Sickness on recent WDW trip!

[jenr812]

I'm thinking LYSOL will be added to my packing list.

My thoughts exactly!!

On a side note, it amuses me that the article refers to it as a stomach "flu". A stomach virus is not a "flu" but it is WIDELY held misconception. Just as an aside

 

[LLagow]

Just got back from a trip last week
My DH and I both got the stomach virus on the first day. Not much fun at all!! I think it is very common on trips- everybody packed into lines, tired, bringing new germs from all over. It happened to use on a trip 2 yrs ago, but at least we didn't get sick until we got home- if you have to throw-up it's much better in your own toilet
LLagow

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Holy crow, I read this thread and got scared. We just returned on May 2nd and stayed at the Poly. One of our ds 15 has asthma, but I kept an eye on him while he was there and he was fine, the next day after we got back he said he felt terrible. Well 2 drs. and 2 meds later , the pediatrician here told us he had bronchitis which was almost pneumonia, the dr. actually thought it was the start of pneumonia, so gave him powerful antibiotics. I know he had to get the germs from down there too.

 

[annabelle004]

We just returned on Saturday. Six out of eight of us were sick with a stomach type virus - as were multiple others in the hotel (we stayed at SoG), so I'd definitely say it was spreading like crazy where we were. Every family sitting around the pool during this particular conversation had one or more family member who had been affected during the trip - most were multiple family members. The bug involved vomiting, diarrhea, headache, chills, and stomach cramps, and lasted 24 hours or less.

I am planning a trip for next year and am a newbie here, but had to post...
DS and I had these exact symptoms last week. I wound up in the ER b/c I could not stop vomiting. They told me that it spread through the ER (this is in Atlanta, not Orlando) the previous week and a lot of people had come in. I have had several friends with sick kids with this, too. REally miserable, but relatively short-lived. I guess this kind of thing just happens wherever you are.

 

[dtsaos]

I hope this doesn't sound too stupid, but I'm not normally a worry freak about germs but the thought of my kids getting so ill on vacation is very scary (it's scary anytime of course, but it's a lot better at your own house). so anyway my question is, when you first get to a hotel room, how can you "sanitize" it?

 

[DISLOVE]

My husband and I got unbelievably sick during our Dec 2004 visit to WDW. We were staying with our 14 month old at Port Orleans and came down with an intense stomach bug. Have you ever been so ill that you can't lift your head and had a 14 month old toddler loose in your hotel room?

We took the complimentary shuttle to the clinic.. turn around before getting there when the driver casually mentioned that there was a 6 hour wait to be seen. (Was he KIDDING????) We opted, instead, for an in room doctor to come. We ended up going home early because we couldn't fathom another day in the room.

I was very disappointed in the POR staff. We asked for info on anyone else being sick or the possibility of food poisoning. They acted offended that we asked and then no one ever returned our phone calls. When we checked out early, the CM at the desk gave us our $$ back but never once asked if we were okay. (So obviously were not ok) I honestly will never stay there again.. not because we were sick but because I found their CMs to be so ambivalent about us.

My DH got sick on our last trip to WL. Not bad, just lost a day and a half and the CMs were constantly asking me if he needed anything. Totally different attitude!

We are going again in Sept... bringing lots of antibacterial stuff!

 

[Holly]

The new article you found was interesting. I was begining to regret posting my story, I truly did not mean to upset or frighten anyone. Now, at least I know we weren't the only people affected by these nasty viruses.

My main reason for sharing my story was to let people know to just use a little extra caution, and if you think an illness is starting, especally in young children, don't wait, seek medical help soon!

Another reason is because until this happened, I didn't realize that Florida Hospital in Celebration, which is very close to WDW, and a beautiful hospital, does not have a Pediatric Unit, and children who need to be admitted from the ER, will have to be transferred, which for us was another stressful event!

Well, my wishes for a healthy trip for those leaving soon!

Don't feel bad, Tinker- Bella.
I was glad you shared your experience, it helps to be reminded of possibilities while far from home, and I will also be more vigilant about germs on my next trip after your reminder.
I'm glad your family has recovered!

 

[Schmeck]

When you use the anti-bacterial gels, etc, you can be doing more harm than good - You're setting yourself up for exposure to the more potent bacteria that are immune to the products on the market today. Eating healthy, staying active, getting enough rest, and washing hands with soap and water are enough to protect healthy people from commmon illnesses.

Pneumonia takes quite a while to develop in an otherwise healthy child. It develops from another illness, like a cold. Pneumonia doesn't just show up one day, out of the blue. A lengthy cough, or shallow breathing, are signs of developing bronchitis or pneumonia.

Most visitors to WDW bring the illness with them - they get tired, don't eat well, and don't get enough sleep, so then opportunity is created for the virus to blossom.

 

[cocodog]

We were also at POR the week beginning April 23. We were lucky enough not to be sick, and didn't here of anyone who was-- although this is a very large hotel!

The thing to keep in mind about the Norwalk- type illness is that Antibacterial gel does NOT KILL viruses. You must wash your hands to get rid of viruses that may have gotten on your hands (although there are other ways of getting these illnesses).

So sorry to hear about the trips of some being ruined. It is a miserable thing to be so sick-- especially away from home.

 

[mum4jenn]

We stayed at Pop in January of 04 and both my dh and my dd got sick. Ever since then we take Lysol with us no matter where we stay and my dh sprays everything down before we do anything else. We have not had any other problem since using the Lysol.

 

[disneyfan61]

Keep in mind also that you can catch anything by flying. Airplanes can breed
illness also. We have been really lucky both times we went to Disney we were
never sick but I always worry about the airplanes. I have read some people take "Airborne" before flying. I do not know what that is but wonder if it helps.

 

[Anne34]

It doesn't matter where you go -- there are viruses everywhere. We went to Cancun in March and my daughter ended up getting bronchitis. (Talk about scary - being in a foreign country). We ran in to two others on the plane home who had kids with bronchitis/pneumonia -- it probably started at home (Chicago) and then they became more ill while there.

Just remember to take your Lysol and anti-bacterial wipes with where ever you go!!

 

[Princess Glenda]

Just returned from WDW yesterday and DD4 had the stomach bug on our trip. She was very sick throughout the night on Tuesday May 17th and we had to cancel a character breakfast on Wednesday morning and the Wonderland Tea Party that day. She's doing better now, but is still very weak and doesn't have a normal appetite. So far the rest of us have escaped. My DD4 is always the one in our family to catch things. BTW, I carried and used Lysol wipes and antibacterial wipes religiously!! We were at Disney for 12 nights and still had a wonderful time. Like someone earlier said germs don't take a vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Soap and water. That's all it takes. Most people pick up their germs at home or at the airport. The problem incubates a few days and they get sick at WDW. Especially if you are getting excited and stressed out about your trip. Might lower your resistance. Plus with all the antibacterias out there, the viri are getting stronger.

 

[disneyobessed]

The last 3 times i have gone to disney i have stayed at 3 different disney resorts over a period of time since 1999. each time i get a stomach virus. im convinced its the water. i figured all the soda i drink with the refillable mugs and the water fountains at the parks that i drink from. THe water down there has a very chloriney taste. thats my guess.

 

[dizprincess27]

DD and I were there from May 5th through the 8th and then on the Disney Wonder and back at Disney from May 12th through the 15th and she also contracted the stomach virus with severe cramps and diarreah (sp). We even went to the medics in the Magic Kingdom on our last day b/c I couldn't find the Immodium AD I had bought and they gave her some kaopaectate type of drink and let Goofy call her on the phone and sing happy birthday to her since she was wearing her pin. I didn't know what to make of it but this is coincidental. I still love WDW and just chalk it up to maybe a little virus was obviously going around for awhile. Stinks to be sick on vacation though.

 

[kitn]

I hate to beat a dead horse but mabey if Disney would change the bedding that might help people from getting sick. I am sure there are a ton of germs in the bedding.

 

[disneyobessed]

I hate to beat a dead horse but mabey if Disney would change the bedding that might help people from getting sick. I am sure there are a ton of germs in the bedding.

i dont mean to sound like a idiot but , With that in mind, would a can of lysol blow up on a plane from the pressure if i stuck it in my suitcase? i actually may pack our own pillow cases b/c its just so disgusting. im not an anal person but i saw a show on dateline which im sure many people have seen on how many germs exist in a hotel. im bringing clorox wipes and lysol (as long as it wont blow up!)

 

[HotMama]

i dont mean to sound like a idiot but , With that in mind, would a can of lysol blow up on a plane from the pressure if i stuck it in my suitcase? i actually may pack our own pillow cases b/c its just so disgusting. im not an anal person but i saw a show on dateline which im sure many people have seen on how many germs exist in a hotel. im bringing clorox wipes and lysol (as long as it wont blow up!)

I don't think Lysol will blow up on the plan. I take aerosal hairspray on planes every vacation and have never had a suitcase crisis.

 

[Schmeck]

Germs in the hotel room, germs on the rides, germs in the buses, germs in the bathrooms. Yup, might as well wrap yourselves up in plastic wrap. Shower in Lysol (the can could explode on the plane. It could also get your luggage pulled aside for searching. I bet the guys that go through your bags have germs too!)

Yes, it's good to wash your hands. But the paranoia driven by the media and the anti-bacterial merchandise companies are actually making the world a much more dangerous place. All the over-use of anti-bacterials do is create stronger strains of bacteria, ones that do not respond to medications. And who knows how dangerous it is to expose young children to the chemicals in all these sprays, wipes, and gels? These products haven't been around long enough to show that they are safe inthe long run. They might be shown to actually cause cancer/etc. with over-use.