Injuries, accidents, illnesses @ WDW

[Kristentheangel]

I've been reading the posts on here for a long time and I seldom post, but, this time I'm posting!!

In WDW in Feb of 00 my DH and I stayed at the CBR. Two days before we were supposed to leave for WDW, I came down with a NASTY sinus infection and was very sick. This was our first trip together (we were dating at the time) and there was NO WAY I was going to let a little illness keep me from WDW.

The plane ride down was painful but the adrenaline of WDW overcame the pain! On our second night in WDW I had a fever of 102 degrees, and I couldn't taste anything and I was very miserable. My DH called the front desk at 3 am to see if they could recommend a nearby clinic or facility. The CM at the front desk was very nice and arranged for a dr to be at our door within 60 minutes. The dr spent 45 mins with me and actually had my rx sent to my door.

Granted I was out $150 for the visit and rx, it was the BEST $150 I spent in a long time, the dr took his time to explain to me what was going on with me, told me how to prevent it in the future, etc.

That has been my experience with WDW and being ill...(granted they didn't have to do anything at all, but, they were very helpful and I will always remember that...)

Last yr my MIL and FIL went to WDW for the first time in their life and they had a good time. Halfway into their vacation, my MIL fell at PoR and sprained her ankle. She slipped on a napkin in the Food Court. More embarassed than anything else, my FIL took her to the local ER and she had it xrayed and wrapped in a bandage and was given crutches. My MIL is VERY stubborn and she decided to keep on going with crutches and rest every so often. (shes also in WAY better shape than I LOL)

The next morning, determined to go to Epcot, they again stopped in the FC for bfast, a CM was making conversation and asked her what happened, she told the CM what happened the day before. The CM went and got a manager and the manager had my MIL fill out an accident report and gave her a copy, she then sent two HUGE stuffed animals sent to their room!!

A week after my MIL and FIL got home, they received a call from a WDW Rep (what title the rep had, I still do not know) and said that if my MIL needed anything, she should call them!!

The health insurance covered her ER bill, and my MIL of course decided not to sue...she says their is nothing to sue over cause stuff happens (several of her friends have told her to sue, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???!!!).

Anyways, I just can't believe how different injuries, accidents, and illnesses are all treated differently around WDW, I'm just happy that we had such good luck with them!! If there's one thing they are consistant with, its being inconsistant..lol

Kristen

 

[eddiewells]

Wow, I wouldn't be surprised to find you all were the best treated illnesses/injuries at WDW. I just hope that if anyone in my family got hurt or sick I'd get the same kind of help. Its good to know that Disney isn't ALWAYS unhelpful in those kind of situations.

 

[ClareH]

On one of my trips a couple of years ago I was taken ill at PO FQ, I hadn't felt well for a few days but things got dramatically worse and I needed a doctor, I didn't know what to do as we're from the UK things are different here, my friend called the front desk and they actually sent a member of staff up to our room to see if I was OK, they then called the doctor for me who thought it best if I went to the ER and called the paramedics. I was kept in hospital a few days before being allowed to fly home, a short while after I got home I got a letter from Disney saying they hoped I was alright and would return to them again in the future! I thought that was really nice.

 

[fireplug]

We took our DS to WDW in May his first trip in 4 yrs. Three days before we left I was lucky enough to get a spot of poison oak on my ankle right where my shoe rubs. We did our best to keep it clean and put salve on it.But................. somewhere I picked up some kind of "flesh eating bacteria" that caused an infection that steadily crept up my leg. Now my wife is a nurse and I am a paramedic. Both us of knew what to do, but if I would have gone to the MD it would have ruined trip. IE: hospitalization or at least three days off of feet. So I toughed it out till I got home and then went to er next day. Needless to say I spent next 36 hrs in hosp. and still have scars on my leg. I know, we should have went earlier but just couldn't mess up trip. I really feel sorry for those who have had to go to get medical care although Disney was very helpful with questions we had.

 

[Mickymark]

Some years ago, my daughter tripped and fell head first into a machine in the arcade at the Grand floridian. She needed stitches, so she was taken to a local clinic on sand lake road. a CM took us there but when we were through, there was no one to take us back to the "world". I called my hotel (the Poly) and explained everything. They in turn sent a car around to pick us up but we wound up waiting for another hour at least. Everyone was friendly enough (except the clinic) but that was all. The doctor at the clinic, however was rude and relentless. even though I produced a perfectly valid medical insuranve card (for which I pay a lot of monet every year) he insisted I pay cash for the services rendered. In all, it was avery unpleasant experience. There was nothing Disney did to make the situation better, but i dont think there was anything they could do.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Our neighbors went down in fall of 1999 and their daughter (then 4) got MUMPS!!! SHe had the shot and everything. She and her dad were stuck in their hotel for 2 days of their trip. The hotel (All stars) sent her a HUGE Minnie doll and 3 autographed photos because she felt so bad.
Her mom told me the doctor at the ORlando hospital they went to said he never sees Mumps except in immigrant children! They still don't know how she got it!
Robin M.

 

[ducklite]

In 1996 we saw a kid go head first into one of those large cement icons on the football field of AS Sports. I had DH call front desk while I went to assist kid with towels from the room. Due to teh way he hit I was concerned about a neck injury orsevere brain injury. Manager came to assist and called for an ambulance (kids father was there, but panicked). Kid was OK, got a headful of stitches and had a concussion. AS manager definitely reacted well to the emergency that wasn't Disney's fault. It was just one of those things.

In 1997 we were going up the monorail ramp. DS slipped and wiped out on the wet pavement. We took him to first aid at the MK, and they put some ointment and bandaids on his very skinned knees. Did he slip on wet pavement? Yes, but hey, stuff happens, you know? I was satisfied with the care he got.

Anne

 

[PamOKW]

I won't go into details but we had a medical emergency at Epcot that was handled wonderfully from the first security guard I asked for help, to the nurses at the First Aid station to the CM from our resort who provided transportation to the ER. It was also NYE afternoon/evening and the receptionist at the ER said only a gypsy cab would be available to take us back to WDW. When we said we were staying at a Disney resort he called them and sure enough, the terrific girl who had brought us over came and took us back.

 

[Val]

Last summer my 10 yr old DD developed an allergic reaction to SOMETHING (still not sure what it was) just before we left for WDW. She developed another rash and we called our pediatrician - he recommended Benadryl. No problem, the store in GF had a bottle......except dummy me forgot a spoon or measuring device to give her the dose, as we discovered as we waited for the Pirate Cruise. No problem. One of the CM's found us both a measuring spoon and a regular tea spoon. We dosed Miss Em and she was ready for the cruise....but we had to laugh at the CM. She asked us if we wanted to keep both the measuring spoon and the spoon- so we would have it the rest of the day! Awfully nice gesture when a CM didn't have to be nice......guess that's what makes it WDW!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Last year I was at MGM with my 2 1/2 yo, and my 5 yr old. On the way into the park my 2 yo bumped into someones cigarette and burned her hand. We went directly to first aid. they put burn cream on it and a bandaid. Then at lunch my 5 yo developed a fever of 104. I went back to first aid to find out where I could get medicine and to find out about a dr. They gave me childrens motrin and had her lay down for a while until it worked. we were going home the next day so I didn't bother with the clinic. My experience with first aid at MGM was incredible! They were wonderful!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

This past Dec 2001 we took our then 9 month old daughter to WDW and stayed at Poly. Before we left she had been sick and we took her to the Dr. She had an ear infection and was doing fine on the antibiotics by the time we left. The flight down there didn't bug her a bit (her first!)

Well a few days into the trip she had a bad diaper rash, then what looked like a sun burn or rash. I couldn't believe I let my baby get sun burned, I am so careful with the sun screen. By that evening it was clear it wasn't a sun burn. The staff at Poly was very helpful with the options of in room medical care or walk in clinic. Just to be sure we stopped in first aid at MK and the nurse there decided it was indeed an allergic reaction to the penicillin and to call our pediatrician when we got back to our room. Well, it took us over and hour and a half to get to Poly using the monrail, can you belive that?

Talked to Ped, discontinued the med and gave her Benadryl and went to bed. The next morning she was red head to toe, had welts all over her body and her face swelled up. It seemed to bug her more than me, but I wasn't taking any chances.

Poly front desk connected us with Centra Care clinic who came to our resort, with a car seat for the baby, took us to the office in Kissimmi and over to the pharmany to get the cortizone. They also let us get some lunch at the subway and my husband ran over to the grocery store next door to pick up some things (we didn't rent a car).

Most emergency places won't touch out of state insurance as a policy, you have to submit it yourself later. (if it isn't life threatning.) The dr visit cost us 113, the ride was free and the cortizne was 3 dollars!!!!


All in all it was money well spent (for care on a Sunday morning no less.) The swelling did go down, but she had red welts all over her body for around 2 days. It was funny, some were in the shape of hidden Mickeys!!! Most people comment on how cute she is (we think so,) but on this trip they were like, Oh what a cute baby, what is wrong with her? Is she contagious?

The trip was great and I am thankful for the help at MK first aid, Poly and the Centra Care.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

in every park. Through the years we've had several minor things happen. My son seems to fall and scrap something, sun burn, bug bites etc. They have always seen us promptly, were nice, professional, treated us, in short did everything I could have expected them to. Also my DH came down with acute bronchitis on one trip while at Poly, and the CM's suggested and delivered some chicken soup (not on room service menu), got us to Centra care, gave us all the info if we had wanted a dr to come to the room, could've had prescription delivered etc. I thought they were quite helpful. I know everyone hasn't been satisfied with service in time of need but we haven't been disappointed.

 

[Terry S]

We were in AK one day and noticed both our childern were very hot. We stopped in at the first aid, the nurse took their temps found out they were 104 and gave them some motrin. She then called the pharmacy in town to have some motrin delivered to our room and gave us a couple of extra throw away thermometors to take the kids temps later. It was a good experience with first aid.

 

[Monica]

This past August I broke my kneecap and tore some ligaments 3 weeks before our family reunion at WDW. I kept our plans and I had a full leg (hip to ankle) immobilizer (not fun in Aug heat!) Thing were fine until the 3rd day of our trip. While at Epcot a small boy ran though the crowd and knocked me over. I sat on the pavement crying for a good 5 minutes- no CM in site. Finally another guest actually carried me down to the boat ramp to cross the lake- thank goodness I'm small Now I was with only my sister and as soon as the boat came, she asked the captain to call head to have first aid or at least a wheelchair meet us at the other side. He told her he couldn't, she'd have to go to the front of the park to rent me a wheelchair. Now mind you my whole leg is a brace and the he sees the other guest carry me onto the boat- it's not like I was faking. So we get off the boat with me leaning against my sister and not putting any weight on my leg. We then went to the first giftshop on the right after getting off the boat and again ask for first aid or a wheelchair. This CM points out first aid and tells us to walk there! At the time I'm in so much pain that I can't think straight (I should have just sat down in the middle of the floor until management came) so we walk/hop/get carried to first aid. Now to be fair, it is just across the bridge but in my condition it took almost an hour. When we finally got there the nurses were wonderful. They took great care of me, got me a wheelchair, called the reosrt so there'd be a wheelchair waiting for me there too. I had an mri the day after we returnedandended up needing 2 more operations due to the fall. I did not pursue any legal action against disney (much to the dismay of my BIL who is a personal injury lawyer) because it was just an accident- no one's fault (except for maybe the people who didn't watch their child). I did write a letter to disney about how I was treated by those CMs. They responded immediately and I received phonecalls from two managers plus several emails. Disney did send me 2 UMP passes to make up for the days we lost but I did not ask for them. Overall the managers were a class act but I hope our March trip is less exciting!

 

[AllyandJack]

During the first trip I took to WDW with my future DH (it was his first trip ever), my rotten stomach started acting up. I couldn't leave the room and all I wanted to eat was oatmal raisin cookies. So, he goes down to the food court and doesn't find any. He asks the lady at the bakery and tells her I wasn't feeling well and I REALLY wanted these cookies. She wrapped 5 of them up and didn't charge him for them.

The next year, on my very last day, I got on a tram with an overhang that was lower than normal. I whacked my head. A lot of other people did, too, but I'm almost 6 feet tall, so I REALLY hit my head hard. For days after I got home I was dizzy. Went for an MRI and found out I had a Grade 2 concussion. Now I practically bend myself in half to get on the trams!

 

[KarlainKY]

We had a positive experience with the First Aid Station at AK this past December. My nine-year-old son was bitten by a fire ant on his arm and they gave him an ice pack for it, which really helped with the pain and swelling. Within an hour or so, he was all better and ready to continue with the fun!

 

[dmslush]

I'm glad ya'll had good experiences with first aid. Mine this past november was horrible!! On the first day of our trip, I injured my leg on the haunted mansion (don't even ask how I did it, I couldn't begin to tell you LOL). Anyway, I didn't realize for a day or two how bad it really was. I went to the first aid station in epcot and was treated AWFUL! The nurse wouldn't even look at me. She wouldn't let me have an icepack, nor an ace bandage. She didn't even get up from her desk, just sat there with her arms crossed and said, "Nope, I can't help you. You will have to go to one of our hospitals" I'll be honest, I couldn't afford a hospital bill when I knew all they were going to do is put ice on it and and an ace bandage. I ended up leaving the first aid station in tears because she was so rude and obnoxious! The rest of our trip became a "quest" to find an ice bag and acebandage. I finally found a bandage our last night at akl. But no one anywhere could locate an ice pack. I ended up buying a swimming diaper that was in a ziplock so that I could use the ziplock to hold ice.

 

[KimandBrian]

I have a real wussy "accident" story :
When I went to Typhoon Lagoon I sat in the shallow part of the wave pool, and when one of the bigger waves came it pushed me back. I tried to stay put by planting my hands on the ground but that didn't work. My right hand was horribly scraped and even bled so I went to the First Aid to have it cleaned and to get a bandaid. They were very nice and helpful.

 

[VelvetGloves]

Hey, KimandBrian, that's not such a wussy accident. The same thing happened to me. I was sitting in the shallow water, and the lifeguard tried to warn me to get up in time, but she was too slow. Luckily, she grabbed onto my arm, so I wasn't pushed around too much. I didn't have to go to first aid, but I did have a big red set of scratches on the back of my right leg all day. They looked terrible! Since the lifeguard was watching out for me, I would imagine that particular accident has happened quite a few times.
On our last trip, I did go to the First Aid station in MGM for a different problem. My family and I were staying at Dixie Landings, and I got a couple bug bites. Normally, it would have been no big deal. Unfortunately, they swelled. Instead of being a quarter of an inch in diameter, they were at least six inches wide, maybe even bigger. So, I had these huge red circles all over my legs. It was the first time I had ever had a problem like that, so I went to the MGM First Aid station. They were very polite, but had no idea what was wrong with them. They just said if they got any worse to go to one of the clinics. Even though they really couldn't help me, I felt better.

VelvetGloves

 

[RAV]

Over the years, we have had several incidents. I developed pneumonia while staying at the YC. The front desk arranged for us to be taken to the nearby physician and phoned ahead to check on the waiting time. Unfortunately, the physician prescribed something at the wrong dosage and that made me more ill.

A few years ago, my son slipped by SAB as someone had dropped suntan lotion near the pool edge. He was ok, a little shaken and the staff came out of the woodwork to check on him.

This past August, SAB was overcrowded due to pool crashers, and guests were carrying large lounge chairs around. While asleep on a lounge a guest hit me in the head with the metal frame of the chair. I had a large egg on my head and it was apparently way too much trouble for the staff to give me ice. Same place, different time. I think it depends on the CM you ask.