family bathrooms?

[my3boys]

I have never noticed any family bathrooms in the parks? Has anyone? The only ones I've seen are at Downtown Disney and Polynesian. I even looked over some of our park maps, but didn't see any.

I thought about if I were in a park with my two younger sons, what would I do if I needed to use the restroom? They are too young to be left alone, but too old to go in a woman's bathroom. Hmmmm....

 

[Chuck S]

There are several "family" restrooms available in the parks. Most regular restrooms now also have a family/handi assistant type restroom located nearby. Not all of them do, but most of them do.

 

[HopperFan]

While we were just there, we used the Handicapped/Family bathroom. It had it's own exterior door and was located by the regular bathrooms. I don't know if they are at every bathroom, but we had no trouble finding when we needed them.

 

[SueM in MN]

At WDW, they are called "Companion Restrooms" and they are not listed on any maps (probably because there are not enough of them to be used by large numbers of people as Family Restrooms). Another option would be to use the bathrooms in the Child Care Centers (there is one in each park).

At MK, the wheelchair accessible stalls inside the bathrooms are not large enough to have a wheelchair in the stall with you and close the door. I know they look large, but once a wheelchair is in, either the door doesn't close at all or, with the door shut, the footrests are resting against the front of the toilet. If someone needs their wheelchair or an assistant in the stall with them, it's not possible in these stalls.

WDW's way of dealing with this was to make some Companion Restrooms. At MK, there are 8 of them and they are the only stalls in the whole park that someone who needs their wheelchair in the stall with them is able to use. I am not saying that only people with disabilities can use them, just that if you have other choices available, please remember that these are the only 8 stalls in the whole park that some people are able to use and consider your other choices.
Epcot is a little better because it was built more recently and had more room for adding facilities. At AK and the Stdio, most of the restrooms have large anough stalls to accomidate a wheelchair.

 

[HopperFan]

My son is handicapped, which is why we used these bathrooms.

But I have no problem with someone in my3boys situation using them, as long as she allows anyone with special needs to use it before her. I also agree that the Child Care Center is the best place to go, but with young children that is a distance that sometimes can not be covered in time.

Maybe in this age of single parents WDW needs to consider the addition of family bathroom facilities or increasing the number of companion facilities.

I have been in the bathroom with young boys who are too old and find it inappropriate. I applaud my3boys for not wanting her sons to use the ladies room. I also am afraid to allow my children in bathrooms alone not knowing what is happening inside.

Also in our entire trip - and the parks were crowded - there was never anyone else with special needs using or waiting for these bathrooms.

 

[bethbuchall]

Originally posted by HopperFan
My son is handicapped, which is why we used these bathrooms.


I have been in the bathroom with young boys who are too old and find it inappropriate. I applaud my3boys for not wanting her sons to use the ladies room. I also am afraid to allow my children in bathrooms alone not knowing what is happening inside.

Just curious, but what age do you consider inappropriate? And what exactly is a young boy going to see inside a women's restroom? There are stalls with doors, so unless the child is peeking under the stall or through the cracks, there is no lack of privacy. I wouldn't be any more thrilled with a girl looking under the stall than a boy.

Beth

 

[Geomich]

I am also curious about the appropriate age. I have always been a bit paranoid but DS just turned 6 and I do not feel comfortable having him sit outside if I have to use the restroom nor do I like the idea of sending him the mensroom alone. As Beth said, Ladies rooms have stalls.

 

[my3boys]

Thank you for the information! I feel great relief to know this information.

 

[gigi1313]

i, too, would like to know at what age is it inappropriate to bring a boy into the ladies room? my ds is seven years old and he considers the ladies room to also mean the "mom and kids room" (which is what he calls it) and personally, i'd rather he be safe in the ladies room w/me (there's nothing to see, unlike in a men's room) than alone in a men's room...