Mom and son trip: restroom question...

[Clover9990]

It wouldn't bother me in the least if you did this! Another option would be to use one of the family restrooms located throughout Disney. You have to do what you have to do to protect your son's best interests!

 

[Talking Hands]

I find that those with hidden disabilities are usually quite quick when using the handicapped stall. They never seem to waste time. Most realize that others are waiting.
Now my daugher would have just started interpreting what the person said. She wouldn't have bothered to offer to tell me. Her hands would be flying as soon as the first word was out of the mouth.
Oh and I would knock on top of her head if she ever called me hearing impaired. Hard of hearing or deaf is fine but I am in no way impaired by my hearing loss. I function just fine in both worlds in spite of my medical problems.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
I find that those with hidden disabilities are usually quite quick when using the handicapped stall. They never seem to waste time. Most realize that others are waiting.
Now my daugher would have just started interpreting what the person said. She wouldn't have bothered to offer to tell me. Her hands would be flying as soon as the first word was out of the mouth.
Oh and I would knock on top of her head if she ever called me hearing impaired. Hard of hearing or deaf is fine but I am in no way impaired by my hearing loss. I function just fine in both worlds in spite of my medical problems.

\

If they are indeed hidden disabilities then how do you know who has one? How would you know they are quicker then those with no disabilities if they are indeed hidden? Do you peek in the stall? LOL!

 

[Baloo]

Let's play nice or Baloo is going to get really growly!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Baloo
Let's play nice or Baloo is going to get really growly!

I don't know why unless Baloo has no sense of humor. Geez. Let's lighten up!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
I find that those with hidden disabilities are usually quite quick when using the handicapped stall. They never seem to waste time. Most realize that others are waiting.
Now my daugher would have just started interpreting what the person said. She wouldn't have bothered to offer to tell me. Her hands would be flying as soon as the first word was out of the mouth.
Oh and I would knock on top of her head if she ever called me hearing impaired. Hard of hearing or deaf is fine but I am in no way impaired by my hearing loss. I function just fine in both worlds in spite of my medical problems.

I will rephrase my question into PC fashion as to not be misconstrued that I was personally attacking anyone as I really was not:
Could you possibly enlighten us as to how you could tell if someone had hidden disabilities if indeed they were hidden? I would like to know so that in future potty trips I could draw my own conclusions as to who was faster. The hidden disabled or the parents who bring their children into the larger stalls. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

This does always get into a debate (I think there are about 15 pages on the Debate Board on this subject). So far, it's been a pretty tmae descussion and hopefully will stay that way.

All I ask is that if someone uses the Handicapped Accessible stall in the restroom or the Companion Restroom (not called Family Restroom at WDW) that they are using another stall if possible and that they use it as quickly as possible and tie up the stall doing things like applying sunscreen that could be done outside the stall. Some people's "quickly as possible" might be very fast, but I have to admit that my DD's "quick as possible" can take a long time. Her disabilities make her move slowly and if we are in a stall that is not large enough for us to move, it takes about twice as long. However long it takes us, that's as quickly as we can do it.
As for hidden disabilities, I assume that if someone is using it, they had a reason for choosing it which is none of my business. Some may be families with older boys (like 15) who have hidden disabilities that prevent them from using the men's room by themselves and they are just too old to come into the ladies room. I'd just ask that people look at other alternatives besides the Companion Restrooms since, especially at MK, there are only 3 or 4 total for the whole park and those are the only stalls in the whole park that some people can use.

 

[welovedis]

I find that those with hidden disabilities are usually quite quick when using the handicapped stall.

I'm also curious-if they are hidden, then how can you tell?

Now my daugher would have just started interpreting what the person said. She wouldn't have bothered to offer to tell me. Her hands would be flying as soon as the first word was out of the mouth.

Well, since he has a cast on his arm (broke it playing hockey!), his fingerspelling doesn't really "fly". Besides, he was a 6yo being yelled at by a stranger in a restroom so I'm thinking he was more interested in getting away from the individual. DH uses his lip-reading skills 99% of the time-his preference

Oh and I would knock on top of her head if she ever called me hearing impaired. Hard of hearing or deaf is fine but I am in no way impaired by my hearing loss. I function just fine in both worlds in spite of my medical problems.

Well, as I have said in my posts to you on other topics, to each their own. My DH refers to himself as hearing impaired or deaf (he is profoundly deaf lest there be a misunderstanding) as he does not see it to be a huge issue. He's very secure with himself and the way he functions so that a word or too wouldn't cause him to erupt and knock off the top of anyone's head.

Getting back to the topic, I hope you got the info you were looking for, OP! Good luck with your trip planning and hopefully things will go smoothly for you!

SueM inMN thanks for the info about the restrooms, I think most here were really unaware they weren't called family restrooms. Locally they are mostly family restrooms but I have noticed others labeled "companion restrooms" since I saw your post on this. Thanks again for clearing that up!

 

[skiwee1]

I think anyone that has a problem with a 7 y/o boy in a ladies restroom should probably stay away from most foreign countries. In particular, Italy, which has the men and women share restrooms. I learned that the hard way 3 days into moving to Italy. We went out to eat and I asked a waiter where the bathroom was. He pointed to a door and so I went in. In the room was a single stall and sink. I entered the stall and I heard somone enter the restroom itself. No biggie until I saw the large shoes under the stall standing by the sink no more then 3 feet from me! I really didn't want to come out of that stall! Well since I couldn't stay there any longer I opened the door only to be faced by this big old Italian man staring at me. He was really looking annoyed at this point as I was staring back in fear and wasn't leaving the confines of the stall. He finally came at me and pushed me aside so he could take his turn! LOL! I just about died. I ran out of there and told my husband who flagged down the waiter and told him. The waiter laughed and said that most of the "banos" in Italy were that way. After living there for a couple of years I got used to it. It was no big deal but I'd take a 7 y/o boy anytime compared to a 60 y/o man.

 

[browneyes]

My ds will be 7 when we take our next trip to WDW. If he's with me and his dad isn't around, he'll MOST definately go in the ladies room with me.

 

[cinmell]

Originally posted by Clover9990
It wouldn't bother me in the least if you did this! Another option would be to use one of the family restrooms located throughout Disney. You have to do what you have to do to protect your son's best interests!

It doesn't bother me either! If I had a 7 year old son, he would be coming into the bathroom with me.

 

[ZPT1022]

I have no probem with someone doing what is necessary to keep their kids safe. When we were at WDW last Septmeber, I exited my stall to find an older man helping his wheelchair bound wife. I just asked if I could help at all. I ended up blocking the door by standing in front of it so that she could tinkle in private. Then I helped herhusband maneuver her wheelchair out of the stall. This was in one of the older bathrooms towards the front of the MK, no companion restrooms in sight anywhere. It didn't really bother me, but I grew up with brothers who didn't care for privacy too much so maybe I am not so easily bothered. The man thanked me and said that they have been harassed in the past. I think most guys that are in the ladies room are in there for a single purpose, and 99.9% of the time it is not to harass the other ladies in the restroom.

 

[JESW]

When a boy gets to a certain age he doesn't want to be in the ladies room! My DS is 8 now and there are times when he HAS to come in the bathroom with me and his sister - like it or not!. While in there he is either playing by the water or trying to hide in a corner. He is NOT peeking in stalls or molesting anyone. All boys are not bad!!!!!! At our house I can't use the bathroom without one of my two kids (DD is 4) coming in. DS has seen me and his sister and we have had some "talks" and he asks me questions. My son is in the public bathroom with me so I can keep an eye on him - not so he can get an eyeful.

Please lighten up on our boys. Us mothers of sons are doing the best we can to raise good, decent men.

Jill

 

[panfan]

My DS will be two months shy of seven for our upcoming trip at the end of may. I will certainly bring him in with me this year and continue to do so for as many more years as I feel comfortable with. Anything can happen!! And no -I am not an overprotective mom in the least!! What is going on in there that boys of that age can see anyway. Just a bunch of ladies washing hands, changing babies and putting on lipstick!!

 

[TandyR]

I only have DDs the oldest is turning 7 in a few months. She has only been in a public bathroom alone at church and at the local McDonalds where there is bathroom in the Playplace area it is 1 room 1 bathroom type thing and I sit and watch the door when she goes in until she comes out....those are the only two places she goes in alone. So at WDW she goes with me. If she was a boy I would be treating it the same way. So I have no problem with a 7 year old boy coming in to a ladies restroom escorted by an adult female.

 

[colleen costello]

Isn't it tragic that we have to worry about our babies being alone long enough to pee? So sad... But I always recall the little boy, mentioned above, who was attacked in a public restroom in California and bled to death on a concrete floor.

It is highly unlikely, thank goodness, that anything like that will EVER happen, but how can we take chances with our children? My baby boy just turned 5, but he is big and looks 7. How could anyone possibly object to him coming into the ladies room? There are stalls! What is the worst thing that could happen? Will he turn into a pillar of salt if the worst occurs and he sees female genitalia?

I think if you see a Mom in a bathroom with a son, give that little boy a smile because he would probably feels silly and would rather be in the mens' room. Count him lucky that Mom is watching out for him. If you are uncomfortable, wait a minute or two to use the toilet until he leaves. A small inconvenience to keep a child safe!

 

[3yL]

because he would probably feels silly and would rather be in the mens' room

very true with my boys at least I've always figured I'd drag the boys in with me (assuming Dad isn't around) as long as they squak and complain about it. About the time one of my boys DOESN'T put up a fight, then I'll know I need to make some changes.

Believe me, if we all think this is rough, my husband has a heck of a time when he's out with the kids. He won't let DD#2 (almost 6) go in the bathroom by herself, but he hates dragging her into the mens bathroom. At least in the women's bathroom everyone is in a closed stall. He always has to peek in to make sure nobody is using the urinals. (Not to mention that he's very uneasy about the level of cleanliness. )

 

[marcyinPA]

My ds, almost 8, has never been in a public men's room by himself. Ok, he has...at church! But aside from that, I won't let him go in by himself.

I'm not sure at what point I will stop bringing him into the ladies room with me. I know at this point, he's not ready to be without an adult. It has nothing to do with trusting my son. It has EVERYTHING to do with the sickos that lurk in public places to prey on children. You can never be too safe.

I have also never had a problem with women giving me rude looks or comments when I've brought both of my ds's in the restroom with me, at WDW or anywhere else. (my younger ds is only 3).

In fact, the last time we went to WDW, my ds (7) had to go VERY badly, and the line was VERY long. A woman a few people ahead of us heard my son "complaining" and kindly let us go ahead of her (bless her, because it could have been a disaster for a 7 y/o with wet pants!)

You definately have to do what is right for you and your ds! Go in and do your thing, and know that you will probably never see the people in the restroom again anyway, so let them think whatever they want!

 

[Sharby]

It's always just been me and DS - who is now a young man.

At Disneyland, he'd always come into the ladies room with me until about 7. (I didn't care what others thought because the alternative was the very very very small chance that he would end up like that poor dear child that a couple of people here have brought up.)

However, to make sure that others were as comfortable about the situation as possible, I explained to my son beforehand that we would walk together and we would choose stalls next to each other. We both attended to business and he waited - in his stall - until we were both finished. When I gave him the word that I was finished - we'd exit - at the same time and we went over to the sink and washed our hands at the same sink and then left - walking together. The odd time that we couldn't get a stall next to each other - he'd go in a stall first and when I finished, I'd go over and tell him at his stall that I was finished and then he'd exit his stall. I think this made people seem more comfortable - because we were always together and other ladies could see I was right there.

 

[southbound]

Being a single parent of a young boy (he's eleven, and I still consider him a young boy) I definitely know the trials of having to take him to the bathroom in a public place. I do not have any problem with boys in the bathroom, and applaud all those moms out there who have the common sense to protect their children. My son does not wish to go to the ladie's room with me anymore, nor has he for a couple years now. However, we are planning our first trip to DW in the fall, and I'm not comfortable letting him go alone with so many unknown factors involved. I know that he will not go with me, and I will have to let him go by himself, but you can bet I will be standing there waiting for him, and if he takes too long, I'll go in after him, not giving a damn what others think about my being in the men's room.

I am his mother, and it is my duty to protect him, as it is every parent's duty to protect their children. I do not understand why people would object to a young boy being in the ladie's room, and that we should all consider the safety of children, yours, mine, and everyone else's as part of our job as concerned citizens! Would we rather be reading a story in the newspaper or watching it on tv how another innocent child was hurt physically or mentally by the sick people of this world??? Would we feel justified that at least the little boy or girl was in the proper bathroom?

Take a minute to think of some young child you love, whether it's a daughter or son, a nephew or niece, or some child you are close with, and imagine for a moment how you'd feel if something were to happen to them because we made them use the proper bathroom to appease a small percentage of closed minds!

As a further point, it's the men's and ladie's rooms were talking about, not the boys and girls room! If a child needs to be with their parent or guardian, give them a break, smile and remember... we are in the happiest place on earth, let's not forget that! A smile adds face value, let's add some value to the world instead of judging and ruining ours and anyone else's day!