Disney World for germ-conscious individuals

[luvthemouse71]

I wouldn't go on a vacation with these people- the trip is going to be about their OCD.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Gloves? I am serious. Your best bet would be to buy a big box of latex gloves and wear them all day. Remove them for meals and bathroom and put on a fresh pair.

As a psychologist I do feel bad for their child. That child may not have an issue with germs, but will develop one by imitating his/her parents. They really need to talk to a therapist trained in phobias for the sake of their child ASAP.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

Listen to this guy
I'm 39 and have never bought hand sanitizer. Ever. I have 2 kids and one was a thumb sucker and God only knows the germs he picked up and directly stuck in his mouth. (hello...McDonalds playland then thumb right into mouth before I could catch him) ugh. But....I can honestly say that nobody in my family is EVER sick. My thumb sucker is now 11 and has probably only missed 4 days of school his entire life from being sick. So...one can live a long healthy life without bathing in hand sanitizer, as a matter of fact I think by not being so phobic you can work up a much better immunity. We are living proof of that.
HOWEVER OP....if these people have a true phobia/OCD problem than that is a whole other story and Disney would not be right for them at all. I understand phobias because I absolutely go bonkers when I see a snake and start to sweat and get nauseous and basically have an anxiety attack and that's if it's just a garden snake! Logic tells me it wont hurt me but there is no reasoning with somebody with a phobia.
Good luck!

All snakes must die!

 

[DragonMomma]

I wouldn't go on a vacation with these people- the trip is going to be about their OCD.

I'm going to have to agree. Encouraging to go on their own, is one thing, but you must remember that you, too, will be investing $$$ in going, to quite possibly have their issues take center stage.

 

[lisateaches]

I lived in a hole in the ground for a year and went for 90 days with out a shower when I was 20 years old( Vietnam). I will be 60 next month and I aint dead yet. Wash your hands , take a flue shot and Mickey on!

You go! And thank you for your service. I'm assuming you were there serving your country.

I teach a bunch of boys that like to back hand their snotty noses. I've used more sanitizer than usual because I can't get to the bathroom to wash my hands every 20 minutes. It makes me feel better, but I currently have the flu so I'm guessing it really doesn't help.

 

[Michelle_R]

There is a saying that says "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

I seriously doubt that people 'choose' to have ocd, etc. In fact, it could be argued that instead of holing themselves away at home, they are facing their fears and trying to give their child a great WDW experience. My hat is off to the op, who is clearly trying to be a good friend.

Oh, as far as helping. Suggest hand sanitizer and hand washing. Most likely letting them feel some 'control' over the situation will help. Also, just sort of ignoring the extras that they do, will help them feel less self conscious and more relaxed.

 

[pjhootch]

I agree with our vietnam vet member. Get a flu shot, wash your hands when you can, and ignore the rest.

Oh yeah... I've never actually seen anyone urinating into a fountain, but I guess I wouldn't be drinking that fountain water afterwards.

Germs/bacteria are everywhere. We need bacteria as part of our environment and we are certainly going to come in contact with bad ones. A flu shot is a good idea in years when the shots have a decent effictiveness level.

We fed my brother mud milkshakes when he was a kid, I had one thumbsucker and a cousin that had pica and ate everything around him that wasn't nailed down. They are healthy adults.

My job takes me into our local jail on a consistent basis. The jail is basically a closed environment that recirculates air, is constantly overcrowded, and is full of people with MRSA, hepititis, pneumonia, bronchitis, meningitis and TB, not to mention a million garden variety stomach bugs and cold viruses. YUCK. However, I wash my hands when I leave and try not to touch anything too sticky while I'm in there. I rarely get anything besides a little cold, and that could be from anywhere.

Disney World is about as germy as you can get outside the jail, so just advise your friends they'll need to be prepared and make the best of it. I wouldn't worry about them, because they'll be busy worrying about themselves and it will all work out fine.

 

[carrie1626]

Some friends of ours are talking about maybe accompanying us to the world next year on vacation. They are very germ conscious, not to say that we are not, but not as much as they.

We are avid handwashers, hand sanitizing, keeping hands away from face, etc... But the areas that worry me most, and I mentioned to them, are with respect to eating, things like plasticware not being individually wrapped and sealed, straws not being sealed, difficulty finding a clean table during lunch/dinner rush. I mentioned that they could bring their own plasticware from home, as well as straws, and we usually wipe off the tables with sanitizing wipes, but I just don't want all this to have such a negative mental affect on them that they don't enjoy DW.

Anyone out there germ conscious and how do you handle DW? Any other suggestions so they don't arrive unprepared?

Thanks!

There you have it- it's for them to think thru and come up with their own solution to their phobia.
I ziplock bag of Lysol wipes is enough for me and that's to wipe down a table, almost always a counter service table.

 

[wings91]

I've lost my little bottle of hand sanitizer the last two trips and both times, I've come home with a cold. DW has her's strapped to her backpack, but she's not as diligent at using it like me. Why I don't pack more small bottles is beyond me. Next time, more bottles, and some sort of leash.

 

[Jonell]

After having a child at WDW with the stomach virus twice and an one overnight stay at Celebration hospital I am also a germaphobe at WDW. I purchase many small hand santizers from Bath & Body Works for the trip. We use these after things like touching the fingerprint scanners. I aslo carry Wet Wipes to be used after we exit each ride and before eating if unable to wash our hands. Clorox wipes work well for wiping down tables before eating. Also remember to avoid touching handrails or anything else that others hands may touch when possible. Some may disagree, but before using any of these precautions we had two trips in a row where my child got sick. Since then we've enjoyed six illness free vacations.

 

[palavra]

I would advise them not to go. Seriously if things like straws and silveware not being wrapped are a bother to them I can imagine the looks on thier faces when they see a child lick a handrail or rsomeone elieve themselves in a fountain, much less the mess left at any QS restraunt on any given day. The more people you are around the more germs you are around and no matter what time of year you go WDW has alot of people...... and germs.

I agree. It is a public places; there are germs everywhere. I just can't imagine that your friends would enjoy it very much if they were constantly worried about germs.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

I have gone to WDW three times while I am doing chemo, therefore going with a compromised immune system. I am very careful about washing my hands constantly, never touching anything that is going in my mouth without washing my hands, and always use hand sanitized as backup. Knock on wood I haven't gotten sick. I don't think WDW is any germier than anywhere else...we just think more about the possibility when we are there.

 

[sharadoc]

I would recommend stepping to the side or off the beaten path if they want to stop and sanitize after a ride, show, etc. I have seen folks literally stop in the exit area to use their hand sanitizer and we all have to stand and wait for them. It could stir up comments, like scooters or GACs do. Apparently there has been an increase in guests at Disney who feel they have the right to openly and vocally comment.

To each his own and I would never presume to criticize. I learned that lesson when I got annoyed at a family overdoing the hand sanitizer, then I noticed the cameras and saw them a few months later on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Child with compromised immune system. Boy did I feel stupid!

 

[Babbletrish]

Some friends of ours are talking about maybe accompanying us to the world next year on vacation. They are very germ conscious, not to say that we are not, but not as much as they. We are avid handwashers, hand sanitizing, keeping hands away from face, etc...

I maintain that if you want to watch some insane human behavior, Disney is the best place to do it. (What's up, family that changed their baby's diaper in the middle of the crowd waiting for a parade?) So given the kind of crazy stuff you run into, I just pack a thingie of hand sanitizer, dodge the duck poop on the sidewalk, and above all tell my OCD to have a nice cup of Ess Tee Eph Yoo so I can enjoy myself.

Oh, wait a minute...

But the areas that worry me most, and I mentioned to them, are with respect to eating, things like plasticware not being individually wrapped and sealed...

Oh wow. Wow. I knew this disease affected everyone in different ways (which is why OCD is a private little hell), but I've never heard of anything like that.

But anyway, your cups in the room are individually wrapped and you can purchase a reusable mug to bring down to cafeterias, ect. in the hotels. The Disney restaurants are the most accommodating people you will ever meet, so do not for a moment be too embarrassed to voice a special concern.

Edit:

My question for you is this: are you able to go on a day trip with this family without losing your mind?

That's actually not a bad thing to consider. I have two friends who have very specific things they need to eat and drink when they visit. One of them is on a special diet -he HAS to eat specific things or it will, to put it politely, ruin everyone's day- and is totally cool about it. The other simply MUST drink the ONE kind of tea he likes and is borderline obnoxious about it. I'd go to WDW with the first guy no question. I'd smile and nod all day and then return to my hotel room rolling my eyes out of my head every day with the second person.

In any case, whatever you decide to do, good luck!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I am immunosupressed but I do nothing different in WDW than I do at home or any other public space. I do keep hand sanitizer to cover any instances where soap and water is not an option/available.

Truth be told my doctor has repeatedly told me that only minimal precautions need to be taken.. such as the flu shot. this obsession with germ warfare is what is preventing us from building the immunities we need to stay healthy and beat back super bugs.

Very true. Also, excessive cleanliness may be a reason for all the peanut/ food allergies in kids. They call it the "hygiene hypothesis". These kids possibly are ending up with immune systems that are out of whack, because they've been sheltered from dirt and germs.

When I first started in healthcare, I got slammed with illnesses. It was really bad when I did my pediatric rotation in nursing school. But, I have a very strong immune system now.

I wash my hands after the bathroom, before/ after eating and before and after patient contact. I also get a flu shot every year. That's it. Many nurses and doctors are the opposite of germaphobes because of what we're exposed to each day on the job. You'd go nuts if you were a germaphobe.

 

[walkdmc]

Also, the straw dispensers have been touched by who knows how many people throughout the day and then the straw that will be used touches the area that has been touched by others. I know this will bother them.

Doesn't this bother everyone? I DESPISE those uncovered-straw dispensers. I'm not very easily grossed out but those things are disgusting.

Actually, your friends don't sound all that bad unless you're going mild with the description. All the stuff that bothers them would bother me and we manage fine at WDW. I agree TS meal experiences tend to skeeve me out a lot less than QS meals.

 

[Babbletrish]

So reading through the whole thread...

Hi. Fellow germ-phobes here

This is what we do:

Hotel room- wipe all surfaces (light switches, counters, phone/tv/clock/fridge, bathroom surfaces, door knobs, etc.), put remote in large ziplock (pre-labled "remote"), check for bedbugs, remove comforter and replace with own blankets brought from home.

Food (in park)- bring in most food after shopping at Publix. Utensils sealed in plastic bags. Before eating, wash hands or use sanitizing wipes or Purell. Don't touch food with hands- only utensils or held with plastic baggies.

Table Service Meals- Use hand sanitizer/wipes after touching menus. Try not to pick up food with hands- use utensils.

Other things- don't touch handrails, commonly touched areas on ride vehicles. If riding TSM or Buzz, wear gloves. Use hand sanitizer after getting off rides if you touched something like a seat belt or lap bar, or after you come out of shops. Take vitamins and probiotics every day, wash hands as soon as you get back to the hotel room.

To those that aren't germ-phobes, please be nice to those of us who are. Some of us can't help it.

For us, at home, we don't necessarily act to this extreme, but on vacation, that's one place where you don't want your trip ruined by a sickness.

I would hug you out of extreme sympathy, but... well, you know.

Perhaps your friends should vacation in their backyard in a tent.

But nature is where all the GERMS are! Better to stay indoors forever with our machines and eat nothing but Twinkies!

(I am an ecologist with OCD and if I ever seriously say anything like that, slap me. Hard.)

Would I send a claustrophobic person spelunking? I don't think I'd "send" anyone anywhere -- but if I knew a claustrophobic person who wanted to go spelunking, I wouldn't discourage him or her. Similarly, if a friend came to visit with a fear of heights and wanted to visit the Empire State Building, I'd take him. It's not like he'd be surprised when he got there are found out it was a very tall building... so my conscience would be pretty clear.

Similarly, I don't think OP is "sending" his/her friends anywhere, they seem interested in joining him/her in a trip to Disney World. At least, that's how I read the question... and I gave my advice, which he/she is free to take or ignore.

Well said!

I lived in a hole in the ground for a year and went for 90 days with out a shower when I was 20 years old( Vietnam). I will be 60 next month and I aint dead yet. Wash your hands , take a flue shot and Mickey on!

Sir, I salute you!

All snakes must die!

Oh, God, no...

(Seriously, with that attitude towards other life, we'll be left on a rock with nothing *but* germs.)

Very true. Also, excessive cleanliness may be a reason for all the peanut/ food allergies in kids.

Eh... not quite. Food-related allergies are, in fact, not significantly more common these days and are, as far as anyone can tell, hereditary. It's just that we're hearing more about them because (on the positive side) schools, ect. are more understanding of kids with special needs and (on the negative side) the media love to jump on things like that one time a beloved childhood food suddenly turned deadly. More about the "Typhoid Goober" here.

That said, I do have a twinge of fear for children of overprotective parents who never let their kids play outside and build up immunities while at the same time never allowing them to get a flu shot because they trust the former hostess of a show that arguably ruined Mtv forever more than actual scientific studies. How are they not going to be wiped out like the Martians in War of the Worlds?

 

[Evi]

This thread has put me to thinking. Imagine if every guest who went to disney used these

seriously could you imagine if you got a set of these with your quick service plan and they charged for plastic. Just curious how many people would do it? I mean personaly I don't think its such a big deal to carry your own in something like that and imagine the amount of plastic that wouldn't get trashed. I almost think it would save disney money to do something like that. Not for every meal but maybe for like people who stay for over a week and have qs dining plan or if you brought your own utenzils you'd get 5% off your meal lol. I don't know just a thought.

Oh yeah I guess to OP you could give your friends a set of these if you think it would help them feel better.

 

[smidgy]

Hi. Fellow germ-phobes here

This is what we do:

Hotel room- wipe all surfaces (light switches, counters, phone/tv/clock/fridge, bathroom surfaces, door knobs, etc.), put remote in large ziplock (pre-labled "remote"), check for bedbugs, remove comforter and replace with own blankets brought from home.

Food (in park)- bring in most food after shopping at Publix. Utensils sealed in plastic bags. Before eating, wash hands or use sanitizing wipes or Purell. Don't touch food with hands- only utensils or held with plastic baggies.

Table Service Meals- Use hand sanitizer/wipes after touching menus. Try not to pick up food with hands- use utensils.

Other things- don't touch handrails, commonly touched areas on ride vehicles. If riding TSM or Buzz, wear gloves. Use hand sanitizer after getting off rides if you touched something like a seat belt or lap bar, or after you come out of shops. Take vitamins and probiotics every day, wash hands as soon as you get back to the hotel room.

To those that aren't germ-phobes, please be nice to those of us who are. Some of us can't help it.

For us, at home, we don't necessarily act to this extreme, but on vacation, that's one place where you don't want your trip ruined by a sickness.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but you will be the people in life who get sick the most often.. because you will have built up zero immunities.

yes, there will be many germs in a major public place. but most of us have built up immunities from toddler age on. (when my boys were young, my motto was "nothing wrong with a little healthy dirt!") so we will be fine.. even though it is wise to wash your hands often.. but those who have lived in a bubble for a long time...not so good.

 

[smidgy]

I lived in a hole in the ground for a year and went for 90 days with out a shower when I was 20 years old( Vietnam). I will be 60 next month and I aint dead yet. Wash your hands , take a flue shot and Mickey on!

thank you for your service to our country!