Boardwalk Bed Bugs?

[colleen costello]

I have been reading up on these guys, and while they are making a comeback, it is still very unlikely we will encounter these critters durign travel. Their presence is not related to poor housekeeping. They are good hitchhikers, and people traveling from places where they are still common are likely bringing them back to the US. These bugs can go months without a blood meal.

These are small and brown "like an apple seed" according to an article I read on CNN.com. They hide during the day in cracks and crevices and feed only at night. Unless you are allergic, their bites will cause little discomfort but some allergy-prone folks wind up wiht painful welts. The bugs are not known to transmit disease. The majority of bites will be on the arms and shoulders.

The best way to avoid these is to pull back the bedding and inspect the mattress upon entering a hotel room. Feeding bugs excrete some of the blood they ingest, leaving reddish-brown skidmarks (not a technical term!) on the bedding. The article said to check the mattress, plus seams and any cracks in it. Unless a room is completely infested, this is where the little guys would likely be hiding. You can spray them with pesticide but they are tough to kill. If you are suspicious about the bedding, leave the room immediately so you don't take any "souvenirs" home with you!

Hope this helps.

 

[bengalfreak]

Bump.

Anyone been to BWV lately? Would love to know that bed bugs are not a problem.

 

[fran99999]

Ok you guys have really gotten me worried

I am staying at AKL which is not where U have mentioned. However, I am VERY allergice to bugs. I have my bed at home encased in plastic. I have to change my sheets and pillowcases every night, mites(we all have them) wash down the plastic covering on the bed and remake to go to sleep. I take a shower twice a day in a special soap. I can only use a towel once then have to wash with special detergent. Yes I bring my own when I travel. If I dont i end up with welts the size of nickels all over my body by morning and my throat starts to close.

I am now wondering if i should cancel my Sept trip. I dont want to end up in the hospital in FL. I can see the headline now. "Woman almost killed by bedbugs!! HMM I could make $$ selling story to The Enquirer. LOL

Seriously, this isn't at AKL is it??? Could be a serious issue for me. I better take extra med. and call the Dr for another set of epipens (sp).

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by bengalfreak
Bump.

Anyone been to BWV lately? Would love to know that bed bugs are not a problem.

I stayed there April 21 to 25, no problem. I think if the whole hotel was infested you would hear about it.

 

[Ever_After]

Okay I am getting some new pillows now!!!

Originally posted by CindyBella
If you think bed bugs are bad, how about dust mites?? Oprah had this poor woman on her show that had the same pillows for 30 YEARS! They were crawling with millions and millions of dust mites. I wonder how often Disney changes pillows??

 

[Pluto14]

Has anyone been to other resorts too since this thread first posted? How did you make out? What did you do to scout out the "lil buggers" when you got there? Just curious!

 

[colleen costello]

These guys hide until dark. It's pretty simple to do a basic check for them. Pull back the bedding and look for spots (reddish brown rusty marks) on the mattress. Check the mattress seams, too. Only in a real infestation would they be hiding in other parts of the room -- in cracks, wallpaper seams, etc.

I still think it is unlikely that we'll met these guys at WDW. The travel industry is aware of them, so I am sure the housekeeping staff has been put on alert. These folks have likely been educated and would recognize the signs of bedbugs if they saw them. I will take a peek at the mattresses whenever we travel from now on, but I won't lose sleep over this!

 

[Seahunt]

We just stayed at the BWI last weekend - perfect, with no sign of bedbugs, thank goodness!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!
Why on earth would someone show a picture? Now I'm terrrified! I'd rather have just pictured a happy little bug with Mickey ears. I'm terrified of bugs!! I start to hyperventilate. And like the other lady said, when I'm outside, I get attacked by every bug within a 10 block radius, while no one else even gets a nip.

And what's up with the living without food for up to a year. I wish I could live a year without food. That's so scary!!

My gosh, if I found one, I think I'd strip myself naked, burn the house down and start all over!!!!!

Hey, what is this dream sack thing all about? I've never heard anyting about it. How does it work? Maybe I can pick up a new one when I buy all new pillows and mattresses for my house and neighbors. (Don't want them hopping through walls or anything)

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by outstandinfarmer
OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!
Why on earth would someone show a picture? Now I'm terrrified!

So you know what you are looking for.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I know, but I wouldn't have as many nightmares if I didn't know what it looked like!

 

[colleen costello]

Heather, the dream sack is basically a sleeping bag, all contained so you are on top of the hotel bed/bedding, not in it. Not sure if it would prevent bug bites but might soothe your nerves.

Your post made me laugh. I am going to imagine the local bugs have Mickey ears on! I am in Southern Indiana, and we are starting to experience the emergence of "Brood X" one of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas. There were two on my mailbox this morning and my daughter said "Eek they're coming!" The local bug experts predict "100 per square yard" will emerge..." EXCUSE ME? That is a lot of BUGS!

We are supposed to leave for Florida in two weeks. Planned on missing the worst of the cicadas but it has been warm and they are EARLY!!!!

 

[vhoffman]

To Fran99999,

I sympathize with your concerns but I really feel you'll be ok. Just insist on fresh sheets and towels everyday (they will reuse them if you don't request fresh to conserve water & electricity). Also, most hotel beds have a waterproof type mattress, for obvious reasons. Just wipe the mattress with the same cleaner you use at home. Lastly, I would take my own pillows. Just buy cheap ones and ditch them when you leave. Or you could even have them sent on ahead, like many people have food items sent ahead. Of course, do take plenty of medicine. But don't worry yourself out of a trip!

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Heather, the dream sack is basically a sleeping bag, all contained so you are on top of the hotel bed/bedding, not in it. Not sure if it would prevent bug bites but might soothe your nerves.

Your post made me laugh. I am going to imagine the local bugs have Mickey ears on! I am in Southern Indiana, and we are starting to experience the emergence of "Brood X" one of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas. There were two on my mailbox this morning and my daughter said "Eek they're coming!" The local bug experts predict "100 per square yard" will emerge..." EXCUSE ME? That is a lot of BUGS!

We are supposed to leave for Florida in two weeks. Planned on missing the worst of the cicadas but it has been warm and they are EARLY!!!!

I read that my area will have these too. I'm just picturing my car covered in bugs or something! LOL.

 

[colleen costello]

Summerrluvv, juts picture the cicadas with the mickey ears on and all will be well...

 

[Darian]

Bring back DDT and put a stop to this bed bug nonsense.

 

[lenshanem]

Why did this get bumped up from over two years ago???

 

[Allison]

Why did this get bumped up from over two years ago???

I didn't get that either.