How to keep epi pens with you on Universal's " no bags allowed" rides?

[Daydreamer64]

We are going to Universal/IOA for vacation in August. My youngest DS has severe reactive airway disease as well as severe food allergies. He cannot be away from his Epi pens at any time, never.

DS wants to ride Men In Black, MIB does not allow bags on this ride requiring loose items be stored in a locker. Those of you who have to carry epi pens with you know the heat is hard on them and know that they cannot be left in a locker for the duration of the ride away from the patient.

He/I must have access to them at all times as DS has had multiple episodes of reactions in places from airplanes to amusement parks.

If we get stuck buckled in the seats on MIB, for example as rides can tend to be stopped or slowed for various reasons, and we are sitting with someone who has had peanut products (peanut shell dust especially can be inhaled easily) or touched the guns/ride rails with a food allergen on their hands, and DS touches it and then touches his face as kids do, he can stop breathing within three mins. DS is allergic to a multitude of food products including all egg products, shellfish, peas, green beans, tree nuts, peanuts, and other stuff.

Short of keeping him in a box, we take all the precautions that we can to allow him to be "normal" but live in constant fear of a reaction.

We must keep the pens with us at all times. I thought about wearing cargo shorts and putting the pens in a zipper pocket, would that keep them cool enough?

I also though about having him wear the pens in a fanny pack but am unsure if the pack would be allowed on the ride with him>

Thanks for any information or experiences that you want to share!

 

[lanejudy]

I would also think cargo shorts. And have you looked into FRIO wallets to carry the pens if they need to be kept cool?

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[dawnhaze]

I wore a small fanny pack on everything at Universal. If you go with cargo shorts, I'd definitely choose ones with a zipper pocket over a snap or button pocket. I've lost stuff out of button pocket cargo shorts on roller coasters.

 

[stormer]

I bought small bag from Overland Equipment for our trip to Universal. Most of their smaller bags can be worn on your shoulder or then around your waist when you go on a ride. It was so much more convenient for me then getting a locker. In your case where you really need the Epi pen with you at all times it may be a great solution. The one I have is the Pixley, but they have quite a few different ones.

 

[indimom]

Fanny packs with a three prong closure are allowed on all rides at Universal. We use them for every trip to avoid the lockers. Have a great trip!

 

[dsneygirl]

My son uses a SpiBelt for his insulin pump it is very small.

 

[jcano]

Another vote for Spibelts. Small, closes securely, multiple color options, and you can fit a ton into one if you so desire.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We often just stick our in cargo pockets. Easy Peasy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have also seen on Amazon an epi pen holder that straps to your leg- called Legbuddy or something like that. I've never tried it, but considered it.

 

[Mum23]

Epi's or avei Q would both fit in the SPI belt! That's what DS carries his in for school. It's small and clips like a fanny pack but much much smaller!

 

[dumbox2]

I'll second the Auvi q. Total game changer!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I also though about having him wear the pens in a fanny pack but am unsure if the pack would be allowed on the ride with him>

A small, 3-pronged waist pack is allowed. Not a big one. Add that cold pack mentioned here (frio) and that's a solution.

I would have sworn this question was asked the other day on the Universal boards, but if so I guess it wasn't by you!

 

[nfceagles]

We just returned from our first Universal Trip yesterday and I used this fanny pack the whole time in order to avoid the lockers. It held 2 Auvi-Qs, a bottle of eye drops (DS's eyes react to a lot), my iphone, my sunglasses, tickets, room keys easily. I just checked using some older epi-pens (pre-AuviQ) and two pens also fit just fine in two of the pockets. I don't know exactly how the FRIO cool packs are shaped/sized, but I definitely have room to spare for some type of small gel pack, especially if I remove my sunglasses. We rode MIB twice and the Harry Potter ride once and the attendants gave the ok on my bag, no locker necessary.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A13NJO/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We didn't ride any of the big coasters with DS (he's too short). My DH rode the Hulk coaster and left me with his wallet, inhaler, and iphone (which I was able to squeeze into my fanny pack), but I don't know if he was being unnecessarily paranoid or not. He just didn't want the stuff falling out if his pockets on that ride.

On most rides, I turned the fanny pack to my side upon boarding for comfort so that the bar wasn't smashed down on the pack. You may want to do that too if you're worried about needing to get to stuff mid-ride.

We also own a Spibelt and I think that would be allowed too since it has the same kind of three prong clasp, but we didn't take it with us. The fanny pack, though not stylish was very useful for carrying things all day long.

You can not take cross-body bags on those rides or anything around the waist that doesn't use that three prong type clasp.

 

[Daydreamer64]

OP here, we had the stomach flu and all five of us were sick so I am just now getting to your responces.

I will look into buying a three pronged pack with a frio pack to cool the meds and be able to keep them with us at all times.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to give me helpful information.

To the poster who was sure this was posted on another board, I do not read every post from each section of these boards every day. I tried the search and it was down.

I posted this on the disabilities board because the majority of the general public does not carry meds every day that need to be accessible and cool. Statistically, the people on this board may have a better understanding of our situation.

Anyway, again thank you all for your suggestions and for assuring me that we can use a fanny type pack for the trip.

 

[spacecanada]

Another fan of SPIbelts! I kept my (2) EpiPens in the SPIbelt all day under my shirt and was able to take them everywhere in Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Hollywood. We had a Frio in our shoulder bag but never used it because it didn't get overly hot when we were there.

We have also have a KozyEpi duo for two Allerjects (AuviQs) that works incredibly well and manages heat better than SPIbelts. Mine is on a caribeaner, but you can get theme with waist belts as well.

 

[Fuhnuh]

I have put them in cargo shorts (which I don't wear at WDW). I'll check into Spi-belts. Thanks everyone. Will also check into Auvi Q.