WDW Flu Experiences

[Bill Brown]

Coverage of the swine influenza got me to thinking about my flu experiences each time I've visited WDW in recent years. Typically I visit the world for 10 days to two weeks each alternate December (visiting DLR the other Decembers). I get a flu shot every October and have only gotten the flu at the end of a WDW visit or a day or 2 after returning home. The rest of the year I do not experience any colds or the flu. I suspect I pick up the flu riding the stuffy jam-packed busses filled with guests from around the world. I've never picked up the flu during visits to DLR. However, there is rarely a need to ride a bus when visiting DLR.

Some DISers make many visits to WDW each year. What are your experiences with the flu during or soon after visiting WDW?

 

[nurse.darcy]

Five visits in less than a year and I have never gotten sick at the world or shortly after. I couldn't tell you if I had ever been sick or gotten sick after a trip to DLR as I have made too many trips to remember.

 

[Bill Brown]

Thinking way back to when I'd visit WDW for 5-7 days, I never experienced any colds or the flu. Wonder if it has something to do with length of stays? I still usually visit DLR for only 4-7 days at a time and have never had to deal with a cold or flu during or after a visit, there.

Hey, the governator just declared a state of emergency for California to deal with the swine flu.

 

[maddhatir]

A few years back- the day we were leaving Disney, I could feel I was getting sick. I was achy and felt like I had a fever.

When I got home, it just got worse.

I never get the flu, nor have I ever gotten a flu shot. I rarely get sick. Can I tell you, I do not remember the last time I was ever so sick! I had a fever that was sometimes up to 102, sore throat, I lost my voice, and I was so weak.

I was on the sofa for about 2 weeks. I went to 2 different docs- took a few different antibiotics that were of no help at at!

It was around week 3 that I went back to my Primary and said this is crazy! What is wrong with me!?

She gave me yet another antibiotic that finally worked! I forget what it was, but the whole thing creeped me out just thinking, yuk, there are so many people in Disney with so many germs

 

[SpectroMouse]

I or someone in my family always get sick on our trip or within a couple of days of getting home. I always chalk it up to airplane air!?!?!?

 

[Bill Brown]

Wonder if more frequent, but shorter visits to WDW are the answer? Maybe frequent exposures to virus packed park busses and recycled airliner air swarming with airborne germs and who knows what else build up the immune system.

 

[maddhatir]

Wonder if more frequent, but shorter visits to WDW are the answer? Maybe frequent exposures to virus packed park busses and recycled airliner air swarming with airborne germs and who knows what else build up the immune system.

That would be an expensive, but fun way to build up your immunity to germs

I wonder if health insurance would consider that "experimental"

I am surprised kids survive these trips- I have seen their mouths on some pretty nasty things

 

[disneylove69]

I get the flu every time I go. I thought it was the Magic Kingdom and all the kids. I would get sick 24 hours after going. We went this year and didn't go to the Magic Kingdom and still got sick. Kind of blew that theory.

 

[LLWDW]

I also have suspicions about 'airplane air'
But I rarely get sick and have never got sick during or after a Disney trip.

 

[ols386]

I've been to WDW probably a dozen times, and I've never been sick WHILE at WDW, or AFTER returning home from WDW. Just lucky, I guess.

 

[Kerry1975]

I got sick the last time I was there last year.

 

[ClareH37]

I've had everything from colds, to being sick, to have upset stomach but saying that, I've never been 'really' unwell.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I get sick after or during every trip to a warmer climate....ie wherever air conditioning is the norm.
Usually just starts as a sore throat and then congestion. Sometimes fatigue.

Last yr I was 1 wk solo at Disney POR, and didn't really use the air conditioner (left it on low-med), but did leave the fan on.
The second wk I spent w/ cousin & family in an apt, and they had the AC on bust... I wore my sweater inside! And got sick soon as I got home.

Year before that I was overseas in the middle east visiting a friend--AC in the villa and the car was always on.... I got sick after my first week.

I think it's the combo of the recycled air plus the constant change of temp/humidity going from indoors to outdoors.

But if that's the price for travel, as long as it doesn't get worse, I guess I'll deal with it!

 

[Bill Brown]

...I think it's the combo of the recycled air plus the constant change of temp/humidity going from indoors to outdoors...

There goes my excuse for making frequent visits to WDW to build up my immune system. However, I agree with you about not letting WDW flu interfere with visits to the world.

It'd be great to be able to bicycle or walk between all the parks. I always enjoy walking between EPCOT and DHS, good opportunities to flush out my lungs. The walkway is never crowded.

 

[jessica52877]

Sorry to invade the adults/solo board but the topic caught my eye. Either me, DS6 or DH always come home from WDW with a cold and/or flu. We go about 2-3 times a year, drive our car, so no airplane or buses. I think it is just all the people at the parks.

We have gone to DL 2x and neither time have any of us came home sick. We fly across country.

 

[mickeytattoo95]

Have any of you who've gotten sick eaten at a buffet? No matter how often they change out the food, people still might touch it with their germy hands. I've seen kids reach in and grab food with their hands. Some adults even pick up the spoons and sniff the food. Gross!!! Just a thought...maybe if you're prone to picking up "bugs" in Disney, cut out the dining places that have buffets.

 

[Bill Brown]

...cut out the dining places that have buffets.

Never eaten at a park buffet, because when I'm on vacation it's all TS dining, 'cept occasional snacks or a turkey leg while strolling about.

 

[curly-love]

i go all year long and i have never been sick or gotten the flu at disney. you just have to play it smart wash your hands and dont touch things everyone touches, like the handrails

 

[Kyen]

I always come home with a cold. Don't know why but I do. However a couple of years ago I got really sick on my last night (leading into the day I was leaving) I had major stomach cramps and really bad diarrhea. Its was so bad I didn't think I could make it home but thanks to the pink stuff I made it home.

 

[Bill Brown]

In my regular day-to-day living I don't normally interact with lot of different people. However, when visiting WDW I'm frequently in close quarters with folks from all over the world, especially when riding those packed busses with too much recycled stuffy humid A/C air. I always practice good hygiene, periodically washing my hands throughout the day and as soon as possible after handling railings and such. I don't believe in "social distancing" and will not reject a friendly handshake, however, I will discretely slip into a bathroom to wash my hands after shaking hands as soon as practical. Yesterday, I helped man a recruiting booth and was shaking hands with prospective applicants, then washing my hands throughout the day. I think I survived without catching a cold or flu (still some hours to go before reaching the end of any viral infection 24-hour incubation period). I primarily suspect those crowded WDW park busses as the source of my WDW flu experiences. However, I will not go to what I consider unacceptable extremes of not visiting WDW or wearing a respirator when riding those packed busses.