It was going to be a ‘Girls’ Getaway’. Six of the ladies in my family, myself included, had just spent the night in a hotel across the street from Disneyland. I woke up that first morning, sheets soaked in sweat, in the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life. I could barely walk to the car that would chauffeur me to a luxury, ten night stay in an Anaheim hospital (two of which would be spent in intensive care).

While admitting me, an ultrasound confirmed I had gallstones, some of which had lodged themselves in a duct leading to my pancreas, causing acute pancreatitis.

Our trip was pretty much ruined before it ever had a chance to begin, and what you really need to know about pancreatitis is, it HURTS! This all happened many years ago, pre-kids. Nurses looked sympathetically at me, telling me what a pro I’d be at childbirth after suffering the throws of pancreatitis. You know what…they were right! No pain I’ve felt before or after compares to how sick I was during that trip. If Baymax asked, I was at a 10 for sure!

I’m fortunate though. Living in Arizona, this wasn’t a one-time deal for my family. Disneyland would still be there, and we’d have many more opportunities to return. But what can you do when an unexpected illness or injury gets in the way of a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth?

Be Prepared
The person who coined the phrase ‘a walk in the park’ most definitely was not referring to Disney. Disney vacations are active! Take care of yourself and your family so that you can be in the best shape possible for your trip.

You’ve spent a lot of time planning and preparing for your family’s vacation, so it makes sense to consider your family’s health, as well. If you have the time, try and get into a routine of exercise before you go. This can be as simple as walking a few times each week.

Two weeks before your trip, take a break from all the planning and get some extra rest. Also, try and insulate your family from exposure to illness as much as possible.

Having a list of nearby medical facilities and an idea of the stores in the area where over-the-counter medications could be purchased or prescriptions could be filled, is a good idea.

Does this make you seem paranoid? By planning for the worst, are you giving it an invitation?

Disney vacations are an investment. I’d rather plan for the proverbial ‘rainy day’ and not need the umbrella, than be stuck in the storm unprepared.

Take Care
While on your vacation, be on your vacation. Take care not to over do it. Yes you are going to be busy, but take breaks during your park days to recharge and stay hydrated. Make sure everyone is able to get enough sleep each night to be ready for the next day.

Pack some medical aids in your park bag. I like to bring in Neosporin; some fun, Disney bandages; pain relievers in both children and adult doses for tired, achy legs; and possibly Tums or antacids for when you’ve had one too many churros.

Be Flexible
If someone gets sick on your vacation, roll with it. Sick happens! Look at the day’s plans and make some changes. Maybe your group will need to split up for a day, leaving family at your hotel for extra rest. That’s okay! Memories will still be made and fun will still be had!

My husband will often spend a day of our trip not feeling well because of his allergies. On a trip to Walt Disney World, he stayed behind the day we visited Animal Kingdom, but I picked him up that evening for reservations we had in the Magic Kingdom. Hadn’t planned for it, but everything worked out just fine!

Take Advantage

‘Is there a Doc in the house?’

Disney has fantastic facilities to deal with minor, medical issues in all of their parks. Use them, if needed! Grab a map as you enter each park, and you’ll be able to locate them in a pinch.

We’ve visited Disney’s first aid centers for all sorts of weird reasons. Really, if you need them, they’re there!

Be Proactive
For any larger issues regarding unexpected illness or injuries, maybe a visit or phone call to Guest Relations is needed.

No one beats Disney when it comes to customer service! If you need to speak with a Cast Member about something that is truly out of the ordinary, I would encourage you to do so. Keep in mind that these people work tirelessly to meet the needs of hundreds of guests each day, so approaching the situation with kindness is surely appreciated.

During one of our trips my cousin’s ankle was severely injured exiting an attraction. Suddenly we were in need of a wheel chair. Disney provides wheel chair rentals for use in the parks. The problem was we needed to be able to take a wheel chair off-property in order to transport my cousin to and from our hotel.

I decided to visit Guest Relations and explain our situation. Disney understood our unusual predicament, met our needs, and we were able to continue to enjoy our vacation.

I hope these tips help and that you never have to use any of them! I don’t know if our family is just injury prone, unlucky, unusual, or all of the above. For all of the Disney trips we’ve made, I can tell you specific locations (including a roller coaster) where family members have ‘blown up’, as my son calls it. We’ve had hospital visits for surgeries and stitches. We’ve been sick, sore, scraped, and left skin in the game…enjoying it all, and making bizarre memories of our own.

By the way, I’m also an expert at dealing with chicken pox on your wedding day…but that’s another story!