Bed Bugs at Vero Beach

[Sheribo]

Here's the update!

Originally posted by tnmomof4 "I told you all that we had bed bugs at Disney's Vero Beach.... well this is how that all ended.

Since we were leaving Vero Beach and going straight to POR, the manager at Vero Beach told me a manager from POR would be waiting for me when I arrived. She told me not to take anything out of our car, but to just go in and check in.

So as soon as I checked in the CM checking me in told me that the manager was coming out. She did along with another CM. They took the kids and I into the back and into a little meeting room.

She said she was aware of the bed bugs. She went on about how sorry they all were and how she knew it wasn't our fault. She told me that bed bugs are hard to get rid of once a room has them. She said that the room we stayed in at Vero Beach was going to be totally redone. They rip up the carpet, throw away the furniture, get new curtains, etc... She said they use some kind of pesticide that kills bed bugs, and that the room wouldn't even be used for about 4-5 months.

She said that we couldn't take anything out of our car. She said they were going to take it and our luggage. She said they were going to clean our car with some kind of pesticide and then throw all our luggage away. She said they were going to be taking all our clothes. She said all our clothes had to be washed in very hot water and dried on high heat to kill any bugs or eggs. She said that things that couldn't be washed would have to be thrown away.

I have to say that at this point I was kind of in shock. We had never stayed at POR, and we weren't even planning on going to any parks. I just wanted to relax by the pool, and just have fun at the resort.

She also said that the clothes we had on could have bed bugs in them. She said that bed bugs like to burrow, and they can get inside things. Like inside a matteress or inside the seam or hem of clothing. So she told me to go into the gift shop and get all of us clothes for the next two days. She told me to get new underware and pajamas too. She told me we would be taken to a room where we could change and give them the clothes we were wearing.

Now it was about 5:00 p.m. and the kids hadn't eaten anything all day, not even breakfast. So the twins were starting to get fussy because they were hungry. My older boys were not thrilled about shopping. So as much fun as it sounds to go shopping for whatever we needed, it was very stressful.

I will also say that this manager at POR was great. There was also a manager of guest realations that was really great. They saw the kids were crying, and hungry, and that it was stressful. They gave us complimentary tickets to the parks. So that made my older boys so happy and excited.

So after we shopped and changed it was now about 7:00 p.m. Now the twins were really, really fussy. We still hadn't eaten anything. So the managers got us a ADR for Chef Mickey's. My boys were thrilled about this. This is one of their favorites. The only bad thing was it was for 9:00 p.m.

So after we were all changed and ready, they had a special van come and get us and take us to MK, but by the time we got there I didn't think we would have time to do anything. So we just rode the monorail over to the CR. I got the kids a small snack, but it just didn't do since it was now 8:00 p.m. and they hadn't ate anything since the night before.

We finally got our table. Since the twins were crying they got us in early. We just ate and ate. The food was really good. The characters were great too. The twins loved seeing the characters. They are a year older now and it made a difference in how they reacted to the characters. They just kept hugging and hugging the characters.

When we were done we decided to go to Epcot for extra magic hours. We only had about a hour and a half, but we did Nemo, Figment, Honey I shrunk the Audience, and Spaceship Earth. We tried to do Soarin, but one of the twins was just a little too short. You could fit a piece of paper between his head and the top of the stick. I am sure we could have done more, but I had no idea where anything was since we have never gone to Epcot. It was dark and kind of raining too, but we had a great time. We were just happy to be at Disney. We all loved the rides we did. The twins loved the Nemo ride.

We were all tired, but had a good time. We didn't have to wait for a bus because one was already there, but my older boys and I stood. A man gave me his seat, but I had the twins sit together in it.

So we got to the room, and they had a huge gift bag, and balloons, and cards for each of the boys from Mickey waiting for us. The kids were so excited. They looked at all the gifts, and I tried to get them calmed down. We took quick baths and put on our new pajamas. They did have all our toiletries from our suitcases waiting in the room in plastic bags. We went to sleep watching Stacy and the top 7.

So it was a very busy and stressful day, but the evening was great. We got to eat at our favorite restaurant and go to Epcot. The managers at POR were so helpful and kind."

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just read in my newspaper yesterday about the bed bug epidemic, especially in college dorms. At Texas A&M, they have a plan to heat up the rooms to 130 degrees to kill the bugs in the rooms and that doesn't damage the students belongings.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Here's the update!

WOW! Bolsters my faith.

 

[keys2kingdom]

Sounds like Disney did the absolute best they could to remedy this awful situation. Great followup by the managers at POR too. Glad to see this was handled well and everything ended up as well as could be expected.

Now I wonder how I'll fare at Vero next month.........

 

[tnmomof4]

My apologies to the OP of this thread but to the OP of the original thread my question still stands! I can't understand why anyone woud tolerate bugs in their beds.

I am not the original poster, but I am tnmomof4, the one who had the bed bugs.

I guess the reason I tolerated bugs in the one bed is because I didn't know they were bed bugs. I know it is hard to believe that anyone would tolerate any kind of bugs in their room, but I just didn't think it was that big of a deal. I thought it was okay to just not let anyone sleep in that bed.

I was traveling by myself with my four DSs. They are ages 12, 10 and 5 year old twins. We had 10 suitcases, two coolers, ten bags of groceries, a case of juice boxes, water, a bag of beach toys, 4 boogie boards, and a couple other bags. We checked in at 9:00 p.m. My boys and I carried all that stuff up to our room and then rushed to make it to Shutters for dinner by 10:00 p.m. I honestly didn't see the bugs that first night because we were all exhausted.

The next day sometime is when I saw the first ones. I was making the one bed, and I saw 4 of them. I honestly didn't know they were bed bugs. I just got tissue paper and flushed them. I didn't even think to call the front desk. I know that is hard to believe. I now question myself as to why I didn't tell someone, but I just didn't. I guess one reason is because it never even crossed my mind that these were bed bugs because of descriptions I have read on these boards about them being so small like like a pin head.

We also didn't have housekeeping come in our room during our whole stay. If we did, I probably would have told them. I also didn't because I just thought it was some other kind of bug. I know.... still a bug though. This was also the same week that Tropical Storm Fay hit, and it was kind of chaotic around the resort. We couldn't swim or go down to the beach. One day we went to the main building and then they wouldn't let anyone leave because the wind was so intense. Some whole buildings were without power for a couple days.

Then that same day, I was in the lobby and heard another guest go up to the front desk and ask if there were any rooms available because they didn't want to leave because of the storm, and I heard them say there was no availability. So in the back of my mind, I just didn't think we could even be moved out of the room.

So I just caught the bugs whenever I saw and flushed them. I didn't let my kids sleep in that bed. Although the second morning I did find by twins both in that bed. I just moved them back in bed with me. We were at VB for 5 days.

I guess since I was by myself with four kids and also since I didn't know these bugs were bed bugs, and I didn't think we could be moved, I just tolerated it. You can think I was stupid, and you are right. I feel very dumb. I didn't think my kids were in any danger from the bugs. Also my step-dad was an exterminator for many, many years, and I guess I am kind of immune to bugs.

I have learned a lot about bed bugs. A whole, whole lot!!! I will not be making this same mistake again. The mistake being that I didn't say anything right away.

Disney has been absolutely fantastic about the whole thing. The manager at VB has called me to check up on us and see if we are ok. I have no complaints about how any of it was handled. When we got to POR and was old that yes they were positively bed bugs, I did mildly freak out. I felt terrible with myself that I was so dumb to not say anything right away. Like I said... I learned my lesson. My kids were a little upset. The managers at POR were wonderful with us. The whole thing was an awful situation, but every manager and CM that worked with us was great.

If I ever see any kind of bug from now on, I will be speaking up and letting someone know. We are returing to Disney in November, and I will be checking the room just for my own peace of mind.

 

[jakenjess]

Thank you, tnmomof4, for sharing your story. I'm so happy to hear that you were pleased with the way Disney handled the situation, and wish you a magical trip in November!

 

[Sheribo]

Thanks tnmomof4 for the update. I know I'll be a little wiser in the future. We're heading to BCV in November and will definitely be looking!

 

[krishouse]

Wow, thankfully Disney came through, I have to admit that the year before last we I had been in the World with my family staying at the Beach Club and met up with a good friend who was staying at Pop Century with her sister and a couple of friends.
They unfortunately had an incident with bedbugs and were moved from their room in the middle of the night to SSR. All of their luggage was taken as well, they were then sent to the gift shop and were told they would be reimbursed for new clothing while it was being washed, but without going into further detail nothing was compensated and the Front Desk Manager at the Pop was really unhelpful, even after numerous emails after arriving home nothing was done.
Unfortunately it has ruined this group's opinion of Disney and to be honest I was really shocked that nothing was resolved. I never speak ill of Disney because it is my favourite place but I felt quite bad for these girls. Perhaps they did not speak to the right people--long story short I check always now wherever I stay whether it be a Disney or otherwise!

 

[poohfriend9]

Just got back from Vero and we had no bed bugs, thank God!

Also, we go to Disney World hotels 2-3 a time a year and as of right now have never encountered any bed bugs. So, hopefully the cases that I am reading about on this board are rare happenings.