tips about bugs at WDW

[aussiedaisy]

Hi,
I have read a travel guide about Florida that says there are lots of bugs around WDW, especially mosquitos which can carry a disease Nile something which can cause serious illness. Is this right? It has gotten me a bit worried! Do I need to totally drench myself in repellent everyday? What type of repellent is the best to use? Thanks everyone!!

 

[Forevryoung]

Mosquitos are big anywhere there is standing water. Mosquitos can carry the West Nile Virus but the chances of you getting it are very very slim. I am one of those people who gets eaten alive by the mosquitos to the point where someone said "I feel so bad for you! You got the chicken pox on vacation!". It was pretty funny but I was uncomfortable. If you are one of those people like me you have two choices, deal with it and get bit and realize you are in a warm place or bring bug repellant but dont drench yourself in it. It smells to begin with and I dont think it is the best for your skin. IMO

 

[bscs]

We've been to WDW twice (Feb.-Apr.) and never seen one mosquito. Then again we come from the home of the mosquito (northern Maine) so we might be just used to it.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

we have been to Disney many many times during every season and never a bite from a mosquito.

 

[iluvdiznee]

In the many times I have been, not once have I ever been bitten much less even seen a bug. It's Disney! They don't have that kind of stuff! I live in Florida and I only get eaten up by the "'skeeters" directly by the river or after a LOT of rain for several days. I am pretty sure they have regular spraying around the parks so that the magic won't be lost to some stupid bug!

 

[Razor Roman]

I'm sure Disney tries to either keep the standing water to a minimum, and if not sprays the heck out of the place, because I was down there for 5 months with ZERO mosquito bites.

 

[goofy4tink]

According to my dad, who lives in Pompano Beach (about 3 hrs. southeast of Orlando) there is a lot of bug repellent experimenting that goes on in the Orlando area. Whether or not this is true, this has been my experience....
Not very many mosquitoes on previous visits until last August. Before that we did run into some kind of sand chigger or such that chomped on my lower legs as we watched the fireworks in MK from the beach at the Polynesian. But, our August trip, with Hurricane Charley, brought huge amounts of rain, which left huge amounts of standing water....perfect for mosquito breeding!!! All the CM's were saying that about 2 weeks after Charley, there would be huge amounts of mosquitos and from what I hear from friends that were down there in early Sept...that's exactly what happened. We had a bit more insect activity in mid-Aug but nothing big. Hopefully, it will be okay this June since there has been a lack of rain so far in FL.

 

[Amy&Dan]

While there in late October I got bit to death by chiggers. I think it happened when we were watching Wishes at Caseys and also when I was walking on the grounds at ASMO. We don't have those here in Colorado that I know of but I had been bit once before in St. Louis and I remembered that feeling of being bit but you can't see them they are so small. I would take some repellant, something mild that can fit into a backpack or fannypack. Not like a big aerosol can! Also, if you get bit by chiggers, clear nailpolish on the bite really helps. DH and my two kids had no problem. I am wondering if the lotion I used on my legs and feet attracted them. Also I was wearing black Teva sandals, everybody else in my family was wearing socks and sneakers.

 

[jiggerj]

Mentioned on the camping board a while ago is to have a bounce dryer sheet in your back pocket and it will repel the flying biting bugs! Well if it doesnt work you will smell "dryer fresh" all day!

 

[jfap]

I live in central Florida and the only thing that I have found to repel mosquitoes is vanilla extract. But instead of carrying that around I found a body spray at Bath & Body that is called WARM VANILLA SUGAR. It contains vanilla extract and works great!!! My husband keeps a bottle on his workbench in the garage and finds that it works far better than any of the chemical bug repellents plus is not harmful. You just smell like a big ole snickerdoodle.

Not a Bad Thing at all.

 

[barb45]

jfap - does that vanilla spray attract bees instead?? I'd love to use something like that but you always read that perfume type stuff attracts bees. I hate all bugs!

 

[Daisy'sMom]

I've also heard that taking a garlic pill every day will prevent bug bites. A ten-year boy who lived in the fields around his house all summer long was the guinea pig for this experiment and made it through the summer bite-free. I haven't had the discipline to remember to take a pill every day so I'm packing repellant wipes and crossing my fingers just in case.

 

[dizluvr71]

We are taking Avon's Skin So Soft. My honey swears by it after being in the Airforce and being stationed at Tyndall for a while. I believe he said "if the Airforce keeps it on hand for it's people then it must work".

 

[jmminarik]

The New England Journal of medicine did a report on insect repellents. You can read about it here.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/347/1/13

For the lazy, the summation is the only thing that works well over a longer period of time is products containing DEET.

Of course, a lab isn't central florida. If the critters in FLA are more ornery, no amount of protection will help.

-Joe

 

[GoldiBabi]

I was at Disney in July 2002. There had been a huge rainstorm the day before, and we were in line at the Haunted Mansion around 8pm. Just as we got up to the doors, they closed on us, and we had to wait for the next entry. As soon as that happened, a swarm of mosquitos descended on us, and we were all covered in bites. I actually did get West Nile, but since I was only 21, I wasn't seriously ill. I was very tired (sleeping about 15 hours a day) for three or four months, and had a bad headache for most of the time. I'm positive it was a fluke, but even in Disney, it can happen.

 

[LegoMom3]

...I LOVE your avatar!!! That is great!

 

[jmminarik]

...I LOVE your avatar!!! That is great!

I believe in truth in advertising. Or is that avatarism?

Ontopic, you can read about the major concerns for critter born illness, both west nile virus and Encephalitis at the following link...

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/htopics/arbo/

No intended to scare anyone, but as our cousins down under may not be aware (just like I might get some strange wombat disease if I go walkabout if I don't know), knowing is better than not. Unless you worry excessively. In which case I can't help you.

-Joe

 

[ely3857]

Hello,

I agree with dizluvr71, A guide book here in the UK recommended Avons Skin So Soft products as an effective repellant, and it really does work.


Just have a shower using the shower gel in the morning and your good to go.


I always use the origianal woodland fresh fragrance so can't comment if all scents work.



Ely3857

 

[DMRick]

When we go to WDW in May, we have to bring bug spray. We use something with deet. Last year we forgot it and our legs were a mess. We found ourselves getting bit at POR while waiting for the bus, and in Epcot while at the flower power concerts. We itched for a couple of weeks, after we came home, and our legs were a mess LOL. I've never gotten bitten any other month, except at the campground fire (I think that was May too). We often go in Sept, Feb and January, and have been there in December and the summer months. I can't use the Skin so Soft, as I can't stand the smell with my allergies.

 

[bugsy]

We are taking Avon's Skin So Soft. My honey swears by it after being in the Airforce and being stationed at Tyndall for a while. I believe he said "if the Airforce keeps it on hand for it's people then it must work".

I remember hearing about SSS some time ago..do you use the oil, lotion, what? is it waterproof? perfumy?