WDW toilets "foreign" to some

[peg2001]

First a hypothetical: what would you think if you walked into a public bathroom, really needing to go, and instead of your familiar American style toilet, you find a hole flush to the floor, with footpads on either side? Most Americans who haven't traveled widely internationally would be quite uncomfortable with this set up.

Ok, now imagine you've lived your whole life with this style of squat toilet and you walk into a WDW bathroom and there sits a porceline chair that you are expecting to sit on to perform. For people who have always squatted, it may not be possible to have a BM on a standard American toilet.

Just wanted to share a bit of explanation for those who have seen and posted about very strange things in WDW bathrooms, including the woman who squatted and had a BM into her hand, the the BM left on the stall floor. (Not acceptable, obviously, as he/she should have laid something on the floor first and cleaned up after himself/herself.)

Peggy

 

[Dan Murphy]

Neat. Never really thought about it, but you have a point, all what we are used to.

 

[Cindy B]

That is so true... in some African countries the toilet in the house.. just seems very um.... well strange to them.

 

[grinningghost]

Wow. Talk about learning a new thing everyday. I never knew about "hole" toilets.

 

[loriandmatt]

Yea, but if i were traveling to a foreign country where the culture and daily routine was vastly different than mine i think i would farmiliarize myself a bit with the "norm" in that country so i would know what to expect and how to fit in a little bit. Don't ya think?!?!?
Let's face it, it costs big bucks for anyone, much less someone from another country to visit WDW. They would have had to have done some prep work for their trip to a far away land. Don't you think that would include the scarry white seat you sit on to go to the bathroom?!?!?!? Whoever was helping them arrange their trip surely screwed up if they glossed over that one.

- lori

 

[feenie]

I have a friend who went to Egypt where the hole in the floor toilets are the norm. But.... Yuck.... At least they keep the WDW bathrooms clean! (for the most part)

 

[dvc guy]

Are we to believe that this person came all the way from the other end of the world, and did not use a bathroom on the plane or boat ride here. I find it very hard to believe that anyone would get as far as the park without having seen a bathroom.

Sounds like urban legend to me

 

[>>^..^<<]

When ya gotta go.. ya gotta go...

>>^..^<<

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by dvc guy
Are we to believe that this person came all the way from the other end of the world, and did not use a bathroom on the plane or boat ride here. I find it very hard to believe that anyone would get as far as the park without having seen a bathroom.

Sounds like urban legend to me

I'm not quite sure what you are referring to as urban legend, but perhaps this guide book would help:

http://www.magellans.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=2236

Peggy

 

[dvc guy]

My point was, I find it hard , no impossible to believe that anyone, who has spent considerable time and money to get to WDW would not be familiar with toliet use.

I do agree that in many parts of the world this is a strange concept, so would a cell phone and microwave, but those people would no be traving in WDW.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Fortunatly my strangest experience was only figuring out how to use a biddet. Also I have found people, who appeared foreign born, using stalls at WDW with the door open. Not unlocked. OPEN.

I lost my urge to go after that.

For the more quirky among you, check our this site on German toilets. My sister travels abroad a great deal on business and sent this to me. She has SEEN them in person and experienced what was on this web page. Her German friends don't understand what the big deal is. I don't understand how they think this works.

http://www.spies.com/~scott/misc/toilet.htm

 

[goofyernmost]

One more thing...Where on this planet is a place that Americans have not visited or done business in (excuse the pun).

Even if the culture itself used the old squat and go system believe me if they want the American Dollar around they have installed western toilets. Unless, they have spent their entire life in the middle of a desert, completely devoid (excuse the pun again) of any other culture, they are familiar with our system. And if they did live in the isolated desert, where would they get the money to go? (sorry)

When I was in the exotic South East Asia area in the late sixties they used to stand and squat on the toilet seat itself. Believe me the "lady" that used the floor had bigger problems then cultural differences.

Hopefully, we won't "waste" anymore time on this thread and create some type of "movement" towards a more genteel topic.

 

[wdwguide]

Non-western visitation is not nearly large enough to explain the sometimes disgusting condition of the restrooms. I'd wager that 95% of those who leave a mess are very familiar with how an American Standard operates but choose to selfishly ignore it.

 

[skiwee1]

When we lived in Italy all the public bathrooms and restaurants has the hole in the floor. Most of the bathrooms were even co-ed! That being said all the private in home bathrooms were toilets the same as in the US. They even had seperate bidets in most of their home bathrooms too. I really can't see anyone living in most foreign countries having trouble using our bathrooms.

 

[dBugged]

I gotta "hand" it to the lady for her creative resolution to the situation, albiet a little inappropriate.

 

[HeyMickey]

Originally posted by skiwee1
When we lived in Italy all the public bathrooms and restaurants has the hole in the floor. Most of the bathrooms were even co-ed! That being said all the private in home bathrooms were toilets the same as in the US. They even had seperate bidets in most of their home bathrooms too. I really can't see anyone living in most foreign countries having trouble using our bathrooms.

That's interesting, because I was in Italy for two weeks last summer and everywhere I went (including many places far off the tourist path) had seperate mens' and ladies' restrooms with regular American-looking toilets.

The best ones are in Switzerland - the toilet cleans and disinfects its own seat every time you flush. It's amazing.

 

[Simba's Girl]

So are you saying that these "women" were being unsanitary and downright disgusting because they had "performance anxiety"????

I completly understand it not being what they are used to but PLEASE spare me In my opinion, if someone does that kind of thing its way more than that! Also, I also wonder how they went in thier hotel rooms as well. Any 4 year old child knows to go where they're supposed to (IE NOT THE FLOOR OR THIER HAND-gross!)

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by HeyMickey
That's interesting, because I was in Italy for two weeks last summer and everywhere I went (including many places far off the tourist path) had seperate mens' and ladies' restrooms with regular American-looking toilets.

The best ones are in Switzerland - the toilet cleans and disinfects its own seat every time you flush. It's amazing.

Maybe it is a regional thing? I lived in southern Italy although I traveled through out. We lived in Brindisi, the heel of the boot. Possibly you visited a more touristy and civilized place then where I lived and traveled. LOL!

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by grinningghost
Wow. Talk about learning a new thing everyday. I never knew about "hole" toilets.

I lived in Japan for a while and we called them 'squatty potties'.

 

[mitymott]

I would think that I'd died and gone to heaven when I saw those beautiful porceline bowls just waiting for me. It's enough to make me want to never leave. Thankyou Disney