Really silly question - potty breaks

[jeepgirl30]

I'm not sure I should post this but really just need some how did you do it type responses! I want to say I do not want to do anything wrong, unethical or whatever but I really just don't know.

It hit me that my 5 yr old has been really fantastic at the whole potty training thing (no not recent, she was done with diapers at 2 1/2). But occassionally she'll announce she needs to go NOW. DS is starting to want to use the potty. I'm hoping by Sept he'll too be out of diapers.

what happens if we are in line for a ride and all the sudden one has to go? I've read reports how mortified people are that parents have their kids go at pretty strange places and have no intentions of letting either just drop their drawers! But, can either DH or I take the child out of line, go potty and return to our spot? Is this allowed? Or do we all get out of line, wait and then reenter at the end of the line? I'm thinking if we are in a line for hours and have to start over that is really going to suck! But if thats the way it is then thats that.

If we can reenter, do I need to tell someone? Do I explain to each person i'm passing?

We have not taken the kids to DW yet, first trip. Its not something I've thought about at previous trips so please be gentle!

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

We have taken our small children four times to WDW, and although this has never happened to us, I don't think you'll have a problem leaving your DH and getting back in line. That we have done-forgotten something in the stroller, etc. It is not unusual for people to do this. You might want to mention to those in the line that your DH is up there(in the line) and you need to get back to him. I don't think you'll have any trouble. This happens all of the time. However, I would suggest of course making sure everyone's good on the whole bathroom thing BEFORE you get in line. The line might move on you dramatically and DH has to get on without you. Good Luck, and I really don't think this is anything to worry about.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Jeepgirl,
I have an almost 8 year old that when she has to go, she has to go (she's got a kidney problem and the neverending 'I don't want to miss anything by going to the bathroom' syndrome)...we have learned to schedule bathroom breaks so that she goes before we get on a long line or into a situation that is worse (waterworks...yikes!) That way she doesn't feel as if she is missing anything and we avoid any problems. HTH!!

 

[FLORIDAFUNFAMILY]

sound like you maybe able to do the child swap pass

 

[kmwilson98]

Mine will be just-turned-five when we go, and I plan to handle it by:

1.) Taking her to the potty every 90-120 minutes, whether she thinks she needs to or not.

and

2.) Having her wear pullups just in case. She's been pretty well potty trained for a while now, but...I can just see her getting SOOO excited or even scared by one of the characters, and just weewee-ing all over poor little princess self! Especially since she'll be in a princess dress, I don't want to risk her having an accident. I know most parents would vote against these (we've NEVER used pullups before) because of the possibility that the kid could "backslide" out of potty training, but...in the interest of a stress-free trip, I'm going to do it. I can deal with the consequences after my princess's coach turns back into a pumpkin and we're back home in the "real world".

 

[Stimpy]

I don't think most people would have a problem with 1 adult and 1 child leaving the line for a potty break. It happens all the time! People usually understand how kids are when it comes to the bathroom. When people start seeing that "potty wiggle" they'll get out of your way LOL (I say "usually" and "most" b/c there is always the chance that you will run into some grumpy person. Just ignore them or let you kid pee on his/her feet )

Don't worry about it too much. We've been to Disney with our 5 yr old many times already. It always blows my mind how he can go for hours and waits until the last possible second to go. And when it's time he has to go NOW! When he goes, I swear, the kid has a hollow leg! Anyway, we have never had to leave a line or show with him.

 

[jeepgirl30]

thank you for the responses!

I do plan on taking the kids frequently and before lines for shows or rides I know will have a long wait. I just want to be sure to have all the bases covered ahead of time.

I am also planning to pack extra clothes for just incase.

I hear so many stories of parents screaming at the kids and so do not want to be one of those parents!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We never had this problem, either. But we also don't do long lines---buy the Unofficial Guide, get to the parks at opening, and you shouldn't have more than a 10 minute wait for most rides.

Good luck!!!

 

[matdamom]

Regular bathroom breaks worked for us, and not once did my kids "have to go" while we were in line. If were near a restroom, I asked if they had to go. My younger DD went about once every 90 minutes. My older DD can hold it for hours, but I forced her to "try" each time the younger one went. Because we drank lots of water, we all had to take regular breaks anyway. I did come across a parent or two that had to take a child to the bathroom, and it never bothered me when one parent stayed behind in line.

My DD5 would never consent to wear a pull-up! ;-)

 

[ksoehrlein]

We had an "I have to go NOW" incident while about to board the pirate ship on Peter Pan. I quickly explained the situation to the CM at the front of the (VERY LONG) line, and he said to come back through the exit and he would let us board as soon as we were done with the potty. Now this is probably an exception rather than the rule, but it never hurts to ask!

 

[Dopey's Girl]

Same as everyone else, use your common sense to schedule potty breaks, etc. But if you have to leave the line with one parent/child it's not a big deal to get back with your family (as long as they don't make it to the front of the line before you get back). I have two DSs (at last trip aged 3 and 5) and it happened to us a couple of times. Most people at Disney have been in that situation either as the child or the parent before, so don't worry and have a great time!

 

[Patsfan7]

This happened to us, but I had not even thought to get out of the line.

We had waited about 45 minutes for Dumbo, and we were in the que that we were next on the ride, so silly me asked my DD one week shy of her third birthday if she could hold it. Of course the answer was yes to get on the ride.... needless to say she didn't make it.

She had been dressed in her Cinderella dress, because the next stop was lunch in the Castle, and a meet with Cinderella in the foyer. BUT I did plan ahead enough to bring an entire new outfit, just in case, each day because potty training was such a new concept. We changed dresses, and all other items of clothing, and met Cinderella in a polo Minnie Mouse dress. Oh well, not the pictures we had hoped for, but a funny story behind it anyway.... So, I guess this time we should have scheduled stops, (which I never thought would be a problem because between me and my mom we're always stopping) and to remember the extra clothing each day! (Unless you want to buy a new souvineer outfit! That would work too! )

 

[Brian Noble]

Even kids who are really good about going in advance "forget to listen to their bodies" in WDW. My kids are sure to tell me "but I don't NEED to go" when I announce a potty break in the parks. My response is, "well, I do, and so we all have to stop---just try anyway, and see what happens." Strangely, they are both always quite, erm, "productive" once they get there!

Much to my surprise, of course....

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

O.K., I have to tell our friends "Potty" story. They were in Disneyland, in line for Small World. And, their 3 yr. old had to go #2. They had been in line for awhile and didn't want to get out. And, asked him to hold it. While, guess what? He couldn't hold it !!!! And, they didn't take an x-tra set of clothes either. So, Now they have to get out of line to take hin to the restroom to clean him up. But, It was hopeless. So, one parent had to go to one of the gift shops and buy him a whole new set of clothes. (a bit pricey, of course)
So the lesson they learned: #1- Potty break before long lines, #2- if child needs #2 NOW, you better go, #3- extra set of clothes !!

 

[mjmcca]

I always take an extra set of clothes. Sometimes more than one. Even if you dont have a potty incident there are fountains all over the place that mt kids like to play in and get wet. I need a dry set of clothes for them incase!

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

I've been wondering about this, too! DS will turn 3 while we're there, and has been doing great at home (including school, church, etc). He only wears a pullup now for naps and bedtime. In fact, he asked me the other day if he could wear his big boy underwear to WDW! (He'll probably tell Sleeping Beauty or another character that he is wearing big boy underwear~he seems to be telling EVERY one these days!) I'm just planning on regular potty breaks. Will take pullups and extra clothes, just in case.

 

[minmate]

We have a potty rule, "When one goes, everyone goes" -- so, we scheduled frequent potty breaks and everyone would go (mom and dad too). We got to know where the bathrooms were and if we were near one, we'd ask if anyone would have to go. Now, I know that it can be time consuming (for us, with 4 kids)... but we only had one, "I gotta go" incidents at Splash Mtn.... in which dh promptly took dd to the nearest bathroom and returned to us in line. We were surrounded by teenage cheerleaders (cheer competition that week) -- who were coming in and out of line like crazy so we didn't even bother to explain the situation, but if someone looked at me funny, I would gladly tell them. If they'd give me a hard time I'd likely say "Better to have taken her to the potty than to have her pee right here, right?" and then cease to make eye contact or talk about it further. As long as you're not trying to cheat the system and ride, re-ride, etc., then people should be understanding.