family restrooms?

[Figment Mom]

I'll be taking a mom and son trip soon. DS will be 9. I'm not completely comfortable sending him into men's restrooms on his own, yet he's probably getting too old to come into the women's room with me. (I imagine opinions will vary about boys in women's restrooms.)

Are there any family restrooms in the parks?

What do other moms with sons do in this situation?

 

[WEDWDW]

Yes,there are many Family restrooms in the Parks.

Here are some locations off the top of my head.


Magic Kingdom
Restrooms by Space Mountain
Storybook Circus restrooms(by the Train Station
Restrooms by Gaston's Tavern
Restrooms by Pirates of the Caribbean

Epcot:
Restrooms to the left of Spaceship Earth(left when entering Park)
Restrooms by Soarin'
Restrooms on the "backside" of the Character Spot building
Morocco
Germany
American Adventure(the new Restrooms)

Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Midway Mania Restrooms
Restrooms by the "mermaid fountain"
Restrooms by LMA

Animal Kingdom
Restrooms across from Flame Tree BBQ
Restrooms at Rafiki's Planet Watch

 

[lovethattink]

I'll be taking a mom and son trip soon. DS will be 9. I'm not completely comfortable sending him into men's restrooms on his own, yet he's probably getting too old to come into the women's room with me. (I imagine opinions will vary about boys in women's restrooms.)

Are there any family restrooms in the parks?

What do other moms with sons do in this situation?

There are companion restrooms in each park. First Aid also has restrooms. The updated MDE app has a list of restrooms in each park including the companion ones. First Aid in each park also has a list of companion restrooms in that park.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

There are few companion restrooms in the parks, under the age of 10 I would just bring him into the ladies room with you.

 

[Figment Mom]

Thank you to you both. That is good news.

And thanks for pointing out about the "companion" restrooms. I didn't realize the app identified them.

 

[Figment Mom]

There are few companion restrooms in the parks, under the age of 10 I would just bring him into the ladies room with you.

I'm starting t wonder how other restroom occupants feel about that and I think ds is starting to question it.

 

[Gracie09]

The companion bathrooms are set up for disabled people- higher toilets etc. there are a few in each park, not many as the pp said. And they are the only restroom some disabled people can use, so I am sure they would appreciate you being courteous and not dilly dally. Also depending on the needs of someone in the bathroom they may be in there for a while.

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you to you both. That is good news.

And thanks for pointing out about the "companion" restrooms. I didn't realize the app identified them.

You're welcome. I just discovered that it was on the app yesterday.

 

[jco_direwolf]

First I wouldn't say there are "many" there are a few in each park. The newer the sections or parks have more, but not enough that would say many.

Also you may well run into an issue of an "out of service" companion restroom, or one with a VERY long wait.

You know your son better than any of us do. If he can run in and use restroom, I'd say give him the freedom to do it. I can't think of a single WDW restroom that has more than 1 entrance/exit.

 

[Gracie09]

I'm starting t wonder how other restroom occupants feel about that and I think ds is starting to question it.

Depending on the age of the females using the bathroom, they may be very uncomfortable. When I have travelled with my nephews at that age they went to the men's room by themselves and met me at a designated spot.

 

[WEDWDW]

I can't think of a single WDW restroom that has more than 1 entrance/exit.

Toy Story Pizza Planet
Pizzafari

 

[disneybliss2]

I personally would frown upon seeing a 10 year old boy in the women's restroom. I have young daughters, ages 7 and 11, who would feel incredibly awkward in a restroom with a 10 year old boy in there with them. I just think a boy of that age is too old to have them in the women's restroom. I understand your concern, however, so I would use the companion restroom. I'm not trying to upset you, because as a mom I totally understand trying to keep your child safe. As a mom of young daughters, I'm just voicing what I would feel having your son in the restroom at the same time as us, especially my 11 year old. She'd feel very uncomfortable with a boy close to her age in the restroom at the same time. It'd just be weird for her. On our recent trip we encountered some boys in the restroom accompanying their mom, but never saw one over the age of say 5 years old. All appeared plenty younger than my 7 year old.

Oops, just reread and saw that your son is 9. Sorry for the mistake. I'd still feel uncomfortable with this age. From one mom to the other, I hope you find a good solution.

 

[LilyWDW]

If you do use the companion restrooms PLEASE do so with an understanding that for some people, these are the ONLY restrooms they can use due to the needs of a disabled family member. Don't waste time. Get in and get out. They are NOT listed as "family restrooms" and have, in the past at least, only been listed on the map for guests with disabilities.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Toy Story Pizza Planet
Pizzafari

Wow two restrooms I don't think I've ever used. I can't picture either of them, which is why I say I don't think I've ever used them. Plus I avoid Pizza planet.

 

[lovethattink]

As others have said, the companion restrooms aren't many and are designed for people who need assistance.

 

[kgsmith]

First I wouldn't say there are "many" there are a few in each park. The newer the sections or parks have more, but not enough that would say many.

Also you may well run into an issue of an "out of service" companion restroom, or one with a VERY long wait.

You know your son better than any of us do. If he can run in and use restroom, I'd say give him the freedom to do it. I can't think of a single WDW restroom that has more than 1 entrance/exit.

When my 10-year old son and I went on our mother-son trip, I let him go into the men's room by himself. I always told him that I would be right outside the door waiting for him.

I was more concerned about him using the men's room at MCO!

 

[lam0037]

Could you do practice runs at home? Where he goes in the men's restroom and you wait outside? You can always have another guy go in and check on him if he takes too long. Growing up, when my dad and I were out together, I would go in the women's restroom by myself and he would wait outside and it was fine.

If you get comfortable with that, you could probably let him go by himself at Disney. Just try to find smaller restrooms with only one entrance/exit to prevent an incidence of him going out the wrong door and not finding you immediately, but both doors are in close proximity so he should find you fairly quickly (the ones near Space Mountain comes to mind)

 

[Figment Mom]

Oops, just reread and saw that your son is 9. Sorry for the mistake. I'd still feel uncomfortable with this age. From one mom to the other, I hope you find a good solution.

Actually, he's 8 now (I didn't state that earlier) but I said 9 because our trip is the day after his 9th birthday.

No problem. I understand what you are saying. I'm not comfortable with him in the women's room anymore, but I'm not comfortable with him in a public men's restroom, either.

Now that I know that the "companion" restrooms are strictly for individuals for disabilities, we will not be using them. I do wish Disney had family restrooms, though. It's what I seek out now when we're out and about.

I did let him use a men's restroom a couple of times on a recent road trip, but I really wasn't comfortable with it. I guess I need to get over it, but the slim risk that something would happen...

He plays outside for hours on end by himself, so it's not like I hover, but there's just something about a men's restroom that I'm not comfortable with!

Thanks for all of the advice on this thread - and lists of restrooms - and heads up about restrooms with more than one entrance.

In addition to sending him in alone, there will be times I'll have to go in a restroom myself and leave him standing outside.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

When my boyfriend goes places with my daughter (seven) he waits outside the women's rest room as she goes in and does her business. She is mature enough to go in and use the toilet, wash and return to her adult chaperone waiting outside the door. I think your son is plenty old enough to do this too

I like the suggestions about doing some trial runs at home, maybe when you are out shopping or eating so he can get used to the idea.

 

[Figment Mom]

When my boyfriend goes places with my daughter (seven) he waits outside the women's rest room as she goes in and does her business. She is mature enough to go in and use the toilet, wash and return to her adult chaperone waiting outside the door. I think your son is plenty old enough to do this too

I like the suggestions about doing some trial runs at home, maybe when you are out shopping or eating so he can get used to the idea.

It's about possible predators. Not that I expect them to be lurking in Disney bathrooms. And I don't keep him in a bubble. But it only takes a moment.

It's possibly naive or sexist, or because I don't have a daughter, but women's restrooms don't give me the same vibe.