Nut Allergy and Asthma

[DISNEYINMAY08]

Hi! I'm going to Disney world in May with my family. My 2 year old has a severe life threatening tree nut allergy as well as asthma. I'm concerned about the heat combined with the asthma. Plus we have to carry his meds with us and are worried about them being in the heat all the time. (WE don't want to put them in first aid in case we need them quickly). I was looking into the the GAC card but wasn't sure if we would qualify. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Or do you know of the number to call fo the GAC card?

Thanks!

Kristie

 

[livndisney]

Hi! I'm going to Disney world in May with my family. My 2 year old has a severe life threatening tree nut allergy as well as asthma. I'm concerned about the heat combined with the asthma. Plus we have to carry his meds with us and are worried about them being in the heat all the time. (WE don't want to put them in first aid in case we need them quickly). I was looking into the the GAC card but wasn't sure if we would qualify. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Or do you know of the number to call fo the GAC card?

Thanks!

Kristie

There is not a number to call for a GAC. You need to go to Guest Services at a park and talk to them about it. There is a sticky on this thread that has LOTS of info that should help you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILTIES!

I would suggest you start off by looking through the disABILITIES FAQ, if you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

If you have to carry the medications with you, and they are temperature sensative, I would suggest that you get an insulated lunch bag of the sort that has space for gel packs on both top and bottom. You can get the packs chilled overnight in a refrigerator in your room. I would suggest taking only a minimum amount of medications with you to the parks.

If you are staying at a value resort you will have to let them know you need a refrigerator for temperature-sensitive medications, otherwise you will be charged (and I think it is currently $10 per day). Any resort Moderate or higher automatically comes with a refrigerator in the room.

Also carry some plastic zip lock sandwich size bags. If the gel packs cannot handle the temperatures for the entire day, you can ask at any counter service or beverage cart for ice, put the ice in the bags, and use that in the lunch bag.

If the heat is getting to him, you can go to First Aid in the park which will be a cool place to stay for about an hour for him to get better.

And, for a GAC you will have to let the person in Guest Raltions know what his needs are, or how his needs can be compensated for. Note that one of his needs cannot be skipping lines.

 

[Schmeck]

Hi! I'm going to Disney world in May with my family. My 2 year old has a severe life threatening tree nut allergy as well as asthma. I'm concerned about the heat combined with the asthma. Plus we have to carry his meds with us and are worried about them being in the heat all the time. (WE don't want to put them in first aid in case we need them quickly). I was looking into the the GAC card but wasn't sure if we would qualify. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Or do you know of the number to call fo the GAC card?

Thanks!

Kristie

If your son really can't handle the heat, you should probably reschedule your trip for a cooler month. A GAC will not be able to help you avoid the heat as you walk around the parks, it only is designed to allow the disabled equal access to as many attractions at WDW as possible. Since most of the queues at WDW are shaded/inside/air conditioned, they should be the most comfortable part of your traveling.

We've been to WDW in May - it can get pretty hot (90's) and humid. Other times it is beautiful weather, in the low 80's.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is not a number to call for a GAC. You need to go to Guest Services at a park and talk to them about it. There is a sticky on this thread that has LOTS of info that should help you.

The Guest Services staff at the parks are the ones who actually the requests for GACs and they are the only ones who can actually answer your questions.

If your son really can't handle the heat, you should probably reschedule your trip for a cooler month. A GAC will not be able to help you avoid the heat as you walk around the parks, it only is designed to allow the disabled equal access to as many attractions at WDW as possible. Since most of the queues at WDW are shaded/inside/air conditioned, they should be the most comfortable part of your traveling.

We've been to WDW in May - it can get pretty hot (90's) and humid. Other times it is beautiful weather, in the low 80's.

A GAC may be helpful while in lines, but as Schmeck noted, most of the lines are shaded or inside anyway.
At least as much or more time is spent outside of lines walking from place to place than is spent outside in line. So, if he's going to have trouble with being outside in the heat, you need to consider how to handle it.

I don't think anyone addressed the tree nut allergy, but there are some links in the 3rd post of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of the board) about food allergies.

 

[hildarumpole]

May isn't usually horribly hot, but it will be warm. Before you go, make a list of the attractions you really want to enjoy at each park, then map out your days so you aren't doing a lot of running back and forth. Try to get to the parks first thing in the morning and take a break at the hottest part of the day in the afternoon. Your son will probably be ready for a nap anyway. If everyone feels up to it, go back to the parks when it cools down in the evening. My DD10 has asthma and nut allergies. We went in June when it was in the 90s. She never had an attack. We just slowed down the pace, made sure she got plenty of fluids, shade, and rest, and kept up the regular medication schedule. I never inquired about a GAC, so am not sure if your son would qualify for it.

As far as the tree nut allergy, make sure you have it noted on your ADRs if you plan on going to table service restaurants. At counter service restaurants or snack places, there are binders you can check for ingredients.

Have a great trip!

 

[Selket]

My younger son has several medical issues with asthma being one of them. We do not generally have to carry the asthma meds to the park however (his asthma is not usually so severe). I am guessing that you have an inhaler with the meds in the cannister?

We do use something called a Frio bag for his insulin however (he is a type 1 diabetic). You can find them here: http://www.coolerconcept.com/index.htm They are water activated and will keep meds cool. Perhaps use them to put the meds in a plastic bag then into the Frio. Of course a small cooler would work well too (the lunch bag type).

Or maybe you are talking about his epi-pens? We always have carried them in our bags (that I keep with me on the rides, etc). There are Frio packs that will work with them too. I think there was some discussion a long time ago about this and it seems most of us just do the same thing - but a small cooler would work or Frio. With a lunch cooler I'd want to be careful not to put ice up against them - getting them too cold.

Since your child is two, I'm sure you'd be using a stroller anyway but I think that helps. The misty water fans are good (they love those!). I also suggest a good touring plan (I really like the Tour Guide Mike advice - he is a Theme Parks board sponsor - there is a banner ad there to click to save a few bucks). With a good touring plan you can avoid much of the crowds/waits.

He is also severely allergic to Peanut/TN so we note that on all our ADR's. Check the FAQ for Brenda Bennett's email address and email her - she'll send you a ton of info on CS and cart items that are safe/unsafe. Dining is usually a great experience.

 

[mechurchlady]

At google an easy way to search disboards is using the following search for example. site:www.disboards.com "tree nuts" allergy

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1677960

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1514642&referrerid=93883

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=611606&referrerid=93883

You may have to scroll down to read some of the people talking about tree nut allergies.

As for heat and meds there is the Nurses Station that will store meds that need to be refrigerated. The Baby Care Center is also climate controlled and both are places to get out of the heat. During my last trip some buildings were ice cold and a great place to beat the heat.

You can get a GAC for the stroller as a wheelchair. This would tell CMs that the stroller is allowed to be in the lines. GAC is not magical head of the line pass but would help you and your child by allowing it to remain in the stroller and thus staying under the stroller's cool canopy. The GAC also lets the CM know there is a legitimate reason for the stroller being in the line.