Would this be considered rude, or acceptable?

[deebs]

not rude at all! I would also say use pull ups as back up, but do try to make it to the potty if you can. A week of regressing can really put you back to square one with potty training. Good Luck

 

[Shinji]

One adult out of a group of 4 taking a child to the bathroom? It certainly would not bother me. I do not know why this would be a problem except in queues where you must pass a lot of people to do so. In that case, I would consider getting back in line when you return. If a parent takes a child that young to a park, shouldn't they already be prepared to give up some of the experiences - or at least expect some delay?

If all else fails, you can say "I no speaka englitch" as you push by. That seems to work for a lot of people at WDW.

 

[scouthawkk]

I am in agreement. I would not have a problem with it if you were in front of us in line. We were fortunate when we took DS (then 2) in August. He was already trained, and was able to tell us when he had to go...with enough time to get him there if there wasn't a bathroom near by. If we went a long time without him saying he had to go, we made him try anyway. But that is mainly because we had him drinking way more water than usual because of the heat. You'd be surprised, with the heat down there, even with extra water, he might not have to go as often as you think he should! I think you will be just fine with "scheduled" potty stops. But in case of an emergency, I don't see why one adult and DS couldn't get out of line, go and then come back. And you never know, by October, he may be further along in the training process, and may be able to give you enough notice, and hold it for a little longer. Good luck, and have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shellybaxter]

As a Child Development Teacher I wouldn't recommend suggesting that your child stop using the toilets and start "using" a pull up. I think if you use the restroom frequently the occational trip out of line for a potty break will be fine. If the line is hard to get back to, just skip it and wait for your party to come out after the ride. Either go on it then again, or come back to it later

Shelly

 

[LoveWDW]

I wouldn't mind, either, if an adult and child needed to leave the line for the potty and then get back in. I agree with the poster above, though, who said that it might be best to put that ride off for another time. Since it is causing you to be concerned, and since it may be very difficult to locate your party and get back in line, don't do it. The idea of telling the child it is OK to use the pullups would be a problem since the child has been training himself to not "go" anywhere but the potty. Then on vacation it is all right to forget the training- just not a good idea IMHO. So I'd say forget the pullups, use the potty between rides as you are already planning, try to wait in the line, and if the child needs to go, tell the others in your party that you'll meet them later on when they come off the ride, and wait for another time or another trip to go on the ride.

 

[Ardenne]

Thanks again for all of your input, everyone!

Further clarification: he wears cotton underpants at home and on short trips near home, like going to the grocery store, but does use pull-ups for the church nursery because they require them for sanitary reasons until he's past the having-accidents stage. We'll also occasionally use the pull-ups in situations where the cotton ones are impractical, like when we went on a weekend trip a couple of weeks ago and didn't have anywhere to do laundry while there. He seems to have a good handle on the idea that they're like his underwear, not like diapers, and that he should do his best to keep them clean and dry.

It could very well be he'll be able to 'hold it' for longer by October -- I hope so! And yes, if it's impractical to get back into line, we certainly wouldn't fuss with it. I just wanted to get some perspectives on how people would react to it in general, where it was feasible. I really appreciate all the advice everyone has shared!

 

[deez1966]

I wouldnt have a problem with it.

But beware, we did this with my daughter and she was pretty much all the way potty trained when we got there, but some of the shows, especially those with loud noises and thunder/lightening, literally scared it right out of her.

Being a good mommy I of course had a change of clothes for her, but she was sitting on my lap and I didnt have a change of clothes for me! yikes! so be prepared.

MD.

 

[safaulk]

I have raised and potty-trained three girls. I remember when they were little, it seemed no matter where we went, they had to potty. They would pick the most inconvenient times, even when we took them to the bathroom regularly. They would go to the bathroom then have to go again once we were in the line. Not every time, but it got so aggravating. I guess they can't help it, though.

I wouldn't mind if someone got out of line to carry their child to potty, but the only thing is that it may be difficult to get back in the line. You'd have to go thru a lot of irate people to get back to your space in line. Here's to hoping your trip goes well!!!

Only 7 more days to go!!! Whooooppeeeeee!!!!

 

[ms.ojo]

Glaed to hear you're planning on having him in pullups just in case! We traveled w/ our ds who was 2.5 and "just" getting good at toilet training. Not sure if you want to hear this....but putting him in pull-ups set him back 5 mths!

Let me clarify. For Disney, it was the BEST decision. No matter how many bathroom breaks you try to take...there is just no counting for when a child has to go. They don't seem able to "try" very well....and when the need arises....it's a MUST GO NOW type thing and trust me, there are not enough restrooms to accomodate that kind of dash. kwim?!

Just think, at home, he has bathrooms very easily accessible. At Disney, heck, even when you're in a line near one...you may be a 5min walk. So...once our ds realized his pull-ups would protect him from getting all wet...he got very casual about things. And when we came home, it was just really hard to get him back to using the potty. But nursery school was around the corner and he REALLY wanted to go to school like his older cousins...so that's what finally inspired him again.

Anyway, my point from a been there done that perspective is to use the pull-ups. It will be so much less stressful on ds and your whole family. I would suggest this even to someone who has had no accidents for a couple of mths. It's just so hard to get to bathrooms in time at Disney. And think about if you're in a show! Maybe he'll be great when he gets home and returns to undies...but even if it takes a few wks, or longer, it will be well worth not having this stress on vaca'n!!! For all of you.

 

[ms.ojo]

Glad to hear you're planning on having him in pullups just in case! We traveled w/ our ds who was 2.5 and "just" getting good at toilet training. Not sure if you want to hear this....but putting him in pull-ups set him back 5 mths!

Let me clarify. For Disney, it was the BEST decision. No matter how many bathroom breaks you try to take...there is just no counting for when a child has to go. They don't seem able to "try" very well....and when the need arises....it's a MUST GO NOW type thing and trust me, there are not enough restrooms to accomodate that kind of dash. kwim?!

Just think, at home, he has bathrooms very easily accessible. At Disney, heck, even when you're in a line near one...you may be a 5min walk. So...once our ds realized his pull-ups would protect him from getting all wet...he got very casual about things. And when we came home, it was just really hard to get him back to using the potty. But nursery school was around the corner and he REALLY wanted to go to school like his older cousins...so that's what finally inspired him again.

Anyway, my point from a been there done that perspective is to use the pull-ups. It will be so much less stressful on ds and your whole family. I would suggest this even to someone who has had no accidents for a couple of mths. It's just so hard to get to bathrooms in time at Disney. And think about if you're in a show! Maybe he'll be great when he gets home and returns to undies...but even if it takes a few wks, or longer, it will be well worth not having this stress on vaca'n!!! For all of you.

 

[disney1990]

Just to clarify -- we are planning on using pull-ups just in case of an accident, but he knows he's supposed to try to keep them dry and clean (like his Nemo underpants he gets to wear when we're at home) and gets upset if he has an accident.

We'll generally take him to the restroom between attractions, and 95% of the time, that should do the trick -- I just wanted to get a handle on what should be done if he *does* need to go while we're in line. Obviously during the ride there's no help for it and he'll just have to try to wait, but I wasn't sure about while in line.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

We took our granddaughter to WDW 2-1/2 years ago and she was at the end of being potty trained. (I might add that the trip to Disney was to celebrate that she was potty trained -- almost.) We had no problem whatsoever having one of us leaving the line and taking her to potty -- when necessary. Just like the original poster said, we took her to the potty often between getting in lines. We did not put her in pullups, because we didn't want her to lose progress with her training. She never had an accident and people in the lines were most understanding if we had to leave and return.

We are taking her and her sister back to WDW over Thanksgiving. The girls, now 5 & 7, are looking forward to being able to ride "almost" everything.

 

[cinder1]

I would not mind in the least if someone had to leave the line to go potty and then returned and I think pullups is a good idea even if it sets him back a bit. But be forwarned, lots of potties at WDW flush automatically and LOUDLY. This can scare kids. I have 4 kids (no. 4 is only 16 mths so we haven't done the potty thing with her). Our 2nd who is now 8 yrs was petrified of the flushing even at 6 yrs. If you go into the stall, you can put your finger over the beam thingie (whatever it's called) and keep the toilet from flushing until your son gets done. This made my DD feel soooo much better. The now 10 yr old and almost 6 yr old never had a problem with it, but you never know!!

 

[PatsGirl]

I wouldn't care what they thought really I've stepped out of line with both my children when the need presents itself. My DD8 got a little nervous waiting in line for some of the rides last year when we were there and for some reason it made her need to "go". Some people just need a reason to *****. Now, if more than one adult and a child or two left the line and then tried to re-enter, then... As most know, these lines can sometimes last 30 minutes or more.

My personal opinion on the pull-ups would be NO. If he is doing well at potty-training, just take him when he needs to go. I wouldn't ask more than once every hour or so and definately after meals, etc., but feel free to jump in and out of line in front of me

 

[jann1033]

i wouldn't think it was rude ( for a lttle 2 yr old, 6-8yrs or more yes since it's probably more someone didn't want to bother to take them or they didn't want to bother when everyone else went )but if you are going off season by the time you get back your group will most likely be gone.

you probably know about how often he has to go at home and i would stick to the schedule that way,when it is getting close to time before gettting in line make a potty stop. that's what we did training our kids since when theyr were busyor excited they "forgot". all the more reason at some place the restroom is not afew steps away. i would use the pull ups since he's used to that routine though, not so you didn't have to get out of line but because it may be a while till you get to arest room and just to keep things "less challenging"

 

[G8RFAN]

We do this all the time with only one ride... Dumbo. The bathrooms are close by and getting back into the queue is generally never a problem, as there are several areas to slip back in. Plus we only use one Dumbo elephant so there's really is no impact to anyone in line behind us.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

i wouldn't think it was rude ( for a lttle 2 yr old, 6-8yrs or more yes since it's probably more someone didn't want to bother to take them or they didn't want to bother when everyone else went )but if you are going off season by the time you get back your group will most likely be gone.

Just a side note as a reminder- please don't judge by age alone. There ARE some 6-8yr olds that might have a medical condition that makes them have the inability to "hold it" very long at all... even if they've gone frequently. My son is almost 8 and is on medication and even is going to see a urologist about this next week -because he still bedwets at night even with trying several medications for months now and he apparently has a small bladder because when he has to go- he has to go RIGHT THEN. And it's not a mental thing either- he tries so hard to hold it and gets very upset when he just simply can't hold it long enough (if it takes awhile to get to a restroom- like if we're driving and have to stop somewhere and find a restroom... have had instances where we stop and someone is in the restroom longer than he can hold it- ie: he can't go straight in after having held it during the time we drove to a place with a restroom). Believe me he HATES having this condition- as his younger (just turned 5) sister doesn't bedwet and doesn't have this problem with holding it for awhile during the day either.

Anyway, just wanted to mention that sometimes an older child having to go doesn't mean someone didn't want to bother to take them to the restroom or they just didn't want to go when everyone else did. Some conditions/disabilities are "hidden" so you never know what the situation is with an older child that has to leave the line to go to the restroom RIGHT THEN. Yanno? Just something to think about.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I don't know how practical that is. How are you going to get back to your group... push your way through the line? Not all lines are outside and it would be hard to find the rest of your group sometimes.

I think this is where the issue will lie. It's not like the queues at WDW are just metal bars outside putting people in a corral (at least not most of them). Many are indoors (such as PotC) and you will have a hard time getting out of line, much less getting back in.

And yes, you will deal with some angry people in line, even if you stopped to explain to every single one what was going on. Although your average DISer understands, there are people who scream at and swear at characters because they have to leave an area...all types are at Disney.

I agree with the Pull-Ups idea...hopefully you won't have a problem, but they are a nice safety if you do. Getting in and out of lines (especially at Epcot and MGM, with all the pre-shows and such) just isn't going to work - and you don't want to have to wait outside and miss everything either.

Good luck!

N.E.D.

 

[seashoreCM]

Children won't get very upset about having an accident if parents and peers did not either.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[SueM in MN]

But be forwarned, lots of potties at WDW flush automatically and LOUDLY. This can scare kids. I have 4 kids (no. 4 is only 16 mths so we haven't done the potty thing with her). Our 2nd who is now 8 yrs was petrified of the flushing even at 6 yrs. If you go into the stall, you can put your finger over the beam thingie (whatever it's called) and keep the toilet from flushing until your son gets done. This made my DD feel soooo much better. The now 10 yr old and almost 6 yr old never had a problem with it, but you never know!!

Bring a pack of post-it notes with you. Put one over the electric eye before your child gets onto the toilet. When they are done, the post-it note is easy to remove and throw away. (My youngest DD is disabled and before we started using post-it notes, her "record" for flushing the toilet while still using it was around 12).

Another thing that might be useful is to have him wear regular underwear with a pull-up on top of them. That way, he still knows he is supposed to keep them dry and if he has an accident, he will still feel the wetness. But, you won't have to worry about him leaving a puddle on a ride/theater seat (which I have seen be a nasty surprise for the next guest).

 

[allaboutmm]

I have been a Nursery school teacher for 12 years, I have seen alot of potty training in my days . I think if you told the person in line, right behind you, they would totally understand. If anyone else gives you grief, tough tooty for them. They are at WDW, children have to go when nature calls!! And I would think most people would understand this. As for pull-ups......not a big fan!!!!