Tips about Health and Planning
We are from Houston so we are pretty used to the heat, but for our last three trips we've brought cool packs for the back of our necks. You freeze the inserts and can keep extras in a small ice chest in the bottom of the cooler. This year we also got a 12x12 cool pack that we will use behind our one year old's back while she is in the stroller to keep her cool. - Gretchen
After my son's first trip to Disney when he picked up a nasty stomach bug, we've since learned to pack a travel-sized hand sanitizer to carry with us inside the parks. We use it to disinfect hands not only before eating, but also after EVERY encounter with the characters. When you stop to think about all the children who are touching and kissing Mickey, it just makes sense. My son stayed well all the way through the subsequent two visits to Disney. I can't say for sure that's what kept him well, but it certainly couldn't have hurt! - Terri in Bermuda
If you have a personal walker, wheelchair or crutches you are currently using, and you want to rent an electric wheelchair at the theme parks, they will hold your personal devices in the rental area with your name on them, until you return and check your vehicle back in. They also have "courtesy wheelchairs" that you then can use to get to the buses or parking lots. This was good to know, as I was wondering what to do with my mom's walker once we rented an electric scooter. - Amy
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Going to a sit-down, outdoor presentation on a cold winter's night? Here's a simple, easy-to-carry way to keep your rump from freezing: bring one of those bubble-wrap filled envelopes of an appropriate size to sit on. The bubble-wrap insulates your nether regions from that cold, cold seat, is light as a feather and is easily carried in one of those many Disney World plastic bags you've acquired. It makes quite a difference! - Mamayama
If you are planning to rent an ECV and have the use of only one hand, make sure you have a conversation about that when making the reservation. My family rented an ECV for my sister, whose right hand is paralyzed, and it never occurred to me to ask for an ambidextrous ECV. The "forward" mechanism was controlled with the right thumb, requiring her to use a digit on the left to PULL the mechanism toward her while steering. By the end of the trip, her left hand was really ragged! The fellow from the rental company suggested renting a motorized wheelchair powered by a joystick next time, but warned that the company doesn't like to rent them to people who don't already know how to maneuver them, as they are difficult to handle. I'll remember that next time. Nonetheless, the ECV made SO much possible for all of us on this trip. It was well worth the investment, operational difficulties notwithstanding. - Susan Barnaby
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When our 6-year-old broke her arm, we thought that swimming would be out of the question, a fact that, when discussed, brought nearly as many tears as the original injury -- until we were told about the waterproof cast materials they have! The office charged us a little out of pocket as insurance doesn't cover this "luxury" item, but it is well worth it. She can shower, wash her hands, and even swim -- something that is a necessity on those hot steamy Florida days! (There are also heavy rubber cast covers that I was investigating prior to finding out about the waterproof casts. My friend has used them and they work very well also.) - Naomi
Free Dining is sometimes offered with a resort package. My trip dates didn't include all of the free dining dates. I called Disney reservations to ask how I could take advantage of the free dining that is being offered and got a wonderful agent who checked into it for me. When she came back on the line, she had booked my trip for free dining for all 10 days. My tip is even if your dates are only partially covered, CALL! You may be able to get the whole trip included. It definitely made for a magical day in my house. - Stefanie
Another important thing to think about in relation to heat exhaustion is sodium intake. Sodium in your body helps it maintain healthy fluid levels. If your sodium is depleted, rehydrating will be more difficult. So, for example, if you've had a WDW morning where you skipped breakfast, had just a piece of fruit mid-morning, and then are getting heat-exhaustion symptoms mid-day, along with rehydrating, you need some fries or chips or something with some salt. Of course, if you suffer from high blood pressure or other cardiovascular issues and are on a limited salt intake, be sure to ask your doctor if it is OK to increase your sodium intake in the case of heat exhaustion BEFORE going to WDW. - Rhoda Smith
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All Resorts - Disney resorts themselves have a limited number of wheelchairs, which they will allow you to use for free for the length of your stay. I found this out when a member of my party fell and broke her ankle on property. If you go to the main desk, they'll ask you to "sign out" the wheelchair like a library book. It can be taken anywhere: your room, the parks, Disney Springs, off property. Best of all, unlike rented chairs, it doesn't need to be returned and picked up again daily. You just need to make sure it is returned before you leave. - Melody Townley
EDITOR'S NOTE: Please note, you can not check into the resort and expect a free wheelchair for your stay. The loaner chairs are for unexpected accidents as described above. If you need a wheelchair, push or electric, during your stay, AllEars recommends
http://www.buenavistascooters.com/
I have a tip for blister sufferers at WDW. I recently managed to get blisters in numerous places on my feet on a recent trip, and thinking I was a veteran and immune to this, was caught totally unprepared. (I usually take moleskin with me.) The stores in Disney do not have blister bandages or moleskin. So, from the gift shop at Saratoga Springs I bought regular bandages and the hurt-free first aid wrap that sticks to itself and not your skin (like what they put on your arm when you donate blood). I placed the bandages over the blisters and then wrapped my foot with the hurt-free wrap. It worked like a charm. The wrap holds the bandages in place and prevents them from causing any friction or rubbing. I was very skeptical, but desperate and figured out a way to get by on what the gift shop had without taking time out of my vacation to hunt down a drug store or discount store for moleskin. (Although I won't go without it ever again! Lesson learned.) - Sally Ballard
Our son is 19 years old, but we have not ditched the stroller for Disney World. Of course, we don't use it for him. For someone with chronic back and shoulder pain, it is the best. We bring an umbrella stroller to keep our backpack with ponchos, snacks, etc. Anyone who has back difficulties knows that walking for long periods of time is pretty uncomfortable. The support from the stroller for the back is amazing, and really makes a difference on how long you can last in the park. It's like using a rolling walker, but it's not, and it also holds all your belongings. - Nancy
Our most recent trip to Disney was a very busy one between extra activities and dinner reservations. Before leaving home, I prepared a schedule, which upon arrival I posted on the fridge (we stayed in a villa) with magnets I brought from home. This way, everyone knew where and when they needed to be somewhere. - Ann
I have just returned from a trip to the Yacht Club. During my visit, I found myself with a medical emergency, as my glucose meter decided to die. I went to the desk and was relieved to find that there is a drug store, Turner Drugs, that will deliver to the resorts for a $5 charge. What a blessing for a nervous diabetic! - Sue Tucci
