ADHD DLP visit NEW YEARS EVE - Medication worries.

[rubyredslippers]

Hi,
Im getting a letter a current to take medication from the UK into paris - anyone had any probs getting through airport or any tips with taking Methyphanadate through?
Also im a bit worried .Its 31 december we will be going to DLP .We arrive 30th december.
I have not booked with Disney but am booked into Disney Dream castle.
I have to buy my tickets yet .Since new year is the busiest night.
Ive been told to go in early which is 10am now the park does not shut til 1am .Ive been told if we leave the park we may not get back in due to overcapacity.Now my DD needs her meds .I will need to leave the park as i dont want to be carrying medications around.
Is there a system where you can get your hand stamped and get back into the park ???

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi,
Im getting a letter a current to take medication from the UK into paris - anyone had any probs getting through airport or any tips with taking Methyphanadate through?
Also im a bit worried .Its 31 december we will be going to DLP .We arrive 30th december.
I have not booked with Disney but am booked into Disney Dream castle.
I have to buy my tickets yet .Since new year is the busiest night.
Ive been told to go in early which is 10am now the park does not shut til 1am .Ive been told if we leave the park we may not get back in due to overcapacity.Now my DD needs her meds .I will need to leave the park as i dont want to be carrying medications around.
Is there a system where you can get your hand stamped and get back into the park ???

I can't answer the questions about taking medication from the UK into Paris, although in 2007, I traveled by train from Brussels, Belgium to DL Paris and would have had no problem bringing medication over the border - no one looked at any of my medication.

I also can't specifically tell you about DL Paris over New Years Eve, but I have been to WDW several times over New Years. I can tell you how it works in WDW and I assume it would work the same everywhere else.

Each park has a certain capacity as far as the number of guest that may be allowed into the park. Once that capacity has been reached, no more guests are allowed into that park for any reason - people may have dining reservations, people may be meeting other members of their party. It doesn't matter, no one else is allowed into that park. They do track the number of guests entering and leaving. If enough leave so that the number in the park goes below the capacity, they may allow more guests in.
But, once you have left for any reason, I would assume that you will not be able to get back in, no matter what.
One year, my DD and I went to MK on NYE (leaving our hotel by 10 am). The next day on the bus, we talked to some people who had left later in the day, intending to go to MK. While they were on the bus, en route to MK, the bus driver was informed that MK had closed and the bus was rerouted to another park. Some of the people on the bus had reasons they needed to get to MK, but they were not allowed in.

So, then the question becomes what to do about the medication. To make sure you will have it, your only choice will be to bring the medication in with you.
I would suggest getting a small bottle/container to carry just a few doses and only bring the amount into the park that you need for the stay in the park (plus maybe one extra in case you drop a pill). My DD takes medication for seizures and that is what we do. That is the only sure way to have the medication and be in the park. If you leave, you are taking a gamble and may not get back into the park at all.

 

[rubyredslippers]

Hi thanks
So in other words it will be a long day !
Im going to have to go in and stay in from 10am until 1am the next morning ! -OMG.

As for medication the tablets my DD are on are classed as a controlled Drug .I have been informed by my doctor i need a letter to say what the illness is and the names etc of medication in order to be able to get through customs with it .I dont feel happy about carrying it around as it is dangerous to others if lost .

 

[SueM in MN]

Methylphenadate is known as Ritalin in the US and is a common medication for ADHD. Even though it is a controlled substance, it is not an unusual or extremely potent one, compared to some. Ritalin is a controlled substance partly because people without need for it try to get prescriptions so they can abuse it.

Any prescription medication can be dangerous to others if they find and take it, so people need to be careful of any. Even non-prescription pills like Tylenol and aspirin can be dangerous if children get ahold of an adult dose tablet and take it.

I would concentrate on making sure you have secured your supply of medication that you are bringing into the park. Having it in a bottle or pill holder and putting that into a zippered compartment in a backpack or purse will take care of that.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I travel quite a bit internationally and have never even bothered to bring a doctor's letter about my medications (several of which are much more controlled than methylphenadate). What I do do, however, is keep them all in their prescription bottles at least through the airport (I actually generally carry prescription bottles with me regardless rather than putting into smaller bottles for the day, but that's a personal preference thing). I've never had them even questioned. Since they're not liquids they don't have to be out separate from the rest of my things going through security and I don't think anyone has ever even noticed I have them.

 

[Danauk]

You should not have any problems taking ritalin into France, I would just make sure you have your prescription for it with you just in case. At DLRP you don't need to get your hand stamped to get back in, you just re insert your ticket into the turnstyle. The Dreamcastle is one of Disney's partner hotels and is not on site at DLRP like the actual Disney owned hotels are, but it is easy to get to via the shuttle which runs frequently. As for storing the medications there are lockers available at the train station which is just outside the Disneyland park gate, but there are no lockers available inside the park. Personally I would just carry the medication with me.

 

[rubyredslippers]

Hi,
thanks .I have since found out i need a letter from the doctorstating my DD's condition and medication due to Methyphenadate having "Street value" and being a controlled drug .If i have any probs i show customs the letter .

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have traveled internationally many many times (including France) and not once has any airport official/security ever looked at any prescription drugs I have had with me.

I have been informed by my doctor i need a letter to say what the illness is and the names etc of medication in order to be able to get through customs with it .

Your doctor is misinformed. Customs won't look at any of your things unless you are selected for a random search or look suspicious.

 

[rubyredslippers]

I have traveled internationally many many times (including France) and not once has any airport official/security ever looked at any prescription drugs I have had with me.

Your doctor is misinformed. Customs won't look at any of your things unless you are selected for a random search or look suspicious.

There are many medications on and off prescription and take abroad with you no probs .Methylphenadate is a controlled substance .It is a legally prescribed but still a controlled substance .You cant just walk through an airport with it.You legally have to declare it .

My doctor has not been misinformed.If i walked through customs without the letter i would be arrested .

Here are the Regulations as per the Home Office :

Summery of Information from the Home Office
Taking any controlled medication out of or bringing to the UK is subject to import or export conditions and need to be declared at the customs at any port of exit or entrance.

Methylphenidate - Ritalin, Equasym, Concerta
Dexamphetamine Sulphate
ADDerall
All come into this category.

As the regulations stand at the moment it is OK to travel with Controlled Drugs into or out of the UK provided the amount is no more than 3 months supply and does not exceed 900mgs - an update here as at May 2007 the Home Office only now issue a license if you are going to be out of the UK for a month or more - so basically if you are just going on a two week holiday you are no longer required to have the license. However it is advisable even if you are travelling with less than this amount that you get a letter from your doctor giving:

The name of the medication both generic and brand name, saying that you are prescribed the medication, what it is prescribed for, the accurate dosage per day, strength of medication, total quantity to be taken out of / into the country.

The patients name, address and date of birth.
The country of destination and departure and return dates to the UK or the country you are visiting the UK from.

However there are still some Countries, which have different regulations so you can check the information from the Home Office below for more details of these Countries and the particular regulations and relevant contact details .



All countries are different however Methylphenadate are not just any old tablets .They are a controlled drug and do have a street value .
If you google hmrc customs .It has a list of "certain" medications you MUST declare .Im am not ruining my holiday i am doing what i have been informed to do .