Diseny World and Latex Balloons

[tubiemom]

I have an very bad latex allergy. I do not have to touch the latex, just being in a room with a latex balloon can be enough to cause a reaction (which can go from itchy lips to full lung reaction causing an ER trip) I have had this allergy since I was little but as I have gotten older it has gotten much worse.
I had read someplace that Disney claims to be latex allergy friendly, however I just watched a video from this year's opening of the gingerbread house at GF and they have latex balloons in the lobby for the celebration. Now I am nervous.
Anyone have any tips of places to avoid that they have seen latex balloons. I know that the mickey ear balloons are latex but they are inside a balloon that I have been told is not so those hopefully should not be too much of a problem. We are staying at AOA, anyone seen latex balloons there?
Thanks!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Wow, that's some scary allergy! Unfortunately, the only help I can offer is that balloons are banned at AKL, both Jambo and Kidani. And I'm pretty sure they're also banned at the Animal Kingdom, but I'm not positive on that.

 

[HarleenQ]

I can only offer the advice of avoiding an area you see with balloons. Besides the previous areas mentioned that are balloon free entirely, there isn't anything stopping someone from bringing any balloon anywhere they want. Lots of people buy stuff at the store and bring it with them to avoid the high prices - balloons could easily be one of them.

 

[jenniy122]

latex balloons are an option with disney floral and gifts, so they could potentially be in any resort at any time, plus the recipient could take them to the parks, on transportation, etc. with them

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disney has both latex and Mylar balloons at hotels and parks.
2) ALL balloons are forbidden at AKL-AKV-AK so they can't get eaten by animals.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have an very bad latex allergy. I do not have to touch the latex, just being in a room with a latex balloon can be enough to cause a reaction (which can go from itchy lips to full lung reaction causing an ER trip) I have had this allergy since I was little but as I have gotten older it has gotten much worse.
I had read someplace that Disney claims to be latex allergy friendly, however I just watched a video from this year's opening of the gingerbread house at GF and they have latex balloons in the lobby for the celebration. Now I am nervous.
Anyone have any tips of places to avoid that they have seen latex balloons. I know that the mickey ear balloons are latex but they are inside a balloon that I have been told is not so those hopefully should not be too much of a problem. We are staying at AOA, anyone seen latex balloons there?
Thanks!

you could find balloons at AOA a lot of people tie on strollers to help with finding. part of inner balloon shows at the end of the ear ballooon

 

[DisneyOma]

Besides the balloons, are there any other objects you react to? Look through the Disney Parks shopping app to see if they sell stuff you might react to. You may have to avoid a lot of indoor attractions as well - especially the ones with ride components made out of latex rubber tires, if you are that sensitive.

 

[CarrieR]

The official line from Disney is that they have "no latex balloons," excepting the aforementioned encased Mickey ones. It's a lie. My roommate has a severe latex allergy and we have 110% seen them bring out regular ol' balloons from behind resort desks (Pop right off the top of my head.) We still stay there - she keeps her distance and it's a large enough space she has no issues.

PLEASE be aware that some restaurants use latex gloves for the dishwashers (not in food prep) and a few restaurants at Disney Springs use them in food prep. At any TS, ask for a chef - they will hand wash your dishes which should remove any proteins.

Also beware precut apples. The one and only reaction my roommate had was brought on by two bites of apple pie at WCC. After talking to the chef, we were able to narrow it down to the fact that they buy their apples pre sliced from an outside facility... where they apparently use latex. (On the up side... Reedy Creek Paramedics are great!)

Aside from that, she visits WDW frequently and has never had a major issue. Of course, that's no guarantee you won't... but a little vigilance goes a long way.

 

[Dis703]

I can think of several occasions that I've seen latex balloons all around our resort lobby. I know they also use them for special occasion cruises only because after they finished one of these cruises one night they came off the boat with a huge bouquet of balloons and handed them to my son. They may not be selling them in the parks, but they are definitely around.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I've seen latex balloons all around our resort lobby

1) No balloons at AK-AKL-AKV.
2) All other resort Front Desks have helium balloons in the back room.
. . . we frequently decorate the Front Desk area with them
. . . we give them to guests, tied to a plastic "Mickey" weight to hold them down
. . . we place them in rooms, so your room might have them when your enter
3) These are bulk-packed and sit adjacent to the helium tank.
4) I looked at the box, and yes, these are latex.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I stayed at the AS Music in Oct 2016 and they had a ton of balloons in the lobby at the resort check in desk that they were giving out to kids.

 

[Chuck S]

Also if someone is celebrating a birthday, the resorts will sometimes leave a flower, card and/or balloon outside their door. At least during some of our visits. So you may encounter one in a hallway somewhere, AK and it's resorts are the exception.

 

[megs1313]

My son has a latex allergy like yours. As previously mentioned, that makes AKL the ideal place for us to stay. Having said that, we stayed in april at POR with NO issues and have never had an issue on any of our other trips. I do mention his allergy in our reservations and I also mention at restaurants so we know they will use the right gloves. The thing that would concern me with AoA is how likely it is to have a lot of kids. More kids = more balloons, IME. You might think about going with a resort that is not quite so kid focused. We've stayed at the Poly, AKL, AS-Sports, and POR with success. We'll be at CBR in january.

The shops at Main Street in MK are intimidating for my son because of the balloon vendors walking around. So, I'd avoid main street at the busiest times of day (like between 12 and 5). And carry your epi-pen!

 

[DisneyOma]

I would plan on avoiding Test Track if the latex allergy is anaphylactic. Indoor usage of automobile tires, unknown amounts of natural latex in the tires, frequent forced skids, bumps, breaking - smells like burned rubber in there at times.

 

[michelle13345678]

Airborne latex allergy here. The only really big issue is balloons (due to the powders on them). Burning tire rubber might be a trigger if it’s a lot. We did not stay st the Disney Resorts, but was hoping to next visit, so I am really glad I came upon this thread, since the hotels seem to create a dangerous situation for airborne latex allergy sufferers with baloons. I’m so glad that I was made aware before booking. That being said, the only balloons we saw were the clear ones from a vendor on Main Street. We quickly crossed the street. Outside it is much more manageable, but indoors I am a sitting duck. My little only gets a reaction from touching latex. She is 6 now and beginning to understand a little about allergies. Of course, still being a kid, she will, at times, run toward the balloon fun without thinking. She sometimes ends up with big hives. I really wish they only used the Mylar balloons.