Here's why you should feel GOOD about spending $$$ at Disney

[jenntish]

Since Disney is a publicly-traded corporation, people will talk about how the company is not 'magical' and does things for business and $$$. Well, I thought everyone should hear our story and know what an amazing company this is.

I will caveat this with saying this is really unbelievable--but it's 100% true. It happened on the 11/9/06 sailing. I'm writing this 2 years later because I've been trying to spread the word by telling friends, and a colleague of mine suggested posting it online. I did write to DCL immediately after the incident to thank them & their CMs for their amazing help. I'm sorry if what DCL chose to do inconvenienced anyone on-board our sailing, but I would hope they would do the same for ANY child (and if I was onboard a ship and lost time to help a gravely ill child, I'd be happy to know the child was OK).

I was 5 months pregnant with my 2nd child when my Mother took our entire family on the 3-night Disney Cruise to celebrate her 60th birthday. My husband & our 2 1/2 year old son, my sister's family of 5 & my younger brother. My parents are not wealthy, and my Mom saved for a long time to make this happen.

The first night of our trip, we took our 2 1/2 year old son to the show before dinner. He had a low fever earlier in the day, but seemed fine after giving him some Tylenol. We were planning on having a low-key evening & going right to bed after dinner. A few minutes into the show I noticed my son Tyler, who was sitting on my husband's lap, was convulsing & his eyes were rolled back into his head. I screamed to take him out of the theater... and we ran outside where immediately a cast member ran and got the Medical Team to help us. I had no idea what was happening--my sweet little angel Tyler was blue, foaming at the mouth and unresponsive. The Medical team immediately grabbed Tyler, brought him to the Medical center, gave him oxygen, took blood/urine/x-rays and found out within minutes that he had a febrile seizure related to a rapid-rising fever due to PNEUMONIA! My son was still unconscious.

The medical team asked if we had trip insurance. We did not (I had never even heard of it before this incident). They wanted to airlift our son back to FL, but the cost was ~$30,000. If he was taken to the hospital in the Bahamas the next day, NO medical costs would be covered because it was not in the US, nor would we get any $$$ back for flights, missed trip, etc. Luckily for us, the captain & Doctor (without even discussing with us), decided it was in my son's safety to TURN THE SHIP AROUND so my son could get US Medical Care ASAP. It apparently cost Disney anywhere from $10K - $100K to cover the additional port charges and fuel.

Disney never asked us for a dime, aside from the Medical facility charges of just $1200 (which I expected to be MUCH higher based on oxygen, an IV, lab works, x-rays, bed in ER, etc.) At a US hospital/ER/Doctor it would have cost probably $5-$10K for everything they did. They DID assign us a 'fairy godmother' who checked on us several times a day at the hospital. When we were released, our Fairy Godmother (FG) got us a REALLY reduced room at the Grand Floridian because we had nowhere to go & it was Super Soap weekend. Then, the FG sent an amazing giftbasket to the room, along with a "Happy 60th Birthday" cake for my mom with candles! Disney gave us access to the concierge lounge, TWO free character dinners & two free park passes (which we could use on a later trip). They even told my son he could go the gift shop and pick out any treat he wanted! And as unbelievable as it is, they refunded the cost of the trip to us to use on a future cruise (we went again on the 7-day this past Spring).

I have never in my life been more impressed with how a corporation would handle a customer crisis. I will forever be grateful to Disney for making what was the most terrifying night of my life, a little bit easier to bear. Please share this story with other Disney fans or better yet, the Disney naysayers in your life.

All my best,
Jenn

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Well, I never minded spending money on Disney anyway, but this is truly amazing. I hope your son is well (was this recently?) Glad a scary situation was handled in such a loving way...

 

[bellebud]

First, I'm assuming your ds is fine now. Thank goodness! Believe me, I know the feeling. My dd had many seizures when she was little (w/ 106 fevers), and the first one was an hour long (I literally thought she died in my arms - she was 15 months old). I didn't know anything at all about seizures then. She's 9 now and is off meds and hasn't had a seizure since 4yo, but the trauma lingers for me. Scary stuff!!

Second, Wow! The captain and medical team and Disney was really, really wonderful!! I'm so impressed!! Have you written a letter commending the captain and staff? I'm so glad the trip was somewhat salvaged for your family.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful story!

 

[jenntish]

Yes, my DS is fine, thanks for your concern. He has had one more seizure since then. He's now 4 1/2 and I pray he never has another! I am very careful with my younger one now about carefully monitoring and treating fevers proactively.

I did write a letter back when this happened, two years ago. Hopefully it went to the right people!

Based on my warm & fuzzy feelings for Disney since this, we've been back about 6 times since then!!!!

For any of you who have kids who had or have febrile seizures, my heart goes out to you. It's seen as so minor to the medical community, but it is truly heart-breaking for a parent. Especially the first time, when you don't know what it is and think your child is dying.

 

[skw444]

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing. My dd also suffered from febrile seizures and had her first at 14 months old, so I know how terrifying the experience was. It's so nice to hear the great way that Disney responded!

 

[jenntish]

Now here's the best part... Disney refunded ALL the $$$ we paid for the trip for my family and my parents, to use on a future cruise. We did NOT even ask for anything!!! (Happy to say we went on the 7-nt last March & returning again this coming April).

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

I am glad that your son is fine. Do you take trip insurance out for all your trips now?

 

[Cherlynn25]

Wow, what a story. I am glad to hear your son is ok. I am very impressed with Disney's handling of the situation. Thank you for sharing!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

That is truly a wonderful story. You guys are definitely not the only ones that Disney has cared for either. On a past episode of the DIS Unplugged Podcast (I know not everyone on the boards listens to the podcast that is done by the people who own these boards), Pete told of a family that was staying at the Contemporary, when their son ran out and was hit by a car while crossing over to the Magic Kingdom on the walkway under the monorail.

It is wonderful to know that you will always feel safe and cared for should something hapen on a Disney vacation!

(PS - travel insurance is definitely a good thing!!!)

 

[Diamondintheruff]

So glad it ended happily for you.

My oldest DS had febrile seizures too and I know how scary they can be. At least his was at home and we could got to our nearest hospital.

 

[wehavesix]

I'm glad your child is doing fine and you had such a nice experience. My experience hasn't been nearly that wonderful. Though to be fair, it hasn't been all that bad either.

I fell down the stairs in Mexico in the World Showcase shattering my tibia and fibula and fracturing my arm. I was rushed to the ER in Celebration and, later that evening, transported to FL Hospital for surgery. My dh had to BEG for an extra night at SSR. He didn't ask for it to be free, just an extra night as I would not be allowed to travel on the day we had planned to leave. Finally, someone in management intervened and helped us. We didn't have to pay but it was compliments of DVC not Disney. So far Disney has done nothing for us due to my accident other than providing my transport to the ER.

We were assigned a claims agent to whom we are supposed to send information about medical bills we still owe, photos of my surgical scars, etc. We haven't sent that info yet because I am going to have another surgery for a complication due to the accident so we need to include that info. I guess they might show us the magic after all that's turned in to them but who knows? Maybe they aren't so quick to be so wonderful when the patient is an adult. But my kids sure could have used a little magic after seeing their mom seriously injured and taken away on a gurney!

 

[danilynn19]

OK as a mom I'm crying because all I think of is OMG what if that was my baby? OMG that poor woman watching HER baby go through that!!! Thank God everyone is ok. How wonderful of the CM's to all act SO quickly. Let me tell you I have LOTS of friends that are EMT's (volunteers) and they move fast always, but when it is a child they are like lightening. Never a second thought for themselves or anything.....just that child. God bless all of you!!!

 

[kimmylaj]

wow that is truly amazing

 

[jenntish]

... so please don't think I'm ignoring any kind postings after this... but I wanted to share with everyone why I'm done with the disboards.

After this last post by 'poggs,' I refuse to be being tormented by terrible, mean, rude "human beings." This is what "poggs" posted about this story to me:

<Poggs quote:>
Due to your selfishness they had absolutely no choice but to inconvienience a ship load of passengers and incur a load of extra charges because you were either too tight or too thoughtless to obtain medical insurance on an overseas voyage!
you went on a foreign trip with children whilst pregnant without insurance!

Thats just madness.

I for one cant join in all these whoop-de-do to disney posts knowing full well that fares will have to go up to cover selfish people without insurance. Not only that, you endangered your son by making him wait for the ship to sail back to port. If you had insurance the helcopter would have whisked him of to hospital in no time, instead of endangering him further by making him wait on a ship.

Think twice next time.
<end of Poggs post>

I cannot read these posts anymore as I'm sitting here in tears that this is how mean people can be when I had only wanted to share our wonderful experience with Disney. I will not be tormented anymore... so I am now signing off these boards.

When 9/11 happened, I said to my husband that I didn't think I wanted to have children and bring them into such a world filled with hatred. He (thankfully) said that we NEEDED to have kids, so the 'good people' could outnumber 'the bad.' I know there are far more good people out there on these boards and in the world at large, but unfortunately for me, the 'bad ones' have ruined this experience for me.

Thanks for all the positive postings up to this point, but I will not be reading these boards anymore--I am too upset by the negativity and I don't want that in my life. My thoughts and prayers go out to the kind, warm people who have shared their well wishes through this board... and hope we will meet up at Disney someday.

 

[kellscottkait]

<Poggs quote:>
Due to your selfishness they had absolutely no choice but to inconvienience a ship load of passengers and incur a load of extra charges because you were either too tight or too thoughtless to obtain medical insurance on an overseas voyage!
you went on a foreign trip with children whilst pregnant without insurance!

Thats just madness.

I for one cant join in all these whoop-de-do to disney posts knowing full well that fares will have to go up to cover selfish people without insurance. Not only that, you endangered your son by making him wait for the ship to sail back to port. If you had insurance the helcopter would have whisked him of to hospital in no time, instead of endangering him further by making him wait on a ship.

Think twice next time.
<end of Poggs post>

TO POGGS: You're entire post is just simply RUDE & uncalled for. Disney did have a choice-they did not have to pay for everything. How dare you tell this woman that fares will go up because of her. Who are you to be the judge? you have no idea what you're talking about. Was it productive to put this woman down? did it make you feel good about yourself. Telling a mother she endangered her own child?? You are really something aren't ya. As if she knew the child would have a medical emergency while underway. As if she chose to have this problem. Would having trip insurance have helped that? No mother would endanger her own child, for you to even say that to someone is wrong and you should really examine yourself as a person. As a mother I cannot for the life of me imagine seeing my child endure such a thing, and cannot imagine the feeling. She was simply saying how nice it was of Disney. She did not ask for these benefits. Who are you to judge anyhow? Many people do not purchase trip insurance. I for one do not, I guess I am just so selfish. Oh well, if I lose money that is my problem, not yours. If you have nothing nice to say-don't say anything at all. This is not a place for people like you. Have a wonderful day!