Traveling with medication that needs to be refrigerated and room not ready?

[DisneyRunner2009]

Can bell services hold it for us? The medication is, I believe, 100ml IV bags. We would be flying in, so ice packs may be on their last leg. We are not renting a car. This is all new to us.

 

[RoseGold]

They have large fridges in the luggage storage for groceries.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have friends who regularly come and Bell Services has always been able to handle their meds that need to be refrigerated.

This particular medicine is an eye medicine and must be refrigerated.

 

[ttintagel]

Yes; Bell Services has put my insulin in a fridge somewhere until our room was ready.

 

[Lewisc]

I have friends who regularly come and Bell Services has always been able to handle their meds that need to be refrigerated.

Yes; Bell Services has put my insulin in a fridge somewhere until our room was ready.

For the benefit of people reading this thread...many meds that require refrigeration can be kept at room temperature for about a month. That includes most insulins.

There are meds which require refrigeration period.

Guests should check with their doctors, pharmacists and mfg instructions. Try to avoid relying on anonymous posters.

In a pinch use ice in a ziplock bag

 

[DisSurfer878]

For the benefit of people reading this thread...many meds that require refrigeration can be kept at room temperature for about a month. That includes most insulins.

There are meds which require refrigeration period.

Guests should check with their doctors, pharmacists and mfg instructions. Try to avoid relying on anonymous posters.

In a pinch use ice in a ziplock bag

Agreed. We have a med that says "requires refrigeration" but upon inspection says (1) can be left out of fridge for 4-6 hours and (2) as long as the medication does not exceed the temperature of 65 degrees. So it's like "requires refrigeration... but with an asterisk lol

 

[RoseGold]

Guests should check with their doctors, pharmacists and mfg instructions. Try to avoid relying on anonymous posters.

In a pinch use ice in a ziplock bag

LOL. Disney literally has massive, commercial fridges in the back for groceries. These are huge resorts that can handle this issue. Heck, they even handled it in the middle of a hurricane.

I'd do that over the terrible suggestion of ice in a Ziploc, for sure.

 

[motherof5]

They held it for me when we just went last month and put in fridge.

 

[Lewisc]

LOL. Disney literally has massive, commercial fridges in the back for groceries. These are huge resorts that can handle this issue. Heck, they even handled it in the middle of a hurricane.

I'd do that over the terrible suggestion of ice in a Ziploc, for sure.

I never suggested zip lock ice instead of refrigeration. I suggested zip lock ice if you don't have a better option. Assume your medication is in a small cooler with ice packs. You're drive is taking longer then planned. Getting ice to put in zip lock bags might be the best viable option.

 

[ttintagel]

Just to be clear, I don’t refrigerate a bottle of insulin after it's opened and in use. Per my doctor's instructions, I just avoid getting that one near a heat source and keep unopened bottles in reserve in the refrigerator. And I usually bring an unopened reserve bottle with me when I travel in case something happens to the open one. (I used to just travel with an emergency prescription, but my current insurance won't cover an extra emergency bottle and the price has gone up beyond my ability to pay out of pocket, although that's hopefully changing soon.)

 

[elvispursley]

Just to be clear, I don;t refrigerate a bottle of insulin after it's opened and in use. Per my doctor's instructions, I just void that one getting near a heat source and keep unopened bottles in reserve in the refrigerator. And I usually bring an unopened reserve bottle with me when I travel in case something happens to he open one. (I used to just travel with an emergency prescription, but my current insurance won't cover an extra emergency bottle and the price has gone up beyond my ability to pay out of pocket, although that's hopefully changing soon.)

In the same boat. Going to Italy on Tuesday and I’m taking ve
2 vials of insulin, a box on long- and short-acting insulin pens in case my pump fails! I feel like a walking pharmacy but I understand that Europe has a different concentration of insulin. I’ve broken a new vial of insulin and trying to get my insurance to cover that was like Moses parting the Red Sea!

When we’re at WDW I take about the same amount of supplies because I end up worried the heat makes my insulin less effective in my pump. So I change my pump more frequently than I typically would. The heat also makes my blood sugar sky high. Such a lovely disease

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Thank you for the replies. This medication is specifically mixed for my DH. The pharmacist suggested he may send some IVs UPS or FedEx overnight. I am packing zip lock bags for ice, as well. The medication has to be stored within a certain temperature range. I'm afraid the room refrigerator may not be cold enough. I might travel with a refrigerator thermometer, too.

 

[Lewisc]

Thank you for the replies. This medication is specifically mixed for my DH. The pharmacist suggested he may send some IVs UPS or FedEx overnight. I am packing zip lock bags for ice, as well. The medication has to be stored within a certain temperature range. I'm afraid the room refrigerator may not be cold enough. I might travel with a refrigerator thermometer, too.

Contact Disney. Most resorts now have beverage coolers. They aren't as cold as real refrigerator. You might need a real refrigerator. What is the temperature range?

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I'll check with the front desk upon arrival. The range is 36-42 degrees with an expiration of nine days. I saw beverage coolers are around 41 at the resorts. I was thinking of filling the fridge with ice. I also need to keep ice packs frozen for our return flight.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'll check with the front desk upon arrival. The range is 36-42 degrees with an expiration of nine days. I saw beverage coolers are around 41 at the resorts. I was thinking of filling the fridge with ice. I also need to keep ice packs frozen for our return flight.

Also, depending on the size of your IV bags, you may need a second refrigerator.
My experience is hospital based where the few IV types that needed refrigeration were brought up by Pharmacy each day, so didn’t take up much space. Enough for your whole trip might take a whole small refrigerator.

Be careful with ice or turning the cooler/refrigerator too cold to start. People have had meds freeze

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

One IV bag lasts four days in the pump bag my DH wears. They are smaller than those that hang in the hospital. When the medication is sent to us, there is bubble wrap between the IV bag and the freezer pack. I'll probably do this, too. I have to laugh at this situation, but it is serious. I'm your sweet hook up if you need freezer packs or white styrofoam coolers.

 

[kanerf]

You can buy a little med cooler bag on Amazon or Ebay that has small freezer bags, like blue ice, that you freeze the night before and put in the bag. I have one of these for insulin pens. Just do a search for 'insulin cooler travel case' and you will see some.

 

[RoseGold]

Thank you for the replies. This medication is specifically mixed for my DH. The pharmacist suggested he may send some IVs UPS or FedEx overnight. I am packing zip lock bags for ice, as well. The medication has to be stored within a certain temperature range. I'm afraid the room refrigerator may not be cold enough. I might travel with a refrigerator thermometer, too.

You're overthinking this. They have giant commercial refrigerators. Don't rely on the minifridge. I'm sure you can store them at Bell Services and get it when you need it.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I don't want to be this guy. Maybe I am over thinking it, but this a serious situation. The IV is milrinone. It is used for blood pressure support. My husband has a PICC line to administer it. He is a heart failure patient who is headed for a transplant.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't want to be this guy. Maybe I am over thinking it, but this a serious situation. The IV is milrinone. It is used for blood pressure support. My husband has a PICC line to administer it. He is a heart failure patient who is headed for a transplant.

Better to be over prepared than underprepared.
I would personally feel better having an important medication in a refrigerator in my own room, under my control, than in a giant refrigerator in Bell Services.

You could try calling Disability Services at (407) 560-2547 or email disability.services@disneyparks.com