Bug repellent - how important? Question has to do with sunscreen

[heidica]

So, there is no debate on how important sunscreen is no matter where you are or live. I am good at applying my sunscreen every day. But I am wondering when travelling to WDW how important is the bug repellant? Last year was the first year I applied a bug repellant before heading off to the parks (it was the avon skin-so-soft suncreen bug repellant combo) and in my most recent Consumer Reports magazine there is a small article testing the effectiveness of various brands of bug repellent. Well, the Avon brand I used last time is one of the worst, did not do a good job of stopping the bugs AND the sunscreen in it isn't that great (according to another source not Consumer Reports). With all the worry about West Nile Virus, DEET has become the popular ingredient once again, but I have also read that DEET decreases the effective of sunscreen up to 30% and you have to re-apply your sunscreen more often. There is one other bug repellent/sunscreen combo on my Consumer Reports list and that is the Repel Sun & Bug Stuff (it has 20% deet in it). According to Consumer Report is does a decent job of repelling bugs (not the highest but not the worst either) but I don't know how effective the sunscreen is. This test by Consumer Reports was only for the products ability to repel bugs. I'm not specifically worried about West Nile Virus, but now that most bug repellent products are using DEET and the fact that it is more effective anyway, I am now worried about how effective my sunscreen will be. And I just want to keep the bugs away. On our next trip we won't be leaving WDW property, but we are also going in August and I imagine that time of year is bug city. That being said, I don't remember having too many problems with bugs landing on me on my past trips, I just remember there would be swarms of bugs and sometimes I wouldn't see them in time.

I KNOW I need to worry about sunscreen and how well it works, because I am very fair skin and will fry in a matter of minutes. Should I continue my research on finding a sunscreen/bug repellent routine that works whether it is a combination product or 2 separate products OR should I not bother too much with a bug repellent and just use my sunscreen???

 

[laughinplace199]

I've never felt the need for bug repellant in Disney and I've been at all different times of the year, including the hot and humid summer. I also don't use the bug repellant/sunscreen combo products because you need to reapply sunscreen fairly often but reapplying those products would give you more bug repellant than you need.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I have two thoughts.

1) I am a veritable bug magnet. If there's a mosquito within a square mile of me it will find me. Last August, except for the day we drove to Cocoa Beach I wasn't bitten once, despite the fact that I didn't use bug spray. So I would say that within WDW bug repellent is not neccessary.

2) I have heard that bug/sun products are a bad idea. In order to keep up good sun coverage you have to reapply them pretty frequently, resulting in an exposure to DEET which is too high to be safe. Given that, I'd choose 2 seperate products if I decided to use any kind of bug repellant.

 

[Karnak]

I don't think you need to worry about bugs at WDW. An exception might be if you are planning to attend an outdoor sporting event, such as spring training baseball games. Someone once posted on here that "no-see-ums" were a problem at Cracker Jack Stadium. But when I went to a couple of afternoon Braves games (March 17 and 18, 2006), I never considered using bug spray, and it wasn't needed at all. (I did see some "fly balls" going over the fence however.)

Enjoy.

 

[Bev J]

The only time we have been bitten at WDW is in the evening. We found the bushes in Tomorrowland especially filled with somthing that bit us!!
We have started carrying deep woods off towelets, I got mine at Target. If were in the parks when the sun goes down we use them. They smell OK and we are not spraying bug spray all over the place.
We also have used these in Costa Rica while in the rain forest and the bugs are really bad there!
We found them easy to use and convient to store in our belt bag or pocket, you could even slip one in a pouch type lanyard holder.

Since the only time we seem to encounter bugs is at dusk or after you should not have to worry about suncreen then..

Bev

 

[rejobako]

The only time we have been bitten at WDW is in the evening. We found the bushes in Tomorrowland especially filled with somthing that bit us!!

Those were probably "no-see-ums", which are tiny little white bugs that latch on to your skin and cause a maddening itching sensation. You can't swat 'em because you can't see them, and they can be a real nuisance especially around beaches and swimming pools. They absolutely love the exposed ankle. The good news is that they're typically only a problem for an hour or so around sunrise and sunset. After that they rest up for the next torture session.

 

[ReggieB]

Last May DH got bitten to pieces. It started when we went to The Hoop Dee Doo review, we did take the horse and cart around FW, so we were out in the woods a little. He was an insect magnet from there on out! He said he will be taking a vat of bug repellent next time. I think it depends on the time of year and where you are. DS and I didn't get bitten at all, so maybe it depends on the person too!!

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I can't say how the bugs at WDW are, since it's been a while since I was there, but I have a lot of experience with the Avon SSS sunscreen + bug repellent. We used to live in Lake County, Illinois, where the mosquitoes were just awful, and like Mickey'snewestfan above, biting bugs love me. Unfortunately, I am allergic to DEET. So, I started using the SSS sun+bug, and as long as I was using it I never got bitten or sunburned (neither did my kids or anyone else I lent it to). Plus, since there is no DEET, you can reapply it as often as needed. I know this is only anecdotal evidence, but I love the stuff (and no, I'm not an Avon rep!).

 

[Ride Junkie]

We've borught Jungle Juice (a bug repellant we got at REI) every time we've gone, and we've never had to use it.
In fact, the only time we noticed any bugs was on the ferry from MK to the TTC, but they looked like moths & didn't bite us. But it's a good idea to bring it just in case!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

You won't need bug repellant until the time for sunscreen has passed. As the sun starts to go down, put your repellant on.

 

[Disneyfriend]

I too am fair-skinned and a bug magnet. We spent 10 days in WDW last trip, and the only time I ever got bitten was when I was sitting on our savannah-view balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

My advice? Concentrate on good sunscreen, and pack a small bottle of insect repellent with you just for mental security. Unless you're around the Hoop de Doo stables or on the savannah at AKL, my guess is that you'll never need to use the bug stuff.

Have a great trip!

Disneyfriend

 

[Sugardimples]

Another bug magnet checking in. Any bug in the county finds me and eats me for lunch. I have never had a problem with bug bites at Disney.

 

[heidica]

Thanks for all the replies. Makes sense that the time of day a bug repellent would be most needed is at sunset, so I don't have to worry about suncreen at the same time. Also, I think going with 2 separate products is good idea, so that when I am reapplying sunscreen and I am not also reapplying bug repellent - yuck. I like the idea of bug repellent wipes too - would be a lot easier to carry around than a can or bottle. I'll find something and bring it as a back-up for our trip.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I concur. I am pretty shore bugs are charged the same Fee as people and opt to stay out of the parks.
I don't think I or anyone in my family were bitten at all.

 

[bopper]

We have gone to WDW in August many a time and have never had a problem with bugs. My bugmagnet DH has not had a problem. I wouldn't even bother bringing any (unless maybe you were staying at Fort Wilderness?)

 

[HodagCatLady]

It is my understanding that sunscreen is designed to be absorbed into the skin. Therefore, when combined with a product containing DEET, it causes more of the DEET to be absorbed into your body. Products containing very low concentrations of DEET might be OK, but it's still better to apply DEET only to clothing.

I also have never had a problem with mosquitos at WDW and I, too, am a bug magnet. One very early morning near the boardwalk I saw a CM spraying the grass next to a small swampy area with what I assumed to be pesticides. I believe WDW takes an aggressive stance against bugs.

 

[lady_hlh]

I brought bug repellent with us on out trip last September and never even used it. I get bitten like crazy at night where I live but never had any problem with bugs in the parks at night.

 

[mecook]

At night and near water, we got eat up with mosquitoes. I had OFF...in the room. Lots of good that did us! Think Frontierland, Liberty Square area.

Melanie

 

[larryhog]

We have been numerous times at different times of the year, and I have never had a problem with bugs even though at home they love me. It is funny I have never thought about bugs while there. I guess because it has never been a problem.

 

[ilovemcbride]

I don't do the repellant/sunscreen combo. However, I now use bug repellant when I go...Deep Woods Off, to be exact. You see, I got was bitten by chiggers year before last. I thought I would go crazy. The only sunscreen I use is the kind for your face, because I got my forehead blistered.