Medical Care

Medical Care Options

Getting Medical Care During Your Program

If you need healthcare of any kind while you’re here, you’ll be able to find it. The Orlando area has plenty of options. The tricky part? Figuring out if they take your insurance, getting an appointment, getting there, and then paying for it without breaking the bank.

First things first: If you don’t have health insurance, stop right here and check out this info: INSURANCE. Seriously, don’t skip this.

Next, figuring out where to go is all about what you need and the insurance you have, and what they consider to be IN NETWORK.  If you have insurance, then you have an insurance card, get it out and look for the website. Go to the website and look for FIND CARE.   (Navigator tip:   Do this before you even start your program.)

FOR EMERGENCIES: Call 911

Or get  to the AdventHealth Emergency Room at Flamingo Crossings (it’s right next to East Campus).

*Just because it’s located in the Flamingo Crossings area does not mean that the ER has anything to do with the Disney College Program.  It just happens to be close. It is not “Disney provided medical care.”

What Kind of Care Do You Actually Need?

THIS IS IMPORTANT. Choosing the wrong type of care can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.   Feeling Sick? Need Treatment?   If you’re dealing with something like a sore throat, fever, minor injury, UTI, ear infection, or anything that needs attention but isn’t life-threatening, you have some good options. If you sliced your hand open with a sharp knife while making dinner…you’ll probably want the ER.

Option 1: Emergency Care
Option 2: Urgent Care
Option 3: Telehealth (video chat with a healthcare provider)
Option 4: A pharmacy-based clinic.

URGENT CARE

Urgent Care: Your Best Friend for Non-Emergency Situations

AdventHealth is Disney’s official healthcare partner, and their CentraCare (Urgent Care) offers FREE transportation for CPs. Yes, free. They’ll pick you up at Flamingo and bring you back.

The location recommended for CPs:
AdventHealth – Orange Lake Urgent Care
8201 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
(Near the Super Target that the CP bus goes to)

Call to book appointments AND arrange transportation: (407) 465-0846
🌐 You can also book online

Other AdventHealth CentraCare Locations:

Horizon West (5 miles north of Flamingo)
📍 9225 Miley Drive, Winter Garden, FL

Lake Buena Vista (Disney Springs area)
📍 12500 South Apopka Vineland Road
⏰ Open 7AM–Midnight, 7 days a week

 

Emergency Room at Flamingo Crossings:

Only for ACTUAL Emergencies –  The closest ER is right at Flamingo Crossings—literally next to East Campus.

🌐 Website:    AdventHealth ER Flamingo Crossings

📞 Phone:    407-550-0700

BUT HERE’S THE CATCH: This is a full-service hospital emergency room, and they charge emergency room prices. Even when you walk in the door, there’s a sign that says:  “THIS IS A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THIS IS NOT AN URGENT CARE CENTER. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RATES ARE BILLED FOR OUR SERVICES. THE AVERAGE FACILITY FEE IS $1,290.”

You’ll hear story after story from CPs who say they got “ripped off” because they went in for a sore throat and got hit with a massive bill. The truth? They wouldn’t have gone to an emergency room back home for the same thing, but they didn’t realize the difference here in Florida.

For those things, go to Urgent Care or use Telehealth. Your wallet will thank you.

Use the ER for:

                    • Severe injuries
                    • Chest pain
                    • Difficulty breathing
                    • Severe bleeding
                    • Suspected broken bones
                    • Loss of consciousness
                    • Anything that feels life-threatening

Don’t use the ER for:

  • Sore throat
  • Minor fever
  • Ear infection
  • UTI symptoms
  • Mild sprains
  • Common cold or flu

If you need ongoing healthcare while on your program — or “PRIMARY CARE” — then you probably need to establish a relationship with a healthcare practice that is more than Urgent Care.   This can be a challenge so start planning before you need the service.

In Flamingo Crossings Town Center there is an AdventHealth Primary Care Office.
Here is a link to their website: https://www.adventhealth.com/primary-care-plus/flamingo-crossings

Since they are so close you can start with them to see if they can provide the ongoing care that you are looking for.   But, remember, you also need to check with your insurance to see if this office is “IN-NETWORK”.

More about insurance:   Your current healthcare insurance, or for many it’s their parents’ health insurance will typically provide coverage when you are traveling on vacation for things like urgent care or emergency services.  If they didn’t then anyone off on vacation would almost be like they had no insurance at all.  But, being in the Disney College Program is not a vacation – in more ways that one.   That’s why it is imporatant to call you health insurance company well in advance. Tell them what you are doing, where and for how long and ask them what will be covered and what will not be covered while you’re in the program.

Needing the care of a medical specialist like an Ophthalmologist (eyes) or an Allergy Specialist or or Orthopeadic or any other specialty can happen while on your program.
One of two things are usually true;  Either you were getting services from a similar doctor before you arrived and need to continue treatment during your program or; Something occured during the program and you need to see a specialist.

Again, the best first step is to check with insurance.  Most insurance companies have a FIND CARE option on their website. You put in a ZIP CODE and what you are looking for and a list of docs comes up.   But, you’re not at home so that can create some difficulties.   For many, it’s best to call the number on the back of the insurance card and ask them to help you find a doctor in or near zip code 34787.

The two big hospital chains are AdventHealth and Orlando Health.  You can also use their websites to search for specialists.

ALLERGY SHOTS & ALLERGISTS:

There are two options for continuing your allergy shots once you arrive.  Option 1 is to find a local Orlando doctor, clinic, Nurse Practictioner or ‘other’ who will simply give you the shots that your doctor at home has prescribed.  That sounds easy, but many report that it isn’t always the case.   (If you have found someone, please email:[email protected] and let us know.)
Option 2 is to establish a relationship with a local Allergist.   Two that Navigator has seen mentioned by CPs are:

Anderson Allergy & Asthma, 63 West Underwood St.  Orlando
 407-872-1110
https://www.andersonallergy.com/

Allergy Asthma Specialists   3111 Citrus Tower Blvd, Suite A, Clermont
 (352) 243-6767 
https://www.allergycfl.com/

Disney does not provide medical services to College Program participants* but people hear about two places and they get confused.  *It can be different for International Program Participants.

Disney’s Center for Living Well – located in the back Cast parking lot of EPCOT — this is a doctor’s offices for those (mostly full time cast member) who have selected a specific Disney health insurance plan where the Center for Living Well is in-network.   CPs can’t get an appointment there.

Disney Health Services – This is a place where you could actually end up if you are injured on the job.  Many big companies have onsite medical treatment for on the job injuries and if that applies to you, your Leader will send you to Disney Health Services, which is also located next to Cast Parking at EPCOT.   If you are injured and it’s serious, you will be transported to the AdventHealth Emergency Room at Flamingo Crossings or Celebration.

PHARMACIES

Just like at home the two big options are CVS and WALGREENS

The closest pharmacy to Flamingo Crossings is actually in the Flamingo Crossings Town Center:

Walgreens Pharmacy at  Flamingo Crossings
13316 HARTZOG RD Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: 321-329-3546
WEBSITE
The store is open 24 hours/day but the pharmacy is only open Monday-Friday from 10AM-6PM and on Saturday from 9AM-5PM and it’s closed on Sunday.

Walmart Pharmacy – Hamlin Town Center
(Where the CP Bus Goes)
16313 New Independence Pkwy, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: (407) 554-0181
WEBSITE
Mon – Sat 9am – 7pm
Sun 10am – 6pm
Closed 1:30pm – 2pm daily

 

CVS (Target) Pharmacy
(Where the CP Bus Goes)
3200 Rolling Oaks Blvd Kissimmee, FL 34747-3052
Phone: 321-677-3972
WEBSITE
9am to 7pm daily
They close 1:30PM-2:00PM

 

WORKPLACE INJURIES –

If you need Medical Care related to an injury that you sustained while working. Do not arrange for your own Doctor appointment.
If you were injured, you should have reported it right away to a Leader.  If you didn’t realize the extent of a work injury but now need Medical Care, do a “Leader Call Back” (assuming it is not an emergency that you should be calling 911 for).

Workers Compensation –

If you need medical care because of a workplace injury, do not be overly concerned about insurance.  And DO NOT hide a workplace injury because you either don’t have insurance or you don’t think you can afford a doctor visit.  Workplace injuries are covered in a entirely different way.

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