Visiting Walt Disney World is a magical experience, but nothing can quickly take the magic out of your vacation quite like an illness. With thousands of guests visiting the parks and resorts each day, there can be germs everywhere. But don’t let that scare you; with several easy steps you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming sick while visiting the parks and help ensure your whole family will stay healthy for your entire Disney vacation.

Take Vitamins

A few weeks before your vacation, start taking a multivitamin if you don’t already do so. Vitamin C is also great at helping to build up your immune system. Since I’m not a doctor, you may also want to consult your doctor before you begin taking any vitamins.

Get Enough Sleep

While it’s tempting to stay at the parks until they close and then arrive when they open the next day, this definitely isn’t the best idea. Trust me, I’m horrible at taking this piece of advice and have spent a few days exhausted in the parks. That’s not how you want to spend your vacation.

After our flight was delayed and we didn’t arrive at our hotel until 4:30 a.m., my husband and I still tried to make it to park opening. We arrived at Epcot shortly after park opening, spent the full day there and then park hopped to Animal Kingdom which was open until 1 a.m. Of course, we stayed until Animal Kingdom closed despite both of us being exhausted. Sure, it was a lot of fun, but it probably wasn’t the smartest idea. Later in the trip, we had to make ourselves sleep in a little rather than arriving for park opening because we just couldn’t go on that little sleep. You’ll enjoy the parks more and be able to better fight off illness when you’re well rested.

Stay Hydrated

Walking through parks in the Florida sun can take its toll on your body, even if you don’t notice it at first. Be sure to drink plenty of water in order to stay hydrated. If you ask at any food service location excluding those which serve only bottled drinks, the cast members will gladly provide you with a free cup of ice water. In fact, they’re required to do so under Florida law.

On my vacation last July, I also noticed several of the quick service restaurants also had coolers filled with ice water located outside so guests could get their own ice water. I’d never seen this before, so it’s possible they only do this on extremely hot days. Be sure to drink water even if you don’t think you need it, especially on hot days. It’s so easy to get dehydrated at Disney without realizing it until it’s too late.

Wash Your Hands

With so many people, and unfortunately germs, at Disney, washing your hands is essential to staying healthy throughout your vacation. Be sure to encourage children to wash hands with soap after trips to the restroom and before eating meals.

Antibacterial Gel

There may be times throughout your vacation when finding a restroom to wash your hands may not be practical. Perhaps the parade crowds are preventing you from getting there or maybe you just want your hands to be clean quickly. Be sure to pack a small bottle of antibacterial gel for these times. Kids can be known to put all kinds of things, including their hands, in their mouths. If those hands are clean, they’ll be much less likely to pick up an illness during your vacation.

Antibacterial Wipes

Germs can be found on nearly any surface, from the restaurant table to the TV remote in your hotel room. Antibacterial wipes are great for killing germs found on these surfaces.

Allergy Medicine

Even though you may not have allergy troubles before your vacation, you may want to pack some allergy medicine for your trip. Many people, myself included, are very allergic to the paper trees found in Florida. Bringing medicine from home will be much cheaper than purchasing it from Disney. If you’re prone to allergy and sinus problems, like I am, it may even be a good idea to start taking allergy medicine a few days prior to your vacation. Again, you’ll want to check with your doctor before taking any medications.

Your Thoughts

I want to hear from you! What tips do you have to prevent illness on your vacation? Do you have any special routines prior to your vacation to help keep you and your family from getting sick? Let us know your tips and tricks in the comments below.