Be Prepared! ...For the Flu

The flu is all over the news. As you watch your Disney countdown tick to single digits you may have extra stress worrying about this year’s Flu Bug.

The acronym FACTS --fever, aches, chills, tiredness and sudden onset--can help identify influenza. Flu strikes fast, unlike a cold, which could take days to come on.  The best way to deal with flu while traveling is not to catch it. Sounds simple, right? You may want to get the flu vaccine before you go. Get vaccinated at least two weeks before traveling. That is how long it takes for the vaccine to take effect.

Follow the same prevention procedures when you are at Disney that you would at home: avoid people who are sick and wash your hands frequently. I like to sing the Mickey Mouse March to make sure I wash long enough. Be mindful of what you touch. Use those anti-bacterial wipes on the shopping cart and hand sanitizer after touching doorknobs and other community  items. Keep each family member's things separate. By providing their own towel and cup, you will keep germs from spreading. This is not the time to share drinks. 


Several products on the market are designed specifically to ward off illness while traveling: Airborne and Emergen-C both contain high doses of vitamins and claim to support the immune system; some frequent travelers swear by them.  Talk to your health care provider. Let them know your travel plans and see what they suggest.

We have all been on the Magical Express or on an airplane next to a sneezing, coughing person. Please remember that if someone on the plane is sick be nice and let  them know you understand they are sick by saying something like “wow It must be hard to travel while you do not feel well. We have been planning this trip for a long time and I would appreciate that you please remember to cover your mouth.”  Wash your hands a lot and think about using a mask. Why not put some stickers on it and make it a little Disney-fied!

 If you do come down with the flu while on your trip, antiviral drugs can make your symptoms milder and your illness shorter, but they work best in the first 48 hours after you start to feel sick. So please pay attention to your body and those you are traveling with. Pack some tissues in your backpack and bring along some cough drops. I also like to bring a neti-pot to clear my sinuses for non-medicinal relief. A nice cup of tea can be found at the parks and my favorite, some chicken soup can do wonders. We often hear it referred to as "Jewish penicillin."

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that you should go to the emergency room if your flu symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, sudden dizziness or confusion. You could have a serious infection or other major medical problem.

What about park days that you can no longer use? Contact guest services. They may be able to help add an extension to your tickets but this will be up to them because it is not their fault that you are sick. But it can’t hurt to ask. They have just done away with the non-expiring tickets, so their ability to help you could now change.

No one sets out on vacation thinking they'll get sick.  Luckily, Disney is well prepared for any situation. They have great first-aid stations; and let me tell you, I have been to all of them! They are free and run by licensed nurses. If they cannot help you, they will point you toward the nearest hospital. The resort can also help you and arrange transportation if need be.

So don’t forget to pack prepared and it wouldn’t hurt to get familiar with the following first aid locations:

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park: at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., across from the Central Plaza, and next to the Baby Center.

Disney California Adventure has a new location just inside the main gate on Buena Vista Street tucked in by City Hall and just past Oswald's Service Station

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom: at the end of Main Street, between Casey’s Corner and Crystal Palace;

Epcot, at Odyssey Center, between Future World and World Showcase;

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: at Guest Relations building on Hollywood Boulevard;

Disney's Animal Kingdom: at Discovery Island, behind Creature Comforts (headed towards Africa);

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon :behind Leaning Palms; and

Disney’s Blizzard Beach :between Lottawatta Lodge and Beach Haus.

Florida Hospital Centra Care Walk-In Urgent Care Centers are open 8:00 AM to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday.

Complimentary transportation is available and many insurance plans are accepted. Call (407) 934-2273 for more info.