Getting sick at Disney World is a very real possibility — and absolutely no one wants to spend their park day sniffling through Space Mountain or crashing early with a fever.
Magic Kingdom
Between the crowds, the germs, and the Florida heat, there’s a lot working against your immune system when you visit the Most Magical Place on Earth. So today, we’re laying down the eight rules we personally follow to avoid getting sick at Disney World. A few of these might seem over-the-top… until they save your trip. Let’s get into it.
Wear a mask in the airport and on the plane.
Yup, we’re starting here. It might be controversial, but we still mask up when flying — especially before a Disney trip.
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That recycled plane air is not doing your immune system any favors, and catching something 24 hours before your Magic Kingdom day is peak frustration. A mask helps you dodge whatever germs are floating around your row.
Hand sanitizer. Every time. Everywhere.
Touch a ride lap bar? Sanitize. Held a menu? Sanitize. Helped your kid tie their shoe after they crawled on the hub grass? Sanitize.
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Disney is a germ fest. Kids are licking railings. People are sneezing into their hands and grabbing ride handles right after. We carry sanitizer in every bag and use it constantly. And if you’ve got little ones — please, please don’t let them get their mouths on the handrails. We’ve seen it. We’re haunted.
Sanitizing wipes are your new best friend.
When you get to your hotel room, wipe down everything: door handles, the TV remote, bathroom counters — all of it. At quick service restaurants, we wipe the tables before eating, too.
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Sure, Disney does a great job cleaning, but with the sheer number of people moving through each room and restaurant, it’s just not enough to keep everything totally germ-free.
Wash your hands like you’re about to perform surgery.
Soap. Warm water. 20 seconds. Get under the nails.
Restrooms
Hand sanitizer is great in the parks, but it’s no replacement for actually washing your hands. Make it a habit to wash thoroughly before meals, after bathroom breaks, and when you get back to your hotel. It makes a huge difference.
Stay hydrated — seriously.
Florida heat is no joke, and dehydration can sneak up on you fast. It’s one of the quickest ways to feel sick and sluggish at Disney.
Don’t forget your water bottle!
Bring a refillable water bottle, and throw in some Liquid I.V. or another electrolyte booster.
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We do this daily when we’re in the parks, and it’s a game changer. Staying hydrated also helps your body fight off illness.
Load up on immunity boosters BEFORE your trip.
Don’t wait until you’re already run down to start popping vitamin C. In the week leading up to your trip, start taking something like Emergen-C or Airborne daily.
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We love the water mix-in packets, but the new gummies are pretty convenient too. The goal here is to get your immune system firing before you’re exposed to all the Disney germs.
Motion sickness is real — pack for it.
Some of those rides hit harder than you’d expect. If you’re prone to motion sickness (or even if you’re not usually, but want to be safe), bring along Dramamine or a Sea-Band wristband.
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They’ve saved more than a few of our team members from losing their lunch after Mission: SPACE or a bumpy bus ride.
Avoid people before your trip if you can.
This one’s a little antisocial, but we stand by it. If you’ve got a big trip coming up, maybe don’t attend that massive birthday party or crowded concert right before. The fewer germs you’re around in the days leading up to your vacation, the better your odds of staying healthy. We’ve definitely pulled the “sorry, I’m in pre-Disney lockdown” card more than once.
Crowds
So yeah — it’s a lot, but it’s worth it. No one wants to be sick in line for Flight of Passage or crash mid-day because you didn’t drink enough water. Follow these rules, and you’re giving yourself a way better shot at staying healthy from arrival to that last Mickey waffle.
In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest from Disney.
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I’m so happy to see you recommending Sea-Bands for motion sickness! I’ve been using them since the 90’s and they work so well for me that I can’t imagine using anything else. Plus there are none of the side effects that you might get with Dramamine or other motion sickness drugs. And they’re way more cost effective, because they last for years – I’m still using the original pair of wristbands that I bought in the 90’s. Totally worth looking into if you struggle with motion sickness.