You’ve planned every detail of your trip, from your touring plan to your dining reservations. You’re all suited up with your ears and spirit jersey and ready to go…and then you catch a cold. Feeling sick at Disneyland is really tough, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate the pain during your trip. Here are a few tips and tricks for navigating Disneyland with a cold.
Let me preface this by saying something that may seem obvious: if you are contagious, PLEASE do not go into the parks. The only thing worse than missing out on an expensive trip because you’re sick is causing that same heartache for other families. Spread magic, not germs!
Tip #1 – Stock Up
If you didn’t pack any cold remedies with you, all of the resort hotels have gift shops that sell cold medicine, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc. Or if you’re staying off-property on Harbor Boulevard, you’ll find a 24-hour CVS just two blocks from the park gates.
Tip #2 – Eat A Healthy Breakfast
When you visit Disneyland, it’s so easy to skip breakfast or just grab a Mickey waffle on the go. But trust me, starting the day with a healthier, protein-heavy breakfast can make a huge difference. Pack your body with some energy and you won’t fade nearly as fast.
Tip #3 – Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Drinking water in the park is always important, but it’s especially important when you’ve got a cold. Disneyland has drinking fountains throughout the park, which come in handy if you bring a reusable water bottle. My rule of thumb when I don’t feel great is to drink a full bottle of water with each meal, and a full bottle of water in between each meal. Your mom was right – drinking fluids helps flush out a cold!
Tip #4 – Focus on Shows or Longer Attractions
If you feel yourself fading, try watching shows or riding attractions with longer durations and fewer bumps. That way, you can rest your body without sacrificing ride time or getting bored. Some of the longer, tamer attractions in the parks include:
- Disneyland Railroad
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Frozen Live at the Hyperion
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Haunted Mansion
- It’s A Small World
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Mickey & the Magical Map
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
Tip #5 – Rest in Cool Places
Most Disneyland visitors don’t want to sit around and rest during their trip, but when you don’t feel well, it’s just necessary. Here are a few of my favorite places to relax that are really cool places in and of themselves:
- Disney Animation main lobby
- Flo’s V8 Café Back Patio
- Hungry Bear restaurant patio
- Jolly Holiday or Plaza Inn patios
- Paradise Gardens
- Sonoma Terrace
Ultimately, the most important thing to do when you have a cold at Disneyland is listen to your body. If you need to slow down, slow down. If you need a quick nap, regroup and go back into the park refreshed in a few hours. and if you just don’t feel well enough to tour the parks, you’re not going to feel worse about calling it quits than you would suffering because you already spent money on a ticket. Colds unfortunately happen to everyone, but if you’re patient with yourself, you can still enjoy a lot of the Disneyland Resort.
Do you have any additional tips for visiting Disneyland with a cold? Let me know in the comments!
These are great tips!! You never plan on being sick on vacation so some of these common sense things get overlooked!