Disney World Bathrooms Question - hand dryers

[Andyman45]

Hi-

I'm *brand spankin new* (ie- I just registered) to these forums, so forgive me if this question has been covered before.

The public bathrooms at Disney World parks, do they have electric hand dryers or paper towel dispensers? My four year old son is intensely afraid of the electric hand dryers (it is a work in progress) and he won't even go into a bathroom that has one- even if he is the ONLY one in the room and I promise to stand guard!

So if the bathrooms have paper towel dispensers we are all set- even the automatic electric paper towel dispensers are fine- just not the electric air dryers. We are planning a trip in early 2011 and this is kind of an important topic for us to consider!

Thanks!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

All bathrooms have towel dispensers but I hate to break it to you... almost all of them also have dryers.

 

[TheRatPack]

And those automatic flushers....those are fun for kids LOL NOT!!!

 

[Andyman45]

Thanks MinnieGirl33, I kind of figured they would have the dryers in this day and age...hopefully by the end of the year we can get him over the hump...

 

[momof1princess]

just a tip on the automatic toilets-many people on here have suggested keeping a small pad of post-its with you, and placing a post-it over the automatic eye on the toilet whenever your little one has to go, so it won't automatically flush when they're done, and possibly scare them.

 

[lathamary]

My kid is in the same boat. Now that he's 7, he is fine most of the time, but we had a rough time with public restrooms for a few years because of the hand dryers and automatic flushers. He still won't go in a toilet with an automatic flusher unless DH or I can go in to "trick" it (we hold our hand over the sensor until he's out of the room). I love the post-it idea!

Try the bathrooms in the baby care centers. Each park has a baby care center. They will be less busy, and less likely to have people using the hand dryers when you're in there. Maybe they have small, one-person-only bathrooms in them, as well. I don't remember!

There is a family bathroom near The Land at EPCOT, there are probably some at the other parks, too. Look for those - you will be the only ones in that bathroom and can control the noise.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I don't blame your son for being nervous -- I hate those jet-engine hand dryers that are SO LOUD and practically rip the skin off your hands with the force they put out! Yowza!

When my guys were little, they were bugged by the auto-stuff, too. It's a brave new world for our kids these days! Now, if they'd just come up with auto-bathroom stuff that was in the form of a video game...score 10 and you turn on the hand dryer...hmm....

 

[Kimberly Hill]

Only Disney parents train their kids to use the auto-flushers and auto-hand dryers before trips, LOL! Been there, done that.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Only Disney parents train their kids to use the auto-flushers and auto-hand dryers before trips, LOL! Been there, done that.

 

[Leajess99]

Another option would be to try ear plugs or headphones for the kids having issues with hand dryers. My DD canNOT tolerate these at all so we have learned many different coping techniques. I don't think she will grow out of it either as she is already 7 and still can't do it. They hurt her ears too much. Hands get washed but dried on pant legs if no paper towels.

 

[Andyman45]

Thanks guys, some great ideas...I just purchased a set of magic Thomas earmuffs to use for bathrooms with the machines...gotta love ebay...

Yes the auto flushers bother him too...but so far- he will at least go into bathrooms with them...but as soon as he sees the hand dryer he runs the other way...

but- we'll be sure to carry some post it notes too

 

[Jen0504]

Let me just say that I'm glad to see we are discussing towels versus dryers in the bathroom, because what totaly grosses me out is when a family comes in to use the bathroom and then leaves without even washing their hands! Yuck! Kind of off topic, but that's what I immediately thought of.

 

[Duckyiam71]

I was in AK last week and noticed some of the hand dryers were Dyson made. I cant say all because I fortunately did not visit them all. They were not too loud and you stick your hands down in them. My DS 6 wont use the hand dryers so I carry a zipper bag with folder paper towels(I know I am enabling him) but he does wash his hands. Jen0504 you reminded me...I was in bathroom and heard a mother to tell her child to hurry up..child replied mommy i have not washed my hands..mom replied we dont have time we have reservations.

 

[Schmeck]

My kid is in the same boat. Now that he's 7, he is fine most of the time, but we had a rough time with public restrooms for a few years because of the hand dryers and automatic flushers. He still won't go in a toilet with an automatic flusher unless DH or I can go in to "trick" it (we hold our hand over the sensor until he's out of the room). I love the post-it idea!

Try the bathrooms in the baby care centers. Each park has a baby care center. They will be less busy, and less likely to have people using the hand dryers when you're in there. Maybe they have small, one-person-only bathrooms in them, as well. I don't remember!

There is a family bathroom near The Land at EPCOT, there are probably some at the other parks, too. Look for those - you will be the only ones in that bathroom and can control the noise.

Those restrooms are actually designated as companion restrooms by WDW, not family restrooms. There are very few of them in the parks, and are the only restrooms available for some guests with disabilities.

 

[Jen0504]

I was in AK last week and noticed some of the hand dryers were Dyson made. I cant say all because I fortunately did not visit them all. They were not too loud and you stick your hands down in them. My DS 6 wont use the hand dryers so I carry a zipper bag with folder paper towels(I know I am enabling him) but he does wash his hands. Jen0504 you reminded me...I was in bathroom and heard a mother to tell her child to hurry up..child replied mommy i have not washed my hands..mom replied we dont have time we have reservations.

What is wrong with people?! This is why I carry around antibacterial gel with me at all times. I am no germaphobe, but come on.

 

[Ericadawn]

I want to add that even the "automatic" toilets aren't always automatic. When I went Monday, none of them were working and that was in Epcot and MK. You had to press the button.

 

[Andyman45]

Hi...So I've been reading a lot about the baby care centers (on this thread too thanks!) and it seems like these may work. I see they have little private toilet areas, and everyone says the centers are very quiet which makes me think they would not have the hand dryers.

I have no problem chugging back to the baby care center in the park when my son has to go potty if it's a nice and quiet environment for him. I know he will overcome his fear with time, but I also want him to enjoy his vacation

Has anyone been to the Baby Care Centers at Disney World recently and can give me the scoop on whether there are the electric hand dryers?

Thanks!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

.I was in bathroom and heard a mother to tell her child to hurry up..child replied mommy i have not washed my hands..mom replied we dont have time we have reservations.

There's just so much wrong with that situation!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

Can anyone offer some new insight to what the restrooms have?

Do they have regular paper towels? Are they automatic paper towel dispensers?

I'm asking because on our last trip with our DD 22 months, it worked great at Sesame Place to lay down paper towels and then put her travel size baby bjorn potty on it. When we were done washing hands i'd get extra paper towels out of the automatic dispenser to lay down for next time.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Hi-

I'm *brand spankin new* (ie- I just registered) to these forums, so forgive me if this question has been covered before.

The public bathrooms at Disney World parks, do they have electric hand dryers or paper towel dispensers? My four year old son is intensely afraid of the electric hand dryers (it is a work in progress) and he won't even go into a bathroom that has one- even if he is the ONLY one in the room and I promise to stand guard!

So if the bathrooms have paper towel dispensers we are all set- even the automatic electric paper towel dispensers are fine- just not the electric air dryers. We are planning a trip in early 2011 and this is kind of an important topic for us to consider!

Thanks!

We went through this. We used the companion restrooms. There are plenty available, I wouldn't trek all the way over to the baby stations. Don't feel bad about using them either. You son has a right to go to the bathroom in a place he is not terrified of.

My sons still doesn't like the hand dryers, but he is no longer terrified of them. We found one at the bathroom at our local park and I showed him how it worked and let him stand by the exit while I turned it on. I eventually got him to press the button too and he eventually thought the warm air was funny. He still won't use them. But he no longer goes sprinting out of the bathroom stall (usually while I am in mid pee) if he hears one go off.