Just Back (12/7-12/13 CBR).....and I only hit 7 ankles with my stroller all week!

[sharadoc]

We are hoping to stay in the cabins next summer - and we are driving down. I guess I didn't realize we could take our car straight to the cabin! We will certainly try to drive some, especially when we go to AK since it's farthest.

That's one of the best thing about the cabins. Pull up to your front door and unload! Really easy.

 

[jkahne9]

Aren't the companion restrooms for men like me who have a young daughter, and my wife is not on this trip with us, and need help but don't want to send them into the bathroom alone or take them into the mens room. I wouldn't take my 2 year old daughter into the mens room. I thought that's what the companion restrooms were for as well as anybody else that needs help. I think the sign means companion/handicap.


However, my #1 "pet peeve" on this trip was the use of the Companion Restrooms! 99% of time we needed to use them, they were occupied and, almost without exception, the people coming out would be a parent (or two) and a small child (or two)!

These are NOT "family bathrooms"!!! They're for disabled people who *need* assistance; hence the "wheelchair" symbol and the word "Companion" on the door!

 

[puffkin]

However, my #1 "pet peeve" on this trip was the use of the Companion Restrooms! 99% of time we needed to use them, they were occupied and, almost without exception, the people coming out would be a parent (or two) and a small child (or two)!

These are NOT "family bathrooms"!!! They're for disabled people who *need* assistance; hence the "wheelchair" symbol and the word "Companion" on the door!

I have never viewed these restrooms as handicap. Most places call them family bathrooms, I don't recall Disney exclusively calling any bathroom handicap....even the large stalls aren't marked that. I use them all the time with my 3 year old. Not to be gross, but I can't tell you how many times I have had to stop going mid stream because he got out the door or is crawling around under the stalls or something else like that. Those bathrooms are a godsend to corral him so I can go in peace. I can especially see how handy these can be with multiple children. So no I do not think they are just for handicap people to use but for anyone who needs them.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have never viewed these restrooms as handicap. Most places call them family bathrooms, I don't recall Disney exclusively calling any bathroom handicap....even the large stalls aren't marked that. I use them all the time with my 3 year old. Not to be gross, but I can't tell you how many times I have had to stop going mid stream because he got out the door or is crawling around under the stalls or something else like that. Those bathrooms are a godsend to corral him so I can go in peace. I can especially see how handy these can be with multiple children. So no I do not think they are just for handicap people to use but for anyone who needs them.

They are not marketed as handicapped bathrooms, but as companion bathrooms. Meaning they are meant for anyone who needs assistance in using the facilities.

I know you don't mean any harm. But please keep in mind that there are only a handful of these restrooms in the parks, and for some people they are the ONLY ones they can use. They are not meant to be used just for convenience sake, but for necessities sake.

 

[bwilcox]

One of the days our bus pulled up and it was really full and we barely got on and there was a family there with someone in a wheelchair and the driver told him he couldn't fit them on and he was sorry. The mother got upset and said they had been waiting a half an hour and this was the 2nd bus that was full. He said all he could do was put in a call for another bus. I felt really bad for them!

I found this very interesting. It shows you the other side of things for those who complain about wheelchair people and their families loading first. It's probably just as often a hindrance as a benefit.
OP, too bad you didn't get to swim. CBR's pools are what made us fall in love with that resort! I do have a little pirate living with me, though.

 

[puffkin]

They are not marketed as handicapped bathrooms, but as companion bathrooms. Meaning they are meant for anyone who needs assistance in using the facilities.

I know you don't mean any harm. But please keep in mind that there are only a handful of these restrooms in the parks, and for some people they are the ONLY ones they can use. They are not meant to be used just for convenience sake, but for necessities sake.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. If it was marked handicap only...fine. But they are not which means fair game to anyone who NEEDS one. There are many, many times that I have had to wait in line for the bathroom or for a changing table (when DS was still in diapers) so I don't really see an issue with waiting. Now, if someone alone is using these bathrooms or something like that, I see the problem. But until they are marked handicap only they are for anyone who needs them, first come first served.

 

[maxiesmom]

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. If it was marked handicap only...fine. But they are not which means fair game to anyone who NEEDS one. There are many, many times that I have had to wait in line for the bathroom or for a changing table (when DS was still in diapers) so I don't really see an issue with waiting. Now, if someone alone is using these bathrooms or something like that, I see the problem. But until they are marked handicap only they are for anyone who needs them, first come first served.

The key here for the companion restrooms is that they are the ONLY ones some people can use. It is nowhere near the same as waiting in line in the restrooms. People who truly need the companion restrooms do not have the choice to just wait for 1 stall out of 20 to open up. It is a necessity for some, and that is why they are in the parks. That is why Disney calls them Companion-Assisted Restrooms. Not family restrooms.

Maybe it doesn't seem to be a big deal, but if you were waiting for the one restroom stall in that area of the park that you could use, and the person that came out clearly didn't have the same need, I think you may view it differently.

I also don't think you can compare waiting to change a diaper to needing to use a companion restroom. Not even close.

 

[bdiddy]

OP here - I can't believe I forgot to mention that I saw the craziest thing while there last week!

I was sitting on a bench with the kids waiting on DH and saw a family go by with a girl in a park rented stroller. She had to be at least 7 or 8 but could have been younger and just been a little bigger. Anyway...she was drinking chocolate milk out of a baby bottle! It didn't look like a joke or she was trying to be funny - she was reclined as much as she good, looked tired and was drinking from the bottle one-handed .

It completely made me do a double-take! And I thought my son still using the paci at 3 was bad! LOL

 

[KellyNY]

OP here - I can't belive I forgot to mention that I saw the craziest thing while there last week!

I was sitting on a bench with the kids waiting on DH and saw a family go by with a girl in a park rented stroller. She had to be at least 7 or 8 but could have been younger and just been a little bigger. Anyway...she was drinking chocolate milk out of a baby bottle! It didn't look like a joke or she was trying to be funny - she was reclined as much as she good, looked tired and was drinking from the bottle one-handed .

It completely made me do a double-take! And I thought my son still using the paci at 3 was bad! LOL

She could be a special needs child, you never know, or just very, very tall, who knows.

 

[bdiddy]

Oh Jeez - you are right! That never occured to me - I'm obviously terrible at putting my foot in my mouth!! DH says I need a filter sometimes!

 

[KellyNY]

Oh Jeez - you are right! That never occured to me - I'm obviously terrible at putting my foot in my mouth!! DH says I need a filter sometimes!

Putting your foot in your mouth, it is getting harder and harder with age, I am not as flexible anymore as well.

 

[KPeveler]

I think the key for companion restroom is that they are to be used primarily by people who DO NOT have another option. a man with a small daughter, someone with a disability/special needs, etc... the general code of etiquette is the same as for the HA stalls - if you CAN use another one, please do so. The number of times i have to wait for someone with no need to come out of a handicapped accessible stall... it adds up to hours over the course of a week! (ps, i can tell the ones without a need to use that particular stall because they always look embarrassed and apologize for using the one)...

so if you have the option of using another stall, please do so. if not, then use the one you need, and dont worry about the looks others give.

btw, disney calls these "Companion-assisted restroom facilities" (i took that from their guidebook for guests with disabilities website). NOT family restrooms. it even states in the title that they are to be used by someone who needs a companion for assistance. not as a means of controlling children or changing clothes or whatever (all reasons i have heard for using companion/HA stalls)...

but as someone stated, i guess we'll all just have to agree to disagree....

 

[KellyNY]

I think the key for companion restroom is that they are to be used primarily by people who DO NOT have another option. a man with a small daughter, someone with a disability/special needs, etc... the general code of etiquette is the same as for the HA stalls - if you CAN use another one, please do so. The number of times i have to wait for someone with no need to come out of a handicapped accessible stall... it adds up to hours over the course of a week! (ps, i can tell the ones without a need to use that particular stall because they always look embarrassed and apologize for using the one)...

so if you have the option of using another stall, please do so. if not, then use the one you need, and dont worry about the looks others give.

btw, disney calls these "Companion-assisted restroom facilities" (i took that from their guidebook for guests with disabilities website). NOT family restrooms. it even states in the title that they are to be used by someone who needs a companion for assistance. not as a means of controlling children or changing clothes or whatever (all reasons i have heard for using companion/HA stalls)...

but as someone stated, i guess we'll all just have to agree to disagree....

Although you are making good point about the subject, lets face it, if someone use it, a person in a wheelchair was not at bathroom at that time, so how long would it really take to wait for someone to get out. We all wait for bathrooms sometimes esp. in hot Disney zones, but lets not count it into hours...

 

[KPeveler]

Although you are making good point about the subject, lets face it, if someone use it, a person in a wheelchair was not at bathroom at that time, so how long would it really take to wait for someone to get out. We all wait for bathrooms sometimes esp. in hot Disney zones, but lets not count it into hours...

Actually, YES it is hours. And, YES a lot of the time I am already there, and people (sometimes literally) run into the bathroom ahead of me. Once I even got clipped by a stroller.

I have also had to wait for people to finish brushing teeth, changing clothes, doing the "pee pee dance" to encourage kids to use the toilet, finish a cell phone conversation, do their hair, etc...

I know that we all wait for bathrooms, but i never travel at peak times, and the last time i was at disney (about 6 weeks ago), there was a line for the ladies room ONCE. i had to wait every time but 3-5 times for people to get out of the bathroom. once there were two of us in wheelchairs waiting.

so, yes, everything i said was true. remember that your experience is not like everyone's and it is entirely possible that i was telling the truth.

 

[KellyNY]

Actually, YES it is hours. And, YES a lot of the time I am already there, and people (sometimes literally) run into the bathroom ahead of me. Once I even got clipped by a stroller.

I have also had to wait for people to finish brushing teeth, changing clothes, doing the "pee pee dance" to encourage kids to use the toilet, finish a cell phone conversation, do their hair, etc...

I know that we all wait for bathrooms, but i never travel at peak times, and the last time i was at disney (about 6 weeks ago), there was a line for the ladies room ONCE. i had to wait every time but 3-5 times for people to get out of the bathroom. once there were two of us in wheelchairs waiting.

so, yes, everything i said was true. remember that your experience is not like everyone's and it is entirely possible that i was telling the truth.

I did not say you are not telling the truth, my point is we all wait from time to time and I do not feel it takes so much overall, but I am not even counting. I am sorry if you had such bad experiences.

 

[KPeveler]

honestly, bathrooms are the only problems i ever really have at disney... because it is the one place CMs arent maintaining a level of control. everywhere else people behave themselves more or less, but i generally plan 15 minutes at any one time to use the bathroom. if i am lucky, it takes closer to 5-10, but i have to plan ahead...

unfortunately, i run into these problems everywhere, but its just one of those things i plan for... as long as i get in there quickly enough, its fine

 

[KellyNY]

honestly, bathrooms are the only problems i ever really have at disney... because it is the one place CMs arent maintaining a level of control. everywhere else people behave themselves more or less, but i generally plan 15 minutes at any one time to use the bathroom. if i am lucky, it takes closer to 5-10, but i have to plan ahead...

unfortunately, i run into these problems everywhere, but its just one of those things i plan for... as long as i get in there quickly enough, its fine

If you have to wait that long at the regular one, then I do not even want to ask about water parks, those are the busiest and nastiest(I understand it is because of all the water) bathrooms. I usually spend 15-20 min there. Lines are go outside.

 

[KPeveler]

i dont go to the waterparks (not much to do when you cant really get out of a wheelchair and cant climb any stairs)... but now that you say that, i REALLY dont want to go!

Last time i was at DTD, there were two of us in wheelchairs waiting for the bathroom! once at the airport, someone was brushing and flossing their teeth - both times it was more than 20 mins to use the bathroom...

it really is a bit of a production, largely because people use the HA stalls to bring their children with them, so it is not uncommon for me to have to wait for anywhere between 2 and once 5 people to use the bathroom, and it always takes small kids longer... that is why i spend so much time in the bathroom! (it also doesnt help that my illness makes me need to visit the ladies room between 15 and 20 times a day!)

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I have never viewed these restrooms as handicap. Most places call them family bathrooms, I don't recall Disney exclusively calling any bathroom handicap....even the large stalls aren't marked that.

They are, also, marked with the standard "handicap" wheelchair sillouette symbol, and have the word Companion on them, showing a male symbol and a female symbol with a line between them.

They are also clearly marked in the Disney park guides for guests with disabilities but NOT on the standard maps.

Personally, I believe that if Disney intended them to be "family" bathrooms, they'd be clearly marked as such. Disney seems to have no other problems marking what their various facilities are intended for....