Lockers outside park entrance?

cobright

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Without going into the long version of this, I use a medical device 2-3 times a day for about 5 minutes. I would like to bring it with me on our upcoming WDW trip but preparation to use the device requires a knife and to be honest it's just not going to go well hauling it in through security every day.

I have never noticed before but do any of the parks have lockers available outside the security check area?
 
If it comes to it, could you use something like a putty knife or wide blade screwdriver?
 

Yep, Epcot and Hollywood Studios looks like they have my back. I'm not sure how my search skills have degraded so poorly, at one point I had downloaded park maps and was just pouring over them sq. in. at a time. This helps a ton.

If it comes to it, could you use something like a putty knife or wide blade screwdriver?
They won't let me into the park with those things either. And I don't blame them.

What I have is an ampule of liquid medicine with the strangest collar and cap I've ever encountered. It's not meant to be opened by hand. When they came out with a portable version of the injection machine they made a sort of breaker to open the ampule but the tool breaks after a few uses and even it has an exposed razor blade. What works amazingly well is my simple Opinel 6 pocket knife. But I wouldn't plan on taking that inside the park either.

So, for at least two parks, I can house the machine and the tools I need out in a bus-stop area locker rentals and stroll out when needed during the day. The other parks are back to plan-b, adjusting the time spent in the parks and taking an uber back to the resort when needed.

Maybe this new premium park to park bus service would work to get me from MK or AK to DHS or EP a couple times a day since I don't need to actually enter the parks... or does the new premium bus let off and pick up within the security check area? Darn, no clue but that's not really a part of this question.
 
Maybe this new premium park to park bus service would work to get me from MK or AK to DHS or EP a couple times a day since I don't need to actually enter the parks... or does the new premium bus let off and pick up within the security check area? Darn, no clue but that's not really a part of this question.

if you are asking about the express service yes it dose drop you off inside the park and pick you up inside the park ( so you do not have to go thought security. I would do to first aid and talk to them about your needs as they may have something there you can use to open your meds, also would you meds be fine in 100+ degree weather?
 
I wonder if the first aid centers might have something that could open it? Perhaps for your first day, schedule a park where you can use one of the outside lockers. Then bring in just the medication to the first aid station to see if they have something that would open it. If they do, make sure each park has the same tools (I would think they would) and then for the remaining days, you could leave the knife at the resort and just bring the bag with the medication. If not, I guess your only option is to do what you suggested and adjust your schedule.

*edit* And I just saw the person above me suggested the same thing. lol
 
if you are asking about the express service yes it dose drop you off inside the park and pick you up inside the park ( so you do not have to go thought security. I would do to first aid and talk to them about your needs as they may have something there you can use to open your meds, also would you meds be fine in 100+ degree weather?
I'm looking at the express transport now and it doesn't look like a winning plan... Or we might get Park Hoppers after all in which case it may be a help.

It's really just the hassle of getting the tool to open them and then the machine through security; which isn't really a huge deal but it's a microneedle injection system and it seemed like a better plan to chill out well outside the park for the 15 minutes it takes to get the juice into me. The medicine temp isn't an issue since it stays with me. It would have to since it is a formulation of Librium, a benzodiazepine like valium, so it's under my control at all times. If I lose one, they take me off the program.

It's an anxiety treatment and all of the in-park lockers I do happen to remember seemed like chaotic places. Normally, and I've bragged on this a bit, I'm something of a pack mule; I keep everything I need and a lot of stuff I don't with me in the parks. Apparently, I've reached my limit.
 


Yep, Epcot and Hollywood Studios looks like they have my back. I'm not sure how my search skills have degraded so poorly, at one point I had downloaded park maps and was just pouring over them sq. in. at a time. This helps a ton.


They won't let me into the park with those things either. And I don't blame them.

What I have is an ampule of liquid medicine with the strangest collar and cap I've ever encountered. It's not meant to be opened by hand. When they came out with a portable version of the injection machine they made a sort of breaker to open the ampule but the tool breaks after a few uses and even it has an exposed razor blade. What works amazingly well is my simple Opinel 6 pocket knife. But I wouldn't plan on taking that inside the park either.

So, for at least two parks, I can house the machine and the tools I need out in a bus-stop area locker rentals and stroll out when needed during the day. The other parks are back to plan-b, adjusting the time spent in the parks and taking an uber back to the resort when needed.

Maybe this new premium park to park bus service would work to get me from MK or AK to DHS or EP a couple times a day since I don't need to actually enter the parks... or does the new premium bus let off and pick up within the security check area? Darn, no clue but that's not really a part of this question.

The new premium bus on/off is within the parks; the idea of it is that you are inside the park and have already gone through security, and it will take you to another park without the need to go through security all over again [plus presumably get you there a bit faster too].

Have you considered calling or emailing Disney and asking for their advice ?

For example, knives are not specifically on the prohibited list (though may fall under "weapons"), so some types (eg a small non-obtrusive swiss army knife?) might actually be allowed.

Alternatively, would something else work ? For example, even the TSA allows small first aid or children's scissors (blade <4", safety style with a non-pointed/blunt end) in carry-on baggage -- we carry on a pair of small children's safety scissors all the time because my sister likes doing hand quilting to pass the time. She also brings it in to WDW parks as she does the quilting there too when we are taking a break; likewise onto DCL ships, which actually do specifically prohibit knives. Fiskas and some other quality brands make some really nice ones that are quite sturdy and cut through a remarkable variety of things. Note: When we went shopping for the last pair I brought a tape measure with me to measure blade length. Some packages label the blade length while others label the overall scissor length, so being able to measure the blades myself was helpful; we went with small and compact as that is what we needed; actual blade length was WELL under TSA's 4".

Is the ampule plastic or glass ? Either way, if you google ampule cutter you will find a number of different devices intended for opening ampules, depending what they are made of; perhaps one of them would work ? I am fortunate that the medication ampules I have to deal with are a simple plastic that just twist off by hand to open [particularly since when I *need* it I often would not be capable of much more co-ordinated than that anyway...].

Good luck finding a workable solution.

SW
 
I was thinking first aid as well. They can also store your medication and give you a private comfortable place to take your meds.
 
OK! I needed the same thing last week and NONE of the lockers OUTSIDE the parks are in use! They are there, but you cannot rent them. I asked at Epcot AND DHS. One security guard said he did not think they had been rented out for at least the last 5 years due to terror/security risk.
 
OK! I needed the same thing last week and NONE of the lockers OUTSIDE the parks are in use! They are there, but you cannot rent them. I asked at Epcot AND DHS. One security guard said he did not think they had been rented out for at least the last 5 years due to terror/security risk.

The Epcot ones are def in use and are coin opperated. I've used them on several trips in the last 2 years on check out day.
 
What about nail scissors? They used to allow them (we need them for cutting moleskin)
 
The new premium bus on/off is within the parks; the idea of it is that you are inside the park and have already gone through security, and it will take you to another park without the need to go through security all over again [plus presumably get you there a bit faster too].
something to keep in mind about them is they stop running if there's lightning in the area and direct you to use the regular transportation options, because the boarding areas for them are in backstage areas that don't have cover.
 
The Epcot ones are def in use and are coin opperated. I've used them on several trips in the last 2 years on check out day.

Good to know! When I looked (last week) many of the locks/doors were broken; I asked a security guard walking in the area and he said they were not in use and had not been for years. At DHS I asked at the security Kiosk and was told the same thing. ????

I'm glad to know there IS an option for luggage storage! THANK YOU for clarifying!
 
I was thinking first aid as well. They can also store your medication and give you a private comfortable place to take your meds.
First aid stations are great, they gave me a tylenol once when I had a headache and it was a great experience. But longer duration visits are not for me. Clinical environments do horrible things for my anxiety, which is the whole reason for taking the meds in the first place.

OK! I needed the same thing last week and NONE of the lockers OUTSIDE the parks are in use! They are there, but you cannot rent them. I asked at Epcot AND DHS. One security guard said he did not think they had been rented out for at least the last 5 years due to terror/security risk.
Ah! Oh Nos!

The Epcot ones are def in use and are coin opperated. I've used them on several trips in the last 2 years on check out day.
Phew! Or maybe... Well, I guess I'll be getting on the phone and checking on this. If it all comes down to it I'll be fine going without. There is a larger dose I can take in the morning that doesn't make me too dizzy and lasts closer to a full day.
 
What about a pair of what our family calls cast scissors? (Like EMTs and nurses carry). I had to carry a pair with me for years, because our daughter was in casts so much, and every now and again, we would have to cut one off in the field (pre-fiberglass, back in the good old days of plaster!)

You should be able to argue that those are a medical supply item. From Amazon: Bent snips

I have a toolkit that I carry with my ECV; the only thing that Disney security ever balked at was once when I forgot that I had a snap-blade disposable knife in there; I had to give that up, but they let me carry in a pair of needle-nose pliers, a screwdriver, and the Allen wrenches that "tune" my scooter. (Yeah, I have a real Mary Poppins problem... I have to be prepared at all times, because, I don't know - I just do. It's great for people who travel with me; I have everything they want, all the time. It's horrifying for me, because I live in constant fear that I won't have something I *do* need, when I need it... Sorry, getting back on track now...)

What about a pair of side cutters? Or a pair of diagonal cutting pliers? Would either of those work to open the ampule?
 
Phew! Or maybe... Well, I guess I'll be getting on the phone and checking on this. If it all comes down to it I'll be fine going without. There is a larger dose I can take in the morning that doesn't make me too dizzy and lasts closer to a full day.
Sorry, a waste of time and energy. You would do better to ask on the TPA&S forum for somebody onsite or visiting soon to please check and PM you. Nobody you can reach by phone will have access to the current information.
 
I have a toolkit that I carry with my ECV; [...]but they let me carry in a pair of needle-nose pliers, a screwdriver, and the Allen wrenches that "tune" my scooter. (Yeah, I have a real Mary Poppins problem... I have to be prepared at all times, because, I don't know - I just do. It's great for people who travel with me; I have everything they want, all the time. It's horrifying for me, because I live in constant fear that I won't have something I *do* need, when I need it... Sorry, getting back on track now...)

(Bold italics are mine)
Yeah, I feel you. Number 1 must have is wipes. Baby wipes, clorox wipes, flushable wipes ... doesn't matter, when you need one they can all do the jobs of the other in most cases. I'm either in the parks walking point for my wheeled friend or I'm touring them with my family. For the latter, I've gotten better about being the pack mule, but I'm still something of a pack mule. One year there someone caught a pretty bad cut on her foot, to the point where blood was spurting. A cast member was trying to convince her and her parents to walk back to the side of one of the buildings; I'm guessing so the EMTs will have room to work when they got there. I ended up arguing with the CM about moving her until she went and got security, who looked and said, "Yeah, keep her right there, EMTs be here in three minutes." They showed up in 2 and ended up pulling from my bag as much as theirs. They used my CAT tourniquet (I don't think they tightened it) and Israeli Bandage and strapped her down to a backer board to keep tear in artery from getting worse.

What about a pair of side cutters? Or a pair of diagonal cutting pliers? Would either of those work to open the ampule?
The tool looks sortof like a pair of diags (nice use of tool nomenclature by the way #toolbunny).
Sort of like:
h75a9589.jpg

Which is the standard medicine capsule/ampule/thing(?) de-capper. Mine has an additional feature that pivots near the jaws and looks like a utility knife blade. It removes an extra anti-theft or tamper evident guard and removes a block that prevents the machine from pushing the plunger in. I sent a picture of the tool to WDW back when we booked the trip and the reply was polite and non-committal but was pretty sure I shouldn't walk into the park with it and requested I bring it to guest services upon my arrival.
This pic is from 3M but it's what the meds look like once ready to go (Except for being blue. Is injectable medicine ever blue?):
LibriTDI.PNG


Now I find there is a sort of bottle opener that is marketed for removal of 'botox' vial crimp caps so you can get the last drops out of the vial that the syringe would otherwise not be able to get (I guess. Botox is really not in my wheelhouse). It looks like a bottle opener but they keep playing up that it works on standard medicine vial crimp caps and botox vials which makes me wonder if botox caps are also meant to be extra theft deterrent? Kapoff is one such tool. It's for a medicine bottle but the website looks more like its for a nail salon. I might buy one just to see how it works and maybe I can reverse engineer something (my meds have a smaller than the standard 20mm cap).

Honestly, if it wasn't so much better than just taking a Klonopin I would just leave it at home. I have to admit it, the bag check bugs me when it happens that I have to answer a lot of questions. the sort of questions this machine is likely to provoke. Not dissing the bag check, I also like that it's there; how's that for a conflicted person. It's looking more and more like I'll bring the whole kaboodle into the park each day, one way or the other.

This is the one time I seriously thought having a car in the parking lot would be a good idea.
 
(nice use of tool nomenclature by the way #toolbunny)

LOL my daddy was an aerospace engineer. He had "ink" on everything that flew in space, or military airspace, from the Redstone rocket until he passed in 1990. A little bit of civilian aircraft work as well, but mostly for NASA, and various US military aircraft. My husband, as I have mentioned here before, works as a ticketed (A&P) mechanic for a major airline. They both believe(d) that tools were made for everyone to use and I grew seeing my Mom as capable with tools from the garage as from the kitchen. So, yeah - ToolBunny works too! LOL


Now I find there is a sort of bottle opener that is marketed for removal of 'botox' vial crimp caps so you can get the last drops out of the vial that the syringe would otherwise not be able to get (I guess. Botox is really not in my wheelhouse). It looks like a bottle opener but they keep playing up that it works on standard medicine vial crimp caps and botox vials which makes me wonder if botox caps are also meant to be extra theft deterrent? Kapoff is one such tool. It's for a medicine bottle but the website looks more like its for a nail salon. I might buy one just to see how it works and maybe I can reverse engineer something (my meds have a smaller than the standard 20mm cap).

Honestly, if it wasn't so much better than just taking a Klonopin I would just leave it at home. I have to admit it, the bag check bugs me when it happens that I have to answer a lot of questions. the sort of questions this machine is likely to provoke. Not dissing the bag check, I also like that it's there; how's that for a conflicted person. It's looking more and more like I'll bring the whole kaboodle into the park each day, one way or the other.

This is the one time I seriously thought having a car in the parking lot would be a good idea.

I think it's kind of a crap shoot at bag check at the Parks. It seems to me (from personal experience taking my little tool kit through) that what they are looking for is anything that can be "weaponized". So, knives of any kind, probably a hard no. But the Kapoff? Maybe, especially since it doesn't really look threatening...

Last suggestion - and I offer this only because it might be the *easiest* thing to get through bag check... Have you considered just getting a disposable syringe that could vacuum up all of the yummy goodness in the vial? I don't know exactly what the next step would be, being unfamiliar with the machine you use, but would it be possible to use the syringe as an intermediate transfer device to move the liquid from the vial to the machine? A syringe and a vial of medicine is something that security can very easily understand. Just a thought...
 

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