Magic bands and germaphobes...

[minnie mum]

Well, given some of the PPs, its obviously not just you. But it's certainly not me. I wear a watch all the time, except when I'm in the shower or swimming. Funny thing, but I don't stop to sanitize the thing whenever I wash my hands. But then again, I don't eat with my wrists or forearms. And I don't put my food in direct contact with the tables. Heck, I don't even disinfect every table I sit at. It wouldn't even occur to me to disinfect a MB multiple times a day, but washing it when you wash your hands seems easy enough if it skeeves you that badly. I'd rather just let my normally healthy immune system take care of itself.

 

[HopperFan]

I actually think they are a plus for the germ intolerant

MagicBands are the best way to avoid many other germs and second hand germs because I am no longer handing my KTTW or CC to Cast Members who have been handling others cards all day long. Lots of cards, lots of germs. From stores, to restaurants etc. now only my MB Mickey touches a machine, no hands. Even the old FP machines you would put in your card after many others before you, imagine all the germs that stockpiled in that dark place, never being cleaned. Now my MB touches something and when I need to I clean it with a wipe. But my hands don't have to touch the germs handed back to me on my card.

 

[bumbershoot]

When you really start thinking about all the hands and touching and things you don't normally think about, well...you just sort of want to stay inside and hide. I'm not normally a germaphobe (though I'm a gross-a-phobe) but after being sick for something like 5 weeks and having a vacation TOTALLY ruined because of it...I'm much more cautious.

I wear the MB and a watch (the rare occasions I wear a watch) on my non-dominant hand because bathroom visits have the potential for being gross if you're wearing in on the TP hand. Especially for kids who don't have the decades of experience that grownups do.

(I tell people you don't have to wear them, and I often take mine off, but especially with a coverband on even I start to forget it's there, once I get it positioned on my wrist)

I'd rather just let my normally healthy immune system take care of itself.

Unfortunately, sometimes a healthy immune system has to mount a response to germs, and that response is sneezing and coughing and just generally getting the germs and white blood cells that have been attacking the germs OUT. That's being sick. And you can't control when it happens. And, unfortunately, a trip elsewhere is a perfect opportunity for the immune defenses to drop; we're not sleeping right, we're not hydrating perfectly, we're eating different foods and perhaps more sugar than normal...the time is absolutely right for some nasty little germ to get in and cause a reaction. In me, this last time, for around 5 weeks off and on with different permutations. Not joyous.

We've definitely learned the benefit of minimizing the touching-of-things, mazimizing the washing of hands, and trying to eat as properly as possible even while away from home.

 

[Dis703]

Hmm, well I am a germaphobe yet the MagicBands don't concern me at all.

I used them in November and they never appeared dirty. And I didn't feel like they touched much of anything that would be dirty either. Better than the cards that were touched by us and CMs all day long.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

I actually think they are a plus for the germ intolerant MagicBands are the best way to avoid many other germs and second hand germs because I am no longer handing my KTTW or CC to Cast Members who have been handling others cards all day long. Lots of cards, lots of germs. From stores, to restaurants etc. now only my MB Mickey touches a machine, no hands. Even the old FP machines you would put in your card after many others before you, imagine all the germs that stockpiled in that dark place, never being cleaned. Now my MB touches something and when I need to I clean it with a wipe. But my hands don't have to touch the germs handed back to me on my card.

That's a great point!

 

[BebopBaloo]

We've definitely learned the benefit of minimizing the touching-of-things, mazimizing the washing of hands, and trying to eat as properly as possible even while away from home.

I think this is the best way of looking at it. Wash your hands often, wash/clorox the magic band and go ahead and clorox the remote control, telephone, sink faucet, and toilet, as well as all door knobs in your hotel room. You'll set yourself up for a good start if you go ahead and take action from the beginning.

I too am a germaphobe (way more now that I'm a parent) and I was so happy to see all the Disney resorts go to triple sheeting and remove the icky comforters that hardly got washed.

You're never guaranteed to not come into contact with dangerous types of germs, but being proactive helps.

 

[Autumnslight]

I actually think the Magic Bands are less germy than most other things at WDW would be. No one else is really touching them, like they would be your KTTW card, or even your credit card! And they really can't be very porous at all, since they have to be waterproof, to keep the chips and such inside from getting ruined. If you swim with them on, then the chlorine in the pool water probably kills off practically anything that might be on them anyway.

We have a couple bands that have seen over a week's worth of wear by kids, and a couple of them look a little worn and "dirty", but they're not actually dirty. It's hard to explain, but it's more like darker scuff marks and wear spots on the band, rather than dirt.

 

[MonorailCentral]

Not worried in the last about the germs. Just do the basic hand washing I usually do, but I'm not paranoid about it at all. Never sick, so obsessing over germs won't make me any less sick than I am now.

 

[W.E.D.]

Well, given some of the PPs, its obviously not just you. But it's certainly not me. I wear a watch all the time, except when I'm in the shower or swimming. Funny thing, but I don't stop to sanitize the thing whenever I wash my hands. But then again, I don't eat with my wrists or forearms. And I don't put my food in direct contact with the tables. Heck, I don't even disinfect every table I sit at. It wouldn't even occur to me to disinfect a MB multiple times a day, but washing it when you wash your hands seems easy enough if it skeeves you that badly. I'd rather just let my normally healthy immune system take care of itself.

THIS!

This preoccupation with sterilizing everything in the world is why we have super-viruses in the first place. IMHO, of course. Oh, and science's.

 

[Bullseye]

I actually think they are a plus for the germ intolerant

MagicBands are the best way to avoid many other germs and second hand germs because I am no longer handing my KTTW or CC to Cast Members who have been handling others cards all day long. Lots of cards, lots of germs. From stores, to restaurants etc. now only my MB Mickey touches a machine, no hands. Even the old FP machines you would put in your card after many others before you, imagine all the germs that stockpiled in that dark place, never being cleaned. Now my MB touches something and when I need to I clean it with a wipe. But my hands don't have to touch the germs handed back to me on my card.

Hopper, you're a genius...that makes so much sense!

 

[Networth]

Super virus? If you mean "super-bacteria" than you can thank the overuse of antibiotics for that one. Clinicians and patients need to understand that antibiotics will not help with your cold/flu unless you also have a bacterial infection your just compromising your natural immune system.
Part of the reason in the last last year(s) their has been a big push from the CDC on antibiotic education.

Anyway your at Disney with millions of other people. As PP said I think the band helps if anything. Use the band when you can. Wipe down the band when your back at the resort. Also don't touch your face, people would be amazed out how less often they would get sick if they would not touch their face. And the obvious one wash your hands.

 

[ellone]

Super virus? If you mean "super-bacteria" than you can thank the overuse of antibiotics for that one. Clinicians and patients need to understand that antibiotics will not help with your cold/flu unless you also have a bacterial infection your just compromising your natural immune system. Part of the reason in the last last year(s) their has been a big push from the CDC on antibiotic education.

80% of antibiotics used in the US are fed to livestock. Mostly because they live in disgusting conditions and they are fed daily as a preventative measure so the animals don't get sick. Some factory farms misuse to get the animals to grow faster.

People need to understand that the real problem with antibiotics starts with their food. Superbugs are coming from the factory farms.

 

[Sparkly]

I think this is the best way of looking at it. Wash your hands often, wash/clorox the magic band and go ahead and clorox the remote control, telephone, sink faucet, and toilet, as well as all door knobs in your hotel room. You'll set yourself up for a good start if you go ahead and take action from the beginning.

I too am a germaphobe (way more now that I'm a parent) and I was so happy to see all the Disney resorts go to triple sheeting and remove the icky comforters that hardly got washed.

You're never guaranteed to not come into contact with dangerous types of germs, but being proactive helps.

We brought all kinds of anti bacterial wipes to wipe the hotel room with, but we never actually ended up caring. Only I got sick, and probably because I kept rubbing my eyes and touching my face.

 

[Golf4283]

THIS!

This preoccupation with sterilizing everything in the world is why we have super-viruses in the first place. IMHO, of course. Oh, and science's.

You don't have to put IMHO when it's a fact!

 

[W.E.D.]

You don't have to put IMHO when it's a fact!

Well, I know. But figured I'd get flamed by those who don't agree with the facts!

 

[stinkpickle]

If I were afraid of germs, WDW would the LAST place I'd want to be.

 

[plutojudy]

Think of the germs on the keypad for the PIN numbers, everyone touches those.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I know a true germaphobe (mysophobe is the correct term). She wouldn't go to WDW if you paid for the trip. Children freak her out, with all of their ailments and grubby little "everythings" (hands, feet, arms, legs, faces - everything).

Magic bands - meh - just look at all of the little germ factories running around you at WDW. There is your problem.

 

[Networth]

80% of antibiotics used in the US are fed to livestock. Mostly because they live in disgusting conditions and they are fed daily as a preventative measure so the animals don't get sick. Some factory farms misuse to get the animals to grow faster. People need to understand that the real problem with antibiotics starts with their food. Superbugs are coming from the factory farms.

Good point. Which is why people should try to frequent farm to table restaurants. And research where they are getting their food, buy organic but find out exactly what "organic" at that particular store means.

 

[DisneyisaBLAST]

I got to this thread after watching a video on the Tube of people touching their magic bands to the receivers in FP+ lines. It's like whatever their MB touched yours is now touching. Though the point about credit cards and key cards is important to keep in mind.

After getting very sick the day after my last WDW trip I'm far more cautious about disinfecting and keeping my hands away from my face and off of my food.

I prefer Purell wipes and keep a bunch in my pockets. It starts with a thorough wiping down of the seating area of the plane. And don't touch the railings of escalators in an international airport. You don't even want to know what lurks on those surfaces and neither does your immune system.