Kudos to BWV owners -looong

[Coqui0818]

I usually lurk but decided to take the plunge and post. In mid-June, my dh and I decided to take an impromptu trip to The World. Things started swell. With just two weeks to spare we found availability in SSR and BWV for studios for June 30- July 4th. We waitlisted for BWV for June 29th and with one week to spare our waitlist came through! Now, my dh hasn't been too interested in BWV. Our home is VWL. But we knew many people loved it so we decided to try something new (we have stayed in SSR before).

We were greated with many welcome homes. We had driven from Tampa and checked in at 8 am without a hitch. We dropped off our car at the Dolphin. (We had used National). The process was too easy. Highly recommend it.

I started developing a serious case of the flu the night before arrival and by 9 am I had chills. So what! At 9:03 we were walking through the International Gateway at Epcot. Since I was ill and this was an extra trip, we decided to take it slow. Don't you just love knowing you will be back?

We had a marvelous time with Soarin and Turtle Talk and some old favorites. Each day around 1 or 2 o'clock, we headed back to our room to nurse our illness. (My dh developed the flu also the 3rd day we were there). It was convinient to say the least.

Normally, MGM is the park I under utilize but on this trip we really explored it the most due to its proximity. The Stunt Show was well worth it despite the heat.

The day of our arrival we had a preferred view room with a view of the community pool. Saw the high fireworks for Fantasmic from our balcony. One the second day we were moved to a standard view room for the rest of our trip. Our room was ready at 7:30 am!!! From it we were able to see the high fireworks for Illuminations.

One day before we were leaving, we discovered... bedbugs. Thanks to all the info gathered here, I knew what they were. We notified housekeeping and were quickly moved to another room...Boardwalk view!!!. We were right above Wyland Galleries and were able to view both Wishes and Illuminations!!!! What a treat!

Our final morning we took DME to the airport. They were prompt but our driver was new and clearly had difficulties driving the bus. She did not know how to exit WDW property and even had a minor accident bus vs. sidewalk! All in all we arrived safely and in a timely fashion to the airport.

All the mishaps just make for great stories and even the flu is 100 better at Disney World. To all BWV we wanted to say that you have beautiful home and we hope to visit it again soon.




94 days till big family vacation in VWL

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for the report - bedbugs and all, LOL! Sure hope they can find a way to totally eliminate those unwelcome guests!

Best wishes -

 

[MJTinNH]

Thank you for posting your report. Glad the bedbugs haven't discouraged you from going back to BWV. I have been lucky so far and have not encountered the nasty little things. As CarolMN said, I hope they can eliminate these bedbugs.

Sorry you and your husband were sick during your stay. Sounds like you were able to enjoy yourselves in spite of illness. I loved Soarin too! Can't wait to go back again.

 

[uicbear]

Ok, newbie here...all I have to say is BEDBUGS?!?!? What are they? Are they only at BW/BC? First time I've heard of them. I've had no bug issues on previous trips and this would freak me out. And no, I'm not a bug prude, but the whole visualization of coming in after a long day of parks going to pull the covers down off my bed and seeing crawling things...

 

[pyrxtc]

yes, what are bedbugs/ What do we look for?

 

[DVCconvert]

What are they? Are they only at BW/BC?

Well, they're not exactly a Disney exclusive

Actual Insect Size - Approx. 1/8"-1/4"

This is an ancient insect whose roots are thought to go back to the times of cave dwellers. For many years, bedbugs were found in numerous communities around the US. As late as the 1950's, bedbugs were a considerable problem. After the discovery of DDT and its application here, the incidence of bedbug infestations declined.

Why has this pest surfaced once again? There are a number of theories. First, there is much more world travel. Also, more people visit from other countries that have bedbug problems. This pest is carried from one place to another in luggage and on clothing. With more bedbug problems, hotel and motel travelers run a greater risk of contact with bedbugs and may eventually bring bedbugs home with them.

Another suggested reason for the resurgence of the bedbug is a shift to the use of bait gels, a common food based replacement for the liquid insecticides previously used inside homes. Although sprays may have helped to suppress bedbug populations, bait gels do not attract bedbugs, which seek blood from a live host.

Whatever the reasons, the bedbug is a formidable pest problem. Its affect on people is substantial and debilitating. Bedbugs bite the host most commonly around the waist while in bed, sleeping. However, bites may occur on exposed skin such as arms and legs.

After biting, they scurry into mattress tufts, bed frames, moldings, floor joints, picture frames and in any other crack or crevice they may find. The sole source of food is the blood meal that they take at night while the victim sleeps. When the victim awakes, the only sign of bedbugs is the telltale bite and/or blood on the sheets.

Identifying The Problem

The bedbug bite leaves a nasty, red welt that is not easily dismissed and can cause more severe problems for hypersensitive individuals. However, we at The Bug Clinic, highly recommend that if insects cannot be found to make the connection to such bites, that the diagnosis of such bites be done by a qualified physician or dermatologist.

A helpful tool in identifying biting insects is to use insect or mouse glue traps or double sided adhesive tape in a number of areas to try around the mattress in an attempt to capture insects.

The bedbug is a secretive in its behavior and is similar to a flea in that its body, too, appears to be flat. However, while the flea appears squashed together, the bedbug appears squashed down. As a result, these insects can squeeze into very small openings. As mentioned above, the areas to look for bedbugs include mattresses (including mattress tufts and buttons or under piped edges), box springs (edges and within the enclosure underneath), bed frames and hollow areas where frame components connect, floor and wall moldings, picture frames and in any other objects adjacent to the victim's sleeping area.

Bedbugs are able to survive for a long time without a blood meal. Thus a mattress that is infested with bedbugs may still be a problem, even when the bed is unused for some period of time.

Dealing With Bedbug Infestations

Bedbug problems should not be taken lightly. Immediate action should be taken to treat the affected individuals and to remove them from the infested environment.

First, you will need a good, bright flashlight in order to check and inspect areas where bedbugs are likely to hide.

If you suspect that you've brought bedbugs home in your luggage from a recent trip, you may want to inspect and treat the luggage.

Although one's first reaction is to disposed of the offending mattress or bedding, this is not necessary and may not eliminate the problem. Treatment of the immediate area should include spraying or dusting of the mattress and box spring. (It may be necessary to cut open the net enclosure on the bottom of the box spring in order to properly inspect and treat this area.) Most attention should be given to the edges under piping or seams or under mattress tufts or buttons. You must separate the mattress and box spring and treat areas in between as necessary. Pillow-top mattresses require special attention. Be sure to treat the bunched, stapled areas on the bottomed of the box spring netting since there may be gaps where the bedbugs may hide.

In dealing with an infested sofa, love seat or (upholstered) chair, disposal may be necessary since it is difficult to reach into the deepest crevices of the furniture where the wood frame may provide harborage for bedbugs. An assessment has to be made if the problem persists after careful treatment.

Bed linens should be laundered in hot water then placed in a dryer as well to help insure removal of insects or their eggs. Launder draperies hanging near the bed, if necessary. Laundered items should be stored away from the bedbug infested area or sealed in securely tied heavy duty plastic bags to keeps insects out.

A residual insecticide or a non-residual pyrethrins product should be applied to the bed frame connecting points at both the headboard and footboard and wall moldings as well as any other objects or hollows that offer "shelter" for bedbugs.

A proper treatment is done by simply wetting the surface so that it does not move from the intended area.

Treat night tables and dressers by emptying them and then removing the drawers. Treat in the corners of each drawer both inside and then on the bottom corners of each drawer. It may be prudent to tip furniture on its side to check along the bottom and around casters since bedbugs may hide here as well. Also check behind any objects hanging on the wall such as behind picture frames or clocks. You may have to open up wall outlet covers and switch covers and inspect to be sure that bedbugs have not taken up residence in those areas.

Open and inspect telephones and clock radios. You can set up a box with some double stick tape in the bottom, then tap the object over the box to capture any insects that may be hiding inside. The tape will hold the the bugs in place.

In severe cases where the population of bedbugs is high, treatment of adjacent rooms may be necessary.

In apartment buildings, it may be helpful to seal any cracks or crevices around floorboards and moldings to prevent insects from migrating to or coming in from other apartments.

If there is a wooden floor and there are gaps between the boards, be sure to treat there as well. When treating, try to think three dimensionally, looking up and down and observing the treatment area from the floor and from above, looking down.

Sprays or dusts should be directed into cracks and crevices - surface spraying of carpets and upholstery or dusting of these areas is usually unnecessary.

One final point: though these treatments should be effective, it may take some time for them to work. Therefore, it may be prudent to arrange to sleep in another area for several days and perhaps as long as one to two weeks. Unfortunately, the only way to know if the problem has been resolved is to try sleeping in the treated area once again.

Click HERE for source

 

[kathleena]

Unfortunately, the only way to know if the problem has been resolved is to try sleeping in the treated area once again.

Hmmmm- I wonder what lucky CMs get to do this after a guest reports it? Oh, oh, wait - it's the next unsuspecting guest?

Seriously - do you think bedbug rooms are taken offline for a while? I wonder what they do!


And back to the OP - thanks for the report and glad you found out why we love our BWV so much! Glad you had a great stay despite the illness.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Eewwww!

Everytime I forget about the dreaded bedbugs, I get reminded again!

My skin is crawling since I'll be in a standard view unit in October!

Oh well, hopefuly I'll forget by then - no more pics please!!!!!

 

[Patty3]

We are staying at the BWV in December, I hope we do not encounter these bugs. Does this problem seem to be only at the BWV?

 

[uicbear]

Not that this would stop me from going to the World, but I think this will fall under the category of...

Something I really didn't want to know....

 

[LoveToDisney]

First, a big hello from another Kansan!

Second, what was the room number of the infected room at BWV?

 

[DVCconvert]

Does this problem seem to be only at the BWV?

NO!

World-wide -- Global -- Ancient bug --MUCH more of a problem in other countries -- Was once ('50's) a big problem here.

 

[SoCalKDG]

This is why I've never told my daughter "don't let the bedbugs bite".

 

[manning]

I would gladly pay a penny or two per point maintenance if they would use the money to routinely treat the rooms.

 

[Coqui0818]

Dear fellow Kansan, Hi!! The room number was 4107.