Health Poll

[plutosmyfav]

As a result of the 1900 Park Fair discussion going on about food posioning, I am curious as to how many people actually develop illness while on vacation at the World. Please take my poll!

Thanks

[two-foxes]

Let me start by saying that I am not certain that it was for sure food poisoning. But, after eating at the Crystal Palace dinner buffet, I awoke at around 5 am, feeling horribly sick. I was stuck in bed for nearly 2 full days with constant vomiting and horrible body aches...it hurt just to lay down! I called the CP and asked if they had any reports of food poisoning, and of course they responded no. We lost 2 full days of our Deluxe Magic plan (so six meals and our parasailing.) My DH did a few meals on his own, but we lost quite a bit of our vacation! In CP's defense, my cousin who is a CM at the GF, stated that some of her co-workers had the flu. But, I have NEVER had the flu like that before or since!

[Kermit]

I voted that we've all stayed healthy. There was one trip, about 10 years ago, where everyone in my group (4 of us) got sick a few hours after eating at the counter service place in China, but it was short lived. We saw a few more potties than we'd normally see at Epcot :), but we didn't have to go back to the room or anything. It was gone almost as soon as it started.

[s&k'smom]

My DD did come home with slight cold symptoms but I think maybe from the plane ride too. I did get bottled water for our room though.

[Eeyore2U]

None of the poll choices fit my experience. I was seriously ill with some stomach thing but it was not food related and still not diagnosable as it has happened at home.

[daannzzz]

Pop ended up with a cold the last few days on one of our trips but it didn;t keep him down. ;)

[GEM]

This will be our 10th trip coming up. We've eaten in pretty much every WDW restaurant, lots of them twice. We have never gotten sick or had any tummy problems. My husband did come down with a sore throat once, but I don't think that had anything to do with being at Disney. He works at an elementary school and it had been going around there for weeks.

[joepoe]

never gotten sick while there, but it always seems one or more of the kids get sick just before we leave. Seems one of them is always on some antibiotic or other that week!

[WebmasterPenny]

I have been to WDW many times, and have eaten at more restaurants (including 1900 Park Fare and a number of other buffets/family style meals) that you can shake a stick at, and I have never gotten even <i>remotely</i> ill.

[eeyore0062]

When we went in Dec of 2000, I got a cold the 2nd day we were there... they took to calling me "Sneezy". I really didn't feel better until the 5th day.

I have never had any problems with any of the food or restaurants while we were there. It could be that you just had a bug that happened to coincide with when you ate at 1900 Park Faire. Since stomach bugs are caused by viruses, and transmitted through air, and close contact (you were all staying in the same room?), it was just a coincidence, and had nothing at all to do with your meal.

That is also why we never do a package where days are included in the price... if you get sick, you don't get the value for your money.

[eeyore0062]

I got a cold the 2nd day of a 7 day trip in Dec 2000, and although I wasn't feeling well, it didn't stop me from going to the parks. I got the nickname Sneezy, though!

Neither I, nor anyone in my family has gotten sick from eating at any of the restaurants in WDW. Is it possible that that person got a stomach bug that just happened to coincide with that meal? I have had that happen, even with food prepared at home.

Since no one else seemed to have had that problem, it does sound coincidental!

[CamColt]

I very very rarely get sick at home. The past 3 times Ive been to WDW(not including my 1 day stay last summer), I have spent one night, being up all night with stomach pains & "problems". I pretty much expect it now.

On our cruise this past summer I came down with a nasty cold(frozen drinks do wonders for sore throats;) ).

With 10 of us on the land/sea trip 2 years ago, about 5 of us had stomach problems some time during the trip or right after returning home.

I have no idea what causes this. :confused:

[babyblue61]

I also got sick the last two times I went to the World; however, I do not think it was a result of food poisoning. I'm no scientist, but I presumed it was from all of the people from all different places being so close and touching all the same things all day long. You're exposed to illnesses from other regions, which your body has not developed immunities to. I figure it's like when I was back in school and whatever one child got, the rest of the class got and brought home. The World is like one big classroom; whatever's brought in you'll be exposed to.

[lovespugs]

Originally posted by CamColt
I have no idea what causes this. :confused: I think one reason people get upset stomachs at WDW (or on any vacation) is because you are basically eating out for all of your meals the entire time you're on vacation. If you're not used to eating out quite a bit, it can upset your digestive system quite a bit.

As for my vote, I picked the food poisoning choice. I got really sick after eating a shrimp dish at Tony's on our last trip, which was unfortunately my birthday dinner :(

[Luv2Roam]

To be COMPETELY honest I had to choose "one or more developed stomach bug or food poisoning type symptoms".
But ours were not anything. My stomach can get iffy sometimes. And I have found out from having a VERY bad virus (not while traveling) that two Pepsid are the same as an over the counter perscription of that. One or two I have found may be needed during the trip. But I almost wonder if over tired and excitedness is as much of the culprit as anything.

DH got VERY ill half way through the marathon last January. But again, our fault.
We arrived the day before and rushed, rushed, rushed, ran, ran, ran, went to bed late. He had to get up VERY early.
He didn't drink water Saturday, so was became very dehydrated during the race with viral like symptoms overtaking him. :( He did finish, but probably walked the last half and looked as pale as a ghost afterwards.
Luckily I packed Immodium and Pepto. After resting he recovered pretty much by that evening.
But we will not make those mistakes again! :rolleyes:
His was not a food issue. It was from exhaustion and dehydration.
Next time I bet he takes his salt tablets too! ;)

I am very leery about buffet food, or any food left out in the open. I have witnessed WAY too many times food being handled by kids who put their fingers/hands in their mouths before and after. :p (Generally talking about non-Disney -- just buffets in general.)
However, we have eaten at Boma's twice. (Once right after they opened.) And did not see this problem.
But I generally don't take food that has been laying open and inviting in a basket/tray. At least with coverings, people seem to be a little more careful.
But I am a believer that if we knew about everything we ate, we all would be rail thin -- because we would be too paranoid to eat anything! ;)

[plutosmyfav]

wow! Thanks for all the votes. Although 45 votes is not statistically significant, so far we have roughly 20% of the families experienced unpleasant stomach symptoms. While the 1900 PF thread inspired the poll, I am not suggesting WDW food is overly "tainted" or anything like that. I agree with the many posts that suggest germs from all over the world coming together in such close proximity is more likely the culprit than food poisoning.

I think the poll is a clear indication that we all should add Pepto, Immodium, pepcid, etc. to our packing lists!!!

keep the votes comin'

:D

[eeyore0062]

I was just reading in our local paper about a virus that was found on board a Holland America Amsterdam cruise ship called the Norwalk Virus which causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, cramping etc. For more infomation on this, go to Pilotonline.com. The article came from Miami through Knight Ridder News Service, and the byline was by Ina Paiva Cordle.

[tearieam]

I wonder if anyone who has come down with a stomach issue used water fountains while in the parks. When we were there last so many kids had their mouths on the spigits we avoided them at all cost. Cannot begin to imagine the gremmies on those things


Two of the four of us did get a cold at our 2000 trip, but then there were a lot of people with minor colds. We were also there in November which is cold season anyway.

While I understand not wanting to miss vacation time, I do think that if people with an illness would avoid the park for the day, the chances of spreading the bug would be lessened.

:rolleyes:

[ilovefh]

My sister was sick one year, but it was from dehydration and exhaustion!!

[KCritter]

The last few trips we have all stayed healthy, but prior to that it seemed like someone was always getting sick. However, we've made it a point on these recent trips to wash our hands very frequently and carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer that we use immediately after attractions where you are touching things. I don't think any of our illnesses were food-borne, but rather the result of thousands of happy, runny-nosed people spreading their germs around.

[Krissalee]

Luckily, we've always been healthy.

[robinb]

I was "down for the count" on our trip in May for about a day and a half with some intestinal virus thingy. It hit at Animal Kingdom and I ended up going back to hotel early. Luckily, our insurance has a toll-free nurse on call program which I took advantage of. They told me to drink as little water as possible and to eat "binding" foods like bananas and white rice. By the next day I was feeling much better, but I continued my bland diet. At least I had an excuse not to eat fried food for the rest of the trip ;).

[Uncleromulus]

Colds, Flu, stomach bugs /virus are all quite "catchable" w/o any connection whatsoever with food. I suspect that many people get "sick" due to running around so much from dawn 'til well after dusk--trying to see everything w/o any relaxation. Add a few hours sleep and resistance is way down--.
Had many hundreds of meals at WDW over many years and never gotten ill from any food or food preparation.
Caught several "colds" but that had absolutely nothing to do with what we ate.

[winniedapooh]

On our last trip in January 2000 with the 5 Dcherubs, our 2 a half year old came down with the flu. She spent almost the entire time sleeping in the stroller or being carried by Daddy. 9 out of 10 days sick with an ear infection, cold, and flu.....ugh! 4 yo came down with it the day before we left and the rest of us never got anything! It is funny but even now when we ask Katie what her favorite ride was at Disney she still says Daddy!!!!! I hope this time we all stay healthy!

[plutosmyfav]

I'm glad to see the tummy troubles have come down a bit with more votes, but 16% is still pretty high!

[eeyore0062]

I think that many of the tummy troubles are caused, not by food poisoning, but because most people are eating foods they are unaccustomed to, in quantities they are unaccustomed to. How many people usually eat 2-3 meals for many days in a row in a restaurant? I know I don't. Stomachs seem to respond unfavoribly to great changes in dietary consumption. So to blame it on Disney is a bit harsh, blame it on a change in dietary habit.

[pigby]

My DD came home which we thought was an insect bite on the back of her leg - after a couple of days, it had spread over the back of her thigh - it was diagnosed by a doc as the infectious skin disease impetigo - think she contracted it in the ASMo pool. Antibiotics cleared it up after a few days but over a year later, you can still see where it was on the back of her leg.


Sue

[Buttercup]

Hi,
In 1996 we both got sick. DH got a stomach flu and I got some kind of resporitory bug. It was a drag. I'm sure it was from germs everywhere and not from food poisoning. Now when we go we wash our hands constantly and carry wet wipes also.
Buttercup