Scared to go back to WDW?? :(

[micandsofsmom]

Someone please help me get over this....our last trip was 11/27-12-3. I'm sad to say for the first time EVER it was a nightmare. But a nightmare I'm having a hard time getting over! We had our double jogging stroller stollen, and everything in it, went with the thief. After waiting nearly 45 minutes for security to come, and giving a report, my husband found the stroller outside of the new Jack Sparrow experience upside down and completely wiped out of all of our belongings. My kids Christmas hats, sweatshirts, extra clothes and basically everything we had was gone. We went on with our trip and tried to forget it. It was my DD's 5th birthday and it was just a crappy way to spend our day at DHS! To top it off, on our trip home, my DS, 7, fell ill that morning with a stomach virus he had picked up somewhere on our trip. Poor kid was sick from Orlando to NJ. HORRIBLE! I think that has me more traumatized than anything else! He was just so sick! I really don't like traveling during this particular time of year because of the increase in colds, flu, and tummy bugs and now I will probably never do it again. The Christmas parade taping was on my bucket list so that's why we went, along with it being DD's birthday! We have a 5 day 4 night trip planned in April and I'm already panicked about germs, and thieves! Help!!!!!!! I love Disney so much and don't want to feel like this! I'm usually super excited counting the days an now I'm just nervous!!!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

It was one trip. And it was a nightmare.

All the more reason to have a do over.

 

[LaurenT]

Well, flu should be done by April, so no worries there.
Never know when kids might get sick, it's a chance you take no matter where you go, so it may as well be Disney.
As for the thief... again, could happen anywhere. Don't leave anything unattended that you would be devastated losing. Get a locker for things you may want later on but don't want to lug around with you.
Have a great trip!

 

[Jacquie668]

I understand how you feel. I've been there...not just with trips like that, but with other things like when a family visit turns into WW3 or something. It makes you dread, but the thing is, not every moment ends up the same so you'll probably have a great trip experience.

I've had some rotten trip experiences, including being sick and only seeing a hotel room for an entire vacation (though to be fair the hotel room in question was amazing and vintage with super high ceilings so yeah it was nice). This year I wanted the holidays to be so special, but nooooo, I got the flu which turned into bronchitis and then started to go pneumonia on me. Birthday, Christmas, New Years RUINED, but that still didn't stop me from finding the good in it all. There were some good moments, so I try to focus on that.

 

[DisneyMamaJen]

Sorry your trip had those unexpected events. We were in Disney in October and my youngest daughter, age 2, got ick the day the plane landed and didn't get better until the day we left. It definitely changed our trip but that could happen anywhere. We are headed back in 17 days and I'm hoping no one gets sick. But I wouldn't worry about the things you can't on troll.

On the stroller, yep that stinks too for sure. It's one reason we never leave anything we can't replace in the stroller. We either carry it with us or get a locker.

Hope your next trip is magical and can replace the bad memories.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm sorry you had such bad luck on your trip. I hope your next one is magical in every way!

A word to the wise.....bring a backpack or other large bag with you to put your things in. Take it with you on every ride, show, etc. This way - you won't have anything in the stroller to entice a thief into taking yours. An empty stroller doesn't seem as inviting to steal as one with packages!

The illnesses couldn't be prevented, and I'm sorry you had to deal with this. We were there at the same time, and also had stomach viruses.

Enjoy your next Disney vacation! Everything will be fine!

 

[davedmaine]

Just carry your stuff with you and you should be all right. I always see strollers packed with crap (purses even), left out while people are in Nemo or on a ride.. just asking for trouble..

 

[Reddy]

what ages are your kids??? if DS7 is the youngest try not taking a stroller & going slower
use a backpack that is small enough to take on the rides with you

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Our son got super sick a few years ago when we went in December - It was a NIGHTMARE. We didn't have a rental car so we had to depend on shuttles to get us back and forth to the clinic. We went through all of the over the counter meds I had packed and had to rely on the gift shop for anything else we needed. My poor little guy was really sick - we spent the majority of our vacation in the room ( a small room at a Value) which made it feel worse - he was even to sick to fly so we had to get a Dr's note and spent hours on the phone with the airline to change his flight for no cost - it was just a nightmare. There is nothing worse than having a sick kiddo and being away from the comforts and conviences of home. It took us a looong time to get up the courage to go back. But we did - and it was fabulous! We have been back several times since then.
That being said you will never see us in FL during the winter/cold/flu season. Yes - I know you can get sick anytime - but we now only travel during the HOT months.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I've had a stomach bug twice while at WDW. One trip I spent 3 out of 5 days in my hotel room, and the other I had to hit every restroom in the MK trying to make it out of the park and back to the hotel, where I spent the next day and a half recovering. I've had trips where it has rained every day, all day and others where the smoke from wildfires made it hard to breathe all day.

Each bad trip made me want the next all the more. Just go. It will be ok.

I learned early on that unless your kids are tiny (I'm talking preschool or younger) strollers are more trouble than they are worth and I've also learned that you need to carry far less than you think. We carry a small camera backpack with sunscreen, Advil, bandaids and hand sanitizer and have never needed anything else.

 

[LuckyGirl777]

Me too. Scared as all heck. We all got the flu when we went in October. I would never go back to WDW again, even though we did have a nice time (it was my first time there). We got sick on the last day, and yes, we caught it there.

We were sick for weeks afterwards. Complications, horrible. One of the worst experiences of my life.

It was my first trip there, and my last. I know you can get sick anywhere, but I think there are some unique conditions at Disney that make it much more probable.

There are just too many people there, it's too crowded, too many people touching the same things. And no offense, but too many people from all over the world, bring all sorts of foreign germs, crammed into one place. (again, not a diss on the people, just the exposure to strange germs that everyone is getting, including the international visitors).

 

[bwifan]

Oh man, I feel your pain.
The worst week of my life was on vacation at d world in October 2009 during a freak heat wave. I won't go into details, but it was a disaster.

We went back, mid June 2012, and had the best time ever. I was scared to go back too. Glad I did. Good luck!

 

[Peachkins]

So sorry to hear all that happened to you on your last trip! Hopefully everyone will stay healthy for the next one. I have to agree with the other posters and recommend keeping a bag on you instead of leaving it with the stroller- at least for your more valuable items. I used a cross body bag on my last trip that was very comfortable, and I was able to take it on just about every ride with no issues.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Sorry your trip wasn't enjoyable. We all spend lots of money and make all these great plans, but when they don't work out, it's a big let down. Honestly, I am surprised I don't hear more about stroller belongings theft. I saw camera bags, cellphones, designer sunglasses, etc being left in strollers. I was amazed at how trustworthy people are. Like others said, leave no valuables unattended. It just takes 1 idiot to ruin your vacation.

 

[ttintagel]

I was there on the same dates and got sick, too. By the last day I was reduced to sitting on the pavement crying through the Christmas parade, and by the time I got home to NY I had pneumonia. Not my best memory!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Your kids are 5 & 7? Ditch the stroller & stash everything in a locker (as previously mentioned). Problem solved.

Flu? Well, you could be dealing with that no matter where you are.

 

[wehavesix]

Aw! I'm sorry you had such a bad time last trip! But chances are next time you won't have any of those problems. Learn from the events of last trip and take precautions where possible. Bad luck happens but so does good luck. Hopefully your next trip will be more on the good luck end! If it makes you feel any better, I'll tell you about some of our "bad luck."

In 2008, I fell down some steps in Epcot and shattered my tib/fib. Spent the next 3 days at FL hospital where I had surgery. During this, 2 of my sons ended up with strep throat! My poor husband was distraught! Thankfully our eldest son and his wife were with us and helped with his younger siblings. My leg and ankle will never be the same! On another trip my husband got a stomach bug that kept him out of commission for 2 days. On yet another trip, we had a credit card stolen out of my husband's wallet when he left it in the room but failed to lock it up in the safe. We won't make that mistake again! We learned to sanitize surfaces when we arrive and wash hands often. We learned to lock up valuables. And most of all, we learned that someone better walk down the stairs in front of Ms. Klutz! My 8 yo granddaughter still offers to hold my hand when we walk down those particular steps!

I truly hope you can put your fears aside and have a magical trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Just carry your stuff with you and you should be all right. I always see strollers packed with crap (purses even), left out while people are in Nemo or on a ride.. just asking for trouble..

Yep.

I see diaper bags hanging from strollers that cost more than anything I'm carrying with me sometimes. OK, maybe my camera cost more than the diaper bags, but nothing else!

Me too. Scared as all heck. We all got the flu when we went in October. I would never go back to WDW again, even though we did have a nice time (it was my first time there). We got sick on the last day, and yes, we caught it there.

We were sick for weeks afterwards. Complications, horrible. One of the worst experiences of my life.

It was my first trip there, and my last. I know you can get sick anywhere, but I think there are some unique conditions at Disney that make it much more probable.

There are just too many people there, it's too crowded, too many people touching the same things. And no offense, but too many people from all over the world, bring all sorts of foreign germs, crammed into one place. (again, not a diss on the people, just the exposure to strange germs that everyone is getting, including the international visitors).

Illness happens. It's part of being alive. Your immune systems got a workout, and they are all the stronger for it. There's nothing different about WDW vs commuting and going to work, apart from probably getting nowhere near enough sleep, and possibly eating junky food the whole time.

The people that commute to Seattle with my husband are exposed to whatever is at his work, and his job involves 10 guys traveling ALL over the world. They bring stuff home, they breathe while on buses, etc. You're exposed all the time to everything. IT wasn't WDW's fault. Next time get more sleep, eat proper food if that was an issue, don't burn the candle at all ends if that was an issue (my family has a tendency to WANT to do early mornings as well as late nights, and it's almost impossible to do it all and not collapse). Have a better trip.

 

[larryz]

As much as it seems to be someplace magical, WDW is still in the real world. People get sick, thieves steal things, bad CMs with the good...I'm sorry for all of you who have had miserable experiences at Disney; all I can say is you just gotta roll with the punches and keep on going, keep on going...

 

[Mickey 2013]

First off let me tell you how sorry I am you had to threw any of that!!! ,but you are doing the rite thing by going back.Just learn from the things on your last trip.One way to get rid of the bad memories is to go back and make MAGICAL new ones.Kids being sick I can so understand the concern for that,but dont let some person( I hate to even use that word) take away from you and your wonderful family making some great Disney memories!!!!