Need help to have Disney understand allergies

[icelady]

Hi, I am a severly latex allergic person who acquired this allergy thru working as an RN for many years and using the gloves. I have been able to visit Disney for the last 4 yrs or so without worrying about eating, they went non-latex in their restaurants that were owned by Disney. I applauded them for this action and could visit and eat without worrying about dying from the use of latex gloves. Now the announcement has been made that they are going back to selling latex "traditional" balloons on main street along with the foil balloons. My reaction is so severe when I come in contact with balloons that I could die, and I know I am not the only person who has this allergy, so do many others and also children, especially children born with special needs that have had to have medical care and acquired the allergy. The problem is outside the balloons do not cause much harm due to the proteins being out in the air, but when they are in an enclosed area, ie, restaurant, ride que, ride, hotel and I would happen to come in contact with them my throat closes up and I begin to swell, eyes go closed, chest pain which progresses to anaphalytic shock, which leads to death. That nice latex balloon that most people think is pretty and cute, is deadly to me. Being near a latex balloon is just as deadly to me as if a person allergic to peanuts is handed a candy nut cluster and told to eat it, it also has chocolate on it so the peanuts won't hurt. I am not trying to take away any fun or color from Disney just trying to keep latex allergic persons safe which includes myself. All the non latex restaurants that I was able to enter will no longer be non latex if balloons are allowed in. The proteins that come off that balloon are just as deadly as the proteins that come off latex gloves. I think Disney needs to reconsider their safety of paying guests and stay with foil balloons. I have called Disney who forwarded my call to enviromental health and I got voice mail.. I left my number and am awaiting a call back. I f anyone else has any suggestions please post them or call down and protest the sale of these balloons . I have a reservatiion at the Boardwalk Inn and at the present time don't know if I can keep it. Try to explain that to a 3 yr old who loves Disney that grandma can't go due to the balloons being sold.

 

[sunny04]

I would suggest writing a letter to WDW and explaining this allergy. It may or may not help, but at least you will know you tried.

 

[3mickeys&me]

I agree I would write or call someone and explain the seriousness of the situation not only for you but for other whom are alergic to it!!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds5 is also allergic to latex. This allergy has developed since his last trip to WDW when he was 3. I am glad to hear that they use non-latex gloves when preparing/serving food -- that was one of my worries. I am also a bit concerned about the balloons. Although my son's allergy doesn't sound quite as severe as yours, he cannot come in contact with latex balloons or he will have a reaction. We carry an EpiPen Jr. all the time and he eats Benadryl Fastmelts on a regular basis. I'm concerned about closed in spaces - like buses where a balloon another child is holding could rub against him.

 

[TheZeppo]

Many different people are allergic to many different things. How is Disney supposed to run their business if they're a slave to the demands of everyone who is allergic to something? There are people allergic to dairy, should Disney abolish the use and sale of all dairy products. It's up to you to take precautions for your condition while you're there, not Disney.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am completely in sympathy for your allergies. I come from a family where most of us have many allergies.

However, I do not think that Disney (or any other place) should bend over backwards to accommodate anyone's allergies when you have a choice as to whether or not to expose yourself to allergens. It's not as if Disney is overrun with rogue balloons. Just stay away from them.

Try to explain that to a 3 yr old who loves Disney that grandma can't go due to the balloons being sold.

If his/her parents are there, that is what really counts.

There are many other activities you can do with a grandchild besides going to Disney.

 

[Wendy1953]

I am in complete sympathy with you, and hope they change their policies back to non-latex! I myself do not have anyone in my family with this allergy, however, there are enough people who do have it, and they should not be able to sell these balloons in areas where there is such a diverse crowd that any could be highly allergic. These balloons also could cause harm to the wildlife surrounding disney world, as the birds and animals may try to eat them and suffocate.

I do know that AKL does not allow any type of balloon on property, due to the hazard to the animals...you may want to change your ressies to stay there, and by all means, write to Disney and keep after them.....as a nurse do you have statistics as to how many people per hundred has this allergy? You may want to do some research and provide them with the facts!

Good Luck! Hoping you don't have to disappoint your grandchild!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I feel for you and understand the severity of your allergy and hope that you are able to get in contact with someone at Disney about your situation. However, don't expect much sympathy from posters here. I learned the hard way that ignorance is bliss as it appears that a good number of people who post here have trouble seeing the big picture and only care about what affects them. My DS has a severe peanut allergy and from my past experience posting here about it, I realize that there is still a large number of people who do not take allergies such as the ones we are dealing with seriously/care/realize/or understand how exposure can lead to death. I hate to say it, but it appears as though it's every man for himself--at least on these boards. So please put your flame-retardant suit on, because I'm sure the flames will be coming---for both of us.

 

[snusnu]

I have deadly nut and fish allergies. I get a reaction if I walk into a restaurant where fish is being cooked. My solution is to avoid any restaurant that serves fish. Hard? Yes. Impossible? No. You need to find out where the balloons are being sold, you need to be fastidious about where you sit in a restaurant and you need to watch who you're next to in line. It is possible. If you have to, wear a mask. As an RN, I know you're familiar with the grades of surgical mask and how much they filter. I have tremendous sympathy, believe me.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I learned the hard way that ignorance is bliss as it appears that a good number of people who post here have trouble seeing the big picture and only care about what affects them.

Personally, I consider this statement ignorant. I am well aware of what a severe allergy can do. Whether or not Disney sells balloons has no effect on me at all.

Balloons are easily avoided, unlike other allergens which are statistically far more likely to cause anaphylactic shock. Latex allergy has been estimated to affect between 1-6% of the population:

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/allergystat.htm

It is impossible to find exact statistics, but according to the US Department of Labor, between 1988-1992, there were 15 reported deaths from latex exposure:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/latexallergy/index.html

According to a study published in 1997, 125 people die from food allergies every year in the US (Burks AW, Sampson HA. Anaphylaxis and food allergy. In: DD Metcalf, HA Sampson, RA Simon, eds. Food Allergy: Adverse Reactions to Foods and Food Additives. 2nd ed. Malden, Mass: Blackwell Science; 1997.)

40-100 die every year from insect venom allergies (Valentine MD. Anaphylaxis and stinging insect hypersensitivity. JAMA. 1992;268:2830-2833. ).

Allergic reactions to medications cause the highest number of documented deaths from anaphylaxis each year. Penicillin alone is responsible for about 5,440 cases of fatal anaphylaxis each year, which accounts for an estimated 75% of the known annual US anaphylaxis deaths (Bochner BS, Lichtenstein LM. Anaphylaxis. N Engl J Med. 1991;324:1785.)

So if you are writing Disney to protest balloon sales, also ask them to also eliminate all stinging insects, foods which are common allergens, and all pollens. And write to all your elected officials to ban penicillin.

My point is that too many people believe that the world revolves around them and their wants/needs/personal problems. It doesn't. Look out for yourself.

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

write and call as many times/people/departments of disney you can i suppose.

i dont know what else you could do.

 

[HollisterSweetie]

You could try writing them a letter saying exactly what you posted on here?

 

[Hannathy]

DeeCee I have to disagree I think the people you are complaining about see the big picture and many of you get stuck looking at a very small frame of the movie. 4 deaths in this whole country in a year is so immensely tiny it would take many zero's after the decimal. The world can not adapt to every minute affliction and while I feel for the difficulties the OP must face it is unreasonable for the whole world to change for her.

Cyberspace I was called uncaring on another thread for stating that if you choose to not have health insurance you have chosen to accept the level of care that society deems acceptable. I agree with you.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

OP - I would also like to second the idea of staying at the AKL. Balloons aren't allowed on the property and they aren't even allowed on the buses that travel to the property. I guess my best advice would be to be accutely aware of your surroundings.

Best of luck to you.

BTW, I have never seen a balloon inside a restaurant.

 

[MidgeD79]

icelady, I've posted your question on the disabilities board. They will be much more sympathetic and better info and suggestions.

 

[WantToGoNow]

... you have a choice as to whether or not to expose yourself to allergens. It's not as if Disney is overrun with rogue balloons. Just stay away from them.

So what you're saying is if my family is sitting on the bus back to the resort and a child boards with a balloon, my family should have to get off; or if we are sitting in a restaurant eating and someone comes in with one, we should get up and leave our meals behind. The chefs at restaurants take precautions for people with life-threatening food allergies to protect them yet it is unreasonable to expect them to take precautions for people with other types of severe allergies. Yes, the number of people that die each year of a latex reaction is relatively small, but personally, I don't want my small child to be among them.

 

[going2disney]

Many different people are allergic to many different things. How is Disney supposed to run their business if they're a slave to the demands of everyone who is allergic to something? There are people allergic to dairy, should Disney abolish the use and sale of all dairy products. It's up to you to take precautions for your condition while you're there, not Disney.

I suggest before you make such statements you should educate yourself about a latex allergy. Yes many peopke are allergic to many different things, however if I have a dairy allergy I know not to ingest this product. People with latex allergies are more unique in that the proetin being in the air can set a person off, the exposure often happens with you being completely unaware until it hits you. It is very easy for people to say "just avoid it." If it were only that easy. Only having a family member with a severe latex allergy would make one understand. I suggest before people start throwing ignorant comments, and by ignorant I truely mean uneducated- educate yourself on latex allergy. And before you start quoting statistics- look them up, latex allergy is a lot more prominent than you realize. With every latex exposure people with the allergy become more sensitized. And as far as the balloons is it really that big of a deal to offer mylar instead of latex??? Is it worth risking the health of some others? Imagine it were your family with a similar problem.

 

[penguin087]

Balloons at Disney cannot be the only time you have to take care not to come in contact with latex. How do you manage in everyday life? Latex must be everywhere and I'm sure you take precautions. Why would Disney be different? Aren't there precautions you always take in public?

 

[ptmmg]

I am severly allergic to peanuts and latex! My dh once kissed me after eating a peanut I had welts all over me, I was once was in a a car where we had a latex balloon and I had trouble breathing!
Do I think people should alter there lives because of me , NO I wiil tell the airlines of my allergies and request that I not sit in any rows where peanuts are served, as for latex if I see latex balloon I stay away
I have sympothy for allergies, trust me I am allergic,to too much more than I just said here ,but i I don't want to get in to a big debat I feel people can't alter their whole lived just to accomadate me. ) I may just have low self esteem)

 

[Luigi's Girl]

If his/her parents are there, that is what really counts.

There are many other activities you can do with a grandchild besides going to Disney.

WOW!