family restrooms?

[BrianL]

I have NO idea why the door gap exists. I. HATE. IT.

I actually had friends from China visit and ask me why there was a gap and why doesn't the door go all the way down to the floor. I have NO idea, and think it's silly that it doesn't!

Ok sorry, enough of my rant. Please continue as you were, y'all.

I'd bet it has something to do with money. Someone did it that way and it was cheaper and not deemed to make a significant impact to most people (whetehr it does or not is debatable, but I'm sure someone thought that), so it became the standard.

I would rather have a door and walls that are nearly floor to ceiling, even with the gaps.

 

[ArwenMarie]

In England boys go into the mens' room on their own much younger than that. But we tend not to 'baby' our children ... *ducks*

Wow.

Well, Madeleine McCann's parents thought it was just fine to leave her and her siblings in a hotel room while they went out to dinner while on vacation and look what happened there. Is that part of the English not babying their children?

If I'm babying my children by taking what I consider to be reasonable precautions, so be it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Sorry but if my son age 9 had a problem with some girl close to his age in the men's room with her father, and she was there because she was too scared to go on her own. I would tell him to get over it. I would rather see consideration given to a child who is scared over one who is "not feeling comfortable" have the opposite sex in the bathroom.

And what about the young girl dealing with her period while she's on vacation at WDW? It's certainly not unheard of for 9-10 year old girls to have started their cycles. You're telling me that they should just be totally fine dealing with something that is new to them, something that is awkward, and very private - while there's a boy their age 5 ft away from them? You are telling me they don't deserve *their* privacy in a *ladies* restroom? If they don't deserve their privacy there, then where do they deserve it?

Do you deal with your menstrual cycle in the room with a 9-10 y/o boy? Or your husband? Conversely, you don't think adult males would be uncomfortable in a restroom where a 9-10 y/o girl was handling her menstrual cycle? Much less the boys?

I don't think it's out there to say that most grown women don't like dealing with those issues with men in the room....why should a young girl have to?

 

[shepd]

Do you deal with your menstrual cycle in the room with a 9-10 y/o boy? Or your husband?

Yes, actually. Although I wish she wouldn't...

 

[surferdave]

I was alone in Epcot with my 7yo girl so I had to go in the women's room with her to make sure she was okay. You just can't be too careful these days.

 

[MissStitch626]

I’ve been following this thread since it started, not because I have any strong opinion one way or the other about the topic but because it’s interesting to read the various differing opinions.

I do feel that the OP’s original question has been lost somewhat and it’s interesting that there is still so much debate even though a former CM has confirmed that the Companion Restrooms are perfectly suitable for the circumstance being discussed.

I’ve also found it interesting to see how people have weighed the importance of one set of feelings over the other (boy’s feelings more important than girl’s and vice versa) – please note there is no judgement in this, I have no strong opinion one way or another, I just find it interesting how differently people view situations like this.

I did find myself thinking about this topic while in the restrooms at work today, where we have closed doors, no gaps in the stalls, no gaps under the doors. It made me wonder if this is more of safety issue in public restrooms where there are a large number of stalls and hundreds of people coming in and out all day? E.g. if someone perhaps passed out or was in a situation that required emergency help, the gaps might be there to make it easier to identify this? I could be totally wrong about this – it’s funny how these topics on the boards start making you wonder about these things

 

[lam0037]

. I think some posters just need to get over it.. Its a bathroom NOT a LOCKEROOM with people undressing and showering.

Have you been in a bathroom near Kali River Rapids? Or even splash mountain? Women are soaked and often change clothes and even dry clothes with hand dryers. Also, sometimes little girls don't make it to the bathroom and have an accident and need new clothes. Then she has to ask for and change clothes in the bathroom. It's embarrassing but even more embarrassing if there's boys in the bathroom

We talked about girls and them hitting puberty, but what about the boys? Some boys are hitting puberty too around 9 and 10 with hormones getting out of control and while they normally wouldn't peak into stall cracks, they might be curious and try to.

 

[surferdave]

I have been brought up under a culture of 'forewarned is forearmed', and better you teach your children from an early age that if ANYONE touches them in that general area who isn't immediate familly then they should scream like hell or punch and kick back! Fear is the greatest enemy. My BiL said he was going to teach his son to box quite young - not for that reason, but to work off his energy. All it takes is for that boxing to be used to his advantage against a prospective attacker.

My 10 yo daughter dropped out of ballet to start Tae kwon do and it's been the best thing ever. At her age they focus on teaching kids to resist strangers who try to take them and make a lot of noise and yell and make plain that the person is not their parent while trying to get away.

.......especially with that ridiculous gap down the sides of the doors that you Americans seem to love!!!

Our toilet stalls are designed to set the scene for movie fun.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Not sure how the species survived having to relieve ourselves behind trees out in the wide open world.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Not sure how the species survived having to relieve ourselves behind trees out in the wide open world.

Not sure how to take this other than it being very patronizing.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I posted on this thread earlier stating that I give my full support to Moms bringing their sons into the ladies restrooms because they are Moms protecting their sons from predators. Many here have asked why the feelings of the girls/tweens/teens using the restroom aren't being taken into account. Well, my now 10yo DD always notices when there is a boy in the ladies restroom and usually taps my arm to alert me to it or gets my attention in some fashion. When she was younger she'd ask me about it outright and I would reply "Yes, I see him, he's in here with his Mom because she is making sure he is safe". My girls know my number one job in life is to protect them and keep them safe, we talk about it repeatedly.

I don't think they like having a boy in the ladies restroom but I band together with all Moms who want to keep their kids safe from strangers: I'm in there with my daughters, they are in there with their sons, I'm in there with my DDs to ensure they are safe and the Moms of boys are doing the same. I'm ok with it! Would I think it's ok if the boy was trying to look in the stalls and see girls/ladies with their pants down or naked while changing clothes? No, I would not. I wouldn't like it if other girls were doing that either.

Bottom line: No way am I sending my child into a public restroom by themselve, I don't care if it's DW or anywhere else. I surely don't expect other Moms to do so either.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Truthfully, the only way to keep your child safe in the restroom is to take them into the stall with you. Otherwise someone could touch or snatch your child before you could pull up your pants.

Yes, we go in together. If I don't have to go but DD does, sometimes I stand right outside her stall so that she can see my shoes at all times.

 

[maxiesmom]

Not sure how the species survived having to relieve ourselves behind trees out in the wide open world.

Pretty sure 10 year olds were not treated as babies then.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Not sure how to take this other than it being very patronizing.

Don't you see the irrational fears and neuroses represented in these posts, and the way that those fears are being passed down to children?

 

[SpringSprite]

I posted on this thread earlier stating that I give my full support to Moms bringing their sons into the ladies restrooms because they are Moms protecting their sons from predators. Many here have asked why the feelings of the girls/tweens/teens using the restroom aren't being taken into account. Well, my now 10yo DD always notices when there is a boy in the ladies restroom and usually taps my arm to alert me to it or gets my attention in some fashion. When she was younger she'd ask me about it outright and I would reply "Yes, I see him, he's in here with his Mom because she is making sure he is safe". My girls know my number one job in life is to protect them and keep them safe, we talk about it repeatedly.

I don't think they like having a boy in the ladies restroom but I band together with all Moms who want to keep their kids safe from strangers: I'm in there with my daughters, they are in there with their sons, I'm in there with my DDs to ensure they are safe and the Moms of boys are doing the same. I'm ok with it! Would I think it's ok if the boy was trying to look in the stalls and see girls/ladies with their pants down or naked while changing clothes? No, I would not. I wouldn't like it if other girls were doing that either.

Bottom line: No way am I sending my child into a public restroom by themselve, I don't care if it's DW or anywhere else. I surely don't expect other Moms to do so either.

this is a really good point. Yes, the feelings of the girls should be taken into consideration. But if a parents motivation in taking an opposite gender child into a restroom is for safety, it's hard (for me) to be critical, whether or not I would do it. A good friend of my niece was raped and killed on a run near her house (a well traveled, often frequented by the niece trail) These things DO happen. That being said, I've started letting my 5 year old boy go into restrooms by himself to do his business...in certain places. I'm worried that he'll be inappropriate (the kid is an irrepressible chatterbox, and his only experience in bathrooms so far has been bugging me/hubby when we/he are using it) when I am NOT with him! I'm sure the OP (or any parent who is taking opposite sex child into restrooms) is not allowing peeking through cracks, under doors, etc. If they are, that is a whole different story, of course...

 

[momof2n2]

I have been taking my now my 6 year old boy to Disney alone several times per year since he was one. No one is excited about having to bring their sons, nephews, etc. into the ladies room. We all wish there were better solutions, and like it or not, the companion restrooms are one of the best options that I will continue to utilize. Likewise, I will be continue to be courteous to other visitors and particularly aware of handicapped and other guests who might need to take priority. But, I couldn't care less what someone else thinks on this board about what I should or should not do. It is my job to raise my child the way I think is best. That being said, I will share my thoughts for anyone facing the same challenge, who might be interested in sharing ideas. I still bring my 6 yo to the ladies room with me, but we have begun to transition. Since he was about 4 or so, we introduced the concept of "privacy". When in the same stall, each of us turns toward the stall door to give the other one "privacy" while using the facilities. That solves one issue. On more recent trips at low traffic times, I have located two ladies room stalls together and he is allowed to use his own stall. The rule is that he goes in and locks the door first, and is not allowed to come out until I finish and come back to his door and say it is ok. That way he is both safe and not wandering around the ladies room without me. I still control where he goes, and with whom he crosses paths. Since going to school this year, I can tell he isn't super excited about using the ladies room. I'm not sure when that first visit to the men's room will happen, but I will coordinate with his dad so that he understands what to do in all situations and I would think Disney would be a likely candidate for the first time. We are all visiting WDW for the first time this fall (DLR vets), so maybe that will be the beginning. I can tell you one thing is for sure -- it will happen when I think it is right and not based upon the opinion of others.

I do something similar even with my DDs in the bathroom. We have our system down. They are in line in front of me and head in their own stalls and I make note of which ones they go in. They do not come out until they see my shoes in front of their stall. Yeah - it does tie up those stalls and extra few minutes, but safety is the bottom line. I'd gladly wait a few extra minutes in line for other families to do the same. :

 

[momof2n2]

Wow. Well, Madeleine McCann's parents thought it was just fine to leave her and her siblings in a hotel room while they went out to dinner while on vacation and look what happened there. Is that part of the English not babying their children? If I'm babying my children by taking what I consider to be reasonable precautions, so be it.

Yes ma'am.

 

[carmelhp]

OP, I think it comes down to two good choices: the companion restroom, or watch the men's room doorway while he braves it himself. Disney dedicates these rooms to ALL guests needing a companion for whatever reason. Those with a disability that makes it their only option, I feel bad for, but they can not dictate the use of Disney's property. If he goes it alone, then no issue. Being the father of a 9 year old girl, I know how painful the constant worry is that someone will destroy their magical innocence.

 

[DVCMomBLT]

I know most people are trying to be polite about this issue, but unless your son has special needs/disabilities, there is NO WAY he should be using the Woman's bathroom at 9.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP, I think it comes down to two good choices: the companion restroom, or watch the men's room doorway while he braves it himself. Disney dedicates these rooms to ALL guests needing a companion for whatever reason. Those with a disability that makes it their only option, I feel bad for, but they can not dictate the use of Disney's property. If he goes it alone, then no issue. Being the father of a 9 year old girl, I know how painful the constant worry is that someone will destroy their magical innocence.

The problem with going the companion restroom route is that they are very few and far between. Does someone really want to have to hike to one of five companion restrooms in the park?