Proper Etiquette for using Handicapped stalls in restrooms

[rainy~daze]

i always have my dd and ds with me wherever I go, so i always try to wait for a handicapped stall it is so much easier. a lot of places i've seen latwly have been making mommy and me stalls (2 toilets in there) and family bathrooms. great ideas!!!!!

 

[dsnyfrek]

i use them for two stupid reasons.......make sure you laugh after this..

1. I am fat, and they have more space
2. I am left handed, and no matter how hard I try, I always get the stall with the toilet paper holder on the right side in the way for me.

 

[Annam26]

I just have one request for non-disabled people who use the handicap stall.

Please, sit in the toilet. If you don't, you leave a mess and most people who need to use that toilet have no choice but to sit on the toilet seat.

This is my biggest peeve, and I don't know why but it seems to be worse with people who have children. They leave a mess, it's disgusting and most times there isn't any other toilet for me to go.

If you -or your children- refuse to sit on the toilet seat, please use another stall.

 

[I'm No Fool]

I avoided using the handicapped stalls because I thought that with all the people in wheelchairs and ECVs in the parks there was a greater chance than normal that somebody who needed them would want to use them.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

I've used it when I've needed to. Honestly, I've never run into the situation where a person would have needed it at the same time as me. If I do run into the situation, I would step aside, of course.

I do like how roomy they are though! Coming from someone who hates public bathrooms, I feel I have more privacy in an accessable stall.

 

[GroovyWheeler]

I am someone with a mobility disability and a genetic syndrome, and on days when I have my cane with me, I love to use the handicapped stalls, just so that I can have the grab bars to hang onto for stability. For the days that I have my manual/power wheelchairs with me, some of the big handicapped stalls, make it easy for me to have room for the wheelchair, and for me to still be able to move around in it. Both of my wheelchairs are 18" wide in the seat depth, but my power chair has a bigger, wider wheelbase than my manual wheelchair does. So, trying to get around it, when I'm in a handicapped stall, can be a little tricky.

I've been in some where I've had to leave my wheelchair outside of the stall door, with my mom, my fiance', or care support person, because the stall was apparently designed to be used by someone that used a walker. Not a wheelchair that was 18" wide. And, that was usually the only handicapped stall that was there, in the womens' restroom.

As far as others' reactions to me using it when I had my cane, I haven't had any problems when encountering women in wheelchairs, that were waiting for the handicapped stall. They'd look at me, and smile as if they understood. (Thank goodness for my syndrome being so "visible".) I always told them that I was a wheelchair user myself, so I know how it is when you have to go.

Samantha

 

[SusanDK]

I'm glad to see this thread as most opinions here confirm that I was doing nothing wrong when I was made to feel like a criminal one time for using the handicap stall.

I was in a restroom once (not at Disney) where there was a queue and everyone was taking their turn for the next available stall. Everyone was using the handicap stall as it became available and there was no one in queue in a wheelchair or with an obvious need for it.

Sure enough, that is the stall that becomes free when it's my turn, so like others ahead of me, I go in. Immediately after I go in, an elderly lady came in with someone else and needed the handicap stall, so she stopped right outside the door of the stall (passing the queue) and started talking loudly to her friend about having to wait to use it.

When I came out, she very loudly said, 'oh, look, it was just this healthy young woman in there.' (I'm not so young, I was in my 40's) I was mortified. I would never park in a handicap space and never intentionally or knowingly hinder a disabled person. I honestly didn't know what the 'rule' was for using the stall (if it was acceptable to use if no handicap person was waiting), and just followed the lead of those in front of me.

I just didn't know what to do or say, I was blushing uncontrollably as all the people still waiting in queue were staring at me like a criminal. I just quickly washed my hands and ran out.

Thank you to all those who posted here saying that it isn't a crime to use the stall if no one needing it is waiting at the time -- and it is the only vacant stall in a crowded restroom. Just my luck someone came in needing it right after I had gone in. What was I supposed to do, stop mid-stream and vacate the place?

Susan

 

[Sleepy]

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

At the TTC. I swear, everytime I go in there, I am the only person. I think nobody knows this HUGE bathroom exists.

 

[Rudegrle]

I think it's ok for anyone who *needs* to use the handicap stall to use it, disabled or just needing some more room. I, on the other hand, will not use the handicap stall for feer that someone that must use it will come along while I'm in it. If I'm waiting in line I'll wait for the next available "regular" stall and let another person use the handicap stall. I guess I would be so embarrassed if I was "caught in the act".

 

[mattsdragon]

Reading this makes me glad I'm a guy. They don't have any handicapped bushes.

Etiquette for going to the head, now I've heard everything. To paraprase The Joker "THIS COUNTRY NEEDS AN ENEMA" (just make sure you don't use the handicapped stall afterwards)

 

[Andrew Bichard]

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

Just about any men's room!

Andrew

 

[pampam]

My DD uses a wheelchair, so we use the handicap stall. That's why I'm looking at it from another angle. If there is a lineup, I will go to the front of the line and wait for the handicap stall. There is no sense in my waiting for the smaller stalls. I can't use them anyway. I don't have much of an issue with mothers with small children using them. We must protect our children at all cost. I don't have a great issue with people not in a wheelchair using them. There are many hidden disabilities, so it would be unfair to pass judgement. I do, however have somewhat of a problem with anybody using them just for the luxury of having a private washroom. I suppose the problem stems when the stall has a washbasin, mirror, etc, and non disabled people hog the stall, but there again, only the person using the stall knows if they need it or not. (The washbasin could be a godsend for people with crohn's disease, another hidden disability ). I know of people who have actually soiled themselves while waiting for the handicap stall, while people inside the stall took their own sweet time, primping, putting on makeup etc. Non disabled people have a choice of which stall to use. Disabled people usually don't have a choice. That's why I'm asking for consideration. I don't mean to offend anyone, and I hope I've explained myself.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

Sure I use them- providing I don't see any one who is in actuall need of using it ,only because it's very hard to fit myself and 2 little girls into the other" sardine can"stalls!

 

[4chitlins]

I usually have my 4 year old DD in there with me and some of the stalls are a tight squeeze so we always use the handicapped if no one is waiting for it

 

[Schmeck]

Wouldn't it be great if they just got rid of 2-3 other toilet stalls and made more accessible ones? I've only encountered two restrooms at WDW with lines, and they were both at MK. All the others were pretty empty, and could have more accessible stalls. Next time WDW makes a new area, with restrooms, perhaps they could be more creative and make all the stalls accessible, or have more companion restrooms.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

As I'm reading this? In every restroom in every park (note that it's 6:30 am and there shouldn't BE anyone in the parks )

Anyway, common sense and common courtesy. If there's a party in a wheelchair or who otherwise LOOKS like they need the extra 'amenities' of a handicapped stall reasonably close to you in line, and you're next, naturally offer to let that person ahead of you if the HP stall becomes available next.