....................

[Disney Princess 6]

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[Pop Daddy]

Go, its never going to happen again

 

[Bojangles]

how are there less germs in summer?

In any case, you have almost a year to decide what to do.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No more nor fewer germs in winter or summer. Go, enjoy.

 

[Disney Princess 6]

...................

 

[birdiesunshine]

Hmmm that's a tough one. Here's what I would do, if they got the same illness both times, go to their Dr. and see if there is anything preventative you can give to them before or during your trip. I know that whenever I go away I can count on getting a sinus infection, so before our last trip I went to the Dr. and he prescribed and antibiotic for me as I already felt one coming on about 3 days before we left. I was fine on our trip. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
No more nor fewer germs in winter or summer. Go, enjoy.

This is true. People do not catch viruses more in either season. I actually get sick more in the summer. The humidity just bugs me and maybe that weakens my immune system. I'm pretty sure it is just an old myth that people get sick more in the winter.

I think if the only reason you are considering cancelling is because of this, you should not cancel.

I understand , you are worried about your children, and rightly so. But you can't guarantee that they won't get sick anywhere you go.

In fact, my gut instinct tells me that the beach is the WORST place to avoid germs. Multiple people in the water, trash and who knows what else in the sand, bugs in the sand, etc. The beach is far more dangerous than WDW all around.

I think that you should sit down with your doctor and your childrens doctor and come up with some ways to prevent them getting sick as best as you can. Myabe they need to be taught to really scrub (like extra hard) their hands and faces with special germ killing soap many times on vacation not just after bathroom and before eating but all the time. Maybe skip going in pools where they might pick something up. If you are in line behind a child (or adult) who is visibly ill...get out of the line etc. I'm sure you do these things now, but maybe just taking even extra cautions.

You can't prevent catching germs all the time; but you can cut down on the chances.

 

[kilee]

The beach (ocean and lake) water is loaded w/ bacteria. So it's filled to the brim w/ germs. There is no "in season" for illness. I work in a internal medicine office. I can tell you we are seeing 3-5 patients a day right now w/ chest and head colds. This is pretty much the same we see through all of spring and fall too. Believe it or not-- we actually see a hair less throughout the extreme cold.

If you are flying this could definetly be a contributing factor to the ease in which illness is caught. Also, be diligent about handwashing all the time-- even w/ young ones. It will help prevent illness too. The other thing about vacation illness--- especially at WDW---- we tend to really run ourselves down (rather than relax) and it makes it easier for us to get sick.

I am paranoid about germs (I won't fly in mid-Nov-Jan due to the peak of the influenza virus-- however I'll still drive on vacation). I though, wouldn't cancel based on the last few trips.

I hope you go-- and have a great time!

 

[phillybeth]

I was the type of kid that always got sick on vacation. Strep throat, chicken pox, ruptured eardrum, colds, flu, you name it. I cannot tell you how many emergency rooms I have visited (even the old Orange Co Hospital one in Fl in 1980- that time was strep). Sprained my ankle one year in Disney, had appendicitis at the shore. Never stopped my parents. Kids get sick at home, at school, everywhere. Kids just get sick, it happens. Plan your trip and try not to worry!

 

[Tiggeroo]

Put your kids on preventative asthma meds before you leave. Like them I get asthma when I get an upper respiratory thing or an allergy attack. But even if I feel fine, sometimes when the people around me start to get sick I go on the offensive with preventative asthma meds. I will also take something like Alegra D even though I feel fine. They could sick just as easy at home in the winter.

 

[cati]

I dont have any advice for you - it is hard when you have little ones that have asthma. I will just pray that God will help you with your decision and it will be the right one for you and your family.

 

[mickeyboat]

I can understand your concern. I am not sure your concern should be with the time of year you travel. But when you are around so many people with so many things to touch (doors in the hotel, handles on rides, etc), there are many germs/viruses about. These germs are probably less likely at the beach where depending on your accomodations, you are much less likely to have contact with sick people.

How will you be traveling to WDW? I find that airplanes are huge sources of germs/viruses.

I think the best prevention would be to be meticulous about hand-washing. When we were on our cruise my kids were furious that I made them wash their hands so much, but they both came home virus-free.

I think you should go, but take precautions. Hand-washing is a must. Take along the anti-bacterial hand wash for times when you aren't near a bathroom. Make sure your kids don't touch their faces as much as you can. Have your doctor prescribe anti-asthma medications and take along some anti-biotics just in case.

Good luck to you.

Denae

 

[Christine]

I don't know what I would do if I were you. I know everyone keeps saying that you can get sick ANY time of year. That is correct. But I've also walked in your shoes, so to speak and find that Jan-Apr was filled with constant illnesses for my kids. They are now 12 and 9, but my 9-year old (he has asthma), well it is just the pits. Any little cold will just get him down, despite being on all the preventive medications. And at age 3 and 5, it was CONSTANT. I, too, would be thinking twice about going on a trip in March. The stress was just too much for me back then.

I will say though that we did also have a beach trip in August a few years back. DS was about 5 at the time and he had a *cold*. Well, the cold turned into some miserable thing and he was miserable and sick. By the end of the week he had a fever. Everytime he went in the ocean he had snot draining out his nose and the other kids were making fun of him. Turns out he got a horrible sinus infection. The only saving grace for me is that the beach is only 3 hours from my house, I'm familiar with the urgent care clinics there and if I need to get home quickly, it is no big deal. Not so with Disney. It's really hard to spend all that money and have to deal with dragging a sick, asthmatic kid around.

 

[Disney Princess 6]

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[EsmeraldaX]

On their last two trips, both of my Dnieces have gotten very sick and had asthma attacks. DN12 has it really bad. And, on the last trip, DN4 got pneumonia. I know it's scary. But DNs mom has said many times that the hospital that the girls have gone to is great and that she actually likes it better than the ones up here.

 

[floridafam]

I understand how you feel. Our DS has asthma and he is always worse in the winter months. I also would feel funny not being so close to the hospital where his Dr. is.

Funny thing though, our DS's symptoms usually improve greatly when we are in Florida. His Dr. thinks it is because the triggers that set off his asthma are different in Florida.

Just do what is best for your family. Can you travel with a nebulizer?

To be honest, I wouldn't go if you know you are going to have trouble.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Kallison]

My son gets asthma from viruses also, but we usually just nebulize then he is ok. Your children's sounds like it goes downhill fast. I don't think I would let a possible illness make me cancel a trip that far in advance. It's a tough call. Especially with ILs who don't seem to be too understanding.

 

[Talking Hands]

Hopefully your kids won't get sick again but Orlando does have an excellent children's hospital (Arnold Palmer) if it does happen. I wouldn't let asthma keep you from going. Ask your children's doctor for a recommendation for a doctor connected with the hospital just in case. Also work with your doctor on strategy's for keeping them well on vacations.

 

[letfuller]

I agree with TalkingHands, get a recommendation from your physician for someone in the Orlando area. I don't have kids that suffer from asthma, I can only relate to high fevers and trips to emergency rooms with sick kids.

It sounds as if you are a very concerned mother who wants to protect her children. As my parents are older, if we, DH and DDs, had opportunity to spend time with them in WDW or some other vacation destination, we would go...with or without the threat of my girls becoming sick. I would make sure the memories with grandparents are dominant rather than illness. Of course, it is always easier to take care of sick children at home.

Is your husband helpful when you are on vacation? Perhaps he could step it up a notch and be more attentive?

Good luck on your decision...It isn't an easy one to solve, and all of our opinions are our opinions. No one knows you and your kids better than you!!!

Hope you get to take the trip.


~Linda

 

[tjmw2727]

I understand your concern but if you decide to cancel this trip how long will you consider not traveling "just in case"? I don't take your situation lightly and I do have personal experience with asthma (me and my 2dd's). That said I am the "hand washing task master" around here but we use traditional soap I personally avoid the antibacterial stuff - I want the kids to develop natural immunities.

If I were going to keep my kids from germs I would have to homeschool because, imho there are more germs in a square inch at school than anywhere in the world, LOL. I remind them to wash well and avoid touching the eyes and nose if they can help it.

My younger dd used to get sick on trips but I found that the differences in foods and even the taste of the water sometimes kept her from eating well - my mistake #1. The other is the change in schedule that affects all our sleep - my mistake #2.

Now we make sure to keep on a more regular schedule, eat more meals that are familiar, eat more fruits and vegies in addition to the mickey bars and make sure we all drink lots of water.

I also take the girls for a quick check with the ped before a trip. You may also find as they get older they notice sooner when they are feeling poor and you can nip it in the bud. Make sure you get all the information you need as to medical options at your destination and a few prescriptions from your dr just in case.

Personally I would not deprive my kids all the opportunities of childhood, including vacations if you can afford them, just because they may be more likely to become sick.

If your decision is different I still applaud you - your situation is unique and only you can make the best decision for your family.

TJ