Young children & terrifying WDW toilets!

[forgetyourtroubles!]

We just got back from a wonderful trip. But my 2.5 year old, who rode EVERYTHING (and was not scared) and saw EVERYTHING she could see (and was not scared) was TERRIFIED of the loud automatically flushing toilets. I looked everywhere for non-auto-flushing ones and only found one handicapped one at MGM with a manual flush. It was a really serious problem for us. I did not bring a portable toddler potty (is there such a thing?) and she did NOT want to resort to pull-ups and I am not kidding that she cried and nearly developed a bladder infection due to being scared to death to sit on that unpredictable toilet.
I remember that my son had a similar problem when he was the same age, which was our last disney trip. He ended up having to go to a gastro-enterologist b/c of toilet fear that started at WDW. I thought it was rather unique at the time.
Has anyone else had this trouble or figured out what to do about it? Did I miss kid's bathrooms somewhere?
I would suggest that to Disney. A lot of the new shopping malls have family bathrooms now that have small potties and low sinks. Even converting one stall in each bathroom would be so helpful to families with young children.
Does anyone agree with this?

 

[MomE@Home]

Those self-flushing toilets startle me sometimes ! I read in another post that someone used a band-aid to cover the sensor of the toilet in their resort room. Maybe you could try to cover up the sensor with TP & remove it after you open the door so your child is further away from the toilet when it flushes.

 

[crzy4dsny]

My son is afraid of them to. He holds his ears the hole time. I have to pull his pants up. He also makes me hold my hand over the sensor so it does not flush while he is on it.

 

[disneymom3]

I cracked up when I read the title of your post! YES!!! Even my (petite) 6 yo hates those toilets. I swear everytime she even budges a tiny bit, they flush! When she was littler I held my hand over the sensor until she got off--which is what I now do for her little brother. Nice to be certain they always flush, but not good planning for the little ones. At least they have towels and not blow dryers. Neither one of my kids will use those blowers and I have to carry Purell with me all of the time.

 

[BevS97]

I have to hold my hand over the sensor, and we have also put a sticker over it as well, they give out free stickers in most of the shops that are perfect for this, and they peel off easily when the child is done.

 

[pegasusEH]

I can't imagine what it must be like for a small child. I remember the first time I experienced the sudden, expected, flush.

It is nice to know that the toilets are being flushed regularly though.

I also know there have been occasions when the "auto flush" hasn't happened and I have had to pass my hand over the sensor to activate it.

 

[pezheadval]

I anticipate this being a problem with my daughter as well. She is 2 1/2 and potty training. She hates the loud sound of toilets flushing. She likes me to warn her before I flush and she holds her ears. She really would not like it if the toilet flushed while she was on it. I love the sticker over the censor idea. Maybe I'll carry a pack of small post it notes in my backpack for just such an occasion!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I also have been anticipating this as a problem. My barely turned 5yr old son last year was kinda freaked out by these at times. I mean not terribly freaked out enough to not want to go- but took him awhile to get used to it. It doesn't help that they flush incredibly loud also- or aleast it seemed that way to us. I mean loud enough to startle him if someone ELSE'S toilet was flushing while he was on the toilet.

Now this year we'll have our youngest who is JUST NOW really getting the hang of going potty. Right now she's still in a baby potty seat but hopefully by then she'll be going on a big toilet (she'll have no choice once we get there LOL) I had already planned on doing what someone else suggested- I'm there anyway, won't hurt me to put my hand over the sensor each time.

 

[Us3]

My 4 yr old DD, experienced these loud toilets in April. She was not too scared, but covered her ears as well. I have to say it was kinda funny to watch her face when it flushed with her on it! She has the funniest look on her face and said, "well that silly potty!"

 

[PattnFmly]

In MGM anyways, there is the cutest little kids toilet in the Baby Care center. My boys both loved it because it was little and was a hand flusher. We were only starting toilet training last year and didn't need any setbacks! Didn't really use the center's in the other parks because when you gotta go, you gotta go, but in that park at least, you may want to try there.

 

[forgetyourtroubles!]

I don't know what our problem was, because I did hold my hand over the sensor a couple of times and it flushed anyway. After that, I thought maybe they were on a timer. Maybe I moved to help her or something and didn't realize it. Next time, I will do the sticker thing, for sure!! She was asking me if she could just tee-tee in the sink!

 

[ladypoo]

We had the same problem while we were down there earlier this month. My granddaughter (just started potty training) would look to see if there was a red flashing light before she would get on the stool. The first time she did ok, but when the flushing stated it scared her to death. Now we have to show her the flippy handle before she will get on the potty. It was "no, dont have to potty" if she saw a red flashing light.

 

[disneymom99]

My DD age 7 is also very afraid of these toilets. (I thought she was the only one- it's nice to know she's not alone!) I have also tried to hold my hand over the sensor, but it flushes anyway. I just end up holding her hand or she just puts her hands over her ears. We will be at WDW in 5 weeks, maybe she won't be as afraid this time.


Gayle

 

[disneyluver91]

When my DD was 4, we were at the garden grill and she (and i) had to go to the bathroom. when i went, and the toilet flushed, she was HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING. when we came out my DH was filming us and he was focusing on my daughter...this is what she said (still laughing) "Daddy, it was sooooo funny! When mommy was pulling up her pants...(breaks to laugh some more) the TOILET FLUSHED (keeps laughing)" To this day, it is my favorite disney movie!