Airboat ride question

[Dawn]

We're planning on doing an airboat ride this trip to escape the mouse for a couple of hours.

It'll be December. Will we need insect repellant?

[Keith]

I think the airboats tend to go so fast we were outrunning the bugs ;-) but seriously, yeah I'd wear some... better safe. there were some VERY large hovering bugs :)

*GREAT* ride though :)))

[OKWTink]

At the risk of scaring you senseless, plan on wearing repellent whenever you are outdoors. With all the rain, flooding and standing water, there is a bumper crop of mosquitos and other stinging/biting insects. There is a sharp increase in folks getting sick with related illnesses. Just be sure not to get any on the little one's hands and you'll be fine. December should see a lessening in the horrid things (and WDW is very good about keeping them down) but you really need to be aware of the dangers they can pose.

[Dawn]

Well I'll be picking up some insect repellant this week then.

[OKWTink]

Do that. Be sure it has deet in it. You'll need to wash the baby off as soon as you bring him indoors, but it is the recommended product. I know many people tend to ignore mosquitos and consider them merely a nuisance, but there are far too many mosquito bourne illnesses here to be complacent. Again, not trying to alarm you, but do want you to be warned.

[Keith]

indeed... not to add worry but I think I mentioned that when we were coming back in May Helen felt very ill indeed.

By the time the plane touched down she was feeling absolutely dreadful and had really huge lumps on her skin (like golf ball sized) where, it turned out, she'd been bitten by mosquitos and had an allergic reaction apparently to the quantity of bites.

Straight to the hospital and several hours later :( finally got home.

Next time, LOTS of recommended insect repellant.

Interestingly, it was at the GF bus stop that she was bitten so much.. it was *awful* there one evening.

[OKWTink]

That's awful, Keith! :( The mosquitos here do pack a punch. I'm glad that her reaction wasn't more serious. I'd be very alert though at your next visit. Typically, once a person has a reaction to something (especially bugs or something venimous) the next exposure produces a stronger response. She'll want to have repellent on her all the time while out of doors! Again, the winter time is usually better, but there are no guarantees and this year's horribly wet summer only increased the population. :(