What is consider "medical need" for fridge at Pop?

[Hmk012]

This may sound like a odd question but what do they consider "medical need" for a free fridge at the Pop? Our 1 year old is very underweight....she's a very picky eater and doesn't eat much, along with the fact she was a premie. She actually isn't even on the "chart" anymore the doctors use to chart their growth. We thought she'd be done with a bottle by the time we went to Disney, but her doctor has her on a diet of whole milk mixed with half and half.....among other things. So we are going to need a fridge to store this stuff. We don't mind paying for one, but thought I'd ask the question anyway!

 

[raven69david]

I interpret that as someone needing the fridge to store their insulin. I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's the first and biggest one that comes into my mind.

 

[disnut8]

Unfortunately, I don't think you would count as having a medical need. But, you said that you don't mind paying for the refrigerator so I would just reserve one now and explain the situation. If you get it for free, then fine. If not, just pay for it and be done with it.

 

[Lynne M]

I think the fridge they give you for medical needs is more of a refrigerated box- about the size of a shoebox. Big enough for liquid medicine, insulin, something like that. Not big enough for containers of milk.

 

[Momelie]

As I'm on insulin, we always get one, no matter what - but my sister got one once when her son was on antibiotics that had to be refrigerated, if that helps.

I'd just tell the people who made your reservation, and they will know. I think that's a perfectly legitimate reason, its not like you can buy whole milk and half and half in big containers on demand.

PS - both my DDs were preemies - DD1 was 6 weeks early and DD2 was 10 weeks early. DD2 caught up by the time she was 2, so hang in there!

Edited to add: No, the fridge for medicine is much bigger than a shoe box, well unless you have Hobbit sized feet. Its not huge, but it could definitely hold a few quarts of milk and half and half. Probably about 24 inches wide by 15 or so inches high. Hope that helps!

 

[BamaFan121s]

Medical reasons would be medication that requires refrigeration.

 

[Piglet42]

Disney is very accomodating. I'm pretty sure they will let you have one at no cost. It can't hurt to ask.

 

[conandrob240]

Just say "I need a refridgerator for medical reasons", period. They won't ask you any questions and if they inappropriately do, say your medical needs are private. And, by the way, when we have made this request (5 times in the past 6 years because my sister takes meds that need to be refridgerated), they have never asked and it has always been a full-sized fridge not a medical fridge.

 

[whogirl'smom]

Check out the fridge swaps for Pop over on the Budget Board! We did the fridge swap last month, and it worked out great--and it was free!

 

[MonkersMama]

I agree with the above poster - get one free/cheap on a swap. We had one last week - there's no way I was paying $10/day for a fridge!!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We got one comped many years ago when staying at POP and AS as DD was Latose intolerant. But this was before we started to rent a car to do grocery runs (way before I started DISsing). I think they gave us a break on the fridge because we were paying them to get us the Milk at about 3X the cost of what we would have paid on our own.

Ask it never hurts to just explain it just like you did here.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I intrepret a medical need for a refridgerator as anything that you need for your health that needs to be refridgerated. My DD was on a antibiotic on our last trip and the prescription needed to be refridgerated so that qualified as a need. I just had to show the bottle. I would try and get a note from your doctor explaining your daughters circumstances. Disney may or may not supply you for free but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

Lastly, the size of the fridge is the small, dorm, cube size and bottles of milk, and water will fit just fine. It's not the size of a "shoebox" as someone pointed out.

Try and get a note. It doesn't hurt to try!!!!

 

[shoes99]

We got a frig at Pop when my sister travelled with me last year. She is on IV infusion, and her bags are quite big. They fit in the regular cube refrigerator. We were not charged and it was noted on our reservation...
She only has to refrigerate one bag at a time, so she had no problems.

 

[ducklite]

There are two diferent sizes of fridges. One is a small dorm cube that will hold a couple quarts of milk, the other is more like a shoebox and is made to hold bottles of medication, and that's about it.

If you ask for a fridge for medical needs, you take the chance of getting a small one. Of course you could tell them that you need a larger one if they bring the small size, but they might tell you that you need to pay if you want the larger one.

 

[Minnesota!]

Just say "I need a refridgerator for medical reasons", period. They won't ask you any questions and if they inappropriately do, say your medical needs are private. And, by the way, when we have made this request (5 times in the past 6 years because my sister takes meds that need to be refridgerated), they have never asked and it has always been a full-sized fridge not a medical fridge.

Agreed. My son has constipation issues so we brought down mineral oil and (non rx) suppositories. I just told them I needed a fridge for my son's stuff. No questions asked. Wasn't charged for one

 

[smokey]

My mother needs a fridge for medical reasons. Is there an email I can contact All Star Music to arrange one? We go in 2 weeks time?

 

[Tootles]

My son just went to his doctor today and was diagnosed with a sinus infection that he needs antibiotics for. It states on the bottle that the medication needs to be refridgerated. He'll be on the meds for two weeks (which puts us a few days into our trip). Can I just ask ASMovies for a fridge at check-in, or do I need to let them know now? Is there a real shortage for fridges?

 

[aubriee]

Just say "I need a refridgerator for medical reasons", period. They won't ask you any questions and if they inappropriately do, say your medical needs are private. And, by the way, when we have made this request (5 times in the past 6 years because my sister takes meds that need to be refridgerated), they have never asked and it has always been a full-sized fridge not a medical fridge.

Sometimes they do ask to see the med though. My mom is on insulin so we get one free everytime she goes. We've been asked twice at check in to show her insulin. Funny thing is, and I hadn't thought about until now, is it was the last two times we went. So, she's had to show it the last two out of six times. Maybe more people are asking for the free fridge ?

To the OP? to me your daughter's needs should be covered as a medical necessity. I'd just get a Dr's note and call ahead to reserve one having it noted as a medical necessity.

 

[whogirl'smom]

I just occurred to me that I heard somewhere that most antibiotics for kids are recommended to be refrigerated b/c they taste less bad that way, and it's easier to get kids to take them. Maybe it's not b/c they would "spoil"--anyone else hear this?

 

[PrincessJasmine1972]

We stayed at the POP in September, and we got one. I was not intending on getting a fridge at all paid for or other wise, but my DH was asking me if I had his juice in the cooler.. he has to drink lots of liquids due to his medical condition. THe CM that was waiting on us asked me if he had to drink alot of liquids and I replied yes, but that we were just going to keep them cold in our cooler. Well, she just told us not to worry about the cooler, that they would send up a fridge(one of the small dorm size ones, but big enough to keep plenty of bottled water,soda, and jiuce in) at no charge becuase it was considered medically necessary. We thanked her very much and by the time we got to our room, they were bringing it.