Illness at mgm studios

[H20Babie]

Actually, both food poisoning and the Norwalk virus are linked together. Norwalk, the best known of the norovirus group of viruses, attacks the gastrointestinal system. Quick to develop and easy to spread, it causes severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, headache and low-grade fever. Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are increasingly being recognized as leading causes of foodborne disease in the United States. Food workers can easily transmit the virus.

Because it's so contagious, it's passed person to person, objects, food, water. It's hard to contain. Norwalk is most prevalent during the winter months and amongst people who are living in close quarters, like a nursing home, college campus, cruise ship or, yes, even Disney World.

The Norwalk Virus is the second most prevalent disease, besides the flu. And also like the flu, it can be deadly if not taken seriously.

I'm sorry to hear your vacation was ruined because of this, especially being so far from home. I'm so glad that you got your mother treatment as soon as you did, and I hope everyone is feeling better.

 

[justducky78]

I'm so sorry to hear your trip was ruined. Stomach viruses are the WORST! I always worry about my parents (also in 60's/70's) coming down with something like that -- they can't always bounce back as quickly.

My husband and I both have a mild case of OCD lol, so we always bring lysol wipes with us and do the doorknobs, phone, remote, etc throughout our stay. There's always the chance that we'll still catch something (like you did - at a restaurant, etc.) but at least it gives us "some" piece of mind!

Hope everyone is feeling better and that this doesn't taint your idea of WDW forever.

 

[RedBaron]

I am very sorry to hear that your family/parents got sick at WDW. There is nothing worse than getting sick on vacation away from the comforts of home. I hate to say it though, but it does not sound like you had food poisioning since you ate the same thing and not all of you got sick and your dad sick 3 days later than your mom? It is probably the virus that people are talking about that is going around. The 2 times I was unfortunate to have food poisoning (not at WDW) I was sick within a few hours after eating the contaminated food. Im not really sure what you wanted/expected Disney to do for you? Kind words? I suppose that might make you feel better that they expressed concern for your well being, but it really wont change the fact that you lost precious time away from your trip because of a probable virus. I hope that everyone in your family is well now.

 

[mdisney]

thanks for all the help but this is the point if you go back to my first thread disney said they would look into it and come back to us at our villa on our phone number
this they did not then when i tried to talk to them about it again all i got was a wall. if he had said there was a cold flue going about i might have nown what was going on but he did not. nor did he show me and my family any respect.

that is why i am not happy and that is why i am complaining

last year the manager at the wilderness lodge was amazing i asked if he could help me with a problem and a hour later it was done it was only to find something for my son for his birthday but that is what you go to disney for because of the service. and this we did not get when he felt we had a problem.[/quote

It is easier to get a hold of someone now by email since all mangers have a blackberry so they can email u on the spot.

 

[maelstrom]

My mom got food poisoning from some potato salad or cole slaw (some yicky thing like that) at the Riverside food court in May 2005. She even told me while she was eating it, "if I get sick, it's from this". She got sick and spent the next whole day in bed, while my dad and I went out boating on Bay Lake and whatnot. My mom doesn't generally get ill like this so it was a big deal for her. She never complained to the manager at the Riverside food court or anything because there's really nothing they can do about it. Food poisoning and viruses can happen anywhere, even "where the magic lives", unfortunately.

I'm sorry that your parents got sick and were unable to enjoy the rest of the vacation. I hope they're willing to return to WDW someday again.

 

[JustPlainBill]

I'm not a doctor or anything, but my wife had to go to classes to be certified by our county in food preparation because she supervised houskeeping and the kitchen in a nursing home she worked at a few years ago. In order to work in the position she had to be licensed. The instructor told the class that the symptoms of food poisoning do not manifest until 24 hours after ingestion of the bad food. Then, at least, county officials used this information as a way to determine what the person ate and where. This was true in one case when I went to a party and ingested some tainted food. Everyone at the party who ate it, including me, became sick the next day, like clockwork. Until then we were all fine, no sign that the food we ate was bad or that we were about to be sick at all, the food itself tasted good, it happend very fast the next day. It was through our communication with each other that we found what was the problem. I've had viruses before, but I have never been sick like that in my life, I felt like I was going to die. I've known people that got sick soon after eating and found that they had a gall bladder or some other gastro-intestinal problem. All should be explored to determine what happened so it can be treated correctly. I wouldn't automatically assume that what happened was food poisoning in this case. I understand why a restaurant would be wary to admit to a claim that this was what you thought it was, there would usually be more than one case. Being sick from eating food doesn't necessarily mean you had food poisoning. If something is too rich for your body to handle, it will reject it, and your body will communicate it back to you, one way or another.

 

[campdisney]

We were down there at roughly the same time (1/17 - 1/31) and all four of us got that virus as well as my sister and my brother-in-law. My youngest had to leave the Pirate & Princess Party on 1/22 because he was feeling to nauseated too stay. Poor little guy retired the bus on the way back to the hotel too if you get my meaning. Getting ill took several park days off our trip as it moved through the family. And while its no fun sitting on the commode, hugging a garbage can and then assisting your kids and husband when its their turn to do the same, there's no point getting upset about it. Sick happens.

WDW hosts millions of people from all around the world -- and all of them have germs. Its truly a wonder if you DON'T catch something down there when you think about it, especially with all the little kids coughing and sneezing into the air. We used lots of hand sanitizer, tried not to touch the rails in the ques and used lysol wipes in the room -- but we still got it. Its just one of those things you take your chances with at any tourist destination.

 

[smk]

WOW. You can see how this virus can be neverending. So many people sick in public places without being able to help it and then checking out of a room, or getting off a bus, and then the next group of unsuspecting tourists come in and touch the remote or the door handle and then everybody in the group is sick!

I have never been sick while on vacation (maybe a sniffle, knock on wood) but I feel bad for those who have gone and had their vacations ruined. The resort managers have the ability to make anything happen for their guest, and it sounds like all that was needed was an apology for your mom feeling bad and then maybe a ticket upgrade to non-expiration, because you said you went often. A real shame for you all the way around and I am sorry you are having trouble getting any statisfaction.

 

[justducky78]

My mom got food poisoning from some potato salad or cole slaw (some yicky thing like that) at the Riverside food court in May 2005. She even told me while she was eating it, "if I get sick, it's from this". She got sick and spent the next whole day in bed, while my dad and I went out boating on Bay Lake and whatnot. My mom doesn't generally get ill like this so it was a big deal for her. She never complained to the manager at the Riverside food court or anything because there's really nothing they can do about it. Food poisoning and viruses can happen anywhere, even "where the magic lives", unfortunately.

I'm sorry that your parents got sick and were unable to enjoy the rest of the vacation. I hope they're willing to return to WDW someday again.

I agree, there's a good chance it wasn't food poisoning and just a bad virus going around. Something you can pick up anywhere.

But...regardless, it IS important to report it (not complain, but report it) to management of the restaurant or hotel. This way, they at least have a clear number of people wh have been affected and can make sure to [depending on the culprit] toss the bad food, monitor staff (sometimes food preparers don't wash their hands well or at all), and properly clean rooms where guests have been sick.

It's such a gross topic but important, especially around flu season. I'm sure I haven't been the only one reading about the outbreaks on cruise ships, etc. Heck, even a local restaurant in our area closed down (for good) after an outbreak of hepatitis. It turns out an employee wasn't washing his hands and preparing food - yuck! :hurl:

 

[kasey1988]

Im sorry your family got sick on your vacation, but i dont think it was food poisioning. Disney takes great caution in food preperation and feed thousands of people a day. It was most likely the virus that everyone is talking about. We have had the norovirus (sp) up here as well going around the Universitys. The manager did reply to you though through the email, though they could have followed up with you while you were on vacation, what else are you looking for? Your home now, but getting sick can happen anywhere, even on vacation, im sure the days you did have together were great and you still have memories for those days