Massive Fear about Bed Bugs

[laceltris3]

I am also bedbug phobic. I used to travel to Chicago for work, and news reports indicated that Chicago was a haven for them at the time. I take the steps outlined above as a normal course, checking the seams of the mattress, headboard, etc. If I am in a place that has been reported on the bedbug registry, I'll also take my hard side rolling bag. I will bring big black garbage bags and put my bag in the garbage bag, and place it on the luggage stand away from the walls and in the middle of the room as much as possible. I'll leave my hardside bag zipped and tied up in the garbage bag unless I am getting something in or out of it. I only do this when traveling alone for work though, it's not really practical for traveling with the kids.

I also have the benefit of living in Texas, where most of the year, parking in direct sunlight will get things hot enough to kill the critters. You can pick them up anywhere, though, so all you can do is take reasonable precautions.

 

[earfulofmagic]

So, in addition to all of the tips on detecting an infestation once you get into the room -- was googling around for hard side vs soft side luggage as extra line of defense against bed bugs.

Found this - http://shop.thermalstrike.com/product/thermalstrike-luggage.asp

Interesting idea, but I have to read more reviews on it first. Only read one so far. It's expensive, but if it's durable (and WORKS) then I will consider this an investment, even if I never see a bedbug.

I'm going down to WDW->GA->WDW next week, so reading this thread was good timing! Will be vigilant about inspecting every room, bed, sofa, dresser, etc.

 

[WEDWDW]

We encountered bed bugs at Disney. But it's so rare.

Great point.

There are over 25,000 rooms at WDW.

I'm sure there are many days when none of them have BBs.

Personally,I have around 400 nights at WDW with not the first BB.

But let's say there are 10 rooms on any given day with BBs-the odds you will be in one of those rooms is 1 in 2500!!!!

Take precautions and let the good vacation times roll!

 

[JoJoGirl]

My husband is a frequent business traveler, and unfortunately bedbugs are fact of life these days in hotels and especially airplanes. I found a very suspicious line of three bites on my leg after a flight last December. My son's classroom even had a bout of them, carried in by one of the students. So I share your paranoia about the sneaky critters.

We invested in a bedbug oven to treat any luggage and possessions that have been traveling. It's simply a square, well-sewn tent which uses hot air blowers to heat the items inside to a high enough tempreature to kill bed bugs and their eggs, but not hot enough to harm most things. After each trip, nothing comes into the the house until it's spent its time in the bug oven. (Cosmetics and toiletries excepted, they travel in ziplocs.). The oven cost about $300, but is well worth it for my peace of mind, considering how often someone in our family is traveling.

Please don't let a fear of bedbugs keep you from enjoying Disney! Chances are you won't come near any. But even if you do, there are plenty of ways to be sure you don't bring them home.

 

[shruley]

I had read about this topic before, but didn't know to check the corners of the ceilings. Good to know!

 

[Sepo]

Give it 5-10 yrs and Disney will likely be using the same terminal-clean robots that use the Xe and UV light that hospitals are now starting to deploy. Not just bed bugs, it'll actually result in a genuinely clean carpet.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Have you considered getting counseling for the phobia?

Might help.

Give it 5-10 yrs and Disney will likely be using the same terminal-clean robots that use the Xe and UV light that hospitals are now starting to deploy. Not just bed bugs, it'll actually result in a genuinely clean carpet.

Except they are pulling carpet during refurb I heard.

 

[mousehockey37]

At one point back in November I almost told my husband to cancel the trip b/c of my huge phobia of bed bugs. I mean, I get panic attacks and all. I read somewhere that Disney uses Beagles to sniff them out. And each resort has their own heaters to kill them. Is this true? Looking for anything to put my mind at ease. Any tips or tricks to avoid them completely?

Here's what we do...

I have a small flashlight on my keychain. Prior to taking ANY luggage into our room, my DGF goes in with the flashlight and tears the bed apart. She looks under the mattress, etc for any and all signs of bedbugs.

I'd suggest doing something similar. That way if anything is found, none of your belongings are in the room yet and you can go right back to the desk and let them know.