Fire Ants

[NYDisneyKid]

Hello, Just wondering if anyone had any encounters with fire ants anywhere at WDW? ºOº

 

[shmedly123]

we never had a problem. I thought the fire ants were more of a problem out west in Texas and OK but I could be mistaken.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

I dunno if they were Fire Ants...but we had a site infested with red ants that bite at Fort Wilderness a few years back...their ant hills were very large and probally 4-6in above the ground. We let the front desk know and they had people down in no time spraying/etc. They also moved our site!

 

[dansamy]

we never had a problem. I thought the fire ants were more of a problem out west in Texas and OK but I could be mistaken.

Nope. Fire ants are a widespread problem in the South. I know FL's got 'em. Just don't know how good Disney is about exterminating.

Kyle, those big red ants are fire ants.

An FYI to those with little kids, don't let them scratch an insect bite. The past 2 months or so all we've had in our Pediatric unit are kids with abscesses infected by staph that started as a bite the kid wouldn't stop scratching.

 

[karibritt01]

I have never seen fire ants at CSR or in the parks, but it is certainly possible. If you are familiar with them, you know their nests can pop up from one day to the next, making impossible to prevent them. I am sure when notified, Disney treats them immediately. Their nests are mounded above ground, and can get large. When disturbed, the ants will swarm, and bite whatever they come in contact with. Use Benedryl for itching.

 

[sconnell]

You guys made me itch!

 

[Unregistered]

Been going to WDW since 71 (opening) and never had a problem. Love bugs on the other hand drive me insane (although they're just pesky and don't hurt).

An aunt lives 1/2 hour away in Kissimmee and has to get the grounds sprayed every quarter to help deter them.

 

[connie1042]

We were in Orlando, I think it was our first trip down there. We were not at Disney at the time, but my kids were doing something and I sat down on a block of cement, (like where you would pull your car up to), my feet must of been right on a mound, because that was the worst feeling I have ever had. Burned really bad. It took about 2 hours to stop the burning and iching. Now I watch where I sit.

 

[shmedly123]

We were in Orlando, I think it was our first trip down there. We were not at Disney at the time, but my kids were doing something and I sat down on a block of cement, (like where you would pull your car up to), my feet must of been right on a mound, because that was the worst feeling I have ever had. Burned really bad. It took about 2 hours to stop the burning and iching. Now I watch where I sit.

you're lucky that your feet was all that was itching after sitting on the pavement

 

[ziggybaby]

Hello, Just wondering if anyone had any encounters with fire ants anywhere at WDW? ºOº

No ants, but we saw a snake, floating in the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon

The wife freaked , but the CM's soon removed it ​

 

[safetymom]

Fire ants are alive and well in FL. They are everywhere.

 

[Lovinlifesooomuch30]

YES we have !!! It didn't happen on Disney property but 10 minutes away at a hotel around the Universal area. This was our trip this past December. It is a great hotel and we were staying there after driving into Orlando before heading to the Animal Kingdom Lodge the next morning to begin our vacation. It was after dark and we had already checked in and had went back out for dinner. Next to where we pulled in was a hill of them right next to the curb where we parked our car. My 7 year old daughter got out of our van and unknowingly dragged her pillow and blanket over the top of the hill. My mom and the other two girls got out on the other side while my husband got out on the side with my youngest daughter. I heard him smacking his arm and made a comment about getting bit. I figured it might be a mosquito or something. Well my 7 year old started to cry and said that she was getting bit. I come around the van and my husband realizes that they are ants. The worst part was that we realized that were all in her little ballet flats that she was wearing. Well those came off immediately. We must have looked crazy coming into the lobby because we are running and carrying the two younger girls, and my teen and my mom are rushing as well. We had stomped most of them off but there were still some on us and it HURT ! My youngest got bit the most but still only a few times because we acted very quickly. WE got into the room and stripped the kids down while my husband made sure that he was killing any that were still on our clothes in the pile. I got the kids in the shower and took care of that. Thank goodness. I had one in my bra on the elevator ride up....not fun. Then I had one on my finger and it seriously just hung on my finger while I was trying to shake it off. My husband went down to the front desk and let them know. They sent someone out immediately to take care of it. My husband moved the van to another spot. The next morning we looked at where the ant hill had been and it didn't look that incredibly huge. Maybe a couple of them that were 2-4 inches tall. We never even saw it after pulling in. I don't know if they were "fire ants" they weren't that big and they were black. There were some big ones but most of them were smaller in size. In all of our trips to Disney I have never seen any on their property. so I don't really worry about that, but you can bet that we pay much more attention now. The ironic thing is that here in Illinois my youngest has always loved picking up ants and letting them crawl on her. The ants here don't bite or at least all of the ones we have come across. She says she still "likes Illinois ants". LOL

 

[Lovinlifesooomuch30]

I just went back and reread your message. YES this is exactly the type of area next to a curb where our experience was with them. Maybe it is just coincidence or maybe they like to make their hills there for some reason. Hmmmmm




Sorry forgot to post the message I was talking about. It was Connie 1042. The curb you sat on sounds just like what this looked like ! Yikes !

 

[Eganclan]

Was at Universal a few years ago and found the the "coldest" water fountain. I was quite proud of my find and got busy filling up our water bottles while DH and kids ran off to the next ride. Next thing you know my feet were covered with fire ants. Still don't now how I missed seeing them because they were everywhere.

 

[mattmommy]

When visiting relatives in FL I make sure ds6 knows that FL has "bad ants" and not to touch them.

I'm trying to be the brave cool mom who picks up bugs and not let him be afraid.

This is the exception.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

We just returned from OKW. DD 4 was bit by a fire ant while waiting for the bus by the hospitality house. She was bitten on back of her leg just above her ankle sock. We thought it was a mosquito bite but once it turned into a blister which was 1/4" off her skin we knew it wasn't from a mosquito. We stopped at AK first aid and they said it was a fire ant. Thank goodness it was only 1 bite. We kept it covered w/ a bandaid incase the blister popped. Right now it is just a scab. The blister went down on its own about 10 days after being bitten. Not sure when the scab will fall off. She has been really good about not picking on it. She did have another ant crawl up her leg in Epcot, England while waiting to meet Alice in Wonderland. She screamed and knocked it off her and onto my foot! I got it off me and the lady behind me stomped on it! What a sight!