Staying Safe and Well On Your Disney Vacation

I’ve heard the stories, and probably, so have you of illnesses and injuries while on vacation.  Taking a Disney vacation is no exception even though safety is an operating pillar for Disney.  And, while we have been pretty fortunate so far—other than a the boy scraping off part of his eyebrow in a fall, there are some things we do to help keep us safe and well during a Disney vacation.

As a mom, I want to keep my family healthy at home and while traveling.  Our daily regimen consists of a balanced diet, plenty of sleep, and an odorless garlic tab for each of us to support immune health.  Regular hand washing and cleaning of common surfaces minimize germ spread. 

That same daily routine goes with us on the road.  I also keep wipes in any bag or backpack we are carrying.  So, as soon as we get on an airplane, the surfaces get wiped down and the air blower above our head gets turned off.  The wipes come out again at our resort or in our stateroom to wipe down TV remotes, telephones, door and sink handles, etc.  A can of Lysol works, too, but due to TSA regulations, it would have to be packed in our checked luggage, but if you are traveling by car you are all set. 

Wipes work great to clean hands before eating and on the Disney ships, wipes are provided to guests prior to entering the dining rooms.

Like most of you, I too want to get the most out of every moment of our Disney vacations, yet getting enough sleep each night will actually help me do that in the long run.  I can’t say we get 8 hours each night, but other than the last night which typically requires an early morning for Magical Express pick-up, we get enough sleep to keep us healthy.  Besides, the boy and I turn into pumpkins around 10:00 pm anyway, so it is best to just get us to bed.

Be Prepared is the Boy Scout motto and I agree.  We have a bag-o-supplies that goes with us in our luggage that contains various medicines—antacids, antidiarrhea medication, pain reliever/fever reducer, motion sickness, antibiotic ointment, first aid kit, etc.  When the boy was younger, we packed children’s versions, too, but he can now swallow a pill so the regular strength pain reliever/fever reducer can be used by all of us if needed. 

I remember when the boy fell and scraped his eyebrow on the cruise ship, I whipped out a first aid kit from the bag I was taking on our shore excursion and fixed him right up.  Our tablemates, who happened to be going on the same shore excursion, were impressed with our preparedness.  The first aid kit travels with us into the parks, too.

Another way to ward off potential illness while traveling is to make sure you are eating and drinking enough and the right things while away from home.  It is easy to order soda with every meal and fries instead of veggies or fruit.  We make a conscious effort to order water with our other drinks and milk, especially for the boy.  Disney makes it easy to add great fruit and veggies to your meals.  One of our tips was to order the adult counter service meal with a side of apple slices (they didn’t come with the kids meal) and the kids meal with a side of fries and them swap and share so that everyone got some of both.

Speaking of vegetables, on one of our cruises, the husband made mention that he very much appreciated asparagus, as it was a side for a dish in one of the restaurants on the ship.  Our tablemates decided to share their asparagus with him and seeing that, our server brought him a whole plate of asparagus.  On another cruise, the boy wanted some steamed broccoli to eat with his pizza one day by the pool.  A Cast Member heard this and brought him a plate full of broccoli.  Yummy vegetables!

Packing for the weather and elements is another preventative strategy.  We were at an amusement park just yesterday and I overheard a lady talking on the phone saying that when she had left her home in the morning it was chilly and overcast.  The sun was out and it was hot and she was dressed in jeans and had even brought a sweater.  She was not prepared.  On our first trip to Walt Disney World, the weather in November we experienced an unusual cold snap that we weren’t prepared for, so the boy wore the same long sleeve t-shirt under his other clothes for a few days in a row and I bought Mickey Mouse gloves that I still use.  Now, jackets are on our packing list and there are gloves in the pockets of the jackets we pack.  Packing the appropriate gear can also be helpful in case someone does get sick—having enough clean clothes in case of an accident or spill, or even having laundry supplies just in case.  Prior to the convenience of Purex laundry sheets and now the laundry “pods”, I would pack a baby food jar with powder dish soap that could be used for cleaning mugs or doing laundry and because it was powder, it could go in our carry-on luggage.

Staying safe is also part of staying aware—of surroundings, etc.  We have witnessed the unsuspecting guest take a misstep or two or the child that accidentally gets separated from their family.  We make labels with our name and cell phone number and put them inside the back of the boy’s shirt—under the tag—daily.  He knows to show it to a Cast Member if he ever gets separated from us.  We also take a picture of him each morning and usually, he is wearing the same thing we are!  Another benefit of wearing matching shirts!

We do the same thing with our luggage tags, as I don’t want our home address on display on our luggage while we are traveling.  So, instead, our luggage tags have our last name and cell phone number, since we have our cell phones with us while we travel.

Staying safe and well adds to the enjoyment of any vacation, but especially a Disney vacation!

We Are Now THAT Family

Growing up, my family took a handful of vacations by car.  I can recall driving from the Midwest to Pennsylvania one summer and Florida—to go to Walt Disney World, another summer.  Some trips were just a few hours away such as Kansas City, St. Louis, or Chicago.  While I only can recall bits of the memory, I’m told I flew with my uncle to New Jersey to visit cousins when I was 4.  It wasn’t until I reached high school that I flew again and haven’t stopped flying since!

On one of those high school flights, I noticed a family—mom, dad, small children. . . boys I think—dressed neatly and comfortably.  They seemed like such a cohesive unit from an onlooker’s perspective.  I remember wanting to be like that when I grew up.  I wanted a family like that; a family that traveled together..  That memory has stuck with me for a long time;  for years.  That mental picture hanging on the memory walls guiding goals and wishes, so clear I could tell you which side of the plane the family was sitting on.

Well, on the flight home from our last trip, it dawned on me.  We are THAT family. 

It first hit me when we boarded our nonstop flight after a delay at the gate that included changing planes due to an electrical problem.  No problem.  The plane got exchanged and we boarded soon thereafter.  Then, once loaded, the plane backed away from the gate, only to return minutes later with an announcement that there were still problems.  The feeling on the plane changed from one of expectancy to one of anxiety.  Cell phones were being powered on and not-so-hushed conversations were taking place throughout the aircraft.  Except our row, well, at least our side of the row. 

We were fine.  The husband had a worried tone and I reminded him that we had everything we needed right there.  I then whipped out one of the two tubs of snacks from our bag, put down the tray table, and proceeded to enjoy the happenings of both passengers and crew.  The boy was immersed in a handheld game.  He was aware of the situation and I like to think that my calm handling of the situation helped him to relax.  Truly, we did have everything we needed;  each other. 

There was no one we needed to contact about picking us up at the airport.  We were flying home on a Saturday and didn’t have to be at work until Mohday, so there wasn’t a time crunch.  Our pets were being taken care of and the weather was spring like both in Orlando and at home.  Our luggage was checked.  We had necessary items with us on the plane.  No worries.

We did eventually take off and we’re an hour late reaching our final destination.  What troubled me the most was thinking of the passengers waiting at the airport for the plane that would take them to Orlando.  Their vacations were going to be delayed!

Yet the whole experience brought back the memories of the flight with that family that I so wanted to be like and I was able to have that realization that my family, the three of us, are now THAT family!

Traveling Safely

Our family was headed to the local mall for a community event when the boy informed us that he likes to travel the world.  Yep.  He does, and so do his parents.  He got his first taste of travel at the wee age of 3 weeks old when he took his first flight.  This got me thinking about travel safety.

Safety at Home:  We make sure things stay safe at home by making sure the mail and newspapers are either stopped or brought in daily.  If it’s winter, we hire someone to shovel snow from the driveway and sidewalks.  It it’s summer; we do the same for mowing the lawn.  And, we leave some lights on or on a timer. 

We have someone come to our house four times a day to take care of our pets.  We love that someone is in our house while we are gone and she takes care of the mail, newspapers, even the garbage.

We also make sure that our luggage tags just have our name and cell phone number, not address.  Nothing like advertising the address to others while you aren’t at home!  Same goes for magazines that we might take with us and read.  I don’t leave them in the airplane seat pocket when I’m done if our address is printed on the cover.  I have noticed lately that many magazines come with the address on a label attached to plastic wrap around the magazine—no address on the magazine itself.  Start looking for my leftover magazines on planes!

Safety While on the Road (or in the air):  We make sure our vehicle is in good condition and ready to make the journey.  We also travel with a cooler, if by car.  Even if flying, we carry on snacks.  We make sure we have proper identification, car insurance information, medical insurance information, trip insurance information, airline telephone numbers, and destination numbers.  Typically, I program all telephone numbers into my phone.

We leave a detailed itinerary with family and friends that includes arrival and departure dates, flight numbers, and the telephone number and address of our destination(s).  It is also a good idea, if traveling internationally, to leave a copy of Passports with a trusted friend, in case your gets lost or stolen.  The copy can be faxed to a needed location.

Packing travel guides for your destination can also be helpful.  When we cruise, we take a Disney Cruise Line travel guide in case our shore excursion is canceled and we need to pick a new one, or we want to see the layout for another ship when making a reservation.  We do the same for Walt Disney World and have done the same when traveling to Universal and SeaWorld.  Even though we have studied before we go, it is helpful to have a guide handy for any last minute questions or planning.

If flying, we abide by all TSA regulations for checked bags and carry on allowances.  The last thing I want is to be delayed due to luggage weights or security issues.  We also keep our luggage secure before checking it for flights.

Safety at our Destination:  Traveling with a child means taking extra care for safety and security while traveling, even with one as seasoned as ours.  We try to make sure he is as familiar as he can be with the destination.  We research, look at pictures, read books, and watch videos before our trips.  We are also specific about where to go and who to go to for help or assistance, if we become separated.  I also put a label in the back of his shirt, under the tag, that has my name and cell phone.  If we were to become separated, he can share that information with someone who can assist him without making it visible to everyone.

I also take a picture of him daily so that if something were to happen, I have a recent photo that includes what he was wearing.  When we wear matching shirts, it is even easier to remember! 

Both the husband and I carry our cell phones, and keep them charged, in case we become separated from each other.

We also pack necessary medicines, first aid treatments, and a change of clothes for the boy. . . just in case.  We also bring copies of all prescriptions including eye glass and contact prescriptions, just in case.

Most destinations have items in case of emergency but it may not be the brand or type you and your family members are used to using.  If brand, size, type, and convenience are important to you, then be prepared by packing your own.

While making these safety preparations may seem like a hassle, the peace of mind that comes when we are prepared is, in my opinion, worth it.  We have been the ones who have needed assistance because we weren’t prepared, and we have been the ones to offer assistance to others who weren’t prepared.  For me, it’s best to be prepared. 

Happy and safe travels!