Episode 569 - When You Gotta Go.....

Authored by: Jul on Monday, May 25 2009 @ 07:58 AM CDT

As an editor/proofreader/writer, people come up to me often to pitch their book ideas. (I guess how it is for doctors always being asked health questions at random or lawyers being asked for legal advice?) When I was down at WDW a few years back, a guy overheard me talking about work and said that he had a great idea for a book idea... a guide to the best and worst "facilities" at WDW, complete with pictures. I don't think he ever got it published (or even written, and hopefully not photographed), but needless to say I saw the episode title and thought of that guy.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: AmyC on Monday, May 25 2009 @ 04:47 PM CDT

Here's my input on this topic.

Favorite Restrooms:

1.) Epcot, on either side of Spaceship Earth, at the base. I've never had to wait there, and I love the music. I know they were mentioned as being really busy on the show, but I haven't had that experience.
2.) Epcot, all the way around in the back of the Imagination pavilion. You have to take a right and keep going, then make a u-turn to the left. They are so hidden that nobody goes back there. Again, great music.
3.) Magic Kingdom, next to Pirates. I echo the sentiments from the podcast. The ones at Pecos Bill's Cafe are also good.
4.) Magic Kingdom, Columbia Harbor House, second floor. Only accessible by going up stairs, but it shares the benefits of being on the second floor of the restaurant: no line and very quiet. It is small, though, so one family could create a line on its own, but if you are there for lunch, you could actually be the first person in there besides the custodial CM for the day, LOL.
5.) Disney's Hollywood Studios, across from Muppet*Vision 3D. Never a line, and again, I like the music. It's weird that there's really never a line because it's right next to Toy Story Pizza Planet, but it's true.

Worst Bathrooms:

1.) Magic Kingdom, Tony's Town Square Restaurant. The stalls are very small, not suitable for people of size, and there is only one larger stall for those with special needs, so there is always a long wait if you need the larger stall. Horrible!
2.) Magic Kingdom, next to Peter Pan. Emergencies only! This actually pertains to any Fantasyland bathroom in my opinion. LOL! The music is that Swiss yodeling, too, isn't it?
3.) Magic Kingdom, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. Always a line and not well kept.
4.) Disney's Hollywood Studios, shared by Hollywood & Vine and 50's Prime Time Cafe. It's always busy, noisy, and...unpleasant, if you catch my drift.
5.) Epcot, at Soarin'. So busy and loud...line for the restroom and then another for the sink!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: ErwinM on Monday, May 25 2009 @ 05:30 PM CDT

Possibly TMI, but I was once making use of the facilities at Epcot next to the lockers. The music from Soarin' was playing, and the little sensor thingy activated such that a loud *whoosh* was added right at the moment when the jet fly-by takes place.

That's a bit of Disney magic that really doesn't need to be repeated.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: crosscan on Monday, May 25 2009 @ 09:27 PM CDT

You've finally hit bottom with this episode.

Great show.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: cherylp3 on Monday, May 25 2009 @ 10:42 PM CDT

http://www.cassworld.ca/photosbathrooms.htm

A site dedicated to disney bathrooms

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: AquaViola on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 03:12 AM CDT

"Today, we discuss the best and worst places to ....go"

The worst places to go? Anywhere which isn't a bathroom!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Kfischler on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 09:39 AM CDT

We discovered that the Pizzafari restroom has two entrances / exits. Not that big of a deal, but I took my father with alzheimers and 6 year old son to the men's room and dad managed to exit by a different entrance that what we came in. It may be something for parents to watch if they send a child in alone. At DHS, we like to use the entrance to the left of the main entrance by guest relations when we walk in from the parking lot. There never seems to be a line for security or the restrooms at this entrance. It is also a great place to stop at guest relations and request that Fantasmic return to a nightly schedule and let the CM know that Matt sent you.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: TheRedHelicopter on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 10:16 AM CDT

I thought for sure you were going to mention one other restroom - IMO the *worst* public restroom @ WDW...

In Epcot World Showcase, right next to the "Refreshment Port." TONS of traffic, and the male restroom is 1 stall and 1 urinal if I remember correctly. If this restroom were anywhere else, you'd wonder why there was no lock on the door... it seems like a "private" size restroom. I will never go there again.

This restroom is so bad, they don't list it on the park map. I guess they don't want to direct any more traffic to it.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: patrickandlydia on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 04:04 PM CDT

Slightly off topic, but restroom-related. At Disneyland, there are restrooms inside the attraction at the Enchanted Tiki Room, and they are EXTREMELY tiny. They were (from what I hear) built when Walt had the idea that the Tiki Room would be a supper club, and therefore it needed its own facilities.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Atomicmickey on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 04:55 PM CDT

Hmmm, I think an expanded live episode is in order.

Snack, Sip, Sick, and SIT.

:D

Coming up next: WDW's best and worst recycling bins.

Can't do trash cans because the talking ones would win hands down.

Ah, well, I enjoyed the episode just as much as any other, such is the Disney mania, I guess! Thanks!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: GrapeCatch on Tuesday, May 26 2009 @ 07:38 PM CDT

Congratulations - one of the most bizarre episodes....E-V-E-R. I now know where to hide out to steal cash from Newell. :) Will there be a touring plan for potties now? Music, ambiance, entertainment value, AC - I'm truly impressed you were able to "hold your own" on this topic.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: markjohns1 on Wednesday, May 27 2009 @ 08:50 AM CDT

The restroom between the Kennel Club and the Epcot front gate is an excellent place for some solitude. It is to the left of the front gates when facing the entrance, which is opposite from where the Disney bus dropoff is located. At the time I worked there (2005), it was the only onstage restroom on property that cast members were allowed to use when on duty, if that gives any indication of its popularity.

And while it is busy, I love the restroom behind the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway. Barring some disaster, it is filled with the smells from the bakery and is usually the most pleasant restroom-going experience in the parks.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: mrDingman on Wednesday, May 27 2009 @ 01:34 PM CDT

Did anyone else notice Newell's silence during the recording of the music in the bathroom discussion??? Version 1 of Mouseworld Radio?? I'm just saying...

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Ken in Atlanta on Wednesday, May 27 2009 @ 02:47 PM CDT

I have to say today's podcast really "moved" me :-)

I actually enjoyed the topic as my friends and I joke about the bathrooms and how they are all different in theme and music all over the property.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Thorpeedo on Wednesday, May 27 2009 @ 05:23 PM CDT

How about the following topics which I think were glossed over without enough detail :-)

Best bathrooms for Bulimic Podcasters.

On a serious note, I'll take some of this info with me in August ..Thanks

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: mrsngo on Saturday, May 30 2009 @ 09:32 PM CDT

I think that Columbia Harbor House has the worst restroom in the Magic Kindom. It is way too small of a restroom for the capacity of the restaurant and there is no changing table. The Coral Reef in Epcot has the same issue (but it has a changing table).

I found a great one with a family restroom at Epcot, in Future World, between Test Track and Misson Space, near an ice cream wagon and a sprinkler/mister.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: StephinMA on Monday, June 01 2009 @ 09:47 AM CDT

I know you guys are getting a lot of slack for this episode, but I thought it was fascinating! I really do like to know the best places to go! With that said, I have to say one of my favorites at MK is by the baby care center/first aid station, next to Crystal Palace. It can be busy, but it's huge and always clean and a little off the beaten path.

At DHS, I like the facilities on Sunset Boulevard across from the Anaheim Produce Market, I believe. It's a little set back so it's not obvious to everyone that it's a bathroom. It's big and I've always found it to be clean.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Jeanine on Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 10:54 PM CDT

Actually, with the refurbishment of the restaurants in the Japan pavilion, they now completely duplicate the experience of being in Japan by providing both primitive and futuristic bathroom-going experiences. The ones by the CS are my least favorite--only a couple stalls, always a line, poorly maintained, with a decor that reminds one of a high school lavatory. On the other hand, the one in the teppanyaki restaurant is huge, with a modernistic flair that wouldn't be out of place on the starship Enterprise.

[ Reply to This | # ]