Be aware if traveling to WDW within the next few days

[homeschoolmomof4]

I took a look at the clorox wipes my DW purchased (in Canada) and they do have bleach in them.


If you take a look at the kill report on the container they will list what common stuff they will destroy..if some viruses are listed then it is a good guess it will be effective against a lot of them - not all - but most of the ones that make us sick - like Norwalk..

There is a lot of confusion about the correct concentration of sodium hypochlorite ( JAVEX/ Javel/ Clorox) to use..most folks think the stonger the better and in reality anything between a 1/10 and 90 % will kill ..the 1/10 just takes a bit longer - but smells a lot less horrible...remember the high concentrations of this chemical will affect respiratory patients - sometimes to the point of hospitization..Full strength is extremely hard on the skin and lungs.

As for alcohol - 70% is the strenght to use that will pass through the membranes ( cellular/ viral) wall and kill internal DNA structures...lower is no good and higher will not work at all...

And as I mentioned in a previous post the smell of Javex in our room near then end of our stay at AL was so strong that we opened the balcony doors for a hour or so before we went to bed to clear the smell... and we put the fan on as well...

I was looking at the 70% issue as well. Are there any OTC hand gels that have a 70% concentration or should/could we order the medical grade off of an online medical site? The highest strength I could find OTC was 65% Purell.

 

[Tiger926]

I was looking at the 70% issue as well. Are there any OTC hand gels that have a 70% concentration or should/could we order the medical grade off of an online medical site? The highest strength I could find OTC was 65% Purell.

I live in Canada, and I think our Health Canada rules are nothing over 60% for consumers? I think Medical grade for gels and lotion content kicks in at 65% and over, but again, you have to watch out for majorly harmful chemicals like Triclosan. Triclosan is a cancer causing agent that is found in lots of medical grade gels. If you are justs looking for alcohol-based derivatives, our entire medical community uses a line by Laura that is Canadian made and has mostly fragrance free, some with Triclosan and some without, plus alcohol based products. I'll look it up and see if I can find any links for it - not sure if it's U.S. or Canadian.

Perhaps some of the medical experts on here can chime in with U.S. product info.

Happy health, Tiger

 

[Soarin08]

I live in Canada, and I think our Health Canada rules are nothing over 60% for consumers. Medical grade content kicks in at 65% and over, but again, you have to watch out for majorly harmful chemicals like Triclosan. Triclosan is a cancer causing agent that is found in lots of medical grade gels. If you are justs looking for alcohol-based derivatives, our entire medical community uses a line by Laura. I'll look it up and see if I can find any links for it - not sure if it's U.S. or Canadian.

Perhaps some of the medical experts on here can chime in with U.S. product info.

Happy health, Tiger

I just bought the Lysol foaming hand cleaner and it says it's 65% alcohol.... so I hope that'll be strong enough! Plus I actually have some medical-grade hand gel (my dad works at a hospital and brought me some). With that, the Lysol spray, and the Clorox wipes, I'm hoping we'll be ok. My fingers are crossed....

 

[drcandon]

70% alcohol is available in liquid form in everydrug store - Walmart etc etc...Also called rubbing alcohol - but same thing...

As far as use goes ... a long as the wipe is soaking wet with the alcohol then the germicical and virucidal (to a point) properties are intact. You can use that instead of the fancy Lysol brands etc etc that soak you for money..

70% alocohol is cheap, evaporates quickly , leaves relatively no reside..is mostly harmless to electronics - stings like a rabid bee though so make sure you don' have any cuts..

If you want proof of working ability think of when you have to give blood - that stuff they rub on ya is nothing fancy - just alcohol...

I know for some travellers you can't take more then 300 ml on a plane - so just drop into the local Mickey store (AKL had it in stock) or Walymart on your way to Disney and pick up a bottle - good to go - and cheap..


So forget the expensive gels - grab a bottle and a cotton fluff and disinfect yourself crazy...just don't drink it it is Methyl not Ethyl...

 

[Tiger926]

RE: GERM GUARDIAN

I just called Germ Guardian and they are closed until Monday. I will call back to Customer Service Rep and she is going to speak to the engineer directly to see what viruses it kills as she is not sure. I've been trying to research what UV-C kills, and I can't seem to find Norovirus listed specifically. I'll post and update next week as soon as I find out the info!

These products look very cool, and less bothersome than using alcohol. We use alcohol to disinfect phones, remotes, lightswitches, etc. and so drcandon is right! It's cheap and does good!

 

[Tiger926]

I just found a very interesting tidbit of info while researching what kills Norovirus (alcohol will not kill it, so hand sanitizers are useless for it). I did discover on a blog that Wet Ones wipes have a chemical ingredient called Benzethonium chloride and it kills the norovirus! I just checked my many Wet Ones containers in our bathroom, and sure enough that is the active ingredient.

Here is the link to the blog, as well as the link discussing how BC works: http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/

I went on Wet Ones website and it's horrible, so no info there.

Hope this helps, Tiger

 

[lovndisney12]

Just back and my husband did get it. I realize most are taking steps to avoid getting it but in case you do, here would be my tips. (My DH was out for about a day and a half - profuse vomiting for the first 8 hours)

Start with ice chips. Just a single sip of water sent him running to the bathroom. You can get them from the ice machine in the hotel or the food court.

Once you can tolerate ice chips start drinking powerade (or gatorade).

Then get saltines from the foodcourt - they did not charge us for them. From there graduate to plain bagels - we bought a bag in the resort store for about $4.

I also called housekeeping and had them disinfect the bathroom and change all the bedding. We also got a rollaway as I did not want to share the bed with my DH!

Lastly, don't let it ruin your trip. My DH stayed in the room while I took our DS 7 and 10 to the park and then downtown Disney. Keeping them out of the room I'm sure helped keep them from getting it. It also was a lot more fun.

Nobody else got it - so far.....

 

[Emma1]

Iám so glad I found these posts! I thought I was sick from the water. My stomach was upset the whole time we were there and so was my daughter's. I guess it was not the water.

 

[rileyz]

We were there 11/27 through 12/7 and I got it, my 4 year old got it, my husband and then my dad. It was horrible. After the actual "sick" part you feel like you got hit by a truck. And a special thanks to the staff at "Rose and Crown" who made me stand around for 15 minutes after my daughter puked on the table so they could figure out the check for the food we never ate. Oh well, we had a great time otherwise and I am grateful we were there 10 days so it was not a total loss.

 

[leo711]

We were at WDW from 12/5 until 12/14. On 12/10 my husband came down with the exact same illness. On 12/11 when had to switch resorts (a split stay). This was great fun considering he was in the initial part of this virus. After three discussions with hotel management disney was able to coordinate a resort change so we could check out of POFQ ans Into AKL without having a 4 hour window of no room. Basically I told management that if they did not want my husband vomiting in their lobby they needed to coordinate something. They begrudgingly cooperated. It has been my experience that if your ask anything extra of Disney resorts it is like pulling teeth to get it. So much for that Disney Magic. The Disney magic my family has experienced is what we make ourselves on the trip. The Disney resort employees that I have experiences have never been full of customer service.

 

[Echo queen]

We have been here since Sunday staying at CR. We are not sick nor have we seen sick guests. We are washing and hand sanitizing almost every hour When ever we are standing in line and after bathroom breaks when hands are clean sanitize again. I am using a produst called The Invisible Armour (Walmart) antibacterial it claims 4 hr protection Everyone as Purell sanitizer in there pocket (me dh and 2 ds's 10 and 13 years) We will be here until Jan 2, so no time to get sick. Good luck everyone and Merry Christmas

 

[DISNEYSIX]

Don't you think this Norwalk Virus epidemic thing is taking the "I'm going to Disney World" ad campaign just a tad bit too far? Sorry, but I am just trying to lighten the mood. Seriously, though, and forgive me if this has been addressed, but has Universal and the other surrounding parks experienced this outbreak yet? After all, many WDW visitors explore the other parks as well. Now let me go "knock on wood" so that we don't get this virus when we go to WDW next September.

 

[MrToady]

I found out what hell would be like. I had the stomach flu this week at WDW and while I was at my worst we had the candlelight processional dinner package at Le Celier, so i sat with my family while they ate steak, but i could eat nothing and I missed the performance, which they attended. We also had to cancel our Victoria and Alberts dinner the following night because my appetite was nowhere to be found. I feel like I need a do-over.

 

[Tiger926]

Just back and my husband did get it. I realize most are taking steps to avoid getting it but in case you do, here would be my tips. (My DH was out for about a day and a half - profuse vomiting for the first 8 hours)

Start with ice chips. Just a single sip of water sent him running to the bathroom. You can get them from the ice machine in the hotel or the food court.

Once you can tolerate ice chips start drinking powerade (or gatorade).

Then get saltines from the foodcourt - they did not charge us for them. From there graduate to plain bagels - we bought a bag in the resort store for about $4.

I also called housekeeping and had them disinfect the bathroom and change all the bedding. We also got a rollaway as I did not want to share the bed with my DH!

Lastly, don't let it ruin your trip. My DH stayed in the room while I took our DS 7 and 10 to the park and then downtown Disney. Keeping them out of the room I'm sure helped keep them from getting it. It also was a lot more fun.

Nobody else got it - so far.....

As mentioned in one of our other virus threads, ice from the ice machines is not a good idea. The Norovirus can live in freezing temps, not to mention that ice machines are dirty, water more than likely isn't filtered to make the ice, and worst of all, hotel ice buckets are nasty!!!

Happy health to all, Tiger

 

[ols386]

As mentioned in one of our other virus threads, ice from the ice machines is not a good idea. The Norovirus can live in freezing temps, not to mention that ice machines are dirty, water more than likely isn't filtered to make the ice, and worst of all, hotel ice buckets are nasty!!!

Happy health to all, Tiger

That's a good point about the ice machines. I wouldn't have thought about that.

 

[pixie921]

We have been here since Sunday staying at CR. We are not sick nor have we seen sick guests. We are washing and hand sanitizing almost every hour When ever we are standing in line and after bathroom breaks when hands are clean sanitize again.

Us, too ... we've been at the CR since Sunday and also no problems. Also no sign of anyone around us anywhere being sick, thank goodness!

I did notice last night on the Disney resort info channel they had a screen with "December Travel Trip" and a cartoon of Timon and Pumbaa saying "Be sure you're well enough to ride!" Wonder if that's new for this year or up every year?

 

[Belle5]

As mentioned in one of our other virus threads, ice from the ice machines is not a good idea. The Norovirus can live in freezing temps, not to mention that ice machines are dirty, water more than likely isn't filtered to make the ice, and worst of all, hotel ice buckets are nasty!!!

Happy health to all, Tiger

When we were at the ice machines at our resort a few months ago, we determined to never use hotel ice from ice machines again. We saw children playing in the ice and coughing into it.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

The Wet Ones post was very interesting. When all of these other products do not work against this nasty virus - here is something that can be found in most stores that will work? I live in an area that has no big box store, no WalMart, no Target etc. just a little grocery store and a Walgreens but I know I can get this product here and I think they can be put into my carryon too. What a bonus! If these really do work against this virus I'm going to go out next week and pick up a box for my upcoming trip in a two weeks. Thank you so much for posting that information. It's very much appreciated. Of course it will not replace hand washing but it will be used in between and it could be used to wipe down surfaces as well if one itsn't able to carry along bleach or alcohol.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I found out what hell would be like. I had the stomach flu this week at WDW and while I was at my worst we had the candlelight processional dinner package at Le Celier, so i sat with my family while they ate steak, but i could eat nothing and I missed the performance, which they attended. We also had to cancel our Victoria and Alberts dinner the following night because my appetite was nowhere to be found. I feel like I need a do-over.

If you go to the ER as soon as the vomiting and diarrhea stops, get them to pump you full of at least 2 bags of IV fluids and get Zofram intravenously, you'll feel MUCH better than trying to recover from this on your own.

Having had this in Disney both ways (the IV way and the "I'll feel better eventually way), if it ever happens to me again I'll be trotting over to the ER as soon as I stop trotting to the toilet LOL.

Get a prescription for the Zofram-you'll be able to eat and get your strength back up again much, much quicker, and I didn't feel like my vaction was ruined this time .

I just have some less than fond memories of lying on the VWL bathroom floor crying because I was too tired to get up and I knew I would be back in the bathroom in 20 minutes again anyway. Not a comfy night . Just very glad it was just one night because of the palliative efforts of the ER peeps...

 

[Mickeycrazie]

I had it when I was there 12/2/08 at Saratoga Springs. I have been sick before but never this sick. Both ends either on the hour or 1/2 hour. All night long. I'm sure I was dehydrated. Called whatever doctor number they gave me, but that man had no bedside manner at all. Ended up just staying in the bed. I was much better in 24 hours. Thank goodness. My aunt and her grandaughter that stayed at the beach club had a milder form of it. My aunt had the bottom end and the grandaughter had the top end. Hope everyone feels better and this thing gets under control soon.