Disney with a LVAD?

[QueenGsMama]

We are heading to Disney at the end of August with my parents. My Dad has a LVAD + a Pacemaker/Defibrillator. He will have a letter for travel for going through TSA from his doctor as he can't go through any scanning machines.

With the metal detectors at the parks, will he need to produce the letter to avoid going through?

Anyone have experiences or tips on traveling with the LVAD? I did a search of the forum, but the last posts I saw were from a few years ago.

Thanks!

 

[gap2368]

He will not need a letter, just tell the security at disney that he can not go thought the meter detectors and they will hand wond him. I have to do this ( for other medical region) and they never question me.

 

[SueM in MN]

They have alternatives for people who can't go thru the metal detectors, the same as the airports.
He doesn't actually need the letter for the airport.

 

[QueenGsMama]

He will not need a letter, just tell the security at disney that he can not go thought the meter detectors and they will hand wond him. I have to do this ( for other medical region) and they never question me.

They have alternatives for people who can't go thru the metal detectors, the same as the airports.
He doesn't actually need the letter for the airport.

Ok great because I'm pretty sure he can't have the wand check either with the LVAD. Good to know there is an alternative!

 

[gap2368]

Ok great because I'm pretty sure he can't have the wand check either with the LVAD. Good to know there is an alternative!

They will use the wand as the alternative to walking thought the scanner I do not know of any other way to get thought. I would check with the medical company and see if this would be a problem. I know there were a few times that I told them I could not go thought and they asked me if I had a pacemaker I told them know and told them why I would not go thought, do not know if they just do not go over that part of your body or what,

 

[QueenGsMama]

They will use the wand as the alternative to walking thought the scanner I do not know of any other way to get thought. I would check with the medical company and see if this would be a problem. I know there were a few times that I told them I could not go thought and they asked me if I had a pacemaker I told them know and told them why I would not go thought, do not know if they just do not go over that part of your body or what,

Thanks!

I think I'll call Disney just to be safe. Would hate to find out he can't go into the parks while we are already there.

 

[gap2368]

I would not call Disney but the place that your medical device came from and ask them. Pretty sure you are not the only one with this device. I am pretty sure you can be wand with a pacemaker

 

[QueenGsMama]

I would not call Disney but the place that your medical device came from and ask them. Pretty sure you are not the only one with this device. I am pretty sure you can be wand with a pacemaker

I appreciate your help here, but he doesn't just have a pacemaker (as previously stated). He also has a LVAD which is completely different, it's a Left Ventricle Assist Device and it is not a very common machine. I do know he can't go through ANY metal detector, hence the private pat down at TSA and the special letter from his hospital. A wand would not work. So yes, it would have to be a call to Disney about what they will allow.

 

[gap2368]

just to let you know phone CM half the time do not know what they are talking about. I am sure your dad is not the first person ( even thought this is not a common medical thing) to go to disney. and As I have been told ( by people that trained Disney CM, they are not allowed to do any pat down, or this was when they were down there doing trains for meter detectors that they installed least year)

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter is in a wheelchair and can't stand, so she can't go thru the metal detector and the wand just goes off with the metal.

They patted her down instead when she was chosen at Disney World for screening in October 2016 (which is what they do at the airport for her, although the airport pat down is much more involved). WDW is currently selecting people for detector screening, not having everyone go thru the scanners. I have heard they will be switching soon to 100% screening, but don't know just when (rumor is April 3, 2017). We are at WDW now, but none of us have been chosen for the metal detector - yet.

In his case, he would just say he can't go thru the metal detector or have a scanner used on him because of a medical device. He will probably need to point out the places with metal and the 'critical' points, like where the driveline comes out.
If you would feel better contacting Disney, I would contact by email and not call.
If you call you will get a call center, not necessarily someone who can answer your question. Answers people have gotten from calling have not necessarily been the same answer as in the parks.
This is a link to the email contact for Walt Disney World:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/
Chose 'Disability Services' as your subject.

The hospital I work at cares for LVAD patients who are past the point of surgery, but are waiting for a heart transplant or are still too unstable to be home or in a nursing home. They are too ill to go anywhere, but I found a nice website that seems to have good travel information (it appears to be a British site)
https://www.mylvad.com/content/lvad-travel-tips

That site lists LVAD Centers around the world and does show one in Florida:
Florida Hospital Transplant Institute
2414 N. Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32804
United States
+1-407-303-2474

 

[SueM in MN]

His LVAD center may have some written information about travel that will be helpful. He should also talk to members of his LVAD Team for any information specific to him and/or his specific equipment.
He will have a lot of equipment that he needs with him at all times. If he hasn't gone away from home much/far since the LVAD was implanted, he may need to do some serious thinking about how it will all be carried around.
At the airport, most of his stuff (the items not connected to him) will go thru the X-ray machine. That won't affect dressings, etc and should not affect his extra power supply, but you will probably want to check with the manufacturer just to make sure.

The WDW bag checks involve the security people going thru the bags and physically moving things so they can see. The easier you can make it for them to see, the better. My daughter has catheter supplies that we need to bring in with us. I put e erything in clear zip lock bags so the security people can see easily, but it's protected and kept together.

 

[QueenGsMama]

His LVAD center may have some written information about travel that will be helpful. He should also talk to members of his LVAD Team for any information specific to him and/or his specific equipment.
He will have a lot of equipment that he needs with him at all times. If he hasn't gone away from home much/far since the LVAD was implanted, he may need to do some serious thinking about how it will all be carried around.
At the airport, most of his stuff (the items not connected to him) will go thru the X-ray machine. That won't affect dressings, etc and should not affect his extra power supply, but you will probably want to check with the manufacturer just to make sure.

The WDW bag checks involve the security people going thru the bags and physically moving things so they can see. The easier you can make it for them to see, the better. My daughter has catheter supplies that we need to bring in with us. I put e erything in clear zip lock bags so the security people can see easily, but it's protected and kept together.

You are so helpful! I think I will send an email to be on the safe side. It does make me happy to hear that you were just there in October and didn't have an issue waving the metal detector for your daughter. I was curious with the new arrangements for security how it would go. We will be boarding mostly the monorail at the Poly for mostly MK and Epcot. We do have 1 HS day scheduled.

He has alerted his medical team and they have him set for travel. He has done overnights/long weekends, so he is pretty good with his packing routine. First air travel though since the LVAD and he will have his letter and medical card. Thanks for the extra tips!

That must be the hospital he found in Orlando! He needs to be within a radius of an LVAD equipped hospital should anything go wrong, so we were thrilled to know Orlando had one! There are not many LVAD patients in our area of Upstate NY, but two of our main hospitals are equipped for them. My Dad doesn't get many opportunities to talk to people who live with the LVAD, so I will point him to that site to check out.

Again, I appreciate your thoughtful responses and for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm a Registered Nurse; that's what we do.

 

[QueenGsMama]

I'm a Registered Nurse; that's what we do.

My favorite kind of people! My Dad had his first heart attack when I was 5 (I'm now 35), so a lot of my life has been spent in the hospital and the nursing staff has always gone above and beyond. Takes a special type of person to do what you do and I am very grateful for that!

 

[TimR573]

I'm pretty sure that handheld wand is okay with VADs, as the electronics are in the external part of the device. But checking with the manufacturer of that particular device (heartware, berlin, thoratec, etc) as well as his transplant cardiologist is probably the best way to go as others have suggested. My daughter was born with dilated cardiomyopathy and more than one family we know has gone on a MAW trip to disney while on a VAD and waiting for their gift. So I'm sure whatever the accommodation he will need is available.

 

[QueenGsMama]

I'm pretty sure that handheld wand is okay with VADs, as the electronics are in the external part of the device. But checking with the manufacturer of that particular device (heartware, berlin, thoratec, etc) as well as his transplant cardiologist is probably the best way to go as others have suggested. My daughter was born with dilated cardiomyopathy and more than one family we know has gone on a MAW trip to disney while on a VAD and waiting for their gift. So I'm sure whatever the accommodation he will need is available.

He definitely cannot have the wand, hence the letter for TSA. We have checked and confirmed with all of doctors and coordinator, but I think we are all set.

I heard back from Disney CS and they suggested bringing the same letter each time we go grouch security and give the security officer a heads up as he approaches the checks. They said it should be no problem.

 

[TimR573]

Awesome, glad it's worked out. Hope you all have a great time and that it's easy for him.