Food Poisoning at WDW

Status
Not open for further replies.

disneyguy1818

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
49
It seems like a disproportionate number of people claim to have suffered food poisoning from a WDW restaurant (Ts and CS). To those who indicated this happened to them- did you suffer full blown food poisoning and require hospitalization? Or did you just have a badly upset stomach and vomitting for a day? All those posts make me nervous to eat at WDW. It would be terrible to get food poisoning and miss days on my trip after all the planning and saving it takes to make the trip happen. I'm hoping some of the posters just had an upset stomach for a day and not a full blown illness! Anyone else overwhelmed by the number of food borne illness claims on this site?
 
Anyone else overwhelmed by the number of food borne illness claims on this site?

Not in the least. The best way to avoid GI upset is to scrupulously wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting anything in your mouth. Chances are any bacteria you ingest are from your hands and not the food itself. Just think about what you have been touching before your meal, and how many thousands of other people have touched the same thing that day!!:scared1:

If the problem was the food itself there would be hundreds of cases of "food poisoning" every day. And that's just not the case. Not saying this never happens, but it's not the primary cause of visitors GI upsets.

And don't forget that there are many non-bacterial causes for GI upsets: allergy, food intolerance, heat and dehydration to name just a few.
 
Not in the least. The best way to avoid GI upset is to scrupulously wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting anything in your mouth. Chances are any bacteria you ingest are from your hands and not the food itself. Just think about what you have been touching before your meal, and how many thousands of other people have touched the same thing that day!!:scared1:

If the problem was the food itself there would be hundreds of cases of "food poisoning" every day. And that's just not the case. Not saying this never happens, but it's not the primary cause of visitors GI upsets.

And don't forget that there are many non-bacterial causes for GI upsets: allergy, food intolerance, heat and dehydration to name just a few.


Totally agree! Last year I forgot to pack sanitizer with us and my daughter got sick. She woke up in the middle of the night vomiting. The year before, I brought sanitizer and we were all good. Thanks for reminding. I will be going to Walmart to pick up some sanitizer for the trip!:dance3::banana::grouphug:
 
There's actually very very few even suggestions on these boards. Every now and then we'll hear one, but it's really a miniscule amount in the grand scheme of things.

In reality, even of this small amount, the chances of it actually being food poisoning as opposed to a myriad of other ailments is pretty small.

Remember that your body may not be used to the climate, the air quality, the sun exposure, the physical exertion, and the germs coming off of others. Add that some unfamiliar food and stuff you don't normally eat, or at least prepared in ways you don't normally eat, and not everything is going to agree with you.

I know when I first moved to Mobile from NH 2 1/2 years ago, I was quite ill for the first week (I actually wasn't feeling well on the way down there, so it was more of a "it made it worse" thing), and really not feeling well for over a month as my body adjusted.
 

i've been to disney many times and believe me, I havent had a single episode of food poisoning or any illness related to food at all. Dont be afraid to eat there. This can happen anywhere.
 
It's not just disney, it's anyplace . And NO, I don't really get too concerned...common sense goes a long way . For example: You taste a piece of salmon, it tastes "off". Quite simple: Don't eat it!! These things happen. You just have to be conscious....Wash your hands, and hopefully the kitchen staff does the same! :lmao:

I'm more concerned about samonella (spelling?) than anything else... I suffered a horrible bout of food poisining a few years back (NOT at disney, here in NY) from a bagel place...it was very humid, and the four people out of 11 that got sick, were the only ones that ate the Vegatable cream cheese...so we figured it was sitting on the counter in the heat for quite some time :sick:

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!
I lost 8 lbs in 3 days, no joke.
It does cross my mid anytime I eat out, and not just at disney, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
 
My friend, I have been reading these forums for awhile now, and I'm not picking up your idea that there's a lot of food poisoning from Disney food. I believe if a Disney restaurant caused a food poisoning outbreak, the figures would be at least in the hundreds of people, and be somewhat easy to identify.

I have read, as you, about people to coming to WDW and getting a 24-hour "bug." The source could be anything from pre-trip lack of sleep (immunity is down), airplane flight with sick strangers, germs at the parks, reaction to lots of walking in the heat, and being dehydrated. If you look below at 2005 WDW daily attendance figures by park, you can't say there is lots of illness at WDW. 117,260 at the four parks in one day, is a lot of people. A very small percentage will be ill. I think the number of people who are ill would probably match similar populations in Any City, USA. Drinking lots of fluids, taking a break mid-day, use of hand sanitizer frequently, will all help mitigate getting a Disney "bug."

From Google Search, 2005 DAILY Attendance Figures, Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World- 44,110
Epcot at Walt Disney World- 27,125
Disney-Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World- 23,560
Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World- 22,465

That's 117,260 at WDW daily, on average, for the four theme parks, and does not include the 2 water parks, or multiple golf courses.
 
Good to hear. I've been reading restaurant reviews here and noticed a skewed number of people claiming illness due to food. I figured it was probably a different factor causing it but figured I'd ask to confirm my suspicion. I suppose I inferred that the posters were claiming food poisoning when they attributed illness to something they ate- now I know that was a poor assumption. Thanks for the clarification.
 
I think, more often than not, it's just a general bug and not really food poisoning. Any time you're in a crowd exposed to that many people, the chances of exposure to illness increase. In addition, the dry air on planes, as well as the extra contact with people in a confined space, can make people more likely to get sick. Add to that the fact that people's schedules get out of whack, they are in the sun and walking a lot and generally more tired, so any little thing they might have might be more noticeable.

Just wash your hands thoroughly before you eat and most likely you'll be fine.
 
I have a cousin who has been to WDW 3 times and all 3 times she has gotten sick. It's not the food though, just her really bad luck. The last time wasn't a stomach bug though, she twisted her ankle while walking in the parade at MK for her school's marching band. I feel so sorry for her. She has sworn off Disney. lol...

I agree with the others... I wouldn't worry about food poisoning at all... there would be a lot more people complaining if it ever really happened to them. People are so quick to claim it's food poisoning without even knowing.
 
Not in the least. The best way to avoid GI upset is to scrupulously wash your hands

Dilution is the solution to pollution is what we were taught in Micro. Dilute out the bad guys, copious amounts of water will go a long, long way! I carry baby wipes because germex is fine, but I like to get the grime off.

It's not just disney, it's anyplace . And NO, I don't really get too concerned...common sense goes a long way . For example: You taste a piece of salmon, it tastes "off". Quite simple: Don't eat it!! These things happen. You just have to be conscious....Wash your hands, and hopefully the kitchen staff does the same! :lmao:

I'm more concerned about samonella (spelling?) than anything else... I suffered a horrible bout of food poisining a few years back (NOT at disney, here in NY) from a bagel place...it was very humid, and the four people out of 11 that got sick, were the only ones that ate the Vegatable cream cheese... It does cross my mid anytime I eat out, and not just at disney, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Had Salmonella...in the hospital for one week and I'm hardly a wilted violet...pretty sturdy and it dropped me like a fly. Oddly, I've also worked in a micro lab and never caught a thing! I washed my hands like a fiend!

A large number of people go to WDW, their numbers of food borne illness don't seem disproportionately large, however. Any food prepared by someone who did not wash their hands properly or food prepared using unclean cooking utensils, cutting boards, or other tools, dairy products or food containing mayonnaise (such as coleslaw or potato salad) that have been out of the refrigerator too long...frozen or refrigerated foods that are not stored at the proper temperature or are not reheated properly, raw fish or oysters, even raw fruits or vegetables that have not been washed well. WASH YOUR FRUIT! Raw vegetable or fruit juices and dairy, undercooked meats or eggs, water from a well or stream, or city or town water that has not been treated ALL increase your risk. That said, you could easily be fine as well. The thing is care. Would you grab an apple at home and not wash it...then, I wouldn't do it at Disney or the Grand Canyon or NYC or wherever. I don't order rare burgers, ground meat is tricky. I do order med or med rare steaks because the type of meat is different. One piece, not ground, hot in the middle.

Food poisoning onset varies with the type of culprit. Most common food poisonings, Coliforms/Staph usually within about 4-6 hours of eating. Salmonella can be up to 72 hours after, Norovirus within 24 hours, usually. BTW, had that, too, and it would bring a Clydesdale to it's knees! You could easily have the bug in your body before you even stepped foot on WDW property dependent on the organism. Air travel is as easily a culprit. Food poisoning is very abrupt and very "IN YOUR FACE" if you know what I mean. The onset is quick and dirty.

The thing people don't do is hold off on food until the "symptoms" (ie., diarrhea) have passed, no pun intended. Don't eat dairy, stay away from hard to digest foods for 24-48 hours. Go for cereal, rice/grains, potatoes, pasta...and drink lots of plain old water. Don't grab the Immodium right away, let the beast clear your system. Immodium stops it, yet, but it's still there...and can come back with a vengence when you quit taking it.

I wouldn't be fearful...I think diligent or conscientious is a better word, but that goes for anywhere, not just WDW. I do not think WDW is a den of food poisoning iniquity anymore than anywhere else.

p. s. I don't like public drinking fountains...just me.
 
I think most people don't typically eat out and eat such rich foods every day. Then they go to Disney and eat out every meal, eat more desserts then they'd usually do, eat richer foods, etc and it messes with their digestion. Between that and general GI bugs running around, I highly doubt most reports of "food poisoning" are actually related. Just because you have an upset stomach doesn't mean its 1) because of the food you ate, and 2) because of food poisoning.
 
Unless a doctor diagnosed them, there is not any way to confirm that someone who claimed to have contracted food poisoning at a WDW restaurant actually contracted food poisoning. So it probably really can't be stated from a review of internet boards like this one that there is a disproportionate number of food poisoning cases at WDW. Personally I've never seen any evidence here of any sustained and confirmed outbreak of food poisoning traceable to any particular WDW restaurant.

Wash your hands regularly, use sanitizer if it makes you feel better, don't order undercooked meats.
 
Don't worry about it. I just got food poisoning from our local Cheeburger Cheeburger a few months back. My burger was reader than I like, but so was everyone elses, so I just thought i was being picky and ate it. I got sick 7 others didn't. It just happens.

With that said, my Mom DID get food poisoning in WDW. Now this is going back years, I'm talking back to River Country in the mid 1980's.

We were staying in a motel on IDrive and had a cooler for breakfast foods, we all ate the same thing. We packed lunches in the car in another cooler for lunch at RC...again Mom, Dad, me and younger sister all ate the same sandwhiches. For dinner we did QS at RC. I still remember the whole thing as my mom even questioned them before she ate. Dad, sis and I got burgers/fries type dinner but my mom went for a salad. She questioned them about salad dressing when she was motioned to salad dressing packets that were sitting out in the sun and not kept cold in anyway. She was concerened it wasn't safe but they assured her they always stored it that way so she used it. I remember it so clearly because I was a tween and was super embarrased by the stink she was making, lol. Anway, we spent our last hour or 2 before RC closed and she was already super sick to her stomach. By the time we got back to our motel she was violently throwing up. She had it for 2 days and was fine again. Dad took sis and I out to so many mini golf places so we didn't hit WDW without her. The poor housekeepr just started leaving clean towels at our front door.

Did she go to the hospital? No. Should she have, maybe. I don't remember her ever being sicker :sick:, but she recovered enough that we were back into WDW after 2 days. She didn't eat much and was picky about what she did eat, but the same thing happened to me after my Cheeburger Cheeburger incident. I still haven't brought myself to eat a burger there again, but I'll go grilled chicken no problem.

Just go with your instinct, if something seems off, it may be and question it. Be careful of germs, wash your hands, and if you do get sick (which is unlikely) food poisoning usually doesn't last too long.
 
One other factor to consider, call me "weird" or what not, but any time I have been in Orlando , and drank the tap water, I have gotten an upset stomach....:confused3 I drink a LOT of water, so that might be why...just the change of water. I now drink bottled only when I go, and I have noticed a decrease in stomach issues.
Likewise, days of eating rich foods, dessert, wine etc.....will make anyone feel sick, especially if you are not used to it!
 
I agree with the folks who say it is more about the rich foods and the amount of foods people are eating.

Always wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer and you can avoid trouble.

It all may look and taste good, drinks, desserts, snacks, rich foods... but it sure can give you a stomachache!
 
I would like to make a couple of points having been on these boards since 1999 and seeing lots of claims of food poisoning.

The first is that there are just a lot of people in our society that blame digestive illness on "something I ate". My neighbor and her kids were hospitalized for weeks with salmonella from milk. I know food borne illness is real. I have had so many people show up at our house over the years saying they were having tummy troubles from something they ate and strangely enough, 24 hours later we have those same tummy troubles. It's always "the mayonnaise from Chick-fil-a was bad", etc., etc...I really don't think most people consider contagious bugs as the culprit (as a first instinct).

My DH has an extremely suppressed immune system. In the 27 years we have been married he averages a couple of stomach/intestinal bugs per month if not more. He is in hospitals daily, so he is exposed to many things that his immune system can't handle. Because of his frequency of picking up bugs, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the subject. I can't tell you how often he and I will eat the same meal, but he will say something tastes "off". After many years of these experiences I have concluded that often something tastes "off" because he is at the beginning stages of coming down with a bug. I am not saying that food tasting off always means that. Indeed, regardless of why it so, each time it tastes "off" you should stop eating.

Anyway...just my thoughts and experience.

As an aside, after 26 family vacations to WDW with our large brood over the years, only once have we had a stomach bug. We have literally eaten hundreds of meals at WDW and never had food poisoning.
 
We got Norwalk two trips ago. It was horrible. Last time we went, everyone was just fine. Hoping for the same in 32 days!!
 
Realize that you are only seeing the negative posts. How many of us have eaten at Disney World and NOT gotten sick? Thousands if not hundred of thousands. But we don't post about it because...... why would we? Why would any of us post "I didn't get sick eating at Disney World today!"?

I think you are concerning yourself over nothing. Been to Disney World well over 50 times, eaten at tons of table service and counter service restaurants and have never gotten sick. Not even close. None of my family, none of my friends.

So put all my experiences against only those you've read about on here and it's going to get balanced out once you realize how many other people have never gotten sick at Disney World.
 
Coming from a germ-a-phobe, to the point where my hands are raw from washing them constantly, Disney is a very clean place-with the few exceptions of some trash/table areas outside.

I have been to Disney several times and sampled a broad range of cuisines and have never gotten sick; no one in our family has ever gotten food poisoning. One lonesome time, someone in my family on our first night got sick, but it wasn't from food poisoning, it was from motion sickness (between a car, hotel shuttle, plane, Magical Express, ferry, and Mears shuttle in one day!)

So, don't worry at all, but if you're still a worrier like me, avoid meat like I do. I found that to be the best way to get rid of sickness. (This is coming from a girl that used to get the flu 3 times a year before I became vegan and now without ANY sickness in over 2 years!! :cloud9:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.


Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE








DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom