Poison Ivy or Oak in Disney question.

[tazdev3225]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum although the answers will have an affect on my touring strategies.

I am going to WDW in 5 weeks with my DD and her family and we just found out that my one DGD is very allergic to these plants. The poor kid has a very swollen, blotchy and itchy face right now. I know that these plants are indigenous to many areas but does Disney have a problem with them or do they try and keep them under control. My DGD did not touch the plants but the winds blowing caused the oils to come in contact with her face.

My concern is that if they are around the parks and the resorts we may have a problem. If I know that we may encounter this on the trip I can talk to her pediatrician and possibly have a prescription to be on the safe side. I carry an epi pen that I have never had to use for a bee allergy but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[Jennasis]

Unless your DGD goes traipsing through the woods somewhere (like FW) she should be fine.

 

[tazdev3225]

Unless your DGD goes traipsing through the woods somewhere (like FW) she should be fine.

Thanks we aren't headed anywhere near there. I just feel so bad for her right now and it's their first trip to Disney so I want it to be as great as I can make it.

 

[umichigan10]

Don't go walking through bushes ans brush at your resort (why anyone would do that in the first place I'll never know) and you should be fine.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I am deathly allergic to poison ivy, as well (like your granddaughter, I can break out if I'm near it on a windy day and need major steroids to get it under control) and I've never had any issues at WDW. I have never been to FW, but I assume that the groundskeeper CMs keep it as under control as possible. Fortunately it's my only allergy, but it's an awful one!!!

 

[RookieLady]

Make sure Disney housekeeping washes the sheets and towels everyday. You will need to put the towels on the floor or the little card on the bed or they won't wash because of conservation concerns. Florida is hot and it will ooze and seep in the heat and get all over the sheets and towels. If you dont' have fresh linen, it will spread further. I went with a small area and ended up covered in it because I kept forgetting to have my sheets and towels washed everyday. At home it's second nature when I get it, but you have to affirmatively act because Disney is trying to be environmentally friendly.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

By the way, if she hasn't already done so, she should get some steroidal cream from her doctor for the rash, as it's the only thing I've found that controls the rash. Benadryl and the like do nothing for me.

 

[tazdev3225]

Don't go walking through bushes ans brush at your resort (why anyone would do that in the first place I'll never know) and you should be fine.

Thanks I will keep her out of the bushes and since she's afraid of lizards I know that will be easy.

I am deathly allergic to poison ivy, as well (like your granddaughter, I can break out if I'm near it on a windy day and need major steroids to get it under control) and I've never had any issues at WDW. I have never been to FW, but I assume that the groundskeeper CMs keep it as under control as possible. Fortunately it's my only allergy, but it's an awful one!!!

Thanks for the info. She got it from the wind blowing it around in her yard and we are in the city. Nice to know that someone else with the problem has never gotten it down in Disney.

Make sure Disney housekeeping washes the sheets and towels everyday. You will need to put the towels on the floor or the little card on the bed or they won't wash because of conservation concerns. Florida is hot and it will ooze and seep in the heat and get all over the sheets and towels. If you dont' have fresh linen, it will spread further. I went with a small area and ended up covered in it because I kept forgetting to have my sheets and towels washed everyday. At home it's second nature when I get it, but you have to affirmatively act because Disney is trying to be environmentally friendly.

I will make sure to remember this. I want her to have as magical time as possible and she won't if she's as itchy as she is right now.

By the way, if she hasn't already done so, she should get some steroidal cream from her doctor for the rash, as it's the only thing I've found that controls the rash. Benadryl and the like do nothing for me.

I actually took her to the pediatrician first thing this morning after her mom wnet to work. She is getting the cream although we can't use it on her face, and a 5 day dose of corticosteroids by mouth. I am sure we will have extra cream so we'll take that with us.

Thank you all for the advice. My DD was allergic but not as bad as my DGD is. When it comes to the grandkids it is really hard for me to see them in pain or itchy.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I to get poison ivy very bad. I have not had any issues at Disney. I do not get it near as bad now since having a series of poison ivy extract shots.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

She will be fine as long as she sticks to the walking paths.

I am severely allergic and have never had a reaction at Disney. I can't even step outside my house when a neighbor is burning brush because if there is poison ivy/oak in the pile, I'll end up in an emergency room.

Hopefully she will have mostly healed before you go. Poor thing.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm the kind of person that gets poison ivy by merely looking at it. I have gotten the worst poison ivy of my life in mid-winter in Mass....climbed an apple tree and didn't realize that I could still get poison ivy by touching the 'dead' vines. I have even gotten it from my cat...outdoor cats that carried the oil back into the house. But in the wind??? Never ever heard of that.

So, with that in mind, you really can't get poison ivy by the 'oils blowing in the wind'..the plant either has to be touched, or someone has to be burning it close by and then it's pretty much your mucus membranes that are affected.
And...you can not spread poison ivy by it's oozing. Those are the histimines in your body reacting to the poison. You can ooze all over your sheets and you wont get further poison ivy unless you just never washed after the initial contact. If you go and put on the same clothes that you were wearing but didn't wash them??? Yep, you stand a good chance of getting poison ivy again.

I have seen poison ivy at WDW...in many places. BUT....it's hard to come into contact with it if you are not going off paths and such. Stay out of the landscaping and you should be fine. Even my dh hasn't gotten poison ivy down there...and no matter how many times I show him what the plant looks like, he still gets it!!!!

I guess there could be different types in various parts of the country, but I've just never heard of it blowing in the wind. Its an oil, not dander.

 

[tazdev3225]

She will be fine as long as she sticks to the walking paths. Hopefully she will have mostly healed before you go. Poor thing.

We will be sticking to walking trails so that should be good. She is not a bug or lizard chaser. We have about 5 weeks til we go so as long as she stays out of the backyard we should be good. Thanks.

I to get poison ivy very bad. I have not had any issues at Disney. I do not get it near as bad now since having a series of poison ivy extract shots.

I don't think we're ready for shots yet but if she gets it again who knows.

But in the wind??? Never ever heard of that.

So, with that in mind, you really can't get poison ivy by the 'oils blowing in the wind'And...you can not spread poison ivy by it's oozing. Those are the histimines in your body reacting to the poison. You can ooze all over your sheets and you wont get further poison ivy unless you just never washed after the initial contact. If you go and put on the same clothes that you were wearing but didn't wash them??? Yep, you stand a good chance of getting poison ivy again.

I guess there could be different types in various parts of the country, but I've just never heard of it blowing in the wind. Its an oil, not dander.

The dr said it's very possible to get it from the wind. If the oils are stirred up from the wind they can land on you. Just what she told me today and I know my DD got it at a school dance that way. Not trying to be disagreeable just going by what the dr said. I also talked to the next door neighbor who said the winds had kicked it around some. He sprays doesn't burn since his wife is very allergic too.

She also confirmed that she would not spread the rash from scratching. Pretty much what you said it's the histamine reaction and the most susceptible areas react first and as the rash spreads it is really other affected areas reacting from the initial contact. I've never had a problem with it and have traipsed through it a few times in my life so this is mostly new to me. I worry more about bugs - major allergens for me. I do appreciate the comments though and everyones input.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I did not get the series of shots until after four trips to the ER in the middle of the night to get steroid shots. Different doctors have different knowledge about it. I went to our family Dr. one afternoon with the start of poison ivey to get steroids and was told it was just poisen ivy put some cream on it. Later that night when my eyes were swollen shut and I was having a hard time breathing I was at the ER.

 

[goofy4tink]

We will be sticking to walking trails so that should be good. She is not a bug or lizard chaser. We have about 5 weeks til we go so as long as she stays out of the backyard we should be good. Thanks.



I don't think we're ready for shots yet but if she gets it again who knows.



The dr said it's very possible to get it from the wind. If the oils are stirred up from the wind they can land on you. Just what she told me today and I know my DD got it at a school dance that way. Not trying to be disagreeable just going by what the dr said. I also talked to the next door neighbor who said the winds had kicked it around some. He sprays doesn't burn since his wife is very allergic too.

She also confirmed that she would not spread the rash from scratching. Pretty much what you said it's the histamine reaction and the most susceptible areas react first and as the rash spreads it is really other affected areas reacting from the initial contact. I've never had a problem with it and have traipsed through it a few times in my life so this is mostly new to me. I worry more about bugs - major allergens for me. I do appreciate the comments though and everyones input.

Well, you learn something new everyday! Hasn't been an issue around here yet, but will keep an eye out for excessively windy days.

Well, there's always my EX-m-i-l's method of dealing with poison ivy....get a really stiff hairbrush and scrub the infected area...really hard. Yeah, it opens it all right up and it starts oozing like crazy. THEN??? Get a handful of salt and rub it in...she says it's a variation on the old 'go into the ocean' cure (which does in fact work). Yeah....so glad she's my EX now!!! Man, that wasn't very pleasant.

 

[tazdev3225]

Well, you learn something new everyday! Hasn't been an issue around here yet, but will keep an eye out for excessively windy days.

Well, there's always my EX-m-i-l's method of dealing with poison ivy....get a really stiff hairbrush and scrub the infected area...really hard. Yeah, it opens it all right up and it starts oozing like crazy. THEN??? Get a handful of salt and rub it in...she says it's a variation on the old 'go into the ocean' cure (which does in fact work). Yeah....so glad she's my EX now!!! Man, that wasn't very pleasant.

Wow!!! That sounds harsh and painful. My MIL was like that too. My DS had a really bad fever when he was a baby and she told me to put half an onion in his socks, while he was wearing them. Don't know what that was supposed to do but I didn't do it. I told my mom who mentioned it to our Dr. right before I took DS in to get checked out. With a totally straight face he said take an onion and put it in his sock. I just said "my mom was here wasn't she?" He laughed.