HA bathrooms and ............

[DVC Sadie]

being pregnant or having a child? I may get flamed but I really don't care anymore. I have not only seen but witnessed a person in a wheelchair having to basically pray or hope the person in the HA will hurry up before having an accident. For the last several years I have witnessed pregnant or families using the HA restrooms and it seems so inconsiderate to ME. How do you feel?

 

[In a hurry]

Hope your fire hose is ready!

I believe, that unless it is an emergency situation, that HA restrooms should be reserved for the Handicapped. I say this as a person who has 18 inches of colon left. I do not usually have urgency issues, which would best be dealt with by using adult diapers, but sometimes, unexplicably, it is an emergency. In that situation, I would use one of these restrooms.

My mom is in the same condition, but has some mobility issues also. For her, when she is in the chair, the only restroom that she can get in and out of is the HC stall. She has soiled herself waiting for the handicap Accessible stall on two occasions. On one occasion someone was changing clothes. There is nothing sadder than seeing your mom in that position.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I agree!! What is sad is that so MANY people equate pregnancy to a disability or having children being equated to people in a wheelchair. The last several years we have gone to WDW has been the worst in OP. I hate that perfectly fine, healthy person would use a HA restroom when a truly needing person has to not only wait but has to hear a diatrabe of reasons.

 

[andromedaslove]

I have been known to use the HA restroom in certain situations. If I am big fat roly poly pregnant you can bet that I am going to do everything in my power to get the HA bathroom. There are times that being pregnant makes mobility just as troublesome as it is for someone who is handicapped. Trying to pull your big fat roly poly pregnant behind off of one of those short little toilets can be very hard to do, especially towards the end of pregnancy. I have literally had to have DH help me off of our toilet at home before, and off the couch, and he had to put on my socks and shoes cause I was so big I couldn't reach my own feet.

Also, I assume you don't have kids right?! Let's just say for arguments sake that I choose to take my kids to Animal Kingdom with me and DH decided to stay home, it's happened. I have a 4 yr old and a 18 month old. Say if I need to use the restroom, what am I supposed to do? I have to take both boys with me, and I can't leave the 4 yr old responsible for the baby while I use the restroom. Am I supposed to try to fit me, and both boys into a regular stall and still be able to wipe my bottom when I'm done? I don't think that's gonna work too well, do you?

The way I see it, the HA stalls are there so that there are stalls at WDW that WILL fit those in wheelchairs, it doesn't mean that they are not allowed to be used by someone who isn't handicapped. Kind of the same way that there are HA rooms at all of the resorts, but they have been known to put people who aren't handicapped in those rooms. It seems a bit inconsiderate to me to see that you and alot of others don't think about how someone who is either pregnant or hauling along children might need a HA restroom just as much as you do.

Now under normal circumstances, if it were just me and I wasn't pregnant, or if it was just me and my 4 year old I would not use the HA stall even if it was the only one available. I only use it when I need it.

 

[DVCLiz]

It is certainly sad to think of people who really need these facilities being denied or having to wait for someone using it for something they could do elsewhere.

Having said that, I've never in my whole life encountered a person with a real handicap in a public restroom. Not even once, in 48 years. I use the handicapped stall, when available, for two reasons. One, I think it doesn't get as much use so it's far cleaner than the others. Two, I'm so tired of the way many restrooms place their big toilet paper dispensers on the wall. You sometimes have to be a contortionist to be able to sit without jamming your leg and knee into one. In the handicapped stall, there's usually ample room on each side.

I'd never use it if I ever thought someone with real need would be inconvenienced. I usually scope out the surrounding area if I'm in a store, for example, to see if anyone in a wheelchair is shopping, so I can be aware.

If the space is just sitting empty, I don't see a problem with using it just like any other restroom. I'd be considerate of a handicapped person's need, though - and I'd even say that a handicapped person waiting at the back of the line should be allowed to go right in and use the handicapped stall. It just seems mean-spirited to me to insist they wait their turn, when they will be using a special stall that the people ahead of them should know to keep open because a person with an actual need for that stall is there.

Just my opinion...

 

[sara74]

Well. I'll be PG and travelling with a four year old and a 21 month old in a few weeks! Luckily we are going before I am too large to get up off of the commode ! I was really that large with the last pregnancy! And I will have DH with me so I don't think I will have both kids with me in the restroom at once. However, I can see that if I was alone with both kids how I would have to take them both into the stall with me! At the mall I don't mind an uncrowded restroom where I can leave DD outside the stall watching DS in his stroller but I don't think that is feasible at WDW. So I can see if one travels alone with more than one small child how they may need the larger stall. I can't see it if there is another adult who can watch the other child/children. I also can't see why some PG women I know (who I know well enough to know they were having normal and uncomplicated pregnancies) got HC tags for their cars just to get better parking spots. They were pushing me to do the same when my only disability was being too big to get out of my own way! Believe me, the extra walking did me good!

 

[Emmaline Lola]

I go to WDW weekly with my 15 month old dd, and when it is just she and I and I have to use the bathroom, I have no choice but to use the HA. She is not walking yet, and there is no way I could manage holding her while trying to use the bathroom.

I wheel her stroller into the HA with me, do my business and finish as quickly as possible in case someone else needs the HA.

But what else can I do??

el

 

[gris gris]

I totally agree with andromedaslove - I'm pregnant right now and I'm huge. I have a hard time fitting in the "normal stalls" however I use them when I'm by myself. When my 3 year old is with me, you bet I use the handicapped stall if I have to go too. If I don't, I wait outside a normal stall for her. But otherwise we both don't fit in a stall together. Do you think the 3 year old should wait outside the door for me?? Do you think she'll still be there when I get out?? I'm not willing to take that chance just so someone else can use the big stall. Sometimes we have to wait in line regardless of who we are.

And unlike parking in a HA spot, it's not illegal so I'm not breaking any law by using it.

 

[joanchris]

I am the parent of a child in a wheelchair....the handicapped accessible stalls are necessary for her.....however, I also agree that the use of the stalls (NOT the Companion Restrooms at WDW) are fair game, as long as someone is just using the facilities, not changing, hanging out, etc....

We encountered 2 women in an accessible stall at another amusement park who were changing, chatting on their cell phones, seemed like they were having a party in there! DD10, in her chair, was whining, she wears pull-ups, but does not prefer to use them....I made several loud comments to other folks who thought we were in line for another stall, like, "Oh, go ahead, this stall is the only one we can get into", but they didn't move. A good 15 min later they came out, looked at us, seemed a bit embarrassed, but didn't say anything. THAT is what is unacceptable.

Going in an empty stall, doing your business and getting out, IMHO, is fine.

 

[In a hurry]

It would just solve the problem if they would make the stalls in the ladies rooms bigger, because of these issues. Often, the changing table or the baby holder is on the wall of the handicapped stall. It's miserable to be squished into a tiny stall when you have a tummy the size of a volkswagon. And, Emmaline is right, a small child has to stand somewhere, or be strolled in. If you want privacy, that only leaves one option, usually.

 

[momrek06]

being pregnant or having a child? I may get flamed but I really don't care anymore. I have not only seen but witnessed a person in a wheelchair having to basically pray or hope the person in the HA will hurry up before having an accident. For the last several years I have witnessed pregnant or families using the HA restrooms and it seems so inconsiderate to ME. How do you feel?

Are you saying that if a woman/lady/teen/child enters a ladies rest room ANYWHERE and the HA is empty it is NOT to be used? It is to be available 24/7 for a diabled/handicap/elderly lady...is that what you mean?

I don't agree at all. I have never seen any signs on any HA stalls that they are RESERVED for ONLY handicap/elderly/disabled.

My theory is that upon entering a restroom IF it is OPEN it is OPEN for me as well as anyone.

Like another poster said in my 52 years I have never encountered a person with a real handicap in a public restroom.

I also had 2 sons, that being said for the most part, they were always with DH when they were little and needed to use the restroom BUT that aside, I also agree with the poster who goes out for the day with 2 small children and they all need to use the facilities as well as mom, I would WAIT for the HA Stall if it was in use or I would use it gladly if it were available to take care of all our business.

Lastly, if I was the parent of a handicap child or was traveling with my elderly mom (80) and there were women in the HA stall, changing, chatting I would ever so nicely KNOCK on the STALL door and mention your child needing to use the facilities. ABSOLUTELY KNOCK and get their attention. Just like you would KNOCK it the restroom was a SINGLE restroom.

 

[jme829]

They are handicap ACCESSIBLE not handicap EXCLUSIVE. If I or my kids gotta go, we gotta go and if thats all thats open then thats what we will use. That being said, however, I don't use them if the others are open and I would let someone who truly needs it have first dibs,,,thats just common decency. Also as someone else said, I have rarely (maybe 1 or 2 times ever) have seen someone in a wheel chair come into the public RR. (not that it doens't happen, just that I rarely encounter it). And you betcha that in our stroller days, thats the one we used...some even have the baby changers in that stall because there is room in there for the stroller.

I'm curious how you (generaly speaking, no one specific) would handle it if say you were in a busy RR (we've all seen them...5-10 min wait to get a stall) you (or kids) really have to go, a handicap person comes in a few people behind you , the handicap stall opens up...who gets dibs?,,,the people who are in the front of the line and have been waiting the longest and probably by then really have to go, or the person who is handicapped and needs it just because they dont' fit in the regular?? Does my waiting for 20 minutes outweigh their need for an accesible stall or do I have to hold it longer just because they are hanicapped? This is just hypothetical, not trying to cause a debate, just curious about who should get priority...

 

[WDWorBUST]

To be honest I am much more "aware" of using a HA stall in the bathroom because of this board. However, I have a 2 year old daughter who is potty training and I have to hold her on a public potty still to keep her from falling in. I'm not huge but I'm definitely overweight and it just doesn't work for me to go into a regular stall with her. So yes, I do use them out of necessity, but only when I need to and then again I try to be very considerate and quick. I think the real problem is that they make public restroom stalls too small - and then they go and put the changing table in the HA stall half the time. What are you supposed to do then??

 

[MyZoeJane]

being pregnant or having a child? I may get flamed but I really don't care anymore. I have not only seen but witnessed a person in a wheelchair having to basically pray or hope the person in the HA will hurry up before having an accident. For the last several years I have witnessed pregnant or families using the HA restrooms and it seems so inconsiderate to ME. How do you feel?

Hm.. last time I checked... "seeing" and "witnessing" were the same thing. Has something changed??

I agree with many of the posters on this topic... Using the handicapped restroom when you are not "handicapped" is perfectly acceptable when you use it as quickly as possible, and then GET OUT. Handicapped restrooms exist so that handicapped people can GO TO THE BATHROOM. They don't exist so that handicapped people NEVER HAVE TO WAIT to go to the bathroom.

If women with children were not supposed to use the handicapped restrooms, then why, oh why, do so many of them have SECURITY SEATS built into them so you can strap your kid in while you go pee?

 

[MyZoeJane]

They are handicap ACCESSIBLE not handicap EXCLUSIVE. If I or my kids gotta go, we gotta go and if thats all thats open then thats what we will use. That being said, however, I don't use them if the others are open and I would let someone who truly needs it have first dibs,,,thats just common decency. Also as someone else said, I have rarely (maybe 1 or 2 times ever) have seen someone in a wheel chair come into the public RR. (not that it doens't happen, just that I rarely encounter it). And you betcha that in our stroller days, thats the one we used...some even have the baby changers in that stall because there is room in there for the stroller.

I'm curious how you (generaly speaking, no one specific) would handle it if say you were in a busy RR (we've all seen them...5-10 min wait to get a stall) you (or kids) really have to go, a handicap person comes in a few people behind you , the handicap stall opens up...who gets dibs?,,,the people who are in the front of the line and have been waiting the longest and probably by then really have to go, or the person who is handicapped and needs it just because they dont' fit in the regular?? Does my waiting for 20 minutes outweigh their need for an accesible stall or do I have to hold it longer just because they are hanicapped? This is just hypothetical, not trying to cause a debate, just curious about who should get priority...

EXACTLY!!!

 

[zookeeper]

At one point I had 4 kids under 4yrs old. Tell me how you would fit everyone into a regular stall in that circumstance? I'm just not comfortable sending my younger ones into a stall by themselves. God Bless Family Washrooms!!!

 

[Nikel]

If the HA stalls are really only meant for people with handicaps, why do so dang many places put the diaper changing station in there?

 

[DVCLiz]

If the HA stalls are really only meant for people with handicaps, why do so dang many places put the diaper changing station in there?

I think this is the key. As another previous poster said, it would be great if there could be a handicapped access stall AND a family-friendly stall for pregnant moms and moms with young children. Its just that that would take a lot of space and eliminate (sorry, bad pun!) another regular-sized stall as well. So I think many places just put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak, and have ALL the "special" cicumstances in one larger stall - handicapped access, changing station, more leg and seat room, ertc.

And that works fine for me.

 

[Rowlf]

If you have a sleeping child in a stroller, what exactly are you supposed to do? Leave him outside the stall? Because strollers don't fit in non-HC stalls.

This is one of those things I would have been judgy about before I had my son.

 

[Ali]

Like another poster said in my 52 years I have never encountered a person with a real handicap in a public restroom.

How do you know you have't seen anyone with a real handicap in a public restrom? I have a real handicap but I can walk and look perfectly normal, just like a typical plus sized woman. I also have an incomplete spinal cord injury which means I need the larger stall for a specific medical reason - can't spread my legs far enough open to get the catheter inside of me in the small stalls with the toilet paper holders next to my knees.

So - please realize that here are others with invisible disabilities who may need the larger stalls.