Disney with Auto Immune?

[Secondisthebest]

First post! Trying to plan ahead for our early May trip. My DH has been struggling with some kind of auto immune disorder for some time that has been getting worse. He's been trying to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan but with Covid everything has been pushed back, canceled, etc. He does have an immunologist appointment (which hopefully won't cancel!) on 4/20, and some panels being ordered before then. Our trip is the first week in May.

As it's very unlikely we will have a lot of answers before our trip, we are nervous about what steps/can should be taken. So what the heck am I actually looking for with this post? I guess I am curious about-
-Meals/food. We are staying at Disney hotel but do not have a kitchen. Anyone with severe dietary restrictions have tips for how to go about eating in the park? I know Disney is generally good about allergies, but how specific/far in advance/transparent are they about ingredients? Anything we should do in advance?
-Linens/bedding- If you have allergies to fragrances, detergents, do you travel with your own?

 

[CindysMice]

I don’t know much about traveling to Disney with these concerns but I do know this:

- you can mention any dietary restrictions on your ADR reservations and then mention to your wait staff as well. I believe a lot of times the chef comes out and discusses your concerns and what they can do for you.
- you can call Disney before you go to request a deep clean on your room before you arrive. I believe sometimes it means your room is ready a little later, but might be worth the long Disney wait time call to request.

I’m sure others will reply with some more helpful items! Good luck!

 

[disney212]

I have multiple autoimmune diseases and go to WDW frequently and travel for work. As far as food I follow a special diet and have always been able to find food when I travel. Breakfast is my hardest so I bring stuff I know I can eat, I have to avoid sugar and carbs mostly as they really increase my inflammation but I can get almost any breakfast sandwich sans bread. You can ask before ordering for an ingredient list, they are very accommodating. It does get easier the more you do it.

I do not request a deep cleaning as I feel it stirs up allergins. I do take sanitizing wipes and wipe everything that is touched on the room to include, all handles, flush handle on the toilet, light switches, plug covers, room occupied sign, hangers, curtain edges to include the shower curtain and most everything else. I do not take my own sheets but I know others who do. Look at a camping sheet it's like a sleeping bag but made out of sheets.for most of us with AI conditions they end up being more than one so be patient if they keep finding things. I work full time, travel the world and enjoy life. I just do it a little different than most folks. I travel with cleaners, biologics and tons of meds.

 

[ttintagel]

I hastily packed once at the end of the trip, and left two brand-new, used twice, very expensive bottles of unscented shampoo and conditioner in my room at Pop Century! I kicked myself so hard, but since then I’d like to imagine that they didn’t get thrown away and some poor cast member who couldn’t normally afford them got good use out of them! The soaps and other products Disney uses in their hotel rooms are so heavily scented I have to put them in a double layer of Ziploc bags just to throw them away so they won’t make me sick when I walk in the room.

That anecdote was mostly to illustrate how sensitive I am to perfumes, and so far I’ve never been in a Disney hotel where the sheets were washed with enough of a scented product to make me sick.

Agree with PP about sanitizing things that are touched often. If I’m flying, I do this on the plane, too.

 

[Evita_W]

Since they now have it at each of the resorts from what I understand, you may also be able to ask for the room to be electrostatically cleaned before you arrive. In theory this would avoid kicking up the allergens while disinfecting everything quickly.

 

[Evita_W]

I hastily packed once at the end of the trip, and left two brand-new, used twice, very expensive bottles of unscented shampoo and conditioner in my room at Pop Century! I kicked myself so hard, but since then I’d like to imagine that they didn’t get thrown away and some poor cast member who couldn’t normally afford them got good use out of them! The soaps and other products Disney uses in their hotel rooms are so heavily scented I have to put them in a double layer of Ziploc bags just to throw them away so they won’t make me sick when I walk in the room.

That anecdote was mostly to illustrate how sensitive I am to perfumes, and so far I’ve never been in a Disney hotel where the sheets were washed with enough of a scented product to make me sick.

I'm curious, what do you do now that the products are attached to the wall? This example illustrates to me another reason why the shared amenities are a bad idea.

I wonder if you can ask for their removal before you arrive?

 

[Starwind]

We work with WDW disability services in advance of our trip and get a special cleaning done of our room, which includes the linens being washed with fragrance-free detergent and extra rinse. They have some options for linens, so I suggest contacting them and discussing your specific needs to they can determine how best to meet them.

Note: the room special cleaning and linens means that (1) our room is almost never ready early and is more often ready later than the normal check-in time; and (2) the room we are assigned can't be changed because we don't like it, only if there were something seriously wrong with the room (eg mechanical problem that they could not fix; and we have had mechanical issues -- they will send someone to fix it!); so if you are not happy with the view, tough, you are stuck with it. This is because it takes a lot of work and time to do the special cleanings. As part of our request we have already asked to be away from designated smoking areas and some other things, so there should not be location issues that would require a move for safety.

We only have housekeeping do our garbage during our stay (or opt out of housekeeping during the stay entirely if possible).

That said, we always travel with an Allersac: http://www.allersac.com/index.html I like the single size. I roll or fold it and put it into a large ziploc, which can be sat on to get as much air out of as possible (a travel space sac type would work too). We bring an allergy barrier pillow protector that goes over the pillow (I use a king size one that way it will always fit). We prefer the Allersac to many other options because it can be washed and dried on HOT.

 

[ttintagel]

I'm curious, what do you do now that the products are attached to the wall? This example illustrates to me another reason why the shared amenities are a bad idea.

I wonder if you can ask for their removal before you arrive?

I haven’t stayed at a Disney hotel since then.

 

[disney212]

I'm curious, what do you do now that the products are attached to the wall? This example illustrates to me another reason why the shared amenities are a bad idea.

I wonder if you can ask for their removal before you arrive?

They are attached to the wall but they could probably empty them. I have not noticed any smell from them personally but I understand being cautious.

 

[Evita_W]

They are attached to the wall but they could probably empty them. I have not noticed any smell from them personally but I understand being cautious.

Yeah, I was just honestly curious how they handled that. Technically they are bottles in a metal holder on the walls, so I guess they should be able to remove them?

 

[Evita_W]

I haven’t stayed at a Disney hotel since then.

It seems like most hotels (Disney and otherwise) are going this route, so I was genuinely curious how you handled it.

 

[disney212]

Yeah, I was just honestly curious how they handled that. Technically they are bottles in a metal holder on the walls, so I guess they should be able to remove them?

There was a locking bar over the holders.

 

[Evita_W]

There was a locking bar over the holders.

Yes, I know, but I meant that housekeeping should be able to remove them upon request.

 

[disney212]

Yes, I know, but I meant that housekeeping should be able to remove them upon request.

I should have elaborated and said they should be removable since they had a locking bar over them. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

 

[MS_Warrior]

First post! Trying to plan ahead for our early May trip. My DH has been struggling with some kind of auto immune disorder for some time that has been getting worse. He's been trying to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan but with Covid everything has been pushed back, canceled, etc. He does have an immunologist appointment (which hopefully won't cancel!) on 4/20, and some panels being ordered before then. Our trip is the first week in May.

As it's very unlikely we will have a lot of answers before our trip, we are nervous about what steps/can should be taken. So what the heck am I actually looking for with this post? I guess I am curious about-
-Meals/food. We are staying at Disney hotel but do not have a kitchen. Anyone with severe dietary restrictions have tips for how to go about eating in the park? I know Disney is generally good about allergies, but how specific/far in advance/transparent are they about ingredients? Anything we should do in advance?
-Linens/bedding- If you have allergies to fragrances, detergents, do you travel with your own?

The quick service restaurants have pre-ordering. On the order menu you can see what v selections are available for a number of restrictions. In a table service, speak to the wait staff. I would avoid buffets since the chef can't make changes.

I would also bring non perishable things like protein bars, etc.

I have a soy allergy, and always bring protein bars that I can eat if needed, but found I haven't had any issues this trip because they have quite a few selections.