Anytime we go on vacation, it may be a challenge to stay healthy. Flying on airplanes and then experiencing a different routine, lack of sleep and even dietary changes can all be a shock to the system and result in illness. How many of you have returned home from vacation with more than a suntan and a few souvenirs? I will never forget my vacation to London and Paris, or how dreadfully sick I was by the time I got home!
A vacation to Disney World is a wonderful experience, but even the happiest place on earth is full or germs, and no one wants to return home from vacation sick. I have put together a few simple things I do when on vacation to try and stay healthy. I am pleased to report that these tricks have worked for me and I hope they can help you stay healthy and come back from your vacation with nothing more than happy memories.
1. Keep your feet happy! At Disney Parks, I usually walk between ten and twelve miles per day. I know this because of my trusty Fitbit, a fitness tracking device that measures how many steps I take and how many miles I walk in a day. We would not go on a ten to twelve mile walk in flip flops or high heels, so wearing these to Disney is really not a good idea. Granted, you may be walking at a slowish pace, but you need to make sure to take care of your feet. Getting blisters on the first day is a recipe for disaster and can make the rest of your vacation a bit uncomfortable. Just ask my husband, who forgot his tennis shoes on our honeymoon ! There may also have been a time where I chose to wear Old Navy flip flops all day and I may or may not have ended up in first aid…
Taking care of your feet does not mean that you have to wear hideous tennis shoes all day. I like Clarks ballet flats for the parks, or Sketchers makes some cute options. You basically just want to make sure that you have some support. Make sure to break in a new pair of shoes before taking them to Disney World, new shoes can cause blisters so it is best to make sure to bring shoes that you know are broken in and comfortable.
Even with comfortable shoes, you may get blisters. Bring a package of band aids and maybe even some mole skin. Mole skin really helped my husband who was forced to wear Crocs our entire honeymoon. You can buy these things at Disney, but it is cheaper to bring these items from home. Don’t forget to bring a few band aids with you to the parks! You can get them from first aid if you need them, but it is faster to be prepared!
2. Take your vitamins! This may seem crazy if you do not regularly take vitamins, but I really think they help. I take a multivitamin, fish oil supplement and pro-biotic daily, so I just continue this tradition on vacation. I believe that it helps my body fight off any illness and keeps my energy up. Take a multivitamin or vitamin c to help keep your immune system strong!
3. Stay hydrated!! I can not stress how important it is to stay hydrated…. with water, not soft drinks! Disney World is the only place that I actually allow myself to drink a soft drink, but I try to limit the amount to one cup per day and I make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water! While Disney charges a premium for bottles of Dasani water, it does not have to be expensive to stay hydrated. You can bring your own water bottles, or water vessels or ask for water at quick service restaurants. I tend to buy one bottle of water in the morning and then refill it at water fountains or drink stations as the day goes by. Quick service restaurants will also give you a free cup of ice water!
4. Wear Sunscreen! What is worse than getting a terrible and painful sunburn the first day of your vacation and then being in pain for the remainder of your trip? Wearing sunscreen is important any time, but when exposed to the hot Florida sun for hours per day, it is absolutely vital. I apply sunscreen in the morning, and then reapply throughout the day. I also wear makeup with sunscreen in it, and wear a hat when the sun is out to make sure my face is protected. I want to avoid pre-mature aging at all costs! Chapstick with sunscreen will protect your lips. My favorite sunscreen is Solbar, which was recommended to me by my dermatologist. I have sensitive skin, and this brand works really well for me.
5. Basic Medicine: Bringing some basic medicines with you to Disney Parks is a good idea. I think ibuprofen or some type of pain killer is vital in case of a headache, or other aches and pains you may experience from being on your feet all day. Anything you may have at home that you use in your daily life, you will probably want to bring with you. This could include heartburn medicine, allergy medicine, and anti-bacterial ointment etc. I also think it is smart to bring hand sanitizer. There are a lot of germs when so many people can be found in one location and hand sanitizer will help keep you healthy!
I hope this list gives you a good place to start when planning how to stay healthy on your vacation. If you have any tips on how to stay healthy on vacation I would love to hear them!
Ashley is a lifelong Disney enthusiast and vacationer. She has been visiting Walt Disney World in Florida since she was young. Even though she has ventured all over the United States and the globe, Disney World is still her favorite place to vacation.
The beautiful state of Tennessee is where she lives with her husband, Mike and their two dogs, a.k.a .”fur children” Griffin and Grady. When not working full time in higher education, Ashley loves to spend time cooking, gardening, exercising, reading Disney websites and planning Disney vacations!
