ups or anything like that even just for emergencies. Would a GAC allow one of to leave the line with him to run to the toilet and then return to meet the rest of the family in line afterwards? Obviously, we'll try to have him pee before getting in a long line, but I'm not sure that's going to work all the time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[EvilQueenT]

we have a family member with an 8 y/o we frequently go with to wdw with the same problem. 1st don't panic. if you're in line just let a cast member know you need to leave for the bathroom, they'll bring you back to the line. there are never any short lines at disney, even in the restrooms so don't wait until he really has to go. make regular stops before you get on rides even if he says he's fine, better safe than sorry. spend a little time getting to know where restrooms are located...like the one on the left side of poc that's usually pretty empty. bring an extra set of clothes in your bag as well as a zip lock bag to have in the event of an accident. keep things as normal to his routine as possible.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The problem with leaving a line is that at some attractions, it would be really difficult to even find your party when you came back to the line, due to lines running in a building or trying to push through the crowd. I would advise fast passes for really popular attractions, with a bathroom break before getting in line and sticking to attractions with shorter lines when you can;t get a fast pass.

 

[lanejudy]

Our DD7 also goes frequently - and very urgently once she declares she needs to go. The best recommendation is to look at the maps, know where the restrooms are, and use them frequently (it might even be more often than his timer) and definitely use the restroom before getting in lines. They can be long, even if the time posted at the front is 20 minutes, you can't control what happens while you are in line that delays things. That said, the CMs are usually fairly understanding if you need to leave the line for an emergency restroom break, but realize that you will be pushing through others in line to get out, so definitely not preferable if it can be avoided by going before getting in line.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[kvnchapman]

A GAC could be helpful! Invisible disibilities are the reason GACs exist! Conditions such as OAB, IC, etc are "invisible" to the regular joe. And they are legitimate, inconvenient and sometimes painful.
My recommendation is to visit Guest Services immediately when you enter your 1st WDW park. Explain that your child's condition causes issues, and that waiting in the traditional queue could make for a difficult experience. Ask them about alternate entrances to rides where available - this would help ease your kiddo's mind about frequent bathroom breaks and leaving/returning to the line.
Your family would just approach the CM, show the GAC and ask if that particular attraction has an alternate entrance. If so, your child and up to 5 other folks in your party can use that entrance.

 

[livndisney]

There is not a GAC for the restroom.

What you can do is use FP. As FP is collected just before you board a ride,if you need to leave a line-you can get right back into the FP line.

Op if you find yourself in a line and your child needs to use the restroom, speak to the cms. They will be the best way to direct you to the closest restroom, and they will be able to help you get back to your family in line.

 

[kvnchapman]

True, there is no bathroom GAC. But, bladder conditions are invisible and can be quite an intereference and disabling. Historically, GACs have been successful in helping others with similar situations (such as IC) by accomodating the issues suffered by those with chronic bladder ailments as they relate to traditional lines and entrances.
OP, if you'd like to PM me, feel free. There are accomodations for these invisible disabilities.
All the best for a magical trip!!

 

[dclfun]

As Livndisney mentioned there really is no accommodation for the restroom. Even the alternate entrances, which are FP entrances, can be long, and then you have the attraction time itself. If you DO need to leave the line, let a CM know so that you can return as close as possible to your position in line when you had to leave. You do not need a GAC for this. When you return, if it's a different CM or the same, just explain that you need to get back in line where you were originally and had to leave. They will help you as much as possible. I do think using the restroom before getting in line will help his peace of mind. I'd start out with rides that aren't long such as the Fantasyland rides and lines that aren't so long to build up his confidence and then work up to longer lines and attraction times. He's only 7 and everyone understands a bathroom emergency. Also do get a FP when possible, especially for rides with snaking and narrow queue lines. Peter Pan comes to mind. Timing things helps too, and using a touring plan such as Tour Guide Mike or a touring app can be helpful to know about wait times. There is also a book about travelling to WDW with disabilities that can be helpful to read beforehand. And yes...his issue is considered an invisible disability.

 

[PatsMom]

I have to agree that there is no GAC for rest room! If you do have to leave a line the CM's will help you if they can but some lines it is just impossible to find your party when you return. Know where the rest rooms are and use them often.

I don't know much about children with OAB but I assume that you are seeing a urologist as part of his treatment plan. You might want to talk with your uro about "adult" ways to deal with an emergency. I am a bladder cancer patient who has so far managed to hang on to my original bladder. But the treatments have left me with constant urges to urinate and very painful urination. I take a medication that soothes the bladder and reduces those urges. While I can see that might not be a good long term alternative for a chld who needs to train his bladder maybe something could be prescribed for long enough to do a trip to Disney.

Also, some of my male bladder cancer buddies who have a type of replacement called a neo-bladder have leakage problems. They wear a condom type of bag that will capture any leaks for a long enough time for them to get to a rest room. Again, i dont' know if this would work for a child but a good urologist could probably tell you.

Good luck with your trip. Fastpass can be a great help! And a touring plan. Know which attractions are long and do not permit exit - Ellen's Energy Adventure comes to mind. You might want to sneak out and visit the rest room during the pre-show if you want to do that attraction and get back in time to enter the ride vehicles. The show is about 45 minutes and you cannot leave once it starts.

 

[encinc]

Thanks everyone for the advice! DS is on medication which is helping some and I'm hoping that he'll be able to go a bit longer between trips to the restroom by the time we're at Disney. It's good to know that the CM's will help wherever possible. Anything we can to do reassure him that he's not going to miss out on any of the Disney experience because of this disability will help. He absolutely hates to miss out on things and will delay washroom trips as long as possible (what kid doesn't?!?!?), but it is not a good idea.

We're traveling during low season (early December), so I hope the lines won't be too long. We'll do what we can to stay on top of him and go before getting in lines but it's hard. He hates to be told that he needs to try to pee before its time. Who can blame him? As if going every hour isn't enough, who needs someone telling you that you need to try sooner than that???

I may chat with someone at Guest Services to see what they suggest when we get there, but I certainly don't expect anything.

 

[kvnchapman]

You will have a great time! Please let us know how everything works out.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Just kind of agreeing with what everyone else has to say. I agree that I don't think a GAC would be helpful purely because of how 90% of the lines for rides and attractions work. I didn't have bladder issues and I hated being told to go to the bathroom so I can imagine how this probably gets on your son's nerves too. Maybe just telling him in the morning each day "I need you to tell us before we get in line if you need to go" rather than bringing it up each time, or maybe a signal like a thumbs up or thumbs down before you even get into line. That way it's private and only you guys know what it means, you're not talking about bathrooms and pee all the time (I know that would have embarrassed me beyond death at that age lol) I also agree that a change of clothes is a must have but I would add some baby wipes to your list. That way if an accident happens you don't have to pass wet paper towels through the stall door or anything like that and it would take care of any possible smell issues (and they're handy to have in the parks for quick clean ups anyway).

 

[ireland_nicole]

Dd uses a watch with a timer every hour. At wdw we put BR breaks into our touring plan.

 

[dclfun]

Dd uses a watch with a timer every hour. At wdw we put BR breaks into our touring plan.

That's a great idea- then she is in charge herself vs. feeling like everyone is nagging her to use the restroom. Also, no one knows why the alarm is going off either so no embarrassment there. On our last trip in early March we had two 2-year olds in various states of potty training and a 4 year old who did not want to go either when told. We spent a lot of time in the WDW bathrooms and heard lots of "go honey.....just try". We weren't the only ones trying to coax a child to empty their bladder before an attraction.

 

[prncess674]

Your child won't miss out on anything by frequenting the bathroom. If you are traveling with a large party just have each person be the person who needs to stop and then just say, "oh we should all go!" going in low season Will lessen your wait time and you also will be at a time when it won't be so hot which will make it easier not to down water constantly.

 

[kadesha]

My daughter has had 3 surgeries on her bladder. When she needs to go, she needs to go! We've never used a GAC. When she has to go when we are in a line we just tell a CM what's up. We have never had a problem returning to our spot. (Other than a few stares from other guests, but oh well)