Our Horrible Disney Vacation - LONG

[Soarin08]

If WDW is using bleach, there is a reason for it as that is not in the normal cleaning protocol - when we had Wilderness Lodge do a deep clean of our villa, this is what they used. They said they wished more guests would be as caring as us and inform them of contagious illnesses so that they can deep clean (they have a special cleaning protocol for contagious illnesses - the housekeeper looked like a Hazmat crew member!) and so that they can track it.

Happy health to all, Tiger

Can you request that a room be deep-cleaned prior to arriving? Does it cost extra if you do? My family should prolly do so.... just in case the previous occupants were ill (we're gonna be at POR).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Can you request that a room be deep-cleaned prior to arriving? Does it cost extra if you do? My family should prolly do so.... just in case the previous occupants were ill (we're gonna be at POR).

I don't know but it would be worth a call to ask. We were in constant contact with housekeeping and they came by several times to do extra cleanings while we were in the room and assured me that they would do a deep cleaning upon our checkout. I flagged down a manager in the lobby at SSR after we checked out and made him aware of how sick we were and made sure he had our room number and my in-laws room number so that he could make sure they were thoroughly scrubbed down.

We had to have the couch cushions and the carpet cleaned in our room by housekeeping b/c DS had accidents. They brought out one of those Rug Doctors and sprayed a strong cleaning solution so I hope whatever they did kept the next family from getting sick.

After the first incident of illness I called housekeeping and requested cleaning supplies and was told that b/c of liability issues that they couldn't give me any chemicals so I went to Publix and bought plenty of my own along with Tide, chicken soup, ginger ale and saltines.

 

[rentayenta]

OP, I am sorry that so many of you got ill.

 

[lisaanddenny]

1. your traveling on a plane during flu season
2. your riding buses packed with people during flu season
3. your using public bathrooms, that sick people are using, during flu season
4. your eating out in restaurants with sick people every day, 3 times a day during flu season
5. your standing in lines i.e. Toy Story, people are coughing during flu season in a closed space, guess what? YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING SICK IS HIGH........
6. your walking through lines, sliding your hands on the guide rails, the whole way,heck, you let your kids play on the guide rails, during flu season..........
People, you are taking a risk going this time of year! You can take all the lysol and wipies you want, influenza is droplet precautions, so unless you and the entire clan wear a mask every hour, every day your in public, your taking the risk....there are many viruses that are spread during flu season also, being around larger groups is putting you at risk, such is life....sitting on a plane for an hour and a half, just on the runway, in addition to the flying time, during flu season, think about it please........wouldn't you want to be sure that your plane had gas, yeah it sucks but I would want confirmation that we had a full tank of gas before that plane took off with me and my children.........yeah, it stinks but it happens, don't fly if you don't like the safety checks..........as for people liking the details about vomitting into a bag, details about going in your pants, ewwwwwwwwwww, details like that are not needed, you can get your point across without putting nasty visuals into people's heads. You risked going during flu season, and you were unfortunate, be glad you got over it and your family is healthy and happy.............I am a nurse and there are those who are this unfortunate with sicknesses that don't go away, geesh. You even complained that your own 2 year old wanted carried!!!

 

[Tiger926]

Can you request that a room be deep-cleaned prior to arriving? Does it cost extra if you do? My family should prolly do so.... just in case the previous occupants were ill (we're gonna be at POR).

Yes you can. For DVC members (not sure about other resorts, but DVC for sure), we can also request that our villa's air filters are changed out for fresh ones - this is great for those of us with asthma and allergies.

I have to agree with lisaanddenny - people are taking a major chance by going on vacation at this time of year. I'm not suggesting that people deserve to be sick, but it is taking quite a chance to go at this time of year. Not sure what the solution is, but it definitely isn't getting on planes with sick people, nor, going to parks with sick people either.

Best of all to all, Tiger

 

[magicalfoursome]

1. YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING SICK IS HIGH........

People, you are taking a risk going this time of year! You can take all the lysol and wipies you want, influenza is droplet precautions, so unless you and the entire clan wear a mask every hour, every day your in public, your taking the risk....there are many viruses that are spread during flu season also, being around larger groups is putting you at risk, such is life.... don't fly if you don't like the safety checks.......... You risked going during flu season, and you were unfortunate, be glad you got over it and your family is healthy and happy.............I am a nurse and there are those who are this unfortunate with sicknesses that don't go away, geesh. You even complained that your own 2 year old wanted carried!!!

Not feeling very sympathetic are you?
To the OP: I am sorry your vacation was filled with sickness. That is something I always worry about when my family takes a vacation-- no matter what time of year anything can happen. Do not blame yourself. It must have been so disappointing after all the planning, anticipation, and expense. I hope you can go back to WDW soon and have a truly wonderful vacation!! Happy Holidays and a happy, healthy new year!!!!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

1. your traveling on a plane during flu season
2. your riding buses packed with people during flu season
3. your using public bathrooms, that sick people are using, during flu season
4. your eating out in restaurants with sick people every day, 3 times a day during flu season
5. your standing in lines i.e. Toy Story, people are coughing during flu season in a closed space, guess what? YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING SICK IS HIGH........
6. your walking through lines, sliding your hands on the guide rails, the whole way,heck, you let your kids play on the guide rails, during flu season..........
People, you are taking a risk going this time of year! You can take all the lysol and wipies you want, influenza is droplet precautions, so unless you and the entire clan wear a mask every hour, every day your in public, your taking the risk....there are many viruses that are spread during flu season also, being around larger groups is putting you at risk, such is life....sitting on a plane for an hour and a half, just on the runway, in addition to the flying time, during flu season, think about it please........wouldn't you want to be sure that your plane had gas, yeah it sucks but I would want confirmation that we had a full tank of gas before that plane took off with me and my children.........yeah, it stinks but it happens, don't fly if you don't like the safety checks..........as for people liking the details about vomitting into a bag, details about going in your pants, ewwwwwwwwwww, details like that are not needed, you can get your point across without putting nasty visuals into people's heads. You risked going during flu season, and you were unfortunate, be glad you got over it and your family is healthy and happy.............I am a nurse and there are those who are this unfortunate with sicknesses that don't go away, geesh. You even complained that your own 2 year old wanted carried!!!

Thanks so much for your kind words.





A few problems with your post however.
First of all, I never said ANYTHING about "details about going in your pants, ewwwwwwwwwww" First of all, grow up - your a nurse??? Second, what the heck are you talking about??? Yes, I did state that it was "coming out both ends", but not once did I imply that anyone did anything in their pants - get a grip.

Second, yes, I did say something about my 2 year old wanting to be carried, the whole time, all day every day, only by me.... I LOVE my dd more than anything, but I have a bad back, and by day 3, it was going into spasms.

Third - Yes, we are all aware that this is cold and flu season, and sitting in a plane, and getting on busses, and going to public bathrooms, and eating in restaurants is a risk, but no one expects something like this to happen, and when it does, it sucks!

Lastly - If you don't like a thread, just move on. Typing post after post of nasty comments is really just sad. Its also sad that you can't think of one kind thing to say to someone - I really feel for any of your patients - Paging Nurse Ratchet!!!!!

 

[livie1205]

I am sorry you guys got so sick...we sprayed our room down with lysol and washed our hands ALL the time lol we got lucky and none of us got sick but the thing you have to remember is if you go to a buffet wash your hands AFTER you make your plate and before you eat....

 

[delmar411]

Sorry your vacation was a bust OP. It seems there is a nasty virus going round WDW but it is the season unfortunately. I was VERY grateful we didn't catch anything as we already had a stomach bug come through our house just a few weeks before we went on our trip and once a year is plenty for that!

I hope everyone in your house is back to normal so you have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

 

[wilderness01]

To the op, sorry your trip was ruined.

We have been there and done that. It is no fun, but I never thought of it as a waste of my life. At the time, I did think "why me" but it has since been not as bad of a memory. This will happen to you too, I'm sure of it. I don't get paid either if I don't work, so I hear you about feeling like it was "wasted" money. One day you will look back at this and laugh, but not for a while.

To Clarabelle, we haven't paid that much for Zofran, and I have a prescription bottle full of it for my one son sitting in my cabinet. We need to give this to him if he starts vomitting badly because he has bled in the past due to tears in his esphogaus.

We have also had roto as well. Believe me you never forget the color of smell of that. You would know if you have this. Noro is not spread airborne, or roto for that matter, it is spread by touching fecal matter and having it come in contact with your mucous membranes. We have had our kids infected with this on a trip out west, with a hospitalization for our baby, and that was not fun at all. Very scarey to have your baby so sick and be out of town.

I don't think I would ever broad sweep the statement to not go to WDW at this time of year due to cold or flu season. If you use good handwashing all the time, you can decrease your chances of getting infected. But we all know that kids don't always use these, touch a surface, put their hand in their mouth and there you go. It has happened to us and I know it isn't fun.

Now everytime we go to get a funnel cake in the MK we tease our daughter about her ordering her cake and proceeding to get sick everywhere. My DH and I were standing guard there and asking the workers to please call for a clean up. Someone pushed past us, wouldn't listen as we were saying "wait don't step there our daughter just threw up" and stood right in her vomit. He ordered his order in perfect english too so it's not like he didn't understand what we were saying. Or maybe he didn't, I don't know. We just shrugged our shoulders and again asked for a cleanup. Our DD was mortified and cried harder that someone stepped in her puke, but we now tease her and she laughs, years later.

We tease our son about getting sick in the B&B show and puking all the way up the stairs while people were screaming at us with shouts of "ewww, that is gross." Well hello, we know it is gross, but he was a baby and sick. We stuck him in a stroller, went to a worker, again asked for a cleanup and darted back to the hotel. This was on a different trip, but sure enough a few days later my other child along with my niece got it.

So honestly, we have been there and done that, and although it does stink now, you will look back on this and laugh, someday, after you are able to create better memories.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Just so people don't think we had the most horrible time in the world (though it was close!), I wanted to post the highlights.....
The first night when we went to the Princess dinner in Norway. Great food, great princesses, and they even give you 2 free 8x10's and 4 regular copies of each picture (we were on the dining plan)
Day two we did Chef Mickeys. The food was pretty good though I would recommend NOT going untill they finish all the construction. It was incredibly loud, and though it didn't really bother me (it just kind of numbs you after a while) there were many parents complaining that it really bothered their children.
We went on IASM with the girls, and it was great - just really dissapointed we only got on once.
The next morning we had the girls first hair cuts and then Crystal Palace. The hair cutting LITERALLY took only 4 minutes - they didn't even wet the hair or anything, but somehow it turned out well. The Crystal Palace was nice - semi rushed with the characters, but the girls LOVED it. Food was almost exactly like Chef Mickeys. After that we walked around MK - FIL had to leave MK and the tent due to... you know what... but we got to stay for the rest of the day.
I orignally had DD3 going to BBB for the next morning, but I canceled it because I didn't think she would like it - I regret that now. She was so good for her hair cut - not expected at all!!
Then we went to Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast. Food was good, Princesses were very nice. Got the free pictures again, as well as magical wands and stars.
We had 3 more Character meals planed, but had to nix them due to.... you know what.... We did get to DHS for a day - really like that. Loved the shows!
DD3 and DH made it to AK, though myself and DD2 were not able to do to.... you know what...

Thats about it - didn't buy much.... Because we weren't able to get out much due to.... you know what.... we were able to come home with a good amount of money - we will be putting it towards our next Disney vacation in a few years.

 

[magicalfoursome]

SharpMomOfTwo,
Don't listen to anyone who has harsh words for you. Having your family become ill, away from home, in a hotel room is horrible. You must have come home exhausted and frustrated. Of course you know that other things in life are much worse but right now your vacation was less than ideal and you feel bad. I am glad you are trying to focus on the magical moments. Two years ago my family went the week after Thanksgiving and I never thought not to go at that time because it was flu season. As a previous poster stated you will feel better about your trip over time.

 

[jodifla]

Yes you can. For DVC members (not sure about other resorts, but DVC for sure), we can also request that our villa's air filters are changed out for fresh ones - this is great for those of us with asthma and allergies.

I have to agree with lisaanddenny - people are taking a major chance by going on vacation at this time of year. I'm not suggesting that people deserve to be sick, but it is taking quite a chance to go at this time of year. Not sure what the solution is, but it definitely isn't getting on planes with sick people, nor, going to parks with sick people either.

Best of all to all, Tiger

I've been going to WDW at Christmastime on and off since it opened in 1972. Never gotten sick.

Never gotten sick on a cruise, either, other than some headaches.

And I don't use any of that ubercleaning stuff hand gel, either.

Not sure if it's worse at WDW this year or what...but it's never been a concern at all for us in the past.

My son was seriously under the weather on our last cruise, but it was the effects of his flu shot...we didn't reallize at the time that he has an egg allergy!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Why did you have Zofran? That is a powerful anti-nausea medication usually given to cancer patients to deal with the side effects of chemo. I was on Zofran during my 3rd pregnancy because I had hyperemesis gravidarum and couldn't function without it. It isn't a cheap med either. If memory serves my meds were about $1700 for a 10 day supply for name brand Zofran. I know a generic came out at the end of my pregnancy but it was still pricey.

If I was sick enough that I needed Zofran I sure wouldn't be going on vacation!

With the illness at Disney, nausea wasn't the main symptom - the vomiting and frequent urgent trips to the restroom were. Zofran wouldn't stop those symptoms.

I also had HG with my 2nd pregnancy and I was also on Zofran. You are confusing Zofran with another medication, because Zofran stops (or reduces) vomiting but doesn't touch nausea. If Zofran stopped your nausea during an HG pregnancy, you were incredibly lucky and you were an exception to the rule for sure. Most HGers are on Zofran in combination with another anti-nausea drug (I was on a series of those as they either didn't work or else stopped working). HG sucks!

I agree with you, though. If you are sick, don't go on vacation and spread it to everyone else!!!

 

[**eeyore**]

If you are sick, don't go on vacation and spread it to everyone else!!!

Couldn't agree more!!!!

While the OP and her family were not sick when they left on vacation, we have heard a few stories of families that have continued to travel, despite a sick family member. That is not fair to the sick individual, nor is it fair to everyone else outside of your family that is now going to be subjected to the illness. For all we know, OP's family got sick, because of a selfish family that wouldn't postpone their vacation due to illness (harsh I know, but true!).

I fell like I can post this, because, as I stated earlier, we DID postpone our trip due to illness. Part of it was selfish - I didn't want to travel while sick, but it was also due to not wanted to subject others to the illness - seriously people - how inconsiderate! I'm always amazed at people who don't take stomach bugs seriously. Maybe it is just because I group up in a house of 7 - every winter it seemed like the bug would make its way around the house multiple times. Rule was - it one person has it in the house, we don't go anywhere unless necessary, because we were probably carrying the bug.

Okay, stepping down off soap box/high horse!

OP, once again - I hope that you and your family are well enough/happy enough to enjoy the holidays. Nobody deserves to be sick on vacation - it sucks - I'm sorry you and your family had to go through it. May you and your family make many happy memories in the future!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Couldn't agree more!!!!

While the OP and her family were not sick when they left on vacation, we have heard a few stories of families that have continued to travel, despite a sick family member. That is not fair to the sick individual, nor is it fair to everyone else outside of your family that is now going to be subjected to the illness. For all we know, OP's family got sick, because of a selfish family that wouldn't postpone their vacation due to illness (harsh I know, but true!).

I fell like I can post this, because, as I stated earlier, we DID postpone our trip due to illness. Part of it was selfish - I didn't want to travel while sick, but it was also due to not wanted to subject others to the illness - seriously people - how inconsiderate! I'm always amazed at people who don't take stomach bugs seriously. Maybe it is just because I group up in a house of 7 - every winter it seemed like the bug would make its way around the house multiple times. Rule was - it one person has it in the house, we don't go anywhere unless necessary, because we were probably carrying the bug.

Okay, stepping down off soap box/high horse!

OP, once again - I hope that you and your family are well enough/happy enough to enjoy the holidays. Nobody deserves to be sick on vacation - it sucks - I'm sorry you and your family had to go through it. May you and your family make many happy memories in the future!

The woman sitting directly behind us on the plane was hacking up a lung the entire time. She was so bad, she was turnng PURPLE!!! I can't say 100% that she is who spread the illness to my family, but she sure didn't help!!

 

[Indianadisneyfan]

Maybe they should put gas gauges on air planes. J/K Sorry about your trip.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Maybe they should put gas gauges on air planes. J/K Sorry about your trip.

Well YEAH - Thats what the whole plane was thinking With all the technology they couldn't think to do that!
I totally understand and appreciate that they had to make sure there really was gas, because unlike with a car, you don't get to simply "pull over" a plane when you run out of gas!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I also had HG with my 2nd pregnancy and I was also on Zofran. You are confusing Zofran with another medication, because Zofran stops (or reduces) vomiting but doesn't touch nausea. If Zofran stopped your nausea during an HG pregnancy, you were incredibly lucky and you were an exception to the rule for sure. Most HGers are on Zofran in combination with another anti-nausea drug (I was on a series of those as they either didn't work or else stopped working). HG sucks!

I agree with you, though. If you are sick, don't go on vacation and spread it to everyone else!!!

I also had Phenergan but it did nothing - my body became immune to it after the first few weeks so it did nothing. Zofran did not stop the vomiting for me but it lessened the frequency of the vomiting and the severity of the nausea so I could function and at least keep some food down. I had HG with my last 2 pregnancies but Zofran had not yet been approved for use by pregnant women the first time I had it. I just had to suffer the effects so I was very grateful for the little bit of relief I did get the 2nd time around by using Zofran.

My point was that Zofran is a powerful medicine with a very specific use. I would never dope my kid up on it just so I could go on vacation. Our pediatrician told us that if you have a nasty stomach virus then the worse thing you could do is use an antiemetic or an antidiarrheal medicine because doing so just keeps your body from expelling the virus.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I also had Phenergan but it did nothing - my body became immune to it after the first few weeks so it did nothing. Zofran did not stop the vomiting for me but it lessened the frequency of the vomiting and the severity of the nausea so I could function and at least keep some food down. I had HG with my last 2 pregnancies but Zofran had not yet been approved for use by pregnant women the first time I had it. I just had to suffer the effects so I was very grateful for the little bit of relief I did get the 2nd time around by using Zofran.

My point was that Zofran is a powerful medicine with a very specific use. I would never dope my kid up on it just so I could go on vacation. Our pediatrician told us that if you have a nasty stomach virus then the worse thing you could do is use an antiemetic or an antidiarrheal medicine because doing so just keeps your body from expelling the virus.

Zofran lessened the vomiting for me also, but it did nothing for the nausea. You were sooooo lucky that it helped you with the nausea and allowed you to eat some too. It allowed me to drink, but not to eat. Yuck, HG is just awful. The Phenegran worked for me but only in conjunction with the Zofran. It didn't work on it's own. Also, it makes you soooo tired that I only ever took it at night.

I agree that I wouldn't give a sick kid Zofran to go on vacation. Would that even work? I tried taking Zofran when I had the stomach bug and it did nothing to stop the vomiting.