Are people still getting sick at WDW?

[thumbelina115]

We just spent 4 days there and didn't witness anything to worry about. We know that somebody vomited at the Pop station at Epcot bus stop (sorry to whoever that was- bummer!) but considering that we passed by about 100,000 people who were perfectly healthy the percentage of sick people seems to be fairly small.
I think that no matter where you go, or when you go there is always the chance of picking up a bug. My feeling is that I'd probably get sick from being on a plane faster than getting sick from being in Disney.

 

[pigletto]

They could immunize guests at the entrance to Epcot and call it "Innoculations"

I was on a cruise over Christmas and ended up with a sinus and throat infection by the 4th day and the stomach flu by the second last day
At least 4 people in the surrounding rooms got the stomach flu as well.
Close quarters plus germs equals illness. Take the regular precautions that you would anywhere else and hope for the best. It's not a Disney problem.. it's a virus problem.

 

[princessmom29]

I was on a cruise over Christmas and ended up with a sinus and throat infection by the 4th day and the stomach flu by the second last day
At least 4 people in the surrounding rooms got the stomach flu as well.
Close quarters plus germs equals illness. Take the regular precautions that you would anywhere else and hope for the best. It's not a Disney problem.. it's a virus problem.

I came home form Disney in Nov. with a severe case of tonsilitus, and I have never had throat infections before. The doc tested and said in was definitely baqcterial, not virual. I will be taking antibiotics with me next time. My doc does not have a problem giving me a script before I leave just in case.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Our trip last year was the worst with the stomach bug. On our third day, my youngest "6" started vomitting in The Magic Kingdom, at first I thought she was just sick from the rides, but she got worst as the day went on. My son "15" woke up with a headache and as the day went on, he started vomitting. He was so bad that we took him to the emergency room in the middle of the night. They sent him home, only to return hours later in terrible shape. He ended up being transferred to another hospital and admitted for a couple of days. I ended up getting sick shortly after my daughter and the two of us stayed in bed while my son was in the hospital. By day 8 we were all feeling better, but by day 9 my "12" year old daughter started vomitting and was in bed for 2 days. There were a total of 6 of us and only 2 escaped the BUG. It was our worst trip ever, we barely made it too any dining reservations or spent much time as a family. When I asked the kids if they wanted to return for Christmas they all said NO.....we will try again this July and hope for the best!!!

We also were there this past December and while the parks and atmosphere was beautiful we will not be back at that time of year again anytime soon! We all got sick as well. I know it's just an unfortunate incident, but we will not be traveling during flu season again

 

[TagsMissy]

OK... so the vast number of people at WDW people are bound to get sick but you could get just as sick at home so I don't put any weight at all on the posts of people being ill at WDW... for all the people that go to WDW I'd say a very small percentage get sick and chances are they picked up the bug before they even got to the world.

Wash your hands and you will be fine.

BTW I was there in February and none of us got sick before, during or after our trip and we did not see anybody ill or hear of any major illness going around other than all the freaking out on the boards here LOL

 

[RMulieri]

This happens every year, and every year people get worked up on the boards about it. Check back the end of 2009 and 2010 and there will be posts again about it. It is the time of year for it and when you get thousands of people together it is a petri dish of illness.

 

[bookgirl]

I got lots of warnings before my trip in Jan and the year before I was warned because I was going on a cruise and there was some bug. I never got it either time I also do a lot of casino junketts Las Vegas, Tunica, Laughlin, St Louis/Kansas city and they are a complete breeding ground for germs.

Anytime you have lots of people from all over the world or even all over the states there are going to be germs. I second a pp who said wash your hands, and keep Purell available. I also lysol my hotel room, beds/covers, doorknobs and remote and I never drink out of hotel glassware. I figure you cut your chance in half just being careful.

PS I don't use anit bacterials as they can have the opposite effect and make you more likely to catch stuff. But hot water and plain soap are the first and best line of defense.

 

[amy1976]

We have not been to Disney since November and we all just had the stomach bug here in NJ. It is that time of year everyone, people have the bug everywhere. Disney is certainly not immune to it (I wish). It sucks, it's messy but unfortunately it is everywhere in the winter-spring. It should be almost over, usually by May it is gone. Have fun on your trip and try not to worry. Also, all those hand sanitizers are part of the reason we have these terrible bugs.

 

[RAV]

My family and I had an awful stay at a resort (not WDW) several years ago due to illness. I have a theory about it. Early in our stay we were in the gift shop and a toddler became ill. Shortly after that incident, we saw him in one of the pools. People were getting sick all over the resort. When the illness hit my family, we visited the nurse at the hotel. She stated that many people feel that they are on vacation and don't want to miss out on anything. They go in the pools, common areas, visit the buffets and the illness just spreads. I think many times people are eager to salvage what is left to their stay and probably don't wait as long as they should before venturing out.

 

[amy1976]

My family and I had an awful stay at a resort (not WDW) several years ago due to illness. I have a theory about it. Early in our stay we were in the gift shop and a toddler became ill. Shortly after that incident, we saw him in one of the pools. People were getting sick all over the resort. When the illness hit my family, we visited the nurse at the hotel. She stated that many people feel that they are on vacation and don't want to miss out on anything. They go in the pools, common areas, visit the buffets and the illness just spreads. I think many times people are eager to salvage what is left to their stay and probably don't wait as long as they should before venturing out.

I agree! I have actually read posts on here about families who have had their children throwing up during the night and still taking them to the parks the next day.

 

[princessmom29]

I agree! I have actually read posts on here about families who have had their children throwing up during the night and still taking them to the parks the next day.

I personally don't see any point in not taking them. If they are no longer ill then they are not spreading grems anymore. The most dangerous phase of an bug like this for passing it is BEFORE you start getting sick, not after. It is like chicken pox in that respect. After the scab over it is not contagious. After you stop puking your viral/ bacterial load is typically so low that the chances of infecting anyone else are slim to none.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We have not been to Disney since November and we all just had the stomach bug here in NJ. It is that time of year everyone, people have the bug everywhere.

We recently had an entire college shut down for several days, because about 100 students and faculty were diagnosed with norovirus over a weekend.

 

[lojikal1]

Our very 1st trip to WDW ended horribly!!! We were stuck in Charlotte's airport waiting on a connecting flight when our son, then 4, started vomiting everywhere. He eventually had a very bad accident and we had to change his pants. To make matters worse, when we finally got on another flight, our youngest son puked during takeoff!!! The bug hit him for the rest of the 3 hour flight.... Of course by the time my wife and i got home... we got sick too... BUT for all of those who wonder, I think I have it figured out... you know the big stone sphere in Tomorrowland? The one that stays full of water and that you can spin on its axis? Well, we all played with it and then we sat down for lunch. Stupid? Yes, but we were sooo excited to be there that we were not thinking. We played in water that thousands of hands had been in plus it had rained the previous night!!! So our trips from then on are all about hand sanitizer and several trips to the sink for hand washings... be warned...

 

[Colleen27]

I'm the only one in my family that has been sick at Disney, and I know it wasn't anything I caught there, just a migraine that I let escalate to the point of nausea and vomiting because I didn't want to go all the way back to the room to take something for it.

I worried over reports of illness at the World before our trip in Jan '08, but none of us fell ill. We tend to have pretty tough immune systems and while I don't worry about wiping down the room, I'm a stickler for washing hands before meals/snacks. It seems that was enough for us.

To the previous poster who mentioned that water globe in Tomorrowland, DS11 gets so sick of me reminding him to wash his hands after touching that thing! I'm not generally very germophobic, but that just looks like a big ol' petri dish to me.

 

[donnajean17]

What you have to remember also is that everyone's immune system is different. A bug that I might be able to fight off with no issues, might make the person next to me on the bus sick.
Getting sick, and spreading germs is a fact of life and though we would love to think of Disney as being in a "special bubble" where nothing ever goes wrong, we all know that is not true.
The best advice I think, is to do what many have said already (washing hands, sanitizing etc) but more importantly, don't freak out about it or let it spoil your fun by worrying about getting sick.
I think it's part mental too, if you're convinced that your vacation is going to get ruined (and I know trips are expensieve and there is a lot of money at stake) by a stomach bug then that increases your chances it will... just relax and enjoy and hope for the best! And if it happens, roll with it, there is nothing you can do about it, but make the best of it.
It happened to my family in 07'. MY DS started throwing up and had a nasty fever on our second day. It sucked, but my hubby stayed with him in the hotel, while I took my DD out for the day. By end of the day he was better, and the next day we were back on track. So though it was not part of our plan, we had no choice but make it work!

Here's hoping to a healthy trips for everyone!

 

[momandkids]

Just an FYI. I have been dealing with this stomach virus at my work for 3 months and with the Department of Health. (I am in healthcare). This virus is actually spread from infected stool and the stool can be infected for up to 3 weeks after the person is symptom free. Just a small amount of stool has enough virus in it to infect tons of people so this is a nasty virus. Some people are not developing immunity to it either. The reason i am sending this is to just inform those who are sick, to really wash your hands well after using the bathroom even up to 3 weeks after symptom free (well, you should always anyway) So far I have been ok and trust me i have been exposed to it for 3 months! I pray my family and i do not get it at DW. That would be such a bummer. Good luck everyone. Maybe they should make T-shirts that say "I visited WDW and didn't get the bug"

 

[Goobergirl]

I have a friend who just got back from Florida, but did not visit WDW....can you imagine! Anyways, her kids caught it too.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Shoot, one of us gets sick every year! Last year it was me!

 

[donnajean17]

I have a friend who just got back from Florida, but did not visit WDW....can you imagine! Anyways, her kids caught it too.

Who goes to FL without visiting WDW!!!! UN-American!!!! LOL!!!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

we got here friday night. by lunch on saturday, DH was sick. he got better by sunday afternoon. monday night (last night) DD woke up vomiting. She has been in bed ALL day. DS has diarrhea since Sunday around lunch time. We are not a family that typically gets sick. We are nixing anymore buffets from our plans. hopefully dd will be up and moving tomorrow.
not that it matters...the crowds are out of control anyway!