Disney and the H1N1 Virus

[Pluto999]

I just watched this film about Disney cast members and the H1N1 virus. It raises a lot of questions and I am wondering if others have suggestions or experiences about H1N1 at Disney theme parks.

The film is called It's A Small World: Disney & The H1N1 Virus and is available on You Tube.

 

[vicki_c]

Since I don't really have the time or inclination to watch the video, perhaps you could just say what your questions or concerns are?

That's a very odd first post as well.

 

[christinec68]

To avoid getting sick:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Use purell or other type of hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your face.
Eat & sleep well.



If you are sick:
use common sense about staying in.
cover your mouth/nose when you cough/sneeze.
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Use purell or other type of hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your face.
Eat & sleep well.

 

[Sue M]

Welcome to the Board! I wouldn't worry too much, just follow basic precautions, freq. hand washing, maybe carry some hand sanitizer, keep hands away from face. I just got my H1N1 shot last week, we are going in Jan.

 

[NikitaZee]

I just watched the video - I'm not sure what to make of it. There are several cast members interviewed - they didn't give their names, just 'bartender' or 'server' at Disneyland Resort. They're talking about H1N1 and wanting to take precautions - but not really feeling that Disney is helping them out with those precautions? Telling them to wash their hands, but not giving easy enough access to sinks? I did notice at the end it said 'Local 11' - is that their union?

The video seems to want to be a PSA, but I didn't quite get the message they're trying to give.

A little off topic - our last trip (last month) our family contracted H1N1 while at WDW. There was a cast member who had just been diagnosed in the waiting room with us. When she was told she had H1N1, we heard her say "Oh no - I work for Disney - that means I have to take the next 7 days off". I don't know if that means anything or not - that's just what we heard her say.

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[Cedarmom]

I wouldn't worry about it.

We got back Wednesday from 8 days at WDW. All seven of us returned illness free. The kiddos and the dh had had the h1n1 shot (kids) or had h1n1(dh) prior to leaving, but 3 adults and the baby had not. We were all fine. I went armed w/ hand sanitizer and clorox wipes and didn't end up using them nearly as much as I envisioned. We were too busy having fun. We washed our hands before meals--if we remembered (several times the boys were eating before I got the wipes out).

I didn't see anyone out and about that was obviously ill.

 

[Canyon girl]

OP, I have not seen the video, but if it was put out by the union as a PP said, I wouldn't put much stock in it. I don't want to get into a union debate, but they have been staging walkouts and demonstration over the past couple if years, including a couple of walkouts over the last week or so. I think it is just another ploy from union leadership. Protecting yourself from any communicable disease is a personal responsibility and should not rest solely on the company's arms. I've been following this union dispute for quite a while and really would take anything they put out with a grain of salt. Just wash your own hands, give wide berth to coughers, and get plenty of rest. We just got back with no H1N1 in sight.

 

[fla4fun]

Add me to the list of people who just spent over a week at WDW and came back illness free (actually got back Friday). I didn't see a lot of sneezing or coughing when I was there either. I did see the hand sanitizer dispensers Disney has installed, but I had my own stuff, so I didn't use theirs. I wasn't a fanatic about washing - just a good Wet Ones wash before eating anything. On a side note, both my roommates got sick while I was gone (colds not flu), so I guess I picked a good time to be away from home!

 

[cfknight]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2350418

 

[Missytara]

I was one of those people that did get sick while I was away. I am very susceptible to bronchitis and despite all my efforts to stay well before I left, I did catch something a slight respiratory infection.

I went immediately to Urgent Care on Wednesday night, without waiting until morning. I told them my symptoms and that I was susceptible to bronchitis - they treated me as if I already had it. Had they not, and it settled in my lungs the next day, the doctor told me I would have had to get tested for H1N1, because one of the primary symptoms is an infection in the lungs. I might not have been able to fly home as scheduled.

Since I was staying with two other people, I was lucky that we had brought precautions. I took my medicine faithfully, stayed in the room and ate my meals in my room for two consecutive days. I had brought a package of sanitary wipes and every time I got up and touched anything, I wiped it down - and then washed my hands. I made sure I took plenty of fluids and aspirin, to keep my fever down.

I was able to fly home that Saturday with no complications. My two traveling companions never did get sick and we have been home over a week now.

 

[nexttrip4us]

We got back recently from a 9 day trip with 10 people and no illnesses here either. (None of us (kids or adults) have gotten an H1N1 vaccine). I hand sanitized for all of us like I usually do and made sure to wash hands well before eating, but I too did not see a lot of sick people at Disney.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Use the same precautions you'd take at your local mall/school/church etc.
Wash hand/ use sanitizer/ hands away from face.

 

[Fortune1211]

We were at Disney the Sunday after Thanksgiving through December 5th with 8 people including a 5 year old and none of us got sick. I did however see a lot of people not using proper hygiene practices at all. I might have used a little more sanitizer than I normally would have but other than that nothing special.

As for the CM who said they would have to take 7 days off when being diagnosed that's pretty standard practice. Most people whose kids had it were told to not send them back to school or daycare for at least 7 days.

 

[robinbutterfly]

I am not worried about it! My kids had their shot, I had mine, trying to get DH to get his. I will bring plenty of wipes though!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Whatever your thoughts and feelings, this is not really a resorts issue.

I'm moving this to the News and Rumors board.

Knox

 

[fireflymedic]

.....

That's a very odd first post as well.

I second that motion

I would guess its a union thing

 

[PaulaSB12]

How is Disney any different to any big town or city? You have people in large numbers buying food from the street and from restaurants. Where ever there are people there is chance of disease the only way never to catch anything is to stay in one sanitised room with no contact with another person EVER I for one don't intend to live in fear like this.

 

[robinbutterfly]

How is Disney any different to any big town or city? You have people in large numbers buying food from the street and from restaurants. Where ever there are people there is chance of disease the only way never to catch anything is to stay in one sanitised room with no contact with another person EVER I for one don't intend to live in fear like this.

It isn't different. However I prefer getting sick at home rather in a hotel room on a 4k vacation!

 

[heatherbabydoll1]

We had a party of seven from 12/16-12/27 then sea world on the 28th. We are from KY we spent 5 days in SC before going to Florida. Now we all have been sick since about the 27th on with a wierd sinus chest congestion thing. No fever. Now keep in mind we pushed our bodies hard the whole trip and we went from snow to swimming the begining on the trip to jackets and rain on Christmas then warm temps again to cold winds on the 28th. Disney did install hand sanitizers every where and we used are own. Keep in mind all our kids have ashthma issues to begin with also. Also I did see a few people walking around with surgical masks on. I think the weather changes and not getting enough sleep was more of an issue than people passing germs. Most people where very cautious about wiping tables down with baby wipes and parents giving hand sanatisers and reminding kids to cough in there elbows. Don't worry. If you don't wear yourself out like we did you should be fine.

 

[racefanof88]

We were there in September/October for 7 nights(turned into 6 nights) and DS and I both got H1N1. We had to leave a day early and drive home. We used hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes and washed our hands religiously, but that only goes so far. I wouldn't worry so much about the CMs as I would inconsiderate vacationers that do not cover when they cough or sneeze. You are in tight enclosed places with people for the majority of the time and if someone does not cover when they sneeze or cough there is nothing you can do about that or avoid it. The same thing could happen while you are in a Walmart, grocery store, work, school or almost anywhere, so I say go have a good time and don't worry that you are going to catch H1N1, just take all the proper precautions and that is the best you can do. Take some comfort in knowing that H1N1 is on the decline right now.