Should I take my 10 yr old son in the ladies restroom?

[DISUNC]

This whole post is ridiculous. Do you really need the help of strangers on the internet to make a parenting decision like this? Make your own decision.

AMEN!

As a guy, I got to say...WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LADIES ROOM ANYWAY???? Woman in Bras? Teenage Boys? Skirts off?
Sounds like Girls Gone Wild!

 

[Snowy]

AMEN!

As a guy, I got to say...WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LADIES ROOM ANYWAY???? Woman in Bras? Teenage Boys? Skirts off?
Sounds like Girls Gone Wild!

All much more tame than the things apparently going on in the men's room!

 

[tmli]

Haven't read all 10 pages but I can just imagine the responses you have received.

My ds is turning 10 and does come into the womens bathroom with me, I am a single mother and in many places companion washrooms aren't available. My son will continue to come into the womens washroom with me as long as his safety is an issue or places do not put in family bathrooms.

My son is autistic and bi polar and has a number of issues that make this more necessary than the average child. However I think it is a good idea even if he didn't have these issues.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Personally, I think 10 is a little too old. If you aren't comfortable, try to find a family restroom or stand outside of the men's room and wait for him. Talk to him about what to do if something does happen. Being a 14 year old girl, it makes me extremely uncomfortable when I walk into the lady's room and I see a kid close to my age and nearly as tall. It's just odd...I've been allowed to go to the restroom by myself for quite some time....

 

[wdwguide]

All much more tame than the things apparently going on in the men's room!

I never knew until I read this thread... I am going to have to start going with my wife because I am worried for my safety now!

 

[Corey127]

im not a mother yet and i've had too many 7-10 year old boys in store dressing rooms (waiting for thier moms) try to peek under the door to see me naked so my first reaction was NO WAY have a 10 year old in the women's bathroom...

but, an airport seems like a place where i wouldn't want a little boy in a restroom alone...disney seems safe enough..esp cause a lot of other families (like dads and sons) would be in there...but really i dont know.....

i guess better be safe than sorry, esp in the airport ..

 

[Katnmouse]

At least at the airports you should be able to find one of the small "family" bathrooms for parents w/ children in tow. These are separate from the other bathrooms. I don't know if WDW has any of these or not - I've never looked for one.

Unfortunately there is no good solution - 10 is indeed entirely too young for him to wait by himself outside. But, it is also too old for him to go into the ladies room. I am a teacher, and I see and hear 10 year olds every day (they are much more advanced than you want to think!). I would be uncomfortable with a boy that age in the ladies' room. Also, keep in mind that it's not only adults who use the facilities, what about the young girls and teens who are there too. They would be mortified by the situation (and I hazard to guess that your son would feel that way too.) I have a 10 year old daughter who responded with an emphatic "NO!" when I asked her how if she would be okay with seeing a 10 year old boy in the ladies' room.

This is an issue that Disney (and many other public places) needs to address. Single moms with sons and single dads with daughters need accomodating.
Kat

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

I have 2 sons, both older teens now, but they stopped going in with me to the ladies room at about age 8. I've been a single mom for a while,and I simply waited right outside the men's room for them. Never had a problem, and yes, back then there were just as many nuttos in the world. As for the airport, I can see you being more worried, but he could easily stand inside the restroom and wait for you, I think 10 is ok for that scenario, but WDW I don't think it's a problem.
Honestly, as a woman, it isn't the age of the child but the behavior that always worries me.
I have been in stalls and had many young boys and girls for that matter, crawling on the bathroom stalls next to me waiting for their mom to finish, and the mom saying nothing to them to get off the ground, (gross)and not to mention they are looking up at me watching me use the restroom.
It's times like this I wonder about some parents.
But I digress, I think 10 is a bit old for Disney bathrooms.
I agree with a previous poster, do what makes you feel comfortable.
As long as your child isn't one peaking up at me, I'm fine with it, haha....

 

[CathrynRose]

Talk to him about what to do if something does happen. ....

Talk to him about what?

What to do if someone exposes himself to him, which has happened in several cities? Or talk to him about what to do if someone comes up behind him and slices his throat, which happened in San Diego?

 

[wdwguide]

This is an issue that Disney (and many other public places) needs to address. Single moms with sons and single dads with daughters need accomodating.
Kat

That is exactly why Disney has companion restrooms - so that those people who are single parents (or don't have the same-sex parent available at the time) and feel more comfortable having their children with them at all times can do so without bothering other guests.

 

[Katnmouse]

So WDW does have the companion restrooms? That is great! Can the OP get a list of where they are located?
Kat

 

[daisyduck123]

My DS8 REFUSES to enter the LADIES ROOM.

For our last 2 Disney trips....I've let him use the MENS.
I just stand right at the door, talking loudly to him in there.

If I told him to use the LADIES ROOM --he would just "hold it" instead.

 

[wdwguide]

So WDW does have the companion restrooms? That is great! Can the OP get a list of where they are located?
Kat

Hopefully this will help those on both sides of the argument:

Companion-assisted restroom facilities are located at all First Aid locations, as well as at:
Magic Kingdom® Park

* Lower level of Cinderella's Royal Table
* Mickey's Toontown Fair
* Next to Space Mountain®
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Splash Mountain
* Transportation and Ticket Center East Gate

Epcot®

* East side of Spaceship Earth
* Future World East Block opposite Test Track
* Future World West Block opposite The Land
* Near the Canada Pavilion
* Near the Germany Pavilion
* Near the Morocco Pavilion
* Near the Norway Pavilion opposite the Viking ship

Disney-MGM Studios

* Fantasmic!
* Next to Soundstage 3 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-Play It!
* Opposite Star Tours
* Opposite "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"
* Rock 'N' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
* To the right of the entrance to Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

* Asia near Maharajah Jungle Trek
* Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland U.S.A.®
* Discovery Island opposite Flame Tree Barbecue
* Harambe Village in the Mombasa Marketplace
* Expedition Everest Area Restrooms
* Conservation Station at Rafiki's Planet Watch

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

* To the rear of the Locker area on the north side of Main Change

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

* Near Guest Services

Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex

* Cracker Jack Stadium
* Tennis Complex

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Talk to him about what?

What to do if someone exposes himself to him, which has happened in several cities? Or talk to him about what to do if someone comes up behind him and slices his throat, which happened in San Diego?

Yes...the exposure/kidapping thing was actually what I was referring to. But honestly, if someone wants to slice a kids throat, i don't think they will have a problem attacking the mother...

 

[DISUNC]

All much more tame than the things apparently going on in the men's room!

I dont think so!

 

[kimmikayb]

That is exactly why Disney has companion restrooms - so that those people who are single parents (or don't have the same-sex parent available at the time) and feel more comfortable having their children with them at all times can do so without bothering other guests.

This is where it gets confusing. When I first came to this board there was a huge thread about the companion restrooms and that those restrooms were NOT for families, only handicapped. I was told it was wrong to use those restrooms because they handicapped people need those bathrooms, there were very few of the companion restrooms and handicapped people often can't wait in line for a restroom.

Does anyone know for sure???

 

[SueM in MN]

Hopefully this will help those on both sides of the argument:

Companion-assisted restroom facilities are located at all First Aid locations, as well as at:
Magic Kingdom® Park

* Lower level of Cinderella's Royal Table
* Mickey's Toontown Fair
* Next to Space Mountain®
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Splash Mountain
* Transportation and Ticket Center East Gate

Epcot®

* East side of Spaceship Earth
* Future World East Block opposite Test Track
* Future World West Block opposite The Land
* Near the Canada Pavilion
* Near the Germany Pavilion
* Near the Morocco Pavilion
* Near the Norway Pavilion opposite the Viking ship

Disney-MGM Studios

* Fantasmic!
* Next to Soundstage 3 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-Play It!
* Opposite Star Tours
* Opposite "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"
* Rock 'N' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
* To the right of the entrance to Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

* Asia near Maharajah Jungle Trek
* Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland U.S.A.®
* Discovery Island opposite Flame Tree Barbecue
* Harambe Village in the Mombasa Marketplace
* Expedition Everest Area Restrooms
* Conservation Station at Rafiki's Planet Watch

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

* To the rear of the Locker area on the north side of Main Change

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

* Near Guest Services

Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex

* Cracker Jack Stadium
* Tennis Complex

I just wanted to point out that for some people these are the only toilets in the whole park that they can use (not the only restrooms, but the only toilets). So, for some people, using these restrooms is a necessity.

Most of the handicapped stalls in the restrooms are not large enough for a wheelchair to fit inside the stall with the person using the wheelchair (especially in MK and Epcot). This means, for example, that there are only 4 toilets in MK that my DD can use since she needs her wheelchair and me in the bathroom with her. There are other people in the same situation - like a disabled adult or older child who is being helped by a person of the opposite sex - who also have no other choices.
MK was the worst. We always had to wait there, and typically the wait was 10-15 minutes.

I'm not saying they are "reserved" for use by people with disabilities, only asking people to think of what other choices they may have available and realize that some people only have that one choice. If you have other choices, please consider them and, as much as possible, leave these Companion Restrooms for the people who have no other choices.

Also, if the Companion Restroom is occupied, please don't bang on the door. All the ones we used, had a small indicator saying "occupied" that shows up when the door is locked. Every single time we used a Companion Restroom, someone kncked on the door. I would call out that the room was in use. Sometimes there was no more knocking, we hurried as fast as we could, but there was no one waiting when we came out. Sometimes, people pounded on the door after I said it was occupied. Sometimes I heard a woman's voice say something like "Well, there is someone in there. I guess Daddy will have to take you to the men's room with him."

 

[westjones]

This is where it gets confusing. When I first came to this board there was a huge thread about the companion restrooms and that those restrooms were NOT for families, only handicapped. I was told it was wrong to use those restrooms because they handicapped people need those bathrooms, there were very few of the companion restrooms and handicapped people often can't wait in line for a restroom.

Does anyone know for sure???

When my girls were young and DH took them to Grandparent's home for visits (6 hours away), we found two McD's with companion bathrooms along the way and those because the planned stops for them if I were not with them.

I don't have a boy, but if I were alone at WDW with a son, I would use the companion restrooms. I think that is one reason they have them. Basically, to me they are for anyone that needs an alternative restroom situation.

This is just my opinion, but I say feel free to use them! I saw a dad and his daughter go into one at DTD last month and I even thought to myself how nice it is that they have these because this was a big problem for my DH when my girls were young when he wanted to take them someplace. I am glad to see more of them around. Use them! Maybe they will make more!!! Someday I my have a grandson and need them!

DJ

 

[LindsayDunn228]

That is exactly why Disney has companion restrooms - so that those people who are single parents (or don't have the same-sex parent available at the time) and feel more comfortable having their children with them at all times can do so without bothering other guests.

Just singling this post out, but it has been said many times in the thread already: there is a HUGE difference between companion and family restrooms, folks!!! Please know the difference!

 

[simzac]

JMO, but a 10 year old boy does not belong in the ladies restroom.