Bed Bug Issue Reported on Disney Cruise Line, “They’re Likely All Over the Ship”
Guests are once again complaining about Disney’s bed bug issue.
The chances of running into bed bugs on vacation are low, but not zero – even at Disney. Despite the brand’s reputation for spotless accommodations and rigorous cleaning standards, bed bugs can still make their way in. These pests don’t care how clean a room is; all it takes is a single traveler unknowingly carrying them in.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen several guests complain about finding bed bugs in their Disney hotel room. Just last week, a guest claimed to have found live bed bugs in their complimentary slippers received during a vacation where they split their stay between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Earlier this year, another guest allegedly encountered bed bugs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. People have made similar claims after staying at Disney’s Art of Animation, while Disneyland Paris was slammed with multiple complaints (and a fair amount of fearmongering) in 2023 amid reports that infestations had surged in the French capital.
Now, the Disney Cruise Line is also facing accusations of bed bugs.
Bed Bug Situation Reported on the Disney Magic
A guest recently took to Reddit to share their experience on the Disney Magic, where they allegedly found an insect in their child’s bed.
“Initial response from guest services was promising, but follow-up has been awful,” they wrote. “We had two connected rooms and have had to abandon one, so now our family is separated.”
They went on to note that they weren’t offered any kind of compensation, beyond laundering their clothes.
Most alarmingly, other Reddit users pointed out that due to the nature of a cruise ship, if one stateroom has bed bugs, then likely so do many more. “As someone who’s experienced bed bugs, if they’re in one room, they’re likely all over the ship,” said one user. “They’re so hard to get rid of and multiply like crazy.”
Indeed, one guest who boarded the Disney Magic – the oldest Disney Cruise Line ship, which has also recently faced complaints of plumbing issues – earlier this month claimed to have heard of bed bugs in another room on the ship.
Another guest noted a similar experience when sailing from San Diego on the Disney Wonder in 2024. “Nothing but a lackluster apology and nothing else,” they wrote. “They’re like, ‘Oh, you could [have] brought them in from the last port blah blah blah. I ripped off the sheets and saw two more was able to save and photograph it to show guest services, they sent someone in who looked at the specimen and confirmed it and claimed they’d treat the room in-between the next sailings.”
An Out-of-Character Response From Disney
While bed bugs are alarming, the truth is that these things can – and will – happen in almost any vacation destination at some point. What makes this story more notable is Disney’s response – or rather, lack of response.
As noted by several Disney fans, the company typically offers an extremely helpful response to reports of bed bugs.
One guest claimed that after finding bed bug bites after their vacation, Disney examined the room, found bed bugs, and refunded the rack rate for their Disney Vacation Club rental. “They could have just lied and said no, but instead sent my mom like $8k for a 2 BR room we paid $5k for,” they said. “Insane.”
Meanwhile, one Reddit user detailed an incident in which their coworker discovered bed bugs in their room at Disney World. Disney subsequently sent in an exterminator, treated their luggage and belongings, comped new Disney merch to wear for the day, and provided both Lightning Lanes and a new room.
The Sad Reality of Bed Bugs
Disney isn’t the only company impacted by bed bugs.
In the past, Universal has been slammed by complaints of bed bugs at Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort, to the point that, in 2024, the hotel was often referred to as Bed Bug Bay within the theme park community.
One report from October 2024 claimed that the issue was so bad that, after switching rooms, a guest found that they had ended up in a second space infested with the bugs.
Earlier that same month, another guest at the hotel reported the insects in their room.
“They moved me to another building cause they were sold out which is fine so I’m in beachside room 8517 and same problem I’m in bed around 11:40pm my arm is breaking out in bites and is red (as shown in picture),” they wrote on Reddit. “Nobody has contacted me back about my first investigation currently losing sleep because of this.”
A month prior, yet another guest detailed a similar experience. Having found a bed bug infestation in both beds in their room, they noted that the room in general was not clean. “What did they offer me?” they wrote, also on Reddit. “Universal’s compensation for my traumatic experience is an Express Pass good for 4 rides.”
Fortunately, reports of bed bugs at the resort have reduced considerably in recent months. However, it’s always useful to conduct a quick check before staying in a hotel room – regardless of the hotel (or cruise ship) in question.
Before unpacking anything, take a few minutes to inspect the room. Bed bugs are most active at night and tend to stay close to where people sleep. Start with the bed itself. Pull back the sheets and check the seams of the mattress, especially near the headboard, for tiny black spots, shed skins, or reddish stains.
Use your phone’s flashlight to check dark crevices and corners. Bed bugs like tight spaces, so scan behind the headboard, around the mattress tags, and even in the folds of the curtains. Take a look at the nightstand and the area around the baseboards too. You’re looking for bugs the size of apple seeds or pepper-like droppings.
Next, check soft furnishings like chairs, sofas, and cushions — particularly along seams and in corners where fabric meets frame. Luggage racks can also be a hiding spot, especially where the straps meet the frame. If you spot anything suspicious, take photos and request a room change immediately, ideally in a different part of the building.
Even if the room looks spotless, always keep your suitcase off the bed and floor. Use the luggage rack if it seems clean, or place your bag in the bathroom — tile surfaces are less hospitable to bed bugs. At checkout, you may also want to inspect your belongings before repacking to reduce the risk of bringing unwanted guests home.
Have you ever encountered bed bugs on a Disney vacation?
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