Insects at WDW?

[volvomom1]

HI

I don't know if I have ever read anything on these boards about insects, but do I need to get insect repellant for a trip from August 13-27? We will also be taking a 3 day cruise to Nassau.

If so, what types are suggested?

Thanks in advance,

PAULA

 

[Amirah95]

I would take it and I use Avon's Skin So Soft repellent which works better than Off, IMO.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

My friend ended up in the hospital from deer tick bites while camping at Fort Wilderness. I would suggest using a heavy duty repellant with deet if you are staying at Fort Wilderness.

Otherwise, I have never needed any insect repellant.

 

[disneydad123]

The only bugs that bothered us were the love bugs. They were everywhere doing who knows what

 

[Michelle2]

We (me and DD) got totally eaten alive (our legs) by sand fleas from the beaches. Mine I think were from Sarasota beach, but my daughter was fine until she went and played in the sand at the GF beach...Next day, she totally broke out all over her legs. She had it worse than me, and boy did they itch and hurt! I felt so embarrassed at Blizzard Beach, looked like I had something wrong or even worse, contagious!! Our legs looked so awful...If anyone has a remedy, please share for our next trip, and will these be an issue in December???

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

There won't be any love bugs in mid-August, but there will mosquitoes if you walk around at night. Disney sprays the parks with repellant after hours, but walking around central Florida, generally, is buggy after 5 pm in August. My girls get eaten up pretty badly in our backyard.

I'd recommend a repellant with the lowest level of DEET available. I think we use Off Family. Skin So Soft has not worked for us here.

 

[Kendra17]

I have never had a problem in the parks for some reason, or at the pools. But, one year we went on the Airboats at the Everglades, and BOY that was the worst! Everyone (especially one woman in a halter) was covered with huge red welts. That actually keeps me from going another time.

I know some people love Skin So Soft; I never found that worked for us. The Cutter (I think it's Off brand) is 99.9% Deet. That seems to really work. For my 1 year old, I use something with much less deet. Here in TN, the mosquitos are all over. The bugs are the biggest I've ever seen (I'm from NY and OH. . .new here in TN). And, we have ground fleas (I think they're called) that bite up your ankles if you're outside even for a short time without protection. I found that out last summer--my first here.

 

[disneysue]

While staying at the Poly a few years ago, I got bitten so bad on my feet from either sand fleas or red ants that I needed to get benadryl to help relieve the itching. Well, we went to the Luau for dinner that night and included in the dinner were mai-tais. I forgot that I had taken the benadryl (and by the end of the night, about the bites!) and was literally slipping off my seat!

 

[JPN4265]

Remember you are going to Florida. The bug capital of the world.