latex allergies and WDW parks

[SueM in MN]

The info about the balloons again being sold is posted under recent WDW news on touringplans.com, along with a CM holding a bouquet of the balloons on Main Street.

Thanks. I found it at the end of the news.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have just spent about 15 minutes on the phone. I was unable to get through directly to the balloon department, but did talk to people in merchandising and others and the general comments I have received is that they have not used latex balloons at WDW in over three years.

However, I expect to be stopping in at MK some time within the next week and I will talk directly to one (or more) of the balloon sellers; if necessary I will even go backstage but I will get a definite accurate answer.

 

[adisneymama]

My entire family suffers from allergies so I can relate. I myself am a sever asthmatic. However, asking for the ban of these balloons is a little unreasonable. Keep in mind you are at Disney. Things like this are to be expected (balloons, toys etc that may or may not be made out of latex). However, Disney is very accomodating to their guests with disabilities of any kind and if told of the situation before hand will make every effort to ensure you a safe stay and a very good time.

Instead of trying to ban the balloons, the OP should simply call Disney and ask that her room be sanitized and cleaned extra well due to her allergy. She could also get a GAC so that she would not have to wait in lines with the "potential" balloons. Also, since she isn't going to be alone if she sees a line that a balloon is "too close" to her, she simply could have a family member inform the CM of the situation. The CM would simply ask the person with the balloon to let them store it for them until they finished the ride and could remove the hazard to her with no problem.
Instead of complaining that someone might get on the bus with a balloon with her, she has the option of waiting for another bus or the best bet would be to use a rental car rather than Disney transportation, this way she doesn't have to be delayed because of a balloon.

When going to the restraunts she could simply inform the CM's of the situation so that they could again make sure no balloons are brought near her or into the restraunt.

That is enough of the examples. You get the picture. The reason so many people are up in arms over this is because she does expect Disney to bend over backwards for her. This isn't something that has to be banned for her to enjoy her trip, she just has to take the responsiblity for her allergies and let those that can help her be aware of the situation.

So, yes Grandma can go to Disney, even if there are balloons.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just repeating part of what I wrote before:

For most people with latex allergies, the biggest problem is latex particles that get into the air - like latex gloves or balloons that shed latex particles during normal use.
Things like carpeting, tires and latex coatings on handrails, etc. don't tend to shed latex particles during normal use, so are not as much of a problem for most people with latex allergies. Some people have allergy problems if they get into direct contact with those items, but may not have any problem with them being in the environment. That is very different than gloves and balloons.

It would be a "reasonable accomidation" for health care providers and businesses to avoid using latex gloves and balloons. There are alternatives available that can be substituted (and for balloons, there are additional reasons - like animal/bird hazards - to avoid using them).

 

[going2disney]

It is sad that the people that truely do not understand this allergy continue to trivialize it like we are dealing with a common cold. Those of us that do understand the seriousness are able to read some of these posts and recognize that these people truely DO NOT UNDERSTAND, I don't know what more you can say than this. It is no so simple and cut and dry to "just cross the street or stay away, or have a room cleaning, while yes these offer good ideas but people living with this are already doing these things. And many times the allergic cascade has already started before you ever even see the exposure.

 

[adisneymama]

I'm not trying to trivialize anything. I understand and sympothize with her. My DD is extremely allergic to all types of mold. What I am saying is that it is UNREASONABLE to ask that these balloons be banned at Disney instead of making adjustments like the rest of us do. Also, what about everywhere else? I mean lets ban them from all restraunts, all parades, all museums, etc. You get the idea. Has she asked the town she lives in to ban them? What about Walmart or target. My point is, although it stinks to have allergies to anything, she can't possibly avoid this situation 100% and the only solution would be the consistant banning of latex balloons in the entire world. Most likely not going to happen. That is the point I was making.

Like I said, I do empathize. We have been instructed that if we are in a building for less than 2 mins and my DD starts having watery eyes or coughing to get her out. It means that there is mold somewhere. It's scary that this is the only way to "test" new places. AT least she can see a balloon. I can't always see mold. Yes, I call Disney and explain the situation and they are sure to clean my room very well and inspect it for mold. WE have never had a problem and I appreciate it very much the things that Disney has done for us.

It is unreasonable for me to think that all mold could be removed prior to my attending Disney with my DD the same way it is unreasonable to ask that these balloons be banned there or anywhere else. Like I said, allergies or disabilities of any kind suck. You just have to learn what you need to do in the event of a problem and be prepared.

To the OP I do hope you will speak with Disney on some of the issues you have and let them help you in anyway they can. I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip and I know they will be most accomodating if you let them.

 

[ducklite]

It is sad that the people that truely do not understand this allergy continue to trivialize it like we are dealing with a common cold. Those of us that do understand the seriousness are able to read some of these posts and recognize that these people truely DO NOT UNDERSTAND, I don't know what more you can say than this. It is no so simple and cut and dry to "just cross the street or stay away, or have a room cleaning, while yes these offer good ideas but people living with this are already doing these things. And many times the allergic cascade has already started before you ever even see the exposure.

I fully understand, but I'm not seeing where you have offered to take any proactive steps on your own, rather insist that WDW not sell the balloons.

People with severe peanut allergies are in the same boat. And guess what? Disney stills sells peanut butter and allows people to bring PB&J into the parks. The people with peanut allergies have worked with Disney to COEXIST. Something you'd be able to do if you'd divest yourself of the tunnel vision. You simply refuse to look at the big picture.

You can rent a car, ask for special cleaning on your room, get a GAC to be out of lines and away from balloons, visit during the least crowded times of the year, and speak to restaurant manager sbefore you go to explain the issue and make sure you'll be seated where exposure is minimalized. Have you even looked at these options with WDW? If not, then I'm not sure why you are making demands when you haven't even tried to work around them.

99% of the balloons at WDW are attached to strollers. It's not that difficult to avoid stroller corals.

The ADA requires reasonable accomodation. Reasonable is a term that goes both ways.

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

I am closing this because there is nothing being said here that hasn't been said before (several times).
Some of the things (like mold), are naturally occuring and could not be entirely removed no matter how hard anyone tries. To insist they be removed would be so difficult that it would be unreasonable (and once removed, it would start to grow back anyway).

As I have mentioned before, there are viable alternatives to latex balloons, so I don't feel that it is unreasonable for someone to ask WDW not to sell latex ones - hospitals and many businesses do just that to avoid any problems. Latex allergies are often life threatening and sometimes the person's first knowledge that they are allergic to latex is almost dying from it.
I know someone in the hospital where I work who had a slight feeling of tightness in her chest when she worked for about a week. She thought maybe she was in the beginning of some type of lung problem/bronchitis. One day, she woke up in intensive care with no idea how she got there. The last she remembered was just having the tight chest that she had had for the past week. She actually went into anaphalactic shock, stopped breathing and heart beating. That was her introduction to being allergic to latex.
She was lucky this happened in the hospital where they could call a Code Blue (but, being in the hospital was what put her in the situation of breathing in latex particles in the first place). She can't work in a health care setting any more at all because of the latex in the environment (not just stay across from the room from it).

It's possible that the balloons being sold in the parks are not latex at all - many of the "latex gloves" being used in health care settings these days are vinyl or another product called nitrile. It's possible that the balloons are made of something similar. If anyone finds out, I will add an update to this thread.
But, if they are latex, I don't think it would ruin anyones' WDW experience not to have latex balloons available.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have some further information on this subject. Cheshire Figment said he would see what he could find out and he was abel to get some answers that should be helpful. Here's what he reported to me:

"Today I was at the Magic Kingdon and talking to one of the balloon sellers. He put me in touch with his manager for more information. The manager was not sure about the Mickey Head balloons and gave me the phone number for his company's office. Note that the balloon sellers are not Disney employees but are "operating participants" (employees of an independent contractor doing business with Disney).

I ended up speaking with an executive at the company and got the following information.

First, to the best of everyone's knowledge the Mickey Head balloons are latex.

Second, they have never discontinued sale of the Mickey Head balloons but they are a very small percentage of the total sales. This is why the original poster may have been under the impression that they have not been sold for several years.

The company is aware that there could be severe allergic reactions to latex, but to the best of their knowledge there have never been any complaints and they have not received anything from Disney voicing concern over the balloons."