Fire Ants

[ZehnJahren]

Are there a lot of fire ants in the World? Parks, resorts, beaches, etc.? Where would they be the most? Any reports of attacks? Have you seen them? I know very little about them, but my DBF is severely allergic to them (he came within minutes of dying from bites as a child) and I will be carrying his Epipen EVERYWHERE. I would like to be prepared, if I can be.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Been going since 1975 and never came across any.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Never have seen any fire ants at WDW. They are surely in the park complex somewhere but it is very unlikely they are where you will be going within the theme parks.

As you know, the EpiPen auto-injector should be current.

 

[virginiamama]

My friend's little girl ran across a section of golf course at Bonnet Creek and was stung/bitten on her feet and legs around this time last year.

Also, at DHS a different friend had set her bag down somewhere outside, then picked it up and went into the Animation Academy (can't remember if that is what it is called - but the one where you draw along with an animator), doors closed, she starts feeling things crawling inside her shirt and starts getting stings. She had to get a CM to open the door to let her out. She ran to the bathroom and took her shirt off and had several fire ants on her.

I had forgotten about this until now. Thanks for reminding me. I will be careful where I put my stuff down.

 

[OKW Lover]

Never been an issue for us.

 

[pulley182]

the only place I have really seen them is at AK..we were by the smoking section/bridge area near EE. They were on the hand rails of the bridge and along the ground. They are really not that bad at the other parks but then again, i wasn't looking out for them.

The only other place I would think they might be found, is on Tom Sawyer Island in MK.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I saw a mound on the little island at CBR. I did tell a Cast Member so hopefully it was taken care of. This was in April 2009.

Those things are all over Georgia so it's a habit to keep an eye out for them. They really hurt.

 

[Stephen121795]

I have never seen any bug or pests at WDW.

 

[PrincessV]

Unlike around my home, in West-Central FL, it's never been a big problem at WDW over my 20-plus years visiting. However, it only takes one bite. I and my DS are allergic too, though we haven't yet suffered full anaphylaxis, and yes, we've both been bitten at WDW. Where are they? I've seen them in the sand - at CBR, the Poly, Beach Club, etc. Also pool decks and planter walls. If it's a particularly windy day, so help me, they can be air-born. I've watched it happen! There aren't a lot at WDW, but they are there, so best to keep the epi-pen on hand, avoid being barefoot while not moving (read: sitting in a pool chair with feet on the ground), and look around before sitting on planter walls and benches.

 

[GrillMouster]

There are some HUGE ants under the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom.

Seriously, in hundreds of visits to WDW over the past few decades I can recall seing a handful of ant piles in grassy. Your BF should be fine if he stays away from the grass (incidentally, good advice for college kids).

 

[lilys.mom]

I feel your concerns about this. We live in Tennessee and they are everywhere. Can barely get out in our own yard. My DD has been bite several times and it takes months for them to heal and she is agony the whole time she has them. It can be very miserable and in your case severe! I would just really watch and think about places you are walking/stepping. Hopefully you wont have a problem...but never hurts to be mindful.

 

[ZehnJahren]

All very good advice; thank you! We just got his Epipen filled about a week ago, and are off to the World in a month, so we should be good. 've been trained on using the pen even though I hate needles, as most likely I'd be the one to stick him; I just don't know much myself (and he was very, very young when he was bit for the first time; they were living in Texas and the doctor told them they'd better move - which they did).

Things like keeping your bag off the ground or watching handrails is good advice for someone like me. Does anyone else have any additional advice? I'm mostly a northern girl - but even if I wasn't, I'm not allergic to ANYTHING except mosquitoes (which I'm very allergic to, and get huge welts and sores when they bite, but nothing that might kill me). Any things to look out for?

Thanks so much!

 

[nessz79]

I was about to say to definitely be prepared.

I have never seen them at WDW grounds (wish I could say the same about my own yard!).

However, you are bound to come across them if you go off property....especially if you drive down, be particularly careful of reststops. They could certainly be found in any ground not cemented (and even then!).

 

[KermitFrog2]

I have never seen any bug or pests at WDW.

Same for me

 

[Susiesnowflake]

I once saw a young boy playing in the thinned out shrubbery around the Poly quiet pool, and he came out screaming when a number of ants bit him.

 

[Orlando313]

I've been coming to Orlando & WDW for over 15 years and I moved to Orlando 2.5 years ago, and I've never seen any fire ants.

Now, that's not to say that we don't have ants, because there are regular brown ants, and giant carpenter ants. The carpenter ants can be BAD at times, but I don't think they bite, they destroy wood.

We had horrible fire ant mounds in west TN where I grew up.

 

[Feralpeg]

Fire ants are usually pretty easy to spot. Their mounds tend to look spongy. They most often build them along the edge of a sidewalk or some area where the grass is a little thin. They also like to nest in wood chips.

I got bit last weekend on my hand while pulling weeds in my yard. I knew better, but reached into a bunch of wood chips. They came spilling out and one got on my hand. It hurt, but it wasn't terrible.

I've been bitten two other times. Once was at WDW. I was sitting on a bench outside of Indiana Jones. It had been raining all day. Rain tends to drive the ants out. One bit me on the neck.

I've lived in Florida for six years and have only been bitten twice. The time at DHS was prior to moving here. My worst experience was right after hurricane Charley. I was helping my sister stand up a small tree. I stepped into a bunch of wood chips and get a bunch of bites on my legs. That wasn't fun.

OP, just stay on the sidewalks and he should be fine.

 

[brerdawg]

I have never seen any bug or pests at WDW.

Me too, besides love bugs.

 

[safetymom]

Fire ants are all over the place here in Orlando. Just be careful. I cringe when I see kids in the grass here. Almost every time I go out to do yard work I get stung.

 

[nancyjane]

Yikes I've never seen them (I'm up north). How easy is it to find medical help at Disney if you need it suddenly?