Disney Stomach Bug - Be prepared!!

[candy1]

I always wonder how many germs are lurking on the serving spoons etc at the buffet meals i mean a lot of people handle them and no one really goes back and sanitises there hands after using them.

 

[ccgirl]

Just want to say, as others pointed out, it is just not Disney. I noticed you are from MA too and it is definitely going around here. My DS2 had it Monday night, my nephew the next day and my in-laws a couple days after. It is very likely you actually picked something up in MA prior to your trip. So sorry your whole family was sick though. Really lessens the enjoyment of a vacation. I hope you are all better now.

 

[Kolisona]

I am so sorry this happened to you on your trip. We hardly ever go on vacation so when we do I always fear us getting sick.

Yes, you might've caught something before you even got down there but the room smelling like vomit doesn't help. If it were me... I would've asked for a new room. They should've offered that themselves!

It's that time of year, we're all getting sick no matter where we are. I've been sick for the past week and blamed my mom's place because I was visiting her. LOL It's hard to pinpoint or even avoid!! I hope your next family vacation is much better.

 

[branv]

I hate to tell PP's this, but Clorox wipes don't work either. They don't actually contain bleach (which I only found out when I did a focus group for the company...guess I should have bothered to read the label better ).

If it helps, I found this:

"Problem is, the norovirus is only killed by bleach, Bauman said. The state released a guide to different ratios of water and bleach to effectively kill the virus on surfaces.

Be careful about the cleaning supplies you purchase: Officials say many assume products, like Clorox wipes, contain bleach - but they don’t contain it unless the active ingredient in the cleaner says it contains sodium hypochlorite or NaOCl."

I also read that Lysol Wipes don't work, but the newer Lysol sprays do claim on the label that they'll kill Noro (but you need to make sure the label specifically says this. I also read that there is a commercial-grade Clorox wipe that claims to kill Noro, but I don't know how you get those.

Even with bleach solutions, the surface has to stay wet for a certain length of time for it to be effective. Too often people spray then wipe dry, which won't work the same.

Another thing is that people think as soon as they feel better, they're not infectious. Not true. CDC states that people are contagious "at least 3 days after recovery." So people get sick, stay in room, feel better and hit the parks. And around it goes..

 

[Lynne M]

While it may be a virus everywhere, you could not have contracted a virus on Monday evening from a room you checked into Monday afternoon. A virus needs an incubation period of at least 72 hours.

Not all viruses have the same incubation period....for Norovirus, it's anywhere from 12-48 hours.

CDC: Norovirus Technical Fact Sheet

 

[pooh4brains]

This same thing happened to us at the BWV in 2007! If you ever walk into a room that smells a bit funky, turn around and walk out and ask to be moved elsewhere. Out of our group of 7, 5 were sick which ruined the trip. My husband spent a full day on the floor in front of the bathroom - not the view of Disney that he was anticipating.

We have had this bug once a year since 2007, and it ain't pretty so I totally feel your pain.

 

[karenTX]

I always wonder how many germs are lurking on the serving spoons etc at the buffet meals i mean a lot of people handle them and no one really goes back and sanitises there hands after using them.

We do...everytime.

 

[RMulieri]

Sorry you had a rough one...But TIS THE SEASON...Every year at this time the stomach virus hits.It isn't just in Florida either, a few of our schools have had a ton of abscences from it.Disney is just more susceptible because of the number of visitors and its size

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

But, you know you can be too careful, wiping away all those germs can be bad for you and your immune system. You need some of those viruses to build up the immune system. I work in a Hopistal and all you need is a really good hand washing (20 seconds under warm/hot water) to kill germs.

You are doing a disservice to yourself and your children wiping down everything. I occassionally pick up something airborne, but I have noticed those who are phobic about wiping down/sanatizing everything are more sick than I am.

Suzanne

 

[bookgirl]

That's not just a Disney stomach virus--it has been all over this city and surrounding areas in the last month.

Have to second that, my nephews and my brother both had this about 2 weeks ago. It's making the rounds here, tons of call ins at everyones workplaces. Luckily most of the rest of the family has avoided it.

 

[bookgirl]

While it may be a virus everywhere, you could not have contracted a virus on Monday evening from a room you checked into Monday afternoon. A virus needs an incubation period of at least 72 hours. You may have contracted it prior to your trip. It's certainly awful your room was like that and I'm not trying to minimize your family's illness, I just don't think it would be fair to pin the entire illness on Disney. Although I think they should have offered you another room. I hope you have better luck on your next trip.

Norovirus can incubate in as little as 12 hours. That's why it's such a killer on cruise ships. One person boarding with it can set up a chain reaction through the ship, and with that short of a incubation if it starts on day 1, by day 5 you're odds are pretty good to get it.

 

[mking624]

But, you know you can be too careful, wiping away all those germs can be bad for you and your immune system. You need some of those viruses to build up the immune system. I work in a Hopistal and all you need is a really good hand washing (20 seconds under warm/hot water) to kill germs.

You are doing a disservice to yourself and your children wiping down everything. I occassionally pick up something airborne, but I have noticed those who are phobic about wiping down/sanatizing everything are more sick than I am.

Suzanne

I fully agree. While it's good to take care of yourself, it's also bad to be so germaphobic that you're not allowing your immune system or your childrens' immune system to build up. Viruses are much more dangerous to you when you have a weak immune system.

 

[Mickey country]

Our whole family got a stomach bug last Sept. while on vacation at disney, and 2 of us ended up in the hospital. Being cooped up in a tiny room with 4 people who are extremely ill and 1 bathroom is not fun. I am sorry that you had to experience this, I would not wish it on anyone.

 

[uk_wildcat]

My youngest son got it 2 weeks before we left, my oldest got it several days before we left and I was in the ER 12 hours before we got on our flight to go. I spent the first few days miserable. I think it is going around everywhere.

 

[Mommytwotwins]

That stinks!!! It's never good getting sick on vacation, but it's not just at Disney. We are in MA too and my kids had this 3 times in 2 months!!!!! Dh and I lucked out and only got it once but it was not good!!

 

[Silvermist999]

I don't mind doing a wipedown of the room the first time we enter it, if it'll reduce the chance of any of us getting sick....but for those that do it too, do you do it also after every mousekeeping visit? I mean, they are cleaning other's rooms before yours, and who knows what they have come in to contact with before they enter your room. Just curious!

 

[kaytieeldr]

There is a nasty stomach bug going around Central Florida. You won't find much about it on the internet and certainly won't find it linked to Disney

Probably at least in part because while Walt Disney World is in Central Florida, Central Florida is not in Walt Disney World.

Also 'When a person becomes infected with norovirus, the virus begins to multiply within the small intestine. After approximately 1 to 2 days, norovirus symptoms can appear. This period between the norovirus transmission and the start of norovirus symptoms is known as the "norovirus incubation period." In some cases, the norovirus incubation period can be as short as 12 hours after exposure.' http://diarrhea.emedtv.com/norovirus-gastroenteritis/norovirus-incubation-period.html

So while it's certainly possible that the self-diagnosed illness was contracted in the room, if it was norovirus it was more likely contracted earlier - on the flight, even at home. But no matter where it happened, a mini-epidemic across an entire area of a state really CAN'T be ascribed to one tourist location, no matter HOW popular.

No, I'm not defending Walt Disney World. I'm merely being reasonable.

so what would be the best thing to bring? clorox spray?

In all seriousness, if at all possible, a healthy immune system - one that has been exposed, through everyday living, to everyday germs, and has had the opportunity to build up natural immunities.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I don't mind doing a wipedown of the room the first time we enter it, if it'll reduce the chance of any of us getting sick....but for those that do it too, do you do it also after every mousekeeping visit? I mean, they are cleaning other's rooms before yours, and who knows what they have come in to contact with before they enter your room. Just curious!

I wipe the room and do not have mousekeeping while there. We were there the same week as the OP March 10-19 and none of us caught it. I took the new Lysol spray and Clorox Wipes. I wiped everything down in the rooms and we stopped frequently to wash hands with soap at the parks. I avoid buffets at all costs!

 

[RachChamb]

Sorry that happened on vacation.

The stomach bug is going on everywhere right now. One of the districts near us had 120 kids out of school yesterday because of flu like sickness.

 

[disneyfan4u]

It is here in MD also. My daughter got it twice and the rest of us got it once. I am still recovering 5 days later. I still have not eaten a decent meal in those 5 days. I have been spraying, bleaching like crazy and opening windows. My daughter school said that in March they had over 55 out sick with the stomach virus. UGH!!!! I don't mind much but stomach viruses really anger me, upset me and make me nervous. People need to keep their kids home until it is completely gone or this will never end.