Sick at MK--Now what?

[tmj212]

During my last trip to Disney in November 2014, I woke up feeling extremely nauseous on our MK day with a CRT breakfast resssie that was pre-paid. I've been meaning to post this for a while because the treatment/assistance that I received that day can only be considered as 'best in class'. I am a very tough customer having worked in Servicing and in Marketing focusing on the customer experience for many years, and I must say that I was extremely impressed.
After struggling to get to the park for our ADR and pushing through the pain so my kids could have a good time (all the while trying not to infect my family and praying that my symptoms would subside) I spent the whole breakfast either in the bathroom or sitting on the bench just outside the bathroom. Several CMs stopped by to check on me and I assured each that I was fine (NOT!). After the breakfast service ended, I hoveled over to the table to join my family. The waitress advised me that I was not charged for my meal and the manager came over and suggested that I go to First Aid in the park. I was so grateful, because at that point, I knew I couldn't make it back to the resort.
Once I got to First Aid they immediately took care of me. I signed in, and sent my family off to enjoy their day. The staff were kind, courteous and patient. They quickly got me hydrated and and even gave my kids a few gatorades and crackers to take with them. They gave me anti-nausea/diarhea pills and let me lie down in a cool room with the lights out, which was just what I needed. It reminded me a bit of the Nurse's office back in grade school. Within 10 minutes, I got sick in the pail that they provided and someone came in immediately to clean up and offered me towels, more water and compresses (sorry for the detail here--but there was a HUGE MESS. I couldn't believe that it was possible for so much to come out of 1 person). I slept/rested for about 2 hours and just when I started to feel better, my family had come back to retrieve me. I was sent on my way with extra pills, crackers and gatorade. Eventually I recovered. We had missed all of our FP+ windows at that point, but after explaining the situation, each CM honored our selections. Given how much pre-planning, expense, etc that went into our trip, it really could've been a disaster, but what could've been a big deal ended up being a minor hiccup. Thankfully, no one else in my party got sick--but I knew that if they did, they would be taken care of.

 

[mwmom]

That is a very encouraging post! It is nice to know that even under the worst circumstances, Disney pulls through! Not surprising, but nice to know about the first aid station! Thanks for sharing!

 

[soniam]

Thanks for posting. It's nice to know that there are people there to help and who understand bad situations.

 

[MartDM]

I'm glad you were treated so well and recovered quickly. That said, I wish that folks who are feeling ill would simply stay out of the parks until they are feeling better, rather than risking exposing all the rest of us to your illness.

 

[kandb]

I find it extremely selfish to go into closed areas, restaurants, Disney buses when you knew you were obviously sick with I am sure a very contagious gastrointestinal virus. I know you wanted to get your kids to the restaurant, but what about all the other people at Disney who spent thousands of dollars for a vacation, that you most likely exposed? Sorry, you should of stayed in the room that day and not exposed other people. Very selfish move on your part.

 

[gavsgirl]

Nice to know you were taken care of but I second that you should've stayed in the room.

On our last trip in September I was mortified how many people were coughing and sneezing and obviously ill in line for food and rides. And it would figure that I was infected by our last day. But I knew I was and stayed in my hotel and missed my last park day. My kids went with DH and enjoyed it until they were struck down on the way home the following day. It really put a damper on our trip. I understand how much money is spent on these trips and that you don't want to lose out but it's also unfair to infect all the others who want to enjoy their vacation!

 

[Dentam]

I think I'm going to add antibacterial wipes or gel to my packing list and carry them with me every day after reading this.

Glad you were treated well OP and I hope you didn't infect any other park goers.

 

[gavsgirl]

I think I'm going to add antibacterial wipes or gel to my packing list and carry them with me every day after reading this.

Glad you were treated well OP and I hope you didn't infect any other park goers.

My DH laughed at me but I took wipes, gel, and a tiny can of Lysol spray with me lol sadly didn't help but made me feel proactive.

 

[tmj212]

I find it extremely selfish to go into closed areas, restaurants, Disney buses when you knew you were obviously sick with I am sure a very contagious gastrointestinal virus. I know you wanted to get your kids to the restaurant, but what about all the other people at Disney who spent thousands of dollars for a vacation, that you most likely exposed? Sorry, you should of stayed in the room that day and not exposed other people. Very selfish move on your part.

Well that didn't take long! I also spent thousands of dollars on my vacation that trust me, wasn't easy to come by. Not that I need to explain, because that is not what this post is about, but as a mother of 3, I have seen my kids 'under the weather' in the AM but good as gold an hour later after I have called out of work/cancelled school, etc. ( I have also personally experienced this as well).
I wasn't sure when I got up that morning extra early for our ADR if it was something that would pass (due to travel exertion, whatever) or was more serious. I made a decision, one that I do not regret. Turned out that it was food poisoning from my TS meal the previous night--so I wasn't contagious afterall. We actually didn't take the buses, but that's beside the point--when I wrote that I was careful not to infect my family (as best that I could), that applied to others as well.
Good for you if you would've stayed behind, but I chose not to.
I shouldn't be surprised at the level of judgement that there is in public forums where people can post things about others that they'd never dare say IRL, but I am surprised each and every time.

 

[Dentam]

Maybe a mask would be the only solution but I won't be going that far... lol.

 

[POOHsie]

My DH laughed at me but I took wipes, gel, and a tiny can of Lysol spray with me lol sadly didn't help but made me feel proactive.

And it's not necessarily at WDW where you got your illness. But it's definitely where a lot of ppl get exposed. Glad Disney has help available.

 

[Dentam]

Curious how you know it was food poisoning? Did you report it to the restaurant?

Again, glad to hear you were treated so well and that Disney is well prepared to deal with these situations.

 

[tmj212]

Well I'm no M.D. , but given my syptoms and the fact that no one else got sick, the staff thought it was food posioning. No, I didn't report it--I was happy to move on with my vacay and with the care that I received (and that I didn't get sick out in the park).

 

[bumbershoot]

First Aid is staffed by bonafide Registered Nurses. It's a really nice thing they do there. At DL last week they even worked to take a splinter out of DS's finger (he got it from something we would have sworn was plastic, but must have been real bamboo, at a restaurant at Disneyland Hotel), which is pretty cool.


I think the only way you can know if it was food poisoning was if you went to the ER and had things sampled and tested. Without that you're only guessing.


Disney Dining WILL help you out with ADRs if you're sick. Would have been so much better to have just stayed back in the room, have your CRT refunded, and rest.

 

[tmj212]

After this experience and seeing how Disney has handled other issues, I now know that they would have been accomodating, so I agree that it would've been better to rest-up in my room. But the team really was great and I wanted to let everyone know.

 

[amerikiwiroo]

I'm glad you were well taken care of OP and bounced back quickly!

My Mum got food poisoning(confirmed at ER) after her one and only signature dining dinner and full credit goes out to Disney in her handling as well. The hotel concierge called in a doctor who came to the room wearing mouse ears and carrying a doctor's bag shaped like mickey mouse. She didn't take note of these details at the time, but it helped the rest of the family smile.

 

[Tomh]

Gosh it didn't take long for someone to attack the op for going out while sick. I've gotten sick at Disney World three times over the last 7 summers of vacationing there. Before we started vacationing in Disney World, I pretty much never got sick in the summer months. I am pretty sure that it is because of all the people who get sick while at Disney, and refuse to spend perhaps several days in their hotel room after spending thousands of hard earned dollars for their trip, and honestly, I can't blame them. I take precautions where I can to keep from getting sick, and take medicine when I do get sick to help alleviate the symptoms, but I'd have to be pretty miserable to not get up and go to the parks.

OP . .. glad you got such first rate care from Disney, AND that you got better and were able to enjoy your day!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Thank you OP for sharing this because it is good to know that there are options. When I think about first aid I do think of things like bumps and scrapes or splinters like bumbershoot's situation. At DHS one year the heat got to me, I had not drank enough water and I felt dizzy and my head was throbbing. I ended up going back to the room and my family insisted on staying with me as opposed to stick to park plans. If I had known at the time that first aid could have helped me with that, I would have gone there instead. Glad you had a speedy recovery.

 

[anniemae]

Out of curiosity, where is the first aid station?

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I'm glad to see so many people have had good experiences with the First Aid station. When we were at WDW in May, my dd needed to get some ibu...had a headache and a sore throat. She was flushed...but we figured it was the heat with allergies mixed in. We went to the First Aid station in MK (over behind Casey's next to the rest rooms for anniemae). She signed in, and was given two ibu. She needed water so I went to buy her some, telling her to stay where she was, in First Aid, to cool off, and be off her feet. Well.....when I returned 5 mins later, she told me that it was a good thing I had come back then because a CM had told her that she couldn't just sit there, she had to leave! She wasn't using her phone, chatting with anyone, having a good time. She looked awful!!! We left the park and returned to the room, where she laid down for a bit. After a nap, she felt better so off we went.
Well, long story short......when she went to the dr's for her yearly physical, she had some issues that were related to strep. Seems she had been carrying strep since mid-May. And yes, she was in the parks with it, as well as at school (college), and later at work as a character in a theme park. She had a sore throat for 2 days and that was it.
Now, I'm not saying that the folks at the First Aid station could have known that...my issue is that my dd was very flushed and not feeling well at all...and was told she had to leave the First Aid area. Perhaps if she had been in there for an hour I could understand, but 15 mins total? There were no other people there, she wasn't preventing anyone from getting aid.