Question about using family/companion restrooms

[BeckyScott]

I think there might just be some confusion regarding the companion restrooms, since now alot of places have "family restrooms" and alot of people might assume that they are the same thing. You know, like Disney calls them something else, but that they mean it's a family restroom, since Disney has a habit of calling things by a different names anyway. Even if they're not on the map, if someone is just searching for a restroom and catches sight of it, they'd think it was a family restroom.

As someone who hasn't thought about it much, I'd probably make the same mistake, and assume a companion restroom is the same as a family restroom. That it's for anyone who doesn't easily fit into the mold of a regular restroom. I would have steered toward it- but with good enough reason as I have a 7 y/o w/autism who needs assistance and I'm really tired of getting the evil eye when I take him in the women's restroom.

But if you think about it... you go to the mall and there's a "family restroom" in the food court, then you go to Disney and you see something called a "companion restroom", you'd probably think it was the same thing...

 

[luvyawdw]

I could see parents making the mistake of thinking its for anyone with children. I didn't know they were listed only in the disablilty guide book and not in other guide books. I guess that is a good hint as to who they are meant for.
Our daughter is in a wheelchair so we always use them. Some of the older restrooms in the mk are do not have very larger stalls for the wheelchair users. Very hard to fit two ppl and a wheelchair into and have enough room to move around to assist.
I have to say more often than not, we are waiting to use the companion restrooms, as they are very popular for moms and children.
My daughter and I once waited quite a while in epcot to use one, and then a women walked out by herself. I have to admit that bothered our family.
I didnt really think of a disablility that was not visible. I just always thought they were meant for ppl in the position of needing assistance from a companion (parent, spouse, friend, partner and so on). I want to add too that this is not aimed at the original poster, I understand your position on this and as I said above I really did not think of a person needing it for a disablity that is not visible.
The fact that there are so few of them gives ppl needing them a more difficult time if they are being used by parents who are using them for conveinece and not for the purpose in which they were intended. Again with them only being listed in the guide book for the disabled and not in the regular guides, I think that indicates their purpose.
Also, I don't think ppl realize when they take 2,3, or more kids in a one toilet bathroom it takes a while to let each child use the restroom, which can make someone who really needs it wait a long time when they really did not need too.

 

[mechurchlady]

There are people who judge without knowing the facts and some who do not know the rules. If a person sees someone breaking the rules they should contact a CM instead of harping, griping and ruining another person's day. If a person believes someone is using the disabled facilities or companion restrooms inappropriately then they should contact security or at least another CM. Potty violations to me are not that big of a deal or worth the effort unless the person was using it for kinky stuff.

I am a waddlebutt and it is rather obvious that I am not going to run around the block or do jumping jacks unless you paid me a lot, lol. Ignore them or politely give them a lecture on hidden disabilities. It depends on my moods on which I use if anyone challenges me.

Eternaldisneyfan and Sue state the facts well.

Have fun and never let the evil people in life ruin your day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, as others have pointed out, you can go to First Aid. You do need to check in and sign in at the desk. (They have to keep a log of people who use First Aid each day).
"I need to use a bathroom with a sink in the stall" or "I need assistance in the bathroom" is enough. You don't have to get into a lot of detail about why. They may also give you a list of Companion Restrooms; to some people that may feel like they don't want you to use First Aid, but it is to make sure you know the other restrooms are available, since coming back to First Aid all the time is not convenient.

Thank you VERY much for this explanation, CheshireFigment! That was exactly my experience at Animal Kingdom a couple of months ago; I felt as if I was being 'reprimanded' for using the First Aid restroom - but now I know it was just the tone with which it seemed like I was dealt.

 

[majicintheair]

My 7 year old son goes with me all the time into ladies bathrooms. I don't see how any parent could have a problem with this. It's not like a teenager walking in. I would never send my 7 year old into a mens restroom by himself, at all. Until they are old enough to fend for themselves, it is our job to protect them. Sometimes you have to "look" into a stall to see if they are in use. I'm not to comfortable with the cracks where the doors are hung, I don't like the thought of being "looked" at either, by other females or children, but these are public bathrooms. There is not alot of privacy. Be quick, choose a stall at the end of a row with a wall on one side, or go to a family bathroom if you feel the need. Safety is important for children. If I offend a few delicate sensabilities by keeping my son with me when we use the ladies bathroom, well, I would much rather deal with that, than to have my son come out from a mens restroom and tell me something inappropriate happened while he was in there.

 

[merryweather20]

I agree with the above posters. You may get a comment here and there from and idiot, but thats difficult to avoid no matter what the scenario.

Also don't worry about using the handicapped stalls, they are there for anyone that needs more space, ditto the first aid centre. If you do want to use the first-aid centre just make your explanation as vague as possible (I brought my medical supplies with me, I need a private space to use them), they usually won't pry (they will also store stuff for you so you don't have to lug it around the whole day).

I also agree that at 7 years-old one should probably be using the family rest-room. I worked at a pool and the threshold there was 5 and up the family would have to use the family change-rooms.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I've moved this over to the disABILITIES forum.. that's a better fit (and you'll get better answers here) than on the 'Doing the Happy Dance' forum..

Thanks!

Knox

 

[Disbug]

Also don't worry about using the handicapped stalls, they are there for anyone that needs more space, ditto the first aid centre.

I, too, agree that if you need the handicapped stall for your medical needs you should do so. But semi-disagree with them being there for "anyone who needs more space". I have a child in a wheelchair, and have had to wait on more than one occasion for a mom who has 3 or 4 children and/or a stroller in the handicapped stall. Some people don't want to leave their stroller outside, so they use the handicapped stall because it will fit. Waiting for one person is fine, but sometimes that can be quite a long wait when everyone is washing their hands and doing everything they need inside that one stall. The handicapped sticker is on the door of those stalls to reserve them for those who can't use the other stalls.

This isn't normally a problem, though. Most people are extremely considerate!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I, too, agree that if you need the handicapped stall for your medical needs you should do so. But semi-disagree with them being there for "anyone who needs more space". I have a child in a wheelchair, and have had to wait on more than one occasion for a mom who has 3 or 4 children and/or a stroller in the handicapped stall. Some people don't want to leave their stroller outside, so they use the handicapped stall because it will fit. Waiting for one person is fine, but sometimes that can be quite a long wait when everyone is washing their hands and doing everything they need inside that one stall. The handicapped sticker is on the door of those stalls to reserve them for those who can't use the other stalls.

This isn't normally a problem, though. Most people are extremely considerate!

I was just about to say a very similar thing. The large restrooms in Disney are not actually designates as 'Family' restrooms, they are 'Companion' restrooms. This means they are designed for people who, for whatever reason, need to have someone with them or have a disability that makes the normal restrooms inaccessible. This is why they are not marked on the regular park maps. I also object to parents using the disabled stall to change their little girls out of their swelteringly hot princess dresses, making me wait (in an almost deserted restroom), but I've already ranted about that numerous times, and will try to control myself now .

 

[KPeveler]

i say use whatever rest room you may feel you need. just be courteous.

also, i dont have a problem with a woman bringing her kid into the handicapped stall to go potty. however, i am frustrated by 4 kids, each taking their turn. also, if your kid does not want to go potty, please please PLEASE dont sing the "do i have to pee pee song" or try to coax your child for several minutes to go potty. if they are not going to go, GET OUT OF THE HANDICAPPED STALL!!! that is not your place to potty train, especially not when a woman in a wheelchair is waiting

also, if the handicapped stall has a personal sink and you are not handicapped, and a person is waiting, it is generally polite to leave the stall for the person who needs it and wash your hands at the normal sink. (if there is no one waiting, then just wash your hands )

a sink in a handicapped stall is not a "private" sink for when you want to brush your teeth, redo your makeup, do your hair, floss, or anything else you can do at the normal sinks.... i actually had to wait in the bathroom in the airport while a woman flossed in the handicapped stall!!

but to the OP, if you need a little more room to take care of business, then go for it. i used the companion restroom once when i was in my wheelchair and there was a woman in the regular handicapped stall with 4 kids who cut in right before me. i didnt really feel bad because i needed to go, there was no one waiting, i wasnt going to get into the handicapped stall anytime soon, and i knew i would be quick...

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I need a little clarification. I have 3 young kids, and I don't want them to be where I can't see them when we're in public. Where am I supposed to take them to the bathroom? Were some of you saying Family/companion bathroom, fine; handicapp not fine?

 

[KPeveler]

if no one is waiting, i say go ahead and use the handicapped restroom. but if a child refuses to go potty and you see people waiting for the handicapped restroom, please dont try to convince your 4 yr old to go, just take them out and try again later... it is not "normal" (whatever that means) people who bother me, but people who know someone is waiting and then take longer than is necessary doing the "pee pee dance" that drive me crazy...

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I think the litmus test on whether you 'should' (OK, this may end up sounding bad, please no-one take this the wrong way) use the handicapped toilet is whether you'd be willing to wait five or ten minutes to use it, because using one of the other cubicles would be too difficult, too painful or virtually impossible (I don't believe in impossibilities, hence the virtually ). The reason I say five to ten minutes, is that I frequently had to wait this long (or longer) for the disabled toilet, because someone else was in there. The only thing rarer than finding it unoccupied, was finding another wheelchair user in there (not saying that w/c users are the only people 'entitled' to use them or anything here, just using this as an illustration). If you honestly could not cope, or would find it very difficult to cope, without the HA cubicle, and would be willing to wait for it, then go ahead and use it.

The thing I object to more, is people who use the HA cubicle as a private dressing room or just a 'nice big space', when they could cope perfectly well in a normal sized one. The number of people who rattled the door when I was in there, then went and used another one when they found it occupied, was staggering. If you don't need the HA cubicle and there are other ones available, use the others! I can only really use one cubicle, if it's taken I have to queue (even if the rest of the bathroom is empty).

Sorry if this sound like ranting, it was just something that got to me a bit when I was out there (though of course I tried not to let it get me down on holiday, it's just a full bladder can make one awfully irritable ). I guess I'm just a grumpy, old (OK, 22, but the body feels much older) woman, who you should probably take no notice of

As I said, if you would honestly struggle without the HA cubicle, use it (and ignore grumpy people like me ).

 

[Disney1976]

Well, I was at MK today for a few hours to hang out, check out the decorations, ride some rides, etc., and went ahead and tried not to feel self-conscious about using these companion restrooms after all of you have been so positive and reassuring on this board. It's not easy to do, because inconsiderate people don't make it easy! Several times I was inside one today and someone who test the door (which is fine), only to hear me say "Just a moment", or "Occupied" and then TEN SECONDS LATER try the door again. And then again. One person tested the door at least 4 times in less than a one minute span as I was finishing up inside and got me so mad that when I exited, I said "You know, pulling on the door isn't going to make it open any faster." It was a woman with a very young child, too, no older than 3, who could have easily used the regular bathroom to do whatever she needed to do. I'm sure to her I looked like a person who shouldn't have been using that bathroom either though.

I also had an experience later where I was standing outside the companion restroom door waiting when the door opened, but before I could go inside, a woman with 4 children, including a baby in a stroller, cut in front of me to use the restroom. I hear her say "Oh, there's no place in here to change the baby", but instead of leaving, she just shut the door! This was of course at a time when I really had a pressing need to use that bathroom, but I said nothing and waited patiently, though I did take my medical items out of my knapsack and hold them in my hand. Not something I would normally do as I don't wish to bring unnecessary attention to myself, but it made clear to anyone approaching I was getting in that bathroom next, lol!

I will say that I noticed today that every time one of those companion restrooms was occupied, the person leaving was a mother with a toddler/preschooler -basically a child in diapers/pullups. I can understand a parent using that bathroom to take care of their child's needs, especially a mother because I've seen sometimes how 4 or 5 women with young children all needing diaper changes walk into the ladies room at one time, and I wouldn't want to wait or make my child wait either. But they should at least be aware that other people might actually want or need to use that restroom, and at the very least, try to leave it neat and orderly. The companion restrooms in Toon Town and to a lesser degree, Fantasyland, were very dirty today, and I know it's because those areas (and hence those bathrooms) get a lot of children and parents, but I wish people would realize it's not their own personal bathroom to destroy and that CM's can only be in so many places at once to check and clean these bathrooms. Anyway, rant over.

I should also add that before I enter these companion restrooms, I look around to see if there is someone waiting who could possibly need it more than me. Thus, I will always gladly wait longer (if possible) to use that restroom should I see a person in a wheelchair approaching, or someone who is (and I don't want this to come across as rude, I don't mean it that way) obviously disabled and could also benefit from the larger space.

 

[allyphoe]

the person leaving was a mother with a toddler/preschooler -basically a child in diapers/pullups. I can understand a parent using that bathroom to take care of their child's needs

As the parent of a 4yo, I'd guess not a child in diapers (the damage is done; they can wait) but a child barely potty-trained. The one or two times I've used a companion restroom, the next closest bathroom might have been too far to run.

 

[luvyawdw]

Hello everyone,
There is another thread on this very subject that Sue gave a very detailed explaintion in which the companion rest rooms are meant for (at Disney).

I would read it and it might help everyone understand the pupose of them, It helped me. And after reading alot of these posts, I can see alot of differing opinions. Please take the time to read it, let me know what you think.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There were originally two threads on this one subject. One of them originated here in disABILITIES and the other originated in Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies and was moved by a TPA&S Moderator to here.

I have merged the two threads.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

I too have an illness that can cause me problems in public restrooms...OCD. Because it is a mental illness, no one could ever tell by looking at me that I have this problem. But public restrooms are a real trigger for my panic attacks. I refuse to let that keep me from taking my DD to WDW or anywhere else, but sometimes I'll use a family restroom or a HC stall if they are cleaner. Women tend to be really disgusting with their bathroom habits (don't hover ladies!!! Just use a seat cover & sit on down!) and I'll be the crazy lady you see looking at every stall like some kind of inspector just trying to find one clean enough to not cause me to have a panic attack, eps. when I have my autistic DD with me. So, yes, I will use the other stalls if they are cleaner because I'd rather get some dirty looks from rude people than have a panic attack on my vacation in front of my child.

Please have patience for other people...there are all kinds of disabilities in the world & until you live something, you can't begin to presume how it might affect your life.

 

[MousekeMommy]

Some people don't want to leave their stroller outside, so they use the handicapped stall because it will fit. . . The handicapped sticker is on the door of those stalls to reserve them for those who can't use the other stalls.

I understand your frustration, but please understand that for some of us, a stroller is a wheelchair. Both my child and I wished that we could leave the stroller outside--heck, we really wished that we could have left the thing at home!!! This was the situation for us this summer, and yes I got looks and comments about "that's not for a stroller". I ignored it (for the sake of my embarrassed 4 year old son). Yes, we had the sticker for stroller=wheelchair, and about 1/3 of the CMs missed it at first at the rides, so I do understand the general public misunderstanding . . . and I only took my 1 child in the stroller in to the handicapped (the other child used a different stall). I guess what I'm trying to say is please be aware of "hidden" disabilities? Perhaps others had the same, non-visible issues, and perhaps did not have someone with them to watch the other children? I was surprised by the comments we received . . . I guess that I assumed that those who had disabilities themselves would be less judgemental themselves, but I was wrong . . . my experience has been that those in "real wheelchairs" have been quick to question us . . . but wheelchairs don't always fit small children, especially the rental-kind when you are traveling!
Perhaps you did look for a wheelchair sticker and there was none on the strollers in the bathroom . . . I don't blame you for observing what may have been an abuse of the system (oh, my do they exist!) Just wanted to give another DISability side to the story . . .
I suppose I'd just rather think the best of people than assume the worst . . .
Wishing you wait-free potty lines for the future!

 

[SueM in MN]

I just want to point out that the handicapped stalls in the bathrooms often don't have a handicapped sign on them.
They are not reserved for people with wheelchairs, although that's what some people think. There are people without wheelchairs who need the features of that stall, whether it is the fact that some of them have a sink in the stall, or the raised seat toilet, the grab bars or the extra room.
There are people who are using a stroller as a wheelchair who need the stall for whatever reasons they need the stroller for.

There are other people who are using the stall because they are more convenient - this might include people with small children, people with strollers or people who just like it because there is more room.
There is nothing wrong with using the handicapped stall for convenience, as long as people who are doing it realize that they are choosing to use it, get in and out as quickly as possible and remember that there are people who don't have a choice.
Most people with disabilities understand that others may use that stall and only 'fuss' when people are tying up the stall for long times (like the 'pee-pee dance' that was mentioned or people who are using it to primp for their character meal). To be frank about it, most of us are just happy to find a stall that a wheelchair will actually fit into. A 5 foot square stall looks pretty big, until you try to fit a 2 foot wide by 4 foot long wheelchair into it.

There are people with wheelchairs who will complain no matter who is in the stall. My youngest DD can't walk, uses a wheelchair (not a stroller) and is too heavy to carry. We have sometimes have older people in wheelchairs tell us we should use a regular stall because she is fairly small (5 feet tall and less than 90 pounds). There is no way we can do that, but in some people's eye's only their own needs count.