Disney World for germ-conscious individuals

[fla4fun]

I don't know that I'm a germophobe, but I don't like getting sick - especially on vacation!

I buy the individually packaged Wet Ones towelettes. I wash before I eat anything. Ever since I started doing that a few years ago, I haven't been sick at Disney (even a couple years ago when the norovirus was extremely virulent and people just spontaneously vomiting everywhere). I have read that the ingredients in the Wet Ones are especially good at killing norovirus, plus I like the "scrub factor" of using a towelette over just using hand sanitizer (I can actually get dirt off my hands instead of ending up with "clean" dirt ). I don't have to worry that the towelettes will leak or spill, and they don't smell strong like most sanitizers do. Above all, the towelettes don't dry my hands out until they peel, like the sanitizers do.

I do avoid buffet dining though. I have seen one too many people sticking their hands into the food, as well as laying the serving utensils with the handles in the food. Have you ever seen anyone sampling salad dressings by sticking their finger in each one and licking it? I have. No amount of sanitizing will take care of that situation.

 

[nkereina]

We just got back at the end of September and I am an avid hand washer, avoid touching my face, and I use anti-bacterial stuff all the time. At the end of my trip, I developed pink eye and pneumonia. I went to urgent care the day I got home and was diagnosed with pneumonia and given two anti-biotics. So, there's no way to avoid it. One thing I forgot to do which I won't forgt to do next time is bring anti-bacterial wipes and wipe down the hotel room first thing when you get there. I wouldn't touch the phone or remote control because I know those never get cleaned and are germ breeding grounds.

 

[Otter49]

Just for the heck of it, from Reuters today:

Gas pump handles top study of filthy surfaces

Gas pump handles turned out to be the filthiest surface that Americans encounter on the way to work, according to a study released on Tuesday by Kimberly-Clark Professional, a unit of personal hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark Corp.

A team of hygienists swabbed hundreds of surfaces around six U.S. cities to see what everyday objects are breeding grounds for the worst bacteria and viruses.

The top offenders, following gas pumps, were handles on public mailboxes, escalator rails and ATM buttons.

Closely following on the filthiest list were parking meters and kiosks, crosswalk buttons and buttons on vending machines in shopping malls.

"It comes down to the fact that nobody cleans the things that you're going to touch on a daily basis," said Dr. Kelly Arehart, program leader of Kimberly-Clark's Healthy Workplace Project.

Testers analyzed swabs of the surfaces for levels of adenosine triphosphate, which signals the presence of animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast or mold cells, and the high levels found suggest they can be transmitting illness, researchers said.

Swabs were taken in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia.

Arehart's colleague Brad Reynolds said germs from people's hands can transfer seven times before leaving the skin. People should wash their hands as soon as they get to work, he said.

(Reporting by Alina Selyukh in Washington; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

 

[aripantaloon]

This may not be what you want to hear, but there is no way to avoid touching germy things at WDW. For starters, you have to put your finger on the finger scan to even get in the park. Not to mention you have to touch seat restraints and railings and such. If any of those things freak out your friends, then you are in for a long, stressfull vacation.

Even if your friends bring their own silverware, what about plates? They can't possibly pack their own plates or glasses. At some point they will need to use the dinnerware Disney provides. Not to mention they won't be able to bring in plastic wrapped silverware or straws into the Animal Kingdom at all. That sort of stuff is deadly to the animals and not allowed.

I think frequent handwashing and sanatizing is the best you can do. Also being careful not to touch your face (which is harder than it sounds) helps to keep germs from getting into your system. Maybe pack some Airborne for your friends to help their immune system.

I wish you luck.

ITA with this post. You really are touching just sooooo many things that it's going to be impossible to not touch something that's germy. Fast pass buttons, turnstyles, restraints, and just normal grabbing on to things to get on and off of a ride.

Have they ever been to any kind of amusement park? What do they do then? Sanitize after every ride? If so, I think I'd go crazy being with them for more than an hour. Sorry.

 

[luvthemouse71]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905174501.htm

Not saying it is really the cause but it may be.

 

[t_catt11]

Ladies and gentlemen, I will now be "that guy".

While I agree that one should be conscious of germs and such, please remember that your body is equipped for this sort of thing - it's called an immune system. Unless you have an immune compromised person in your party, this excessive worry seems to be a large waste of time.

I have been to Disney World four times, for trips of no less than ten days each time. We have taken our children as young as 4 months old, have had a two year old on two different trips, have had a four year old on a trip.

We have touched every surface imaginable - handles, telephones, railings, you name it. The little kids have often put their hands in their mouths, have wiped their eyes, etc. Yes, the little ones have even done gross things like put their mouths on handrails (though we do not allow them to do such). We have never dreamed of using our own dining utensils - yes, we (gasp!) even get plastic forks out of the cart bins. We eat at several buffets per trip.

We typically take a small bottle of hand sanitizer with us... and promptly forget it once we're in the parks. We may have used four applications of the stuff, total.

Yet all told, in over 5,300 man hours of Walt Disney World exposure, we have yet to come down with a single sniffle, upset stomach, fever, pestlence, or plague.

People, your body is designed to resist infections. You do know that there is research that suggests that people who overdo the germaphobia may actually be less healthy, as their immune systems don't have the necessary practice in resisting common bugs and foreign substances.


Anyway, there you go. Please feel free to roll your eyes at my cavalier attitude, sigh over how I could risk my children's health, and mutter about my lack of understanding. While some folks fret over touching the handrails and deal with the fallout from doing so, we're gonna go ride Dumbo.

 

[t_catt11]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905174501.htm

Not saying it is really the cause but it may be.

LOL I just referenced this sort of article as I was composing my post!

 

[neatokimmo]

doesn't squick you out?

I have nothing to contribute to this conversation except to say this might be my new favorite phrase.

 

[brucerob62]

wonder what people did before hand sanitizers?..I turned out fine for an older person..hardly ever sick...ate dirt, ate worms when i was younger. and OH NO!>>NO HAND SANITIZER!!.what are you to do?? you're body needs to build up a resistance to certain things to learn to fight them off,coming from a medical background i can tell you that. If you are a twin of howie mandel, you will not be able to fight anything off ..by not being subjected to certain things. I agree prevention is very important, but to a certain point. When it becomes OCD or similar, a little too far.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Ladies and gentlemen, I will now be "that guy".

While I agree that one should be conscious of germs and such, please remember that your body is equipped for this sort of thing - it's called an immune system. Unless you have an immune compromised person in your party, this excessive worry seems to be a large waste of time.

I have been to Disney World four times, for trips of no less than ten days each time. We have taken our children as young as 4 months old, have had a two year old on two different trips, have had a four year old on a trip.

We have touched every surface imaginable - handles, telephones, railings, you name it. The little kids have often put their hands in their mouths, have wiped their eyes, etc. Yes, the little ones have even done gross things like put their mouths on handrails (though we do not allow them to do such). We have never dreamed of using our own dining utensils - yes, we (gasp!) even get plastic forks out of the cart bins. We eat at several buffets per trip.

We typically take a small bottle of hand sanitizer with us... and promptly forget it once we're in the parks. We may have used four applications of the stuff, total.

Yet all told, in over 5,300 man hours of Walt Disney World exposure, we have yet to come down with a single sniffle, upset stomach, fever, pestlence, or plague.

People, your body is designed to resist infections. You do know that there is research that suggests that people who overdo the germaphobia may actually be less healthy, as their immune systems don't have the necessary practice in resisting common bugs and foreign substances.


Anyway, there you go. Please feel free to roll your eyes at my cavalier attitude, sigh over how I could risk my children's health, and mutter about my lack of understanding. While some folks fret over touching the handrails and deal with the fallout from doing so, we're gonna go ride Dumbo.

Same goes. Dh is a teacher and I work in a library - 2 of the biggest germ factories. When we both started our jobs, we were CONSTANTLY sick. Now? It's EXTREMELY rare for one of to get even a sniffle. Our immune systems became stronger from actually getting sick. Each year that our kids are in school, they get sick less and less for the same reason.

I know that true OCD germophobics can't help it (just like my insane fear of spiders ), but our society as a whole really does need to take the use of hand sanitizer down a notch!

To the OP, kudos to you for trying to equip your germophobic friends with the knowledge they need to survive the germ factory that is WDW!

 

[kerplop]

I get that people have unexplained and irrational phobias, but I seriously don't understand peoples' obsession with sanitizing now. I'd never even heard of hand sanitizer until I was nearly 30 and I rarely get sick. I was a notorious dirty handed kid who rarely washed even before dinner and I didn't get sick often.

 

[nytimez]

wonder what people did before hand sanitizers?..I turned out fine for an older person..hardly ever sick...ate dirt, ate worms when i was younger. and OH NO!>>NO HAND SANITIZER!!.what are you to do?? you're body needs to build up a resistance to certain things to learn to fight them off,coming from a medical background i can tell you that. If you are a twin of howie mandel, you will not be able to fight anything off ..by not being subjected to certain things. I agree prevention is very important, but to a certain point. When it becomes OCD or similar, a little too far.

I agree with this in principle, however there's also the reality that today's germs can be more powerful than those of the past and drug-resistant bacteria are now turning up "in the wild" (ie outside of hospitals and nursing homes).

Remember, in human terms a generation is about 20 years... but for some bacteria, a generation can be as short as a few minutes -- so while we're staying the same, they're rapidly evolving.

In addition, widespread travel has made it easier to spread "exotic" bacteria that might not harm the person carrying it because they're used to it, but could sicken someone who's never been exposed.

I'm not saying anyone needs to worry about a doomsday germ, but it does make more sense to take more precautions now than we did as kids years ago.

Also, remember when you do get sick -- and for many people, illness is a fact of life that happens from time to time -- it's not from going out without your jacket or being stuck in the rain as some still suggest... it's because you've been exposed to these germs somewhere along the way during your day, so a little prevention could go a long way overall toward limiting illness.

 

[bellamama]

Not sure that I could add anything here that hasn't already been said. I agree with so much of what has been said, and also disagree with much.

Phobias are " irrational persistent fear or dread" according to Mr Webster. It describes myself perfectly with regard to spiders and really, most insects. My DH cannot understand how a spider the size of a dime on my bathroom ceiling can make my heart race, my palms sweat and my throat dry. I am an otherwise very logical and rational person. Phobias remove all your logic from the equation.

I think we would all be hard pressed to find a person who doesn't have a "fear" of germs or becoming sick from them. Do you know any parent who says, "sure, go ahead, lick the shopping cart handle, it probably tastes interesting! In fact, do it TWICE!" (yup, happened here, a week before Christmas, and yes, DS DID get sick)

We should all have a healthy respect for germs, but we should also respect those whose phobias make something like taking your family to DW an epic planning event (and I'm not talking ADRs).

Just one more log on the fire. As a health care worker, I'm somewhat apprehensive of the overuse of Clorox and other disinfecting wipes. Says right on the package, KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. What harmful chemicals are we allowing to seep into our systems in the name of clean? I'll be washing my hands after using them, thanks very much!

 

[brucerob62]

I agree with this in principle, however there's also the reality that today's germs can be more powerful than those of the past and drug-resistant bacteria are now turning up "in the wild" (ie outside of hospitals and nursing homes).

Remember, in human terms a generation is about 20 years... but for some bacteria, a generation can be as short as a few minutes -- so while we're staying the same, they're rapidly evolving.

In addition, widespread travel has made it easier to spread "exotic" bacteria that might not harm the person carrying it because they're used to it, but could sicken someone who's never been exposed.

I'm not saying anyone needs to worry about a doomsday germ, but it does make more sense to take more precautions now than we did as kids years ago.

Also, remember when you do get sick -- and for many people, illness is a fact of life that happens from time to time -- it's not from going out without your jacket or being stuck in the rain as some still suggest... it's because you've been exposed to these germs somewhere along the way during your day, so a little prevention could go a long way overall toward limiting illness.

point well taken..i agree with all you said. Prevention is the key.. at least try to prevent. But just in moderation. dont go overboard to where it controls you.

 

[julm26]

I wonder how they enjoy themselves anywhere...I would say they shouldn't come. I am all about being clean and sanitary, but really I don't worry so much about the germs, my DD hasn't missed a day of school because of sickness in 2 years...and its definitely not due to my overly clean habits...LOL

 

[Wadecool]

If they have that big of an issue with germs and are taking a trip to WDW, a generous supply of Klonopin couldn't hurt.

 

[nytimez]

If they have that big of an issue with germs and are taking a trip to WDW, a generous supply of Klonopin couldn't hurt.

A bottle of rum can calm the nerves AND sanitize any surfaces... not to mention fit in nicely with the whole "pirates" theme.

Also, white rum looks just like water when you put it into a Poland Spring bottle. I'm just sayin'...

 

[MHSweb79]

People, your body is designed to resist infections. You do know that there is research that suggests that people who overdo the germophobia may actually be less healthy, as their immune systems don't have the necessary practice in resisting common bugs and foreign substances.

I totally agree. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Besides, isn't it safer to grab onto those germy handrails rather than risking a fall? You do NOT want to fall into the water at Small World or Pirates - yuck.

 

[skier_pete]

Much more of an issue than the bathrooms or the restaurants are the railings in the queues and the rides themselves. The restroom and restaurants are cleaned frequently whereas these other things are not. Everytime you walked through a queue and get on and off a ride, you are touching what hundreds or thousands of others have touched that day. (My DW caught chicken pox in WDW in 2000, BTW. So it's not just colds you can get.)


Truth is, I don't really have good advice for germ-phobes at Disney World, except don't touch your own mouth/eyes/face without washing your hands first. Washing hands is preferable to using hand sanitizer as others have pointed out. There's almost no way you won't be exposed to lots and lots of germs or your hands, but keeping them out of your bodies is more important. As for your kids, forget it! They rub their eyes and stick their hands in their mouths all the time.

SkierPete

 

[t_catt11]

Besides, isn't it safer to grab onto those germy handrails rather than risking a fall? You do NOT want to fall into the water at Small World or Pirates - yuck.

I just had this silly mental image of the water being like the radioactive sludge from Robocop...