Cooling Vest & Refreezing Ice Packs

[nushiekitty]

Here is a random question I am hoping maybe someone might know. My daughter will have to wear a cooling vest when we go to Disney in November. The cooling vest has special ice packs in it to help her regulate her body temperature. Would firstaid be able to assist us? Is there a better alternative? We have a spare set but each set only lasts so long before they are no longer effective.

 

[lanejudy]

I have been informed that First Aid in the parks has very limited freezer space, and with first priority going to medications they are not likely to have space to freeze packs for cooling vests.

I believe Bell Services (or Luggage Services at the value resorts) can freeze them for you. That might work well if you plan a mid-day break back at the resort for a rest or swimming.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

I know you asked specifically about ice packs for a cooling vest, but this thread has some other suggestions for keeping cool as well. I thought you might find some useful tips here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3246886

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[nushiekitty]

It is really unfortunate that Disney is not able accomodate this need in any way. My daughter has a very rare condition and part of it is her body's inability to regulate body temperature correctly. We have a special cooling vest for her to remain cool while still being able to enjoy herself. The issue is the cooling packs don't last that long. I guess I will have to do some additional research to figure out how to make this work while we are there.

 

[Texas Crude]

It is really unfortunate that Disney is not able accomodate this need in any way. My daughter has a very rare condition and part of it is her body's inability to regulate body temperature correctly. We have a special cooling vest for her to remain cool while still being able to enjoy herself. The issue is the cooling packs don't last that long. I guess I will have to do some additional research to figure out how to make this work while we are there.

Can you bring an ice chest (one of the soft ones that are allowed in park)? Should be able to add ice throughout the day by stopping by any of the dining places.

 

[infopurposesonly]

I wonder if bell services at the resorts closest to the parks might be able to do this? That way, if you're staying elsewhere, you could go to the nearest resort instead of all the way back to wherever you're staying. It wouldn't hurt to ask. We had this problem as well with DD. The vest wasn't needed when we first arrived at the parks, but within a couple of hours it would be hot, and by then the ice packs were no longer very cold.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It is really unfortunate that Disney is not able accomodate this need in any way . . .

. . . Disney does a REALLY fine job at accommodation(s)
. . . but, they can't cover every problem and every contingency
. . . there are options, such as ice chests which you could carry

I wonder if bell services at the resorts closest to the parks might be able to do this? . . .

. . . bell services at each resort has a Sub-Zero-type unit inside the cage/room
. . . it's used to store cold food and frozen food
. . . they might help IF you get a friendly CM
. . . but, remember that they are putting an unknown in with food
. . . this could easily become a food contaminant, and cause a liability issue
. . . at the resorts in which I work, they do not put UNSEALED goods into the unit

 

[infopurposesonly]

You'd need a pretty big cooler to carry some of those ice packs. The ones we have are the length and width of the vest. They certainly wouldn't fit in any soft-side cooler I've seen or even in our medical cooler.

We had no problem leaving some large ice packs with bell services at the Poly one year, as we didn't have a freezer in the room. A CM at the front desk told us to take it to bell services, where they seemed to readily have a procedure in place, so I suspect this was a fairly routine request and wasn't entirely dependent on finding a friendly CM.

 

[DVCJones]

We are WDW this week. My DD also has a body temp regulating issue. We used cooling wraps and got a DAS card for her. This helped her manage the heat. We were able to find an air conditioned store or restaurant to sit in while we waited for our return time. I also kept a zip lock bag which I kept ice and rotated her cool wraps. She did very well. Maybe look into a DAS.

 

[cynzilla]

Hello. I am a frequent visitor to WDW resorts and park and I also wear a cooling vest and belt.

First Aid will not be able to accommodate the packs. They have a small hotel fridge with an even smaller freezer compartment. Lesson learned.

I have tried Bell Services and they are hit and miss as well. Some hotels are great, some are nervous due to liability. Just make sure you have ziplock bags and your name and room clearly printed on them.

Resturants in no way will take them, even if they are in sealed bags due to contamination issues.

I would suggest (what we have done) is contact the hotel you are staying at direct. Ask them due to medical issues to arrange for a "dessert freezer". It has drawers and is only to freeze. This will take up a corner of your room, as it will NOT fit in the spot of a reg hotel freezer, its a bit larger. There is NO refrigeration just freezing capabilities. They don't have to provide this for you (you understand) but working with a hotel manager via calling/and putting the request in writing via fax will help. ( you can also tell them that CM and hotel staff refer to them as a "dessert freezer" they use for catering, also conventions and weddings. And it's white with drawers)

Then, for the parks I would suggest getting this soft sided cooler http://www.polarproducts.com/polarshop/m/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1920&idcategory=0 from Polar Products. I use it through the parks and keep my extra set of cooling packs in there to change out.

I hope this helps some, please feel free to contacted if you need any further information. Blessings- Cyn