Potty during line-ups?

[ontario2orlando]

What happens when you're in line and a little one really has to go. Is there somewhere close by, or is it so sad too bad-see at the end of the line?

I realize that I will need to be on top of this prior to the waits. Still, from what I'm reading, a really long line up can be forever for a little kid.

 

[Schmeck]

Some people here will say take your kid out of line and come back, but others will say to have the whole family leave and then get at the end after the potty break.

 

[abirdd]

I've seen parents rush kiddos out of the line to get them to a potty - and the odd CM has given them a FP or "Certificate" (I don't remember what they are called) to come back later so they can ride as a family.

I've seen people with boys use a bottle (no, I am not kidding) about a minute before they boarded for the Safari.

Other mother's we've met swore by the little plastic covers/Kushies waterproof underware, just in case...

Keep in mind the washrooms are spread out, and not always going to be right where you need one. As one of the Baby Centre CM's pointed out to DH on our last trip, LOTS of accidents happen at Disney.

 

[blana]

DNephew had to go while we were waiting in line for Dumbo early one morning. We grimaced, explained to those around us, and DDad ran to the potty with him. A few people rolled their eyes when DDad snuck back in line with the rest of us, but most were understanding.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I make them go before we get in line. Some of the lines are inside, and it makes it a little difficult to get back in line.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I also make mine go before we get in line but with little kids you just never know. If it is just me and dd I figure I'm out of luck. If Dh is with me I will take her and come back if the line allows me to do that. If it's all wrapped inside then it makes it really hard to do.

This past trip we had waited in line for the safari for 30 minutes when dd had to go really bad. We left the line and I explained it to the fast past guy and he let us return through the fast pass line and meet back up with my dh.

Personally I will hold a space for a parent in front of me if they had been in line for a long time and have a potty issue come up.

 

[crisi]

Many of the longer lines aren't constructed in such a way that you'll be able to get back into your spot easily.

Use fastpasses, start your day early, and take frequent potty breaks, have a touring plan that gets Peter Pan and Dumbo out of the way early, and saves Small World for the afternoon. There aren't very many lines (we never found any lines) that couldn't be managed for small kids with that strategy.

 

[bellebud]

It will depend on the line and the people around you whether you can get yourself back into the line. I'd be sure to use the potty before getting on a line, use the plastic pants or pull ups if you feel they might help, go for extra magic hour in the mornings and then use fast pass for late mornings and afternoons/evenings - you'll never wait more than 15 minutes doing that (we do that going on easter week, 4th of july week, and it really works). Potty-ing shouldn't be too much of an issue then.

You also don't want to get on a ride and have child say "i have to go"... you can't jump off a ride - so just be sure to go before - I know it's hard w/ little ones sometimes. Know where all the restrooms are beforehand and make sure to hit them before entering each land.

 

[crisi]

You also don't want to get on a ride and have child say "i have to go"... you can't jump off a ride - so just be sure to go before - I know it's hard w/ little ones sometimes. Know where all the restrooms are beforehand and make sure to hit them before entering each land.

And some of these rides are LONG. The Energy ride in Epcot is 45 minutes or something - really LONG (and really dull for most of it - and loud - just skip it). The safari is a wonderful ride for little kids, but you aren't getting off for a potty stop - probably 20 minutes or longer.

Our son got "potty ready" (after a year and a half of almost) the WEEK before we left for Disney. Because we weren't certain of his ability to hold it, we went the pullup route at Disney.

 

[Harlie]

Our DS3 has been Potty trained for a year and a half now. He still wears pull ups at night but rarely has a night tie accident. He will be wearing pull ups at DL because he tells us last min and ends up having accidents and since we do not know the lay of the land we want back up to avoid him peeing on his clothes. I feel better with a just incase. I am tempted to make my DD8 wear them too, since she also has sudden urges to go.

As for the line I don't understand why people would have issues with one parent takling their kid potty while the other parent stays in line and then the potty goes comming back to their places. i think that is a lot different then having someone's friend or whatever just butt in line.

 

[hildarumpole]

We did frequent potty breaks. I made everyone go, whether they said they had to go or not. We didn't manage to visit every attraction, but I think we hit every bathroom in the parks. If you plan your day well, you shouldn't have to wait in lines too long. Our worst wait was 20 min. for Splash Mountain with a FP, but that was because of a breakdown.

 

[rotlex]

We did frequent potty breaks. I made everyone go, whether they said they had to go or not. We didn't manage to visit every attraction, but I think we hit every bathroom in the parks. If you plan your day well, you shouldn't have to wait in lines too long. Our worst wait was 20 min. for Splash Mountain with a FP, but that was because of a breakdown.

Ditto...that. Our daughter was 4 the first trip to WDW, and we pretty much made her hit the potty between every ride. She was so sick of it by the 3rd day, I don't think she would have asked to go while waiting in line even if she had too, hehe.

Seriously though, we do just make sure she tries often, and use the FP system for anything with a really long wait.

 

[Momvic5]

I agree ~ the best advice is to go to the potty before you get in line. My youngest son is famous for having to go to the bathroom every five minutes so I would take him into the bathroom and have him at least try before we stood in any line that I thought was going to have a long wait. Two years ago, my family and I witnessed an angry couple shout their dislikes at a mother and her young son who were trying to get back to their place in line after a potty run. I made a note to self ~ Bathroom before entrance!

The couple was very rude and could of handled it better, but the mother was pushing her way through a very congested long line. My family had no problem with letting her through, but we have young children and could see ourselves being put in the same position. I guess others do not think of it in the same terms, and I can see how it could be rude. Best advice ~ make potty breaks often!

 

[crisi]

As for the line I don't understand why people would have issues with one parent takling their kid potty while the other parent stays in line and then the potty goes comming back to their places. i think that is a lot different then having someone's friend or whatever just butt in line.

Because not everyone is trustworthy and a lot of people use the "my kid had to go potty" excuse to have Dad wait in line while the rest of the family rides, then line hop and do it again. Occationally, then, they come here and talk about this great "strategy" for managing lines. See a few of these ..... paragons of virtue ...... on these boards and you get a little jaded.

Secondly, because many people did plan to use the potty before we got in line - some even delayed the trip until our kids were passed the "I gotta go NOW" stage so we wouldn't have to deal with it. I could get a lot more done at Disney if I just hopped in and out of line as I pleased every time my kids needed to go potty instead of planning regular breaks. Emergencies happen - but if you are planning, they shouldn't happen often.

Third, because its just darn hard to get kids and family through a tightly packed line both directions. Lots of "excuse mes" and "I beg your pardons" with bumps and stepped on feet. Not that people aren't being polite, but its tight - and hot - and your patience for that runs out darn fast.

Forth, because I'm not sure if I've been in a line at Disney in the past ten years (and granted, we use Fastpasses and have a decent touring plan, etc.) where I could get a three year old out of line, get the three year old to the potty, and get the three year old back into line in the time in takes to get to the front of the line. Many Disney lines just move fast.

 

[Schmeck]

As for the line I don't understand why people would have issues with one parent takling their kid potty while the other parent stays in line and then the potty goes comming back to their places. i think that is a lot different then having someone's friend or whatever just butt in line.

The queues at WDW are very deceiving. Most of the line is hidden away inside the building, and it twists and turns back on itself. Imagine someone squeezing through over a hundred people in a tight, compact space. The line can move quite a bit between the time that the parent and child leave and get back - the restrooms are not close to all of the line queues. So, yes, I see how people can get irritated by having someone try to get ahead of a long line of others weaving back and forth through a queue.

 

[Harlie]

Well my thoughts are base on my kid. I always take my 3 year just in case and even though he does go, 10-15 mins later he is screaming at the top of his lungs how badly he has to go, again. Personally I would rather have someone step on my toes then listen to a screaming child scream "I have to PEEEEEEEE!!!!" and crying the whole time.

 

[crisi]

Well my thoughts are base on my kid. I always take my 3 year just in case and even though he does go, 10-15 mins later he is screaming at the top of his lungs how badly he has to go, again. Personally I would rather have someone step on my toes then listen to a screaming child scream "I have to PEEEEEEEE!!!!" and crying the whole time.

Why in the world would you take such a child to Disney and not put him in pullups - most of the attractions last longer than such a child's bladder?

 

[Harlie]

Well if you read my previous post would would know that was already the plan. That still doesn't mean that he is not going to scream he has to use the potty. He knows when he needs to go and does not like to pee his pants or pull up on purpose, so it doesn't matter what he is wearing he still will make a dramitical scene of it he is after only three.

 

[PrincessPAC]

Personally, if I had to get out of line with my child to take them to the bathroom, I would not be able to bring myself to push my way back through the line to my original spot. I would just start all over in the back of the line. But, I wouldn't get mad at those who do. With 3 children, I understand how "potty time" for kids doesn't always correspond with our idea of appropriate timing.

That said, I will admit that last year, we waited in line forever at Test Track & as we got into our spots, ready to load into the next car, my son was almost in tears saying that he had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad (I don't know why he didn't mention anything before that). The CM told us that one of us could take him to the bathroom, then come back in through the exit & get in the next car (while the rest of us just go on & ride - there were 5 of us).

So my dad said he would take him. After the rest of us rode, we waited & waited & waited on them for what seems like forever. Finally, they came out. It turns out that the people who were in the car with them had received dream FP's for the day & twice (yes, twice) when the ride ended, the CM's asked if they (the FP winners) wanted to ride again, so as long as they wanted to ride, my dad & my son got to ride as well.

This was last February & the crowds were pretty low, so I'm not sure if they would do this at a busier time. Anyway, that is one time that my dad is glad that ds had to go to the bathroom!