Anywhere to keep breastmilk frozen at Disney resorts?

[Schmeck]

We are staying at the Polynesian and I need to bring frozen breast milk for our youngest. I know they have the fridges with the colder part in it but it's not actually a freezer and not big enough to keep 10 days of frozen milk. Do they have actual freezers anywhere that can be used?

Use the same container that is bringing the 10 day supply, yes? Just add more ice?

 

[bumbershoot]

From the same kellymom link (love her!), if you never freeze the milk at all, it can be in the fridge FAR longer than thawed milk can.

 

[Juliet25]

I'm still baffled by the issue - how is the OP getting the 10 day supply to WDW? Wouldn't that same system work for storage during the vacation?

I'm wondering that as well.

Like pp mentioned, a DVC 1 bedroom villa is probably the best option.

 

[mfulk]

Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry if it sounded like a strange question, I didn't want to bore everyone with the details but to answer all the questions - I have hypoprolactinemia, a rare genetic abnormality that results in almost no prolactin and therefore almost no breast milk (despite trying everything, truly everything to increase production - until synthetic prolactin is available to the public I won't be able to change it, it is currently in the trials stage and this is our last baby so I won't ever get to use it). So I use donated breast milk and have nursed all 4 of my children with a supplemental nursing system (by Lact-aid and Medela) so that they get the tiny amounts of BM I make and the rest of the milk that they need from wonderful donor moms all at the same time.

Yes, it would be so much easier and nothing would make me happier to just nurse like a normal person and not have to worry about bringing and keeping frozen 10 days worth of breast milk, but unfortunately that's not a possibility for me. Neither is changing our resort. We leave in 5 days and I'm sure we'll figure something out. I'll call tomorrow and see if there is a freezer we can use. We went on a cruise when our 3rd was 10 months old. I tried the mini fridge in the room which didn't work at all and ended up going to the guest services (can't think of what's it's actually called) and they had a freezer back there they stored it in for me. It was a bit embarrassing (for the people working there I'm sure and for me) to have to go there once a day and ask for the frozen breast milk in the freezer but at least we got to keep the milk frozen. I had thought about buying a mini freezer and I might end up doing that if we don't have another option. We don't have room in our van so I guess we'd just have to leave it there.

We will be bringing it down (we drive) in a cooler that will keep it frozen for about 5 days when it is packed full but as we use the milk and there is more air space in the cooler it will thaw quicker. Ice actually makes it thaw quicker as well, although I don't remember the science behind that.

 

[Kattabba]

WOW!! You are a super devoted mom -- I'm an IBCLC and work in a NICU where our babies rely on their mommies to pump milk for them. I know what kind of work they go through to keep up with the pumping to breastfeed. I can't imagine the task before you to keep the nurser system and BFing up at the parks!! Kudos to you!!

You seem to be a pro - but I'll give you my thoughts about BFing and the nurser system for Disney. You may want to plan your day so you can BF in the childcare station. It will be air conditioned, calm, quiet, and a lot easier than trying to set up in the middle of a park.

Don't get me wrong - I BF my son everywhere from the middle of Costco to an airplane. But I didn't have anything to "manage" other than my hungry baby. It isn't the nursing in public part that I am thinking about - it is having a cool, quiet place to set up and BF.

I know that the MK has a nurses station right by the child care station -- if you have to bring the milk into the park - they may have a freezer/fridge for you to keep it until you are ready??

Just a thought. Again Kudos and good luck!

Holly

 

[Hannathy]

If you are driving why don't you get 2 smaller coolers instead of 1 big and use dry ice? then you wouldn't even have to open the second cooler till the first was empty.

Even if you only use the larger I would get dry ice. and for the last couple days If you had to you could pack it with reg ice it would hold it and you can get ice easily at Disney.

 

[Schmeck]

I would think that a medical supply company in the area could supply dry ice as well.

I do not believe that there are going to be any freezers available at the resorts or in the parks besides the ones in the baby centers. Health codes will not let guest products in areas for food prep, as there is no way to ensure that it is sanitary and safe.

 

[deegack]

I would think that a medical supply company in the area could supply dry ice as well.

I do not believe that there are going to be any freezers available at the resorts or in the parks besides the ones in the baby centers. Health codes will not let guest products in areas for food prep, as there is no way to ensure that it is sanitary and safe.

But I wonder if the freezer where they keep groceries would be available for this. We had some ice cream delivered with our grocery delivery last time and they kept it in a freezer by bell services. I don't know if you can set it up ahead of time but it might work. Its not a food prep area and if you label it clearly and in its own closed container it might be an option

 

[linzbear]

You are a rockstar, mama!

 

[Nanu57v]

Super impressed with your dedication!!!!

 

[marmalade]

I would contact the hotel to see what they can do. I wouldn't recommend the cooler because I have never had something stay frozen in any cooler I have ever owned. No matter how much ice is in there, I wouldn't take that chance.

 

[TxDisFanatic]

We will be bringing it down (we drive) in a cooler that will keep it frozen for about 5 days when it is packed full but as we use the milk and there is more air space in the cooler it will thaw quicker. Ice actually makes it thaw quicker as well, although I don't remember the science behind that.[/QUOTE]

Dry Ice. I use dry ice all the time. If you put a block of dry ice in a cooler, and sit the milk on top, or next to the block it will keep it frozen. I use it in my cooler to keep popsicles frozen in texas heat while at the beach. We have chocolate, and a few other things in our cooler on the way to disney when we got there we couldn't check in yet, we left the cooler in the car in july and everything was still frozen when we went back hours later. Just be 100 percent sure you don't touch it, I normally leave it in the bag it comes in and slip it in a walmart bag just dont tie it shut. Leave the cooler shut but not closed tightly you want the gases to be able to escape.

 

[mfulk]

I did call this morning and was transferred to the front desk at the Polynesian where I was told that they would be able to keep it in the freezer at bell services for us.

 

[crisi]

I don't want to throw a monkey wrench in, but I'd be prepared to supplement with formula for the week. I wouldn't trust Bell Services staff not to throw away the milk, or for the hotel manager to freak out about it, or..... in other words, too much can go wrong once the milk leaves your hands for the Bell Services fridge. I hope nothing does go wrong, but I think its a risk worth being prepared for.

 

[marmalade]

I did call this morning and was transferred to the front desk at the Polynesian where I was told that they would be able to keep it in the freezer at bell services for us.

That's good! But like crisi said I would plan just in case you needed to supplement with formula. Or maybe even have a number for a place in Orlando that can deliver donated milk? I don't know if that is possible since I don't know how the whole donated process works, but if could be a better back up rather than formula.

 

[tms295psu]

I don't want to throw a monkey wrench in, but I'd be prepared to supplement with formula for the week. I wouldn't trust Bell Services staff not to throw away the milk, or for the hotel manager to freak out about it, or..... in other words, too much can go wrong once the milk leaves your hands for the Bell Services fridge. I hope nothing does go wrong, but I think its a risk worth being prepared for.

In hopes to deter someone from "throwing you a wrench"... Put all your milk in a cooler bag. Clearly Mark it with KEEP FROZEN... Name used for your room ressie... Phone # to be reached on vacation.... and mark... MEDICAL FOOD/SUPPLY!

Hopefully that would at least deter someone to at least make an effort to force you to use other arrangements rather than just tossing it!

 

[Schmeck]

In hopes to deter someone from "throwing you a wrench"... Put all your milk in a cooler bag. Clearly Mark it with KEEP FROZEN... Name used for your room ressie... Phone # to be reached on vacation.... and mark... MEDICAL FOOD/SUPPLY!

Hopefully that would at least deter someone to at least make an effort to force you to use other arrangements rather than just tossing it!

Very sound advice! OP, thanks for the updated info about bell services having an available set-up.

 

[tartemis]

Sorry that I got that wrong - I pumped for daycare, but barely had enough supply for 2 days of frozen BM, let alone 10... Thanks for correcting me!

I doubt, though, that you will be able to use a communal freezer in the hotel (i.e., the concierge) even if there was room, because BM is considered a hazardous body fluid. (And would you really want your BM in a place where others could access/alter it somehow?).

True story -- I was a first time mom, just back at work after maternity leave and had to take a 24 hours trip across the country. I was pumping while I was away from DD. At a major upscale hotel chain (that will remain nameless), they didn't have a fridge for me in my room, like they were supposed to, so they had me put my milk in their commercial fridge with all of their other food. In a split section decision, I didn't know what other option I had, so I went with it. When I got back from my trip, however, I ended up dumping that milk because I was freaked out about what could have happened while it was out of my sight.

That's a long way of saying -- you may find a hotel that will store it for you, but I doubt you would be comfortable with it; I certainly was not.

 

[tms295psu]

True story -- I was a first time mom, just back at work after maternity leave and had to take a 24 hours trip across the country. I was pumping while I was away from DD. At a major upscale hotel chain (that will remain nameless), they didn't have a fridge for me in my room, like they were supposed to, so they had me put my milk in their commercial fridge with all of their other food. In a split section decision, I didn't know what other option I had, so I went with it. When I got back from my trip, however, I ended up dumping that milk because I was freaked out about what could have happened while it was out of my sight.

That's a long way of saying -- you may find a hotel that will store it for you, but I doubt you would be comfortable with it; I certainly was not.

Luggage Lock on the cooler bag????

I also don't know how "donor Milk" works, but to me... that is also a HUGE leap of Faith!

 

[NYEmomma]

OP -- I'm so happy you've found a solution that works! I've been reading this thread (not commenting since I had nothing to add) and have been quite flabbergasted that this situation seemed to have NEVER presented itself before. I'm glad Disney is able to accommodate your needs. I have quite a few friends that donated their spare milk to a bank (wanted to donate mine, but I wasn't always awesome at labeling so they wouldn't be able to accept it) so I know the number of mothers that utilize the banks have to be rather substantial... enough so that some of them MUST have brought a stash to Disney with them.

I also don't know how "donor Milk" works, but to me... that is also a HUGE leap of Faith!

Unless you're going rogue and finding your own sources of breastmilk from a classified ad in the paper or something, most people use milk banks. They've got strict donation standards and screen all of their milk prior to sending it to mothers in need.