Help with WDW..... bathrooms and a 9 year old

[Melora]

Here is the situation. My sister and I are going to WDW at the end of next month. Going with us are my 2 teenage daughters, my 9 year old son, my 8 year old neice and my 3 year old.

It suddenly occured to me today that I will not have anyone to take Alex (9) to the bathroom.

I feel like he is too young to go to a large public mens bathroom by himself. Some part of me feels like I am worrying too much, but in my heart, even though I know in all likelihood nothing will happen to him, I can't help but think of things like when that little girl got killed in the Las Vegas restroom or the stories of kids (mostly little boys) getting touched or worse in public bathrooms. (OK I know hes not going to get killed and that was a very unusual situation, but I cant help thinking about it!)

I do not have a problem taking him with me into the ladies room if I have to but I am wondering if there are there a good number of "family" or "companion" bathrooms that I can take him into or let him go in and lock the door?

 

[browneyes]

There are a few, but not enough. I don't have a problem with a 9 yo going into the ladies room with his mom. Safety is more important than anything.

 

[kejoda]

there should be enough companion restrooms around. If not just take him in the ladies room. To heck with anyone that has a problem with it, more important to keep him safe.

also this thread has been done before get ready for the fireworks.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I think my son was about 8 when I started to let him go in alone. I usually remind him that he is not to talk to anyone while in the restroom, however. That admonition is pretty obvious to others as well.

If we are at a highway reststop, I make DH go in with him. In your case, if I did not feel comfortable, I would have him go in with me.

 

[slo]

Originally posted by kejoda
there should be enough companion restrooms around. If not just take him in the ladies room. To heck with anyone that has a problem with it, more important to keep him safe.

also this thread has been done before get ready for the fireworks.

I agree with this. If I had a 9 yr old son he would still be coming with me into the ladies restroom. I don't understand why anybody has a problem with this. All of the stalls are private and the boys can't see the ladies and the ladies can't see the boys. Do what is right for you!!!!

 

[LScot]

I'd use the companions bathrooms when possible. I'm betting he won't be too happy going in the Ladies Room. However, if I had a son who was 9, he'd be with me. No sending him alone.

Have a great trip!

 

[Melora]

Alex doesnt feel weird coming with me, which is good. I've never had anyone give me a dirty look yet, but I guess we're getting close to the end of when I can comfortably take him with me. (maybe a year on the outside).

 

[sunni]

Be prepared for the flames, it's gonna get hot in here. Possibly hot enough for popcorn (no butter, please!).

Take him in with you. He's only 9 and his safety is far more important than ANYTHING else.

 

[Alice28]

My son is 6 and I am facing the same thing this summer when we go to Disneyland without Dad. I let him go to the men's room by himself at grocery stores, Target, etc. He knows to go, wash hands, leave, not talk to anyone and so far he does extremely well. I wait right by the exit. Problem with Disney is that they often have two exits out of the bathroom. I will either try and find the companion bathrooms or he will most likely be going with me (he's not going to be happy, but too bad)- those bathrooms are way too big and confusing! If it's a smaller bathroom, I will probably let him go by himself.

 

[disykat]

I have a nine year old and he was horrified recently when I made him go in an empty women's room with me. We were in a large office building with no one around and I didn't want him waiting in the hall for me or going into the men's room while I was in the women's - too scary! I'm most paranoid in places where there aren't many people around. Here are the options I see:

*Find a family restroom
*Find an empty ladies room and take him with you
*Find a very busy mens restroom where there is no chance he would be alone with a stranger - might be a good option in the parks.
*Find an empty men's restroom that you can be sure is empty and has no other entrances (hard to verify!)

I've always been glad to have two boys for this reason - they usually have each other for a buddy!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>When my son was about 7 or 8 he absolutely refused to go in the women's restroom. I used to stand at the men's restroom with my foot in the door & call out to my son periodically to make sure he was okay.

You do what you think is best for your son. In these days, us ladies are a lot more tolerant of moms bringing in their young sons for safety.

 

[shortbun]

DS almost 9(July) cries when I make him go with me. sigh
I stand outside the mens and talk to him as he goes in and
out. I probably creep out the other guys in there but I don't care
and DS doesn't care either about having to talk to me while
he's in the bathroom with me holding the door open. he he
somewhere, there's a "thrones of the kingdom" site that may
tell about the family bathrooms.

just found this on another site:

At the Magic Kingdom Park, companion-assisted restroom facilities are at First Aid as well as at these locations:

The lower level of Cinderella's Royal Table
Splash Mountain
Mickey's Toontown Fair
Transportation and Ticket Center East

At Epcot, companion-assisted restroom facilities are located at all First Aid locations as well as:

FutureWorld East Block opposite Test Track
FutureWorld West Block opposite the Land
Near Canada
Near Morocco
Near Spaceship Earth

At the Disney-MGM Studios, companion-assisted restroom facilities are at First Aid as well as at these locations:

Opposite the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Opposite Star Tours
FANTASMIC!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

At Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, companion-assisted restroom facilities are at First Aid as well as at these locations:

Safari Village opposite Flame Tree Barbecue
Harambe Village in the Mombasa Marketplace
Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland

the poster also says these bathrooms are small and only for
mom/son or dad/daughter besides the original use-mobility
challenged folks, not like family bathrooms in malls.

 

[Daydreamer64]

Trust your instincts- he is your child -

it's not about how he feels or other people's feelings on the subject but how you the parent feels- you have been given this child to raise and you are the only person who really loves this child so protect him the way that it feels best for you.


My boys go into small ( walmart type ) restrooms together but I have yet to allow either one to enter alone. There are often more than one entrance to the restrooms at amusement parks and I can't stand at the entrance of both. Maybe you could have a conversation with him as he goes from the entrance of the men's restroom.

If one of my boys is alone with me on an outing, he will have to stand just inside of the womens restroom arch/door entrance as I go then he will go into the closest stall to the door if he needs to use the restroom.

Speaking as a molestation survivor- 9 is still young and an easy target. I have never had a problem with "under teens" being in the restroom- I don't have a problem with my boys being in the restroom with women and I've never had a problem with other people getting upset or giving dirty looks.

I make sure my boys stay put at the entrance or first stall and not allow them to cruise the stalls for other people's comfort-

Follow your heart and "mother" instinct- it won't fail you

It looks like there are many family/companion restrooms around the parks- you will pass them during the day- it shouldn't be a problem to stop and go.

 

[Christine]

My son is 9 years old and, at this point, we treat every bathroom individually. I'm not sure how I handle it at Disney. I haven't been there is 3 years and can't remember how big some of the rest rooms are what the layout is.

If we are in Target or a restaurant, I will usually let him go in along with me standing right outside the men's room door and giving every guy that walks in or out a good scrutiny ! If I don't feel comfortable with the place, the people there, etc, he will go in the women's room with me.

I did take him to a Madonna concert with me last week and he had to go to the bathroom. There is NO WAY I would have let him go in the men's rest room there, just no way. So he went in the ladies room with me and about 30 other women. No one seemed to mind, didn't notice any weird looks or anything.

 

[zurgswife]

I've read this type of thread before...I live in a different universe because I've never given it a thought at WDW......

 

[ducklite]

While a child's safety is of the utmost importance, the comfort levels of others must be recognized as well. There are plenty of companion restrooms in each park, I'd plan on using them. Seems like the best solution for everyone.

Another idea for you is to have him use a full service restaurant men's room. They are smaller with only one door in and out, and less traffic in and out. A more controlled situation that would give you a much greater level of comfort.

Anne

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd print the list of the companion restrooms and take it with you so you know when you are near one and can do the "let's go into the bathroom" thing.

I also like the idea of using the restaurant bathrooms...as the other poster said, less crowded and usually one way in & out.

I personally don't have a problem with young boys in the ladies room...these days you can't be too careful, even in WDW. A child's safety is far more important to me than a few moment's of slight embarrassment. Plus, I'm not that modest!

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I also thought I would add that for some reason the restrooms in the resturants seem a bit safer to me. Usually one door, smaller and less crowded. Just an idea.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My son is also nine and feels very uncomfortable going into the Mens' restroom by himself. He prefers going in with me and I have never received any negative comments or dirty looks. At some point he will feel differently, but until then...we're a tag team in the ladies' room!

 

[Planogirl]

I've always felt more comfortable with the big crowded men's restrooms than the smaller, out of the way places. I used to tell myself that problems were less likely with a lot of people around. The smaller restrooms can also have long lines from time to time particularly the women's so the bigger ones are better if someone has to "go NOW."

Our son is now 11 so he goes in men's rooms while I anxiously wait. Does the worry ever stop?