BCV, sharps containers, and Gac

[Belle102498]

Hi everyone!

I have a few questions for you!

I recently got on a new med where I have to inject every day. I will be staying at the BCV in September and was wondering who and when I ask for a Sharps container to put the used needles in.

The second question is how to deal with people who have issues with me and my husband using the GAC card. My husband is blind, and I have MS. People see us going into a ride using the GAC, and just say things like "He's just blind. He can wait in line like the rest of us". The issue is, the card isn't for him...it's for me! Having MS for 9 years, even though I look "normal" I have issues with heat, and lose my balance among crowds. We have been to Disney so many times I am starting to lose count, but it never ceases to amaze me that we always get at least one comment. The CM's are great, and most people don't even have an issue, but like I said, there is always at least one comment. It is starting to annoy me. Usually I just let it go, but I am getting to the point where I want to say something. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I can't answer the sharps question for you, but as for people having problems with you using a GAC:

They're just sour grapes who don't understand how the system works. They don't know that you may end up waiting longer than them on some rides, it just looks to them like you are getting on sooner. There is nothing you can do about their rudeness, just ignore them. I know it's easier said than done, but don't let them have any power over you. You know what it's for, that's what counts.

 

[buffettgirl]

usually you can just ask for a sharps at check in
I've also just used water bottles and leave a nice little note for housekeeping saying something like "needles are for son with diabetes. he has no blood borne diseases"

just so they know that if by rare chance they get poked with something then they're notgoing to get sick. or they can take the proper precautions before they start cleaning our room. (IE, don't touch my sharps container to clean under it)

 

[Belle102498]

Thanks for the info/suggestions!

 

[KPeveler]

I've been tempted to suggest to people who complain when they see me in my chair and think i am skipping line, "please stand in front of my chair, i'll break your feet, then you can use a chair too!"

instead, you can come up with witty responses to let people know they are being rude... here is one of my favorites:

"Ever since I was abducted by aliens and they made me their queen, I have been unable to wait in line with you mere earthling mortals"

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As soon as you get to your room call Mousekeeping and they will provide a sharps container. But I will normally just use a water bottle and on my departure I will leave it closed and visible on the table (along with a tip envelope).

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Another option for sharps disposal is to bring a few ziploc bags to store them and every few days drop them off at first aid in any park.

I am so sorry people are rude to you all. I think they quickly judge based on outward physical well being and assume people are taking advantage of the system like so many do---I'm not accusing you of this.

Have a great trip!

 

[PatsMom]

I am another one who uses a plastic water bottle for my sharps container. When I check out I leave it on a table. I duct tape it closed and use a sharpie to write "not for recycling - contains sharps" on the bottle. I am DVC and we don't usually stay long enough for a full cleaning so I don't have to worry about what housekeeping will do while cleaning.

 

[SueM in MN]

The safest for everyone is just to call Housekeeping. There is a button on your WDW resort phone that is designated for Housekeeping and Engineering requests, so it is very east to do.

 

[Belle102498]

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[cmesq61]

If I am being stupid then I apologize ahead of time: I always just bring my used needles and syringes home with me in a sharps container because it would never have ocurred to me to leave them in a hotel. Leaving them at the hotel is just a convenience issue, right? Or am I missing something?

 

[PatsMom]

If I am being stupid then I apologize ahead of time: I always just bring my used needles and syringes home with me in a sharps container because it would never have ocurred to me to leave them in a hotel. Leaving them at the hotel is just a convenience issue, right? Or am I missing something?

As far as I know its just a convenience. When I traveled to Europe and Canada I brought my sharps home with me because I wasn't certain what local laws were. I just used my water bottle then too. When I got home, I transfered them to my home "sharps" container which is a laundry detergent bottle. When that gets full, I duct tape it closed, mark it "not for recycling, sharp medical waste" and put it in my regular trash. Which is in accordance with my local laws. The reason I don't put it in the trash at Disney is that I don't know what Florida laws are - some states have more restrictive laws on disposing of medical waste. So I let housekeeping decide what to do with the needles. Or I bring them home. Depends on how much room I have in my suitcase.

I do know that you can call housekeeping and they'll bring you a sharps container. I just never remember to call until I've already got a water bottle started!

 

[SueM in MN]

If I am being stupid then I apologize ahead of time: I always just bring my used needles and syringes home with me in a sharps container because it would never have ocurred to me to leave them in a hotel. Leaving them at the hotel is just a convenience issue, right? Or am I missing something?

It's mostly a convenience. You could bring them home with you, but it's more convenient not to.
And, by calling Housekeeping and getting a sharps container from them, you know that you have used that is approved in that area.

It's not as much of a problem now than it used to be. Now, most needles have some type of device/mechanism to disable or cover the needle so that it won't poke anyone. Sometimes those malfunction, but it's a lot better than in the past when all you had was the cap put back on the needle.

 

[buffettgirl]

If I am being stupid then I apologize ahead of time: I always just bring my used needles and syringes home with me in a sharps container because it would never have ocurred to me to leave them in a hotel. Leaving them at the hotel is just a convenience issue, right? Or am I missing something?

yeah, it's just convenience...
but for us with a type 1 child - we had about 5 used syringes daily at home and more like 7 at Disney ..so it just seemed easier to leave them and dispose of the at disney rather than packing them.

Lancets..while in disney we poked nearly 20 times some days...we didn't' change lancets all that much so that didn't account for any waste really.

but you make a good point. Probably is easier to just pack it all up.

 

[maryserv]

this may have already been answered, but when I used a daily injectable med for my MS I just had the person who took the reservation make sure that there was a sharps container in the room. I did that at every hotel I ever stayed at regardless if Disney or not. Also, you can usually get a fridge for med needs if you ask (didn't read all the posts to see if this was an issue or not)

 

[maryserv]

Hi everyone!



The second question is how to deal with people who have issues with me and my husband using the GAC card. My husband is blind, and I have MS. People see us going into a ride using the GAC, and just say things like "He's just blind. He can wait in line like the rest of us". The issue is, the card isn't for him...it's for me! Having MS for 9 years, even though I look "normal" I have issues with heat, and lose my balance among crowds. We have been to Disney so many times I am starting to lose count, but it never ceases to amaze me that we always get at least one comment. The CM's are great, and most people don't even have an issue, but like I said, there is always at least one comment. It is starting to annoy me. Usually I just let it go, but I am getting to the point where I want to say something. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

I did a quick post about the Sharps container, and funny, I didn't notice the MS until I read this first full post! I too have MS and took Copaxone for several years (assuming since you said "daily").

I've been fortunate to not get comments, but then I don't really care. I used to, because I also fall into that "you don't look sick" category - until I've walked for a few hours or been in temps over 80 degrees with humidity, then I walk like wilted lettuce. Forget standing in line in the shade, it' almost as bad. I can't think of any other "thing" that sucks the energy out of someone with MS faster than heat and humidity. I guess pain comes in a close second...

We use FASTPASS a lot which can prevent us from having to "whip out" the GAC, and plan our strategy to get FP then do something to pass the time. Now, this next trip we are going on is at the end of May, when I said I would never go again at this time of year. Our son is in real school now, so we've stopped taking him out for vacations. I've prepared myself and DH that I might need to use a chair from our Resort to conserve energy. I can see where that could be a challenge for you because you would still be expending energy wheeling AND perhaps being concerned about your DH. Something that I'm going to look into is a cooling vest. I've put this off for too long. In fact, I am on this forum to see if anyone else has any experience with a cooling vest at Disney! I don't know if I've ever seen one on someone.