Universal metal detectors and insulin pumps

[damo]

This is the first I am reading about this (we go in June). My daughter also wears an insulin pump. We are staying onsite and will have Express Pass privileges, so hopefully the wait won't be long assuming she has to unhook her pump to ride these rides. If you are staying offsite, I know that Universal offers a pass (similar to Disney's DAS) that will reduce the wait for one ride at a time. It might be something to look into for these rides in particular simply because it is not great for Type 1's to be unhooked (and potentially without their other supplies too if everything has to go in the locker) for a long time - especially because the excitement of waiting in line for a roller coaster is bound to greatly affect a diabetic's blood glucose (maybe causing it to skyrocket, maybe causing it to plummet - you never know!)

I would contact the park before you go to see if it will even be necessary to unhook her pump. I don't think it is.

 

[mamattorney]

I would contact the park before you go to see if it will even be necessary to unhook her pump. I don't think it is.

Always good advice (checking ahead of time), I'll call in early June so that they can have some time to figure things out. Her particular pump alarms at all metal detectors (not all do), so it's definitely something for which we will need a plan, even if that plan is to confirm that it's OK that she causes the metal detector to alarm!

 

[disneydawn71]

If this has been posted already, my apologies... looks like a permanent addition at Hulk, Dragon and RRR:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-metal-detectors-universal-20150422-story.html

 

[Sffd5]

I can not find any policy from Universal on this. I have sent an email to them for clarification. I have been riding roller coasters for ever and continued since getting my first pump over 10 years ago. I have never had an issue with my pump on a coaster and I have ridden all the coasters at Cedar Point including dragster. I do suggest that one maintains eating properly and having something to take care of lows in those sometimes long wait lines. I am going to Orlando in the near future and am thinking about going to Universal but if I can not wear my pump on these rides then I will not be taking my family there as I am the one that rides the coasters with my daughters. My wife does not ride them at all.

 

[Sffd5]

I'll post any response I get for everyone to see.

 

[SILS12374]

We are headed to the parks June 8th and I too am looking for more definitive info regarding insulin pumps. My 10 yr old is on a pump so I'm hoping to hear from someone who has actually encountered the detectors while wearing a pump and how it was handled. Might just go back to shots for the week. UGH!

PS - she rode Tower of Terror and Rip several times back in 2013 (prior to the TSA moving in) and had no problems with her pump.

 

[snvanvl]

I would love to know if there is an update concerning the metal detectors and wearing insulin pumps on these rides.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I would love to know if there is an update concerning the metal detectors and wearing insulin pumps on these rides.

I am also diabetic, however not on insulin. They can't deny you for that I believe

 

[DCDisney]

They can deny you if it causes a danger to you and/or others. Her pump didn't set off the alarm but each pump is different. She did take the pump off for Kali river Rapids at wdw (her choice) and then got a bad connection leading to a really high blood sugar and was within 2 of needing to go to the hospital. Her pump was under her clothing but she wears the patch part on her arm so that was visible. She rode rip rock roller coaster but not hulk.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

True I just meant if the metal caused the alarm to go off just for that reason

 

[soma151]

Hey will the guy that likes to stand in lines come with me, you can stand in all my lines and let me know when your at the front…lol..

 

[snvanvl]

They can deny you if it causes a danger to you and/or others. Her pump didn't set off the alarm but each pump is different. She did take the pump off for Kali river Rapids at wdw (her choice) and then got a bad connection leading to a really high blood sugar and was within 2 of needing to go to the hospital. Her pump was under her clothing but she wears the patch part on her arm so that was visible. She rode rip rock roller coaster but not hulk.

If you don't mind me asking what kind of insulin pump does she wear?

 

[anorman]

I posted this elsewhere in the DISabilities forum but I thought I would share since it applies here also.......

My daughter (12) wears an insulin pump for Type I diabetes. This will be our first trip to Florida with the pump. I decided to make a phone call to Universal. I just got off the phone where I had a rather tense conversation with Guest Services. I was informed that my daughter would not be permitted to ride the Hulk, RRR, or Dragon Challenge with her pump. Actually the guest services representative went on to say that she would not be permitted to ride due to her illness not necessarily because of the pump.

She initially said it is because of the intensity of the rides and that the pump could be damaged. When I questioned her on the possibility of using a waist belt with a zippered pocket, she then said it was because of her diabetes. I questioned her on this and said while I understood why people with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or neck/back injuries would be discouraged from riding but how would diabetes be affected by these rides? In my opinion, they are unfairly discriminating against people with type 1 diabetes.

So the bottom line is, according the person I was talking to, people with insulin pumps will be required to remove them if they want to ride these coasters and are recommended to not ride them at all because of their illness. The only reason I can see for not riding due to illness is because they might be away from their pump for an extended period of time if the line up is long which could be addressed if they permitted them to wear the pump secured in a waist belt. Arg!!!

 

[puffkin]

My husband has had Type 1 since age 6 and now wears a slightly different pump in that he uses the omnipod system as well as he uses a CGM called Dexcom. He usually has the CGM sensor on his stomach and the omnipod on his arm. Both require a PDM (blackberry type device) to provide readings and administer his insulin. He can go for awhile away from them so he wouldn't be an issue if they had to stay in a locker for an hour.

What I can say is that with his diabetes and "gear" he has never NOT been allowed on any ride at Universal, Disney, Hershey Park (local), water parks, etc. He also rarely has problems with security at the airport and the few times they have asked as soon as they see its an insulin pump they move on. I know it is different than the waist pumps, but just wanted to share our experience. And this is a HUGE reason why he went with the Omnipod system. He resisted getting a pump for years and then this system came out and it just works so much better for him and minimally impacts our very busy daily life.

 

[anorman]

My husband has had Type 1 since age 6 and now wears a slightly different pump in that he uses the omnipod system as well as he uses a CGM called Dexcom. He usually has the CGM sensor on his stomach and the omnipod on his arm. Both require a PDM (blackberry type device) to provide readings and administer his insulin. He can go for awhile away from them so he wouldn't be an issue if they had to stay in a locker for an hour.

What I can say is that with his diabetes and "gear" he has never NOT been allowed on any ride at Universal, Disney, Hershey Park (local), water parks, etc. He also rarely has problems with security at the airport and the few times they have asked as soon as they see its an insulin pump they move on. I know it is different than the waist pumps, but just wanted to share our experience. And this is a HUGE reason why he went with the Omnipod system. He resisted getting a pump for years and then this system came out and it just works so much better for him and minimally impacts our very busy daily life.

Were you at Universal since they added the metal detectors? If yes, did he have any trouble getting on the rides with his pump?

 

[puffkin]

Were you at Universal since they added the metal detectors? If yes, did he have any trouble getting on the rides with his pump?

No, not since they have added them there. We will be there in Sept though if they are still in place. He has no issues with them setting off the machines at the airport (he flies a lot) or in Washington DC where you have to go through detectors to get in the various museums. The pump itself does not impact the actual ride itself at any of the parks.

 

[anorman]

No, not since they have added them there. We will be there in Sept though if they are still in place. He has no issues with them setting off the machines at the airport (he flies a lot) or in Washington DC where you have to go through detectors to get in the various museums. The pump itself does not impact the actual ride itself at any of the parks.

Good to know. I think we will use one of those sports waist belts to secure it safely inside a zippered pouch while she rides the big rides. Hopefully her pump will not set off the metal detectors so there will be no questions. She will be safe and so will others on the ride.

She uses a Medtronic Paradigm pump which I have heard others say doesn't trigger the metal detectors. In this case, I think it is better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. I tried the correct route by asking ahead of time, and the person I spoke to was obviously not able to think outside the box, so to speak. We'll wait and see how it goes.

IMO it is not correct to ask people to remove a life sustaining medical device although I recognize they do have to ensure the safety of others on the ride. With a sports belt, it should be the best of both worlds.

 

[snvanvl]

I wear a medtronic 530G with a CGM. From what I can find the pump itself should not set off the metal detector but I am wondering if my sensor/transmitter for the CGM feature of my pump will set it off. The sensor is not something that just disconnects like my pump does. It will have to be replaced entirely if it is removed. Anyone have experience with the enlite sensors and metal detectors?

 

[mamattorney]

We'll be there on Thursday and Friday and I'll post what we encounter. Now, my daughter's a bit of a fraidy cat, but she's planning on riding Hulk and the dragon coaster (not Rip Ride Rocket). If rides any or all of these rides I'll let you know how it goes. Her pump absolutely sets off metal detectors (every single one she's encountered). It's a t:slim. She has wears a cgm (dexcom).

I'm not afraid of her unhooking for 30 minutes (we have express pass), but more than that would require a lot more thought. I think that everyone has to remember that they aren't banning everything. People who wear glasses don't have to put them in lockers, so the fact she has a cgm site shouldn't matter. It's stuck on her. The receiver - now that will likely be put in a locker since it's loose.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[snvanvl]

We'll be there on Thursday and Friday and I'll post what we encounter. Now, my daughter's a bit of a fraidy cat, but she's planning on riding Hulk and the dragon coaster (not Rip Ride Rocket). If rides any or all of these rides I'll let you know how it goes. Her pump absolutely sets off metal detectors (every single one she's encountered). It's a t:slim. She has wears a cgm (dexcom).

I'm not afraid of her unhooking for 30 minutes (we have express pass), but more than that would require a lot more thought. I think that everyone has to remember that they aren't banning everything. People who wear glasses don't have to put them in lockers, so the fact she has a cgm site shouldn't matter. It's stuck on her. The receiver - now that will likely be put in a locker since it's loose.

We'll see how it goes.

Just wondering how things went and if she was able to wear her pump and CGM sensor on the rides.