If you are worried that your daughter will see a man's junk, just tell them to close their eyes as their dad leads them to the stall.
I think 7 is too old, but I'm not going to complain about it unless they are peeping.
I do this in crowded men's room. Worst was at the airport with me and DD5. Lugging carryons for us both, plus our stuff into a stall was a hassle.
As several have pointed out-not all the stalls work for the disabled.Some "disabled" stalls do not allow for a side transfer. And not all restrooms have a disabled stall.
Don't know what mall you go to, but the one at my mall is a family restroom and is set up different than the companion restroom. The "family" restroom has a small toilet and a larger one. The companion restroom does not.
No "neglect" just trying to keep thread on track.
By Disney's own comment there, the companions aren't exclusive for just handicap as most of the other restrooms are accessible.
You clearly missed my comment on what Disney has told me on the use of these restrooms. I am sure the "intended" use of these limited toilets is so you can drive your stroller into them.
Because you can't take your stroller into the babycare center right?
Most restrooms are accessible.
Wow-talk about missing the point!!!!!
sorry but you missed my point. At no point did I say every handicapped person needs to go to the regular bathroom. There are some bathrooms that have larger stalls and somethat don't. The fact Disney fails to state without specifically differenciating whether the bathroom is for a "companion" or specifically handicapped is telling. Common sense should dictate who gets a priority for use and in what circumstances. Its not an excuse to bar everyone else. Sorry, you may not like that comment, but its true.
As I said before, on many times I will walk across the park to the baby care center to take my kids. i've also gone into a regular, and on several occasions, have used the Companions also when I'm with my kids. i'm not advocating any normal healthy person that is alone use it, but a companion I am, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, to my children.
and going tot he mall bit, ours shows a handicapped symbol next to the man and woman and child, and its located in the baby care area. It also has a larger toilet, a smaller toilet, and grab bars for the disabled. ITs located in the baby care area, but there is no other signage, so is it exclusive to handicapped kids? Don't think so. i've actually been behind someone in a wheelchair in the line when I had my DD doing her dance. we waited calmly and patiently for the lady to finish. Its just common sense.
Most restrooms have this type of handicapped stall.[/IMG]
- It looks very large if you are coming into it without a wheelchair. It does work for some people, specifically those who are able to get out of their wheelchair and walk a few steps. Or for those who are able to park their wheelchair outside the bathroom and just need a little extra support of the grab bars for getting up or down. Some people who can't walk are able to make a transfer straight forward from their wheelchair onto the toilet seat, but that requires strength (plus the ability to turn around) that some people don't have. And, it is very easy to be waiting in the line for the accessible toilet stall and then find out it won't work for you.
- Many people are very nice about it, but I have been told by families, "You have your own stalls in the bathroom. Go use one of those and leave the Family Restroom for those of us with families." All I did was asked if they were in line to use the Companion Restroom (they were sitting on a bench across from it and the room was occupied). We also get pounding on the door if we are in for more than 5 minutes - the pounders are usually people with children. I have never been 'pounded' by a person with a disability.
- The Companion Restroom or handicapped stall are the only toilets some people can use. So, there may be only 4-8 toilets in all of that park that they can use.
Handicapped stalls and Companion Restrooms are made so that people with disabilities are able to use the restroom. They may also be useful or convenient for some people without disabilities. Some people do choose to use them for convenience. But, there are not enough of them to be used that way if everyone who found them convenient used them.
I would like to ask people to consider whether or not they have other options. In some cases, they don't and should be using the Companion Restrooms or the Handicapped Stall. (One example might be a father traveling alone with a young daughter who doesn't feel comfortable bringing her in with him.)
But, please consider whether there are other options before using them for convenience.
- I would also add, please, if you send your child in to use the Companion Restrooms alone, make sure that they have left the bathroom in a condition that the next person can use it. We often have to spend 5 or 6 minutes cleaning because the seat was 'sprinkled' or someone who was hovering left the toilet covered with paper and urine splatters.
Because I have to lift DD, I need to make sure the floor is dry - sometimes kids handwashing make it look like ducks have been bathing in there with splashes all over the floor. For safety and to avoid slipping while lifting my DD, I need to clean all that up.
Some people who need the Companion Restrooms are not able to do that cleaning and will need to go on to the next one and hope it is fit to use.
It's especially annoying to have spent 5 minutes cleaning and then have someone banging on the door because "you are taking so long."
So, courtesy and consideration for all users are most important.
(i omitted the pics and condensed)
1) . I concur, those bathrooms with the smaller stalls, even "accessible" ones are weak and not very adequate. I'd be claustrophobic.
2) that is rude, no matter the level or person it is. I'll let someone go in front rather than be that rude about it. I'll knock even if its empty but not to be a pounder. Last yr we went and used one for both of my kids. There was someone else in there that was in there for a while. If it would have been me and my DD i'd have gone into the normal restroom but she needed to go and said she wouldn't make it to the baby care and I had my DS1(now2) with us. But regardless, my DD woudl ask what was taking so long, and I would proceed to tell her maybe someone is in there that needed help, etc. Eventually they came out, and it was amom with a boy with SB or similar condition. We helped the lady open the door and helped her navigate through the door. It was a good teaching experience about not only the boy's condition, but about waiting and patience and that for some people, going to the bathroom takes more work.
3) going through this thread, it hits me that I think one solution for Disney is to make more Baby Care centers. IF a bone of contention is families using it, or even non families, by making an extra care center, or dedicated family room on the opposite side of the park, many families would be less apt to use the other companions. Looking at this post
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29913567&postcount=3
While there are several companion locations, there is usually only one care center at the front of the park with a bathroom designed for the little ones. Adding another one somewhere in the back I think would alleviate many of the issues in this thread. Granted, folks can bring the kids into a normal restroom, but for someone with multiple kids, its a challenge, and then you get back into using a handicapped stall in those restrooms.
4) I especially agree with the condition. many times, usually the companions, they are full of paper everywhere, and have the wet floor as a result. I too lift my girl up, however, prior to anytime she uses it, I take a wet towel, put soap on it and clean the toilet area (not sopping wet, but damp). Then I dry it off. throw both items away (i used to flush but don't as much if there is a trashcan in there- only if I'm in a stall). I have a towel ready for when my child is done washing her hands, rather than dripping across the room to get a towel.
My peeve is folks who leave the bathrooms dirty. misaiming, splatter, failed donations to the porcelain trolls in the ground, etc...
For us, our checklist is this. Sicne its usually me and a combo of my kids. My wife doesn't come (no AP for her)
1) can we make the baby care center? yes? do it.
2) no? how desperate is the urge (for DD5)? Extreme? and do I have both kids?
2a) yes? then search out nearest companion. Alternately, if its just DD5 and me and extreme, I will probably pick the closest bathroom.
2b) not extreme with both kids- then go to #1 and tell her to hold it while I walk faster (they use the stroller in the park) to the baby care
3) if its the DS2 that needs the diaper changed, we will trek to the baby care center regardless and end up using the restroom there all at once after the diaper is changed. I can count on one hand the times I've used a changing table in Disney that WASN'T in the baby care center.
Again, I think Disney should add another child care center somewhere in the back to alleviate the load. however, common sense dictates when to use a companion. To say its for one or the other isn't right, rather its for those with a companion, as general as it may be.
But that's a whole other subject.
What good is the internet if we can't use it to tell each other how wrong the other person is and teach everyone else how to raise their kids 
. If safety is a #1 priority where better to have a older boy then right there where you can see him at all times? Wait for the handicapped stall if you need more room for your 5th grader. Unless ...
... the privacy and the comfort of the mom is an issue too.
.
