Children getting sick in Disney World

[5champs]

Hi everyone!! We are DVC members since 2000. We have gone to Disney World 6 times in the past 4 yrs. We just got back from our last trip Fri Dec 10. My question is ..... my children always get sick in DW!!! I have had experiences where I had to call 911 from the hotel. This last trip we thought we had it nipped in the butt. We had brought the Purell, the baby wipes (we wiped thier hands after every ride). We brought our own strollers made sure they did not touch anything...but once again... THEY GOT SICK!! We have a 2 yr old, a 10 month old and an 8 yr old. They got diarehea! They only get diarehhea in Disney. They have never gotten it at home. Has anyone else had this problem? I am so curious to know. (One time we called our Dr back at home and she said that while we were away there were 3 other families also in Disney that also got sick.)

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Sorry to here that. It really must be terrible to be 8 wait all this time to go to WDW and then get sick while there.

When you have that many people at WDW, there are bound to be other people sick. Sometimes no matter how much you try to keep yourself or other from not getting it, they do.

 

[aec]

Could it be the change in water. Sometimes drinking different water can upset your system. It could also be the change in diet. They may be eating greasier food than their systems are used to. Just an idea. Although it sure seems like a virus since they all got it.

 

[bdcp]

The first time we took our boys to WDW they were 3 1/2 and almost 6. My older son got sick our last full day there. We had to stay in our room on the last day, cancel a character meal (only one we'd planned) and he was sick for a week. My conclusion was food poisoning. He wasn't nauseous, but had a fever and diarrhea. Not fun driving back home over 800 miles with that problem. He's 21 and still remembers it. He ate a lot of counter service on that trip which meant, chicken fingers. It probably was undercooked chicken or bad hygiene by one of the food handlers. I just know it didn't have the feel of a virus. He would have been over that in a couple of days and since he wasn't nauseous, I just think it was something he ate. But, at least he was able to eat light foods and drink so he never got dehydrated.

Everyone stayed healthy the last time we went when they were 12 and 14. I think that younger children are more susceptible to that type of illness.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you fly? You may be exposing your family to tons of germs on the plane (in the seat, the fold out table, chair arms, seat backs, etc, not to mention recycled air).

 

[cdntourguide]

In the past I would always be sick the first two or three days at Disney, then I stopped drinking the water and using ice. I have not been sick at Disney in years. I am not sure that it was the water, but now I never drink water unless it is bottled water when I am away from home, plus I never get ice in any drink.
It is good to continue washing hands all the time when out in public areas,. especially at Disney where there are people coming from all over the globe.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I think sometimes the problem might be that so many people, when they get sick on vacation, do not stay in the room but go to the parks anyway and expose so many others. We were at the gates at MK a few years ago and were behind a family with a child about 8. He kept telling his parents that he did not fell well. They told him to hush. He told them he was going to be sick!! They said Hush! Well, he was right and just missed our family. His dad took him out of line for a few minutes and they were back in line to go into the parks. They child kept saying he was sick! What was even worse was when they used their tickets they were annual pass holders so it was not like this was a once in a life time chance. It is hard when a child gets sick, it has happened to us but it is not fair to take them into crowds with others and risk exposing other children. When I was a child, someone ALWAYS got sick on our vacations. . Sounds like you did everything right.

Jordans' mom

 

[mum4jenn]

This has happened to us on many times. Last January was the last straw when dd AND dh got sick. We now pack Lysol on each and every trip and spray everything. So far no one has gotten sick. But I agree with the water thing. Your system gets used to a certain water type and when your body experiences something very different it rebels.

 

[swilshire]

The water was my first thought as well. Or greasy food. Or just plain excitement. I would try keeping their food and drink similar to what they would have at home to the extent possible and see if that helps.

Do the two younger children stay home during the day? It's possible that they are not exposed to enough germs at home. I know mine always got sick a lot when they first started day care or school. It's just part of building up the immune system. If this might be the case, taking them around lots of kids at home (playgrounds, zoos, Chuck E Cheese) might help the process.

Sheila

 

[delilah]

Sorry to hear about that. Actually, I have noticed the opposite situation. My son would finally get over the chronic nasal symptoms that bugged him the entire time he was at the daycare center at the hospital while we were on vacation. Obviously, in that setting, he was exposed to alot of different germs. Finally, now that he is in first grade, he is over the chronic nose stuff. Hasn't missed a day yet,

 

[bdcp]

Maybe he was allergic to something in the daycare center. Nasal symptoms alone are usually allergies, like to mold/mildew or something that's in the daycare center itself.

 

[crisi]

Mine don't, but mine are daycare kids, so they have been exposed to a lot of stuff already and have developed good immune systems. We also drink bottled water at Disney, and try and limit our counter service - since too much greasy or fatty food does a number on our digestive systems. So we try and make sure the kids (and ourselves!) eat a salad or some other sort of "real" vegetable a day and get fruit with some fiber in it.

We did discover last time that we have to be better at watching our kids. My daughter did have an hour of illness - related to not wanting stop for long enough to visit a restroom!

And we watch their bedtimes. I haven't managed to see Spectromagic in years because I don't want overtired kids. We don't nap at Disney (neither of my kids were good nappers, even as toddlers). And we are early risers. So bedtime is cruicial. I don't believe that being overtired can make you sick....but I think if you are a little "under the weather" being well rested can be the difference between a slow but pleasant park day and a day in the room.

Do keep in mind that thinks like Purell and Lysol are going to take care of bacteria, but they won't stop a virus. Washing hands is a great practice, but it will only go so far. Also, generally it takes a day - or even several - for food poisoning to kick in (depending on the bacteria you ingested).

If my kids always got diaherria at Disney, I think I'd be very tempted to put them on a pretty high fiber diet the week before they left and make sure they maintained fiber in their diets during the trip. I'd limit dairy and sugar. Make sure no one's tummy empties completely, but make sure no one gourges themselves - as being overfull or really hungry can trigger "icky tummy." I'd also make sure to drink bottled water. You may want to talk to your doctor about this - I have had "tummy troubles" for years and diet can make a huge difference.

 

[Drizzo67]

I am in agreement with Crisi. Fiber, Fiber, Fiber. My DS(9) tends to have "icky stomach" from time to time, even at home. Doctor recommended Fiber wafers. He eats one with his breakfast every morning and has no trouble since then. My DD(5) used them on our trip last year as the change in diet (and regular eating times) was a little too much for her tummy. She too ended up with the runs. Metimucal makes them - apple cinnimon(sp?) flavored. Try it next time.

 

[hezreck]

My DD(7) wasn't feeling well on the 5th morning of our trip. She woke up with a headache and stomachache. I thought maybe she was just hungry because we had skipped supper the night before. She drank some bottled water and I bought some grapes at the Food Court. She ate one grape and threw up on the balcony. As soon as she threw up she was perfectly fine the rest of the day. Said she felt better and even ate the most for lunch that she did all week.
I think it was just skipping meals and throwing her blood sugar out of whack that caused it.

 

[HollisterSweetie]

It's the water. I got sick the last time from drinking the tap water there.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Are you from a cooler climate than Florida? We tend to have stomach troubles when we go from the cold of NH to the heat of Florida. And it is the heat, because it has, at times, happened when we went from 40 degrees to 90 in the same week, here at home, with no other changes (no different water, food, etc).
It could be the water, the greasy food, or even eating different fruits than they normally eat. Or, the crowds. But if it's just diareah, I'd have to think it's either the water or the heat.

 

[tjmw2727]

Our family all became "distressed" and mildly ill during our first couple trips and I do think it was the change in the water. Now we stick to bottled water and bottle beverages rather than the fountain drinks made with the water and ice. Dehydration can cause stomach upset so we make sure we drink water before we are thirsty.

We also try and eat as healthy as we can, obviously its vacation and we have our share of mickey bars and popcorn. I find that by having breakfast in the room even if it is cereal and fruit helps get us off to a better start. We always try and schedule at least one sit down meal a day - usually lunch. We try and choose salads and soups, even for the kids and skip the childrens fare for the most part. I find the counter service places getting better as far as quality and choices of foods. You can generally find some fairly good choices esp in the world showcase.

We don't use the hand santizer but we do step up the soap and water washings and I do use a bit of lysol in the room, doorknobs and telephone as well as obviously the bathroom area.

One other thing I have been doing, its sounds a bit weird but we bring our own pillowcases. I make sure they are old so they won't be missed if they are caught up with the hotel laundry as well as printed or in colors so they stand out. The kids like it as they feel and smell familiar and I feel more comfortable knowing they are clean.

Hope you feel better and have a happy healthy vacations from now on!

TJ

 

[mjmcca]

Do keep in mind that thinks like Purell and Lysol are going to take care of bacteria, but they won't stop a virus. Washing hands is a great practice, but it will only go so far.

I am sorry but where did you get this information?

 

[MelessaG]

My DD's got sick our last couple of days there and one was sick for the drive home (not fun). My son had an ear infection as an infant there, but we aren't sure that he wasn't already coming down with it on the drive there. I know I was conscientious about bottled water, but I can't speak for the kids. We had to cancel Chef Mickey's and I felt terrible for my oldest DD. She was heartbroken to be sick at WDW.
And for the record, I kept both my son and my daughters out of the parks when they were sick-but it sounds like I'm in the minority.

 

[bdcp]

Actually good old soap and warm water take care of just as many germs (bacteria and viruses) as do hand sanitizers, if not more. It's the temp of the water that does the most good. You should always wash your hands with very warm water since that's what actually kills most "germs". It's the sneezing, coughing into your hands as well as rubbing your eyes and nose that transfer these germs so when you touch someone or something you transfer them. Kids are especially susceptible since they tend to put their hands in their mouths and noses and touch each other and everything they can. You can't protect them from everything. It's impossible, but you can help the situation.