Food in hotel room vs. Orlando "insect life"

[shamrock30]

On our trips to Disney, we always keep food and softdrinks in our room. I have read of so many "roach sightings" that I am a little paranoid--okay, maybe more than a little. I seal everything in ziplocs and cram it into our rented refrigerator--cereal boxes, you name it. If we eat something in the room, we throw the remains into an outside trash bin as soon as we are finished. With so many people using styrofoam coolers instead of refrigerators, I was wondering if that poses any, ahem, problems? <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz">

 

[tinaluis]

We are just as careful when eating in our room because we don't want to invite any unwanted "guests" into the room, considering the fact that we'll be there for at least a week usually. My sister teases that we're always "too careful" but we've never really had a bug incident except at a terrible 2* Best Inn on 192 which I should have expected considering the hotel.

 

[mummajea]

Now it has been a while since I was down south but if I recall from our last visit these "roaches" are of the HUGE as In Humongous variety. My DH's Aunt and Uncle consider them more like getting ants or fly's in the house. I do remeber they are HUGE AS IN HUMONGOUS!!!! so if that bothers you I would worry.

A little note on those gross little critters we find up north here... according to the exterminators I have talked to they really are attracted to cardboard and paper and moisture more the food per se. At least that was what we were told when we lived in this Huge apartment complex and had major probs with them.

My solution whenever we travel is not to bring the luggage into the house when we first get back. It goes into the garage where I empty it and shake everything out really good!! then it goes straight to the laundry and everything gets washed whether it is dirty or not!

 

[diznee]

We always stay onsite for 10 days or 2 weeks and have always been careful and have not had any problems thus far....that being said....one of the reasons I am exceedingly careful is because of a horrifying encounter I had while at Epcot late one night. We were exiting the park and had just passed the water-spout area. It was still quite warm and humid and because there were several children playing in the area and we packed our daughter's suit, we decided to let her slip into it and join the others. We walked down a rather dark and deserted walkway nearby and sat down on a bench and proceeded with the task at hand, when all of a sudden a HUGE, yes as in HUMONGOUS, roach crossed the walkway and went scuttling off into the landscaping area. This thing was as long as the palm of your hand and at least as wide as a couple of your fingers. It was unreal, like a roach on steroids! Thank goodness, my daughter hadn't seen it or we would have been leaving the park post-haste!

 

[wagmt]

Are these critters around all year round or are they only around certain times of the year? My skin's crawling!!!!! <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face">

 

[shortbun]

Florida has lots of palmetto bugs-they are
hand length and wide just like a cockroach.
They are attracted by water and since that
used to be one of Floridas biggest claims to
fame-there are lots of them down there. They
are not indoor bugs unless one gets in the
waterline and makes its way up the sink or tub.
Their shell is like armor and most northerners
think they are giant cockroaches. The Floridians
think we're funny because they are used to the
little critters.

 

[shamrock30]

I guess I am not alone in my concern. Haven't had a roach encounter in Florida yet, maybe because I am so careful. Those Palmetto bugs sound like something out of a horror movie! I know that regular old roaches can grow to a huge size as well--I saw a few in my college dorm in Pittsburgh that were (and I am not exaggerating) a good 4 inches long. Other people saw them, too. They seemed to come from the freight elevator shaft. I was really traumatised--I am such a wimp when it comes to bugs.

 

[TimNDansMom]

Because we usually vacation in the south (Myrtle Beach, Florida etc.) we have gotten sort of used to the roaches and palmetto bugs that scurry around outside at night. Even in the best hotels, I have found an occasional dead or dying roach (due to the regular spraying that is done)and I even read this is possible, in a magazine. It's a fact of life down there, just the same as wherever you live, that bugs can get into a house or hotel. The difference is that they are bigger and although it could give me the "willies" if I let it, I try to remember that the offending bug is more scared of me and remove it quickly. Now, if I were in a hotel that was over-run with these bugs, that would be a different story! So far, so good!

Julie

off-site '86,'87
DXL July 00
DXL November 00 (no kids)
off-site March 01
CSR & ASMu July 01

 

[DEE DEE]

I agree the Palmetto Bugs are as big as my bedroom shoe but at least they can not bite you like a scorpian.The worst I had was when flew and landed on me but it only happened once.Bugs are
nothing compared to the snakes that Florida gets.You really need to think more about the snakes for my poor kitty two years ago got bitten
by a water moccasin. He was in bad shape for 3 days but he finally recovered thank goodness.So if you are not use to the south be careful.