Disney Park restricts toilet use, guest collapses screaming after exceeding time limit
Source: Shanghai Disneyland (left), joker88888, YouTube (right)
A Disney guest recently discovered in the worst possible way that the park has strict restrictions on using the restrooms.
From what clothes you’re allowed to wear (capes, costumes, and inappropriate clothing are no-no, folks) to what size you’re required to be to ride the rides, there are many rules that dictate the magic of Disney’s theme parks.
Sometimes it’s hard to know these rules even exist until you experience them first hand. For example, many guests have been turned away for trying to bring selfie sticks into Disney World, while others only discovered the minimum age requirements for Disney’s fancier restaurants – like Victoria & Albert’s, Takumi-Tei and Monsieur Paul – when they tried to visit them with young children.
Disney World also limits the size of strollers at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom to a maximum of 31 inches wide and 52 inches long to ensure the comfort of other guests. Strollers are also not allowed, so guests with small children must plan accordingly, while the list of other prohibited items ranges from the obvious (like firearms, knives or weapons of any kind) to the unexpected (like balloons at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, dry ice, sneakers with built-in wheels and remote-controlled toys).
Recently, a guest at a Disney park stumbled upon another little-known rule after inadvertently breaking it.
On Monday, a video circulated online of a visitor falling to the ground and wailing after being told she had broken Disney’s “restroom pass” rule, which, the Global Times reported, dictates how long Disney guests can leave an attraction’s queue to use the restroom before they can return to their seats.
As it turns out, the limit is 20 minutes. The woman was reportedly gone longer, so Disney cast members told her she had to get back in line. Despite a heated debate, the cast members didn’t budge, leaving the woman devastated.
The Disney park in question was Shanghai Disneyland, the newest addition to Disney’s theme park lineup. At this theme park, which is home to popular attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Roaring Rapids, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and TRON Lightcycle Power Run, as well as the newly opened Zootopia Land, wait times can be notoriously long – and not just at the attractions.
In March, an eight-hour line formed as guests wanted to purchase new Duffy and Friends backpacks, causing some guests to faint and Disney having to call in security to get the situation under control. In another incident in 2022, a huge crowd formed to chase a float featuring Gelatoni the cat – a friend of Duffy the Disney bear, all of whom are extremely popular at Disney’s theme parks in Asia.
Related: Sophisticated Disney influencer criticized for trying to circumvent park-hopping rules
The toilet incident has since sparked a debate about whether this rule is fair to guests, especially those who may suffer from certain health conditions.
An official from the Pudong New Area Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau in Shanghai told Chinese media portal cqcb.com that due to the large number of visitors, there may be congestion in certain areas and that resort staff should better control crowds and provide better assistance in managing queues.
Related: Family claims popular water park discriminated against sick child
Like Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and all other Disney parks, summer is an extremely busy time to visit Shanghai Disneyland. According to Thrill Data, wait times are longest between June and August.
It’s a bit harsh to have to go through all that again just because you had to use the bathroom. However, what many refer to as queue-jumping is a controversial topic among Disney park visitors, and many are calling on staff to crack down on inappropriate behavior. Some other parks, like Knott’s Berry Farm, have even started encouraging guests to tell on those who queue-jump.
To mitigate the problem, some attractions that regularly attract long lines—such as Avatar: Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom—have actually built restrooms into the waiting area. Disney employees will also direct you to a “secret” restroom in the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance queue upon request.
Do you think a 20-minute toilet rule is fair?
