What Happens If I Get Sick at Disney World?

June 26, 2018

Q: What happens if I get sick while I’m on vacation at Walt Disney World?

A: Let’s face it, when we’re planning a trip to the most magical place on earth, we rarely think about things like getting ill. However, feeling under the weather during your family getaway is always a possibility. It’s also one of those situations where it certainly pays to be prepared and have a plan should someone in your group fall ill. So whether it’s a pre-existing condition or a nasty tummy bug, here are some tips to guide you through what to do if you or a member of your family starts to feel a bit unwell.

What happens if I’m feeling sick at the theme parks? Whether its motion sickness, a pounding headache, cut or scrape or the onset of a cold, Disney’s First Aid Centers should be your first stop if you are feeling under the weather while at the parks. You can find these centers at the following locations:

Magic Kingdom – Tucked between Crystal Palace and Casey’s Corner.
Epcot – There’s a building between Test Track and the Mexico Pavilion
Hollywood Studios – Located near the Main Entrance by Guest Services
Animal Kingdom – As you are leaving the Discovery Island section of the park and heading over to Africa.
Blizzard Beach – Near Lottawatta Lodge Restaurant
Typhoon Lagoon – Near Leaning Palms Restaurant

First aid centers are maintained by an on-duty nurse who is able to dispense single doses of basic over the counter medication, The nurse will also be on hand to provide support for a variety of minor ailments from bloody noses to bumps and scrapes.

Larger doses of over the counter medications are also available for purchase at the theme parks to see you through the duration of your Disney day.

What happens if I’m feeling sick at my resort? Disney offers in-room medical services at each of the Walt Disney World resorts on property. From your resort room dial the Front Desk for assistance 24hrs a day. They will be able to provide you with on-site support and direct you to the best services whether it be urgent care or a local pharmacy that can deliver medications directly to your resort. Guest services at your resort will be eager to do whatever they can to help you feel better, from supplying you with clean linens if you’re room-bound to whipping up a little meal to sooth your sensitive tummy. If you’re feeling unwell during your stay let Guest Services know what they can do to help. That’s why they are there!

What happens if I need urgent medical care? Disney works in partnership with Florida Hospital Centra Care Urgent Care Centres. The Centres are open from 8am to midnight Monday- Friday or 8:00am – 8pm on Saturday and Sunday and are located just outside of Disney Springs. Complimentary transportation is provided from your Walt Disney World Resort and they accept most insurance types. If you want to get in touch with them directly the number is 407.934.2273. The Medical Concierge can also be contacted by your resort front desk and provides a range of services from urgent care in the comfort of visitor’s hotel rooms, same-day dentist and specialist appointments, private clinics, and a mobile pharmacy for prescriptions or forgotten medications. To schedule an appointment with a medical professional, contact the front desk of your hotel or dial 1-855-932-5252 and request The Medical Concierge.

What if I need to get medication in a hurry? Whether you forgot to pack your pills, misplaced your medication or are running a bit short in addition to the services outlined above, Turner Drugs Tourist Prescription Service works closely with Walt Disney World. They are a full pharmacy and retail store and offer same day delivery of your medications directly to your resort for you. They only take cash or credit card but they will provide you with the paperwork to send on to your insurance company for coverage. They are one of Disney’s Preferred Providers so there’s peace of mind in knowing that you are working with a reputable company. They can be reached at 407.828.8125.

Though colds, flu or other seasonal bugs can’t always be avoided there are some steps to make sure that you are looking after yourself while at the parks. Here are a few suggestions:

Purchase Travel Insurance – Disney offers a travel insurance policy that provides coverage should something go wrong in the lead-in or while you are on holiday. It is $77.50 a person and is a good idea for clients with pre-existing conditions or ailments that may require medical attention while you are at the Walt Disney World.
Stay hydrated. In the midst of all of the Disney excitement guests often lose sight of the fact that it’s hot and your body is really sweating. Its not uncommon to hear of several cases of heat stroke on a busy Disney day. The best way to avoid this is by drinking lots of water. Disney has a pretty flexible policy when it comes to bringing drinks into the parks so stock up on bottled water and bring it with you on park days. All of the restaurants are also required to have water stations so that you can grab a quick glass of water on the go.
Include a first aid kit in your park bag- I do not leave my resort without Tylenol, band aids, blister band aids, Pepto, pills for motion sickness, and a myriad of other first aid items. It makes it easy to tend to any little thing that might go wrong without having to pay theme park prices for basic over the counter items.
Take breaks. A lot of visitors underestimate just how much walking you can do at a Disney theme park in a day. Last time I was at MagicKingdom, I clocked in 7 miles according to my pedometer. We want to get the most out of our vacations so there is a tendency to overdo it. Make sure you are taking time out to relax, rehydrate and get out of the Florida sun.

Guests should always remember that in the event of an extreme emergency, 911 should be called.

So keep a list of important phone numbers from the list above with you and have a bit of a plan in the back of your mind should someone fall ill. However, if you are in need of support or medical attention always know that a first point of action should be alerting a cast member who will help you get the proper care. On a Disney vacation, you should never feel like you have to go it alone- Disney staff will always be there to help in whatever way they can.

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Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your time at Disneyland. Best of all, my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025, via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.

Images copyright Disney.

What Happens If I Get Sick at Disney World? 1

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