VIP Cleaning

[SewSweetMama]

I'm so glad this information was posted. My DD has severe eczema...she cannot come in contact with ANY type of chemical residues or fragrances without getting a flare-up. It causes her to be really uncomfortable and she needs a steroid cream to get the rash to clear up. Whenever we have traveled before, we were able to bring our own pack and play & sheets from home but that isn't an option with flying. I was planning on bringing our own bath towels but wasn't sure what to do about bedding. For her situation can I just request bedding & towels to be washed specially? I don't want them to go through the trouble of doing other things when it isn't necessary.

 

[Justsyd2]

You should be able to request that bedspreads, sheets, pillowcases, towels, etc, be washed however you need. I called ahead on our June trip and told Disney that I had laundry detergent allergies. They were able to accommodate me upon arrival, and throughout our stay, with no problem at all.

 

[SewSweetMama]

You should be able to request that bedspreads, sheets, pillowcases, towels, etc, be washed however you need. I called ahead on our June trip and told Disney that I had laundry detergent allergies. They were able to accommodate me upon arrival, and throughout our stay, with no problem at all.

Thanks!!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I don't want to ask for VIP cleaning and certainly do not need it BUT... if anyone could help me out in staying in that room after someone who needed VIP cleaning, that would be great

 

[luckytobeme88]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

I am not one of those moms, but I would assume that since allergens cannot be controlled in the parks or other public areas, it is even more important to have the room be as clean as possible. Those kids with allergies deserve at least a good night's sleep.

Your question seems a little "snarky" to me, putting "severe allergies" in quotes kinds of seems like you are being sarcastic. I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but be careful or you might need that fire extinguisher!

 

[twoplustwins]

For DS, being in a hotel room is more difficult for him. I am not sure if it is because he is closed up, per say, in the room or what.
He will miss out on several rides and attractions in the parks because of his allergies. I will have to increase his medication and he will more than likely require more breathing treatments. He is also going to wear a mask most of the time in the parks.

 

[tarak]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

I can't speak to other allergans that would be airborne, but as for anything on the surface, I would imagine the longer you are in contact with something, the more likely you are to have issues with any contaminant. So touching a hand rail for a few seconds would be less problematic than being covered with a blanket for several hours.

 

[Justsyd2]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

There are different degrees of allergies.

If people are allergic to dust mites and mold spores it's important to have a cleaner than average room with a new air filter. Many people also have to bring along an air purifier to be able to sleep comfortably.

If someone has food allergies they have to be extra cautious in the parks because there are sometimes hidden allergens in processed foods.

It really depends on what allergies are being addressed. I'm thankful that Disney does provide for people with allergies so that most people can enjoy a nice vacation without having to worry about being ill.

 

[connie1042]

I did not mean to start a war on how clean the Disney Resort rooms are. I just asked a question. I thought it was a Yes or No question. The question still has not been answered. I did talk to Disney and said after some research, that I did not need a VIP cleaning. I really did not ask for one, but did ask that the bedspread and carpets be cleaned. Being the mom of a now grown daughter with an autoimmune disease, I know how important this cleaning could be for some. I have had open heart surgery, and have some small medical issues, so that is why I asked. Sorry aobout causing such a ruckus.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

So we all agree that Disney Mousekeepers should do a better job of cleaning and not spend their time making TOWEL ANIMALS??

Because the recurring gripe on this DIS seems to be disgruntled guests due to no towel animals left during their entire stay???

I have never understood this?

I do my own VIP cleaning. I bring bleach wipes and wipe down anything and everything I can, especially the TV remote If I find cleanliness issues, I report them ASAP. They have always been addressed immediately.

As far as the official service offered by Disney, I think that is great that a guest can count on that when their child/family member has health needs that require it. Disney never ceases to amaze me.

I would rather have a CLEAN room than towel animals.

 

[cinderella73]

I am not one of those moms, but I would assume that since allergens cannot be controlled in the parks or other public areas, it is even more important to have the room be as clean as possible. Those kids with allergies deserve at least a good night's sleep.

Your question seems a little "snarky" to me, putting "severe allergies" in quotes kinds of seems like you are being sarcastic. I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but be careful or you might need that fire extinguisher!

Thank you! It means a lot to me as a mom knowing that there are people out there who have compassion for what my child goes through.

To us it means everything that after a mentally exhausting day of always being on alert constantly that we can come back and just relax in a safe room. Its sad to think that some people would begrudge us that.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

Thank you! It means a lot to me as a mom knowing that there are people out there who have compassion for what my child goes through.

To us it means everything that after a mentally exhausting day of always being on alert constantly that we can come back and just relax in a safe room. Its sad to think that some people would begrudge us that.

I get it...I have a child who has autism (an "invisible disability") and I have been on the receiving end of many dirty looks when she used to have meltdowns or when we have used our GAC card in the parks. Us moms of special needs kids just have to stick together, stay stong, and do what we know is nest for our kids.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

For parents of children with severe allergies, everyday is filled with challenges. You live in constant fear and take precautions everywhere you go. Your child learns to avoid contact and to read ingredients before eating anything. You have to call ahead of time before allowing your child to attend a birthday party. Your child's teacher has access to an epipen and has been trained to use it. You are aware of places your child can and can not go. You are aware of places that are safe for your child to eat, and what menu items are safe.

For kids or adults with severe asthma or CF equal precautions are taken. A rescue inhaler is kept at all times and masks are carried and used. In some instances injectable steriods are also carried. For some it is nearly impossible to go outside the home during the day during certain times of year.

When you travel you bring your own sheets, pillows, towels, medical equipment, and cleaning products.

"Normal" people take for granted being able to go anywhere they please, like a grocery store or church or any restaurant or even the abilty to fly in an airplane.

As mentioned previously WDW is the only place that some families can safely vacation.

Like another poster suggested, those who need VIP cleaning know it.

 

[cinderella73]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

Dont worry , I know you are asking a genuine question and not being nasty. I will try to help explain ( at least on our side) . ( This only covers some allergens and not other health issues and is not applicable with everyones food allergies as different people can have the same food allergy and different reactions)

We sometimes have our child wear gloves. Its not something we like to do but in a severerly allergic person touching anything touched even hours before can trigger a severe reaction that can cause shock. ( my son was covered completly in hives for over a week after touching a shopping cart handle)

So while we cant avoid all surface contaminants we just try to avoid skin contact and wipe anything that can be wiped. Gloves while on the rides and in lines. When we eat we wash hands and then wipe everything down and use a little paper place mat for our child. Wonderful Disney chefs take care of the meal safety. We plan out where we eat so we can avoid places that cook with nut oils or serve a lot of nut foods . For instance we dont eat at Pinnoccios Village Haus because they serve PB there and its gets residue on the tables. When we find our place we can eat we have to throughly check the ingredient listings. ( This means getting in line twice to order - one time to get the chef and another to order - and longer to wait while its prepared special)

We HATE having to use the gloves. But we would hate more to have a reaction. When walking around and not touching anything we like to let him take them off. We are trying now to go only in cooler weather because of this.

Its not just surface contaminents we have to worry about its people eating around us , nut carts , and food on the ground etc. . ( We cant order Mickey bars from every vendor , only ones that dont sell the bannannas with nuts, not all hot dog buns all places are safe etc.)

It takes a LOT of planning ! But Disney has special contacts that deal with food allergies and they send us detailed food product info and answer all of our questions. Put that with vigilant awareness and always having medication at the ready and you have a doable vacation.

So yes anyone do the parks even with severe touch sensitive allergys but only with careful planning and Disneys help. And its also why we REALLY love that Disney helps us out by making sure our rooms are safe. Its not easy but its always magical!

 

[jaycns]

Please don't flame me on this. For those of you who have or will be requesting the "VIP" cleaning due to "severe allergies", how do you handle being in the theme parks everyday during your vacation? It just seems to be impossible to remove surface contaminants.

If you didn't mean that in a snarky way, why would you be flamed?I am going to assume (since tone is so hard to read) that you are truly curious and not being snarky. I will try to explain how my son's situation works. It is DIFFERENT for everyone based on severity/triggers/allergies.

My son has severe allergies. I am terming his allergies "severe" because he has to carry an Epi Pen, his throat has swollen up to the point of compromising his ability to breathe in the past, he has been taken to the ER by ambulance and has been hospitalized because of his reactions. My son also has asthma (triggered in large part by things he is allergic to but also by other irritants, temperature changes, etc).

In his 'day to day' life we have to be very careful of the places he spends extended time. His room has an air purifier, no stuffed animals or window treatments etc, the only 'soft surface' is the bed itself (which I regularly vacuum, yes, I vacuum his bed), he received allergy shots which have MUCH improved his life, he is under the care and treatment of a great allergy/asthma specialist, he takes four daily medications (2 inhaled, 2 oral), we own a nebulizer, I triple check our detergents, soaps, shampoos, etc for his allergens/triggers, we don't get to open our windows (this one is the hardest thing for me, I miss letting a breeze blow into our home...we go straight from furnace to central air), we run air purifiers in most rooms and have gotten rid of carpet/most upholstered furniture, we will never have a cat.

All of that said, he is very lucky. He is able to play soccer (by using an inhaler before every single practice and game), go to just about any public place, pick apples, go to the zoo, parks, grocery stores, malls, movies, go out to eat, etc. He is able live a normal life out and about for most intents and purposes.

His problems (and for this I will always be eternally grateful) are for the most part with extended contact. Sure, if he gets to close to someone who has a cat or has showered with a soap or washed there clothes in something he is allergic to, he might get itchy eyes, wheeze or sneeze a few times....we simply move away from them. If he goes into a home that's very dusty/moldy or has a cat he starts to sneeze/itch/get a few hives but in most cases, he has at least a short time before he starts to wheeze/swell up/get really sick so we can just remove him from the situation. The longer he is there, the worse it gets.

Even though he is able to do so much, he will never be able to spend the night at most of his friends houses, some friends' homes he is unable to even 'stop by' for a short visit, we have to make prior arrangements with family when we come for a visit (his grandparents actually redid a guest room with 'no soft surfaces' other than the bed in order to have a place they could get easily ready for him, they use only soaps/detergents/fabric softeners/shampoos/etc that he won't react to).

For my son, hotels/resorts/sleepover sites are his biggest issues. He was taken by ambulance from a five star resort (to the ER and then admitted for two days) and we had to rush him to an urgent treatment center while at the Contemporary before we knew about Disney's 'VIP Cleaning'.

So yes, he can go and enjoy most everything that WDW has to offer but when he comes back to the place where he will spend hours in one area, it has to be as dust/mold free as possible and especially free of other allergens and/or irritants so that he can sleep without his throat swelling, an asthma attack or worse happening.

That is just our son's needs/issues. Everyone with allergies is not in the same boat. Some people's issues are more severe, some more mild. I won't pretend I can answer for those people.

 

[jaycns]

Do you pay for a VIP cleaning.?

No.

I did not mean to start a war on how clean the Disney Resort rooms are. I just asked a question. I thought it was a Yes or No question. The question still has not been answered. I did talk to Disney and said after some research, that I did not need a VIP cleaning. I really did not ask for one, but did ask that the bedspread and carpets be cleaned. Being the mom of a now grown daughter with an autoimmune disease, I know how important this cleaning could be for some. I have had open heart surgery, and have some small medical issues, so that is why I asked. Sorry aobout causing such a ruckus.

I don't think this thread is near 'being a war'. And not even really a ruckus. I guess I thought I answered it in my first response post, but in rereading it, I somehow missed that (even though I meant to type it). Sorry. I know for my part, I was just responding to posts about an issue I care a lot about. I thought it was a discussion not a 'fight'. I didn't know anyone was 'at war'.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Dont worry , I know you are asking a genuine question and not being nasty. I will try to help explain ( at least on our side) . ( This only covers some allergens and not other health issues and is not applicable with everyones food allergies as different people can have the same food allergy and different reactions)

We sometimes have our child wear gloves. Its not something we like to do but in a severerly allergic person touching anything touched even hours before can trigger a severe reaction that can cause shock. ( my son was covered completly in hives for over a week after touching a shopping cart handle)

So while we cant avoid all surface contaminants we just try to avoid skin contact and wipe anything that can be wiped. Gloves while on the rides and in lines. When we eat we wash hands and then wipe everything down and use a little paper place mat for our child. Wonderful Disney chefs take care of the meal safety. We plan out where we eat so we can avoid places that cook with nut oils or serve a lot of nut foods . For instance we dont eat at Pinnoccios Village Haus because they serve PB there and its gets residue on the tables. When we find our place we can eat we have to throughly check the ingredient listings. ( This means getting in line twice to order - one time to get the chef and another to order - and longer to wait while its prepared special)

We HATE having to use the gloves. But we would hate more to have a reaction. When walking around and not touching anything we like to let him take them off. We are trying now to go only in cooler weather because of this.

Its not just surface contaminents we have to worry about its people eating around us , nut carts , and food on the ground etc. . ( We cant order Mickey bars from every vendor , only ones that dont sell the bannannas with nuts, not all hot dog buns all places are safe etc.)

It takes a LOT of planning ! But Disney has special contacts that deal with food allergies and they send us detailed food product info and answer all of our questions. Put that with vigilant awareness and always having medication at the ready and you have a doable vacation.

So yes anyone do the parks even with severe touch sensitive allergys but only with careful planning and Disneys help. And its also why we REALLY love that Disney helps us out by making sure our rooms are safe. Its not easy but its always magical!

Wow, I didn't expect that my question would turn into a full topic on its own. Sorry to those who are offended by my sincere concerns. I have "Scleroderma" which is an autoimmune disease. My skin would turn into sand paper like and itches tremendously when harsh chemical is present. Thank you for all your answers on how you would minimized any health mishaps.

 

[connie1042]

Thanks for the answer. I was just surprised that a answer that could take one word, had gotten so many replies. But I guess it did bring awareness for some as to this service. Maybe it will even help a family be able to come to Disney without so many worries. So I guess I am glad I posted the question. I hope it give some families some extra pixie dust. ( No pun intended.!)

 

[MosMom]

I hope now that this is "out in the open", the entitled of the DIS don't start calling in droves requesting this, therefore making it harder for the people who truly need it.