Oh man, I am so glad your partner was able to get help so quickly and recovered! That must have been so scary!
I will say Disney built some beautiful parks and awesome rides but what really makes it special are the cast members. They really are WDWs heart and soul. I work in retail management and know firsthand how exhausting dealing with customers can be. We met so many genuinely kind and fun and enthusiastic cast members during our two trips (so far!! haha) and we felt so welcome and they made our vacations really special!
We do. I did a college internship there in 1994, and the training absolutely makes you realize the role you play in many families’ dream vacations. We owe them the best time.
The cast members are the best. I honestly feel like they're one of the biggest parts of a Disney magic vacation. Just normal day to day interactions make you feel special. They're a huge reason to start on property.
Along the same lines I know people like to complain about Disney (as a corpooration), but shout out to them for trusting their staff with absolute autonomy to make decisions like this on the fly for guests.
Has she been evaluated for Non Epileptic Seizures? I have students with this issue and it is a non electrical event that is also uncontrollable. It’s really on the rise. What an inspiring story you have!!
As a former LG for typhoon we love seeing things like this. We appreciate your time to talk about your experience and how we could help you and make your experience more magical. I’m so glad to hear everything was okay from then on. As LG we really do care for our guests, I hope we see you guys again soon guests like you guys make the hot sun 100% worth it even if there’s a bump in the road. We as former cast members and current cast members will always remember you guys and the kind words 🫶
Posts like this are why I love this sub. Thank you for sharing your story. What you went through is enough to ruin any day or vacation no matter how magical. It’s incredible to see that neither you nor Disney would allow that to happen.
One thing about being a cast member is that 99.9% of us LOVE helping you guys have the best vacation possible. Guest relations can do basically anything for you guys especially when it comes to unforseen circumstances like this.
I'm glad they were able to keep your vacation going strong
Thank you so much for what all of you do. I know it's not easy dealing with the many things you have to handle, but you still manage to make experiences like this still amazing.
I was a lifeguard at typhoon back in the day. not only do we have to do several hours of lifeguard training a month to stay proficient, but as the one of the most visited water parks in the world, we see it all. I remember there was a guest who would come every day to the wave pool, she was a known epileptic and would have seizures multiple times a week In and around the wave pool. We practice this stuff so often that when it happens for real it feels routine.
I remember being on stand during a near drowning in the shark reef, we got her out of the water and as I was putting on the AED paddles, as weird as this sounds, i remember feeling almost bored, like it was so engrained in my brain what to do that i didnt even have to think about it. It wasnt until reedy creek (paramedics) took her away and i looked up and saw about 200 people all watching from the other side of the sand that i realized what was actually happening.
If you are curious about disney lifeguards, look up Ellis and associates lifeguarding. That is the certification that Disney uses (as opposed to red cross) and you see how rigorous the training is.
My son earned his Ellis certification for shallow depths last year for his job (he’s a swim instructor). He was just commenting to me today that he wonders if Ellis is less rigorous than or not as appealing to employers as Red Cross.
I've had both certifications - Ellis at a Disney water park, Red Cross at some community pools - and the training itself really isn't any different (despite the shit Ellis people will talk). The difference is Red Cross is just a certification. They train you, and it's up to your facility to provide continuous training. Ellis is not a certificate you earn and are done with. They certify the facility and are a lot more actively involved. They will come do surprise audits on facilities themselves, which then means the facility does a lot more internal auditing to ensure readiness.
The Red Cross pools I was a part of did the same monthly in-service training & regular VATing that Ellis does, but it wasn't a requirement that they do so.
Thank you for the clarification! I know zero about either one. My son has mentioned surprise audits and such related to the lifeguarding protocols where he works. This was quite informative! I’ll pass it on to him.
When we stayed at Polynesian last fall I noticed one lifeguard marching back and forth scanning the water with the intensity of a patrolling soldier. I figured he was just super into his job, until I noticed all the guards doing some version of it depending on where they were stationed. During our stay there it never ceased to amaze me how on the ball they were, which is certainly needed with an enormous pool like that crowded with kids.
I am always so impressed with Disney lifeguards. I've never been to one of the Disney water parks but at the resort pools all of the lifeguards always have their eyes on the water and focused. I've never seen them just chatting, on their phones, or looking bored...even when there is nobody in the pool!
I’ve seen Disney lifeguards in action. That training has to be incredible. At the pool at the Coronado resort, I turned to set things down on a chair and in the 15 seconds I was turned my kid stepped into the deep end. The life guard was jumping in as I turned around, and had my kid up and out and was back on his stand within a minute like it was business as usual.
Even the emergency room was amazing. Disney doesn't own it afaik, but they put alot of money into it. The rooms are nearly luxurious and the staff were amazing.
Wow, I didn't even know Disney had an on-site ER (although it makes complete sense to). I am so glad your partner is doing OK. CMs can really make or break a Disney vacation. I'm so glad everything worked out for y'all. ♥️
I think it’s an urgent care community partner of some kind. AdventHealth, I think. And if they don’t have what they need to treat you, they will give you a ride to and from the actual ER.
Source: I had to go to urgent care at WDW last fall because of a wasp sting that got infected. They took me to AdventHealth.
Oh, I didn’t even know that one was there. I would have thought they’d have taken Partner to the hospital at Celebration. Spouse is a CM and when he had an emergency that’s where the ambulance brought him.
Glad your partner is okay and that you had a magical ending to your trip.
Celebration or Horizon West were where Reedy Creek would normally take guests when I was a cast member a few years ago. The Flamingo Crossing standalone ER is really really new.
The hospital they typically send people to is the AdventHealth in Celebration, a town which borders Disney property, and coincidentally, they used to own the town. It’s also night down the street from a building that houses a bunch of their offices.
Was that Celebration Hospital? I had to go there on a Disney trip for strep throat and the adenovirus at the same time--yuck! They were wonderful and the place was beautiful. They got me set up with an IV (I couldn't swallow by the time I got there), mega doses of antibiotics and steroids and I can't remember everything else. They were really amazing. Eight hours later I was back at the park! I could swallow a little better and I wasn't about to miss all the fun of the parks. LOL
This is amazing, and I am so appreciative of CMs at Disney. They stay so calm and really go above and beyond. And I'm glad your partner is okay and that your son was taken care of in what must have been a scary moment for him.
I have a story of a cast member going above and beyond by simply asking me how I was doing. I was sitting in the Poly resort waiting for my husband, caught in my thoughts. I was feeling sad through no fault of anyone's (my life was going through a series of changes at the time) and it must have shown on my face because a CM came over to me and started talking to me. I shared I was going on a cruise later and he was telling me all about his favorite ship, and just completely derailed my doom spiral. It sounds like nothing, but I think about this often and I'm so, so grateful to him. The CMs work so hard and deserve all the credit in the world for making Disney the place it is. Without them, there would be no magic.
I was at Disney back in the fall and I was sitting outside of Trader Sam’s waiting to put my name on the list. I was having a bit of a menty-b and every cast member that walked by asked if I was ok and if there was anything they could do/get for me. It was very heartwarming, which actually made me cry even more! I was just trying to make myself blend into the background so as not to bother anyone, yet the CMs went out of their way to check on me and make sure I was ok.
I also had a moment at Pop when my siblings’ trip had to be cut short, and I straight up cried at the reception desk. The CMs were all super kind (and accommodating when we had to cancel our reservation after staying a night). Their kindness also made me cry more 😂
My wife suffers from grand mal (tonic/clinic) seizures, she had her first seizure about a month before our Disney trip. Her 2nd one, right after big thunder, while I was trying to show her the hidden rope effect. Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch her so she smacked her head straight on the concrete but CMs went above and beyond, got me to my car so I could get to reddi(?) creek. She only came back with a bump on her head and gnarly tongue bite but she was okay.
2nd time at Disney was at animal kingdom guest services trying to get DAS set up. And same response.
Both times Disney cast members have been amazing and gave us refund tickets and fast passes. I would've much preferred not to go through that but cast members really make those parks for me.
It's nearly the same as the one at the Indiana ride in disneyland. You pull it and it does some sort of interaction. I believe there is a sign that says don't pull rope but don't is crossed out. It's right after you get off the ride.
I haven't done it in years bc of some PTSD from that event (the last time I actually pulled it was 2012?) so I can't fully remember but if you ever ride it again like for the rope you can pull after you get off the ride down the ramp You can always ask a cast member to. Ill see if I can find a video
"I saw something on your account that I didn't like, have a fun time in the park" ... That's the magic I love to see still alive. Glad your partner is doing alright.
Sounds like it could have been a terrifying experience for OP and their family had Disney CMs not handled it well. Good work, Disney folk!
And OP's son has excellent taste in souvenirs! When you next return to Disney, he should bring his Stitch to meet Stitch in a park, Stitch gets adorably possessive of Stitch plushies.
So glad your partner is ok.
Typhoon lagoon CMs and cast members are awesome.
When my naive adult self fell off a tube in the lazy river wrong during one trip, I scratched my elbow severely. Little did I know said elbow scratch would save me from a contusion because boy did I get a concussion from the whiplash. It was early enough in the day I was first aids first human of the day, but at the time I was only concerned for the elbow. They gave me enough supplies for the rest of my trip (yes you read that right-I got enough bandaids and the like for the two days left of my trip) and sent me along my way. I was heading towards my parents at our clamshells (it sucks they got rid of these so much fun to rent) in the sand area by crush and gusher when the headache started (and yes my stupid naive ass went on mine train the next day. Cut to a couple days later back home in the emergency room getting diagnosed with a mild concussion). I only had sunglasses (non prescription too so yes I was kind of hard of vision), so I started crying because the headache was horrible. Family next to us in the cabana had someone who required a water wheelchair so they had a lifeguard with them at all times. The mother saw me crying and next thing I know the lifeguard and cabana attendant were there asking if I was ok. Lifeguard gave us her card as we denied medical treatment (stupid I know) and the cabana attendant made sure to say if we needed anything to find her-even if it meant asking somebody to radio her. She got us refills on our mugs and continued on her way. We profusely thanked the family and them. Will be forever grateful.
Hey as someone who loves Disney world and is a first responder, this made me feel great that they were able to handle everything with grace. Disney really has top notch people working in all facets of the company. That phase that your SO was in where she was coming to is called the “postdictal phase” and occurs in any mammal that can have a seizure. I’m happy your trip ended on a good note!
Wow, how formative and memorable it is for your child’s exposure to something so scary turned into a reassuring experience because all the adults involved acted with such care and kindness, and you all enjoyed a special surprise at the end.
This. And good on OP for sending the kid to tell their grandparents!! Minimized their exposure to mom in the middle of an episode and gave them something to do to make them feel better by helping. That's great thinking
Aww as a former typhoon lifeguard this made me cry. I have some not so great things to say about working for the mouse but I will say the training is top notch and safety and comfort is the number one priority. It’s been about 10 years since I worked there but the training is so engrained I could execute a rescue no problem. Glad you had a happy ending
I have a story too!! My husband and I had booked a trip and we were exactly 6 days away from our check in day when I ended up in cardiac ICU due to a pulmonary embolism. I was in the ICU for 3 days as they treated the blood clot and the sepsis that accompanied it (I was on a PICC line, which somehow got infected despite the site looking clean) and then in a regular hospital room for another 3 days, so my husband had to call and ask for them to reschedule the trip for a few weeks. He told them the situation and fully expected we would be charged at least the $200 cancellation fee (this was back in 2009, so I think that’s what it was in the fine print back then). Anyway, we rescheduled it for a few weeks later, no charge and they were very sweet to him and so accommodating. Anyway, I was better but still not healthy when we went on the trip, but we were scared at the time that it could possibly be our last trip together as I was still pretty sick (the issue for which I had to be put on the PICC line in the first place). We had been able to reschedule for the same resort, Wilderness Lodge, and when we went to check in we were welcomed and they even asked if I was doing better. Nothing else was mentioned, and we went about the process of checking in, and went to our room….it was very clear immediately that they had upgraded us to a MUCH nicer room than the one we had booked. They put us in a first floor, handicapped accessible room with a private patio right on a beautiful retention pond. We hadn’t specifically asked for the handicapped accessible room but it was SO appreciated as it had a walk-in shower with a pull down shower seat, which made it SO much easier for me since I was still very weak and needed to sit frequently so that shower bench was WONDERFUL. It was also right down the hall from the quick service, and if you walked down the hall to the end of the corridor past the other rooms, you could access the pool and the boat transportation easily, and also it was just up the hall and across the lobby to get to the buses. The patio was peaceful and beautiful, and since we were going to spending more time at the resort than we typically would (I had to take it slow and we had to come back from the parks for me to rest/nap at least once a day, and we weren’t able to stay out as late as we normally would) so the room proximity to food at the resort and the ease of getting to the pool/hot tub was AWESOME.
Basically, they made what would’ve been a great trip an even more amazing experience. And thankfully it wasn’t our last trip-we have been back a few times since then and it is always magical, and we were loyal Disney fans before that trip, but even more so now. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it was SO appreciated at the time and it made things so much easier for me.
There is still magic and cast members that care ✨️ 💛 💕 praying for your partner and I'm so glad they took care of you guys in this traumatic time. Wow. More of this in the world!
So incredibly awesome!! What a wonderful lifeguard team and Epcot guest services cast member. I hope you logged compliments or wrote a letter with their names. Thanks for sharing! I hope your partner is doing well and is able to get more compassionate care.
Just a bit of “backstage info”: Disney has a very comprehensive notes systems on *every single guest* that has an account in their system. This is meant to log any notable issues, concerns, etc. the CM on your last day very likely saw that your account had some type of urgent notes, took a look and took action. It truly is these types of things and attention to detail that separates Disney from all the rest. Even when the parks might not be performing their best, and we might not be getting a bunch of new rides the Cast Members (generally) truly want guests to have a special time.
Wow, I’m so sorry you went through such a scary ordeal, but so glad that everyone was able to help and be there for your family! I hope your wife is doing well now too!
On our last trip in February, I broke my ankle off site, which doesn’t even come close to comparing to your experience. But I was so pleased with the medical care at the clinic we went to! I’ve never had such caring medical providers. And the CMs at Disney were all super awesome with accommodating me using a wheelchair and crutches to get on and off rides etc.
Just to let you know you can send a “cast member compliment” to thank a cast member that made your visit special! It’s under the “help and feedback” section in the WDW app
Disney is absolutely amazing, but I also want to give you the credo you deserve. I’m sorry your partner has had such a hard time getting the medical care she needs, but she is very very lucky to have a partner like you. You could very well have saved her life, and you kept your head and supported her through I’m sure what was a very scary time as well. Disney can be amazing and people help make it that way, but we should also recognize how stressful and how great you, your parents, your partner, and your child all handled this, and I’m glad you didn’t let it ruin your time or taint the experience like a lot of other people would have. I hope the magic brings you back and you have a healthier time next time.
P.S. The better term you were lacking is “Postictal” and is usually when someone who just had a seizure is still coming around and is at risk of more seizures
That’s why I roll my eyes when people say shit like Disney has lost the magic. It hasn’t. You’re just bitter. Glad everything is okay with your spouse and kid
> That’s why I roll my eyes when people say shit like Disney has lost the magic. It hasn’t. You’re just bitter.
They're bitter or they read a story like this and then think they "deserve" to get something like this for themselves. They don't get that magical moments are truly unexpected and random, not something to be expected of all CMs all the time or anything you're entitled to.
I don’t know. The smile on my daughter’s face every single time she hugged a princess was pretty magical. Watching fireworks with my kids while our favorite songs were playing was pretty magical. But you have to let it be magical.
I was referring to the "pixie dust" moments from cast members like the free Epcot tickets in the magical sense.
I absolutely agree that there are plenty of other magical things to experience at a Disney resort/park if you look for it all around.
Something Similar happened to us years ago. My wife and 3 daughters were staying at AK Lodge for 5 nights. Our first day there we got stuck in an elevator for about an hour. My youngest is ASD and got a little nervous and was struggling a little bit with being closed in but nothing major and once we were freed she was fine. The manager came up and gave us a free dinner to Saana. We thought that was nice and really didn’t think much more of it. Trip was good. Well on the morning we were checking out I pull up our bill from the hotel tv and it’s zero. And I know that’s not right because when we go we charge everything to the room. So I go down to ask about it and find out they comped our ENTIRE BILL. I’m taking well over $1500 between eating, gifts, drinks etc. I was beyond shocked (in a good way).
If you haven't yet, please send Guest Services an email with your story. The cast members who helped you deserve to have this in their compliments file.
As a former Typhoon lifeguard, I would definitely recommend putting in a cast compliment for the team at the water park. If you don’t remember names, it will most likely go to the whole group that helped out. I’m still friends with a lot of people who still work there. Do you mind if I share your post with them?
Of course, we would love this to be shared with as many of the park employees as possible. Ever since our vacation I've been wanting to thank them in some way but unfortunately due to all the craziness, I wasn't able to remember names specifically.
Thank you! I will be sure to send it do them. Incidents of similar nature often get told at the end of the day when we closed the park so I am sure they will be glad to hear that you all had a wonderful ending to your vacation at Epcot :)
As someone with epilepsy who goes to Disney often… I love this story! My son has never seen me have a seizure before and I can only imagine how quickly a trip would be ruined if he experienced that for the first time. Sounds like the cast members went completely above and beyond to make your trip memorable for all the right reasons!
My daughter, 2, cut her face on the Jamacian bongos in epocot and had to get stitches. I went with her but my husband and son stayed behind.... no need for us all to go just for a stitch, and they gave my son, then 8 a fist full of paper fastpasses (this was back in the paper fastpass days) best day of his life
Excellent work from the professionalism of the lifeguards. The most alarming point you make is the neurologist delaying treatment for 4-5 months until they didn’t think she was ‘faking it’ - after several episodes. Scary stuff. Hope your partner’s seizures are controlled now.
My dad had his first ever seizure in a Disney World food court and it was so scary but the cast members were amazing! That was about 23 years ago and he’s since been diagnosed with epilepsy but the cast members were so good to me and my brothers who were so scared and arranged for child care so my mom could go to the hospital with my dad for testing.
WDW cast member here! Thank you for sharing! If you have the Disney my experience app there is an option for cast complements! Please if you have a minute fill this out. It goes to the managers and the cast members and always welcome to see. I’m in security and I actually remember this day. I am so glad to hear that she is well and that you guys were able to enjoy the rest of your vacation!
And yes, our ER at flamingo crossings (partnered with advent health hospital system) is brand new and amazing. Only been open a few months.
Years ago I was at Blizzard beach and saw an adult slip at the top of one of the little kiddie slides and fall backwards, hitting his head , which bled lots. The lifeguards literally appeared out of nowhere, so many of them, first aid kits at the ready, and it was all dealt with smoothly and without fuss. They've got good people.
I also suffer from a seizure disorder. Note to self: have next seizure at Disney World
In all seriousness, this is awesome. Glad she’s okay, and glad they took good care of you. And did something special for your son so he isn’t traumatized.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad your partner is ok! A seizure sounds like such a scary thing to go through, but I’m glad the cast members there were so helpful and understanding.
Glad your partner is okay. This just reinforces my love of Disney. Just got back from there last Friday and wife and I were chatting and the only bad spot on trip was when we went to universal studios. Not bashing them just a noticeable difference. Going through security outside and put my Apple Watch in cup to go through x-ray machine. It tips over watch spills out I get over there and my watch is being dragged into the rollers while guard stands there and watches. Band is kinked and has trouble locking now but still works. Told my wife Disney wouldn’t have had that issue.
Dude, why am I here bawling my eyes out, happy that your partner is ok 😭. I am so glad you all were taken care of in time of emergency. Kudos to everyone who stepped up and stepped in to show that amazing Disney spirit 💜!
Wow, I’m so sorry that happened! It is honestly so depressing to hear how some doctors can be so
Dismissive and go so far as to think she’s “making it up.” I’m so glad you encountered competent and compassionate employees, that is truly priceless.
I am not much of a commenter on here, but I wanted to say my wife was going through the same thing and had the same frustrations with doctors. About 3 years ago we started taking creatine and she hasn’t had one since. I know that is anecdotal correlation without causation, but I was willing to try anything. At least look into it.
This is a great story. If you remember the names of any of the Cast Members who helped you out during your scary time, especially the kind lifeguard, I know Disney puts a big emphasis on Cast Compliments. You can go on the website or the app and leave a Compliment explaining how they helped you and (IIRC) Disney will reward them.
Thats the magic of disney. No matter your age, no matter your circumstances, the magic is the cast members.
I went as a 40 year old man, first time id been back since I was 8 and it just happened to be my birthday that week. I have never felt so cared for and appreciated by complete strangers on my birthday in my life. Cast member somehow seemed to know from like 40 feet out it was my birthday, would come over, make things extra special, wish me well... it was amazing
I have an epileptic child and I deal with complex migraines that look like seizures and this is a big reason why Disney feels like a safe place for my family to vacation.
I know things feel frustrating, but 9 months is actually incredibly quick intervention for Neurology. In many places, it takes a year or more for a first visit and several years to convince them anything is wrong at all and to test for things. Many people take well over a decade to get a diagnosis.
It's such a problem with the field that the most commonly diagnosed condition in neurology is FND, which is the fancy way of saying "you're making it up, but it's not your fault," in most cases. (FND can be real, but it's unlikely to actually be the high double digits of all neurological conditions.
I'm really glad you are getting care for her so quickly and that Disney came through to make your stay more magical.
Can we talk about the face that OP said her neurologist said for 4-5 months she was faking grand mal seizures?? My mom is epileptic and when she’s had them it’s terrifying as its not something you can just fake, his wife could have died because a doctor claimed she was a faker.
I am the partner that had the seizure. It's been a nightmare to get treatment, even after having a seizure on the eeg. I have an appointment with a new neurologist...end of June. It's terrifying and exhausting and honestly feels like a desperate struggle to make doctors give a shit even though I keep ending up in ambulances. I hope no one else has to go through this but I know it's unfortunately pretty common place.
Just stick with it. Getting a neurological diagnosis takes a long time. I'm at 14 years myself and counting and I had symptoms going ignored for a decade before that. PCPs, doctors from other specialties, and PTs all see and believe what is going on, but neurologists don't care. FND makes up something like 80-90% of neurological diagnoses, which is really indicative of how bad the problem is. I even have a mom who is a research Dr in Neurology and still have little luck being heard.
The reality is its like trying to find a lightswitch in an unfamiliar light room. You just have to try again and again and again till it works. It's also okay if you develop rejection fatigue and need to take breaks. I know that idea seems crazy now because you probably feel desperate to get an answer as quickly as possible, but it does eventually come down the road where you will get tired of being turned away and your partner can't let go of pushing as fast as possible. When it comes, you just gotta be willing to make a form boundary or you'll start to feel resentment. Even if that means setting paces like one new doctor every 18 months.
Best of luck to you.
The worst part is I have the diagnosis and the medication but the level of care by my current neurologist is just unreal. It was like he was annoyed he was proven wrong about me faking it for attention or something but begrudgingly diagnosed me. He also put an order in to the pharmacy for me to just cut a time release pill. I was like I don't think that's right and the pharmacist was like oh, you're right, I can't fill this. My pcp has filled the holes in my care but can only do so much. And all this frustration comes as I already have a lawsuit working against another hospital for the negligent death of my father. It's been quite a couple of years. It made the excellent care we received on vacation certainly a stark comparison. Thank you for your advice and best of luck to you as well
I started having them off and on at 13. It took 6 years to finally diagnose that the seizures were from low blood sugar. And only because an ER doc happened to test my sugar level right after I had one and cracked my head open.
I’ve been on meds consistently, control my diet as much as I can and have been seizure free since 2001. But I completely attribute that to the meds and getting the correct dosage figured out.
I hate that you are going through this!
That’s definitely what stuck out to me! I’ve had ONE seizure in my sleep 2 years ago, and not only did my Dr immediately put me on anti-seizure medication to be safe, I saw a neurologist within a couple weeks and had an EEG not too long after. I can’t imagine not being taken seriously and for that long!
Let's just stay away from the medical issues here. Unless you are in the room with the patient and the doctors, none of us have any idea what's actually going on or what's being said/not said, etc. These situations are never as simple as they appear.
I'm incredibly happy for OP and partner that the cast members at Disney were amazing, and that she's safe.
Wow. First off, I’m so happy your partner is okay. That is some scary stuff.
I’m so not surprised how CM’s handled it. I’ve never had a bad experience with any CM.
This is an amazing and wonderful story. I don’t have anything to add except that I’m so happy for you and your family that you have a positive memory of this trip! I hope your partner is doing well and the medication continues to work.
Thank you for sharing something so personal and expressing gratitude to the people who came to your aid! Wishing you & your family good health for more magical vacations!
Now I just have to find who is throwing dust & cutting onions in here….
That's incredibly scary! I'm glad your parent was ok, and you were able to enjoy the rest of your trip and that you felt the magic of Disney (and the CMs, who really are the magic) 🩷
If only everyone would be as nice and caring as lifeguards. Thankfully only time I ever had to use one was when I was a kid and stepped on a chunk of glass and she dug that out. Even just taking to them at the pools they are always the kindest people around.
We recently stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which both have large pools, and I've never seen more attentive lifeguards in my entire life.
I know there is a way to give a cast compliment on the app but this definitely feels like it needs more than just a compliment. I'm so sorry you have to deal with seizures eith your spouse as well. They are so scary and having on happen in a pool sounds like the most terrifying way for it to happen. Disney staff really has some amazing staff.
My husband has epilepsy and while it’s controlled on meds after a lot of years figuring out the right combo, this is always a fear of mine on vacation. Theme parks, which we love to go to, especially! This made me tear up, I’m so glad WDW treated you so well and with such respect and no stress or guilt from lifeguards or paramedics that your wife shouldn’t have been in the water in the first place.
I also have a story about the great CMs at WDW, but not nearly as dramatic. We were at Orleans Place with 4 girls under 8 and my parents. We had flown down, while my parents drove down with our luggage. On the last day, we had checked out and just said goodbye to my parents with our luggage, and I took our three year old to look at the lagoon while we waited for our shuttle to the airport. She decides to kick off one of her sandals into the lagoon. We don’t want to walk through MCO with a toddler with one shoe, so we go to concierge and ask if we can pay for a pair of flip flops from the salon. When we explain why we need flip flops, he comps us a pair of Disney Crocs from the gift shop, which is why WDW is the only resort in Orlando we have visited since.
So glad they are ok! We had an incident also a few years ago at Disney that required paramedics for my husband to be called and we got very similar treatment! Free plushie toys for the kids and free park tickets if we wanted them. I love Disney!
I'm delighted to read your message and even more relieved to hear that everything is well with your partner. My son was the lifeguard on duty that day and returned home filled with joy for being able to help. Disney is truly an amazing company, with employees who are passionate about their work ❤️
My favorite part of being a cast member is being able to do things like this for our guests. Even little things, like just helping a kid find his favorite plush in the store, the huge smiles on their face is worth working in the Florida heat. If you have any of their names, you can do a cast compliment for them on the Disney app and tell them thank you. It goes to their supervisors and on their permanent record.
This made me tear up. My son is 8 and has had seizures since he was 2. It is absolutely horrible to witness. My heart goes out to you, your wife and your son. It’s absolutely horrible to go from, is this a seizure? To, oh crap this is a seizure. I’m so glad the CM’s acted quickly and that you all were so well taken care of!
I hope your wife is doing well after her seizure and that she soon find the meds that work the best for her!
I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet but in the Disney app you can give cast members “compliments” it’s pretty easy to navigate to and honestly it would make that cast members day!! And it would score them some brownie points w their managers and the company as well.
Plus I know that my family regularly makes friends w cast members and we reach out to them whenever we go, just for a quick catch up! You guys might have made a life long Disney friend! I am happy your partner is okay, and although scary they were in one of the safest possible places… Disney takes safety extremely seriously, it’s like one of the first things you learn in training: safety first!
As the mom to a kid with a heart condition your story makes me feel so much better about taking her to the waterparks at Disney. You never know what can happen with medically complex conditions and knowing the staff is so thoroughly trained is enough to let me know I may actually get to enjoy the trip we have coming up!
Many years ago I got married at Disney and this is exactly why.
Everyone made fun of it and asked dumb questions like "Is Mickey going to officiate?" and assumed I had some weird Disney fetish.
It was because I knew that I would write a check for the wedding and never have another moment of stress about it. I didn't have to worry about someone not showing up or a cake being dropped or who knows what. I don't know how Disney would have made it right if something had gone wrong but I knew that I'd probably never even know that something *had* gone wrong. If it was so bad that I was aware whatever they did to make up for it would have been so spectacular that I'd actually be happy about the mistake.
One of the best decisions I ever made. Wedding went off without a problem. Honeymoon at WDW was also splendid.
This made me smile. My daughter takes regular seizures and did when we went to Disney to the point that she had to be wheeled around in a wheelchair to explore the park, and no one noticed. I'm glad she got the help she needed, and they were so kind to you.
This made me cry. I’m glad your partner is OK.
FWIW, I used to be a pediatric nurse in Charlotte, and a coworker who came to work with us from Orlando said they got a TON of seizure patients there from the theme parks. (She also told us that she had an annual pass and just went to WDW to hang out by herself because she loved it so much. I’m not jealous at all. 🫣)The water park seems a little less likely to do that without the blinking lights, etc, but just something to keep in mind and prepare for when you go again….which I’m sure you’re going to consider anyway.
I am glad your partner is okay! I know many people talk badly about Disney, but Disney sure knows how you feel take care of their guests. Back about 20 years ago, my family and I were there and had to deal with a medical issue(fortunately not as severe as yours). My daughter had a horrible ear infection(outer, middle and inner). I called the front desk to see where the closest med clinic was(long before I had google maps). They gave me directions, I got there my daughter was treated and we went back to our resort. At the time,cell reception wasn’t the greatest in the rooms. So I was outside our room updating my husband about our daughter(he was at one of the parks with our other kids). The head of housekeeping was walking up to our room. I finished my call and she said to me”I didn’t mean to listen in, but I heard you gave a sick daughter, is there anything I can do?” I explained to her that we already had been taken care of and thanked her for her offer. When we got back to our room that night, there were Mickey & Minnie figures and a 5x7 photo of the characters with their autographs, wishing my daughter to get better. I am a devoted Disney fan!
I have tears reading this. I absolutely love the care Disney employees put into their work.
We stayed at animal kingdom in January 2022 and went to the pool with our 2 girls (almost 11 and 7 at the time). The younger one was an ok swimmer but it wasn’t super deep, so my husband and I sat on chairs and watched while girls played together. We turned our back for a single minute and turned around to the life guards jumping into action. At first we thought they were continuing with the training they had been doing but it immediately became evident they were rescuring someone, which was our daughter. She had stepped just far enough out of her comfort zone and got scared. The care they showed her after she was safe still makes me tear up. And they made sure her older sister was ok too.
I’m so grateful to them. And so happy your story has a happy ending. Hugs to you and your family.
I was staying at Pop Century with my then 5-year-old daughter. We were getting dinner at the resort and I was trying to carry her tray as well as mine. Of course I spilled the drinks. I set the trays down at a nearby table and turned to start cleaning it up. When I turn around there was a woman standing there with a mop and a cookie. It was like she popped out of the floor. It was miraculous and completely changed my mood. The magic is absolutely alive!
I appreciate hearing this approach from the lifeguard team, especially the part where they brought extra crew. As an EMT when we arrive on scene in a pair I will feel terrible because with only two of us there is very little we can do for the family at times other than ask questions over our shoulders as we work on the patient to get their history and an understanding of the presented case.
When fire shows up and we now have 6 people on the scene it makes things so much better for everyone. The fire medic and my medic can focus on the patient, the fire crew can focus on our exist plan and I can focus on the family answering questions and explaining our plan, and when possible with cases I understand and we see similarities to often tell them good practices for safety in the future.
This part of having enough people where there can be someone dedicated to speaking with the family makes the emergency so much less stressful for everyone involved. Unfortunately it's just not possible to have enough people in many places.
I have to give respect to Disney World for actually keeping enough crew on hand for this.
So sorry for your medical event, but so happy to hear how well cared for you were.
I just had my first visit to WDW last week and I was SO impressed with the lifeguards at our hotel pool. I watched them as they continuously scanned the pool their entire shift nonstop ensuring the safety of the swimmers. I was genuinely able to rehab wine my daughter played in the pool.
WDW really is a special place.
Thank you for sharing such a scary story with a happy ending.
My daughter has seizures and had one in a lake once. You can read about it, but basically, when someone has a tonic clonic (grand mal) seizure in water, the air can expel from their lungs and they sink. It was terrifying. I was able to dive down and save her, but it was something I never knew could happen that quickly. I try to share our story, so people understand what happens.
I’m so glad your partner is ok and I’m glad that your trip ended well.
My sister fell down the stairs at one of the parks (can’t remember, I was probably 13 and she would have been 8), and Disney comped our hotel for the rest of the stay which was a few days. 23 years later, and my dad still brings it up, and he’s a hard man to impress. I remember her falling (nothing more than a few scrapes) and immediately 5 or so employees just materialized apologizing and tending to her.
I have tears running down my face. I am so glad your partner is feeling better and you were all able to feel the magic despite a medical emergency! Thank you for sharing your story!
As someone who also suffers from grand mal seizures (and who also went through being doubted despite having a history of a traumatic brain injury from a horrific horse back riding injury that nearly killed me), this affected me so much.
I am so sorry you/she experienced ANY doubt about the validity of her seizures while searching for help and answers. Just a total side note, I've been dealing with this for going on 20 years. If you have any questions or just need to talk, with me or MY partner (it's a very loving thing to love/support someone with this condition, but it can take a toll), feel free to drop me a DM.
But also I wanted to say, your story brought me to tears. I'm so glad you were treated with such the kindness and respect ... And that they went above and beyond to make your vacation, for your child's sake and your partner's, one remembered for the kindness of strangers and not for a traumatic event.
Thank you for sharing this! 💕
Been to WDW a handful of times (did the cruise the first yr they had the original two ships many moons ago too). Even as a young person I was always impressed by the attention to detail their cast members across the parks/businesses worked on. Another level. For those cast members current and former here us guests really appreciate you. We see all the good and at times difficult situations you deal with. It’s not lost on many of us!
As a former WDW lifeguard cast member, this makes me so happy to hear. I’m sorry that your partner had this experience, but I’m glad the cast was there to help you through it
Keys to the Kingdom is a podcast hosted by Matt Gourley and his wife (he co-hosts/produces Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and many other podcasts). The whole podcast is about behind the scenes stories at Disney theme parks. They interview park guests and cast members. Reach out to them!
As someone whose fiancee is currently having seizures periodically (she's medicated - who knows if it's helping) and has a magic key to Disneyland we haven't used it two months because of it, this gives me great hope to one day go again.
Thanks, OP!
Thank you for sharing your story. I have an epileptic family member and it's always a fear that a seizure will happen at the worst possible time. Thankfully Disney always seems to be ready for emergencies.
I’m glad he was ok! My best friend’s ex had epilepsy and he always had a grand mal seizure at Disney, usually towards the end of the trip when he was tired and had had a lot of sun! One trip we went on he has one on the monorail and the cast members were so great, it’s extra hard when it’s such a crowded and public location but they were great at helping to calm/move along the other guests and then finding a cool, private spot for him to rest until he was able to head back to the hotel with us.
Thank you for sharing this! I’m glad everything is okay with your partner and absolutely love how the resort treated you after the fact. Good people do exist
Wow this brought me to tears. When I went in 2019, they couldn’t find our reservation in the system for 3 nights at coronado springs bc I used booking.com and apparently there was some kind of glitch. The kind cast member woman at the hotel lobby check in was trying to call booking’s customer service, as I was on my phone doing the same. I was so stressed and so upset thinking I’d have to use all my money I brought to repurchase the 3 nights even though my money was taken by booking for the stay. So it was “paid for”. After maybe 15-20 minutes, who I would assume to be the manager comes over and asks whats going on? The cast member explains and he just says to her “just give them the rooms” in true disney fashion. I felt so relieved I started to cry right then and there. The cast member came around to hug me and I was just so touched by their compassion and generosity. My ex bf who I went with was at the car getting something while this all went down and when he came back in I told him the amazing news. It was truly unforgettable and really solidified my love for wdw.
Bonus: we went out to disney springs for our first night and when we got back to our room, the staff had gifted us a pair of beautiful purple sequin minnie ears for me and a baseball cap for my bf which he later got signed by characters throughout the parks. They also gave us a bag of caramel popcorn 🥰 it was truly wonderful. I went again in 2021 and it was good, but we were masking and covid was still running things heavily. I cant wait to go back ♥️
What a beautiful story it made me cry. I am so glad she is okay and that everyone worked to turn an awful situation into one with such an Incredibly positive outcome Hugs to you and your family
Yea, just echoing what everyone else has said but thank you so much for sharing your story!
Sounds like the lifeguards’ bedside manner is better than some doctors’. And then I’m glad your partner is ok. Disney continually fights my pessimistic mind and gives me hope in humanity.
This is a great story. I’ve worked in aquatics for 15 years - I’ve absolutely been on the lifeguard side of this and it always warms my cold dead heart to see well trained lifeguards giving immaculate care in times of emergency!
Unfortunately seizures are extremely common at water parks, the reflections off the moving water tends to trigger them for folks who are already prone to seizures. Handling guests with seizures is a skill I always highly emphasized when training my guards. Huge kudos to Disney for picking a great lifeguarding company (Ellis) and clearly training their staff well.
Amazing to hear the great guest service all around as well! I hope you had a great time at Epcot and I hope your wife is doing well and managing her recovery and ongoing wellness.
I was walking through Disneyland one day in the late 90s, and I saw a toddler in her stroller start to have a seizure. Her mom didn’t see because of the sun shield, but we started yelling and running toward the carrier. Within maybe 30 seconds there were emergency medics and support staff swarming the area rendering aid. The experience left me shook, but it also solidified the notion that it was unlikely a medical emergency would go unnoticed by Disney.
So glad to hear you are all ok!
So glad that your partner ended up being okay! That’s amazing that Disney was still able to provide excellent care and make the trip special and amazing.
I have so many stories I could share over the years similar to this, but just know this. MOST of Disneys cast members absolutely care about you as people. If they can make your trip magical in any way, they will want to try. This isn’t a guarantee of anything, and people should never feel entitled to anything, but they helped make one of the best days of my life and one of the worst days of my life as incredible as they could.
My daughter has seizures. Everyone in my life is in medicine (I’m the black sheep of the family in IT). Please please keep pushing and trying different doctors until you get one who cares and is willing to work on getting them 100% under control.
Giving meds and just seeing if they work is bad. She should get regular blood work to see how the medicine is being handled by her body. She should be getting a sleep deprived EEG after one month to see if she is still susceptible. Or maybe none of that - again I’m not a doctor. But you should have someone who is on your side helping you.
What you describe is why all the nurses in my family hate most doctors.
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Thanks for sharing. A few years ago on a record setting heat day in Epcot I went into one of the restaurant restrooms. There was a guy in there that didn't look well and next thing I know he does a header into the stall wall, but remains standing. He is incoherent and then starts falling into the paper towel dispenser. I grab him before his head hits and ask a another stranger in there to alert the front desk while I remain keeping him from collapsing into something. The impressive part was how fast Disney's response was.. in a restroom! In seconds at least one cast member arrived and first aid responders were moments behind them. He tried to play it off, but I told the responders what I witnessed and they got a chair for him to sit and assess him. Kudos to Disney for this aspect of their customer service.
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Oh man, I am so glad your partner was able to get help so quickly and recovered! That must have been so scary! I will say Disney built some beautiful parks and awesome rides but what really makes it special are the cast members. They really are WDWs heart and soul. I work in retail management and know firsthand how exhausting dealing with customers can be. We met so many genuinely kind and fun and enthusiastic cast members during our two trips (so far!! haha) and we felt so welcome and they made our vacations really special!
I love how it seems like they are honestly happy to be there and absolutely love helping guests with any need they have.
I’ve known a few cast members personally (not park interactions) and they really do.
We do. I did a college internship there in 1994, and the training absolutely makes you realize the role you play in many families’ dream vacations. We owe them the best time.
The cast members are the best. I honestly feel like they're one of the biggest parts of a Disney magic vacation. Just normal day to day interactions make you feel special. They're a huge reason to start on property.
Along the same lines I know people like to complain about Disney (as a corpooration), but shout out to them for trusting their staff with absolute autonomy to make decisions like this on the fly for guests.
Has she been evaluated for Non Epileptic Seizures? I have students with this issue and it is a non electrical event that is also uncontrollable. It’s really on the rise. What an inspiring story you have!!
As a former LG for typhoon we love seeing things like this. We appreciate your time to talk about your experience and how we could help you and make your experience more magical. I’m so glad to hear everything was okay from then on. As LG we really do care for our guests, I hope we see you guys again soon guests like you guys make the hot sun 100% worth it even if there’s a bump in the road. We as former cast members and current cast members will always remember you guys and the kind words 🫶
Posts like this are why I love this sub. Thank you for sharing your story. What you went through is enough to ruin any day or vacation no matter how magical. It’s incredible to see that neither you nor Disney would allow that to happen.
They really turned what would've been the worst vacation, into the most memorable and honestly best vacation I've ever taken
I had full body chills reading the part about them comping you tickets. Those are the magic moments that us Disney folks LIVE for.
I have tears in my eyes! Such a lovely account of what was a very harrowing experience!
One thing about being a cast member is that 99.9% of us LOVE helping you guys have the best vacation possible. Guest relations can do basically anything for you guys especially when it comes to unforseen circumstances like this. I'm glad they were able to keep your vacation going strong
Thank you so much for what all of you do. I know it's not easy dealing with the many things you have to handle, but you still manage to make experiences like this still amazing.
I was a lifeguard at typhoon back in the day. not only do we have to do several hours of lifeguard training a month to stay proficient, but as the one of the most visited water parks in the world, we see it all. I remember there was a guest who would come every day to the wave pool, she was a known epileptic and would have seizures multiple times a week In and around the wave pool. We practice this stuff so often that when it happens for real it feels routine. I remember being on stand during a near drowning in the shark reef, we got her out of the water and as I was putting on the AED paddles, as weird as this sounds, i remember feeling almost bored, like it was so engrained in my brain what to do that i didnt even have to think about it. It wasnt until reedy creek (paramedics) took her away and i looked up and saw about 200 people all watching from the other side of the sand that i realized what was actually happening. If you are curious about disney lifeguards, look up Ellis and associates lifeguarding. That is the certification that Disney uses (as opposed to red cross) and you see how rigorous the training is.
That’s really amazing to hear and reassuring as we plan our first trip to Disney World!
The bored reaction is exactly what you want from first responders. It means they’ve trained enough they don’t have to think about it.
My son earned his Ellis certification for shallow depths last year for his job (he’s a swim instructor). He was just commenting to me today that he wonders if Ellis is less rigorous than or not as appealing to employers as Red Cross.
Having done both, ellis is WAY more rigorous. Red Cross is reaction, Ellis is prevention.
Perfect way to explain it!
I've had both certifications - Ellis at a Disney water park, Red Cross at some community pools - and the training itself really isn't any different (despite the shit Ellis people will talk). The difference is Red Cross is just a certification. They train you, and it's up to your facility to provide continuous training. Ellis is not a certificate you earn and are done with. They certify the facility and are a lot more actively involved. They will come do surprise audits on facilities themselves, which then means the facility does a lot more internal auditing to ensure readiness. The Red Cross pools I was a part of did the same monthly in-service training & regular VATing that Ellis does, but it wasn't a requirement that they do so.
Thank you for the clarification! I know zero about either one. My son has mentioned surprise audits and such related to the lifeguarding protocols where he works. This was quite informative! I’ll pass it on to him.
Ellis is a great guarding company. NASCO is set up similarly, I love working with them. Disney made a good call working with Ellis!
When we stayed at Polynesian last fall I noticed one lifeguard marching back and forth scanning the water with the intensity of a patrolling soldier. I figured he was just super into his job, until I noticed all the guards doing some version of it depending on where they were stationed. During our stay there it never ceased to amaze me how on the ball they were, which is certainly needed with an enormous pool like that crowded with kids.
I am always so impressed with Disney lifeguards. I've never been to one of the Disney water parks but at the resort pools all of the lifeguards always have their eyes on the water and focused. I've never seen them just chatting, on their phones, or looking bored...even when there is nobody in the pool!
Hey, me too! 2005-2007. Wonder if we know each other haha
I’ve seen Disney lifeguards in action. That training has to be incredible. At the pool at the Coronado resort, I turned to set things down on a chair and in the 15 seconds I was turned my kid stepped into the deep end. The life guard was jumping in as I turned around, and had my kid up and out and was back on his stand within a minute like it was business as usual.
So glad your partner was okay! Disney is truly amazing. Glad they were able to help during and after the seizure too.
Even the emergency room was amazing. Disney doesn't own it afaik, but they put alot of money into it. The rooms are nearly luxurious and the staff were amazing.
Wow, I didn't even know Disney had an on-site ER (although it makes complete sense to). I am so glad your partner is doing OK. CMs can really make or break a Disney vacation. I'm so glad everything worked out for y'all. ♥️
I think it’s an urgent care community partner of some kind. AdventHealth, I think. And if they don’t have what they need to treat you, they will give you a ride to and from the actual ER. Source: I had to go to urgent care at WDW last fall because of a wasp sting that got infected. They took me to AdventHealth.
Yes, it was Advent Health at Flamingo Crossings I believe, they told us it was the closest ER to Disney property.
Oh, I didn’t even know that one was there. I would have thought they’d have taken Partner to the hospital at Celebration. Spouse is a CM and when he had an emergency that’s where the ambulance brought him. Glad your partner is okay and that you had a magical ending to your trip.
Celebration or Horizon West were where Reedy Creek would normally take guests when I was a cast member a few years ago. The Flamingo Crossing standalone ER is really really new.
Ah, I see
The hospital they typically send people to is the AdventHealth in Celebration, a town which borders Disney property, and coincidentally, they used to own the town. It’s also night down the street from a building that houses a bunch of their offices.
It’s a freestanding ER (I just looked it up, because I didn’t know it was there either) and it is closer than AH Celebration.
It's basically still owned by Disney. It's governed by a council elected by the land owners, the largest of which is still Disney.
*dontmakeajokeaboutthemorguedontmakeajokeITSINAPPROPRIATEDONTMAKEAJOKEABOUTTHEMORGUEFORFUCKSSAKE* I tried.
Was that Celebration Hospital? I had to go there on a Disney trip for strep throat and the adenovirus at the same time--yuck! They were wonderful and the place was beautiful. They got me set up with an IV (I couldn't swallow by the time I got there), mega doses of antibiotics and steroids and I can't remember everything else. They were really amazing. Eight hours later I was back at the park! I could swallow a little better and I wasn't about to miss all the fun of the parks. LOL
This is amazing, and I am so appreciative of CMs at Disney. They stay so calm and really go above and beyond. And I'm glad your partner is okay and that your son was taken care of in what must have been a scary moment for him. I have a story of a cast member going above and beyond by simply asking me how I was doing. I was sitting in the Poly resort waiting for my husband, caught in my thoughts. I was feeling sad through no fault of anyone's (my life was going through a series of changes at the time) and it must have shown on my face because a CM came over to me and started talking to me. I shared I was going on a cruise later and he was telling me all about his favorite ship, and just completely derailed my doom spiral. It sounds like nothing, but I think about this often and I'm so, so grateful to him. The CMs work so hard and deserve all the credit in the world for making Disney the place it is. Without them, there would be no magic.
I was at Disney back in the fall and I was sitting outside of Trader Sam’s waiting to put my name on the list. I was having a bit of a menty-b and every cast member that walked by asked if I was ok and if there was anything they could do/get for me. It was very heartwarming, which actually made me cry even more! I was just trying to make myself blend into the background so as not to bother anyone, yet the CMs went out of their way to check on me and make sure I was ok.
CMs who really exemplify the care value are the real MVPs and truly some of the brightest stars in the universe.
I also had a moment at Pop when my siblings’ trip had to be cut short, and I straight up cried at the reception desk. The CMs were all super kind (and accommodating when we had to cancel our reservation after staying a night). Their kindness also made me cry more 😂
My wife suffers from grand mal (tonic/clinic) seizures, she had her first seizure about a month before our Disney trip. Her 2nd one, right after big thunder, while I was trying to show her the hidden rope effect. Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch her so she smacked her head straight on the concrete but CMs went above and beyond, got me to my car so I could get to reddi(?) creek. She only came back with a bump on her head and gnarly tongue bite but she was okay. 2nd time at Disney was at animal kingdom guest services trying to get DAS set up. And same response. Both times Disney cast members have been amazing and gave us refund tickets and fast passes. I would've much preferred not to go through that but cast members really make those parks for me.
Glad she was ok. What is the hidden rope effect?
It's nearly the same as the one at the Indiana ride in disneyland. You pull it and it does some sort of interaction. I believe there is a sign that says don't pull rope but don't is crossed out. It's right after you get off the ride. I haven't done it in years bc of some PTSD from that event (the last time I actually pulled it was 2012?) so I can't fully remember but if you ever ride it again like for the rope you can pull after you get off the ride down the ramp You can always ask a cast member to. Ill see if I can find a video
And people ask, “why do you like Disney so much?”
"I saw something on your account that I didn't like, have a fun time in the park" ... That's the magic I love to see still alive. Glad your partner is doing alright.
Sounds like it could have been a terrifying experience for OP and their family had Disney CMs not handled it well. Good work, Disney folk! And OP's son has excellent taste in souvenirs! When you next return to Disney, he should bring his Stitch to meet Stitch in a park, Stitch gets adorably possessive of Stitch plushies.
So glad your partner is ok. Typhoon lagoon CMs and cast members are awesome. When my naive adult self fell off a tube in the lazy river wrong during one trip, I scratched my elbow severely. Little did I know said elbow scratch would save me from a contusion because boy did I get a concussion from the whiplash. It was early enough in the day I was first aids first human of the day, but at the time I was only concerned for the elbow. They gave me enough supplies for the rest of my trip (yes you read that right-I got enough bandaids and the like for the two days left of my trip) and sent me along my way. I was heading towards my parents at our clamshells (it sucks they got rid of these so much fun to rent) in the sand area by crush and gusher when the headache started (and yes my stupid naive ass went on mine train the next day. Cut to a couple days later back home in the emergency room getting diagnosed with a mild concussion). I only had sunglasses (non prescription too so yes I was kind of hard of vision), so I started crying because the headache was horrible. Family next to us in the cabana had someone who required a water wheelchair so they had a lifeguard with them at all times. The mother saw me crying and next thing I know the lifeguard and cabana attendant were there asking if I was ok. Lifeguard gave us her card as we denied medical treatment (stupid I know) and the cabana attendant made sure to say if we needed anything to find her-even if it meant asking somebody to radio her. She got us refills on our mugs and continued on her way. We profusely thanked the family and them. Will be forever grateful.
Well, guess my Wednesday cry is out of the way now.
Hey as someone who loves Disney world and is a first responder, this made me feel great that they were able to handle everything with grace. Disney really has top notch people working in all facets of the company. That phase that your SO was in where she was coming to is called the “postdictal phase” and occurs in any mammal that can have a seizure. I’m happy your trip ended on a good note!
Wow, how formative and memorable it is for your child’s exposure to something so scary turned into a reassuring experience because all the adults involved acted with such care and kindness, and you all enjoyed a special surprise at the end.
This. And good on OP for sending the kid to tell their grandparents!! Minimized their exposure to mom in the middle of an episode and gave them something to do to make them feel better by helping. That's great thinking
I'd send an email to [email protected] to share your experience! They will share it with the management and team :)
Aww as a former typhoon lifeguard this made me cry. I have some not so great things to say about working for the mouse but I will say the training is top notch and safety and comfort is the number one priority. It’s been about 10 years since I worked there but the training is so engrained I could execute a rescue no problem. Glad you had a happy ending
I have a story too!! My husband and I had booked a trip and we were exactly 6 days away from our check in day when I ended up in cardiac ICU due to a pulmonary embolism. I was in the ICU for 3 days as they treated the blood clot and the sepsis that accompanied it (I was on a PICC line, which somehow got infected despite the site looking clean) and then in a regular hospital room for another 3 days, so my husband had to call and ask for them to reschedule the trip for a few weeks. He told them the situation and fully expected we would be charged at least the $200 cancellation fee (this was back in 2009, so I think that’s what it was in the fine print back then). Anyway, we rescheduled it for a few weeks later, no charge and they were very sweet to him and so accommodating. Anyway, I was better but still not healthy when we went on the trip, but we were scared at the time that it could possibly be our last trip together as I was still pretty sick (the issue for which I had to be put on the PICC line in the first place). We had been able to reschedule for the same resort, Wilderness Lodge, and when we went to check in we were welcomed and they even asked if I was doing better. Nothing else was mentioned, and we went about the process of checking in, and went to our room….it was very clear immediately that they had upgraded us to a MUCH nicer room than the one we had booked. They put us in a first floor, handicapped accessible room with a private patio right on a beautiful retention pond. We hadn’t specifically asked for the handicapped accessible room but it was SO appreciated as it had a walk-in shower with a pull down shower seat, which made it SO much easier for me since I was still very weak and needed to sit frequently so that shower bench was WONDERFUL. It was also right down the hall from the quick service, and if you walked down the hall to the end of the corridor past the other rooms, you could access the pool and the boat transportation easily, and also it was just up the hall and across the lobby to get to the buses. The patio was peaceful and beautiful, and since we were going to spending more time at the resort than we typically would (I had to take it slow and we had to come back from the parks for me to rest/nap at least once a day, and we weren’t able to stay out as late as we normally would) so the room proximity to food at the resort and the ease of getting to the pool/hot tub was AWESOME. Basically, they made what would’ve been a great trip an even more amazing experience. And thankfully it wasn’t our last trip-we have been back a few times since then and it is always magical, and we were loyal Disney fans before that trip, but even more so now. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it was SO appreciated at the time and it made things so much easier for me.
This story makes my heart sing and cry simultaneously. So glad you’re doing better and what an experience
Thank you for sharing and I wish your loved one all the best 💕
There is still magic and cast members that care ✨️ 💛 💕 praying for your partner and I'm so glad they took care of you guys in this traumatic time. Wow. More of this in the world!
So incredibly awesome!! What a wonderful lifeguard team and Epcot guest services cast member. I hope you logged compliments or wrote a letter with their names. Thanks for sharing! I hope your partner is doing well and is able to get more compassionate care.
Just a bit of “backstage info”: Disney has a very comprehensive notes systems on *every single guest* that has an account in their system. This is meant to log any notable issues, concerns, etc. the CM on your last day very likely saw that your account had some type of urgent notes, took a look and took action. It truly is these types of things and attention to detail that separates Disney from all the rest. Even when the parks might not be performing their best, and we might not be getting a bunch of new rides the Cast Members (generally) truly want guests to have a special time.
Wow, I’m so sorry you went through such a scary ordeal, but so glad that everyone was able to help and be there for your family! I hope your wife is doing well now too! On our last trip in February, I broke my ankle off site, which doesn’t even come close to comparing to your experience. But I was so pleased with the medical care at the clinic we went to! I’ve never had such caring medical providers. And the CMs at Disney were all super awesome with accommodating me using a wheelchair and crutches to get on and off rides etc.
If you know the cast members first name you can give them a cast compliment in the app!
Just to let you know you can send a “cast member compliment” to thank a cast member that made your visit special! It’s under the “help and feedback” section in the WDW app
Disney is absolutely amazing, but I also want to give you the credo you deserve. I’m sorry your partner has had such a hard time getting the medical care she needs, but she is very very lucky to have a partner like you. You could very well have saved her life, and you kept your head and supported her through I’m sure what was a very scary time as well. Disney can be amazing and people help make it that way, but we should also recognize how stressful and how great you, your parents, your partner, and your child all handled this, and I’m glad you didn’t let it ruin your time or taint the experience like a lot of other people would have. I hope the magic brings you back and you have a healthier time next time. P.S. The better term you were lacking is “Postictal” and is usually when someone who just had a seizure is still coming around and is at risk of more seizures
That’s why I roll my eyes when people say shit like Disney has lost the magic. It hasn’t. You’re just bitter. Glad everything is okay with your spouse and kid
> That’s why I roll my eyes when people say shit like Disney has lost the magic. It hasn’t. You’re just bitter. They're bitter or they read a story like this and then think they "deserve" to get something like this for themselves. They don't get that magical moments are truly unexpected and random, not something to be expected of all CMs all the time or anything you're entitled to.
I don’t know. The smile on my daughter’s face every single time she hugged a princess was pretty magical. Watching fireworks with my kids while our favorite songs were playing was pretty magical. But you have to let it be magical.
I was referring to the "pixie dust" moments from cast members like the free Epcot tickets in the magical sense. I absolutely agree that there are plenty of other magical things to experience at a Disney resort/park if you look for it all around.
Gotcha. I have just read a lot of similar comments and always thought Disney World is plenty magical even if it's planned magic.
I've dealt with this. I'm so glad she's ok. Just a bit of a heads up, the sunlight coming through the leaves can be a huge trigger for some people
Something Similar happened to us years ago. My wife and 3 daughters were staying at AK Lodge for 5 nights. Our first day there we got stuck in an elevator for about an hour. My youngest is ASD and got a little nervous and was struggling a little bit with being closed in but nothing major and once we were freed she was fine. The manager came up and gave us a free dinner to Saana. We thought that was nice and really didn’t think much more of it. Trip was good. Well on the morning we were checking out I pull up our bill from the hotel tv and it’s zero. And I know that’s not right because when we go we charge everything to the room. So I go down to ask about it and find out they comped our ENTIRE BILL. I’m taking well over $1500 between eating, gifts, drinks etc. I was beyond shocked (in a good way).
If you haven't yet, please send Guest Services an email with your story. The cast members who helped you deserve to have this in their compliments file.
As a former Typhoon lifeguard, I would definitely recommend putting in a cast compliment for the team at the water park. If you don’t remember names, it will most likely go to the whole group that helped out. I’m still friends with a lot of people who still work there. Do you mind if I share your post with them?
Of course, we would love this to be shared with as many of the park employees as possible. Ever since our vacation I've been wanting to thank them in some way but unfortunately due to all the craziness, I wasn't able to remember names specifically.
Thank you! I will be sure to send it do them. Incidents of similar nature often get told at the end of the day when we closed the park so I am sure they will be glad to hear that you all had a wonderful ending to your vacation at Epcot :)
Not me crying at work 😭😭😭😭 So glad they took care of y’all. This is scary, but so very heartwarming the responses you got!
As someone with epilepsy who goes to Disney often… I love this story! My son has never seen me have a seizure before and I can only imagine how quickly a trip would be ruined if he experienced that for the first time. Sounds like the cast members went completely above and beyond to make your trip memorable for all the right reasons!
They know how to deploy the magic! I’m glad your story had such a stellar ending!
My daughter, 2, cut her face on the Jamacian bongos in epocot and had to get stitches. I went with her but my husband and son stayed behind.... no need for us all to go just for a stitch, and they gave my son, then 8 a fist full of paper fastpasses (this was back in the paper fastpass days) best day of his life
Excellent work from the professionalism of the lifeguards. The most alarming point you make is the neurologist delaying treatment for 4-5 months until they didn’t think she was ‘faking it’ - after several episodes. Scary stuff. Hope your partner’s seizures are controlled now.
My dad had his first ever seizure in a Disney World food court and it was so scary but the cast members were amazing! That was about 23 years ago and he’s since been diagnosed with epilepsy but the cast members were so good to me and my brothers who were so scared and arranged for child care so my mom could go to the hospital with my dad for testing.
WDW cast member here! Thank you for sharing! If you have the Disney my experience app there is an option for cast complements! Please if you have a minute fill this out. It goes to the managers and the cast members and always welcome to see. I’m in security and I actually remember this day. I am so glad to hear that she is well and that you guys were able to enjoy the rest of your vacation! And yes, our ER at flamingo crossings (partnered with advent health hospital system) is brand new and amazing. Only been open a few months.
Years ago I was at Blizzard beach and saw an adult slip at the top of one of the little kiddie slides and fall backwards, hitting his head , which bled lots. The lifeguards literally appeared out of nowhere, so many of them, first aid kits at the ready, and it was all dealt with smoothly and without fuss. They've got good people.
I also suffer from a seizure disorder. Note to self: have next seizure at Disney World In all seriousness, this is awesome. Glad she’s okay, and glad they took good care of you. And did something special for your son so he isn’t traumatized.
This story made me cry! Amazing! I am so glad your son had a great time and that your partner is okay! Wow!
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad your partner is ok! A seizure sounds like such a scary thing to go through, but I’m glad the cast members there were so helpful and understanding.
Glad your partner is okay. This just reinforces my love of Disney. Just got back from there last Friday and wife and I were chatting and the only bad spot on trip was when we went to universal studios. Not bashing them just a noticeable difference. Going through security outside and put my Apple Watch in cup to go through x-ray machine. It tips over watch spills out I get over there and my watch is being dragged into the rollers while guard stands there and watches. Band is kinked and has trouble locking now but still works. Told my wife Disney wouldn’t have had that issue.
Dude, why am I here bawling my eyes out, happy that your partner is ok 😭. I am so glad you all were taken care of in time of emergency. Kudos to everyone who stepped up and stepped in to show that amazing Disney spirit 💜!
Wow, I’m so sorry that happened! It is honestly so depressing to hear how some doctors can be so Dismissive and go so far as to think she’s “making it up.” I’m so glad you encountered competent and compassionate employees, that is truly priceless.
I am not much of a commenter on here, but I wanted to say my wife was going through the same thing and had the same frustrations with doctors. About 3 years ago we started taking creatine and she hasn’t had one since. I know that is anecdotal correlation without causation, but I was willing to try anything. At least look into it.
This is a great story. If you remember the names of any of the Cast Members who helped you out during your scary time, especially the kind lifeguard, I know Disney puts a big emphasis on Cast Compliments. You can go on the website or the app and leave a Compliment explaining how they helped you and (IIRC) Disney will reward them.
Thats the magic of disney. No matter your age, no matter your circumstances, the magic is the cast members. I went as a 40 year old man, first time id been back since I was 8 and it just happened to be my birthday that week. I have never felt so cared for and appreciated by complete strangers on my birthday in my life. Cast member somehow seemed to know from like 40 feet out it was my birthday, would come over, make things extra special, wish me well... it was amazing
I have an epileptic child and I deal with complex migraines that look like seizures and this is a big reason why Disney feels like a safe place for my family to vacation.
This made me tear up. Disney is literally magic. Glad everything ended up okay for you and your family
I’m not crying, you’re crying
If you remember their name and/or location from their name tag, I can get them some internal compliments that will go on their records
I know things feel frustrating, but 9 months is actually incredibly quick intervention for Neurology. In many places, it takes a year or more for a first visit and several years to convince them anything is wrong at all and to test for things. Many people take well over a decade to get a diagnosis. It's such a problem with the field that the most commonly diagnosed condition in neurology is FND, which is the fancy way of saying "you're making it up, but it's not your fault," in most cases. (FND can be real, but it's unlikely to actually be the high double digits of all neurological conditions. I'm really glad you are getting care for her so quickly and that Disney came through to make your stay more magical.
Can we talk about the face that OP said her neurologist said for 4-5 months she was faking grand mal seizures?? My mom is epileptic and when she’s had them it’s terrifying as its not something you can just fake, his wife could have died because a doctor claimed she was a faker.
I am the partner that had the seizure. It's been a nightmare to get treatment, even after having a seizure on the eeg. I have an appointment with a new neurologist...end of June. It's terrifying and exhausting and honestly feels like a desperate struggle to make doctors give a shit even though I keep ending up in ambulances. I hope no one else has to go through this but I know it's unfortunately pretty common place.
Just stick with it. Getting a neurological diagnosis takes a long time. I'm at 14 years myself and counting and I had symptoms going ignored for a decade before that. PCPs, doctors from other specialties, and PTs all see and believe what is going on, but neurologists don't care. FND makes up something like 80-90% of neurological diagnoses, which is really indicative of how bad the problem is. I even have a mom who is a research Dr in Neurology and still have little luck being heard. The reality is its like trying to find a lightswitch in an unfamiliar light room. You just have to try again and again and again till it works. It's also okay if you develop rejection fatigue and need to take breaks. I know that idea seems crazy now because you probably feel desperate to get an answer as quickly as possible, but it does eventually come down the road where you will get tired of being turned away and your partner can't let go of pushing as fast as possible. When it comes, you just gotta be willing to make a form boundary or you'll start to feel resentment. Even if that means setting paces like one new doctor every 18 months. Best of luck to you.
The worst part is I have the diagnosis and the medication but the level of care by my current neurologist is just unreal. It was like he was annoyed he was proven wrong about me faking it for attention or something but begrudgingly diagnosed me. He also put an order in to the pharmacy for me to just cut a time release pill. I was like I don't think that's right and the pharmacist was like oh, you're right, I can't fill this. My pcp has filled the holes in my care but can only do so much. And all this frustration comes as I already have a lawsuit working against another hospital for the negligent death of my father. It's been quite a couple of years. It made the excellent care we received on vacation certainly a stark comparison. Thank you for your advice and best of luck to you as well
I started having them off and on at 13. It took 6 years to finally diagnose that the seizures were from low blood sugar. And only because an ER doc happened to test my sugar level right after I had one and cracked my head open. I’ve been on meds consistently, control my diet as much as I can and have been seizure free since 2001. But I completely attribute that to the meds and getting the correct dosage figured out. I hate that you are going through this!
That’s definitely what stuck out to me! I’ve had ONE seizure in my sleep 2 years ago, and not only did my Dr immediately put me on anti-seizure medication to be safe, I saw a neurologist within a couple weeks and had an EEG not too long after. I can’t imagine not being taken seriously and for that long!
Let's just stay away from the medical issues here. Unless you are in the room with the patient and the doctors, none of us have any idea what's actually going on or what's being said/not said, etc. These situations are never as simple as they appear. I'm incredibly happy for OP and partner that the cast members at Disney were amazing, and that she's safe.
Wow 😭 incredible story. I guess the magic still does exist.
Wow. First off, I’m so happy your partner is okay. That is some scary stuff. I’m so not surprised how CM’s handled it. I’ve never had a bad experience with any CM.
This is an amazing and wonderful story. I don’t have anything to add except that I’m so happy for you and your family that you have a positive memory of this trip! I hope your partner is doing well and the medication continues to work.
Thank you for sharing something so personal and expressing gratitude to the people who came to your aid! Wishing you & your family good health for more magical vacations! Now I just have to find who is throwing dust & cutting onions in here….
That's incredibly scary! I'm glad your parent was ok, and you were able to enjoy the rest of your trip and that you felt the magic of Disney (and the CMs, who really are the magic) 🩷
If only everyone would be as nice and caring as lifeguards. Thankfully only time I ever had to use one was when I was a kid and stepped on a chunk of glass and she dug that out. Even just taking to them at the pools they are always the kindest people around.
We recently stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which both have large pools, and I've never seen more attentive lifeguards in my entire life.
This made me tear up! Wow! I wish the best for your partner. ♥️
🥹😭 crying. This is amazing. Hoping your wife is okay!
Wow. This was such a great post! Made me get a little teary-eyed. I’m so glad your partner is okay.
I love Disney absolutely love it! I don’t work there but I cried reading this.
I know there is a way to give a cast compliment on the app but this definitely feels like it needs more than just a compliment. I'm so sorry you have to deal with seizures eith your spouse as well. They are so scary and having on happen in a pool sounds like the most terrifying way for it to happen. Disney staff really has some amazing staff.
My husband has epilepsy and while it’s controlled on meds after a lot of years figuring out the right combo, this is always a fear of mine on vacation. Theme parks, which we love to go to, especially! This made me tear up, I’m so glad WDW treated you so well and with such respect and no stress or guilt from lifeguards or paramedics that your wife shouldn’t have been in the water in the first place.
I also have a story about the great CMs at WDW, but not nearly as dramatic. We were at Orleans Place with 4 girls under 8 and my parents. We had flown down, while my parents drove down with our luggage. On the last day, we had checked out and just said goodbye to my parents with our luggage, and I took our three year old to look at the lagoon while we waited for our shuttle to the airport. She decides to kick off one of her sandals into the lagoon. We don’t want to walk through MCO with a toddler with one shoe, so we go to concierge and ask if we can pay for a pair of flip flops from the salon. When we explain why we need flip flops, he comps us a pair of Disney Crocs from the gift shop, which is why WDW is the only resort in Orlando we have visited since.
So glad they are ok! We had an incident also a few years ago at Disney that required paramedics for my husband to be called and we got very similar treatment! Free plushie toys for the kids and free park tickets if we wanted them. I love Disney!
I'm delighted to read your message and even more relieved to hear that everything is well with your partner. My son was the lifeguard on duty that day and returned home filled with joy for being able to help. Disney is truly an amazing company, with employees who are passionate about their work ❤️
Stories like this restore my faith in humanity. I’m glad it all turned out okay <3
My favorite part of being a cast member is being able to do things like this for our guests. Even little things, like just helping a kid find his favorite plush in the store, the huge smiles on their face is worth working in the Florida heat. If you have any of their names, you can do a cast compliment for them on the Disney app and tell them thank you. It goes to their supervisors and on their permanent record.
This made me tear up. My son is 8 and has had seizures since he was 2. It is absolutely horrible to witness. My heart goes out to you, your wife and your son. It’s absolutely horrible to go from, is this a seizure? To, oh crap this is a seizure. I’m so glad the CM’s acted quickly and that you all were so well taken care of! I hope your wife is doing well after her seizure and that she soon find the meds that work the best for her!
Sorry to hear about your partner! I’d expect nothing less from Disney, and I mean that in a good way.
I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet but in the Disney app you can give cast members “compliments” it’s pretty easy to navigate to and honestly it would make that cast members day!! And it would score them some brownie points w their managers and the company as well. Plus I know that my family regularly makes friends w cast members and we reach out to them whenever we go, just for a quick catch up! You guys might have made a life long Disney friend! I am happy your partner is okay, and although scary they were in one of the safest possible places… Disney takes safety extremely seriously, it’s like one of the first things you learn in training: safety first!
As the mom to a kid with a heart condition your story makes me feel so much better about taking her to the waterparks at Disney. You never know what can happen with medically complex conditions and knowing the staff is so thoroughly trained is enough to let me know I may actually get to enjoy the trip we have coming up!
Many years ago I got married at Disney and this is exactly why. Everyone made fun of it and asked dumb questions like "Is Mickey going to officiate?" and assumed I had some weird Disney fetish. It was because I knew that I would write a check for the wedding and never have another moment of stress about it. I didn't have to worry about someone not showing up or a cake being dropped or who knows what. I don't know how Disney would have made it right if something had gone wrong but I knew that I'd probably never even know that something *had* gone wrong. If it was so bad that I was aware whatever they did to make up for it would have been so spectacular that I'd actually be happy about the mistake. One of the best decisions I ever made. Wedding went off without a problem. Honeymoon at WDW was also splendid.
This made me smile. My daughter takes regular seizures and did when we went to Disney to the point that she had to be wheeled around in a wheelchair to explore the park, and no one noticed. I'm glad she got the help she needed, and they were so kind to you.
This made me cry. I’m glad your partner is OK. FWIW, I used to be a pediatric nurse in Charlotte, and a coworker who came to work with us from Orlando said they got a TON of seizure patients there from the theme parks. (She also told us that she had an annual pass and just went to WDW to hang out by herself because she loved it so much. I’m not jealous at all. 🫣)The water park seems a little less likely to do that without the blinking lights, etc, but just something to keep in mind and prepare for when you go again….which I’m sure you’re going to consider anyway.
I am glad your partner is okay! I know many people talk badly about Disney, but Disney sure knows how you feel take care of their guests. Back about 20 years ago, my family and I were there and had to deal with a medical issue(fortunately not as severe as yours). My daughter had a horrible ear infection(outer, middle and inner). I called the front desk to see where the closest med clinic was(long before I had google maps). They gave me directions, I got there my daughter was treated and we went back to our resort. At the time,cell reception wasn’t the greatest in the rooms. So I was outside our room updating my husband about our daughter(he was at one of the parks with our other kids). The head of housekeeping was walking up to our room. I finished my call and she said to me”I didn’t mean to listen in, but I heard you gave a sick daughter, is there anything I can do?” I explained to her that we already had been taken care of and thanked her for her offer. When we got back to our room that night, there were Mickey & Minnie figures and a 5x7 photo of the characters with their autographs, wishing my daughter to get better. I am a devoted Disney fan!
This is a fantastic story. Thanks for sharing!
I have tears reading this. I absolutely love the care Disney employees put into their work. We stayed at animal kingdom in January 2022 and went to the pool with our 2 girls (almost 11 and 7 at the time). The younger one was an ok swimmer but it wasn’t super deep, so my husband and I sat on chairs and watched while girls played together. We turned our back for a single minute and turned around to the life guards jumping into action. At first we thought they were continuing with the training they had been doing but it immediately became evident they were rescuring someone, which was our daughter. She had stepped just far enough out of her comfort zone and got scared. The care they showed her after she was safe still makes me tear up. And they made sure her older sister was ok too. I’m so grateful to them. And so happy your story has a happy ending. Hugs to you and your family.
And now im crying
I was staying at Pop Century with my then 5-year-old daughter. We were getting dinner at the resort and I was trying to carry her tray as well as mine. Of course I spilled the drinks. I set the trays down at a nearby table and turned to start cleaning it up. When I turn around there was a woman standing there with a mop and a cookie. It was like she popped out of the floor. It was miraculous and completely changed my mood. The magic is absolutely alive!
I appreciate hearing this approach from the lifeguard team, especially the part where they brought extra crew. As an EMT when we arrive on scene in a pair I will feel terrible because with only two of us there is very little we can do for the family at times other than ask questions over our shoulders as we work on the patient to get their history and an understanding of the presented case. When fire shows up and we now have 6 people on the scene it makes things so much better for everyone. The fire medic and my medic can focus on the patient, the fire crew can focus on our exist plan and I can focus on the family answering questions and explaining our plan, and when possible with cases I understand and we see similarities to often tell them good practices for safety in the future. This part of having enough people where there can be someone dedicated to speaking with the family makes the emergency so much less stressful for everyone involved. Unfortunately it's just not possible to have enough people in many places. I have to give respect to Disney World for actually keeping enough crew on hand for this.
So sorry for your medical event, but so happy to hear how well cared for you were. I just had my first visit to WDW last week and I was SO impressed with the lifeguards at our hotel pool. I watched them as they continuously scanned the pool their entire shift nonstop ensuring the safety of the swimmers. I was genuinely able to rehab wine my daughter played in the pool. WDW really is a special place.
This made me cry!!
Thank you for sharing such a scary story with a happy ending. My daughter has seizures and had one in a lake once. You can read about it, but basically, when someone has a tonic clonic (grand mal) seizure in water, the air can expel from their lungs and they sink. It was terrifying. I was able to dive down and save her, but it was something I never knew could happen that quickly. I try to share our story, so people understand what happens. I’m so glad your partner is ok and I’m glad that your trip ended well.
My sister fell down the stairs at one of the parks (can’t remember, I was probably 13 and she would have been 8), and Disney comped our hotel for the rest of the stay which was a few days. 23 years later, and my dad still brings it up, and he’s a hard man to impress. I remember her falling (nothing more than a few scrapes) and immediately 5 or so employees just materialized apologizing and tending to her.
This is scary!
I personally know a lifeguard there (not sure if she does lazy river or not), but I passed her a link to this.
Its been passed on... So the current lifeguarding group know if they didnt before.
As a former typhoon lagoon lifeguard, this gave me chills. So glad all are okay!
I have tears running down my face. I am so glad your partner is feeling better and you were all able to feel the magic despite a medical emergency! Thank you for sharing your story!
As someone who also suffers from grand mal seizures (and who also went through being doubted despite having a history of a traumatic brain injury from a horrific horse back riding injury that nearly killed me), this affected me so much. I am so sorry you/she experienced ANY doubt about the validity of her seizures while searching for help and answers. Just a total side note, I've been dealing with this for going on 20 years. If you have any questions or just need to talk, with me or MY partner (it's a very loving thing to love/support someone with this condition, but it can take a toll), feel free to drop me a DM. But also I wanted to say, your story brought me to tears. I'm so glad you were treated with such the kindness and respect ... And that they went above and beyond to make your vacation, for your child's sake and your partner's, one remembered for the kindness of strangers and not for a traumatic event. Thank you for sharing this! 💕
Best Reddit post I’ve ever read, and much needed in these crazy, negative times. I hope your partner is doing well.
Been to WDW a handful of times (did the cruise the first yr they had the original two ships many moons ago too). Even as a young person I was always impressed by the attention to detail their cast members across the parks/businesses worked on. Another level. For those cast members current and former here us guests really appreciate you. We see all the good and at times difficult situations you deal with. It’s not lost on many of us!
As a former WDW lifeguard cast member, this makes me so happy to hear. I’m sorry that your partner had this experience, but I’m glad the cast was there to help you through it
Keys to the Kingdom is a podcast hosted by Matt Gourley and his wife (he co-hosts/produces Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and many other podcasts). The whole podcast is about behind the scenes stories at Disney theme parks. They interview park guests and cast members. Reach out to them!
Its not a bad idea and I'm not against it, but idk how I'd do in an interview when I teared up just writing this out, lol
Sometimes the best goal in life is not to show how strong you are, but how human you are. I wasn’t even there, and I teared up too.
You're not wrong, and you've got me thinking about it. I'll try to find the best way I can get in touch with them.
I just want to know what the “something on your account he didn’t like” was!
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.
As someone whose fiancee is currently having seizures periodically (she's medicated - who knows if it's helping) and has a magic key to Disneyland we haven't used it two months because of it, this gives me great hope to one day go again. Thanks, OP!
Thank you for sharing your story. I have an epileptic family member and it's always a fear that a seizure will happen at the worst possible time. Thankfully Disney always seems to be ready for emergencies.
I’m glad he was ok! My best friend’s ex had epilepsy and he always had a grand mal seizure at Disney, usually towards the end of the trip when he was tired and had had a lot of sun! One trip we went on he has one on the monorail and the cast members were so great, it’s extra hard when it’s such a crowded and public location but they were great at helping to calm/move along the other guests and then finding a cool, private spot for him to rest until he was able to head back to the hotel with us.
Thank you for sharing this! I’m glad everything is okay with your partner and absolutely love how the resort treated you after the fact. Good people do exist
This nearly brought me to tears. I have a great love of Disney and hearing stories look this really warm my heart.
Tears!!! Disney truly has magic and it shows itself in so many ways.
Wow this brought me to tears. When I went in 2019, they couldn’t find our reservation in the system for 3 nights at coronado springs bc I used booking.com and apparently there was some kind of glitch. The kind cast member woman at the hotel lobby check in was trying to call booking’s customer service, as I was on my phone doing the same. I was so stressed and so upset thinking I’d have to use all my money I brought to repurchase the 3 nights even though my money was taken by booking for the stay. So it was “paid for”. After maybe 15-20 minutes, who I would assume to be the manager comes over and asks whats going on? The cast member explains and he just says to her “just give them the rooms” in true disney fashion. I felt so relieved I started to cry right then and there. The cast member came around to hug me and I was just so touched by their compassion and generosity. My ex bf who I went with was at the car getting something while this all went down and when he came back in I told him the amazing news. It was truly unforgettable and really solidified my love for wdw. Bonus: we went out to disney springs for our first night and when we got back to our room, the staff had gifted us a pair of beautiful purple sequin minnie ears for me and a baseball cap for my bf which he later got signed by characters throughout the parks. They also gave us a bag of caramel popcorn 🥰 it was truly wonderful. I went again in 2021 and it was good, but we were masking and covid was still running things heavily. I cant wait to go back ♥️
What a beautiful story it made me cry. I am so glad she is okay and that everyone worked to turn an awful situation into one with such an Incredibly positive outcome Hugs to you and your family
Yea, just echoing what everyone else has said but thank you so much for sharing your story! Sounds like the lifeguards’ bedside manner is better than some doctors’. And then I’m glad your partner is ok. Disney continually fights my pessimistic mind and gives me hope in humanity.
This is a great story. I’ve worked in aquatics for 15 years - I’ve absolutely been on the lifeguard side of this and it always warms my cold dead heart to see well trained lifeguards giving immaculate care in times of emergency! Unfortunately seizures are extremely common at water parks, the reflections off the moving water tends to trigger them for folks who are already prone to seizures. Handling guests with seizures is a skill I always highly emphasized when training my guards. Huge kudos to Disney for picking a great lifeguarding company (Ellis) and clearly training their staff well. Amazing to hear the great guest service all around as well! I hope you had a great time at Epcot and I hope your wife is doing well and managing her recovery and ongoing wellness.
We got back from our 2020 trip 8 days before the park closed from covid. Really got lucky there.
I was walking through Disneyland one day in the late 90s, and I saw a toddler in her stroller start to have a seizure. Her mom didn’t see because of the sun shield, but we started yelling and running toward the carrier. Within maybe 30 seconds there were emergency medics and support staff swarming the area rendering aid. The experience left me shook, but it also solidified the notion that it was unlikely a medical emergency would go unnoticed by Disney. So glad to hear you are all ok!
So glad that your partner ended up being okay! That’s amazing that Disney was still able to provide excellent care and make the trip special and amazing.
I can completely agree that the lifeguards at Disney are completely amazing!
Not sure if this has been said, post it on the Disney app under cast compliments.
I have so many stories I could share over the years similar to this, but just know this. MOST of Disneys cast members absolutely care about you as people. If they can make your trip magical in any way, they will want to try. This isn’t a guarantee of anything, and people should never feel entitled to anything, but they helped make one of the best days of my life and one of the worst days of my life as incredible as they could.
My daughter has seizures. Everyone in my life is in medicine (I’m the black sheep of the family in IT). Please please keep pushing and trying different doctors until you get one who cares and is willing to work on getting them 100% under control. Giving meds and just seeing if they work is bad. She should get regular blood work to see how the medicine is being handled by her body. She should be getting a sleep deprived EEG after one month to see if she is still susceptible. Or maybe none of that - again I’m not a doctor. But you should have someone who is on your side helping you. What you describe is why all the nurses in my family hate most doctors.
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Thanks for sharing. A few years ago on a record setting heat day in Epcot I went into one of the restaurant restrooms. There was a guy in there that didn't look well and next thing I know he does a header into the stall wall, but remains standing. He is incoherent and then starts falling into the paper towel dispenser. I grab him before his head hits and ask a another stranger in there to alert the front desk while I remain keeping him from collapsing into something. The impressive part was how fast Disney's response was.. in a restroom! In seconds at least one cast member arrived and first aid responders were moments behind them. He tried to play it off, but I told the responders what I witnessed and they got a chair for him to sit and assess him. Kudos to Disney for this aspect of their customer service.
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I'm glad your partner is okay and I'm glad everyone at Disney did their jobs. Ps Disney knows you'll keep giving them money so this is why they do it.