Bugs at night at Contemporary and BLT

[Goofster]

Stayed at the Contemporary 2 years ago and couldn't go night swimming due to small bugs swarming at night. You saw them everywhere;chairs, walls, pool, etc. Kids refused to stay in the pool due to swarming around them. My sister is staying at BLT now, third floor with lake view/with a little view of Space Mountain. She said she could not sit on her beautiful balcony at night due to unbelievable amount of bugs. Anyone else notice this? I have also seen the birds perched atop the Contemporary Resort and they were on BLT when we took our tour 8-7-09.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Were they love bugs or no-see-ums?

 

[nytimez]

Sounds very love bug-ish. It can be unpleasant.

 

[BlakeNJ]

Sounds like love bugs! Eww. I am sorry you couldn't enjoy yourself at the pool. I believe this particular bug comes out late August into September. They are usually attached to another bug--hence the name love bug.

 

[Chic]

Disney used to have vehicles which drove around the property and sprayed pesticides at night but I believe they have eliminated this procedure to save money. My family was in Disney World two weeks ago and we were all bitten several times by mosquitos this trip. In the past, this hasn't been a problem.

 

[toniosmom]

I imagine seeing a pesticide truck blowing smoke around the property may be cause for alarm for some guests due to the chemicals being sprayed into the air.

Glad to hear that this bug infestation is only during a specific time of the year. I'm sure being on the lake only increases the number of bugs. Do any of the other resorts experience this? I am thinking of traveling in late August in the next couple of years and was wondering.

 

[OrlandoMike]

They are not love bugs. Love bug season is May and September. These are Midges, not sure what the "season" is for them, but they seem to be attracted to light. If you want to enjoy your balcony, I would turn the lights in your room off.

You would know a love bug when you saw it...."Mommy, what are those bugs doing?"

 

[Crystal_27]

Disney used to have vehicles which drove around the property and sprayed pesticides at night but I believe they have eliminated this procedure to save money. My family was in Disney World two weeks ago and we were all bitten several times by mosquitos this trip. In the past, this hasn't been a problem.

Hmmmm, I don't like the sound of this at all. I'm very sensitive to mosquitos and they are uber-attracted to me. Uggg.

 

[DoOverDreams]

DH and I were at BLT last week and both got a few bites on ankles and legs. Not sure where they came from since we never saw anything flying around!

We spent a lot of time on our balcony and never noticed an issue with flying insects. We did watch one enterprising spider weaving his/her web one night around the poles of the balcony.

Never noticed any swarms of bugs at the pool either.

 

[Tozzie]

I imagine seeing a pesticide truck blowing smoke around the property may be cause for alarm for some guests due to the chemicals being sprayed into the air.

They used to spray in the wee hours of the morning, like 3 or 4 am when most guests (except us unsomniacs) were sleeping.

 

[DenLo]

I imagine seeing a pesticide truck blowing smoke around the property may be cause for alarm for some guests due to the chemicals being sprayed into the air.

They used to spray in the wee hours of the morning, like 3 or 4 am when most guests (except us unsomniacs) were sleeping.

Disney would have to do something like this to make the property accessible after dark. I do mean the whole property. Afterall it was all swamp land originally and there are lots of lakes and standing pools of water around. We live in the Houston area and like Florida it is a fact of life. Spraying is better than having a guest become ill after being infected with West Nile Disease while at Walt Disney World. I wish there were other options as I too worry about all the chemicals.

 

[brewcrew]

We just returned from BLT on Tuesday. We were on the 11th floor, lake view, no bugs. We stayed on the balcony alot because the view was wonderful and there was a nice breeze. Lovebugs are completely harmless to humans, horrible for the paint on your car though.

 

[vicki_c]

You would know a love bug when you saw it...."Mommy, what are those bugs doing?"

When she was smaller and we lived in Florida, my DD called them "two-headed" bugs! We just said, "yep, isn't that weird?"

 

[LoveToDisney]

My family was in Disney World two weeks ago and we were all bitten several times by mosquitos this trip. In the past, this hasn't been a problem.

I agree. That was one of the reasons I LOVED WDW because I am allergic to mosquito bites and I can't go out after dark. Now, if WDW is not spraying, I'm in trouble. Very disappointing! I hope they come to their senses and SPRAY!

 

[CaskPeg]

Hmmmm, I don't like the sound of this at all. I'm very sensitive to mosquitos and they are uber-attracted to me. Uggg.

Crystal_27
Having done a lot of camping...you can try taking garlic tablets or pills the week before you go and during your stay at Disney. They claim that mosquitos are attracted to the oils your skin emits....thus they are attracted to some people and not to others. I have used this when we are hiking in back country among a lot of trees and such. Of course if you don't like the garlic smell on your breath or its taste this is not for you. Good Luck!
CaskPeg

 

[TagsMissy]

They are not love bugs. Love bug season is May and September. These are Midges, not sure what the "season" is for them, but they seem to be attracted to light. If you want to enjoy your balcony, I would turn the lights in your room off.

You would know a love bug when you saw it...."Mommy, what are those bugs doing?"

LOL Oh I can't wait to be there this September with the kids

 

[hellerjw]

Mosquitos are mainly attracted by the multitude of chemical compounds we exhale. This is the principle most mosquito traps work on to attract them. The fact that we are warm blooded and give off heat is another attractant. They are also attracted to dark colors. Most biting insects are attracted by these things as well.

The only good way to protect yourself is to wear a good repellent. There are several on the market now that go on semi-dry and don't feel greasy or wet.

Disney has been pretty bug free for us in the past, particularly in the parks, but the resort balaconies always seem to harbor some sort of mysterious, unseen pest. Just about every time we have spent any time on the balconies we notice several small bites a day or two later. I always attribe them to something similar to the chiggers/red bugs we have in the South.

 

[DenLo]

Is there any possibility the swarming insects are gnats? I read on Wikipedia that the male gnats swarm in large mating ghosts and larva are laid in water. The swarms probably get confused and come off the lake and see water at the pools. And most bugs are attracted to lights. So I'll leave my lights off in the room.

If you are worried about bites, maybe get one of those clip on Off bug repellents. I don't know if it will work on these swarming bugs but it should help with mosquitos.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Crystal_27
Having done a lot of camping...you can try taking garlic tablets or pills the week before you go and during your stay at Disney. They claim that mosquitos are attracted to the oils your skin emits....thus they are attracted to some people and not to others. I have used this when we are hiking in back country among a lot of trees and such. Of course if you don't like the garlic smell on your breath or its taste this is not for you. Good Luck!
CaskPeg

Garlic can affect your heart so be sure to check with your doctor before taking garlic tablets.

 

[DenLo]

Garlic can affect your heart so be sure to check with your doctor before taking garlic tablets.

And your stomach, if you have reflux disease aka GERD. Do check with your doctor.