Free Refrigerator for Medical Need?

[LeapYear Debbie]

We are going to the Contemporary the middle of June. Does anyone know if you can still get a free refrigerator for medical needs? My husband requires insulin, and we would like to keep it refrigerated since we'll be there in the hot weather. We would rather not spend $10 a day.

Thanks,

Debbie

 

[chatty]

Debbie,
My daughter is diabetic and when I asked about a frig. for her insulin 3 times we were given one free and the other 3 times we had to pay. I don't know if all the reservationist know for sure whether it's free or not? POFQ was free, the Dolphin was free, and the BC free...We paid at CR..We paid at the CBR and at the PORS (which was odd since one year it was free at POFQ..So go figure..I say you keep calling until someone says for sure wether the frig. is free for medical reasons..Let us know what your out-come is..

Chatty

 

[Terk-1]

When we took my mom (who is also diabetic) we asked about this as well. They offered to store the insulin for us, but will not give the fridge for free. What we did was just fill the ice bucket with ice each day and kept the insulin in there. With the cover on, it kept it cold and we saved $10 a day.

 

[LeapYear Debbie]

Thanks Chatty and Terk,

I'll ask at check-in. If I can't get the fridge for free, my other option is to use the ice bucket.

We're staying for 8 nights, so I don't want to spend $80.

Thanks again.

Debbie

 

[Terk-1]

We actually got creative in this area. Last visit, we used one of the trash cans as a fridge. We would put our waters, capri suns, etc. in the trash can and fill it with ice each day. This kept the cold stuff cold and saved us $$$.

 

[LeapYear Debbie]

Thanks for the idea....

Now I can keep everything else cool too.


Debbie

 

[kbeverina]

My husband and son both require insulin and they used to provide the fridge for free. Now I've been told the policy is that they will guarantee you get one (you're actually not guaranteed to get one if you reserve it) if you have medical needs, but you still have to pay for it. We also use the ice bucket when we need to, but we make sure to put other stuff, like a soda or water in the top because we're always afraid housekeeping will dump it.

 

[Tink]

Another option is if you have a car, go to the grocery store and get one of those styrofoam coolers. I tried this on my last trip, and must admit, I was a little leary, but the thing only cost us three bucks.

We filled it with ice each night, and the next morning, all of the ice was in perfect shape. Hardly any of it melted. We kept drinks (mostly juice and milk) and fruit in there.

This year our new little one will still be on formula, so we'll be getting another cooler. It still amazes me that a place that caters to families charges so much for a fridge when sometimes you really need it, wether it's for formula, opened baby food or medical supplies. I realize that they claim they lose money, but really, I am a stockholder and the stock has been in the tiolet for so long that free fridges isn't going to kill them.

I guess it's just like e-nights and EE. Same price, less service.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

This sounds like a perk that is rip for abuse. Too bad.

They offered to store the insulin for us, but will not give the fridge for free.

I can't believe they offered to store your medicine somewhere for you. How risky for them. I wonder if you would have pursued that, if they would have given you the fridge.

 

[Jacket93]

Pursue the issue about the free fridge. You can really cause a big stink about that. Thats like telling a handicap person that they have to pay $10 a day extra for a handicaped room. My son is diabetic and Disney is more than accomidating to us.
We travel with a letter from his doctor stating he is Diabetic and needs to be treated with insulin. Also when we check in we also ask agian if we have a Fridge and tell them it is for Insulin and they usally say no charge.

When we go to the park we have a travel kit that has one of those reusable Ice packs that we put in the freezer part of the fridge which keeps the insulin cool outside in the heat.

 

[*Belle*]

Could you possibly take a small collasible cooler and ziplock bags for the ice? I would think this would work and would easily pack in your luggage.

 

[SeaSpray]

Last December DH and I had reservations for PO-R, then switched to WL. On both of our paper reservations, it said "refridgerator-medical-no charge". I was told that it would be a tiny fridge, just the size to hold insulin bottles, and I said that's fine!

We had to end up cancelling that trip, so I don't know for sure what size fridge we would've ended up with, or if indeed it would've been for no charge.

It can't hurt to ask if they have those small fridges for the insulin!

Not to cause a debate, but I personally don't think it's up to Disney to provide us with a free fridge. If they didn't offer DH and I the free fridge, we would've probably just put ice in the ice bucket and stored the insulin there. I do agree that $80 for 8 nights of renting a fridge is too much money! But I just don't feel it's the responsibility of a resort, ANY resort or hotel, to give out fridges for insulin. Don't flame me, this is just my opinion!

 

[LeapYear Debbie]

I agree with you.

If the fridge is not available for free, the ice bucket is definitely an option. I was just wondering if it was standard practice to offer it for medical reasons at no charge. It can't hurt to ask.

I want to thank everyone for replying and suggesting some great ideas. Thanks again,


Debbie

 

[josierac]

I just request a fridge for a client for medical reason and I was told that it was free of charge. I was also told to have them bring a note from their doctor stating what the medical reason was.

Disney is having some problems with people saying it's for a medical reason but it really isn't.

That is the confusion as to why some people are getting charged when they shouldn't be.

 

[Grumpygal]

Just got back from POR on Sunday. We were originally told that we would have to pay $10 for the fridge (to store the insulin) but they removed it from the bill and it was free for the entire stay due to the medical reasons. It was just a small one, but was big enough to store the insulin, and a couple of bottles of water. The freezer was also the perfect size for freezing the ice packs that go in the travel kit.

I would just make sure that you have something from your doctor documenting the needs, although we never had to furnish any proof we had it just in case.