allergy question

[Nutz4Dizney]

I have an allergy to latex but I'm also have an unknown allergy. When I'm in comfined spaces for 40 minutes or more my lips & tongue can swell due to certain smells. I have been tested for everything, but the doctor can not figure it out. I have to carry around Benedryl & an Epi-pen.

Do I need to have a note from my doctor to get a guest assistant pass?

Thanks

 

[livndisney]

I have an allergy to latex but I'm also have an unknown allergy. When I'm in comfined spaces for 40 minutes or more my lips & tongue can swell due to certain smells. I have been tested for everything, but the doctor can not figure it out. I have to carry around Benedryl & an Epi-pen.

Do I need to have a note from my doctor to get a guest assistant pass?

Thanks

What do you want the GAC to do for you?

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Nothing really. I just can't be in close quarters with tons of people for long periods of time.

I can wait on lines for as long as possible for rides like Peter pan, winnie the pooh, TTA, Speedway and it's a small world, because they have an "opening" for the air to circulate. I can't not wait in lines like spaceship earth, pirates, buzz or any rides that are "closed in".

When I take my mother she gets the GSC and just as the line starts to go up into the building at SM she would go around the back. When we would go on TSMM just as the line got to the "closer" quarter section we went through a different way.

I don't want to just "cut" the line as some people might assume. I know some lines can be up to 2 hours in close quarters. I just want to be able to enjoy my trip with my kid(s), and not have my kid(s) doing everything by himself while I'm waiting outside all the time.

I already can't go into the character lines like the meet & greet place in Epcot, the Toy Story friends in HS and probably not even Main Street theater in MK. I can't go into LM, GMR etc. so I thought if I can cut down on some wait times we would be able at least somethings together.

 

[livndisney]

Nothing really. I just can't be in close quarters with tons of people for long periods of time.

I can wait on lines for as long as possible for rides like Peter pan, winnie the pooh, TTA, Speedway and it's a small world, because they have an "opening" for the air to circulate. I can't not wait in lines like spaceship earth, pirates, buzz or any rides that are "closed in".

When I take my mother she gets the GSC and just as the line starts to go up into the building at SM she would go around the back. When we would go on TSMM just as the line got to the "closer" quarter section we went through a different way.

I don't want to just "cut" the line as some people might assume. I know some lines can be up to 2 hours in close quarters. I just want to be able to enjoy my trip with my kid(s), and not have my kid(s) doing everything by himself while I'm waiting outside all the time.

I already can't go into the character lines like the meet & greet place in Epcot, the Toy Story friends in HS and probably not even Main Street theater in MK. I can't go into LM, GMR etc. so I thought if I can cut down on some wait times we would be able at least somethings together.

A GAC is not intended to "cut down" wait time (and is stated right on the card). What you need is a good touring plan and use of fastpass. If you are staying on property make good use of morning EMH. Those will help keep you out of lines.

We just went to the character line at MK during the night parade and had mickey and minnie all to ourselves. For Buzz, use fastpass. Spaceship earth we ride at night with no wait(even with a line most of it is outside). Pirates, we ride during the night parade or during EMH with less than 10 minute wait.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

A GAC is not intended to "cut down" wait time (and is stated right on the card). What you need is a good touring plan and use of fastpass. If you are staying on property make good use of morning EMH. Those will help keep you out of lines.

We just went to the character line at MK during the night parade and had mickey and minnie all to ourselves. For Buzz, use fastpass. Spaceship earth we ride at night with no wait(even with a line most of it is outside). Pirates, we ride during the night parade or during EMH with less than 10 minute wait.

I did not mean that the way it was perceived. I do use fastpass, and like I stated I don't mind waiting in line (been doing it from years - notice the signature) when I can. Now that I can't wait for longer periods of time in the lines why does my kid have to miss out on "us" time. There are so many things I already can't do with him even with fastpass like LM, tough to be a bug, muppet 3d and the list continues. No GAC can not help me in those situations, but if it can help me "avoid" swelling from being in a couple of lines then I would like to see if I am able to.

Like I said I don't want to just "cut" the line, I want to avoid ending up in the hospital.

What is the difference if I wait 30 minutes in the assisant line at Spaceship Earth or 30 minutes in the regular line? I'm still waiting 30 minutes, but not with people crowded on top of me.


I'll email Disney about my situation. Thanks

 

[livndisney]

I did not mean that the way it was perceived. I do use fastpass, and like I stated I don't mind waiting in line (been doing it from years - notice the signature) when I can. Now that I can't wait for longer periods of time in the lines why does my kid have to miss out on "us" time. There are so many things I already can't do with him even with fastpass like LM, tough to be a bug, muppet 3d and the list continues. No GAC can not help me in those situations, but if it can help me "avoid" swelling from being in a couple of lines then I would like to see if I am able to.

Like I said I don't want to just "cut" the line, I want to avoid ending up in the hospital.

What is the difference if I wait 30 minutes in the assisant line at Spaceship Earth or 30 minutes in the regular line? I'm still waiting 30 minutes, but not with people crowded on top of me.


I'll email Disney about my situation. Thanks

Sorry you did not like my answer. On this board people with similar issues post real life experiences. Which is what I did. Sorry that did not work for you. No you do not need a note from a DR. You need to be able to explain your need. Not waiting in line is not a need. Waiting in a shorter line, you will be directed to FP. If you take a look at FAQ you will find quite a lot of info. You will also see there are no "assisant lines".

Have a Disney day...

 

[Piper]

I think you are thinking about what used to happen many year ago at WDW (before they had mainstream lines.) You used to go in the exit if you had a WC or certain GAC. That isn't the case now. As a matter of fact, the few non-mainstreamed attractions often have a longer wait than the "regular" lines.

livndisney is right. There is no way to wait for a shorter time unless you use a really good touring plan and fastpasses.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Sorry you did not like my answer. On this board people with similar issues post real life experiences. Which is what I did. Sorry that did not work for you. No you do not need a note from a DR. You need to be able to explain your need. Not waiting in line is not a need. Waiting in a shorter line, you will be directed to FP. If you take a look at FAQ you will find quite a lot of info. You will also see there are no "assisant lines".

Have a Disney day...

I did read of the FAQ but I didn't see anything that was like my situation. I understand about the people carrying canes, those in wheelchairs/scooters, children with disabilities, etc. I didn't see a post about an abled body walking adult being able to get a GAC; unless I missed it. I will check again just in case.

I understand there is no "assisant lines" but I don't know what the exit "line" (still not the right term) at spaceship earth is called so I rather use the name assisant than anything else.

Not waiting is line for long periods of time is not a need or want; it is a must. I have a health situation just like other people have walking, knee, back or any other kind of situation that keeps them from being in a "regular" line for the entire time. But with my situation I can die from standing in line for longer periods of time than someone who has an issue with walking. I do know people abuse the GAC just to "cut" the line a little bit, but that is not what I am trying to do. Just trying to visit some of Disney like I use to even with my limitations.

Disney is for everyone and I want to enjoy it just like everyone else without putting my life in jeopardy. I already miss out on so much with my son, I'm trying to see if there is a way I can do the things with him without ending up in the hospital.

I'm traveling with a 9mo so staying late or getting there early will all depend on him...

BTW: We waited in line with fastpass for 40 minutes in 2009 (before my allergy situation) so fastpass is not always the answer. I'm not saying the GAC is the answer either. I'm not even sure I need one, I'm going the end of September so the crowd are low. I'm just trying to sort things out before my trip.

 

[deegack]

Also some of the alternate entrances are even more crowded, and the wait longer. I'm thinking toy story mania among others.
A good touring plan and fastpass is the best solution

You can email Disney but the person who answers may or may not have ever even been to a park, never mind used a gac. The people here have lived and breathed gac and other accommodations and honestly are the best resource for what actually happens.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

I think you are thinking about what used to happen many year ago at WDW (before they had mainstream lines.) You used to go in the exit if you had a WC or certain GAC. That isn't the case now. As a matter of fact, the few non-mainstreamed attractions often have a longer wait than the "regular" lines.

Thank you. That is what I needed to know.

 

[crashbb]

I did read of the FAQ but I didn't see anything that was like my situation. I understand about the people carrying canes, those in wheelchairs/scooters, children with disabilities, etc. I didn't see a post about an abled body walking adult being able to get a GAC; unless I missed it. I will check again just in case.

I understand there is no "assisant lines" but I don't know what the exit "line" (still not the right term) at spaceship earth is called so I rather use the name assisant than anything else.

Not waiting is line for long periods of time is not a need or want; it is a must. I have a health situation just like other people have walking, knee, back or any other kind of situation that keeps them from being in a "regular" line for the entire time. But with my situation I can die from standing in line for longer periods of time than someone who has an issue with walking. I do know people abuse the GAC just to "cut" the line a little bit, but that is not what I am trying to do. Just trying to visit some of Disney like I use to even with my limitations.

Disney is for everyone and I want to enjoy it just like everyone else without putting my life in jeopardy. I already miss out on so much with my son, I'm trying to see if there is a way I can do the things with him without ending up in the hospital.

I'm traveling with a 9mo so staying late or getting there early will all depend on him...

BTW: We waited in line with fastpass for 40 minutes in 2009 (before my allergy situation) so fastpass is not always the answer. I'm not saying the GAC is the answer either. I'm not even sure I need one, I'm going the end of September so the crowd are low. I'm just trying to sort things out before my trip.

Actually, the GAC is exactly for that - people (adults and children) who look able bodied but need assistance.

I'm still not sure what you want. You say in one place that you aren't looking to cut the line, but then you say that you cannot wait in line. If you are trying to avoid waiting in line then you are cutting the line. As people have said, in the few rides with alternate waiting areas, these areas are often more crowded (and crowded with mobility aids - which may have latex or other things to which you react) than the regular lines.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Also some of the alternate entrances are even more crowded, and the wait longer. I'm thinking toy story mania among others.
A good touring plan and fastpass is the best solution

You can email Disney but the person who answers may or may not have ever even been to a park, never mind used a gac. The people here have lived and breathed gac and other accommodations and honestly are the best resource for what actually happens.

When we went in 2009 my mom had the GAC, we went through some of the line, then we waited in the alternate entrance. It was pretty fast not too crowded. My son wanted to go back on but my mom didn't so DS and I went through the entire line. I did not have the allergy situation so it didn't bother me to wait. Now that I do have that health situation I know for a fact I can not wait in that entire line without having a reaction.

I got my touring plan down. I got a list of rides/attractions I KNOW I won't be able to do, a list of rides/attractions I MIGHT be able to do and a list of rides/attractions I will be able to do without a problem.

Just trying to get my ducks in a row.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Nothing really. I just can't be in close quarters with tons of people for long periods of time.

I can wait on lines for as long as possible for rides like Peter pan, winnie the pooh, TTA, Speedway and it's a small world, because they have an "opening" for the air to circulate. I can't not wait in lines like spaceship earth, pirates, buzz or any rides that are "closed in".

When I take my mother she gets the GSC and just as the line starts to go up into the building at SM she would go around the back. When we would go on TSMM just as the line got to the "closer" quarter section we went through a different way.

I don't want to just "cut" the line as some people might assume. I know some lines can be up to 2 hours in close quarters. I just want to be able to enjoy my trip with my kid(s), and not have my kid(s) doing everything by himself while I'm waiting outside all the time.

I already can't go into the character lines like the meet & greet place in Epcot, the Toy Story friends in HS and probably not even Main Street theater in MK. I can't go into LM, GMR etc. so I thought if I can cut down on some wait times we would be able at least somethings together.

I don't understand why you can't go to many of these areas. My autistic daughter never could wait for 40 minutes for an attraction but that's why I plan like crazy so that we won't ever be around these kinds of waits. A good touring plan is worth my weight in gold (and I'm no skinny minnie).

At Buzz, I've never waited more than 5 minutes to board using a touring plan and FPs.

At Pirates, my plan has us getting there when it's walk on or practically walk on. I've never waited more than 10 minutes.

The Toy Story M&G at DHS you can get in and out much faster than 40 minutes if you head there right after riding TSMM in the morning. Another option is to watch for your child getting up to Buzz through the window. Of course you can meet the same characters at MK outdoors so it's probably not worth dealing with it at DHS.

If you go to the Character Spot at Epcot at RD while somebody runs over to to the Land to grab Soarin' FPs then you'll be in and out of CS pretty quickly (10-15 minutes max if you're there waiting at the turnstiles well before RD, possibly even less depending on just how early you get there).

The princesses and Mickey have FPs at MK now meaning you can be in and out in 15-20 minutes (princesses take a bit longer because you see 3 of them).

Frankly, I'm really not understanding how the bolded works. I'm not aware of a back way in and how is anybody even notified when it's time to bring her in? Using FPs should mean no more than 25 minutes max (usually less) from when you first enter the queue until you're back out of the building, probably less. Why wouldn't this work for you? If you're at the park for RD and bee-line to TSMM then you'll be out even faster. If there are other concerns that you haven't mentioned then obviously this wouldn't work but with what you said I don't understand why it wouldn't.

I really think you should take another look at touring plan services. You'll be amazed at just how quickly you can be in and out of attractions. It will also help you to plan for alternating outdoor with indoor attractions to help kind of air yourself out.

There will still be some attractions that just likely won't work because of the waiting area (VotLM, Laugh Floor, any show with the pre-loading waiting room really) and I can definitely sympathize because many don't work for my DD either for the most part meaning we don't go to them either but attractions that don't put you in a room to wait really are totally doable within your timeframes with a good touring plan and FPs.

What is the difference if I wait 30 minutes in the assisant line at Spaceship Earth or 30 minutes in the regular line? I'm still waiting 30 minutes, but not with people crowded on top of me.

The alternate waiting area for SE is indoors. The regular line is mostly outdoors and only takes a few minutes once you get indoors. Why would you want to wait in the alternate area? That would be the exact opposite of what you said you need. That's one ride actually that I wouldn't recommend for somebody like you just because there are several areas with artificial scents piped into the ride and I would worry that it could send you to the hospital just from being in the ride.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

That's one ride actually that I wouldn't recommend for somebody like you just because there are several areas with artificial scents piped into the ride and I would worry that it could send you to the hospital just from being in the ride.

I forgot about the scents.
I guess Figment and Soarin are out now too.


I so wished they figured out what I was allergic to with all the poking and proding so I didn't have to worry about anything. Just do what I always did.

 

[livndisney]

I think you are thinking about what used to happen many year ago at WDW (before they had mainstream lines.) You used to go in the exit if you had a WC or certain GAC. That isn't the case now. As a matter of fact, the few non-mainstreamed attractions often have a longer wait than the "regular" lines.

livndisney is right. There is no way to wait for a shorter time unless you use a really good touring plan and fastpasses.

Thanks Piper.

Clan-I got your PM but I can't get my reply to go through. I think I need to delete some more messages and I will try I again. I have that email for you. And some more information.

 

[livndisney]

Also some of the alternate entrances are even more crowded, and the wait longer. I'm thinking toy story mania among others.
A good touring plan and fastpass is the best solution

You can email Disney but the person who answers may or may not have ever even been to a park, never mind used a gac. The people here have lived and breathed gac and other accommodations and honestly are the best resource for what actually happens.

So you would suggest taking advice from someone with a latex (touch and airborne) and over 10 other known airborne allergies (not including the food ones) who lives in the parks?

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Thanks again...

Going to rework my touring plans using your suggestions.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Out of curiosity, do you wear a face mask or anything? I wonder if that might cut down on some of the exposure that's causing the problems. I would expect there to be latex-free masks out there, just because most people I know with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities who wear masks also have latex allergies. Plus, there's a fairly high instance of latex allergy in some medical fields (at least among the people I knew working EMS) so I would expect the type that surgeons wear to have latex-free versions.

As previous posters mentioned, you probably are better off with fastpasses and a good touring plan. You can still always go by Guest Services explain what you need (although I'd phrase it about needing to not spend long periods of time in an enclosed line and mentioning that you're fine with waiting however long the regular line is) and see if there is anything they can do. You do not need a doctor's note and they cannot ask for one. Adults are certainly allowed to use GACs, but there may not be anything that will fit your needs. If you haven't been recently, by the way, fastpasses can no longer be used any time after the return time. This may cut down on any waits you might have in a fastpass line.

I don't know how your making your list of which rides you know you can't go on because of the ride (rather than the line), but keep in mind ride time since they can be very long. I'd think that you'd want to skip anything with a ride time much longer than 30 minutes if it's enclosed, just so that you know that you can probably be out before you start to have problems.

Finally, there are so many things to do at WDW where I don't think you'll have a problem that I'd focus on doing as many as those as possible. It might be something you could set up as a game with your son about finding all the attractions you can do that maybe you've never done before or he hasn't done before and planning your trip around those. I've never been to WDW and managed to do everything I wanted to do because there's just so much. You may find attractions that you never would have done otherwise, that it turns out you love.

 

[Yoshiandi]

FYI===Most medical places now carry only latex free products anyway due to allergies. I do the ordering for our clinic and I can't find any gloves or products that have latex in the medical supply catalogs.

You said you carry benedryl and an Epi-pen. Do you take Zyrtec or Allegra every day anyway to help prevent a reaction or do you treat as you get a reaction? And if it is something you are breathing in, what about a nasal allergen spray like Flonaze?? I would think taking something every day would lessen the chance of a reaction and then if something did become severe, you could pop a benedryl.

Coming from an allergy filled family, I feel your pain. My mom is super sensitive to perfumes and it will bring on wicked migraines. I have to use Zyrtec and Flonase in the spring with all that wonderful pollen in the air

Good Luck on your trip!!!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I got thinking about you last night and got worried for you. How are you getting to WDW? Flying from NJ will take over 3 hours for a nonstop flight. How will that work? Are you planning any TS meals? Those will never take less than 40 minutes. Heck, sometimes it can take over 40 minutes at CS locations when you include the time it takes from when you first walk into the building to get in line until you're done eating, especially during peak times (you can always take your food outside and eat outdoors with CS at least). Where are you going to sleep? I'd recommend bringing your own bedding and towels and request an initial chemical free deep cleaning of your room and then put up the do not disturb sign every day so mousekeeping won't come back in and accidentally use some kind of cleaners in your room despite the request for no chemicals. Is your exposure cumulative or is there a period of time between exposures which seems to wipe the slate clean?

I guess I'm wondering how you cope in your day to day life as well. Do you manage to get grocery shopping done in under 40 minutes from the time you enter the store until the time you leave? Do you go to any school functions for your kids? Do you go to other people's houses or restaurants or movies? I really do feel for you.

I definitely agree with Yoshiandi that daily preventative measures would be an excellent idea for you. My DD takes Zyrtec with Nasonex daily during allergy season along with us taking preventative measures within the home in order to attempt to avoid the need for steroids and inhalers and her allergies aren't even as severe as yours. I would think that preventative medicines could at least help with the amount of time you can be exposed before you go into ana shock.