Just emailed customer relations

[CleveRocks]

The "flu" is a bit more prevelant here in FL over the past few weeks than some other parts of the country

Interesting info. Thanks for the facts. However, "flu" is a respiratory illness, not a stomach bug, so the onset of flu in Florida can't be related to the OP's tales of "how people were puking all over."

But seriously, thanks for the flu facts.

 

[cleo]

Was this a recent conference and were the delegates getting sick, too? Or was it just the families that went into the park.

I hesitate to close the thread because it's a topic that does come up (sorry) this time of year. It's important for people to be able to make informed decisions about what to expect and what to do. Sometimes these posts are fear-mongering and sometimes they're useful news. I personally am just trying to figure out which one it is.

But I do have to say, I don't think it's Disney's responsibility to keep us healthy, regardless of what sort of financial bonus their execs get at the end of the year. Keeping the parks clean IS their responsibility, but can you imagine the logistics of having to wipe down every ride vehicle each time a family gets out of it? That's literally what it would take to keep everyone healthy.

Personal hygiene is the key. Disney can't enforce that. But threads like this are a great reminder to wash, wash, wash! AND to keep those hands away from your face!

 

[Allison]

Epidemic proportions??

If this were the case, it would be widely known by other people and a news story. The cruise ship stories always make the news and if this were truly an epidemic at Disney it would be an even bigger story.

My state has had an outbreak of this type of virus and you need to use common sense to handle it-WASH your hands and stay home if you are sick.

 

[phorsenuf]

If they put a large bottle of Purrell stationed at the buffet's and entrances to TS's and had a CM stand there and ask people to use it before they touch the common utensils, salt & pepper shakes, etc, it would help.

If they notified people there was a problem and urged them to bring or use hand sanitizer this would also help.

Sorry, but I don't use hand sanitizer, or any of those other ward off germ things. I don't find them to be helpful and they probably do more harm than good in the long run.
I know so many people who use those products and they are always sick with something. I have a weakened immune system yet I hardly ever get sick compared to the ones that diligently use those products.
If I went to go eat at a buffet and a CM told me to use hand sanitizer before I could eat I wouldn't be too happy. I certainly don't think its anything they could enforce anyways and I'm betting it would turn alot of people off.
Its a bug, it happens, life goes on. If your so worried don't go. It's that simple. I really don't think Disney needs to be accused of not doing something they really can't control.

What about all the people that come in from off-site. Are you going to contact all the hotels and restaurants in the Orlando/Kissimmee area to take the same precautions?

 

[cleo]

In defense of the OP, I'm not sure this is the same a spreading an urban myth. It was the experience of real people, who are passing it on as news (perhaps with wild exaggeration, perhaps with no exaggeration), but it doesn't sound like a made-up story. It's perfectly possible there is a virus making its way around the area.

Just because someone else said it and the OP is re-telling it here doesn't mean it's not true. That's why I think it's important to get more perspective on the situation. How many people are getting it and how many are coming home without having been sick is probably the best measure of 'truth' we can get here on an internet board.

 

[welovedis]

Remember the spinach scare from a few months ago? It was all across the news for weeks. Know how many people became ill as a result of that? About 200. That's right, TWO HUNDRED. Two hundred people got sick from the same thing (only slightly more than half required hospitalization) and it made huge national news. Further proof that there is no terrible outbreak of anything at WDW, it's just that YOU noticed a few other people who were sick, and as I said in an earlier post, getting sick while traveling is MUCH more common than getting sick while at home.

I agree with both of your previous posts, but did want to say that 5% or so of those hospitalized died from the illness, that is why I believe it made, and stayed in, the news. My husband's sister is already immuno suppressed & eats spinach daily as it is one food she can easily digest so it was a big issue for her.

cleo-thanks for making your post more clear, that is what I was asking for, more details. Since it seems to be a friend of a friend story, I'm not too concerned, we'll just do what we normally do!

 

[3daughters]

Yes, it was a recent trip and yes only those that went to the park got it. They eventually spread it to some of their spouses. It's not an urban myth... there's no need for some to get nasty. I wasn't trying to spawn a debate. Just concern and awareness. I too have a child with immunity issues. People don't understand the ramifications certain illnesses have on some of the population.
I was just trying to inform and request that we ask disney to clean up a bit more than usual... how this became a heated discussion is beyond me... let's all calm down. I'm not asking Disney to wipe down all the seats of each ride! I made reasonable suggestions around food handling and bathrooms and to clean up the vomit before people step in it if possible! There are 5 star hotels out there that have cleanliness issues.. can they do better absolutely, so can disney.

 

[disneymama73]

We were there this past week, and four out of five of us got sick with a stomach virus. DD2 got sick at MVMCP Thursday night. It was not a fun experience. I got sick Saturday at the airport and was the sickest of all of us.

 

[dkostel]

I know that when brought to it's attention, Disney does do an extra cleaning job on resort rooms. My niece had chicken pox on one of our trips, they helped us get a rental car, and told us once we left the room they do a massive cleaning on it. This involved walls, carpets, all surfaces, bedspreads, etc. I'm willing to bet that most of the fams checking out after being sick don't say a word about it. After all their vaca was already ruined. Disney can't fix what it doesn't know.

 

[cleo]

3 daughters, I think the part people are reacting to is the 'epidemic proportions' statement and the fact you have asked people to contact Disney regarding additional measures to insure public health. I'm sure you'll agree it's unnearving to hear about an 'epidemic' when you're heading to that area soon, and I do think people just want to know what's really going on.

I'm heading into two of the Disney parks in about an hour and I want to know what to expect now that I read your posts. If people were getting sick 'recently', does that mean this week, or does that mean 3 weeks ago? I picked up a real sense of urgency in your original post and I'm just trying to figure out why emergency funding and emergency measures are necessary. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Having said that, I appreciate the fact you posted so that we're all reminded to wash our hands.

Can you tell us when this conference was? That might help people gain some perspective on the current state of things, which could be really useful.

 

[bicker]

Cleo hit the nail on the head: A lot of folks make the mistake of trying to make their messages sound more important by using heavily-loaded emotional language. Words like "epidemic" tend to capture people's attention, but if deemed to be an inappropriate use of language, the negative reactions to the use of the word are understandable. It's a bit like yelling "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater.

 

[Allison]

3 daughters, I think the part people are reacting to is the 'epidemic proportions' statement and the fact you have asked people to contact Disney regarding additional measures to insure public health. I'm sure you'll agree it's unnearving to hear about an 'epidemic' when you're heading to that area soon, and I do think people just want to know what's really going on.

I'm heading into two of the Disney parks in about an hour and I want to know what to expect now that I read your posts. If people were getting sick 'recently', does that mean this week, or does that mean 3 weeks ago? I picked up a real sense of urgency in your original post and I'm just trying to figure out why emergency measures are necessary. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Having said that, I appreciate the fact you posted so that we're all reminded to wash our hands.

Can you tell us when this conference was? That might help people gain some perspective on the current state of things, which could be really useful.

You summed it up well.

 

[cleo]

I'm honestly not trying to be heavy-handed on this and I think factual news is incredibly useful, especially when it can be passed along so quickly on a discussion board. But there is also a huge amount of mis-information and often a great deal of 'embellishment'.

I'm NOT for a moment saying that's what is happening here. But the original post was very strong in saying this virus was 'overtaking' the parks and that without emergency measures it could go on for 'months and months'.

I'm going into the parks. I don't want to get sick or have to watch hundreds of people being sick. I think other people reading this feel the same way, and that's why I'm asking for more (specific) information.

Please don't take that personally, 3 daughters. Your post brings up important points.

 

[Magickndm]

Every one of them he said came back with a nightmare story of how people were puking all over and many of them had asked the CM's about it. They were told by CM's that it was really bad and getting out of control, that it was getting gross cause they kept watching people puke all over.

I was there last Wednesday and did not see a single person getting sick, much less people "puking all over".

I have no doubt bugs can be picked up at the parks, I also have no doubt Disney does everything possible to keep things clean to try and avoid as many of these illnesses as possible. It's in their best interest, who wants to go somewhere where they'll probably wind up sick?
Even with them being diligent about cleanliness, Disney is not a place for germaphobes. No place can be completely sanatized, not even an OR.

 

[CleveRocks]

I wasn't meaning to be nasty in any way. I even acknowledged my opinion that you brought up this subject with the best of intentions.

Even in the best circumstances, hearing things from someone who knows someone who knows someone produces not-too-accurate information. We just did a "whispering down the lane" exercise with my son's Cub Scout den. This phenomenon happens with all people, not just children.

I'm not doubting your sincerity for a second. If you said that you saw all of this for yourself, I'd believe it. But it sounds like you're two or three degrees of separation from an eyewitness. And again, if you step back from this without emotion, it does sound pretty "out there" that there were people throwing up in public all over the place and nothing was being done to clean it up.

 

[Fitswimmer]

IMHO, there is nothing that inspires more fear in people than the stomach flu. Everyone has had it and been completely miserable and will do anything not to have to go through that again. Then there are people with immune issues that really need to be careful, so there's even more fear.

A while ago we were staying at Poly after one of the cruise ships came in with everyone sick. We had heard about it on TV before we got there and took extra precautions, including bringing Lysol to disinfect our rooms ourselves. If you can bring a can with you, do it. Spray the phone, the remote, everything that anyone may have touched. Purell is my prevention tool of choice, only because it is portable and I can use it anywhere, but truthfully a good handwashing with soap and water will do the same. (I heard once that you should wash as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday"-so if you see a woman at the sink next to you singing under her breath while washing-that would be me)

Mousekeeping can't be everywhere and as it has been pointed out-most folks are contagious even before they actually get sick. All any of us can do is take reasonable precautions and say a few prayers!

 

[soupy11]

MY DH had a large group of people from his company (over 1K) that went down for a conference outside of Disney, and many ofl their families went. Every one of them he said came back with a nightmare story of how people were puking all over and many of them had asked the CM's about it. They were told by CM's that it was really bad and getting out of control, that it was getting gross cause they kept watching people puke all over.

Also, my DH was told they weren't cleaning it up when someone lost it in the middle of the park or on the bathroom floor. They would maybe come along and throw something over it after it was walked through and had been there awhile.

Also, a coworker said she was on the Disney Cruise and they were told to be cautious since it was going around the park and they didn't want them to bring it back to the ship. She too said it was gross, she said she never saw so much puke and we work together in a hospital!

This sounds like a Monty Python routine. People puking all over? Sounds a bit out there for sure. This is the kind of story the media would love to run with so I am really having trouble believing it is that severe. In any case, bring lots of Lysol in case! Can't hurt.

 

[mamaprincess]

The OP isn't the only one who brought the stomach flu issue up. There is another thread on this board entitled "Heads up for those of you going in the near future". We will be taking precautions. (Lysol, Airborne, Vitamin C and much hand washing.

 

[loriandmatt]

This sounds like a Monty Python routine.

"how are you feeling today(can't remember the character's name)"
"Better"
"Better get a bucket!"

sorry - not a funny topic, but the quote above made me recall that bit.

 

[GalDisney]

How do you know this is something that is specific to WDW? It is the guests that bring in the germs. This is different than the cruise ship problems, as the cruise ships are a "closed " environment.You have thousands of people on one ship for a week at a time, which is diferent from WDW since people are not "stuck" in one place. It is cold and flu season, Disney cannot control that. I would say this bug is not Disneys fault nor is it their problem to "fix".