Question about Restrooms and an Update

[BethCPTSD]

Hi everyone!
A few of you might remember me. I was mostly on several years ago before a Disney trip and people here were very reassuring to me about my concerns! Since then, I've been in and out a lot, occasionally posting, but still love reading the boards at times. I'm obsessed with Disney! I remember so many of you fondly!

I have serious mental illness (SMI due to multiple disorders) and had a physical disability too that has gone into remission, thankfully! I even was a wheelchair user for 3 years but am now able to walk on my own! I am much more stable with my SMI than I have ever been thanks to a specialist I saw privately out of state for about 15 years, while my family waited for me back at home. I'm currently back in my home state with stabilized health and trying to rebuild my relationships and maintain the stability I've gained. One of the things that my doctors says has had the greatest impact on my road to (unexpected) improvement was my (task trained) service dog he had recommended I get years ago. My service dog and I have worked together since 2016 and we are a solid unit! I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him.

Anyway...I have a kind of basic question about the bathrooms and navigating with my SD. Last time we were at WDW we mostly used the companion bathrooms but I remember them as being pretty filthy. This time I am much more prepared to keep my SD comfortable with cooling coats and booties, etc. and will need to rewet his (huge) cooling coat under a sink. I am afraid of having to do this in a really dirty sink and getting gross stuff on the coat because I am rather phobic of water/sinks (it disgusts me due to trauma issues). Should I go to first aid to do this? Do any bathrooms have deeper sinks so it won't touch the bottom? Are there any "cleaner" bathrooms you'd recommend?

I have forgotten my other question -- I know I had at least two! (sorry!) I did want to say however, that if anyone has difficulty speaking or is nervous about asking for the DAS, etc. to utilize Mamabunny's advice about using an app to write out what you want to say to Guest Relations before you go (providing you're not doing it online.) I have done this in the past, and plan to do it this time -- in fact, this is one reason I prefer to go to GR instead of online. It is really effective and helps me a lot! Thanks for all the great suggestions on this board! Sorry this is so long!

PS I've also undergone a physical transformation since last here, and have dropped 65 pounds I gained after 30 years of anorexia. I finally feel back to myself and can't believe how much better I feel, and to be walking again is amazing! I hope I can give others some hope for whatever you might be going through! Here is me with my service dog Harrison earlier this year.

Edit: my earlier photos didn't seem to post correctly, so hopefully this one will 2018 and 2022.




2018
View attachment 670328

 

[mamabunny]

Wow! Look at you! And I am so glad to see you back here, even if it's just for a minute!

I have zero ideas for you, other than this one, and it's usefulness will depend on if you could find a backpack or tote bag to carry it in...

Collapsible Dish Tub

Probably the hardest part would be figuring out how to fill it in a "standard" bathroom sink; but it would give you a dedicated clean device to care for your service animal.

We have one to wash dishes in our bathroom every night (we wash our Resort mugs out with soap and water, and our reusable utensils, etc.) and we carry a little roll-up drying rack that fits over the little collapsible tub or a bathroom sink.

 

[BethCPTSD]

You are brilliant, Mamabunny!! Thank you so much! And thanks for the warm welcome back <3

This is a really good idea -- though I agree, filling it inside the parks might be a challenge -- but it's definitely worth considering!

So good to see you too!

 

[DisneyOma]

Could you wet the cooling thing down with a spray bottle?

 

[BethCPTSD]

Hi DisneyOma!
That is an excellent suggestion, however, I don't think it would get wet enough. It really has to be soaked in water and rung out to last awhile. Thank you so much for your suggestion!

 

[jo-jo]

Is your dog allowed/able to walk by those misting areas? Not sure if that would help, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

To follow up with Mamabunny's idea......
https://www.amazon.com/mountop-Collapsible-Silicone-Portable-Foldable/dp/B07VV8G2S4/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3I3KZHBQHAZTP&keywords=collapsable+bottle&qid=1653043195&s=home-garden&sprefix=colaspable+bottle,garden,116&sr=1-11&th=1

I just picked one to show the idea. There might be ones that hold more water.


I wonder if you could fill the bottle and sit outside somewhere near a drain. Fill tub, let towel soak and then let water go down drain.

 

[Bete]

Actually, I have a totally different idea. I would go when it's cooler and perhaps the cooling vest won't need another rewetting. Mid afternoon would be the warmest time of the day.

The worse part for any dog is the hot cement that their paws walk on. The dog's paws is what transmits heat. Dunking the paws in water one by one may help. Using a collapsible bowl with water should help here.

You can still get free water at the parks; so, maybe do it that way. If you go with others they can get the free water, too. That maybe enough to rewet the cooling vest.

Also, try to alternate with attractions that have air conditioning.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Maybe take a big collapsible water bottle to fill and pour on the vest outside somewhere?

 

[lovethattink]

When my son needed a cooling vest we started out with one like you explained. Then switched to one that uses ice packs that cool at 58 degrees. We bought an extra set of ice packs and stored them in a cooler bag. First aid would let us re-freeze them in their refrigerator. Was so much easier and lasted longer. With the humidity of Florida, the one we wet didn’t last long. But he could get a good two hours or more, depending on the heat and humidity with the ice packs. I think it was called a Polar Cool 58 cooling vest. He hasn’t needed one since 2016.

 

[midwestdee]

Would the dog’s vest fit into an XL 2 gallon ziploc bag? If so you could pour water/ice into that to cool it off. I’m another fan of collapsible pet bowels a previous poster mentioned- most have a clip on them.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Thanks for all these suggestions! While we can't change the dates of our trip, I know from experience that we will be just fine with Harrison during June. (We will be there May 31 to June 14th.) He will be quite comfortable with his booties and cooling coat and lots of water/breaks.

All of your suggestions are so thoughtful -- though I think the most practical so far might be the zip lock? This might be the easiest to get the water into and to soak the coat in, but we'll have to see. I'm not positive that the coat will fit.

Lovethattink, thank you for your ice pack vest suggestion! Very interesting! I've heard of that kind of thing before, but never looked into it much. It might be a great idea for future trips!

These ideas are all worth considering, and none had occurred to me before! I appreciate your input!

 

[HopperFan]

All of your suggestions are so thoughtful -- though I think the most practical so far might be the zip lock? This might be the easiest to get the water into and to soak the coat in, but we'll have to see. I'm not positive that the coat will fit.

Ziplock makes some really large bags that still fold tight. I have used a few and shocked how big they actually are.

Ziploc Big Bag

 

[BethCPTSD]

Ok, I'll look into that! Thank you Hopper!

 

[RoseGold]

I have my complaints about post-Covid Disney, but the bathrooms isn’t it. I thought the bathrooms looked fantastic in January. I wouldn’t be worried about it being messy. If it is, the newer bathrooms have private sinks in the wheelchair stalls.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/bathrooms-with-sinks-in-the-stall.3854160/

 

[BethCPTSD]

That's really great to hear, RoseGold! Thank you so much for letting me know your experience!

 

[jo-jo]

Ziplock makes some really large bags that still fold tight. I have used a few and shocked how big they actually are.

Ziploc Big Bag

These look a little bigger, incase you don't think HopperFan's suggestion will work.

https://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-65645...b6378&pd_rd_wg=yFYAa&pd_rd_i=B003U6FMOK&psc=1

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks for all these suggestions! While we can't change the dates of our trip, I know from experience that we will be just fine with Harrison during June. (We will be there May 31 to June 14th.) He will be quite comfortable with his booties and cooling coat and lots of water/breaks.

All of your suggestions are so thoughtful -- though I think the most practical so far might be the zip lock? This might be the easiest to get the water into and to soak the coat in, but we'll have to see. I'm not positive that the coat will fit.

Lovethattink, thank you for your ice pack vest suggestion! Very interesting! I've heard of that kind of thing before, but never looked into it much. It might be a great idea for future trips!

These ideas are all worth considering, and none had occurred to me before! I appreciate your input!

look for the 2 gallon size can be harder to find. they are really big but fold small

 

[Lilsia]

The only time that I have seen a filthy bathroom was the one in the UK area of Epcot. The toilets backed up but they closed it to fix the issue. After thousands of days over the 30 years that I have gone, I have not seen a bathroom sink that is too dirty to use. I am sorry that you had the experience, but that is not the norm at all. I don't think that you will have any issues. You can also ask for free water at any counter service restaurant.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Ooh great! Thank you so much for the link and the tip about the 2 gallon size! Thanks Lilsia, I appreciate your comment. I don't know if I just got a dirty bathroom, or maybe my general fears about public (or any) bathrooms colored my memory of it. I will stay optimistic and do my best to work with the situation! Hopefully they're quite clean -- several of you have said they are usually good!

Thanks!

 

[BethCPTSD]

Here is my buddy with me today. Sorry for the unsolicited pic!