Do you get sick at Disney?

[trola2]

Ok, I have always wondered this. We always get sick at Disney. Is it just us? We are usually there for 8-10 days at a stretch, so if we "lose" a day it's not a big deal, but this trip we picked up a nasty stomach bug. Seems to have a 48 hour incubation because almost exactly 48 hours after my first child started it, then it moved to the next person. Last night my hubby and oldest DD came down with it...almost exactly 48 hours after it hit the seond DD. So...am I next of have I avoided it. BTW, we wash hands at every pit stop, and use anti germ gel after most rides.

So...anyone else usually pick up a bug at the world??

 

[cyndibelle]

we all had horrible sore throats there...started with daughter and then worked down the line..we got home..was home a day and then daughter started throwing up.....who knows...

 

[liznboys]

We've never gotten sick while at WDW, knock on wood we never do!

 

[GEM]

We've been 12 times and our trips have ranged from 5 to 14 days, and we have never gotten sick while there. We hardly ever get sick at all, though, so maybe that has something to do with it. We are also really careful about washing our hands often and we use that antibacterial gel a lot while we are there. Goodness knows what nasties are living on all those hand rails, lap bars, etc.

 

[extremesoccermom]

My son had the stomach flu on his first visit there in 1994 he was only 4 at the time and still remembers where it hit him on the steps of Tony's. He also remembers how nice the CM were to him. We have made 6 more trips without any incident. Hopefully our luck will hold as we have 3 trips planned for this comming year.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Last May 03. one of my little ones got the Norwalk virus, he was horribly sick high fever, hospitol x's 2. The others got it the night we returned home as soon as we put the luggage down they fell apart.

I was neurotic about going again, lets face it you are picking it up from the kids touching hand rails things of that nature. We went back in December and we did exactly what my pedi told me to do.
It may sound a little nutty to people but we went noone got sick, so therefore I am going to do it again..As you said using that hand gel constantly is a really big thing. Bring your own stroller if you have little ones! And he also told me to bring a can of lysol disinfectant spray and spray the entire room. Paying special attention to things like light switches handles, remote controls. And most important..... people don't realize it takes 20 minutes to start to work. So spray it like crazy,( kids out of the way of course) and go for a walk.

By the way my DB thought I was being a nutcase. and had alot to say. BUT took the can anyway and did his own room Just in case!

Last October a girlfriend of mine went to disney with her extended family, and was doing the hand gel thing and I guess driving her family crazy. So the wiped thier hands all over the railings at Little mermaid and all wiped them all over her, To show her how foolish she was. Well you guessed it 2 days later she got violently ill.. It was not pretty if you get my drift. Her DH is still in the doghouse about this.
It wasn't so funny in the end. (literally )

 

[trola2]

Isn't that weird? We are never sick at home, but I can almost bank on us getting sick there or immediately upon return!! Usually something minor but this trip and our last were both stomach bugs. Yick!! Here's hoping our next trip will be germ free!!

 

[trola2]

twinmom, thanks for the tip. I'm adding that to my file for my next trip. You can bet I'll have a can of lysol in the luggage!!

 

[GEM]

Originally posted by twinmomplus2new
And most important..... people don't realize it takes 20 minutes to start to work. So spray it like crazy,( kids out of the way of course) and go for a walk.

Really? I just looked and my lysol can says right on the front that it kills 99.9% of germs in 30 seconds.

 

[liznboys]

twinmomplus2new-I did the same thing...brought a can of Lysol and sprayed it all over our room-especially the bathroom area!! It's a great idea! We are also big on the anti-bacterial gel and hand wipes.

GEM-My Lysol can says "to DISINFECT let stand 10 minutes", "to SANITIZE let stand 30 seconds". So, I assume that disinfecting kills more stuff than sanitizing. lol

 

[DisneyMom5]

We did!
3 of the kids got the nasty stomach bug while we were there.
It was bad.

 

[Jackie824]

Wow, this is an interesting topic. I have been there over 10 times and have never been sick. Since being married and having kids we have been around 5 times and nobody got sick..I hope I just didnt jinx myself by saying that out loud, as we are going again in May

 

[lagirl]

I'll be sure to pack a can of Lysol when we leave for WDW next week. I already have antibacterial handgel and wipes for the parks but didn't think of spraying the house we are renting. Thanks for the tip.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have no idea what the can says, as I do not use it at home. My pedi told me to wait 20 minutes, so I did!

 

[catherines_mama]

DD and I did ok this past week. She had a cold going into the trip.. but I just gave her Simply Stuffy every morning. I had a bad migrain on our last day. You should have seen the CM who sold me the Exedrain in ToonTown. I didnt even count to 2 before I tore it open and downed it. I needed it bad! DD wanted to do TeaCups AND Barnstormer again.

I can imagine doing such a long trip. Different climate, germs etc.. lifestyle and bedtime changes would get anyone a bit under the weather.

I think its good that a down day does not throw the trip off track. You just have to be prepared for the worst, so when someone DOES get sick, its not tragic.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

During our trip at the end of 2003 my youngest got a nasty cold that ended up resulting in an ear infection and I came home with pneumonia in both lungs. We washed hands many many times each day and used antibacterial gel a TON as well (and had the severely dry skin to prove it! ) I started feeling a little run down late in the day our last day but figured it was just fatigue, woke up the next morning feeling horrid. My little guy was fine while we were there but started getting sick on the way home. I was just thankful we were in my parent's RV so I could just spend the whole ride home sleeping in the back!

 

[jsjohnso]

Thanks for the good tips! I've been worrying about whether it's allergy time down in FL when we go in May because it sure will be pollen season in the Hudson Valley at that time of year. But, I just started thinking about being in a place where there will be thousands(?) of kids!! I will definitely spray our room and use the hand gel, and make a big fuss about getting enough rest. And this thread definitely clinched my decision to bring a stroller!
The story about the handrail incident will definitely silence those who call me germophobic!
Thanks!

I'm curious to know whether certain months are more prone to sicknesses; it seems to be that way when we're home. I'm hoping that DS is accumulating lots of immunity!

Judy

(Catherines_mom, what a cute little angel you have!)

 

[jodifla]

I've been going for 30 years, a few times a year. I've never gotten sick, nor has any of my family.

There's some concern out there that overusing hand gels just makes for a more resistant crop of bugs. i would never think to Lysol a disney hotel room, although it does seem like a good tip for some other places I've been!

 

[my2tinkerbells]

We just got back from Disney last Sat. My dad and dd, both came down with the nasty stomach virus. My dad missed 2 days of our trip, luckily my dd came down with it the night before we were leaving so she didn't miss anything. We stayed at Pop and I came acrossed other mothers with children that had the same virus. I can imagine in such a busy place that a virus like that could just spread like wild fire. I think the only reason my youngest didn't get it is because we left that day, and left the germs behind in the hotel room, lol. There must be something going around down there.

 

[treesinger]

I've heard that it is the water. Not that the water is bad, mind you. Your body gets used to the water that you get at home. There are different standards and additives (and subtractives?) across the country. Sometimes, people get sick simply because the water is "different". I always have some mild problems for a day or two when I'm there, causing WAY too many bathroom stops.