Meds needing to stay in fridge

[Mickeyteacher]

Good morning, I not normally on this board but we are traveling with my parents this summer to WDW and I have a question. I know that Diser's have answers! My stepfather is taking a perscription that has to stay in a refridgerator. I know when we where on our DCL two summers ago, there was a form that we had to fill out to get sat at the main dining time.
Is there a form that I need to get filled out for a fridge to be placed in our room and not be charged everynight (We are staying a ASM)?

Thanks,
Shawna

 

[SueM in MN]

DCL uses medical forms, but the resorts don't. If you were staying at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, they have small refrigerators in all rooms. Since you are in a Value resort, you will need to request one.

You can request a refrigerator (make sure to specify that it is "for medical reasons") when making your reservation. Or, if you already have a reservation, you can call to get that added to your file.
Mention it again when you check in. When checking out, look at your check out documents to make sure it was not charged for. If it is, ask to speak to a manager and they will remove the charge.

There are 2 types of refrigerators that they may give for medical needs. One is a dorm size refrigerator with a very small freezer compartment. The other type is very small, about the size of a large shoe box.

He may also want to check with the Pharmacy about how critical the need for refrigeration is for his particular medication. Some are marked as needing to be refrigerated that just need it for long (like months) storage, not for the few weeks that bottle is in use. I'm not mentioning that to discourage getting a refrigerator, but just do he will know how careful he needs to be. I've seen posts from people who are all stressed about keeping medication cool while they are on the plane when their actual medication only needs refrigeration for storage over a month.

 

[Mickeyteacher]

DCL uses medical forms, but the resorts don't. If you were staying at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, they have small refrigerators in all rooms. Since you are in a Value resort, you will need to request one.

You can request a refrigerator (make sure to specify that it is "for medical reasons") when making your reservation. Or, if you already have a reservation, you can call to get that added to your file.
Mention it again when you check in. When checking out, look at your check out documents to make sure it was not charged for. If it is, ask to speak to a manager and they will remove the charge.

There are 2 types of refrigerators that they may give for medical needs. One is a dorm size refrigerator with a very small freezer compartment. The other type is very small, about the size of a large shoe box.

He may also want to check with the Pharmacy about how critical the need for refrigeration is for his particular medication. Some are marked as needing to be refrigerated that just need it for long (like months) storage, not for the few weeks that bottle is in use. I'm not mentioning that to discourage getting a refrigerator, but just do he will know how careful he needs to be. I've seen posts from people who are all stressed about keeping medication cool while they are on the plane when their actual medication only needs refrigeration for storage over a month.

Thanks for the information. This particular medication has a critical need for keeping it cold- he receives it ship over night with cold packs in a cooler. I have already requested one with the reservation.
Thanks,
S

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the information. This particular medication has a critical need for keeping it cold- he receives it ship over night with cold packs in a cooler. I have already requested one with the reservation.
Thanks,
S

If he is traveling by plane and has any questions, there are links to the Transportation Security Administration's pages about travel with medication in post #15 of the disABILITIES FAQs. Cold packs would not normally be allowed past security, but are for medical reasons.

 

[Mickeyteacher]

If he is traveling by plane and has any questions, there are links to the Transportation Security Administration's pages about travel with medication in post #15 of the disABILITIES FAQs. Cold packs would not normally be allowed past security, but are for medical reasons.

No airplane for this trip. We are only about 7 hours from Disney. I will keep that in mind when I book his trip to North Dakota in October. THank you for all your help.
S

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Two other things to consider.

One is that if he may need access to the medications while he is in one of the parks they will store it at First Aid in a refrigerator at no charge. If it is injectible they will also provide a private area for doing the injection(s) and have sharps containers for disposal of the needles.

Another is to go to www.coolerconcept.com and possibly get a Frio wallet. I, and several others in this forum, use their products and they work very well (and as advertised).

 

[MegtheMom]

Hi - my DD uses a medication that must be refridgerated, too. In addition to the great information provided above, I just wanted to mention that if you arrive at your resort and check in before your room is ready, you can ask the CM at the desk to store your father-in-law's med in a special fridge they have available. They'll hold it until your room is available and you can pop it in the room fridge. Likewise if you're checking out but still have time before you depart, they can store it before you have to leave. Just don't forget to pick it up!

The few times we've stayed at a value resort and asked for a fridge for medical reasons, the request was honored with no problem and no need for documentation.

One last thought...if your DFIL needs his medication during the day while you're in the parks, you can store it in the fridge at any of the First Aid Stations. They are lovely there!

A happy vacation to you and yours!

 

[kileybeth]

wow, I just posted over on the resort forum b/c we have never stayed at a value and I needed fridge information. Found everything I needed right here. I also bring along bottled water to keep from drinking to much other stuff and to stay hydrated. Will they consider that when giving me a fridge? I'm kind of worried about a shoebox size fridge?

 

[SueM in MN]

wow, I just posted over on the resort forum b/c we have never stayed at a value and I needed fridge information. Found everything I needed right here. I also bring along bottled water to keep from drinking to much other stuff and to stay hydrated. Will they consider that when giving me a fridge? I'm kind of worried about a shoebox size fridge?

They started using the shoebox size rfrigerators because they are small and easy to store/move around. Many people have only a bottle of insulin or something similar that needs only a small space.

I don't think they would consider keeping water cold to be a medical need.
(i.e. water is not hurt or spoiled by being at room temperature and you can drink it at room temperature, although it may taste better cool).

It doesn't hurt to ask, but there are other options to getting cold water. Some people bring a couple of plastic bags or a collapsable cooler. Ice is free and ice machines are located reasonably close to most rooms. If you replenish the ice in the bag/cooler once or twice a day, you will be able to keep your water bottles cold. You can put the water bottles into a bag to keep them separate from the ice.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

GREAT POINT, and well worth repeating . . .

One is that if he may need access to the medications while he is in one of the parks they will store it at First Aid in a refrigerator at no charge. If it is injectible they will also provide a private area for doing the injection(s) and have sharps containers for disposal of the needles.