Allergy to the Sun...

[Photobee]

I'm writing this question for my friend. Her daughter has an allergy to the sun. She can't control her body temperature and will break out if she gets too much sun or too hot. They are planning their first Disney trip for March.

She's already planning on getting a note from her Daughter's Doctor about the condition. Will Disney do anything special for her family? They have another daughter who would do fine standing and waiting in lines. I'm sure they don't want to be split up though.

They are not going to Animal Kingdom because of this condition. (Even though I've told her she should just for an hour or 2 in the evening to say she's been there). Is there anything else she can do to make their time at the parks that much better!?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. You might especially look at Post #6 concerning the Guest Assistance Card. It is not unusual to get a card that will allow waiting outside of direct sunlight.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[mechurchlady]

Nudges Cheshire Figment.

You do not need a doctor's note to get a GAC as they will take you for your word. There is EMH which lets you get into parks early and stay up into the wee hours of the night. You could get to AK very early and do a couple hours before the sun comes out.

Wear a hat and make sure there are no holes that let sun in. Canopy works well and there are some special needs strollers that can be rented off site. Talk to CMs and often they will try to help you out. You should be able to get a GAC for the sun sensitivity and overheating issues. The GAC is a piece of cardstock that tells the CM what the special needs of a guest is and does not get you to the front of the line. Fastpass is very good and you can wait inside while dad runs around getting the fastpasses. If you have 4 tickets then you could get 2 fastpasses for each of two rides and one person go with your child that way she gets to ride the rides quickly. There are cooling vests that you can buy that will help keep her cool. Restaurants give away free cups of ice and water.

Breathes, sorry for long paragraph. Planning is the key and you can do nights at the parks especially with the Extra magical hour for resort guests. An example of good trip planning was when I went to Catalina Island and I got there when everything was open for EAster holiday but it was nearly empty because I left on the Sunday before Easter. Good luck on your trip.

 

[Photobee]

Thank you both so much! I'm passing the information on to my friend!

 

[Schmeck]

March is a great time to go - it shouldn't be incredibly hot then anyways. Hopefully they are avoiding the Spring Break crowds?

One hint you should also pass on is that they should walk through the shops on the way to attractions, to stay in the AC as much as possible, and out of the sun. For example, the shops on the left side of Main Street at Magic Kingdom (walking from the entrance to the castle) are all connected. It looks like a bunch of little shops from the outside, but it's one big emporium on the inside. This should help for the times when a GAC does not work - going from attraction to attraction, waiting for parades, etc.

Also, if the crowds are light in March, most of the queues should be under canopy, with fans and even AC blowing about. I have to avoid the sun, and I've found that most of the queues at WDW are well covered. There's more sun exposure going between attractions than waiting in the queues. Also, waiting at the bus stops can be pretty hot - perhaps they should rent a car?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree with the other suggestions, March shouldn't be too hot in terms of overall temperatures.
As ever though protection from the sun with hat, sunshade/parasol if using a stroller or wheelchair is essential too.

Does your friend have to buy a particular brand of sun cream?

 

[peemagg]

I'm sure they probably already know about this, but I have seen on sites like One Step Ahead clothes that have sunblock protection in them. I have seen some that look like jumpsuits.

 

[cupcake]

There is a GAC for sun sensitivity, and I feel I can say this on this board bc it is a rather useless GAC, as well as a hard one to get in that not everyone had the stamp for it. CMs must not see it a lot. I do not do well in direct sun (meds) and get sun poisoning very easily so here are some thoughts.

Bring a dark and heavy umbrella for parades, etc. when you are stuck outside. Perhaps the sun sensitive member of your party can wait elsewhere (I use an ECV so I am stuck) until the parades start. This is the hardest for me. Btw, BIG fan of Fallene, it really helped me.

Things that give me issues... You cannot just flash your GAC, you have to say that you cannot sit in the sun and have a discussion with CMs. Bear in mind that I am happy to come back or wait however long in the shade but stretches in the sun are a bad idea, and I have a certain amt per day and then that's that, so I am trying to just stay out of direct sun in lines; (1) Legend of the Lion King. They will on request let you wait at the back where it is shaded. (2) Haunted Mansion. Hard one, request to NOT wait by the hearse and be allowed to wait under the canopy. I have big issues with this, they send you by the exit which is no better than the hearse and I have to ask for help again and it lands me outside for more than I care for; (3) Nemo show. They will tell you to come back but mistake, it puts you in the regular line and you end up getting a lot of exposure, ask to be able to return at the front. I got sun poisoning on this one, be careful of the line. (4) special events, ask CMs and explain your situation (GAC will likely not help). This for me means Food & Wine events. There may be others that are not coming to mind... feel free to assess the situation and then ask for assistance. I have found that CMs don't get the sun sensitivity thing. If you have issues and the sun stamp is not helping, please go to guest services and talk to them, they may be able to give you a stamp that deals better with your needs. There are a bunch of attractions (sorry, it it late and I am blanking) that present issues, and just do not hesitate to back out thru the line and ask for assistance. But the big three are above, and I hope that helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

Most of the shows (like Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones Stunt Show) are performed in covered auditoriums, so they will be no problem during the show.
One I can think of that is not is Lights, Motor, Action. Most of the wait in line is covered, but the show itself is presented in an open theater, totally in the sun during the show.

There is a GAC for sun sensitivity, and I feel I can say this on this board bc it is a rather useless GAC, as well as a hard one to get in that not everyone had the stamp for it. CMs must not see it a lot. I do not do well in direct sun (meds) and get sun poisoning very easily so here are some thoughts.

It's kind of a 'nebulous' stamp. I don't remember the exact wording, but when I saw it last it was something like Wait in a place out of the sun when the queue is in the sun for a considerable period of time.
Kind of up for a lot of different interpretations.

(2) Haunted Mansion. Hard one, request to NOT wait by the hearse and be allowed to wait under the canopy. I have big issues with this, they send you by the exit which is no better than the hearse and I have to ask for help again and it lands me outside for more than I care for;

For people using wheelchairs, ECVs or strollers as wheelchairs, you have to wait at the hearse (which is in the sun) in order to get to the accessible boarding area.
For people without those, you will be waiting in the regular line, which does have a roof over pretty much the entire line. Depending on the sun angle, the entire queue may not be shaded, but by moving around members of your party you should be able to keep the child pretty well shaded.

(3) Nemo show. They will tell you to come back but mistake, it puts you in the regular line and you end up getting a lot of exposure, ask to be able to return at the front. I got sun poisoning on this one, be careful of the line.

Nemo at AK is a bad one because there is little shade in the queue. We managed it by having DD's back to the sun and having taller members of our family shade her. This doesn't work around noon when the sun is close to directly overhead, but is quite manageable at other times of day.
Once you have gotten in, the theater is actually inside.

(4) special events, ask CMs and explain your situation (GAC will likely not help).

The GAC is primarily for attractions. In other situations, the CM might be able to work something out, but they often have few accommodations available they can offer at non-attractions.

Some other things to think about (many were already mentioned by other posters):
Go as early as possible in the morning. Doing that misses the strongest sun and also makes more shadows to move in. Lines are also shorter early in the morning; even during Spring break, it's possible to go on all the Fantasyland attractions by 10:30am, some several times.

 

[disneynuts777]

I have a sun allergy.I over heat and get horrible hives/rash all over.Have had it since I was badly sunburned (Hospitalized for it) when I was a teen. I am know nearly 40. We go to WDW many times a year....even August and I am okay. I go to the parks early in the morning and then try and do all the indoor attractions in the afternoon.Most of the rides are qued inside. I drink a ton of fluids. I have uv protective clothing that I also wear.(It is made by a company called NOZONE). However...the best time I have in the parks is EMH in the evening. There is nothing like being in one of the parks with no sun to bother you and not get sick .If I know that MK will be open till 2 am I will go back to the room and sleep the hottest part of the day away and then go to the park from 6pm-2am. The DD's are teens now and they love doing this.

 

[McCall]

I also have a sun allergy also flourescent lights and I have MS. I wear UV protective clothing, A cooling vest, carry a mister and use a scooter with a canopy.
I also get a GAC for staying out of the sun but only use it occasionally as most times I am in an area out of the sun or entering in a different area on the scooter.

 

[disneynuts777]

I also have a sun allergy also flourescent lights and I have MS. I wear UV protective clothing, A cooling vest, carry a mister and use a scooter with a canopy.
I also get a GAC for staying out of the sun but only use it occasionally as most times I am in an area out of the sun or entering in a different area on the scooter.

Where did you get your cooling vest???!!!! Is it heavy. Does it need to be stored in a fridge or freezer. I have never been told of this vest.

 

[mechurchlady]

You can find them sometimes in medical stores as well as online. The trick is to make them so they stay coll but not so cold as to freeze a person.
Below is one site.
http://www.polarsoftice.com/koolmax.html

This link explains the vatious kinds of cooling systems.
http://www.polarsoftice.com/faq cooling.html

 

[disneynuts777]

You can find them sometimes in medical stores as well as online. The trick is to make them so they stay coll but not so cold as to freeze a person.
Below is one site.
http://www.polarsoftice.com/koolmax.html

This link explains the vatious kinds of cooling systems.
http://www.polarsoftice.com/faq cooling.html

Thank you. I am going to look into this. We are going in August again and I think that this would really help!

 

[Leajess99]

There is a tour in DHS that is definitely not worth the risk for sun exposure. I think it is called the Backlot Tour or something like that. When we went in October we ended up stranded in the sun for about 30 minutes longer than it was supposed to take. It was not fun and I was getting sick from the wait to just get back off the tram thing. I so just wanted to walk back and take my kids with me but not an option. Everyone was miserable and most did not have a thing to drink out there.

 

[mechurchlady]

There is a tour in DHS that is definitely not worth the risk for sun exposure. I think it is called the Backlot Tour or something like that. When we went in October we ended up stranded in the sun for about 30 minutes longer than it was supposed to take. It was not fun and I was getting sick from the wait to just get back off the tram thing. I so just wanted to walk back and take my kids with me but not an option. Everyone was miserable and most did not have a thing to drink out there.

Take the tour first thing in the morning for one thing. Very important is to tell the CM greeter and loader that you are very sun sensitive and cannot stay on the tram for extended time. There is a GAC stamp for sun related medical issues like yours at WDW but not at DLR.

Why would the tram stay parked for half an hour? It could be that they were held up by the tram in front of them such as a sick guest or disabled guest. Safety issues and filming could have stopped the tram. Usually they tell guests of any delays. You can ask to sit up front near the tour guide if you really want to make sure you are not stuck in the sun too long. A polite reminder and they will try to help you but sometimes they cannot move a tram.