What to Do if you Get Sick at Disney World

Sometimes it’s just unlucky that you’ve spent loads of money, time planning and daydreaming the perfect Walt Disney World vacation only to wind up sick at Disney World. That’s right. SICK. Getting sick at Disney World happens to both kids and adults alike. And lets face it, sometimes you just have to give in. But what about all those plans? Your dining reservations, Lightning Lane Passes, and special events may just have to wait, or be rescheduled. From migraines, to cramps, to stomach bugs, to throwing up we’ve seen, and had, it all. It’s not pretty, but you can get through it. Here are our best tips for what to do when you get sick at Disney. We’re sharing everything you need to know about First Aid Stations, Medicine Delivery services, Urgent Care visits, prescription refills and more. 

If you’re at Walt Disney World then know that you have access to healthcare. AdventHealth is the official healthcare provider at Walt Disney World Resort. Offering a range of services for guests, you can arrange for urgent care, doctor visits, prescription, and equipment delivery. While you can simply go to your resort check in desk and get all the details, you can also just call AdventHealth directly, at (407) 939-7480 between 7:00 AM and 11:00 pm EST.

What To Do If You Get Sick At Disney World

If you’re on your Disney Trip and and wind up sick, know it’s not the end of the world. True, it may feel like it but IF you can talk yourself or the kids into just taking it easy, chances are recovery will be close behind. Here are some basic things to realize ahead of time about getting sick at Walt Disney World. 

First Aid Stations are Everywhere

• If you or the kids get sick while in the parks, you can count on first aid stations at each one to be equipped with people who can help and let you know your best course of action. Whether its going to the doctor, or returning to your resort to rest a bit, they’re prepared to help with most concerns. Find a cast member and they’ll lead the way.

Disney World First Aid Stations in the Parks

Did you know that every Disney World theme park has a First Aid Station? Yep! Simply open up the My Disney Experience App and check out the map of the Disney theme park that you’re visiting. Here are the first aid station locations in each park. 

Magic Kingdom

• You can find the First Aid Station at Magic Kingdom right next to Crystal Palace. Just after you walk past Casey’s Corner. 

EPCOT

• The Odyssey Pavilion at EPCOT has a First Aid Station. This building is between the Test Track area and Mexico in the World Showcase. 

Hollywood Studios

• The First Aid Station at Hollywood Studios is just to the left of the entrance, as soon as you walk into the park. You’ll find it right next to Guest Services. 

Animal Kingdom

• At Animal Kingdom, the First Aid Station is located near Creature Comforts ( aka Starbucks).

Typhoon Lagoon

• If you’re at the Disney Water Parks, know that you have access to first aid too! The First Aid Station at Typhoon Lagoon is near Leaning Palms restaurant. 

Blizzard Beach

• And at Blizzard Beach you can find the First Aid Station near Lottawatta Lodge quick service restaurant. 

What Do I Do when I get to the Disney First Aid Station?

No matter which First Aid Station you visit, you can always count on access to bandaids, medicine, ice packs and help. If you’re Sick at Disney World, and in the parks, simply head to the first aid station. Here, you can check in with an AdventHealth nurse. Depending on the situation, you’ll either get what you need at the desk, or you’ll be escorted to a room for care. On times we’ve visited we’ve gotten things like bandaids, orange juice ( for low blood sugar), Gatorade ( for heat exhaustion) and they can even help you with allergies or headaches. Believe it or not, they can even help with anxiety. And believe us when we say, with the crowds, you may find a panic attack closer than you think, if you are averse to crowds. Thank goodness for First Aid options at Disney World! 

Do I Have to Pay for First Aid at Disney World?

For minor issues related to being sick at Disney World, you can usually get help for free. If you find yourself with a bloody knee, and in need of a band aid, you can get that for free. Similarly you can also get single doses of over the counter medicines. Things like Benadryl for allergies, Tylenol and Ibuprofen, for headaches, and Cough syrup are all readily available. Of course if injuries are more drastic, or you need hospital care, that can help you get what you need. And even arrange for transportation to an Urgent Care or Hospital if needed. 

Can I get My Prescriptions at Disney World?

If you’ve forgotten your prescriptions, or have been prescribed something you need to get while on vacation, never fear! You can get your prescriptions sent to a nearby pharmacy. AdventHealth also offers prescription delivery services to Disney Resorts for your convenience. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact the AdventHealth Experience Center at (407) 939-7480.

Disney Resorts have In-Room Medical Care, Hospital and Pharmacy Access

If your sickness is really bad and you’re thinking you may need a doctor, call the front desk. They will send someone over and give you advice as to whether a hospital visit or a trip to the Advent Health Urgent Care Centre is a good idea. Disney offers complimentary transportation to medical centers off site, so you will be good hands. You can even get your medications sent to the pharmacy Disney works with at Turner Drugs. Just call the front desk.

Can I Get My Tickets Refunded if I’m Sick at Disney World?

Unfortunately, Disney World does not give refunds for date based tickets. However, they do offer rescheduling options. Just speak to Guest Relations or head to the resort front desk to get help with your options. However, never fear, we have been sick at Disney World before, and there are some things you can do at your resort to make your vacation magical. 

Advent Health Care Centers Near Disney World

If you’re in need of additional medical help you can also head to a local Orlando Advent Health Center. Disney World offers Complimentary Transportation in partnership with Centra Care Urgent Care—call (407) 939-7480 for assistance.

• Advent Health Care full-service Emergency Room– 13323 Hartzog Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-550-0700. This location is in Flamingo Crossing, just outside the West Entrance to Walt Disney World.
• Advent Health Centra Care Lake Buena Vista: 12500 South Apopka Vineland Road Orlando, FL 32836- 407-934-2273
• Buena Vista Urgent Care: 8200 World Center Dr. Orlando, FL 32821- 407-477-6512
• Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children: 92 W MillerSt. Orlando, FL 32806

On Call Doctors and Telehealth Visits at Disney World

If you need Care Concierge Services, you can get them through AdventHealth. Simply contact them through this form. With these specialty services you can book a doctor appointment via video so you don’t have to leave the resort. Or you can arrange for skilled nursing care and a range of services. To make things super easy just Download the AdventHealth app from your app store today or learn more at AdventHealth.com/video-visits.

Things to Do if You’re Sick at Walt Disney World

Now you may be thinking that since you or the kiddies are sick life is terrible and this will be the worst vacation ever. Let us try and change your mind about this. If you’re the unlucky one, you obviously really needed a vacation, which is probably why your body chose to get sick at this particular time. If your kid is the sick one, know that you can still make this a somewhat magical experience, even without leaving the room. We speak from experience here. As annual pass holders we’ve come to realize that there are infinite magical moments at Walt Disney World, and believing we have to make the most every second is a mindset of our past. So we’ve learned a few things about being sick and stuck in a room at Walt Disney World.

You may think that getting sick at Disney isn’t something that will happen to you or the family, but think again. Even our best advice of loading up on Emergencee the week before your Disney vacation won’t guarantee you don’t get sick. But I never get sick, you’re thinking. Us too. We hardly ever get sick. EVER. But here’s the thing; a Walt Disney World vacation brings all sorts of things front of center that you don’t have in your regular life. We don’t want to tempt fate, but lets list them, shall we?

But What About Your Magical Vacation?

A sick person or two doesn’t have to mean everyone in the family or travel group suffers. While not feeling well is bad, being the reason your family misses a Disney vacation is worse. Send the healthy ones off to the rides, restaurants and shows as planned. The quiet time at the resort will no doubt be the extremely welcome restful vacation you always wanted anyway.

Just Call the Front Desk

If you didn’t bring medicine or can’t tote your child up to the gift shop to fetch your drug of choice, call the Concierge. They are there to help. A quick call to the front desk could have medicine, heat packs, ointments or whatever delivered right to your door.

Drink Your Liquids

While many of the resorts have teas and coffee in the room, if you’re in need of a hot drink, something with honey for a sore throat, or something spicy to help clear a sinus infection, order it in. No point in dragging yourself or your child all over the place. Have it delivered.

Order Soup from the Resort Food Court

Order in a Chicken Soup. Once the front desk is alerted that you or the kids aren’t feeling well they do everything they can to “fix” the situation. You can request the kitchen to make something to help settle your stomach, soothe your throat or bring around a jello if there’s trouble keeping food down.

Take a hot shower, or bath makes all the difference

Whether its you or the kids, there’s nothing like a hot shower or bath to relax your muscles. The heat can clear up your breathing and make you feel slightly better.

Sleep 

While hotel and Disney resort rooms aren’t large to begin with, just allowing yourself to get into bed and cozy up will allow you to relax instead of worry about not making the most of your pricey vacation. Sleep if you want to or need to. The more opportunities your body has to relax the faster you’ll recover. Not as glamorous as the other things on this list, sleep will be the #1 most important thing you can do when you’re not feeling well. If you’re trying to talk yourself into it order a pair of pajamas or a sleep mask from the gift shop to make it more appealing. Sleep is a must do if you’re battling a migraine.

Watch Your Favorite Shows

 You finally won’t have to feel bad about binge watching something, or letting the kids watch all their favorite cartoons over and over. Disney World has a Smart TV, which means you can login into your accounts to certain streaming providers, including Disney+ Plus. And since they offer regular television too, you can even watch other shows you like while being sick.

Read a Book or Magazine

The Disney gift shops have magazines for light reading or you can buy a book to read on your phone or tablet from Amazon. If you’re not up for reading, feel free to skip this. BUT, if you’re battling anything involving pain, like cramps, reading will take your mind off it, so it could help.

Listen to Music

Chances are something calming and relaxing can always be found somewhere on your phone. If you’re mourning the loss of being the parks, check out youtube for the Magic Kingdom music loop, the Epcot music loop, the Soarin music loop, the Adventureland music loop and more.

Watch Mickey Cartoons

Another staple in our arsenal of Disney things. These Mickey cartoons on  YouTube are played in the food court at some of our favorite Disney resorts. So if you can’t make the trip to the commissary, you can feel like you’re really there right from your room.

Tips for Staying Healthy at Walt Disney World

We’ve been sick at Walt Disney World before and although there are worse places you could get sick, no one wants to spend their vacation feeling unwell or come home to find out that you now need to recover from something you caught on your trip. Here are the things we regularly practice to stay healthy traveling to and from Disney, Universal and every other germ-y place we happen upon when we travel. 

Wash Your Hands

Make sure that your washing your hands often. This means with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This means after  the bathroom, after meals, and after rides too, when you can. Hand sanitizer is nice, but it’s not enough. If you’re running around the Parks and need hand sanitizer here and there, it’s better than nothing. But it doesn’t take the place of hand washing.  A reminder that hand sanitizer takes 30 seconds to dry, so give it enough time to do that. Grab a hand sanitizer to bring along with you. 

Minimizing Touching

Let’s face it, never were we more aware of our habit of touching things at gift shops, than during the pandemic, when we suddenly couldn’t touch anything. It’s especially important to stop touching your face, since a lot of viruses are transmitted through the open surfaces on your face known as your eyes, mouth and nose. Again, this can be a little tough with kids, but you can find creative ways to keep them from touching their faces, make it game, give them something to be “responsible” for(i.e. something they can hold) or see how long they can keep their hands in their pockets. 

Add More Vitamin C

There are a lot of things that can really run down your immune system. Try to keep your immune system in check before, during and after you travel. Stay hydrated, eat well, make sure you get plenty of rest, keep your stress levels low, get out in the sun when you can. While this is an entire topic in itself, improving gut health can vastly improve your immune function. Things like eating yogurt, taking your vitamins, and getting plenty of fruits and vegetables are excellent ways to improve digestion. We have a very strict habit of taking these Emergen-C Immune Plus with Vitamin D packets a week before we travel, while we are traveling and a week afterwards.

Bring Sanitizing Wipes

On our Disney Park Bag Essentials List,  you will always find sanitizing wipes. We use these to help us wipe down airplane seats, quick service tables, and anything else that we may be touching. We also actually use them all the time to wipe down our phones as well, since I’m sure they pick up quite a few germs on their own. These are just a few examples, but trust me when I say there are loads of things out there to help you combat germs while on the go. 

Being Sick at Walt Disney World

No one wants to face the fact their vacation may get interrupted by a stomach flu. But, realizing that these things happen and just accepting there are only certain things you can do helps make this pill a little easier to swallow. Whatever your vacation holds, know that there is plenty of support from Disney staff if you find yourself or the kiddies sick. Hopefully these tips were helpful and can help if you ever find yourself sick at Walt Disney World. If you’ve survived getting sick at Disney let us know your best tips!