to use the disabled toilet in this situation?

[dolldaggabuzzbuzz]

I took mine and my sister's DCs for a nice day out to the cinema. There was just me and 4 kids aged between 3 and 5. After we bought our tickets I took them to the Ladies toilet, they were all engaged and there were a few people waiting.

I decided not to wait and took the DCs out to the disabled toilet as there was no one using or waiting for it. When we had all finished we were washing our hands when someone tried the door, one of the DCs had unlocked it and this woman in a wheelchair came in with her partner, I said I won't be a minute. She glared at me and muttered some things.

I was really embarrassed that I had been caught out using the disabled toilet and I wanted to apologise to the lady for keeping her waiting (for less than a minute!) but she was really, really angry. The DCs ran out in opposite directions and I quickly said sorry to the lady and as I walked off she screamed "Bitch!" at me. I never turned back to look at her. I don't think the DCs noticed anything!

I was so upset I couldn't get it out of my head throughout the film, and it ruined my day. I don't think what I did was that bad. I thought that woman was really horrible. AIBU?

Hang on, what if another disabled person is using the disabled toilet while another disabled person has to wait?

Oh ffs Altinkum stop the dog with a bone routine. The OP had NO reason to use the toilet so give up with the hidden disability nonsense. She cba to wait and felt bad getting caught using the loo she said so herself. This is based on what she (and others who state they would use it just because) have said so you are wasting your time.

YouaretooniceNOT - sorry but who says thats more patrionising saying Non- disabled (by the way my mum is in a wheel chair after a bad brain tumour).

What if Bottleofbeer? Then they are waiting for someone who ALSO has the right to use the facility- slight difference wouldnt you say? brick wall please- anyone

OP has already said she knew she shouldnt be using the loo. they say they were embarrassed at being caught out using it. People with a genuine condition wouldnt feel that embarrassment

If you or your child has a disability hidden or otherwise, use the toilet. If you or your child doesn't- dont. How much clearer can it be? Yet the same people want to argue black is white to try and justify selfish behaviour.

Why are so many people saying "what if the OP had a disability?" or "what if there had been another disabled person in the loo?"

The question was whether the OP was unreasonable to use the disabled loo. She is not, apparently, disabled. It was not an emergency. She didn't want to wait.

She inconvenienced a person with a genuine need and moral entitlement to that facility because she didn't want to wait in the queue.

Moral entitlement to use a toilet ?

Wtf are you wittering about now Altinkum? Zero relevence to the OP yet again!

ok so you mom isnt normal then

Moral entitlement to use disabled facilites do you mean Marianne? Oh well fuck em, shouldnt have been in the car that crashed in the first place no doubt!

altinkum, that's what I was wondering about further back. If all the toilets are accessible that's really going to spoil things for some people

Gemsy83. will you demand that they all be for wheelchair users only? after all they will have to wait in the queue like everyone else otherwise

And the OP didnt have four kids, she took someone elses out with her own for a day out. If she cant cope with the basics (i.e taking them to the loo's), dont bite off more than you can chew imo!

to be clearer. They have to wait until the current person comes out.

No Altinkum, you have moved on to wittering about 'what if this, what if that' none of which is relevent to this thread! But rather than admitting you are wrong you just bleat on even more!

If I'm going out somewhere for a short while I always go to the toilet before I go, just in case of a lack of suitable toilets.
If I'm going out for a long time, I deliberately go to places which I think cater well for children (for example, big shopping mall, large town centre, where they usually have parent and child toilets).

If these aren't available and DD needs the toilet, she goes with the door open whilst I wait outside with DS (in buggy). On the odd time I have been caught short, I have waited until the furthest toilet came free, and kept the door open a crack whilst DD waited with DS (in buggy). It does help that I have a bladder of steel!!!

ONCE we used a disabled toilet cos DD told me she was definitely going to wet herself (she was only just 3 at time). I felt terrible, as my mum is disabled and finds it really hard if she has to wait a long time for the toilet, but it was either that or wee all over the shop!

OP YABU as there was no real desperate need and you had other options, but the disabled woman was beyond rude.

Accessible toilets should not replace disabled toilets. Disabled people need accessible toilets, others can manage without them whether its a bit trickier or not.

YANBU.

She didn't have to wait long, and you were apologetic. She was rude.

But she clearly stated she couldnt be bothered to wait- would you really like to be kept waiting behind someone like that when one of the children you are caring for needs it more? Seriously?

Gemsy83, you wanna try that again. It didn't make a whole lot of sense?

Disabled toilets are simply accessible toilets.

Btw you seem to think disabled means wheelchair user with bladder problems. I don't know who told you that.

Gemsy83 - You obviously do not get it.

Altinkum is talking complete sense. this issue is not about the op's situation and is not black and white.

These toilets are not for sole use by disabled users but are for everyone to use. the only ones that arnt are the ones with key access.

So i will continue using them when I need too.