Kids in Disney Restrooms

[fromscratchmom]

Hi, all. We're going to WDW in December and we've been talking about splitting up for part of our time in the parks, so that each of our kids will get a little one on one time with each parent. But it occurred to me after reading about the different ways that kids can get lost at Disney that we may have a problem with the youngest if she has to use the restroom while she's with her dad. Do any of you have any helpful advice about negotiating those big walk through bathrooms that start in one area and come out in another? I don't suppose that they have some helpful directional lines on the floor or anything? I can easily picture that maybe one end could have say a blue line from the entrance running about 1/3 of the way in and on the opposite end say maybe a red line from the entrance to about 1/3 of the way in. That would be easy to explain to her ahead of time and/or show her the first time we went into one.

Any ideas would be appreciated. And of course if needed we can just manage our time differently.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We were there last week and I found that there were actually alot of Unisex/handicapped restrooms. There is one after the Pirates ride, one in Toontown, One in Epcot near the pop up fountains near Mission Space, it seems like there were probably more but I can't think of any right now. That made it easy to take both my kids (2 and 4) with me to the restroom. I would look for those.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Companion restrooms are all over the place. I am often the one taking my 3 and 6 yr old sons to the restroom, and they are fantastic! No one has ever said anything to me if I take them into the women's room, but with a little girl in the men's room I can see how it would be more of an issue. Just keep an eye out for the companion/unisex bathrooms and you'll be set.

Have fun!

 

[stacy6552]

I too have seen family restrooms all over. I also can't think of a bathroom with more than one entrance/exit. If he's desperate, I would feel ok sending her into the ladies room, more so then sending our son into the mens room, alone. You know how it is, a mom will totally help her if needed where as men are less likely to. Additionally, he could always grab a cast member to help out in a pinch.

 

[wiggles02]

I can't think of a restroom with more than one entrance/exit either.

 

[MariDisney]

I can't think of a restroom with more than one entrance/exit either.

There's at least one, I think ,in MK between Fronteirland and Adventureland, I think. I remember reading about it in the Unofficial Guide.

 

[wise king mickey]

You're gonna be OK. No bathroom has more than 1 entry/exit way and there are plenty of "companion" restrooms around. Can't think of any in MGM though. Hmmm... I'll think about it.

 

[MariDisney]

Just checked out allears and here is a list of companion restrooms:

Animal Kingdom

Discovery Island opposite Flame Tree Barbecue, just before DinoLand USA entrance on the right
Harambe Village in the Mombasa Marketplace
Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland USA
Near Maharajah Jungle Trek on the left before the entrance
Inside Maharajah Jungle Trek to the right as you exit the Bat House
Conservation Station at Rafiki's Planet Watch


Disney-MGM Studios

Opposite Star Tours
Right side of Millionaire building on Mickey Avenue
Rock 'N' Roller Coaster
Opposite The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Fantasmic! amphitheater
Right side of Lights, Motors, Action!

Epcot

Spaceship Earth On Left as you face SE
Spaceship Earth on Right as you face SE near Gateway Gifts
Future World West opposite The Land
Future World East opposite Test Track
Refreshment Port (right side of World Showcase - before Canada)
Morocco on the right
Germany on the right
Norway opposite the Viking ship


Magic Kingdom

Lower level of Cinderella's Royal Table in the Castle
Pirates of the Caribbean
Near Splash Mountain
To the right of Space Mountain
Mickey's Toontown Fair
Transportation and Ticket Center East Gate

Polynesian Resort

Great Ceremonial House 2nd Floor opposite 'Ohana

Blizzard Beach Water Park

To the rear of the Locker area on the north side of Main Change.

Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Near Guest Services

Fantasia Gardens Mini-Golf

Located before getting on the course

Winter Summerland Mini-Golf

No companion restroom

Downtown Disney

Marketplace

Once Upon a Toy Store - inside restroom area
Between Guest Relations and Once Upon a Toy Store - outside
Near the Memories shop at the Marketplace (that's on the far end right next to the entrance).

AMC Theatres - No companion restrooms
Pleasure Island - No companion restrooms
West Side - No companion restrooms

 

[my4kids]

I can't think of a restroom with more than one entrance/exit either.

They are all over the place in all the parks. One i can think of off the top of my head is the one in MGM at the SCI-FI - It has an entrance from the restaurant hallway and one out into the park.

 

[my4kids]

You're gonna be OK. No bathroom has more than 1 entry/exit way and there are plenty of "companion" restrooms around. Can't think of any in MGM though. Hmmm... I'll think about it.

This is wrong...lots of bathrooms have 2 exits/entrances. You can not tell from the outside whichones they are. Please remember at these bathrooms, even if your kid can find their way out to the right door, and you stay right at the door waiting for them, you have no idea who is coming in the other entrance. Not trying to scare, just something to keep in mind.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You're gonna be OK. No bathroom has more than 1 entry/exit way.

Actually there are quite a few of these. Some have been mentioned already. There is also one at AK that goes in to Pizzafari or out to the park. I would probably be VERY sure there is only one exit, or just use the companion bathrooms.

 

[SueM in MN]

Most of the restrooms that have more than one entrance are inside of restaurants and have an entrance inside and also one outside. A DIS poster named Timon has made a bathroom page with pictures of all the ladies rooms (inside and out). She did note some of the ones that have 2 doors.

I just wanted to point out that even though it seems to some people like "Family Restrooms" are all over, they are actually "Companion Restrooms" and there are very few of them in each park, between 5 and 8. Some are in places like Cinderella's Royal Table and Fantasmic that are not readily available.
For some people, they are the only toilets in that whole part that they can use (not the only bathroom with many toilets, the only toilets in the whole park).
Some people with disabilities may not have a choice of whether or not to use them because the regular handicapped stall is too small for their wheelchair to fit in and close the door (especially at MK and Epcot), too small for a wheelchair and someone to assist them, the regular restrooms are too noisy for them, they are older and of a different sex than the person assisting them or they have something invisible like a catheter or ileostomy that they need more room and/or a sink to use the bathroom with. For some people, those restrooms are not a choice, they are a necessity.

I'm NOT saying the Companion Restrooms are reserved for the use of people with disabilities. I'm just asking that those who have choices, think of those of us who have no choices, consider their other choices and choose one of them if possible. (And, yes, I understand that for the OP, the best choice may be for his DD to use the Companion Restrooms).

Thanks in advance on behalf of those who depend on Companion Restrooms.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I just told my ds to use the very first stall/urinal available nearest to the sinks, and to turn around and make sure he would exit from the same door when he finished washing his hands. He never had any problems. I figured that if he would use the stall/urinal closest to the door then he'd leave by that door.

 

[MSSANDRA]

When our DN was little and with us a lot, Dh would carry her into the men's room and have her lay her head on his should and head straight to the stall with her. Carry hand sanitizer to avoid having to stop at the sinks. Really depends on her age as to what will work. I have gotten turned around in bathroom with two exits, they certianly are some and not all are in resturants. The first time I let DS go alone in a WDW bathroom I made sure to ask if there was more than one way in or out.
Nothing at all worng IMHO with using a companion room in this situation but one might be far from where they are.

 

[missdramaqueen]

Just don't let your kids go in alone-or at least try not to-I had a VERY bad experiance when I was 7-i went in alone-then I got lost and my mom thought my dad had me and my dad thought my mom had me and it was a BIG MESS, it ended up in going back to our hotel room and swimming for an hour
so it might just be my experiance but........

 

[KLAIT]

I am happy you are thinking of this ahead of time. Last october we were at MGM and went into the restroom near the Muppets. There was a very young little girl in one stall crying her heart out.

When I walked in a guy was standing near the door and asked me to look for his little girl (he was in a semi-panic mode) and explained what she looked like. When I went in it was the little girl in the stall crying her heart out wanting her daddy...a lot of mommies were talking to her and we finally went out and got daddy to come in and help her...

 

[fromscratchmom]

I appreciate everyone's responses. It is so helpful to hear about the experiences of others and be able to think of everything that we might not have thought of or known about!

 

[sskem96]

I'm sure I read somewhere that there are family restrooms at each of the baby centers have family restrooms, but I can't find it in the new UOG. Maybe it would be best to use a bathroom in a restaurant, since they are usually smaller and only have 1 exit.

 

[all4fun]

I'm sure I read somewhere that there are family restrooms at each of the baby centers have family restrooms, but I can't find it in the new UOG. Maybe it would be best to use a bathroom in a restaurant, since they are usually smaller and only have 1 exit.

There is a baby care center in each of the parks, and yes, they do have adult restrooms and also most have a child size toilet for the little ones as well. Here is where they are located:

Magic Kingdom -- at the end of Main Street, behind the Crystal Palace Restaurant on you way to Adventureland. It is tucked away in a small courtyard near the first aid station.

Epcot -- on the backside of the Odyssey Restaurant on the walkway from Test Track to Mexico. This is a very neat station as many times the workers from the Mexican Pavilion come over to relieve the cast members. It is great to talk to them about their travels and country while you are taking a break.

MGM-Studios -- just inside the entrance near guest services on the left as you enter.

Animal Kingdom -- near the Creature Comforts gift shop in the Safari Village on the left side of The Tree of Life.

As far as using restrooms in the restaurants...not all restaurants have their own restrooms - I could be wrong, but I believe most of them don't, so you have to go to the nearest park restroom. The restaurants that do have restrooms are usually for restaurant patrons only so that my not be an option either.

And actually, I was talking to my dh about this last night. We don't have a daughter but if I did I would be concerned about her going into the mens room with daddy as well. DH said really, it's not a big deal. Guys are standing facing the urinal and he has seen dad's bring their girls in to use the facilities and they are usually escorted straight to a stall and they really can't see anything because men face the urinal until they're all zipped up. Basically all you can see when you walk into the restroom is some men facing a wall. He's never seen anything inappropriate going on in a WDW restroom and he said, from his POV, that he wouldn't feel uncomfortable taking our daughter into one. But of course it's all hypothetical because we don't have daughter. I don't know if that makes you feel any better but I can sympathize w/the situation. Hopefully it will help put your mind at ease. In any case, if there are no other options then I think using the companion restrooms is fine. Of course, I would only do that as a last resort for the reasons Sue in MN mentioned but if you're uncomfortable w/your dd going in the mens room w/dad then it's an option.

hth.

 

[SueM in MN]

Another thing I forgot to mention about the Companion Restrooms is that they have raised seat toilets. My DD's feet come nowhere near reaching the ground (and she's 5 feet tall). Even my feet don't touch ground in some of those, and I am almost 5 foot 8.