restroom question

[Bearybear]

My son will be almost 7 when we go to WDW this December. When we go on vacation, and especially at Disney, DH & I each spend an afternoon resting at the resort while the other tours with DS. So when it is just me and him, I won't leave him alone while I go to the bathroom (and vice versa). There is just too much chance of him getting distracted and wandering away, not to mention all the scary things that moms think of. In the past I had a rule that he stands outside the stall so I can see his feet while I'm doing my business. However, it has been over a year since we went to WDW. I can't remember if there are family restrooms or not. Also, how old is too old to go with a parent in the opposite gender restroom?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

1. I can't remember if there are family restrooms or not.
2. Also, how old is too old to go with a parent in the opposite gender restroom?

1. There are not FAMILY restrooms, there are companion restrooms, many feel these are for people who need help going to the restroom, not for parents who feel thier children cannot wait alone.
2. That's up to you, we personally feel 7 is too old, but we aren't paraniod think the worse parents either. FWIW our 8yr old DD would not set foot foot in the mens room with DH. DS5 also would not go into the womens without great objections he knows that he is a man and doesn't belong in the room w/ a dress on the door.

 

[LaurenT]

I think 7 is just getting to the too old point. Use the companion bathroom when you have to go - and in disney, I think I'd be ok standing outside a single entry boys room while he goes in.

 

[HLAuburn]

There are a lot of companion bathrooms. I don't think there is one at every bathroom location, but a bunch of them come to mind, so you definitely could make it a point to find those. If they are vacant, I always take my 6 year old in there. In a public restroom, I feel like she needs "help" still since you never know what you might come across although the DW bathrooms always seem very clean. The restrooms that have companion restrooms that come to mind are at the front of Epcot and near Germany and Norway, Dinoland in AK, and I'm sure there are many more.

As for your other question...I'm not so sure since I have girls, but I might raise an eyebrow with a 7 year old boy in the women's bathroom. I wouldn't freak out of anything, but it seems a little weird to me. Just my 2 cents though!

 

[Sugar Jones]

My boys are 7 & 8 years old and if there is no family washroom they come into the women's with me. I don't care what anyone else thinks, and I don't care if the boys don't like it. There safety is my # 1 priority and if that makes me an overprotective parent then so be it!

 

[KellyNY]

The only place I actually saw "Family Restroom" sign was CBR pool. I think 7 yo is fine to take to the regular bathroom with you. I would not even question that. Alternative is to send him to mens bathroom and stand right to the entrance and talk to him all the time, just to make you feel better, although I believe there is no real danger in WDW bathrooms.

 

[dskib]

I'd use the companion restrooms. In my opinion, he's too old to go with you into the ladies room, so if you don't want him to wait by himself, I'd just use the companion room. The companion restrooms are just that. I don't think one person needs to be disabled or need help in order to use one!

Deb

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are no more than six companion restrooms at each park; they are not family restrooms. They are intended for use by people who need assistance in transferring from a wheelchair to/from the toilet. And for these people they are the only toilets accessible to them.

And also be aware that if you are waiting to use one it will take the people inside much longer than normal because fo the transferring as well as other potential special needs. So if waiting to use one do not bang on the door, that is rude and crude.

 

[dskib]

Just wanted to add that if someone brought her 7 year old boy into the ladies room, I might think him a little too old for that, but it really wouldn't bother me in the least. It's not like these are locker rooms!

Deb

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just to the OP, opposite gender children in the restrooms has proven to been a hot topic on the dis, so hold on tight.

If you do a search on the topic you'll find that there are lots of views -

a) bring your child in at any age - 7 to 17 - if that's what makes you feel safe
b) there comes a time to let children go to the bathroom on their own, judge by your child's maturity level
c) children over a certain age should not go in the opposite gender restroom
d) don't worry about it, just use the companion restroom
e) don't you dare use the companion restroom, those are for families who need assistance due to disabilities etc.
f) stand outside the mens room while your child goes and likewise when you go - disneyworld is a very safe place with lots of security
g) make your child hold it the entire trip

From your post it sounds like you already made up your mind to either use companion restrooms or have your child go in with you.

Only you can decide what's right for you. But if you go asking "how old is too old?" it seems like you have some inkling that maybe your child is too old.

 

[Bearybear]

Beauty & the Best, I guess I wasn't aware this was a hot topic. I just was wondering primarily if there were family restrooms like they have at the mall. My son is easily distracted, so I fear he'd wander away while I use the restroom. I can't even let him use the men's locker room at the community center if DH isn't there because he gets distracted, and 45 minutes later I have to get someone to go in and find him, so we use one of the family locker rooms. I don't see him changing much in the next 2 months, so I guess he'll have to use the ladies room while we're there for that afternoon.

 

[HLAuburn]

There are no more than six companion restrooms at each park; they are not family restrooms. They are intended for use by people who need assistance in transferring from a wheelchair to/from the toilet. And for these people they are the only toilets accessible to them.

And also be aware that if you are waiting to use one it will take the people inside much longer than normal because fo the transferring as well as other potential special needs. So if waiting to use one do not bang on the door, that is rude and crude.

Don't all the companion restrooms have baby changing stations in them? That would lead me to believe they are intended for people who need a "companion" for various reasons and may need more space than the average stall, not necessarily just wheelchair transfers.

 

[tlbwriter]

Don't forget that many bathrooms have multiple entrances, and a child could easily get turned around in one, so if you're waiting "by the exit" make sure he knows which exit.

 

[PatsMom]

I have to agree with the PP - if your son is old enough that you are wondering if he is too old, he probably is. But you seem to have already made up your mind.

Please do be aware though that companion restrooms are few and far between for those who have a physical need. And they don't have the alternatives - its either those restrooms or none.

So if you use them, please be quick. And if you take your son into the ladies room, please keep him by your stall instead of wandering around.

 

[chrisw127]

My boys are 7 & 8 years old and if there is no family washroom they come into the women's with me. I don't care what anyone else thinks, and I don't care if the boys don't like it. There safety is my # 1 priority and if that makes me an overprotective parent then so be it!

Me too. I tend to look for a companion restroom but if there is none, he's coming in with me.

 

[Dorisk3]

I think there are usually plenty of companion restrooms around and you shouldn't really need to worry at all. You can always ask a CM (hopefully they would know!)

Personally I think 7 or 8 year olds can handle a restroom by themselves. As a woman I find it a little awkward for any boy over 8 to be wandering around in the ladies room. There does come a point where you have to trust them to be out of your site for 2 minutes.

 

[kdfogliano]

I don't think there is anything wrong with bringing a almost 7yo into a ladies room,
They are all stalls, its not like he will see anything

and if you think he will wander, you cannot take the risk of leaving him outside

But, i do not think i would let my almost 7 yo daughter (although i only have boys) into a mens room.

 

[grafxgirl]

We used the companion restrooms. My children are 4 and 7. I wouldn't hesitate to take a 7 year old boy into the women's restroom if I felt he wasn't mature enough to wait for me outside while I went in and did my business. There is no reason he couldn't stand outside the stall door where you can see his feet. It's not like everyone else is out in the open where he can watch them do their business. They are also behind enclosed stall doors.

If it is a matter of him having to use the restroom and I don't, I would send him into the men's room and I would wait outside and just yell in every once in awhile to make sure he was okay and to remind where I was waiting.

 

[PatsMom]

Don't all the companion restrooms have baby changing stations in them? That would lead me to believe they are intended for people who need a "companion" for various reasons and may need more space than the average stall, not necessarily just wheelchair transfers.

Sometimes those babies are 8 or 9 years old though. And I do agree that those rest rooms are for those who need a companion or assistance, not just the wheelchair bound. As a bladder cancer survivor, I am very sensitive to those who need to self catheterize for example.

The rest rooms are not restricted by Disney - a lot of posters here just wish that common sense would win out sometimes. Six accessible rest rooms per park is not many when you consider the number of people at each park on a given day. If you feel you need to use the companion rest room, it is polite to do your business and get out as quickly as possible IMHO.

 

[MHSweb79]

I've seen boys older than 7 in the ladies' room with their moms, and it doesn't bother me in the least. I mean, the stalls have doors so all he's going to see are women washing their hands, or fixing their hair or makeup. It's not like sending a 7 year old girl into the men's room, which I would not do.

If you're not comfortable sending him into a men's room by himself, then don't do it!