Companion Bathroom Locations At WDW Resorts - Updated Per Disney 25-AUG-2011

[Bete]

I'm not trying to offend anyone. I have problems with my mom with needing bathrooms all the time. In no way am I saying don't drink; all I was saying is go gentle on it for the three hour period or so that you are at a resort and this may help to avoid issues. I keep my mom well hydrated all the time, too. Infact, I would over compensate on the drinking ahead of time and after; so, you could go gentle on it when you visit the resort and still be safer on all counts. I guess I should have explained it better. Everyone's circumstance is a little different and if this can't be done in your case, because, it could lead to more complications then I understand. My mom suffers from constipation, too. Miralax is part of our household for those stubborn ocassions, but I go light on using any products.

I was trying to be pratical about the situation. I don't personally want to have any anxiety/stress on trips and purposely avoid situations that may cause it. That's just me. Some things are just not worth it for me or mom, but everyone is different. Honestly, I try to put myself in my mother's shoes when I make some decisions; so, I can do the best for her. I feel it's not a perfect world; so, I want to prepare for whatever to the best of my abilities. If I want to do something and she agrees, even if it's difficult to do, I would try to make it happen, but I'm a realist and I would take extra precautions to avoid the worse.

I felt by the time you explain your situation to anyone at Disney it might be too late and it could be embarrassing; so, I tried to be practical about the approach; so, you can still enjoy resort dining if it means a lot to you. I'm grateful I'm the same sex as my mom; so, I don't have your exact issues. I decided to call one more time to Disney and I did get a pretty good answer that's different from my first call. Most fitness rooms at the Disney resorts have one bathroom usually unisex. You won't have immediate access to this fitness room bathroom; because, you're not a guest at that particular resort; so, you would have to get Disney's assistance on this, but it's doable. In your case, the Contemporary does have a bathroom in their fitness room. I hope this helps. All the resorts don't have a fitness room bathroom and that may be a reason you can't get a consistent answer across the board. The CM in this case said it would probably be better to go to a manager; because, they would have the ability to get you into the fitness room bathroom.

Disney is on the top of my list for how well they do for the handicap and it's one reason I'm venturing out for the first time there with my mom alone this year and not having help with me. I feel I can do it there.

Based on my phone call to Disney I have another suggestion. I would maybe prepare a CM at the restaurant resort about what could happen ahead of time; so, if needed you will have it easier and better for the situation and not waste precious time when it happens, if it happens. Also, you may want to do it just ahead of the dining time at the resort; so, you have less chance of a problem during the dining time. I would think that would be more manageable for all concerned. I know we can't time everything ahead of time, but this could help the situation. Again, I'm just taking a practical and realist approach, here.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone and I'm sorry ahead of time if this post is doing it again.

 

[Dan1]

Hi Bete,

No offense taken at all.

A special needs person's situation is like a snow flake, isn't it? That is to say no two situations are alike. So, sure, what works for one situation may or may not work for another.

I completely agree with you that Disney does it the best when it comes to special needs people and their families; that's why I am brave enough to take my special needs DD there by myself because its a vacation for her and I just happen to be along for the ride.

Great, great suggestion about speaking with the hotel's concierge about our needs before we enter the restaurant for a meal. I will have to remember that for sure.

Sure, I can be a feisty ol' so-and-so and lack patience when I see folks taking advantage of special needs facilities (e.g. special needs parking spaces usage by those without the governmental wheel chair sign are a complete annoyance to me). And, since my DD cannot speak for herself about her special needs I see it as my responsibility. She has and will continue to endure barriers / disappointments / etc. in her life; one of those areas shouldn't be WDW when it comes to basic needs within its public areas; neither should it be for you and your mom or anyone.

I also see it as my responsibility to my DD and to others when even an organization such as Disney could be missing the boat when it comes to making WDW the 'Happiest place on earth' 'Where dreams come true'. My dream is that my DD and I can go anywhere within WDW without having to worry about the reality of toileting, without even having to stand out in the crowd with our special needs, etc. I know....I don't dream much.

It was actually some responses to a posting I did about our upcoming WDW visit on a college sports fans forum of all placed (NDNation) where I got the idea about visiting and trying restaurants in the different resorts. I then thought that was a great idea as I have not been to many of the WDW resorts and were curious what they looked like, what Disney special touches they had vs any old cookie-cutter hotel, that this activities would not cost us any more money to do, and so on.

Then after assuming that the resort hotels would be designed as the Parks have been with at least one easily available companion / family washroom I was so surprised that this was not the case. Looks like even WDW can be improved.

What surprised me even more was the inconsistency of WDW staff in having a standard response / action plan. This has nothing to do with the facilities themselves but in staff training and re-training. I spoke with at least a 1/2 dozen WDW folks over the phone and received responses such as "I don't know" (fair enough) to "What is a companion washroom?" (disappointing) to "I have never been asked that question." (intriguing) to ....

As an adult educator myself I guess I am biased towards sufficient training and re-training. And, as a user (as aren't we all) of the service industry I am biased to what is becoming more and more a main stream issue ('special' needs adults) with our aging population. Even if there are not the companion / family washroom facilities that one can simply to into without having to call attention (really, I am a shy guy at heart) to us (just like any WDW visitor does not announce to the folks around them that they are going to the bathroom), at least there should be the consistent practice that every WDW member knows about and applies consistently IMO.

Sorry for the rambling (too much caffeine this morning!)

I'll report back as I learn more and on what I receive back from Disney to my email of yesterday.
Dan

 

[Bete]

I added a response (edited) after you read my last post. I highlighted it in purple. I called Disney again and asked specifically about the Contemporary and I did get another option; so, please read that part of the post.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You can add to the list immediately outside the Typhoon Lagoon turnstiles, in line with the ticket booths, is a companion restroom.

 

[Dan1]

I added a response (edited) after you read my last post. I highlighted it in purple. I called Disney again and asked specifically about the Contemporary and I did get another option; so, please read that part of the post.

Interesting, Bete, and thank you.

One of the persons I spoke with yesterday re Grand Floridian indicated that there 'might' be family / companion washrooms in areas of the resort only accessible by those actually staying at the hotel. She didn't mention that accommodations might possibly be made.

I am intrigued about the many different answers we seem to be getting to this, IMO a common issue.

I'll be certain to remember that when we go (as well as my continuing research).
Dan

 

[POOHsie]

IMO over my years of being disabled and using a scooter, most every person I have encountered is flummoxed when asked disability questions. It seems to be a human condition, like saying if that person didn't have any experience with a disabled person in their family or at their school, then they really have not thought much about a disabled person's difficulty with normal living.

Even my own family, God bless 'em. I saw them last month and they don't really understand how my scooter lifts into my car and comes out (they could fetch it for me). I visit my sister's house once a year. It's a showplace and she wants everyone's shoes off. OK, except I always have to ask her for a chair to sit down on so I can comply. She never remembers this from my last visit. My own daughter thinks I whine when I explain the difficulty of reaching things at the grocer, or the difficulty of getting on an elevator because walking people go around me and get on first, leaving me off. We went to NYC once, another sister got tickets to a Broadway show. Some family sat in regular seats. I was in the back row HC area. My space was created by taking the original seat out, nothing more. So the floor tilted down, and I sat there for 2 hours, trying to keep myself from sliding forward and off my scooter seat. My butt muscles were exhausted! Obviously the theatre owner didn't do the handicap area correctly, and could care less how that affected real people. Still another sister broke her leg this winter and was on crutches for 6 months. She all-of-a-sudden totally understood my struggles with the simplest things like stairs, doorways, accessing a bathroom. She didn't understand before, and I have been handicapped for 8 years.

I could go on and on. Regarding Disney, I see no correlation with a big company name and the expectation of perfection of handicap accommodation. I think overall Disney is about the best I have experienced, as far as physical accessibility for handicapped people. But young people don't always comprehend handicap needs, no matter how much they are trained. Older people maybe don't know, either, but usually they are poised and mature enough to handle a question about a handicap need with dignity and real concern for the appropriate assistance. The Contemporary is an old pre-ADA building. Perhaps it is unjustifiably expensive to add a companion bathroom there. If a worker there offered to clear out a restroom for a person's HC needs, personally, I would be satisfied with that solution. Grand Floridian, another pre-ADA building, also.

 

[Dan1]

Hi POOHsie,

I hear ya re people really not 'getting it'.

Re Disney, here's the rub (vs any other large corporation).

They have always put themselves up (not us their customers {OK, OK, 'guests'}) on a pedestal. Perfection is weaved into every emotional heart-strung commercial, etc.

I have also experienced how they are indeed quick to respond when situations are pointed out. An experience on our one and only Disney Cruise comes to mind.

If no one tells Disney about a situation which can be improved, how will they have the opportunity?

Yes, retrofit costs are one thing (yet, having some experience with retrofits of bathrooms they really are not that expensive to do).

Consistency of procedure can be more expensive to fix.

At a minimum, IMO, having a published policy for CM and guests alike to access in situations such as this would be a start (more can be done but at least it would be a start).

We'll see where this leads.
Dan

 

[POOHsie]

Hi POOHsie,

I hear ya re people really not 'getting it'.

Re Disney, here's the rub (vs any other large corporation).

They have always put themselves up (not us their customers {OK, OK, 'guests'}) on a pedestal. Perfection is weaved into every emotional heart-strung commercial, etc.

I have also experienced how they are indeed quick to respond when situations are pointed out. An experience on our one and only Disney Cruise comes to mind.

If no one tells Disney about a situation which can be improved, how will they have the opportunity?

Yes, retrofit costs are one thing (yet, having some experience with retrofits of bathrooms they really are not that expensive to do).

Consistency of procedure can be more expensive to fix.

At a minimum, IMO, having a published policy for CM and guests alike to access in situations such as this would be a start (more can be done but at least it would be a start).

We'll see where this leads.
Dan

I understand and agree with your comments. Sometimes people think they have done all they could, until it is pointed out how a deficiency can be improved. Unfortunately, the mobile world is not always the best judge of needed improvements for the handicapped. I give Disney credit for truly trying to care about its guests regardless of age and ability. I think that is why you see so many handicapped people there year after year.

Re: the paragraph I bolded. I never see myself as the person described in an emotional pitch for a vacation spot, or an adventure spot, or a fun beach party where everyone's drinking trendy wine coolers. They are obviously not reaching out to me, and who wants to watch a national commercial of people in wheelchairs, watching others have fun from the sidelines? It's lonely to be left behind while others are skipping and running and actively exploring their surroundings. That is the chasm between the fit and the handicapped. I don't hold it against anyone for those portrayals on TV that don't show us handicapped. We are really invisible on many levels, I accept that -- unless my human dignity is trampled. Then I will make noise.

 

[darthtatty]

After a few trips I always thought Disney was lacking in companion restrooms. When we have a full day at the parks we have to use the restrooms many times. Usually my husband and I both take our son to the toilet, however usually this cant be done.
However thanks to Sue for the link,we will be able to use a few more locations.

we were sent to the 1st aid room at MK by the staff at Crystal palace, however my husband said the actual toilet area was very small. Not enough room for a wheelchair user and companion.

will check out a few locations and try to take a few pictures when we visit.

 

[Dan1]

After a few trips I always thought Disney was lacking in companion restrooms. When we have a full day at the parks we have to use the restrooms many times. Usually my husband and I both take our son to the toilet, however usually this cant be done.
However thanks to Sue for the link,we will be able to use a few more locations.

we were sent to the 1st aid room at MK by the staff at Crystal palace, however my husband said the actual toilet area was very small. Not enough room for a wheelchair user and companion.

will check out a few locations and try to take a few pictures when we visit.

U rock, darthtatty!

I will as well.....yet we are not going until next spring........sigh, so far away.
Dan

 

[krisnme]

THis is the location of Companion Restrooms at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and ESPN:

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
·To the rear of the locker rental area at the entrance to the Park
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
·at the First Aid station behind the Beach Haus shop, as well as behind the locker rental area, near the Shoeless Joe's shop.

Edited to Correct ERROR:
It should be
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
·To the rear of the locker rental area at the entrance to the Park

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
·at the First Aid station behind the Beach Haus shop, as well as behind the locker rental area, near the Snowless Joe's shop.
.

SueM, I am confused, or perhaps the TL CM's are, the last two visits to TL I needed a companion rest room to change DS out of his wet things and we were directed the first time to the changing room in the small shop near the entrance, and last time (june 2011) a CM cleared a mens room at the back of the locker area for us. both times we were told there was no companion room. It would have saved DS's poor Uncle the embarassment of assisting him to toilet, a task he is not used to doing. I will look next time we visit.

 

[SueM in MN]

After a few trips I always thought Disney was lacking in companion restrooms. When we have a full day at the parks we have to use the restrooms many times. Usually my husband and I both take our son to the toilet, however usually this cant be done.
However thanks to Sue for the link,we will be able to use a few more locations.

we were sent to the 1st aid room at MK by the staff at Crystal palace, however my husband said the actual toilet area was very small. Not enough room for a wheelchair user and companion.

will check out a few locations and try to take a few pictures when we visit.

I do have pictures of almost all the Companion Restrooms at WDW, just not time to post them all.

From personal experience, I can tell you that the First Aid room is big enough for use by a wheelchair user and a companion, but it’s VERY tight.
You have to do a lot of extra steps to get out of the way (and be fairly small).

SueM, I am confused, or perhaps the TL CM's are, the last two visits to TL I needed a companion rest room to change DS out of his wet things and we were directed the first time to the changing room in the small shop near the entrance, and last time (june 2011) a CM cleared a mens room at the back of the locker area for us. both times we were told there was no companion room. It would have saved DS's poor Uncle the embarassment of assisting him to toilet, a task he is not used to doing. I will look next time we visit.

These are listed on the WDW TL web page.
EDITED TO ADD: Those were copied and pasted from the WDW website. Cheshire Figment pointed out there is an error.

It should be SNOWLESS Joes and Beach Haus at Blizzard Beach, not at TL.

It may be that they added one or were having a problem with one.
I know that there have sometimes been reasons one Companion Restroom was temporarily closed, so you would be directed to another one.

When we were at Epcot October of 2010, one of the Companion Restrooms was closed. When we were back in April 2011, that one was open again and had been renovated.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here are some Companion Restroom pictures I just downloaded:

Companion Restroom at Asia in AK near Expedition Everest

Companion Restroom in AK in Dinoland near Chester and Hester’s

Companion Restroom in AK in First Aid (in Discovery Island near the walkway going toward Camp Mickey Minnie).

 

[SueM in MN]

Companion Restroom inside Cosmic Rays at MK in Tomorrowland:

Companion Restroom at MK in Tomorrowland between Space Mountain and Carousel of Progress. The small blue door is a locked supply cabinet.

 

[Dan1]

There used to be a Companion Washroom in Camp Mickey within Magic Kingdom. DD and I used it a couple of times last year. Likely it is now not (no pun intended) accessible with the renovations???

Hopefully with the renovations to that large area of MK it will be kept (and / or an additional one added).

I didn't know there was one inside Cosmic Rays. I just checked the Guide for Guests With Disabilities map I kept from last year and there is no indication that there is one in Cosmic Rays. That is very unfortunate because DD and I could have used it. Cosmic Rays is my favorite quick service resturant in MK (even though more oftent than not Ray is taking a break).

So, that brings up a question. If the washroom in Cosmic Ray's was not indicated on the 'Guide' to include a Companion Washroom, how many other resturants in the parks which do include washroom facilities:

1. do include a Companion Washroom, yet
2. are not listed on the 'Guide'?

Finally, is there a listing of all the Companion Washroom facilities in MK resturants, in a Park or outside a Park?

Thank you very much to those in the know. I want to be one of the cool kids so DD and I are in the know as well when we return to visit Cosmic Ray.

Dan

 

[SueM in MN]

The one in MK's Toontown no longer exists. From the photos I have seen, the building it was in was torn down.

You can go to First Aid and get a list of Companion Restroom locations for that park. It may not be totally up to date, but will at least give a list, so you can figure a little better than from the disability park map.
The number is kind of a moving target right now. They are adding them, as they are able in spots.
For example, the one Cosmic Ray's was not there on one trip and had been added the next time we came. That is one of the few I know of in a restaurant (besides Cinderella's Royal Table). Many restaurants have very small restrooms with 3-4 stalls. Those don't have room to add a Companion Restroom, so probably will never get one. Cosmic Rays is a huge place and had pretty large restrooms, so space to add one was less of an issue.

 

[Dan1]

The one in MK's Toontown no longer exists. From the photos I have seen, the building it was in was torn down.

You can go to First Aid and get a list of Companion Restroom locations for that park. It may not be totally up to date, but will at least give a list, so you can figure a little better than from the disability park map.
The number is kind of a moving target right now. They are adding them, as they are able in spots.
For example, the one Cosmic Ray's was not there on one trip and had been added the next time we came. That is one of the few I know of in a restaurant (besides Cinderella's Royal Table). Many restaurants have very small restrooms with 3-4 stalls. Those don't have room to add a Companion Restroom, so probably will never get one. Cosmic Rays is a huge place and had pretty large restrooms, so space to add one was less of an issue.

I guess my point is this.

What use is the 'Guide' if it is inaccurate? How is a casual visitor to a Park supposed to know that the 'Guide' is not accurate and to go to the First Aid Station for the accurate?

How long has the Companion Washroom existed in Cosmic Rays? Is it something new since May of 2011 when DD and I were last there?

I know all y'all are not Disney employees. Yet, I needed to vent my frustration. We really, really could have used the Companion Washroom facilities at Cosmic Ray's.

Dan

 

[Bete]

What I mean by this is each resort is going to be a little different especially since many of them are older ones. I was told already all resorts don't have a fitness room bathroom that can substitute for a companion restroom; so, this answer is not one that can be used across the board for all resorts. I will say I'm suprised at some of the answers from other posters like one CM saying I don't know what you should do, but in that case I would be asking for a CM supervisor instead or I would ask that CM to contact special requests about it and so forth. I think for those of us in more of the "know" we may have to knudge the rest of the world to notice a little more about whatever. There's an educational factor, here and we may all have to do our part to make it a little bit more noticeable; so, this area of concern can be improved upon.

I really don't think overall this is going to change (retrofit and so forth) any time soon at Disney especailly at the resorts. Also, I feel it may improve as Disney encounters more and more of this kind of situation at the resorts. There's a learning curve to all of these circumstances. I'm still very impressed on the answers I received for this situation in calling Disney. At least they have answers.

I will say I will be very curious how well Disney does with the new expansion area in MK in this regard. I think this will be do or die time in this particular area. If they have indeed taken the steps to make it a better experience in this scenario we will know soon there. New expansion areas will dictate how Disney is going to treat and act about this situation. Also, I remember when the Living Seas was being redone in Epcot's Future World and I was impressed that Disney took the steps to make a nice, companion restroom there; although, it's still separated by sex.

It would be nice in a perfect world to have everything just right, but I'm truly a realist; so, unfortunately, I have compromised in some situations myself. It's not that I won't rock the boat if I feel strong about an issue it's just that I look at the overall situation before reacting and how it will affect my loved ones and some battles are not worth it for me, but I usually win the war.

I think it's important to do your homework ahead of time and be prepared in your particular situation; so, you can better enjoy whatever. I think there are enough answers to make your time at the Wave restaurant tolerable, but I still wouldn't do it personally.

I made some hard decisions on my forthcoming trip to purposely avoid and actually eliminate resort restaurants; since, I won't have a car on this trip and I'll be pushing a manual wheelchair myself. I will have enough to do just pushing a manual wheelchair through the parks. I can't see spending all the time and effort required using Disney transportation to get back and forth to some resort places; because, there are not direct routes to get this accomplished from Disney resort to Disney resort. Also, I know there's no way Disney will ever make resort travel a direct route to do this in my lifetime. If my mom's 90 years old you know I'm not young either and I would not find this enjoyable to say the least and I know this would be too rough on my mom to even attempt doing so on this trip. So, I will simply not do it on this trip; although, if it was easier to do it I would probably go for it. I'm not willing to take a taxi back and forth, either to the resorts; so, I decided to skip this experience this time. It's just not a perfect world at Disney; so, I adjusted accordingly. This will not ruin my trip in the least; so, I'm okay with it. My mom and I will be perfectly happy without attempting those kinds of adventures.


Good luck to all.

 

[SueM in MN]

The guide was more helpful in the past when it actually had a list. I suppose some people complained that the list was not always easy to figure out where it was from the location description.
To help with that and make language less of an issue, they decided to add it to the disability park map. That brings its own issues because it can be hard to tell from the icon which is marking a regular restroom and which is a Companion Restroom.

First Aid offers a list as a courtesy to people with disabilities who come in to use the restroom there. I have had one offered every time. You can also go in and ask for one.

The Companion Restroom at Cosmic Rays has been there since at least October of 2010 - or possibly October of 2009. I was pulling pictures off my computer photo album and I know it was October because of the Halloween pictures.

Because they are adding them as they can, I don't think there will be a complete list until they have put one anywhere there is space. I think their eventual aim is to put one in every washroom area if they can, but they are a way from that yet.

The lists I have are probably the most complete ( save for the error or BB vs TL ). We've been going to WDW for more than 25 years, much of it with someone with a wheelchair.

 

[Dan1]

The Companion Restroom at Cosmic Rays has been there since at least October of 2010 - or possibly October of 2009. I was pulling pictures off my computer photo album and I know it was October because of the Halloween pictures.

I would vote on October 2010 (i.e. last year) as DD and I last went in April 2010 and the Guide didn't show it.

Nice to know it is there for next year when we visit with Ray (I hope he's performing this time)
Dan