Bed bugs at BWV

[firstwdw]

Just FYI. I saw your post and immediately went to buy some from amazon. But after reading the various reviews from people who KNEW they had bed bugs and saw the bugs walking by the traps, I think I'll save my $. Just thought I'd pass along the info. I'm totally paranoid!

J

I did the same thing but the reviews were horrible. I wonder if spraying the deterrent on the luggage would help. I WISH there was something to do to lessen the chances

 

[disneydee6]

It's a new product that HD just started carrying (again, call your local HD to verify that they carry it in-store). It would be in the garden section of your local store, with all the other insecticides. I think the person who invented them was on that show shark tank?? It has lures in it that attract them into the trap. I just read on amazon too the reviews, and HD reviews. They have varied reviews. Some say they are useless, others say "Worked great!" I have yet to have a customer tell me personally whether it worked or not.

If you'd rather get a product that you KNOW works, buy a spray bottle of bed-bug killer (also at HD) and spray the sh** out of your bags before you bring them in your home.

 

[disneydee6]

BTW don't be surprised when you look up bed-bug treatments at the HD website and see you can purchase live ladybugs!!

 

[TwistGrl101]

I read on these boards a while back that as soon as you get your room key, you should enter the DARK room with a maxi pad and take the sticky side and press it under the mattress, pillows, etc. See if anything sticks. Apparently, once you turn the lights on, the bugs will hide and you most likely won't find anything...so pack a pad in your carry-on!!!

 

[Annieru027]

I saw the buggybeds traps online and considered buying them. I was under the impression that they weren't to trap the bugs to eliminate them, as much as they were to capture a few so you knew you had a potential infestation and to call an exterminator.

In all my research, and I've done a lot as I've mentioned, the best thing you can do is inspect the room upon check in and if you see any issues, alert management and request another room. If you are unlucky enough to actually have stayed in the room, Disney has precautions in place to prevent the bugs from further infesting the hotel and your home. Once you get home, do not bring you luggage in the house. All clothing goes directly from the suitcase to the washer and everything is laundered on the highest heat setting. I even called an exterminator to make sure there wasn't anything else we should be doing to prevent them and he suggested vacuuming out our car, since we had it with us.

Do your research beforehand and your due diligence when you arrive and you should be able to have a magical trip, even if it requires a move to a new room should you find something right away.

 

[firstwdw]

If you google herbs to repel or deter bedbugs a whole bunch of stuff comes up including making sachet's out of muslin and certain herbs to place in your suitcases.....I will check the room-more concerned about the plane etc

 

[nhmommy]

I did the same thing but the reviews were horrible. I wonder if spraying the deterrent on the luggage would help. I WISH there was something to do to lessen the chances

The best thing you can do is leave your luggage in a very hot location for several hours works great if you are coning home to a hot climate to leave them in the car. The best way to eradicate bed-bugs in a home it to super heat the home for several hours. Also you can put all your things into the dryer as soon as you get home. Be careful about electronics they are a very, if not the most common way bed-bugs are carried place to place.

 

[gdrj]

Headed to BWV in a couple of weeks, of course as I type I feel itchy now!

One thing that gives me comfort is that if there is a hotel or resort that will have the best procedures to handle, reduce and eliminate problem I beleive it will be Disney.

Definitely serves as a reminder to check before unpacking.

 

[Three cats]

Quote:



What's stopping the bedbugs from hopping into your overhead carry-ons on the airplane?

Absolutely nothing. They can also be picked up in the luggage cargo area on the plane, a rental car....etc. Yuck!


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[fla4fun]

Headed to BWV in a couple of weeks, of course as I type I feel itchy now!

One thing that gives me comfort is that if there is a hotel or resort that will have the best procedures to handle, reduce and eliminate problem I beleive it will be Disney.

Definitely serves as a reminder to check before unpacking.

I was at BWV the same time as the OP and didn't have any issues, if that helps with the "itchy" feeling. I'm sure Disney stays on top of these things and once they are aware of a problem, they take care of it ASAP. Any hotel worth staying in would do that.

Just give the room that once over before you start unpacking and you should be OK.

 

[lucyem]

In all my research, and I've done a lot as I've mentioned, the best thing you can do is inspect the room upon check in and if you see any issues, alert management and request another room. If you are unlucky enough to actually have stayed in the room, Disney has precautions in place to prevent the bugs from further infesting the hotel and your home. Once you get home, do not bring you luggage in the house. All clothing goes directly from the suitcase to the washer and everything is laundered on the highest heat setting. I even called an exterminator to make sure there wasn't anything else we should be doing to prevent them and he suggested vacuuming out our car, since we had it with us.

Do your research beforehand and your due diligence when you arrive and you should be able to have a magical trip, even if it requires a move to a new room should you find something right away.

I keep a flashlight in my handbag when I travel for my bedbug inspecting. First thing I do is put luggage in the bathroom and start inspecting mattresses etc.

 

[gingerfeathers]

I found some bedbugs at a hotel on a business trip once, and since then I've been paranoid like no one's business (seriously, on that trip I wouldn't even sleep under the covers on the bed, even though my new room checked out just fine).

In addition to checking the bed when you get there, don't forget to check drawers and curtains! Sometimes they hide there as well. Something else I do now: Before every trip, I buy those 2+ gallon Ziploc or Glad plastic bags. Any clothing not hung in the closet gets stored in those. When I need something, I take it out of the bag, and I keep additional bags on-hand for dirty clothes. I also put other items in the bags. It may not help if my suitcase gets one, but at least it helps lessen the chances of picking them up on clothing. Oh, and ALWAYS keep your suitcase on a luggage rack or in the bathroom during your trip. If you're feeling super creeped out, you can also buy those GIANT plastic bags that technically for storage, but a suitcase will fit in them... (yes, I've done this)

When we get home, if it's hot enough I usually let our suitcase sit in the hot car for a day because that will help kill them. If it's super cold when you get home, you can also sit the suitcase in the cold car for 24-48 hours. Then everything goes straight from the suitcase to the washing machine, and on hot. If you're worried about dyes running, buy those Shout Color Catcher things. They work great.

It's really, really gross, but the best way to prevent bedbugs is to just do your homework. There are a lot of resources online to help identify them, know what signs to look for, etc. At the first hotel (and thankfully only hotel) I found the bedbug signs, I called the front desk. Understandably, she was wary and asked if I was SURE that I was looking at a bed bug shell (which was right next to a blood trail). I told her, "If it's not a bed bug shell, then it's a really nasty booger." She moved me with no questions after that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And if you fly (or at some point, your luggage is not in your possession), you might want to check your own luggage before you unpack since they might be coming in on your luggage.

 

[Southern Bell]

Makes taking my camper to Fort Wilderness this trip, even look better! LOL!

 

[mommypenguin29]

Unfortunately I have experience with bed bugs...The most common place is on the matresses...make sure you check out the matresses and under the matress...look for the shells or any dark brown/red markings...bed bugs are not fun and a pain to get rid of if they come home with you...I am very parinoid about checking since we had an issue with them about 2 years ago...bring a small flashlight to see easier. When it is light, most likely they won't be out, but you should be able to tell still if they are around...

 

[Lizziejane]

I'm curious to know how the resort handled it once reported - were you moved to another room? what about your luggage, was it treated in some way to prevent spreading it to another room? or do they fumigate the room while you're still there?

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Thank you OP for the reminder. My not so D ex Husband used to call me "Mr Hughes" when we would check into a room because of my antics checking mattresses and headboards, LOL! Not that I'm a neat freak but things of this nature really freak me out. Although I hate to think of what we subject ourselves to when we travel by airlines...

 

[goofy4tink]

Anyplace, absolutely anyplace, can have bedbugs. If there are people there, there can be bedbugs. And yes, they are in the baggage areas of the plane...even in the overhead bins.
Here's the reason for so many more bedbugs than ever before. We are prohibited from using the chemicals that will easily kill them. Those chemicals have been banned in this country. So, we have to make do with what is allowed. And bug specialists have some stuff they can use, but it isn't nearly as strong as what used to be available!!!
My dd has run into bedbugs twice at camp. The first time was the worst...they were found in the room next to hers. Everyone was told to pack up their stuff and take out a pair of pj's. The counselors took the pj's and and washed them in very hot water and then dried them. The kids were moved out of their rooms and relocated. They were given their pj's for the night. In the morning, their stuff was returned to them, all washed and dried....and this was clothing as well as bedding, pillows, stuffed animals!!!! The wooden bunk beds were burned in a huge bonfire!!! Now, they use only metal beds.

So, when you check into a hotel/resort room, do due diligence and check out the mattress seams before unpacking. Check along the baseboards and behind the headboard (or below it). If you see nothing, you should be okay.

 

[Annieru027]

I'm curious to know how the resort handled it once reported - were you moved to another room? what about your luggage, was it treated in some way to prevent spreading it to another room? or do they fumigate the room while you're still there?

We were moved to a new, inspected room. They brought in a bug sniffing dog to confirm no bugs were in our new room. Apparently Disney employs three of these dogs, which should tell you the magnitude of the issue right there.

All of our fabric items were inventoried and taken to be heat treated and dry cleaned. This included clothing (including the clothes we had on), our bags, stuffed animals, our stroller, etc.

They did explain how they would be treating the room where the bed bugs were found, but to be honest, I was overwhelmed and more concerned with my stuff and getting into a new room than the room we were leaving.

 

[TaraPA]

We were moved to a new, inspected room. They brought in a bug sniffing dog to confirm no bugs were in our new room. Apparently Disney employs three of these dogs, which should tell you the magnitude of the issue right there.

All of our fabric items were inventoried and taken to be heat treated and dry cleaned. This included clothing (including the clothes we had on), our bags, stuffed animals, our stroller, etc.

They did explain how they would be treating the room where the bed bugs were found, but to be honest, I was overwhelmed and more concerned with my stuff and getting into a new room than the room we were leaving.

This is great to hear that they took it so seriously, and took care of treating your belongings for you. I'm sure you were stressed out & what a way to start your trip, but you've got a great attitude about it. I'm leaving for WDW tomorrow & now know exactly what to look for!