PLEASE check for bed bugs before accepting your room.

[Bella the Ball 360]

Fleas are bad.....but trust me, bed bugs are worse. Worse because they are MUCH harder to detect and treat. I used to have pets therefore fleas in the house from time to time. Usually one treatment of the pets and home and fleas were gone. I don't know how many treatments we will have to have to get thebed bugs out of our home. The psychological impact is unbelievable. My DH can't understand why I am so upset by this but I don't think he realizes how fast they could overtake our home and just how hard they can be to obliterate. So for now and the forseeable future we are living out of ziploc bags and praying we don't spread the parasites further. While there are WAY worse things that can happen to a person, waking up with a blood spot on your clothing that you KNOW is from a squished bed bug seems pretty horrible when it happens. I guess the positive side of that is there is one less in my house now!

One other bit of bad news......you may not even see visible signs of them on the mattress or headboard. We had NO visible signs other than I was getting bitten (well, we are probably all being bitten but I am the only one in my home having an allergic reaction to the bites). I think from now on I will carry pesticide with me and treat the mattress upon arrival....and boil my clothes and treat my suitcase when we get back home.

Okay you are experiencing one of my biggest fears....you said carry pesticide what kind are you using to kill the bed bugs. I did not think there was anything except moving out and spraying the whole appartment.

Please let me know becasue I am going in AUgust and I would be sure to get some pesticide.

 

[tndislvr]

I have heard that RID spray (normally used for head lice) kills them but I don't know if it has a residual effect or not. I think I'm carrying some on our next trip just to be safe.

I didn't mean to alarm anyone by starting this thread but just wanted to give others advice I wish I'd had before our last trip. I'd never thought of bed bugs when traveling (although I should have) but now it will be first and formost on my mind every time we travel. It is now my biggest fear about traveling. I will reiterate that I don't think this happens to the majority of travelers.....we just got unlucky. We have had one treatment with the second scheduled for next week. The PCO thinks they will be gone after that but I think I'm going to insist on monthly treatments for at least 3 months. The PCO even told me to have the dog come back out in 3 months because (and I appreciate his honesty) the treatment could cause some of them to become "dormant but not dead" as unless the chemical hits them directly a lot of residual chemicals don't work. Plus the little buggers can hide anywhere. Even the clock radio. I'm throwing mine out and getting a new one. No need to take chances. I think we caught our "infestation" (ugh - I hate saying that) early so hopefully we will fare better than others (I have heard of it taking months or even a year to get rid of them in bad cases) but I know we could be in for the long haul. So for now we'll be living out of ziploc bags and washing the sheets at least every other day!

Again, I truly didn't mean to alarm anyone.....just wanted everyone to think of that first when walking in your room. I read something somewhere about keeping your suitcase off the floor or beds and only use the luggage rack and don't unpack your clothes (hanging in the closet may be okay but don't use the dresser). Also keep your shoes off the floor. Next trip I'm taking a BUNCH of ziploc bags and our shoes and dirty clothes will be going in them nightly. I think I also read somewhere someone said they kept their suitcase in the tub (as I think they have trouble climbing slick surfaces) but if you only have one bathroom this might not be feasible.

Hope some of this helps someone. And if anyone else has any advice please keep it coming because I'm open to any suggestions!

 

[tndislvr]

HATE. THESE. BUGS. I think the first pest control service just made them mad. Now they are biting all of us instead of just me. They are biting my babies now. It is war. Will be calling the PCO tomorrow and telling him to hit them with all he's got. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed we will get rid of them quickly. It has only been 1.5 weeks (since confirmed) and I am tired of this. I can't imagine going on like this for months. I've been trying REALLY hard to not be angry with the resort (as it was a guest's fault the BB's were there) but I'm really starting to get angry.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

HATE. THESE. BUGS. I think the first pest control service just made them mad. Now they are biting all of us instead of just me. They are biting my babies now. It is war. Will be calling the PCO tomorrow and telling him to hit them with all he's got. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed we will get rid of them quickly. It has only been 1.5 weeks (since confirmed) and I am tired of this. I can't imagine going on like this for months. I've been trying REALLY hard to not be angry with the resort (as it was a guest's fault the BB's were there) but I'm really starting to get angry.

Oh man, my heart really goes out to you in this battle. I thank God that did not happen to me.. I hope it all turns out well for you and soon

 

[sjanus]

Wow, that is just awful!!!! Did you try buying zippered plastic mattress covers. I had read on another site that if you cover your mattresses with these, the heat will get them eventually and kill them. Is your bug control people specialists in bed bugs? Maybe you should get a second opinion. Scary how they have spread in such a short time. I will not be taking my pillow (which I love to have) to hotels any more!!! Let us know what eventually works.

Sandy

 

[tndislvr]

Unfortunately we have one of those Select Comfort air beds and the mattress covers won't work on those because you'd have to cut the cover to put the hose through thus leaving a possible hole for the bugs to get in and out. I think we may just disconnect the bed and put the cover on it anyway as the bed is really too expensive to just throw away. I did get covers for my new pillows though as I don't want to have to keep throwing pillows away until the bugs are gone. My fear is they are nesting in the bed frame and we really can't afford to throw that away. I've already thrown away hundreds of dollars worth of good stuff for fear it was infested.

We came home on May 29th and had the PCO confirm bed bugs last Monday so they had 4 weeks to multiply. A fertilized female lays 3-5 eggs a day so it is easy to see how their numbers have grown so quickly. I'm still hoping we caught it early enough to eradicate the problem in a few treatments....but knowing how they can hide and lie dormant I know the reality is we could be in this for the long haul. The PCO even told me they could seemingly be gone for a month or so and then we could start getting bitten again because they are such good hiders and can go a long time without eating.

The good news is mentally I'm dealing with this a LITTLE better now. Still paranoid and constantly feel like I'm itching but I've realized that it is what it is and now we just have to deal with it. Luckily my DH is a much more relaxed person than I am as if both of us were as obsessed with this it'd be one scary household!

 

[NaplesRI]

I really feel for you and hope your situation resolves soon!

I am paranoid about bedbugs whenever I stay in a hotel. I wish they would become extinct but the nasty things never seem to.

Good luck- you are in my thoughts

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

FYI I had a little beg bug issue at the Hampton Inn in shrewsbury Pa just north of Baltimore a few years back. Put suspected objects in a zip lock bag and freeze them for a few days- that usally does the trick!

 

[sjanus]

Is it possible to buy rolled plastic about 4 mils thick from the hardware store, Lowe's, etc., and wrap your bed boards, etc., and then wrap it up good enough not to get air and then tape it around the edges.....just an idea....hope you get rid of them soon!

Sandy

 

[tndislvr]

Good idea, Sandy! Thanks! The PCO is bringing a cover tomorrow to try it and see if we can make it work on our mattress but if it doesn't that is a great idea! My fear (and I'm having a lot of fears with these things) is that if I still leave the mattress connected to the air hose they can still get in and out via the air tube and escape via the pump. I really just want to throw that mattress away and get a regular mattress that can be sealed in a cover. My husband refuses, though, as we don't really have the money to buy a new mattress right now. However, if that is the only way we can get rid of them that may be what we have to do.

I'm so tired of this already. Tired of living in fear my babies will wake up with 100 bites on them. Tired of being scared I'm going to carry the bugs somewhere and pass it on to someone else. Tired of hiding when the doorbell rings because I don't want anyone to come in for fear they will take the bugs home. And I haven't even been dealing with this all that long.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

When we had our bed bug issue with Disney I was told when Disney finds the bugs in a room they close off that room, the rooms next to it, above and below it. All rooms are given a high temperature steam treatment. They said there are no chemicals allowed in the US that actually kill bed bugs, only legal option is high heat. Disney then keeps the rooms out of commission for a month and rechecks and retreats as needed.

Did your pest company use a high heat treatment or some type of chemical? I would check around if it is a chemical as it may not be able to do the job!

Fortunately for us we found our bed bugs while still at the hotel so we never brought anything into our home and weren't infested. My thoughts go out to you!!

 

[Disney_Luv]

rule of thumb is to pull the sheets up off the corners and look for any thing on the mattress creases... like small spots (black/brownish) could be the bugs...also look for blood droplets.

I was bitten in Pop Century. Disney tied saying it was fleas & I must have had an allergic reaction. I know they weren't flea bites... they had to call 911 because my legs swelled so much from the bites. They did change my room but still insisted not bed bugs.. What gets me is, why would they say "fleas" since that is just as bad.. either way there were bugs on that bed. I figured if it were fleas, they would have been in the carpet & others in the room (my DD's) would have been bitten too.. I was the only one & I slept in the bed alone...

Do you mind if I ask when you stayed at Pop that this happens? We are heading there in less than 3 weeks, and while I know it can happen anywhere, it still makes my skin crawl!

 

[dtum]

We got bed bugs back in 2004. We're 99% sure they came from the cabin we stayed in at FW. DH and I slept in the murphy bed (perfect breeding ground) and yes, we had our own pillows (and I know that's how they came home with us).

It took several months of being eaten alive before I found out what they were. I was the only one getting bit and we thought it was an allergy or something, but the itching was horrible and my neck, arms and face were a red splotchy mess. Bed bugs only bit at night and only the exposed part of your skin so my legs weren't bothered. DH for some reason isn't tasty to bed bugs and never got one bite. Once we found out what they were had the exterminator come in. Problem with them is they can't spray beds with the really strong stuff. Back in the day they were treated with DDT, but that's illegal now. Needless to say, it didn't kill the bugs (thank goodness we were able to sleep in our trailer while this was all going on). They came back and treated again, told me to throw out my mattress, headboard, etc. I had to clean out all the drawers and wash everything in them. We had a new mattress and I wasn't going to throw it out. We got the covers that you use for dust mites. They have to have a really tight seal so they can't get out because they can live for a year even without feeding. DH had some strong pesticide that we had used for fleas once and I had him spray down the room--I was so desperate I just wanted them gone! That spray worked. We had a bookcase bed that had sliding cabinets on it, lost the sliding part of the headboard--now we just have open cubbies.

What made it really bad, it was the first time we had gone on vacation and not stayed in our camper. Now I am totally paranoid. On a recent trip to Tampa i took all the covers off the bed and examined the mattress and checked all around the headboard and still worried. Once it happens to you, you never forget.

We did get lucky with our bugs (if you can say that). Because we have hardwood floors they never left DH and I's bedroom. Had we had carpet, they would have boroughed in and spread to the other rooms.

I feel so sorry for anyone who has to go through this. There is nothing that compares to the stress of bed bugs.

 

[beachbunny]

In my experience, the first thing Disney does is to deny everything. I was bitten while at Port Orleans Riverside. I didn't realize what it was until I got home and had to visit my doctor because the bites got infected. I reported the matter to Disney because I didn't want anyone else getting bitten. But Disney's response was a very legal canned response denying everything. Since it costs so much to close one room, much less the rooms next door, I doubt Disney would do this unless there was a huge infestation. I tried and got a snippy response. I guess the moral of my story is buyer beware - and as the OP said, check for bed bugs before accepting your room.

 

[JustGot2BMe]

When where you at Port Orleans Riverside? We are heading down in a few weeks and I hate any kind of bug except lady bugs!

 

[dtum]

Better to report them to the Health Department. They will come in. They didn't do anything in our case at FW because they said they don't cover campgrounds, but they do cover hotels. We didn't know what they were until several months after arriving home. GS had bites when we were there, but we thought it was those biting flies.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I was the only one getting bit and we thought it was an allergy or something, but the itching was horrible and my neck, arms and face were a red splotchy mess. Bed bugs only bit at night and only the exposed part of your skin so my legs weren't bothered. DH for some reason isn't tasty to bed bugs and never got one bite.

Actually your dh may have been getting bites. After our experience I did a lot of research and you only itcha nd show a welt if you are allergic to the bed bug bite. Many, many people are not allergeric so they have no idea they are even getting bit. This is another reason they spread so easily. My Mom was in the room with us and she had no evidence of bites but the rest of us did.

In my experience, the first thing Disney does is to deny everything. I was bitten while at Port Orleans Riverside. I didn't realize what it was until I got home and had to visit my doctor because the bites got infected. I reported the matter to Disney because I didn't want anyone else getting bitten. But Disney's response was a very legal canned response denying everything. Since it costs so much to close one room, much less the rooms next door, I doubt Disney would do this unless there was a huge infestation. I tried and got a snippy response. I guess the moral of my story is buyer beware - and as the OP said, check for bed bugs before accepting your room.

It was quite the opposite for me. Disney took my report VERY seriously and were great about it. Never denied once. Maybe my room was especially bad or maybe it was the fact that I actually caught a bug and put it in a ziploc to show them! LOL!

 

[beachbunny]

No, I had no smoking gun like your bed bug in a zip lock. And I think few people who get bitten can actually catch a bug as evidence. I think absent that, Disney will categorically deny everything.

And I didn't know to look because, like dtum, I didn't know what I had until after I got home. Luckily, they didn't follow me home.

This happened last year. I have been back to Disney since then and stayed on property, but I won't stay at POR again. I know not all rooms there have bed bugs, but I can't get over the fact that mine did and it does not appear that POR did anything to fix it.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

No, I had no smoking gun like your bed bug in a zip lock. And I think few people who get bitten can actually catch a bug as evidence. I think absent that, Disney will categorically deny everything.


This happened last year. I have been back to Disney since then and stayed on property, but I won't stay at POR again. I know not all rooms there have bed bugs, but I can't get over the fact that mine did and it does not appear that POR did anything to fix it.

I guess I was "lucky" to get that bug! LOL!

It has been over a year for us and I have returned and will go again in 2 weeks. I have not been back to the same resort though and I don't plan to either. Not really because of the bed bug issue but because the mousekeeping there was terrible and I didn't care for the room. For the same money there are other resorts I prefer.

 

[fsmith2845]

I feel for all who posted and has had to deal with these buggers.. I spent a couple of months over in Australia, staying at very nice hotel and kept noticing spots on my arms (mostly) and other parts. I thought i had reacted to something in the room (detergents or something) until i started to do a little investigating into what the "bites" from bedbugs looked like. After i figured that out did some investigating in the room and found some evidence of them and told management. They looked at me like I was crazy but did move my room. When i got home, never brought my luggage in the house, emptied everything in the garage, immediately washed all my clothes in hot water, left the luggage in the VERY HOT garage (it was summer when i came home). I haven't had any evidence of any infestation (and this happened over 3 years ago now). I got lucky but I learned to ALWAYS check. As previous posters have mentioned, it;s not just the $49 a night motels, it can be any hotel 1-5 stars.. And with the turnaround that Disney has, I'm honestly surprised there aren't more cases..