The love bugs come-eth?

[DMKEDM]

Hi, folks--

Our party of six is at BWV--got here yesterday (we're in one 1-BR and one studio)...as always, Disney is magical!

Yesterday, nary a bug was in sight. Today, starting around mid-morning, we all started noticing these little flying critters...we were at the Studios...

Got back to BWV around 3:30, and didn't see any of the bugs as I got off the bus, but just now (almost 5), coming in from the pool, a fair number (but not the hordes that will come later!) were buzzing around--especially around white/bright areas...

I think (but may be wrong) it's the beginning of "love bug season"...

Will report in again tomorrow to let you know if there are more, fewer or about the same number...

Have to admit, I was hoping to get our trip in before the love bugs (which I think of as a "May event") arrived...and who knows, maybe the bugs we're seeing aren't love bugs at all (have only been here once when they were out in force, and that was 4 years ago now)...

Anyone else at WDW now w/an opinion on this?

Otherwise, Day 2 (and first full day) of our trip is great...first-time trip for a couple in our group (one adult and one 6-year-old); second time for 3 (an adult, a 12-year-old and a 9-year-old)...and I'm the "vet leading everyone around"...we're loving it.

Less-than-perfect check-in...villas not ready at 1 (no biggie)--we headed to Epcot, but also not ready well after 5--getting to be a bigger deal, after 6 hours of travel and then 4 hours at Epcot...particularly "challenging" for our seriously over-tired and over-stimulated 6-year-old (and his mother!) ...fortunately, a nice CM at the BWV front desk, taking pity on my "desperation" (our 6-year-old really really REALLY needed some down time!) walked over to check...found the villa ready (w/my friends' luggage already in it, delivered by ME)...so we got in just before 5:30...just in time to keep our little one from total melt-down! No one could say why the villa was ready (mousekeeping note said it was ready at 2), but neither the front desk nor my friends were notified...thankfully, that nice CM agreed to "check manually" (i.e., send someone over to look)...gold stars for that CM!

It was much more crowded yesterday than I'd anticipated...some kind of big dance competition going on, and of course, a Saturday--fewer people today, but still more crowds than I'd thought there would be...but totally manageable...we're having a great time...

Weather's wonderful...quite hot mid-afternoon, but very pleasant up til 1 or so, and after 4...not too humid and a lovely gentle breeze...supposed to be like this all 5 days we're here...

All in all, life is good...even if the love bugs are coming!

 

[robert@dvcstore]

Welcome to Central Florida, Walt Disney World and the home of the love bugs.

I have noticed more an more of the love bugs within the last few days. Their numbers normally increase over the next couple of weeks and then they disappear. I'm afraid you will have them around during your stay. The won't bother you other than just being around.

Enjoy your stay.

Robert

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Are they usually gone by the Memorial Day weekend?

Welcome to Central Florida, Walt Disney World and the home of the love bugs.

I have noticed more an more of the love bugs within the last few days. Their numbers normally increase over the next couple of weeks and then they disappear. I'm afraid you will have them around during your stay. The won't bother you other than just being around.

Enjoy your stay.

Robert

 

[Terry S]

I started noticing them about a week ago, just a few here and there. Now the front of my car is covered with dead ones and the outside walls of my house are covred in live ones. At least they are harmless, but annoying!

 

[sean-1966]

Noooo. We're heading to Key West on Thursday and then WDW the following Monday....

 

[utahkennedys]

We just got home from 10 days at WDW and wow, they were BAD at AKV our last day. My kids were totally freaked out and they were inside our beach bag, all over us, in our shoes, in the pools, on the slides -- yuck!!!

 

[lundve]

They were really bad when we tried to eat lunch at Epcot today. If you sat still they seemed to swarm.

 

[TosaTrio]

WOW- they were terrible in September when we were at Kidani, however they were not too bad last week (early to mid week) when we were back.

Are they always around? I do not remember them from stays at VWL, BCV or SSR.

 

[DMKEDM]

Yup, it's definitely the love bugs!

Yuck.

But not the end of the world.

There were more yesterday than the day before...they are more obvious (and obnoxious) when the sun is up than after dark. They don't seem to be an issue when I'm moving around--as another poster said, it's when I stand (or sit) still that they hover about.

Oh, well...there are lots worse things in this world...and we're still having a blast...

 

[rlovew]

We are just finishing up with love bugs at home- it has been really bad for the last week and a half so our season was a little shorter this year. i hope Disney's is too- we are from a little south of Disney so we get them here first.

 

[lilpooh108]

How are the crowds this week? Light, I hope. We arrive TODAY at 4:30 p.m....off to the airport in 30 minutes.

By the way...does anyone know when the Friendship boats stop running between Epcot and DHS?

 

[jesschris]

Hopefully they are not too bad when I go in a couple days.

 

[sjs314]

WOW- they were terrible in September when we were at Kidani, however they were not too bad last week (early to mid week) when we were back.

Are they always around? I do not remember them from stays at VWL, BCV or SSR.

We visited once Memorial Day week into June and I do not remember the love bugs..............but one of the reasons I changed our vacay dates this year from Sept to Oct was the "love bugs"

 

[FigmentLady]

That is the one thing I do not like about our september vacations and the main reason im not sure i could live in Florida lol

 

[lucyem]

We were at AKL last week and some days were certainly worse then others. One day they were just everywhere around the pool and getting all over people and food etc. Other days it was no big deal.

I got home yesterday and stepped out of my car into a swarm of black flies. I would take love bugs any day over black flies.

 

[cbeehler3]

Be glad you don't live in MD where there are....STINK BUGS! And they don't go away..

The love bugs never bothered me when we were down there. Will they be gone by June?

 

[DMKEDM]

Just got back from Animal Kingdom...didn't see any love bugs over there...didn't see any on the walk back to BWV either (got off the bus at the Swan...it's faster than doing the five-resort loop back to the Boardwalk)...

So, either it's a light infestation, or they're taking a break today...or we got lucky! A PP noted some days are better & some worse, so maybe that explains today?

And I've also heard love bugs like white/light colors...AK is pretty shady, so maybe that's why we didn't notice any of them over there?

We have stink bugs in northern VA (Washington, DC area), too...but they don't swarm in the numbers that love bugs do...at least not where I am (about 7 miles from the White House)...so, given my exposure to both, first choice would be that BOTH go away, but second choice is for the stink bugs...they are (knock wood) considerably easier to avoid!

Someone asked about crowds: so far, so good...it's busier than I'd anticipated...thought it'd be really light and it's not...but it's also very, very manageable...15-20 minute waits up til mid-afternoon (when the lines grow to 30 to 40 minutes) at the "big" rides (Expedition Everest, Soarin, Toy Story, etc.)...a fair amount of restaurant availability, altho you can't be certain you'll get the restaurant you want at the time you want...generally, it's all good, despite the love bugs!

 

[cseca]

Pretty bad yesterday on parts of MGM and EPCOT. Saw some today at MK but not as bad as MGM yesterday.
Crowds were surprisingly heavy for MK today (I thought). Pooh had a 30min wait and the interesting part is that Peter Pan also has a 30min wait. Usually PP is a lot longer wait. Even IASW has a 10min wait...

 

[spiceycat]

love bugs are in florida generally in May and Sept.

this year they stated a little early - saw some April 29.

you need to wash your car a little more frequently because their bodies have some acid in them.

 

[momof1+1+2]

Does bug spray help at all?