unusual predicament-how can I transport juice?

[REM-FAN]

I have a ds 41/2 who has ADHD and requires medication. He is also mildly autistic and has some quirks and eccentricities about him like the fact that he will only drink Tropicana Healthy Kids OJ. He cannot swallow pills so we put the med in his oj and since he doesn't drink milk, calcium-fortified juice is a must. I called DCL and was told that the oj on board is the concentrated type that has pulp in it and unfortified. Pulp oj cannot be used in the straw-type cups. Now DCL is willing to strain the juice, but that's about all they can do. So, I will need to bring my own juice aboard on a 4-day cruise. I figure I will need about a 1/2 gallon carton. My biggest predicament is this: I am flying in on the same day. We are taking DCL transfers so a stop at a grocery store is not an option. I think my only option is to transport the carton myself from home. So, any ideas on how I can do this and keep the oj cold? Would I need a "real" fridge in my room to keep it cold or will the cool box do? Even better- anyone know if there is a convenience store around/near the port within walking distance.

Any and all ideas are appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[vwater]

Freeze the juice the night before you leave. Bringing it on as a carryon shouldn't be a problem.

Victoria

 

[Stimpy]

Maybe you can see if someone else sailing the same cruise as you is making a stop before boarding. If they are going to a grocery store, maybe they can pick up the juice for you? I know there are alot of helpful people here and it's something to consider!

Try going up to the cruise meets board and find your cruise date.

If you're cruising 4/23/05, we're making a stop and would be happy to pick it up for you!

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Can you call Shirley at the Perfect Gift and have her to get it and have it on board? If it needs constant refrigeration, maybe she can put it in the "fridge" or ask the room steward to do so. Also, does it come in the individual size containers? It might be easier to transport. Also, you could bring a soft side cooler to put them in and ice them down a few times a day. The plastic of the smaller containers would resist the moisture better then the cardboard container. Also, if you decide to use it as a carry on, I think the plastic would just hold up better. Good Luck!

 

[REM-FAN]

Who is Shirley and how can I contact her? Thanks!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I would expect trying to freeze it before hand would rupture the container.

I don't thing the "cool-box" already in each cabin will be cold enough on it's own for the orange juice (and certainly not if it isn't pre-chilled).

Can you get the juice canned. Unopened cans of oj don't require refrigeration. You can then get ice from your cabin steward (if your son will drink the juice over ice).

I know in our case, we've always brought a case of cokes with a twist top and get our cabin steward to keep the in-room ice bucket filled. That way, any time, day or night, we can get a cold coke over ice without leaving our room or asking for room service.

 

[outahere]

REM-FAN

Shirley owns The Perfect Gift in Cape Canaveral. Her web site is www.theperfectgift.cc and the phone number is 800-950-4559.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

outahere! thanks for posting! As I ran upstairs to look up Shirley's info in my Passporter, you were quicker with the fingers! thanks for the help!

REM-FAN, I have never used the perfect gift, but people on here RAVE about the wonderful service they recieve. I would not hesitate to use them! I have heard you can customize your gift basket, so I would assume you could have her to have juice in there too! Maybe you could include some sand toys for Castaway Cay as well!

 

[REM-FAN]

I called Shirley, but she doesn't recommend doing it because she can't put it on ice or anything.

 

[rcdisneyfam]

Freeze it, put it in a 1 or 2 gallon ziplock bag and put it in a soft sided cooler and carry it on the plane. That is probably you only way of assuring that you have what you need. By the time you get to the ship, it should be somewhat thawed out and then put it on ice in the room. The Room Steward will give you ice to keep it cold right in the soft sided cooler. I have had to transport injection medication before and it worked for us.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Does DS really have to have Tropicana Healthy Kids OJ or will he drink any of the Tropicana Pure Preium Pulp free products?

I understand your desire to use fortified OJ if he doesn't drink milk, but would it really hurt to go 4-5 days without the fortification?

If so, you could try Original or Calcium versions in this packaging (see the bottom where they show all the one, including Original and Calcium OJ in similar packaging). While I don't know what these packages say from Tropicana, I do know that Tropicana heat pasturizes its OJ (says so on their web site) and similar packages of Minute Maid juices that I do have in front of me say "Refrigerate After Openning".

I've seen these at many Wal-Marts in 4 packs.

 

[1stNoel]

I would cancel the DCL transport and get a limo that makes a grocery stop. If you have more than 2 people the limo isn't that expensive and while you could try the freeze and cooler thing, I would just dread packing something that will get me stopped and questioned at airport security.

TSA is pretty strict about letting food through now. I bought some pies at The Little Pie Shop in NY (Yum!) to take home and they opened every box to inspect them. We threw one $30 pie out at the gate because it was inspected a little too closely by the TSA crew. Now I go out of my way to not pack anything that calls attention to me or my bags. I appreciate the guards are just doing their job, but IMO most are not as trained as they should be.

For storage on board, I've found that keeping a cup or 2 of ice in the cooler really helps lower the temp in it.

Good luck.

Noel

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

REM-FAN...I'm sorry Shirley couldn't help you. I am sure she would have if she could. I would take 1stNoel's advice. Dump the transfers and get a limo OR a rental car and make your own stop along the way. One advantage to having your own car is that if the one stop the limo does make and that grocer doesn't have his brand of OJ, I am not sure the limo will make other stops. If you have your own car, you can stop as many times as you need to. If you can do a search, I believe that people have rented from Budget at the Airport and turned the car in at the port. Then you could re-rent for the return. I am not familiar with transfers, but maybe you can rent one way and use transfers for the way back? Good Luck!

 

[kcashner]

A couple of ideas---first, the "break even" point on cost between DCL transfers and private limo is 3 people. If you have DS and a husband, you must have 3 people. So...I'd get the private limo.

Secondly, when my friend travelled with a severely allergic child, DCL was willing to stock a particular brand of certain items so that the child could have them on the cruise. Of course, his needs were documented on the medical form. Perhaps if you made the request thru DCL that they obtain the particular brand of OJ that you need and accompany the request with a medical form, they would be willing to do it.

Thirdly, I have a Rubbermaid 2 quart container with a tight lid and pour spout. It looks like a pitcher, only is square and totally seals tightly. I could fill it 3/4 full, leave the lid off, and freeze overnight. Then take the container in a soft side cooler bag. Of course, you have to find a container that would work, but that would get me almost 2 quarts of any liquid I needed on board. DCL will put a real refrigerator in your room if needed....although we found the drink coolers to work fine for all but meds.

 

[scrapperjill]

You have recieved a lot of good ideas here...but I wanted to add...If you have more than 4 people in your party...we have found it was cheeper to go with the car service than with DCL transportation. You wouldn't have to do the limo..you could do a town car or van. But like i said it is cheeper than Disney transportation...for the towncar service...then you would be able to make the pit stop and get your oj...You may want to contact the store that you will be stopping at...to make sure they carry that type of OJ. Another recomendation..would be to contact the airline...let them know you will be transporting some juce for medical purposes...and see if they can put it in their fridge on board..I don't know it would be any propblem as long as it was unopened. The other idea of packing it into a soft sided cooler with frozen packs....would work well. You may also want to get a dr note stating the need for such OJ...as some may have questions about it. I also thought the contacting someone else who is traveling at the same time...on the same ship..of course..to do a pit stop for you. I know i would be willing to pick some up for you if we were traveling on the same dates. When is your cruise.

If none of those things work out...you could try Shirley again...to see about what time she dose the deleiveries....OJ would need to be kept cold...but could sit out in the room unopened for a short period of time....then stuck in the fridge when you get to your room. Is she not able to put it in the cold box for you? I would also request a mini fridge...from the sounds of it the cold box isn't very cold.

 

[mum of two pirates]

I dont know what time the dcl transport gets to the doc, but If you DW shecked you guys in i'm sure there would be a taxie around somewhere by the gate dropping of ect. I have read on a differant board that there is a walmart near by. I would call your local walmart and ask for the number to the one there and then call them find out if they have that brand and how far is it to the port. You could always call the chamber of C for the cape and ask what stores are close. then grab a taxie and make a run, with a little homework it would be easy. Mum

 

[REM-FAN]

Thanks for the ideas. Our cruise in on 8/8/04, so we only have 10 days left. Probably not able to cancel the DCL transfers at this time.

 

[vwater]

I will be on that same sailing date. We're getting into Orlando on Saturday evening. If you'd like, I can pick up some of the OJ for ya.

BTW...my 6y/o DD has Asperger's/HFA and is on AdderallXR. Is this what yours is taking?

Victoria

 

[scrapperjill]

I'd kind of worry about trying to catch a taxi and making it to wal mart and back to the port in time...I have heard that some of the DCL transfers don't come until later in the day. It may work if your transfer was first thing it the mornning...but from what I understand...you don't have much say on when you arrive or when your transfer is. They wait until the bus is full...or go from stop to stop...picking up others. You may want to check into the car service still....you may have time. I know with most of the services...they only need 24 hours notice.

But it also looks like you have some one willing to pick some up for you.

Good luck.

I know what it's like having special needs....we are having to ship our daughters food for the trip a week or so prior to our dates....we could pack it on...but its soooo heavy...it'll just be easer to send it UPS...and have it waiting for us when we arrive. I just hope it gets there okay.

 

[REM-FAN]

vwater- I just pm'd you. Thanks so much everyone!