Family Trip - Rules for the parks?

[Betty Rohrer]

I'm curious about something. Does someone go in the bathroom with her?
I am extremely pee shy so sometimes the need just isn't there and even now its difficult for me to pee if its in a quite bathroom with others.
At Disney parks its no problem because there's so much noise and so many people in and out that it doesn't hit me as much but man get me in the resort room and that fan better be on or pee will not be flowing.

this is any time she does not say I have to go pee like say we are getting ready to leave house for awhile before we can get to bathroom with or without someone with. when out it is up to her if someone goes in with her. she has to be in control and on her schedule not ours. not looking forward to next park trip with her. if taken and she does not feel like going or saying she does not have to you are waiting for awhile and she will not go, then few minutes later she will say I have to go and you have about 5 minutes to get her to a bathroom where she may or may not want you in

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

if taken and she does not feel like going or saying she does not have to you are waiting for awhile and she will not go, then few minutes later she will say I have to go and you have about 5 minutes to get her to a bathroom where she may or may not want you in

To me this really sounds like she's pee shy and does actually have to go but just can't do it on demand and then it catches up with her a few minutes later.
(This is why I don't think its a good idea to have the "park rule" of we all together because we are not going to stop for you 10 minutes later. To me that could introduce a problem of not wanting to speak up that they have to go because its not when everyone else is going.)
I wonder if you talk to her and ask her if she does feel like she has to go but then just can't when she gets in there.
Some things I used to do were to sing a song or if someone was with me have them sing a song. I also found that plugging my ears and closing my eyes to kind of just block everything out helped me start to go. At home you could have a radio in the bathroom or just turn on the water or the fan.

 

[Lilsia]

I'm curious about something. Does someone go in the bathroom with her?
I am extremely pee shy so sometimes the need just isn't there and even now its difficult for me to pee if its in a quite bathroom with others.
At Disney parks its no problem because there's so much noise and so many people in and out that it doesn't hit me as much but man get me in the resort room and that fan better be on or pee will not be flowing.

My younger daughter liked her privacy also at an early age. I would make sure that she had a clean toilet and then would wait right outside the door for her.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Not a rule, but if one kid has to go the bathroom I bring the other one in too. They usually stay close to the same schedule that way. It is not a rule though, something I just try to do.

Our only rule is to stay close to us and not wander off. Make sure they know that if they get lost or separated they know to go into a shop or restaurant and find someone with a CM tag to help.

We give the kids each a gift card with a set amount for souvenirs so it doesn’t get out of control and they’re not asking to buy everything.

Since my kids are a bit younger they don’t really argue about going on anything - they just do whatever we do. But I would definitely do COP midday when all of the ride lines are super long. Position it as a break to take a rest or cool off if it’s hot etc.

 

[Meglen]

Hrmm. Use the restroom if we are sitting or standing a long time (before a show or long queue). Be polite if you need to get past someone. Generally just behave really. This next trip my new rule is going to be #1 tell me when you are tiered or need a break. He had a brave face last trip and didn't speak up enough when he needed a personal breather #2 if you want a treat ask now not 2 hours from now when we are back in the hotel and I have to tell you we can't get it since we don't visit that park again .

 

[Betty Rohrer]

To me this really sounds like she's pee shy and does actually have to go but just can't do it on demand and then it catches up with her a few minutes later.
(This is why I don't think its a good idea to have the "park rule" of we all together because we are not going to stop for you 10 minutes later. To me that could introduce a problem of not wanting to speak up that they have to go because its not when everyone else is going.)
I wonder if you talk to her and ask her if she does feel like she has to go but then just can't when she gets in there.
Some things I used to do were to sing a song or if someone was with me have them sing a song. I also found that plugging my ears and closing my eyes to kind of just block everything out helped me start to go. At home you could have a radio in the bathroom or just turn on the water or the fan.

no she can hold for hours like half a day if she wants. she is the hardest child I ever trained in all my years of training toddlers. and it is not just peeing it is everything on her schedule. like we say she marches to her own drummer doing things her way. already feeling for teacher next year as she heads to kindergarten

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

no she can hold for hours like half a day if she wants. she is the hardest child I ever trained in all my years of training toddlers. and it is not just peeing it is everything on her schedule. like we say she marches to her own drummer doing things her way. already feeling for teacher next year as she heads to kindergarten

Then perhaps she really doesn't have to go... my sister was and is a camel. Road trips from NY to FL we could stop 3 times and she wouldn't have to go.
All day at Disney we'd be stopping after every couple attractions and she wouldn't go for half the day.
I'd go with the flow with her. Maybe you'll have to get out of line once in a while but seems like she doesn't actually need to visit the bathroom frequently.

 

[Rory607]

We never have any specific rules, but we set expectations like someone else said. Our biggest issue is usually souvenirs. Last trip each kid got a gift card with the same amount of money and were told they weren’t getting more. We would buy each of them a shirt and ears if they wanted, but anything else they had to buy with their card. It worked well with the 9 year old. The 6 year old struggled, but it was a learning experience for him to “budget” his money. He’ll get there.

As far as the bathroom, it was never an official rule that everyone goes at the same time, but we do usually make the kids try when one person asks to go. Again, the older one is old enough to think she might as well go while we’re there. The younger one has to be told to try, but he’s used to that anyway. We make him try before we leave the house or when we’re out other places. Obviously if someone tries and doesn’t go, we’re not going to deny them another bathroom break. But it usually works out that they do try and can go.

 

[mjkacmom]

Seems absolutely ridiculous to me.
Its one thing to say hey let's try to go to the bathroom now so we don't have to hop out of line but its another to tell someone when to go and when to not go.

That’s what I mean, before we get in that one hour line, give it a try, same as getting ready to go on a long car ride. You can empty your bladder even if it’s not bursting.

 

[Rory607]

I have 5 kids, I told them when to go.

Oh my goodness, with 5 kids you could spend the entire day looking for a bathroom if you didn’t have everyone go at the same time! It’s bad enough with two kids.

 

[mjkacmom]

Its one thing to suggest trying.
Its another to tell them when to go and not go...
Its also not great for your bladder to "train" it.

Where did I say I wouldn’t let them go? I’ve got a bladder the size of a walnut, we used to drive to Florida every year from NJ, my dad would only stop if we needed gas. I’ve never refused to let my kids use the bathroom, not once. With a family of 7, it makes life easier to try and get on a similar schedule. Having been pregnant so many times, I got into the habit of using a bathroom if I came across one in public.

 

[Lumpy1106]

We are rope-droppers and my kids are older so this is not dangerous, but our rule in the morning is "nothing motivates like abandonment". If you don't want to get up early, OK, we'll meet up later. We have yet to leave anyone in the room on our way to the park because the kids know I am serious.

And yes, HAVE FUN!

 

[Elephantay]

Seems absolutely ridiculous to me.
Its one thing to say hey let's try to go to the bathroom now so we don't have to hop out of line but its another to tell someone when to go and when to not go.

This happens all the time at school!

 

[JenBush]

When I was younger my parents ALWAYS had us take mid-day breaks. We would get to the park at opening, then go back to the resort for a nap or to just to chill from about noon-3, and then back to the park for the evening. We've all probably seen that family who clearly dragged their kids along all day and before the fireworks the kids are miserable and the parents are miserable trying to handle their overly tired children. Don't be that family, they never look like they're having a good time. Take breaks/naps.

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

This happens all the time at school!

Not mine.
Raising your hand and asking to go is a polite formality.
I was never told I had to go or could not go.

My sister and friend are both teachers and their motto is that we can control a lot but we can't control our bladder so don't be afraid to go when you need to.

 

[Timandalicia]

Well I think one thing is for sure. When taking your kids to Disney World, there is a lot more to discuss than urine. So let’s move on shall we...

 

[scrappinginontario]

If child has a good sense of direction....if you can’t see me, go to the last place we saw each other snd stay there. If not, ‘safe’ people are Cast Members and mommies with strollers. Tell them you’re lost.

In 25+ trips we only needed this once but glad we had a plan in place!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I never thought of it as a rule, but one thing we started doing with my DS is we rarely (if ever) buy souvenirs right when we see them. We take a picture of the person holding the item they want, take a picture of the price tag (including the bar code), and take a picture of the store we found it in. When we're waiting in line, we scroll through the photos and decide which items are a priority, and which we don't really want. We delete the price tag photos (and sometimes the store photos as well) for anything we decide not to buy. At the end of the day (or end of the trip if at DLR), we make a loop back to buy whatever wins as the "must have" souvenir. On one occasion at DLR we waited too long and the store was out of the backpack DS wanted, but because we had the price tag photo saved, the CMs were able to look it up for us and found it at a different store. They called over and had them hold it for us, and we were still able to get it.
This little trick has become a fun tradition for us for many reasons. It helps DS think about his budget, it helps get rid of the "I HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW!" attitude that was starting to pop up at the time, it gives us something to do while we wait in line, and we have some fun photos of each of us holding cute stuff we liked in the stores. DS is now 13, and he says that some of why he now has the patience to save his money and think about what he really wants to spend it on is because we taught him how to wait and think about it using this method.
Honestly, I just started it spontaneously when we were at DLR when he was 4 because I didn't want to carry around a toy he wanted to buy, and he was so enamored with seeing the picture of himself holding the toy that he began asking me to take his picture again in every store we went into! But hey, it worked, and it's now standard procedure for all of us when we travel anywhere!

 

[hlrubin507]

Number one rule of Disney: no complaining, only asking nicely for what you want

advice above to set expectations is also good. Choosing some things in advance (what you must do, what you would like to do, and what you definitely are NOT interested in) helps cut down on decision fatigue (this or that) while in the parks.

 

[carol48b]

I have 5 kids, I told them when to go.

I came from a family of 5 and our trips were 10 hr drives to Canada. We went when the car stopped at a rest area and Mom said "go". I'm with you.