Noseeums @ Resorts & Parks

[kidlit]

Hi...I am new to posting but have enjoyed reading these boards for over a year now... We are planning our second trip for this year (usually only get to go once but HAD to do the FTP!!!). It is in September and we have never been during this time of year or during the summer months. I know that noseeums bite and you cannot see them (at least that's what I get from the name) but how will we know if they are present. Do you instantly feel a bite or do you wake up the next morning chewed on, itchy and wondering what attacked you and when? We love to walk around the resort grounds at night and need to be prepared for the "unseen"!

Kim

 

[Terry S]

No, you don't instantly feel a bite. You wake up the next morning with what look like mosquito bites all over, usually your legs and wonder where the heck you got them from. The interesting thing is that they seem to be picky. My daughter and I get all bit up, but my son and husband do not.

We have been using the Avon product that is a sun-screen and insect repellant. It says right on it that it repels no-seeums. It seems to work pretty good

 

[tikibirds]

I got some NASTY reactions to these bites last July.

We were staying at the WL and I had the bright idea to stand and watch the Water Pageant on the wooden bridge in my bathing suit.

I did feel something, and the next day my one entire arm and entire leg swelled up. I ended up in Centra Care.

Bug spray for me next trip!

 

[Virgo10]

I also had a bad time with these things both a couple of years ago and then again in May. I almost never felt them bite but within hours I'd get a dime sized welt. The itching lasted close to a week and by day 3 or 4 the welt looked a lot like the chicken pox.

By all means bring insect repellent with DEET in it. I had some but on several occasions ran out the door in the morning forgetting to use it.

Another thing, bring anti itch medications. I had some with me at all times after my first lapse in remembering the bug spray.

Roberta

 

[Hillbeans]

Put the bug spray on every day and night...regardless of what bugs you see outside or not.

We used the Off-Family spray and the Cutter wipes. They worked well, even on DS 2.

I got a few tiny bites on my foot but i'm one of those skintypes that gets welts from a tiny bugbite. No reason to ruin your trip over it, so just put the spray on every day.

Oh, and eat something with garlic...!

 

[kidlit]

Thanks so much for the info. It's insect repellant for us. Taking no chances that bugs visible or not will mess up our trip! I would be inclined not to wear repellant(sp?) if I didn't see any mosquitoes. I am changing my stance on this.

Thanks again!
Kim

 

[hightown]

I got these bad last november and after 3 days, had to just wear pants for the rest of the time for protection. Starts with a dime size welt like Virgo10 said. Then it got a head in the center. Really gross and they lasted a long time after trip.

Definately doing bug spray w/deet. Another odd thing. I was the only one who got bit and I was the only one who used mickey lotion on legs. This trip I'll just stash all the mickey lotions and take them home!

Sharon

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I hate to disagree, but we were at Disney's Vero Beach Resort for the first time the second week in July and you DO feel the bite immediately. I had never been bitten by these things befrore, but I really new it when I was! I'm not one to have any reactions to mosquito bites, but for two weeks I itched like it was the day after. Only now am I able to make it through the day and night without scratching and finally the bite marks are gone.

My wife forgot to pack the insect repellant we bought for an earlier trip to WDW. The info at DVBR said normal "Off" won't repell them. You have to use something that contains DEET. Trust me, whatever you have to pay for it at the resort, it is worth it if you forget the stuff at home!

 

[dg39]

OMG!!!!!Just the thought of these MISERABLE bugs make me cringe. We go every July and I have never been bit then. BUT, we went this past April also, and let me tell you, I woke up one morning to 37, yes thats right 37 welts on my legs. I counted each and every one of them after I scratched and scratched and scratched them. I did feel them ATTACK me just a little, but nothing to even think about, until the next morning when I got out of bed and my legs touched the edge of the bed getting out of it. That little move made for the WORST itch I ever ever had in my life. Just sitting in the car made them itch, each pot hole we passed set the itch off, I think just looking at them made them itch more. It almost ruined my trip. I looked like I had some horrible disease. We went to the drug store and bought everything they had for bug bites, itches, and rashes. I spent a small fortune. After a good 4-5 days the itch went away, but I still had the marks for almost 2 weeks later. PLEASE BRING BUG SPRAY. And there pretty selective with who they bite. I did everything the same as my dh and my dd, yet, I was the only one attacked by them. We just got back from our usual July trip and they didn't come near me. I don't know if there seasonal or not, but if I ever go in April again, I'll be the one you see dripping in bug spray.

 

[Diamond_Girls]

When we first arrived in VB I noticed a poor woman who had some horrible disease on her legs... little did I know that I would have the same disease a few days later! I looked horrible and felt even worse!

 

[melindaandrob]

I had to laugh when I saw your subject 'noseeums' I thought this was a Canadian thing! I also didn't realize that they bite. We are right on lake Erie and never had a problem with them. Mosquitos....now that's a whole different story!

Thanks for the head up about these little bugs!

 

[kidlit]

WOW.....Thanks for all of your insect horror stories....I will wear bug spray..I will wear bug spray!!!!!! I am thankful for the insight on these tiny terrors...Even if I didn't get bit I know they would LOVE my husband (all insects do) and that may be worse then getting bit myself! Thanks again!

kim


Melindaandrob, I understand your mosquito pain! We live "around the corner" from you on Lake St.Clair in Michigan!

 

[SarahAndMike]

Does anyone know if there is a season when they are out? We've gone in May and never had a problem. Now we're going in October and I want to be prepared.

 

[WeLuvBuzz]

We went in September last year and also had no problem with them. I don't think we had a single bite from anything. At that time, they were really spraying to rid the parks/resorts of mosquitos, so maybe that's why? I know those bugs are the worst!!! I used to get attacked by them when we visited my grandparents in FL as a kid.

 

[tazz]

We didn't have any problem with them in September. Good thing since this is the first time I've ever heard of them. I'm stocking up on Avon's sss sunscreen that is also a bug repellent for our October trip plus some spray on deet! Don't want to take any chances.

 

[Eeyore1954]

My DW had a very bad reaction to noseeums one year when we went to Sanibel, FL. We wound up at an urgent care facility. The doctor told us the little buggers don't actually "bite" -- they -- well, this is what the doc said -- urinate on you. It's whatever they secrete from their tiny bodies that causes whelts on the skin.

Both my DW and I felt the "bite" immediately. I ran into the water and washed my legs quickly. DW was not so fortunate.

We've never had a problem with them at Disney (thank goodness).

In Sanibel, they sell Avon's Skin So Soft lotion as a "repellant." It worked for me, but even after practically bathing in the stuff, they still attacked DW. I suppose it works for some people, but not others. What I liked about the SSS is it didn't smell like most repellants and didn't leave a greasy feeling.

 

[dizneykid]

since you all are talking about "biting" pests, i just have to warn you about the "deer flies". my dh and i went back in may and the first day i was sitting out on the balcony of the wl and this black and yellow fly landed on my ankle and bit me. let me tell you, i felt it, it felt like someone was sticking a huge pin in my leg. i thought it was a yellow jacket but i wound up killing it and showed my dh and he said it was a deer fly. he remembers when he used to go camping. i don't know if repellant helps with those. i just kept an eye out and would swat at them. they were pretty pesky.

also, i got a huge welt from the bite that itched like crazy and it lasted almost two months. the itch went away after a month. i hate those things.