Just emailed customer relations

[cleo]

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.

That's why I mention 3 spin off threads. This one spun off of that one, another one on the UK board spun off of this one....and on it goes. That's why it's important to know the facts. Seeing 4 or 5 threads on virus epidemics makes it look like 'everyone' is having that experience. Knowing they all spun off one single thread helps keep things in perspective.

Again...it could all be true. I guess I'll know in half an hour. I'll post again when I get back from the parks.

 

[bicker]

That's a good point. I remember a few years ago a discussion about the really bad tasting water "at Walt Disney World". There were even some members who speculated that Disney deliberately makes the water taste bad so you'll be prompted to buy soft drinks or bottled water instead of drinking tap water. The reality is that that is how the tap water tastes in all of Central Florida. Some things just aren't that location-specific.

 

[CleveRocks]

"how are you feeling today(can't remember the character's name)"

Mr. Creosote

 

[phorsenuf]

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.

I was reminded of that thread where the child was sick and they couldn't leave their hotel room and there was vomit all over the beds, floor etc. She made it sound as if they were wading through the stuff. Anyone else remember that one?

 

[seashoreCM]

I know it is impossible to keep the place sterile but would it be unreasonable to expect Disney to give to resort guests taken ill by what appears to be an on-site epidemic:

1. Rebates or rainchecks for missed dining plan meals, coming off of the room rate if it was a free dining plan,
2. Free non-expiration for ticket days not used due to illness,
3. No surcharges for added cleaning needed in the room or elsewhere.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CleveRocks]

I was reminded of that thread where the child was sick and they couldn't leave their hotel room and there was vomit all over the beds, floor etc. She made it sound as if they were wading through the stuff. Anyone else remember that one?

I remember that thread. The difference is, I believed that thread, because it was the OP's own experience. The problem there was one of adequate communication with CMs, and of standing up for one's rights.

This thread is different. I don't for a second doubt the OP's honesty. I doubt the details of the story itself because it's a third or fourth hand story. I trust that she is relating the story accurately, I just doubt that what she was apaprently told is accurate.

"Everyone" from that conference that went to a park got sick. Well, there's a few problems there. Even the most virulent bugs don't make "everyone" sick. And the people they do make sick don't always show symptoms in the same time-frame. On top of that, viruses have an incubation period -- it's not like you're exposed and then get sick 15 minutes later. Food poisoning tends to show symptoms the quickest. For the OP's example to be food poisoning, if it affected all from the conference that went to the parks in such a high percentage saturation (100%), then there would HAVE TO be thousands of other cases, too, and as we know, food poisoning cases of such magnitude will make the news. Especially nowadays -- Disney owns ABC, ABC is a major news outlet, and the other TV news services would not at all hesitate to blab about food poisoning caused by one of their competitors!

The other problem here is that it's doubtful that "everyone" who got sick went to the same parks at the same time. So if they dispersed among the 4 parks and DTD and 100% of them still got sick, then, again, there would be thousands of other people also sick, and THAT would make the news.

Again, I'm not doubting that the OP heard what she heard. I'm doubting that what someone else told her was completely accurate. A 100% penetration rate of a virus or bacterium is unheard of in the history of epidemiology.

 

[phorsenuf]

I know it is impossible to keep the place sterile but would it be unreasonable to expect Disney to give to resort guests taken ill by what appears to be an on-site epidemic:

1. Rebates or rainchecks for missed dining plan meals, coming off of the room rate if it was a free dining plan,
2. Free non-expiration for ticket days not used due to illness,
3. No surcharges for added cleaning needed in the room or elsewhere.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Who says its an on-site epidemic. What about everyone who comes in the park from off-site. They come and go with the bug, maybe even bringing it from there. Nobody knows.
besides, if they start doing that than "everyone" is going to start getting sick to get something out of it.
besides, it's not Disneys fault people are getting sick. It's not like they are purposly infecting people as they walk through the gates. It's life. It happens. Vacations get ruined. Don't want to take the chance, don't go.

 

[lovethattink]

Cleo,

Here are my observations from the last couple times at Disney. We stayed Thanksgiving weekend. On Saturday of that weekend, we saw the remnants of a clean up job on the monorail platform at the GF. That was the only incident we saw all weekend. I was at Epcot this past Saturday and didn't notice anyone being sick in public or in the restrooms. We go to WDW at least once a week. No one in my family got sick. I have friends who work at MGM and they have not caught it either, or noticed an unusual number of people sick.

 

[schmitty]

I went to Epcot saturday also and noticed no one was sick.

 

[Magickndm]

I know it is impossible to keep the place sterile but would it be unreasonable to expect Disney to give to resort guests taken ill by what appears to be an on-site epidemic:

1. Rebates or rainchecks for missed dining plan meals, coming off of the room rate if it was a free dining plan,
2. Free non-expiration for ticket days not used due to illness,
3. No surcharges for added cleaning needed in the room or elsewhere.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

My short answer is yes, I think that's unreasonable. Except for your number 3.

 

[GalDisney]

I am heading for the MK and Pop Century. I will let you know if i get sick or see any evidence of any one else being sick

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

I just spent 2 weeks at Disney. ( 11/17-11/30 ) Myself, DW, DD, and DS did not get sick at all. I have 3 family members that are CM's and none of them have said anything about this. I call Shenanigans.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I was there from 11/26-11/29 and didn't notice "puke everywhere" either. One 3yr old on the resort bus who had just been sick-which as his Daddy said was probably caused by too much junk food, excitement and no nap. We saw no other evidence of sickness at any of the 4 parks we visited, and I didn't see any at DTD either. Were there people there during that period that were sick? I'm sure there were and probably there's a guest that had the bad luck to see each and every one of them in action.

 

[mordux]

I was reminded of that thread where the child was sick and they couldn't leave their hotel room and there was vomit all over the beds, floor etc. She made it sound as if they were wading through the stuff. Anyone else remember that one?

I do remember that one
Strange, and a bit over the top, kind of like this one

 

[bicker]

I know it is impossible to keep the place sterile but would it be unreasonable to expect Disney to give to resort guests taken ill by what appears to be an on-site epidemic

Unfortunately, our litigious society precludes companies from doing anything that could be construed as admitting responsibility for anything like that, which, unfortunately, would be the case for policies that include rebates, rainchecks, free tickets, etc. What Disney would intend as a good neighbor gesture, too many customers would infer as an invitation to demand more.

 

[bicker]

My short answer is yes, I think that's unreasonable. Except for your number 3.

I agree -- her #3 is completely reasonable to expect.

 

[tonyolily]

I'm sorry, but I think that there are a lot here that are being really hard on the OP.

Back in August, my family went on a 7 Night Disney Cruise for the first time and were really surprised at how clean everything was kept. Hand sanitizing was strongly suggested before dining or boarding the ship with Purell stations set up right in front of each dining area with a CM there to be sure that each person used it. Disney went above and beyond in order to keep any kind of stomach bug from being passed on.

When we got off the ship, we decided to stay at CR for a few nights. After being on that ship and the high standards that DCL has, we looked at the Disney theme parks and their cleanliness in a whole different light.

I don't think it would be to much to ask for Disney to set up some Purell stations before you enter into restaurants. Yes, hand washing is key - but maybe having the stations there before you enter would encourage those who don't wash as much as they should to do so before spreading their yucky germs to everyone else.

Oh, and to top everything off, when we were returning home from being in Disney, my DS spent the last day with the stomach bug. Go figure...

 

[Missy1961]

I was reminded of that thread where the child was sick and they couldn't leave their hotel room and there was vomit all over the beds, floor etc. She made it sound as if they were wading through the stuff. Anyone else remember that one?

Yes, I do. That one was nasty.

 

[wic0721]

I was reminded of that thread where the child was sick and they couldn't leave their hotel room and there was vomit all over the beds, floor etc. She made it sound as if they were wading through the stuff. Anyone else remember that one?

I remember that thread! She said that she called Mousekeeping and they never showed up, and that she used the bedspreads, towels, sheets..etc to clean up the vomit! It really was a disgusting thread!

 

[Magickndm]

I don't think it would be to much to ask for Disney to set up some Purell stations before you enter into restaurants. Yes, hand washing is key - but maybe having the stations there before you enter would encourage those who don't wash as much as they should to do so before spreading their yucky germs to everyone else.

Disney should not be responsible for adults washing their hands. They have many, many restrooms, all with soap and water.
If people can't be bothered to go wash up before eating, then I bet you they'd by pass any Purell station set up. Besides, restaurants are not the only places you can pick up germs, germs are everywhere.

Maybe the CDC and National Guard should be activated for this epidemic. (I'm just kidding!)