Potty wait times when park is overly crowded?

[DryerLintFan]

Hi all,

We're headed to Disney World between Christmas and New Years with a potty trained almost three year old. After looking up impacts of the crowds, it looks like our biggest worry is going to be potty time. Maybe this will change in the next 10 months, but right now we don't get a heck of a lot of warning between when she says she needs to go potty and when she actually goes potty.

I was reading that the biggest inconvenience during high crowd days like the week we are going is that the wait time for the restroom is 45 minutes or greater. There's a toddler sized potty in the Baby Care Center though, but I'm wondering if anyone knows if those are also swamped during high crowd days?

 

[JIMINYCR]

We've never encountered a 45 min wait even in the busiest times. DW has medical issues where she sometimes doesn't get much warning either and its rush time to a rest room. Disney does have many situated around the parks, some are used less frequently than others. She knows where they are and if ones got a longer line she moves on to an alternate one. Before heading into an area of the park check out the maps so you have a strategy and know where they are. And no the Baby Care Centers aren't as busily used but there aren't as many around either.

 

[DryerLintFan]

I did see that there was only one Baby Care Center per park currently.

I made a list of the bathrooms I've read about being less used around the parks, and we'll have pullups with us that we can hopefully coax her into if the bathroom situation gets rough. The idea of this has given me so much anxiety I actually started contemplating bringing a large beach towel to use as a curtain and a travel potty LOL.

 

[contrariwise]

In park, I found the app helpful in locating things like restrooms.

 

[Weather_Lady]

When we're in the parks, we don't wait for the call of nature. Pretty much every time we pass a conveniently-located restroom, we all stop and go whether or not we think we have to (especially on hot days when we're drinking lots of water to stay hydrated). It probably adds up to a potty stop every 60-90 minutes. So far, that has prevented either of our kids (starting at age 4) from ever needing to go when in a line or during a show, etc.

As for lines, I don't think we've ever waited more than 5 minutes for a larger bathroom at WDW, even during Easter break. (By "larger," I mean the big public bathrooms, as opposed to the restaurant restrooms, which sometimes only have a couple of stalls.)

Some of the out-of-the way restrooms we've found to be the least-frequented include: (1) MK - the bathrooms at the exit for Splash Mountain, the ones by the New Fantasyland station for the WDW Railroad, and those located at Tomorrowland Terrace; (2) Epcot - the restrooms on the far end of the Imagination Pavilion, as well as those in each of the World Showcase pavilions; (3) AK - AK has some of the most spacious bathrooms; the one near the Finding:Nemo building exit is a great choice, as long as a show didn't just let out; (4) HS - Gonzo's Royal Flush restrooms in the Muppet Courtyard aren't super-busy.

 

[Schneewittchen]

I usually go to the parks during high crowd times and I've never encountered a 45 minute potty line. When my kids were that age, we did stop for toilet breaks very frequently, maybe every other ride or when we had waited on a long line. DS7 had an accident on the Liberty Belle once when he was 3.5ish, traumatic for him, funny/gross for DH and I. So we do more forced potty breaks now.

In MK, the only places were I've seen a true long line with more than a minute or two wait is the Fanciest Toilet On Earth (Rapunzel potties in Fantasyland). The toilets between Casey's Corner and Crystal Palace are quiet, so are the toilets near Space Mountain and Gaston's Tavern. The ones by City Hall, Splash Mountain and the Barnstormer are busier, but still no true wait time.

I don't think I've ever seen a potty line in EPCOT.... there are some great hidden ones that nobody uses. One behind Journey Into Imagination or the old Odyssey building or the outside of the Liberty Inn.

 

[TiggerDad]

When we're in the parks, we don't wait for the call of nature. Pretty much every time we pass a conveniently-located restroom, we all stop and go whether or not we think we have to (especially on hot days when we're drinking lots of water to stay hydrated). It probably adds up to a potty stop every 60-90 minutes. So far, that has prevented either of our kids (starting at age 4) from ever needing to go when in a line or during a show, etc.

As for lines, I don't think we've ever waited more than 5 minutes for a larger bathroom at WDW, even during Easter break. (By "larger," I mean the big public bathrooms, as opposed to the restaurant restrooms, which sometimes only have a couple of stalls.)

Some of the out-of-the way restrooms we've found to be the least-frequented include: (1) MK - the bathrooms at the exit for Splash Mountain, the ones by the New Fantasyland station for the WDW Railroad, and those located at Tomorrowland Terrace; (2) Epcot - the restrooms on the far end of the Imagination Pavilion, as well as those in each of the World Showcase pavilions; (3) AK - AK has some of the most spacious bathrooms; the one near the Finding:Nemo building exit is a great choice, as long as a show didn't just let out; (4) HS - Gonzo's Royal Flush restrooms in the Muppet Courtyard aren't super-busy.

We went the week of Christmas/New Years this year, and the lines were long. Not 45 minutes, but still long. Much longer for the ladies in our group than for me. I am quoting this post because I agree with the idea of making people go when they don't need to, just to be safe. If you are going to wait an hour in line for a ride, you don't want to have to leave the line to use the restroom. The worst line was Pinocchio's Village Haus. I think the shortest line was inside Pecos Bill's. But that could be time of day. Yes, the app is a great way to find close restrooms.

 

[buseegal]

I did see that there was only one Baby Care Center per park currently.

I made a list of the bathrooms I've read about being less used around the parks, and we'll have pullups with us that we can hopefully coax her into if the bathroom situation gets rough. The idea of this has given me so much anxiety I actually started contemplating bringing a large beach towel to use as a curtain and a travel potty LOL.

you could do that but how are you going to dump potty? plus you most likely will not be able to rinse in sink. using the baby center when on other side of park could take minutes to center as they are near the front of the park. not the best if you have little warning. another idea with a young child is have dad take to men's room as line is usually shorter if time is a problem

 

[DryerLintFan]

Having her papa take her is pretty brilliant! I can't believe that never occurred to me!

 

[ninjaprincesst]

Never waited more than 5 minutes and we go at Thanksgiving.

 

[BackOTheLine]

Our daughter, who is about to turn 6, made a few trips during the potty training times. First I'd say that if she's almost got it now you'll be in pretty good shape in 10 more months. That being said, all the above advice is spot on. Make frequent stops... know where the restrooms are. Also - depending on your transportation scenario make sure you go before leaving the park. You could very easily find yourself in a long bus, boat or monorail line (or actually riding) with no easy access to a restroom! I can only remember a couple of times where the "need to go" happened while waiting in line for a character or ride. Usually most everyone is pretty understanding if one parent holds a place in line while the other goes and handles "the business." I'm sure it seems like a pretty scary prospect right now but 10 months provides a whole lot of growing at that age.

We always packed an extra set of clothes in a zip lock bag anyway - there's any number of ways for a little one to get messy in the parks (water, food, accidents, more water.)

 

[TDGMedley]

We were there in September and potty training i was very worried, but has long as you have a idea where the bathrooms are, baby care centers and bring a change of cloths you should be fine. If its a emergency and they are saying they have to go right now witch happens to us. Hopefully nice people will let you go in front on them. I do not remember waiting very long for the bathrooms. Good Luck have fun and enjoy great age.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Thank you guys! I feel much better about this.

Our daughter, who is about to turn 6, made a few trips during the potty training times. First I'd say that if she's almost got it now you'll be in pretty good shape in 10 more months. That being said, all the above advice is spot on. Make frequent stops... know where the restrooms are. Also - depending on your transportation scenario make sure you go before leaving the park. You could very easily find yourself in a long bus, boat or monorail line (or actually riding) with no easy access to a restroom! I can only remember a couple of times where the "need to go" happened while waiting in line for a character or ride. Usually most everyone is pretty understanding if one parent holds a place in line while the other goes and handles "the business." I'm sure it seems like a pretty scary prospect right now but 10 months provides a whole lot of growing at that age.

We always packed an extra set of clothes in a zip lock bag anyway - there's any number of ways for a little one to get messy in the parks (water, food, accidents, more water.)

BackOTheLine you are so so right about how much of a difference 10 months usually makes. It's so hard planning on what our scenarios will be like this far out because so much really will change for her and her development by then.

 

[carriebeth]

Even if totally potty trained and giving good warning times I would totally reccommend still putting a 3 year old in a pull up while at Disney. I always make my 3 year olds wear them while there even though they always did perfectlly with potty all other times. None of my children actually had an accident while at Disney, one did pee overnight once and I was glad we did the pull up thing. But the peace of mind for me was priceless! An accident would have simply meant a quick switch of pull up rather than a bundle of wet clothes and possibly an embarassing situation. Actually I recommend a friends child wear pullups last year when she was 3. The mother didn't think it was necessary....well they had an embarrassing situation on jungle cruise that soaked a whole bench of riders! I bet people loved them. THen they had another accident on the bus. We also make sure we do a whole lot of "you just have to try" bathroom visits for the little ones. Especially right before entering a longer ride or show.

 

[AndrewsJ]

I did see that there was only one Baby Care Center per park currently.

I made a list of the bathrooms I've read about being less used around the parks, and we'll have pullups with us that we can hopefully coax her into if the bathroom situation gets rough. The idea of this has given me so much anxiety I actually started contemplating bringing a large beach towel to use as a curtain and a travel potty LOL.

I'm sorry but this is just absolutely over thinking the whole thing and getting worked up for nothing. I have never waited in a line at any restroom in any of the parks. Women's lines get backed up sometimes but 45 minutes? If there is a male with you and it's an emergency have him take the child in. There is never a line for Men's. Enjoy your planning and don't let things like this stress you. Everything will be fine. WDW has been inundated with toddlers since day 1.

 

[lostpro9het]

Am I the only person who read the title and thought this was a thread about the Harry Potter ride?