family restrooms?

[jco_direwolf]

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?

Hike and wait. Because likely there is someone else in there when you get there.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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?

It is difficult to tell whether your comment is directed at those who won't send their children into a restroom because of fear/safety issues or those who are mentioning privacy issues, or both.

I may not agree with taking a 9 y/o boy into the ladies restroom, but I understand the thought process behind it. I just don't agree with teaching children that their right to privacy is at the whim of someone else's decisions.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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.

9 y/o children are going into public restrooms on their own every day - in their schools. Those are public restrooms..open for teachers, staff, maintenance people, and anyone else who walks in the building. Female teachers don't go into the mens' room with the boys, nor are the boys allowed to go in the ladies' rooms.

I don't see how that is any different than WDW. Schools are no safer than any other public place, including WDW.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

We just came back from a week at WDW and my recently turned 6 year old son went with me into the ladies room most of the time. Disney was kind enough put at least one sink in each bathroom at kid height but the soap dispensers were still well out of reach for him. I had to get soap for him every time.

Those sinks aren't at 'Kid height', they're at wheelchair height. Thankfully, I'm able to walk into the restrooms at this point, and can still use a regular stall, but I'm guessing that a person in a chair can reach the soap from the chair. I hope so, anyway.

I'm assuming the companion restrooms are meant for anyone who needs a companion at the potty. I've seen them in the parks, but I've never noticed them stating they're for disabilities only. I've never needed to use one, but I see no problem with a mom taking her child to one.
Sometimes people can go to extremes with "rules." They have changing tables for babies, too. I had to change my niece at one in April, though she's well over diapers. I don't think I broke any moral code by using the station for a child older than baby age to make the situation easier.
I say use the companions restroom and don't worry about it. Single mothers have it tough enough, and there's no reason to make things more difficult than they have to be. Each regular restroom has at least one handicap stall, which leads me to assume that the companion restrooms are for a different group of people: namely, anyone that needs assistance or a companion.

I thought anyone was allowed to use the companion or wheelchair- accessible stalls as long as no one with a disability is waiting to use it of course (they would go first)

They don't put an ONLY sign because it's not only for the disabled. I do think you are supposed to let a disabled person go first though, but that might just be etiquette.

Thank you. I will let dh know about these and that they are okay for him to use with our 4 year old dd.

Absolutely!

I am not disagreeing with you. The point I was trying to make was that most people probably don't even realize that this may be the only option for some people. These signs look like they are handicap accessible and also unisex. I would not have known that this is some people's only option. When I look at those signs I immediately think family restroom. I agree that it should be deferred to the use of handicapped individuals however I see nothing wrong with others using it when it is necessary.

I would disagree. First, as JennaDeeDooDah has repeatedly posted (as a former CM who should know), family bathrooms DO exist in the form of the posted companion bathrooms. And the handicap stalls in the gender specific restrooms are an alternative for some guests.
Neither of these facilities are marked with an ONLY sign on them, nor were they intended that way.
Unlike the handicap parking spaces at your local mall, the handicap stall in public washrooms are there for the use of those guests who require the additional space and facilities therein. But they are not required to remain vacant when not in use by a disabled guest in a wheelchair. I require the use of the handicap stall. I wait in line just like everyone else. When it is my turn, I use that stall. Do I get upset if I go into a bathroom, see a line of people in front of me, and see one of those people go into the handicap stall? Of course not. Many people other than those in wheelchairs need that stall. Including mothers with children that for whatever reason can't be left alone while they do their business.
The same thing applies to the companion restrooms. Must they be left vacant unless you are a mixed gender duo/group and one of you is severely disabled? No. Of course it is there for the use of those guests. But it is also for the use of those guests who have a valid need for multiple people in the room at the same time. Like a parent with an opposite sex child. Or a single parent with multiple small children who can't be left unattended.
The Disboards is known for its entertaining rants by self entitled guests with unrealistic expectations. I would assert that one could be characterized as self entitled or having unrealistic expectations if you get all up in arms because you have to wait a few minutes because someone else is using "your" companion bathroom or "your" handicap stall when you need one. Or because you have determined that your need is so much greater than the other persons. Being entitled to use a facility doesn't mean you don't have to wait your turn just like everyone else.

the companion bathrooms have a changing table which i assume would be for babies. not sure it could hold an adult or someone in a wheelchair.

The companion restrooms are for anyone needing extra assistance. As I said in my previous post, there are baby diaper changing stations in these bathrooms, so they are intended for people with small children as well.
There is however certain bathroom etiquette. If a handicapped person comes in a restroom and there is a line, I would say they definitely go to the head of the line to use the hc stall when it opens up. For the companion restrooms, I would only use it if it was vacant, nobody was waiting and nobody with a disability (wheelchair, walker, cane etc.) was heading in that direction.

So this thread is going well
Personally, I feel that if the OP isn't comfortable bringing her 9 year old son into the women's restroom, but doesn't want to send him alone to the men's, there needs to be somewhere for she and her son to go.
This link may have already have been posted, but if not, it may be helpful.
Family Restrooms at WDW
And just a friendly reminder to note, we say this over on the DISAbilities board all the time- don't assume that someone that looks "normal", but comes out of a companion restroom, is someone that is being disrespectful to our friends in the wheelchair/ECV community. Some of us have invisible disabilities, and though we look "normal" at first glance (and I hate using the word normal, because what is that really?), we may be fighting a battle too.

Those are not family bathrooms that are listed in that link you posted. WDW does not provide family bathrooms, as has been repeatedly posted throughout this thread. They are all Companion Bathrooms designed to allow a place for those who need the assistance of an able bodied person to get it in a comfortable space. Many do not even have changing tables, and the toilet is elevated to make it easier for those in wheelchairs to transfer, something that is impossible in the regular bathrooms for the most part due to lack of room. I don't see how they would be at all family friendly, as there is no privacy at all. Does everyone just go in front of everyone else? That would never have happened in my family, but we were quite private about such things, and I'm old. Not a prude, mind you, but geez!

This is a quote from the WDW website entitled Facilities for Every Guest

Discover dozens of restrooms nestled in several easy-to-locate and convenient areas. Explore the interactive map to uncover the right kind of restroom for Guests like you—including companion-assisted services and facilities designed for access by Guests with mobility disabilities.

Disney's intent seems pretty clear to me. Just one old lady's opinion tho'.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Those are not family bathrooms that are listed in that link you posted. WDW does not provide family bathrooms, as has been repeatedly posted throughout this thread. They are all Companion Bathrooms designed to allow a place for those who need the assistance of an able bodied person to get it in a comfortable space. Many do not even have changing tables, and the toilet is elevated to make it easier for those in wheelchairs to transfer, something that is impossible in the regular bathrooms for the most part due to lack of room. I don't see how they would be at all family friendly, as there is no privacy at all. Does everyone just go in front of everyone else? That would never have happened in my family, but we were quite private about such things, and I'm old. Not a prude, mind you, but geez!

Disney's intent seems pretty clear to me. Just one old lady's opinion tho'.

Again, from a former CM who was responsible for those bathrooms:

Again, as a former CM who was responsible for these restrooms, they are not there solely for the use of the handicapped. They are there for those needing a companion. Disney put them there for parents who have multiple children that they would need to keep an eye on but would not be able to in one of the regular restrooms. They are there for dads who need to take their young daughter to the rest room. They are there for the disabled who travel with a friend or relative who assists them in using the restroom. They were not intended to be exclusively for one group or another. They are there for the guests who, for whatever reason, find using the regular restroom to be difficult.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I guess the question is what does companion-assisted mean

This is under Restrooms on the site...

"Discover dozens of restrooms nestled in several easy-to-locate and convenient areas. Explore the interactive map to uncover the right kind of restroom for Guests like you—including companion-assisted services and facilities designed for access by Guests with mobility disabilities"

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Oh, I had another thought to add... I'm a full-time college grad student so I often chaperone my daughters school field trips since I have daytime flexibility.

EVERY time I have chaperoned the group, the mom's and I have been instructed to line the boys up and send them into the mens room. They are instructed to go in and do their business and then return to the line. No adults go inside the mens room with them but a designated mom (or two) stands at the doorway and waits, keeps count, keeps an ear on the door, etc.

This has been the same procedure from Kindergarten and up. So, five year olds and up.

If your child goes on school field trips, they have likely visited mens rooms without an adult.

I do think a lot of moms need to let their kids become independent creatures. We all worry, its part of being a parent, but we have to let them go eventually. And, in small doses seems the most appropriate. Its okay to worry, but at some point you have to believe that you have taught your child well enough to be independent.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

you should have seen the young mother's face when she told me she needed the larger handicapped stall with the rails for her family and I was only one person. I just turned getting out my cell phone and said then I just call my husband to come help me up since I will not have a rail to get up. her story sure changed quickly

 

[AndreaA]

It is difficult to tell whether your comment is directed at those who won't send their children into a restroom because of fear/safety issues or those who are mentioning privacy issues, or both.

I may not agree with taking a 9 y/o boy into the ladies restroom, but I understand the thought process behind it. I just don't agree with teaching children that their right to privacy is at the whim of someone else's decisions.

No one's "privacy" is at the whim of anyone. I'm not hearing anyone say that their sons should peek into stalls or stare at other restroom visitors. And by the way, any girl would be just as likely to do those things. Is it better to have a girl staring at you than a boy? Because boys are inherently bad and must be thinking impure thoughts or something? Give me a break.

Good grief, why the need that much privacy anyway? You're in a closed stall. So someone might have to mention that *gasp!* they're having their period? And it's somehow better if it's only women who hear? Who the heck cares if some random person- male or female - knows that you're menstruating if you're 13 or 30? It's not like you're going to be friends with those people going forward. They are strangers you will likely never see again.

 

[Angel Ariel]

No one's "privacy" is at the whim of anyone. I'm not hearing anyone say that their sons should peek into stalls or stare at other restroom visitors. And by the way, any girl would be just as likely to do those things. Is it better to have a girl staring at you than a boy? Because boys are inherently bad and must be thinking impure thoughts or something? Give me a break.

Boys are inherently bad and must be thinking impure thoughts or something? Whose putting words into whose mouth? I never said any such thing, nor do I believe it.

My stance on this has *nothing* to do with what the boy may or may not do.

Good grief, why the need that much privacy anyway? You're in a closed stall. So someone might have to mention that *gasp!* they're having their period? And it's somehow better if it's only women who hear? Who the heck cares if some random person- male or female - knows that you're menstruating if you're 13 or 30? It's not like you're going to be friends with those people going forward. They are strangers you will likely never see again.

As an adult, I don't really care in random public places. I can absolutely see how some 11 or 12 y/o girl who is just starting her period for the first time, or who has only dealt with it once or twice might care, though. Many girls are embarrassed simply by having to deal with it - especially at the beginning when everything is so so new to them. I can absolutely see that embarrassment being exacerbated by having a boy their age in the room.

Just because you or I may not feel that way as an adult doesn't make that feeling any less real or valid for the young girl.

 

[JanaDee]

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.

Bottom line, no way am I insinuating to my DD or DS that the men's room is somehow unsafe or a scary place to be.

 

[Crl1817]

Those sinks aren't at 'Kid height', they're at wheelchair height. Thankfully, I'm able to walk into the restrooms at this point, and can still use a regular stall, but I'm guessing that a person in a chair can reach the soap from the chair. I hope so, anyway.











Those are not family bathrooms that are listed in that link you posted. WDW does not provide family bathrooms, as has been repeatedly posted throughout this thread. They are all Companion Bathrooms designed to allow a place for those who need the assistance of an able bodied person to get it in a comfortable space. Many do not even have changing tables, and the toilet is elevated to make it easier for those in wheelchairs to transfer, something that is impossible in the regular bathrooms for the most part due to lack of room. I don't see how they would be at all family friendly, as there is no privacy at all. Does everyone just go in front of everyone else? That would never have happened in my family, but we were quite private about such things, and I'm old. Not a prude, mind you, but geez!

This is a quote from the WDW website entitled Facilities for Every Guest
Disney's intent seems pretty clear to me. Just one old lady's opinion tho'.

You chose to quote me but not the former cast member I was responding to and quoted in my post. That's pretty deceptive, given that the former cast member who was responsible for those restrooms and was trained with regards to them says exactly the opposite of what you do.

And yes, my four year uses the facilities in front of people all the time. She sometimes needs help getting her undies back up. And she can't reach the soap in most public bathrooms. There is no way she could be sent into a women's room on her own as she does still need assistance, especially in public bathrooms. As to the higher toilet, we have one of those at home and most public bathrooms have them. They are certainly not evidence that a bathroom isn't meant for children and my four year old manages to climb on and off those on her own just fine.

It is a shame disney doesn't have more of the companion restrooms as it seems like that would alleviate a lot of the concerns expressed on this thread. I don't suppose disney tracks usage? I wonder what percentage of the time the companion restrooms are occupied and how the wait times compare at those vs the regular multi-user restrooms?

 

[JanaDee]

No one's "privacy" is at the whim of anyone. I'm not hearing anyone say that their sons should peek into stalls or stare at other restroom visitors. And by the way, any girl would be just as likely to do those things. Is it better to have a girl staring at you than a boy? Because boys are inherently bad and must be thinking impure thoughts or something? Give me a break.

The inherent attitude of this thread is yes, men are bad and can't be trusted with young boys.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I was going to skip this, but this thread seems to have a few significant omissions. I think I have a few possible constructive suggestions:

First, a little prevention often goes a long ways. If you have him use the restroom in your hotel rom just before heading out, you'll go a good ways to minimizing in-park usage. You'll also find many of the restrooms in the resorts and restaurants to be useful, especially the deluxe resorts. A few are busy, but many are often vacant. I think you can let him use them by himself, and not feel like you are sending him into a strange place. Some also have more private stalls. I'm picturing the GF bathrooms; very private stalls.

There are even some one stall co-ed restrooms (the ones I'm recalling are on the club levels: AKL, Bwk, YC are three that do. Not all have them, but many do. In the moderate range, CSR has a business level. You could easily inspect the bathroom, then send him in by himself.) In your situation, if you are staying at a WDW deluxe, I'd strongly consider CL. The whole CL is more secure. So you really could feel pretty good about letting him walk around the CL floor by himself. Again, at the mods, CSR has a business lounge. The lounges serve breakfast every morning, and afternoon snacks/drinks. The value resort restrooms are pretty busy, and more gang style restrooms. The biggest resorts are going to have the busiest restrooms. At the values, you can probably get good use from a preferred location room. Consider using quiet pools at any resort, which may be located closer to your room.

Some WDW restrooms are also locker rooms. The main restrooms near pools are often locker rooms.

*****************************

Last, the law is (becoming) pretty clear for folks in the transgender community. They are allowed to choose whichever bathroom is most comfortable for them.

It doesn't matter if that person is ten or twenty. It doesn't matter how they dress. Though I think we're well into the age of women wearing pants. So really, we all kind of need to get over the idea of gender specific restrooms. In a legal sense, they no longer exist.

By the way, my college coed dorm restrooms were most completely coed!

 

[KatieCharlotte]

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.

Um, is this the 10-year-old DD you said notices boys in the bathroom? Does she attend school? At what point will she be okay using a bathroom without you?

At my daughter's full-day kindergarten, they ate lunch in the cafeteria. If they had to use the bathroom, they raised their hands and were dismissed to go alone into the hallway to the correct bathroom, where they went, flushed, hopefully washed their hands, and returned to their seats to eat. There is no security system at school. Parents are welcome to wander in and eat with their children, which I did a couple times during the year. And yes, kids also visit public restrooms w/o adult chaperones on field trips.

I'm really starting to worry about some of the fears I hear loving parents express. Your kids don't need to hear over and over that your most important job is to protect them from bad things and bad people. I understand being anxious -- I worry too. But don't we have to fight our anxieties to raise independent, competent adults?

 

[JenniBugInPink]

You chose to quote me but not the former cast member I was responding to and quoted in my post. That's pretty deceptive, given that the former cast member who was responsible for those restrooms and was trained with regards to them says exactly the opposite of what you do.

And yes, my four year uses the facilities in front of people all the time. She sometimes needs help getting her undies back up. And she can't reach the soap in most public bathrooms. There is no way she could be sent into a women's room on her own as she does still need assistance, especially in public bathrooms. As to the higher toilet, we have one of those at home and most public bathrooms have them. They are certainly not evidence that a bathroom isn't meant for children and my four year old manages to climb on and off those on her own just fine.
It is a shame disney doesn't have more of the companion restrooms as it seems like that would alleviate a lot of the concerns expressed on this thread. I don't suppose disney tracks usage? I wonder what percentage of the time the companion restrooms are occupied and how the wait times compare at those vs the regular multi-user restrooms?

You're giving me credit for much more evil intent than I actually have the time or energy to muster. When you click the little multi-quote button, it only picks up the quote of the actual poster, not the thing that they quoted also. I'm sorry. It wasn't a plot, it's just the way the button works.

I find it a bit bizarre that your 4 yo daughter is accustomed to voiding in front of strangers (as implied by, "And yes, my four year uses the facilities in front of people all the time."). Perhaps I am misunderstanding. If not, this must mean you have very open boundaries about those things, something I wasn't raised with, but as I said, that was a long time ago, LOL. Perhaps things are different now. Years before I got my degree in Nursing, I got a degree in Psych (it was the 70's - a fun time for studying the mind.) It was all love and permissiveness in those days too, so perhaps things have come back around while I wasn't looking. I have no bipedal children; all of ours have 4 legs, and they go in litter boxes in the corner of the kitchen or the laundry room, or right out there in the yard in front of the whole neighborhood!

 

[itchin2go]

Women's restrooms are for women and men's restrooms are for men.

There are no police outside the door to enforce this. We're all expected to respect the convention ... because we're civilized.

When little boys are babies, toddlers or little, little boys, I think many other women understand why their moms would take them into the women's restroom. It's not ideal, but I think many understand.

The further they get away from "baby", the less understanding others are going to be.

And understand this: if you choose to ignore the "women's" sign outside of a restroom, you are infringing on the rights of the other "women" who are using the facilities. Many of them may not mind under certain circumstances, but they have a right to be in a facility with only WOMEN, and you are infringing upon that right. You have decided that it's not the "women's restroom", but YOUR restroom to do with as you please.

I understand that moms of young boys have a dilemma. I really do. Just understand that some of the solutions are going to be at the expense of others.

Several people in this thread have made it clear that THEY JUST DON'T CARE. They'll do what they want, and who cares who is inconvenienced by it. Just wait until somebody makes a similar decision that impacts you and see how it feels.

There is no easy answer to this, which is why the OP responsibly posted here looking for guidance. I just hope moms of boys will be as respectful to other women, as the other women are to them when they look they other way when little boys enter the women's room.

This attitude of "I'll do what I want and you can go jump in the lake" is kind of entitled, and certainly off-putting.

 

[wilkeliza]

They are not family restrooms that is correct. However a companion bathroom is just that. It is for anyone that requires the assistance of a companion while in the facilities. That can be someone with a disability and uses a wheelchair etc, someone who has a service animal, etc., and yes even a family. Family restroom makes it sound as if only families can use them and that is not the case in these bathrooms. However it is rude to bang on the doors etc if someone is in there. You can never be sure why someone is in there. If you politely knock and somone says "sorry we will be a bit" then you should respect that.
Almost all of the bigger bathroom areas have companion bathrooms now. It is only the older ones that do not. I know in WS they have them at every bathroom section except the ones that are actually considered restroom bathrooms such as China and Japan's bathroom areas.

Now to the boys with their moms debate. The only time I have had an issue with a boy in the womens restroom was under two circumstances. Once I saw a family where an adult man was traveling with the group. Adult male did not under any circumstance want to take the boys to the bathroom. Adult female took all the boys into the women's bathroom even though the boys fought it and made a big scene. I thought in that situation the adult male should have just sucked it up and took the boys themselves.

The other time was actually last weekend. I went to the bathrooms by Toy Story and when I walked in two little boys (about 6 to 7) jumped out from behind the divider wall trying to scare me. While I was in the stall I heard them do this to at least 3 other women. As the adult female they were with came out of the stall they tried to scare her as well and she just laughed at them and told them how silly they were! I did not appreciate the bathroom being treated like a play room. I understand the safety aspect but if you must take your opposite gender child into the bathroom with you at least teach them to act like they normally would in a bathroom not playing and trying to scare other people.

 

[OnlyDisney]

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?

I have one girl and one boy and even before having kids I've never had a problem with kids using the bathroom with a parent no matter what the age is. If the child isn't going around looking under stalls I don't know what the problem is (it would be a problem no matter what the gender of the child was who was looking under stalls though )

I'd also have no problem using the companion restroom. Using these rooms it's easier to keep an eye on multiple gender kids, get them on the toilet, and washed quickly.

We homeschool so I have plenty of opportunities to be out with our kids and needing a bathroom. Depending on how my son is behaving that day he'll come with us into the women's room (he might use his own stall or we might all go into the large stall), use the men's room on his own, or we'd use a family restroom.

I see no problem with whatever restroom you use. You alone know what is best for your family.

p.s. the problems I have with my son using the men's restroom is based on his behavior in the room/waiting outside. Never have I worried about other people causing him problems.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I'm really starting to worry about some of the fears I hear loving parents express. Your kids don't need to hear over and over that your most important job is to protect them from bad things and bad people. I understand being anxious -- I worry too. But don't we have to fight our anxieties to raise independent, competent adults?

Well, maybe if you had been molested as a young child because your parents weren't watching you closely enough, then maybe you would worry a bit more like I do. Not saying you don't care, just saying I have my reasons for caring a bit more than others.

Sheesh.