BEDBUGS at Disney???

[S0nic01]

Wow should not have let my wife read this shes freaked,and I dont mean dragging it out.Shes really freaked

 

[SassyCat]

Wow should not have let my wife read this shes freaked,and I dont mean dragging it out.Shes really freaked

I feel like your wife! I wish I had not checked this thread because I am now going nuts! EEEK!! I'm OCD with germophobia anyway (real fun) so this is freaking me out even more!

We always look at the sheets before we get in the bed, but I didn't know about checking the mattresses, etc. We will be SURE to do this on our next trip.

 

[DisneyBunny15]

I feel like your wife! I wish I had not checked this thread because I am now going nuts! EEEK!! I'm OCD with germophobia anyway (real fun) so this is freaking me out even more!

We always look at the sheets before we get in the bed, but I didn't know about checking the mattresses, etc. We will be SURE to do this on our next trip.

I feel the same! I read this thread last night before bed and I was tossing and turning all night

 

[3boymthr]

DS#3 brought home lice from school actually the bus since he wasn't the first kid in school but was the first in his grade . I love that the school sends home notices when someone in your class has lice but not when someone on the bus has it. Anyway that was an ever loving nightmare. The only good thing was my house was so clean it squeaked. The thought of bedbugs terrifies me since I've heard they are worse to get rid of. I'll definitely be sending DH and the kids to check out the resort while I freak out and inspect the room and while the luggage will be getting nice and cozy with the tub.

 

[BlueSkies]

I wonder if I should put on my booking special request
"please no bedbugs" instead of "Castle view please"

I bet that will be the first time they have seen that request!!!

 

[praline3001]

I bet that will be the first time they have seen that request!!!

I could see them in RPC now ~

extra h2o products but hold the bugs please

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

We stayed in the CR 3/25-4/1. On one night in the middle of our stay I found a bug between the 2 pillows. I put it in a ziploc and checked the sheets for any other bugs. I honestly thought bed bugs were too small to see and this bug was the size of an apple seed. At that point we had no bites. Two of my 3 kids were sleeping and it was 1 AM. My Mom didn't want to mess with reporting it since she didn't think it was anything. I kept the bug and brought it home just in case. Before I brought any luggage in the house I googled and sure enough, no question it is a bed bug! Of course by that time my 2 sons and myself had started to develop bites. Through my research I have found that bed bugs can indeed be big enough to see. The bites can sometimes take up to 9 days to appear. Don't check sheets like I did, check the mattress seams and headboard.

So far I think we have avoided bringing them into the house. It took the bed bug 18 days to die in the ziploc! In the meantime it laid several eggs. These eggs have now hatched several new bugs! I am watching to see how long they last. I have the ziploc double bagged for safety! LOL!

I emailed WDW and sent a letter through snail mail along with pictures of the bug and the bites. I also faxed a copy to the CR so they could get right on fumigating that room! I haven't received any response yet. I doubt they'll do anything for me since I'm home now. I do wish I had reported it at the time but honestly I thought I had a weird tick that I was not used to seeing in Nebraska. Needless to say I won't be staying in the garden wing rooms at the CR again! The hosuekeeping was terrible there and from reading the boards here it sounds like those staying in the tower rooms during the same time had excellent housekeeping so I think the CR is cutting back on cleaning the cheaper rooms. JMO!
__________________
Shel

Shel, congrats! You've made it to the prestigious "Bed Bug Registry!"

Disneys Contemporary Resort
4600 N World Dr, Lake Buena Vista
Orlando, FL


Found 1 report:

Submitted by "Disneys Contemporary Resort" on 04/08/2009

"Stayed at Disney's Contemporary resort 3/25-4/1/09. We stayed in the Garden Wing room 6128, which is first floor pretty near the beach/pool.


We found a bed bug on a pillow. Now it was about half way through the stay and I went to get in bed and moved a pillow that was stacked on top another. There was the bug on the pillow underneath. It was brown and about the size of an apple seed. I put it in a ziploc and searched for evidence of more bugs. I didn't see anything but didn't know to take the sheets off and inspect the mattress. I've never seen a bed bug and I thought they were much smaller. This looked to me like a tick but different than the ticks in Nebraska. Since I saw no evidence of any other bugs and none of us were itching at the time we didn't complain. When I got home I googled bed bugs and there is no question that is what it is. I still have my ziploc and it's still alive after 13 days and has laid some eggs! Wish I would have complained now. I have all my laundry and luggage in the garage so hopefully we avoided bringing anything home. I have composed a letter to Disney with pictures about the matter so they can at least fumigate that room. I doubt nor do I expect that they'll do anything for me."

I found that site in my many, many google searches after getting home and figured I'd get the information out there.

I agree with everyone that it is not the hotel's fault. I don't blame Disney and my main reason for writing to them was so they can take care of the problem. I do have faith that they will do a better job of that than some other hotel companies would.

Hopefully I will get some type of response from them. If I don't then I would start to worry. Right now I plan to return to Disney and I would even return to the CR if I got a good enough deal on a tower room.

My main reason for posting on this and a couple other threads about the issue is so that people can educate themselves. I WISH I had read this thread before my trip so I knew what to look for and so I knew that bed bugs were visible. If I had been informed I would have gotten that manager in that room at 1 AM and woke my sleeping kids and moved rooms. But I didn't know. Those of you that are freaking out or have a loved one that are freaking out DON"T! You are getting informed and know what to look for when you go to WDW or any other hotel. You can save yourself from any problems by checking your room and handling it accordingly. Consider yourself lucky, don't be scared!

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I wanted to update you all on a response I got from Disney on the bed bug issue.

Today I got a letter from the Disney company that basically stated they were responding to my claim (didn't comment on what the claim was). All it asked was for me to fill out a medical release form that accompanied it and return it. There was a name and phone number to call on weekdays. I am going to call on Monday and talk to them about it. I hope it works out because I am hearing impaired and it's hard for me to talk on the phone. In my letter I asked them to communicate by email but I guessed they missed that.

As for the medical release it has my name on it but the only thing I can think of for why they are asking for it is in my letter I commented that my 4 yr old son saw a Dr a couple days after our stay for his 4 yr well baby check and the Dr asked about the bites all over his arm and confirmed that they looked like bed bug bites. No treatment was needed and the appt wasn't for that specific issue. I'm not sure if Disney is thinking I am asking them to pay for the Dr visit which I am not or if they want confirmation of bites. That visit was scheduled long before the trip so I would never expect them to pay for any of it.

I'll try calling on Monday and see what happens. I'll update!

 

[eeyoresnr]

interesting...thanks for the update...keep us informed

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Hi All!

I have an update on my bed bug situation. Dh talked with the lady from Disney today. She was very, very nice and helpful. The problem in our room was confirmed after we left. I am not sure if the people after us also complained or if they checked the room after I sent a fax to the CR 2 days after we left. Either way they don't doubt me. She explained that there is a special protocol in place for housekeeping to follow to try and minimize bed bugs so that it doesn't spread. She was very sorry to hear about my other problems with housekeeping and she alluded to the fact that this particular housekeeper is no longer working there so they obviously took it seriously. They are taking care of the room and taking all measures to assure it has not spread.

She did stress that we need to destroy, not just throw away, but destroy all our luggage. She said they stress it be destroyed so that the problem doesn't just keep spreading. Sometimes people will pull what looks like a good suitcase from the dump or wherever and then use it therefore spreading the problem. Understandable I guess.

Anyway I was very happy with the way that Disney has handled my issue. I still wish I had the knowledge at the time so I could have dealt with it there. I would not hesitate to go back to a WDW resort or CR for that matter. All of you going in the future can rest assured that the situation is being dealt with!

FYI when staying at ANY hotel no matter what the level first thing you should do is pull back the sheets and look at the mattress seams. Look for brown dots. It is evidence that bed bugs are there. You should also look around headboards and drawers. They are fast and hard to see until they are their full adult size so it is best to look for the evidence. If you see any get your stuff out of that room ASAP!

So I guess that is the end of my saga!

 

[hockeymom3]

Oh great.....between this thread and the snakes thread, I'm really going to sleep well!!!

I know they can happen anywhere, but I have been living in denial. They don't have bed bugs in denial.

 

[praline3001]

Shel~ I hope its the end of your saga.

Seriously there is a really really good chance you spread it to your home. =(
You might not notice it at first if only 1 or 2 critters came home but you will notice it in a month or 2.


Have you callled pest control yet?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi All!

I have an update on my bed bug situation. Dh talked with the lady from Disney today. She was very, very nice and helpful. The problem in our room was confirmed after we left. I am not sure if the people after us also complained or if they checked the room after I sent a fax to the CR 2 days after we left. Either way they don't doubt me. She explained that there is a special protocol in place for housekeeping to follow to try and minimize bed bugs so that it doesn't spread. She was very sorry to hear about my other problems with housekeeping and she alluded to the fact that this particular housekeeper is no longer working there so they obviously took it seriously. They are taking care of the room and taking all measures to assure it has not spread.

She did stress that we need to destroy, not just throw away, but destroy all our luggage. She said they stress it be destroyed so that the problem doesn't just keep spreading. Sometimes people will pull what looks like a good suitcase from the dump or wherever and then use it therefore spreading the problem. Understandable I guess.

Anyway I was very happy with the way that Disney has handled my issue. I still wish I had the knowledge at the time so I could have dealt with it there. I would not hesitate to go back to a WDW resort or CR for that matter. All of you going in the future can rest assured that the situation is being dealt with!

FYI when staying at ANY hotel no matter what the level first thing you should do is pull back the sheets and look at the mattress seams. Look for brown dots. It is evidence that bed bugs are there. You should also look around headboards and drawers. They are fast and hard to see until they are their full adult size so it is best to look for the evidence. If you see any get your stuff out of that room ASAP!

So I guess that is the end of my saga!

Thanks, Shel for adding some "closure" to this thread - ha, ha,!

At a minimum, are the powers that be going to compensate you for having to get rid of your luggage, and possible eradication of them in your home? Did your hubbie find out what the "medical release" was all about? My husband said that the only way to get rid of them w/o chemicals is to heat up the area high enough to kill them off. I wonder what method Disney uses?

I hope this was (finally) resolved to your satisfaction and you can move on with planning your next (bed bug-free) trip!

 

[nwhitehead1214]

Thanks, Shel for adding some "closure" to this thread - ha, ha,!

At a minimum, are the powers that be going to compensate you for having to get rid of your luggage, and possible eradication of them in your home? Did your hubbie find out what the "medical release" was all about? My husband said that the only way to get rid of them w/o chemicals is to heat up the area high enough to kill them off. I wonder what method Disney uses?

I hope this was (finally) resolved to your satisfaction and you can move on with planning your next (bed bug-free) trip!

Oh I do hope that Disney shows you some goodwill by compensating you for your luggage and your yucky incident. I don't expect compensation for everything but when you book a hotel room at WDW there is a reasonable expectation that you have a clean and sanitary hotel room. Anything less and your implied contract is breached. Listen, while I am an attorney , I am a corporate attorney so I represent corporations. I am not a big advocate of "go after the big guy". In this case you really should be compensated. Its the right thing to do. Further, the previous poster who had to pay for a doctor visit. You are being awfully nice by not asking for compensation but that is an expense incurred because your room was not cleaned as you expected when you book WDW. These are things that a reasonable inspection of the rooms (done by WDW) could be prevented. You really should ask for compensation.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

First I never brought the luggage into the house. I left it in the garage and carried the clothes to the laundry to be washed immediately so I am hoping that I didn't carry anything home.

AS for compensation for the Dr visit the visit we had was scheduled long before our trip, it was my ds's 4 yr check-up. It just happened to come up in the visit when Dr saw all the bites on ds's arm. The beginning of April in Nebraska is not a time to see bug bites so it was out of the norm. I told him that we had the bed bug experience and he confirmed that they do look like bed bug bites. Since the appt was not for the bites and no treatment was needed I don't think WDW should have to pay for that.

Disney said to just ignore the medical release, it is sent out as a standard form I guess. As for compensation they will replace the luggage. The claim is on hold while we wait to see if anything else needs to be cleaned or replaced in case we brought them home. There is no deadline to get this done.

As for cleaning Disney lady said they have a heavy duty super hot steam cleaner that they use to kill the bugs. She said the only insecticide that is effective is DDT and that is illegal to use.

 

[WDWKOOK]

First I never brought the luggage into the house. I left it in the garage and carried the clothes to the laundry to be washed immediately so I am hoping that I didn't carry anything home.

AS for compensation for the Dr visit the visit we had was scheduled long before our trip, it was my ds's 4 yr check-up. It just happened to come up in the visit when Dr saw all the bites on ds's arm. The beginning of April in Nebraska is not a time to see bug bites so it was out of the norm. I told him that we had the bed bug experience and he confirmed that they do look like bed bug bites. Since the appt was not for the bites and no treatment was needed I don't think WDW should have to pay for that.

Disney said to just ignore the medical release, it is sent out as a standard form I guess. As for compensation they will replace the luggage. The claim is on hold while we wait to see if anything else needs to be cleaned or replaced in case we brought them home. There is no deadline to get this done.

As for cleaning Disney lady said they have a heavy duty super hot steam cleaner that they use to kill the bugs. She said the only insecticide that is effective is DDT and that is illegal to use.

Thanks, Shel for answering my questions. The steam makes me wonder how they kill them if they are in the walls? From what I understand, you'd need to super heat the entire room in order to kill them off inside the walls. Not sure how steaming alone does that.

I remember way back when (must have been a whole month now) when you first posted about this. It'll be strange having someone else eventually start a new "bed bug thread"

 

[dogodisney]

I'm happy that you were taken seriously and now you will get some compensation for this ordeal.

 

[nwhitehead1214]

First I never brought the luggage into the house. I left it in the garage and carried the clothes to the laundry to be washed immediately so I am hoping that I didn't carry anything home.

AS for compensation for the Dr visit the visit we had was scheduled long before our trip, it was my ds's 4 yr check-up. It just happened to come up in the visit when Dr saw all the bites on ds's arm. The beginning of April in Nebraska is not a time to see bug bites so it was out of the norm. I told him that we had the bed bug experience and he confirmed that they do look like bed bug bites. Since the appt was not for the bites and no treatment was needed I don't think WDW should have to pay for that.

Disney said to just ignore the medical release, it is sent out as a standard form I guess. As for compensation they will replace the luggage. The claim is on hold while we wait to see if anything else needs to be cleaned or replaced in case we brought them home. There is no deadline to get this done.

As for cleaning Disney lady said they have a heavy duty super hot steam cleaner that they use to kill the bugs. She said the only insecticide that is effective is DDT and that is illegal to use.

That's good business for them to compensate you. Now, I need to get off this thread becaues everytime I read about them I start itching The medical release is because if they wanted to protect themselves from claims could legally request your records to prove that you had bed bugs.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

Wow should not have let my wife read this shes freaked,and I dont mean dragging it out.Shes really freaked

I have to say that I am kind of freaked out too! We leave in 12 days and I should NEVER have even looked at this thread!

 

[stackyallred]

I just want to reiterate what the OP has said- You are now aware of what to look for, so try not to worry- enjoy being excited for your trip!!!

I was really worried before we went to WDW a couple of trips ago because of similar threads (however some of them seemed like they were TRYING to freak you out, whereas this thread seems very informative and helpful). Now for each trip, I carry DH's small flashlight and the first thing I do upon entering the room is strip the beds to search, open all the drawers and look behind the headboards with the flashlight. We even lift up the mattress and look between it and the box spring. After I do this, I am not worried anymore. I put it out of mind and move on. You can look up what exactly to look for and honestly, I am so gad I was informed because I then knew I didn't really need to worry. The chances of it happening to you after you have checked thoroughly are VERY slim.

Some people may think it is crazy to check the way I do, but it only takes me 10 minutes and gives peace of mind and saves a ton of money in removal fees if there were some trying to head back to TX with us!

Of course, I wish saying "Don't Worry" would really work, but I know how it is because I am a worrier! Here is to a bug free trip for all of you...

OP- I am so glad that Disney is handling the situation so kindly!