Proper Etiquette for using Handicapped stalls in restrooms

[GalDisney]

ok A quick question regarding proper use of handicapped stalls in restrooms at WDW and other places..
If a handicapped stall is unoccupied and the restrooms are not SRO waiting for stalls, is it acceptable for a non handicapped person to use it, and non handicapped people who bring their kids and strollers , they are not purely reserved for wheelchairs, etc? etc? I asume if there isnt any one with a wheelchair etc waiting to use it, it is fair game for the masses. Am I correct.? I dont ususally use the handicapped stall unless it is the only open stall available at the time i need to use it.

 

[sandybobandy]

I would agree with you

 

[dmk1021]

I always thought that it is a stall that is "accessible" for people who are handicapped, not "reserved," like a parking space. If there isn't anyone who is handicapped waiting for it, and there's a line of people, I've used it before.

 

[trvlnut]

I use them, always have, will continue. If no one who needs to use it is waiting, I'm goin' in!

 

[anewvance]

These stalls usually go unused for a big part of the day. They are almost always empty when we go to the bathroom. Usually when we stop for bathroom breaks, both my girls have to go to. And they are afraid of the flushing toilets so I have to go in with them one at a time to hold the sensor. We've tried post it notes... the girls don't trust them. So if the handicapped stalls are available, I go in with both girls for the extra room, it's easier to bend over the stupid sensor. This is the same for the seperate handicapped bathrooms that are at most bathroom areas in Disney.

 

[RIDisneyFan]

I agree. If there is no handicapped person waiting, I will use the handicap stall, usually with my 2 DDs - much easier than trying to help them in the smaller stalls. My DH is handicapped, uses a wheelchair at the parks, and he has no problem with other people using it as long as he does not have to wait in line while non-handicapped people use it.

 

[BlindTyldak]

My DH is disabled as well and also has no problem if other people use it, though he does have a little bit of an issue if it's getting close to his turn in line and one or two people in front of him use it, since he doesn't have the option of the "next' stall like they do. But even he says he'd never say anything, simply because like someone stated, they're not reserved, they're just accessable. I too use them if no one else is waiting, but I'll bow aside for strollers just as I will for wheelchairs.

 

[kokotg]

I actually saw this question addressed by Ms. Manners once. She said something along the lines of, "Ms. Manners presumes you are not knocking people in wheelchairs out of the way in your zeal to get to the handicapped stall..." Basically, she said it was fine.

 

[FlyingBelle]

I've had knee surgery in the last 2 years, and I like to use the accessible stall when available because of the handrails - sometimes my knee won't hold up when standing up.

The only place I've gotten frustrated when it's not available is at work. For some reason everyone wants to use the accessible stall at work - even when all the others are open! Depending on how stable my knee is feeling - I'll sometimes wait patiently for the stall to open.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that you can't always "tell" who needs the accessible parking, stalls, etc. Someone close to me has various medical problems that are not obvious, and she's not likely to make it known.

My feelings on the subject - always practice courtesy (IMHO)

 

[BamaFan121s]

I always thought that it is a stall that is "accessible" for people who are handicapped, not "reserved," like a parking space. If there isn't anyone who is handicapped waiting for it, and there's a line of people, I've used it before.

I totally agree with this. I'm not going to go in one if a handicapped person is waiting, but then again, I'm not going to wait for another one rather than use it all because someone handicapped *might* come in while I'm in there. I'm going to use the bathroom, not take a nap...we're talking 1-2 minutes tops.

 

[minkydog]

I'm sure the handcapped accessible stalls were meant to be used by anyone. They're not a shrine. I frequently use one when I have Christian with me. He is mentally handicapped; if I left him outside the stall ...Lord, no telling what he'd do. We patiently wait our turn to go in. Christian usually doesn't feel right about "strange" toilets (not his own), so I have to diaper him while we're in there. But, HELP! we need the extra space . I'm a large woman on a good day. He doesn't fit on the diaper changing areas anymore(he's over 100lb!) so we do it standing up Quite a sight

 

[traviesojmt]

I agree that the stall may be used by anyone. In many places, such as restaurants, the baby changing table is placed in the handicapped stall. They also often have the toddler seats in the handicapped stall as well. If someone with a handicap were waiting, then I would let them go first since they have no other alternative, but I do think that the stall is intended for anyone's use.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I was with my cousin and her little girl at a bathroom somwhere at WDW. Can't remember where--it's been a few years. They were both in the handicap stall when a woman in a wheelchair rolled in--past the line-- and started screaming about the handicap toilet being occupied and beating on the door! The woman did not know who was in the stall. Needless to say, my cousin and her child came out in a hurry and were totally embarrassed! I felt like saying something to the woman, but we just left. To this day, that poor child will NOT go into a handicapped stall.

 

[MartDM]

I agree with all the posts indicating that, while they should be deferred to anyone in need who is presently in the bathroom, handicapped accessible stalls are for general use otherwise. I travel quite a bit and, in all the busy airports, tourist areas, and other crowded bathroom situations I've witnessed, I have never seen the handicapped stall treated as a reserved area such as a handicapped parking spot would be.

dawgsgirl - I think it's unfortunate your cousin & daughter encountered such an unpleasant woman who expected the stall to be open and available at the very moment of her arrival. Clearly she just has a chip on her shoulder about accessibility since she reacted without knowing whether there was in fact a handicapped person in the stall or not.

I believe BlindTyldak's DH seems to have the most intimate knowledge of this situation and his theory on handicapped stall etiquette seems logical, equitable, & sound to me.

 

[The Sweetness]

I used to avoid the handicapped stall... Until when Ariel was born I started noticing how many baby changing tables are in the only handicapped stall. Now I will use it, but I do wish they'd move the changing table elsewhere

 

[BlindTyldak]

I was with my cousin and her little girl at a bathroom somwhere at WDW. Can't remember where--it's been a few years. They were both in the handicap stall when a woman in a wheelchair rolled in--past the line-- and started screaming about the handicap toilet being occupied and beating on the door! The woman did not know who was in the stall. Needless to say, my cousin and her child came out in a hurry and were totally embarrassed! I felt like saying something to the woman, but we just left. To this day, that poor child will NOT go into a handicapped stall.

There's always going to be people who believe that no matter what, the world has to step aside for disabled people . . . this is a horrible (in the "I can't believe I still laugh at it" sense) story, but last time we were there we were in a crowd and a woman in a rented ECV hit me, no joke, like 8 or ten times in the back of the legs. I didn't want to be a jerk so I turned around and nicely said that if her ECV had a problem with the braking system, they could probably replace it at guest services; I know the brakes on them aren't the best, but this woman was just being inconsiderate best I could tell, but I still wanted to take the tactful route. She went on a tirade about how I had no idea what it was like to have a disability and that I should just get the *** out of her way (we were jammed in like fish, I couldn't go anywhere) and she was sick and tired of people who could walk telling her how to drive and she'd hit me again if I didn't move. So my disabled husband rammed her with HIS ECV and told her to get out of his way because he was disabled and people should move for him, especially since he had to get to his wife who had been hit numerous times by someone who couldn't drive. She cut it out.

I'll give kudos to one CM though that I saw at MGM. hercules and Phil were out and there was a long line to see them. A woman came by with her son in a wheelchair and started telling veryone she got to go next because her son was in a wheelchair. The CM was very firm that they had to wait in line with everyone else and would not back down, so she left in a huff. A lot of folks in the line were muttering amongst themselves that chances are everyone would have voluntarily let her skip ahead just to be nice, except she had trumpeted it like it was a badge that she should get preferential treatment and everyone else had to wait.

 

[qtwns]

The handicapped stalls were a life saver for me when I was enormously pregnant with my twins. Lots of room, higher seats and handrails. I wanted to convert our bathrooms at home. I still use them if they're available and no one with visible disabilities is waiting.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

IMO it is primarily a matter of being aware of your surroundings and being courteous to others.

Quite frankly, I can't understand why someone who doesn't need the extra space or raised seat would use an accessible restroom stall if others were empty. For example, if there are 10 stalls, one of which is accessible and 2 of which are occupied it is kind of selfish to use the accessible stall instead of one of 7 regular stalls that are sitting empty. After all, you don't know who is going to be coming into the restroom 5 paces behind you and if you can use any of the open stalls, why risk someone else's discomfort by occupying what could possibly be their only option as far as stalls go. And of course there are many who have "invisible" disabilities or special circumstances that might truly need to use an accessible stall so we shouldn't judge others but we do have a responsibility to monitor our own actions and decisions. It is really such a simple thing, and it doesn't cost us anything, so why not make the minimal effort to keep accessible stalls available for those who truly need them.

So after being really long-winded, I just encourage everyone to let common courtesy and common sense prevail.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

iw ill use the stall if there is a line up and its one of the stalls in use. if there is a person who needs access i would allow them to go first into the stall i would wait for a different one.

when i am with my kids in the stroller, i take or wait for the larger stall. my kids safety, and not being left alone in a washroom while i am behind a locked door, is important.

 

[BlindTyldak]

IMO it is primarily a matter of being aware of your surroundings and being courteous to others.

Quite frankly, I can't understand why someone who doesn't need the extra space or raised seat would use an accessible restroom stall if others were empty. For example, if there are 10 stalls, one of which is accessible and 2 of which are occupied it is kind of selfish to use the accessible stall instead of one of 7 regular stalls that are sitting empty. After all, you don't know who is going to be coming into the restroom 5 paces behind you and if you can use any of the open stalls, why risk someone else's discomfort by occupying what could possibly be their only option as far as stalls go. And of course there are many who have "invisible" disabilities or special circumstances that might truly need to use an accessible stall so we shouldn't judge others but we do have a responsibility to monitor our own actions and decisions. It is really such a simple thing, and it doesn't cost us anything, so why not make the minimal effort to keep accessible stalls available for those who truly need them.

So after being really long-winded, I just encourage everyone to let common courtesy and common sense prevail.

There's bathrooms with 7 stalls empty at Disney? WHERE??????