Illness and injury

[CAS]

We just came home and loved our trip, however it seems it was plagued by more than our fair share of illness and injury. We had cold bugs, stomach bugs, back injuries, foot injuries and other maladies (none of which brought on by anything out of the ordinary for us).

Come to think of it, our family, who is usually very healthy, has had a large number of health issues on Disney trips (some serious like being taken from Main Street in an ambulance as a result of broken bones).

What gives? Has anyone else had similar experiences? It seems like all of the maladies of the whole year are coincidentally crammed into the week we travel to Disney.

[MNNHFLTX]

Sorry to hear this. I can kind of understand the viral infections that crop up in public place like that, or even heat-related issues during the summer. But broken bones and foot injuries do sound a bit unusual. We have come home with colds on occasion, and a few blisters, but nothing more serious than that.

[tinkwest]

On three separate occasions I have spent the majority of my Disney vacation sick in bed. I can't even remember the last time I was that sick at home. During one trip I was fine but the rest of the family was laid up. Go figure. We have never suffered broken bones or sprains of any kind. Although a few sunburns have added a little misery to a trip or two.

[faline]

Oh dear! Not much fun and certainly not one would want or expect during a vacation!!

We'll dealt with our share of colds/ear aches etc during our Disney vacation including one visit to an outpatien clinic but, fortunately, nothing that involved gurneys or ambulances etc.

[CAS]

On three separate occasions I have spent the majority of my Disney vacation sick in bed. I can't even remember the last time I was that sick at home. During one trip I was fine but the rest of the family was laid up. Go figure. We have never suffered broken bones or sprains of any kind. Although a few sunburns have added a little misery to a trip or two.

I know! We're never in bed sick at home but for some reason one (or usually more of us) end up with an infection, injury, throwing up, in the ER or something similar. It's happened so many times that it sounds unbelievable but it's true. And my wife wonders why my folks and I pack a pharmacy worth of potential meds and first aid.

My mind actually associates WDW with feeling physically aweful, but Mickey's magic always outweighs the bad!

[Ms. Mode]

For us a lot of it has to do with eating richer foods than we normally consume.

[brad192]

I think it's a conspiracy! "They" are testing your Disney Resolve!

[NewDVCowner]

The plane ride there doesn't help either. You're in a confined place with a large number of people with recycled, dry air. I used to get sick every time I got on a plane and then a co-worker mentioned something she'd seen about traveling on a plane. Because the air is dry the mucous membrane in your nose gets dried out and isn't able to do it's job as well regarding catching all those buggy-boos that are floating around. The suggestion is to put Vaseline in your nose to keep it moist. Ever since I've started putting stuff in my nose I've been able to stay healthy - and that included a trip to Africa and back.

[Pally]

I know! We're never in bed sick at home but for some reason one (or usually more of us) end up with an infection, injury, throwing up, in the ER or something similar. It's happened so many times that it sounds unbelievable but it's true. And my wife wonders why my folks and I pack a pharmacy worth of potential meds and first aid.

My mind actually associates WDW with feeling physically awful, but Mickey's magic always outweighs the bad!

Yes, you are not alone. I have had a torn Achilles tendon on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas day in bed in agony. Last 2-3 visits I had the "Disney leg rash" and pretty bad leg swelling.

Surely one of these trips we will all turn over a new leaf and have uneventful trips.

[Speedy1998]

To the OP I am sorry that these things have happened to you.

Sickness is easy enough to explain. You are exposed to more germs than normal, probably eating food you do not normally eat, and if you are like me you try to cram so much in that you do not get enough rest.

Lack of rest or fatigue might be a factor in the injuries too. I have also seen people get injured because they were distracted (testing, taking pictures, looking at the park schedule or map). Other injuries such as blisters, rashes and muscle pain are common when you do activity that you normally do not do (Like walk 11 miles in a day).

[Goofy4TheWorld]

I know! We're never in bed sick at home but for some reason one (or usually more of us) end up with an infection, injury, throwing up, in the ER or something similar. It's happened so many times that it sounds unbelievable but it's true...

That's my family too, we have been to the ER at Disney for both of our last two trips, and as soon as we get home my health insurance company will sic the lawyers on me and try to seek subrogation from Disney. My October 2013 ER trip led to calls from Cigna for over 15 months! I finally just had to blow up on them to get it to stop.

.... And my wife wonders why my folks and I pack a pharmacy worth of potential meds and first aid.

My wife teases me every time we pack because I have more bags than her, because when I go to a very "insulated" destination like Disney I will literally pack everything in the medicine closet, no exceptions.

She will laugh until she comes begging Dr. Goofy4TheWorld for some Pepto or Benadryl itch cream or Imodium! I usually waive the copay, but not always.

[Arielfan98]

Oh dear! Sounds awful I'm so fortunate that no one in my family has ever become sick during a vacation. Here's some tips that my "germophobe" family follows:

Prior to your trip:
-Eat healthy, drink water, and most importantly SLEEP.
-Do everything in your power to avoid sick people prior to your trip.
-We avoid early morning or late night flights that interfere with sleep because sleep helps protect the immune system.

During:
-ALWAYS carry hand sanitizer with you. If young ones prefer, bring baby wipes.
-It is ESSENTIAL to always re-apply hand sanitizer after touching door knobs, ride handles, que line interactives, and definitely before you eat.

I know these tips sound annoying, but after awhile it becomes a routine. Hopefully this helps!

[Speedy1998]

During:
-ALWAYS carry hand sanitizer with you. If young ones prefer, bring baby wipes.
-It is ESSENTIAL to always re-apply hand sanitizer after touching door knobs, ride handles, que line interactives, and definitely before you eat.
!

Also don't forget sunblock!!! Sunburns are probably the most common injury suffered at WDW.

[hauntedmansiongirl]

One of us inevitably gets sick almost every trip. Usually it starts with a cold in the car ride on the way down. I swear it's because we work like dogs in the weeks leading up to the trip and when you finally hit the time off, your body relaxes and gets sick. All of the previous suggestions about sleep, washing hands, avoiding sick people etc is so right!