AIBU to think periods are normal? Disney take note!

[StripyHorse]

We've just returned from a few days in Disneyland Paris. Things were a bit manic before we went away so typically I forgot something - sanitary towels. I came on while I was there and ran out of the emergency supply I have in my rucksack and needed some more. Despite being a family resort with plenty of teenagers and women of childbearing age Disney seem to think periods are something to be ashamed of. There are no dispensers in the toilets and the shops there only stock Disney tat rather than any essential items. Instead you can only get them from the stroller hire place at the front of the park - cue a 20 minute wait in my case. I got to the front of the queue to be told they had run out -
in my limited French I managed to ask if they had any sanitary products because I needed them. Reluctantly the woman checked the stock and found some. When I finally did get some they were reminiscent of the maternity towels I used but needs must.

AIBU to think that Disney really could do better?

I don’t know about Disney in Paris, but in Florida many of the larger shops sell sanpro along with things like painkillers and plasters, they just don’t have them out on display. Although I don’t for for sure I suspect first aid would probably give you a few towels or tampons too, they’re very generous with plasters and painkillers.

I don't care about the brand - I was just surprised at the size but was just releaved to get some. They don't stock them in the shops in the park, I know because I asked. Yes I was disorganised (and i am not usually) but as I am sure I am not the only woman (British or French) to get caught out I thought we lived in more modern times than this?

I thought we lived in more modern times than this?

We do - there are plenty of places in Disneyland you can buy sanitary products.

FWIW I think the comments directed at the OP for lack of organisation are unnecessarily harsh; it isn't THAT uncommon for women to get caught out.

But when you do get caught out you might have to accept that you need to walk a little way to buy what you need.

I don’t think they think periods are shameful, it’s probably just thoughtlessness on their part. Not having them available in toilets is really weird imo. To the pp who said they haven’t seen sanpro on sale in toilets for ages, what public toilets are you using? Because I see them in every toilet I visit ranging from supermarkets to garden centres to restaurants, as it should be.

I was on holiday last week and came on unexpectedly, I do usually have an emergency supply but I used a different suitcase and forgot to put some in. Luckily they had some tampax in the site shop (for over £3 a box). Sometimes you do get caught short for what ever reason, we’re only human after all.

Notthis

It cracked me up too. Dh is French. I’ve lived, worked and studied in France. The French definitely can’t be renowned for being organised. Lol.

FWIW I think the comments directed at the OP for lack of organisation are unnecessarily harsh; it isn't THAT uncommon for women to get caught out

It's only because she is blaming Disney for it and making wild allegations. The "modern times" we live in appear to mean that literally everything is someone elses fault/problem.

*relieved

It is mad that they didn't have any sanitary dispensers in the loos. I'd contact them to point that out.

Why don’t women just carry sanitary products always? Oh to be so organised! And if we were properly catered for we wouldn't need to anyway.

At least it’s a lesson learnt and your be organised and pack some next time

Erm, she DID pack some. She just ran out. Heaven forbid.

Yanbu. Can't believe the responses tbh. The last thing you want to be doing at a theme park is spending hours searching for sanitary stuff. I would highlight it to them. There should be dispensers in the toilets. Imagine spending an hour of a precious Disney day having to search for it, especially if you have excited kids with you who don't understand.

And it's all very well saying there in a hotel 15 minutes away, but you're not going to want to walk for 30 minutes on the off chance that you can get them.

Fair enough, thoughtlesness on Disney's part rather than it not being "Disney enough" to have periods. Seems odd not to have any in any of the toilets!

frieda I kid you not! I havent seen a tampon machine in the thick end of at least 10 years. As I say, condoms, paracetamol and ummm little gadget you put on your finger that go buzz chuckles manically

Op I would definitely email them regarding sanpro in toilets. It would make life much easier for many women and girls visiting I’d imagine.

You are right op. What about disabled people in the same situation? Some can’t just hoof 10/15 mins and stand around waiting.

Yanbu. Periods can happen suddenly and I would have thought toilet vending machines would not be very hard to install

Toilet vending machines must be a british thing, I don't recall ever seeing them anywhere else in Europe.

YADNBU!! This drives me up the wall. It is quite panic-inducing to be in a state where you know you need a re-supply and you just can't find the things.

Businesses should provide access to these things as a matter of course, not as an afterthought.

If OP had said she forgot toothpaste I expect many of the responses here would be different. Periods are literally like red rags to a bull.

They simply assume you will be more organised, like french women

I didn't know that French women were somehow physiologically different to the British and only ever have regular periods and no peri-menopausal irregularities.

As for whisky, they make it in Wales too! Not sure if M&S stock it though :)

I havent seen a sanitary dispenser in any resturant, pub, theme park, zoo, or public toilet in the UK for years.

Hmm you might want to look more carefully. Because there usually one in the ladies in most places big enough to cater for that, aka big parks such as Disney, motorways etc etc.

It is quite possible this is not a common th8g in France though. I have to say, I’ve never been careful about that.

Sanitary pads with Mickey Mouse ears instead of wings

If OP had said she forgot toothpaste I expect many of the responses here would be different. Periods are literally like red rags to a bull

I doubt it. It was OP that made out periods were a bad thing, not anywhere else.
If you forgot your toothpaste it wouldn't be Disneys responsibility to have in every bathroom for you either, would it?

You got bad service in France, you say? That is incredible

Try a restaurant in France and sympathise with those of us who live here every day.

This exact same thing happened to me at Euro Disney early 2013. I'd suffered a miscarriage late 2012 and my periods hadn't restarted as normal afterwards meaning I was caught unprepared when it did arrive. I was shocked at complete lack of stores to purchase anything other than Disney items. I had to queue at a shop in train station for sanitary products as well as getting through the language barrier to be handed a package of towels I would have expected to find in the 70's! A chemist/general store would have been amazing not a station kiosk for personal feminine products.