How to avoid catching a cold at WDW?

[xlxo]

Use caution when snorting pixie dust..... there may be some bad dust out there.

 

[Greta]

#1 way to prevent illness is handwashing. This is a scientific fact that has been proven.
Wash your hands.

 

[The Druggist]

I will second and third the hand washing.

And I'll always take a probiotic as well. Before the trip, during, and for a few days after as well. About 60% of your immune system resides in your intestines so it makes sense to take care of your insides too.

 

[Dentam]

#1 way to prevent illness is handwashing. This is a scientific fact that has been proven.
Wash your hands.

Not going to help you much when you're sitting next to a hacking, sneezing person on a 5 hour plane ride.

 

[dreiwhit]

Besides washing our hands and using paper towels to open the restroom doors, we use alcohol based hand sanitizer extensively, after every ride and before we eat. We also make a point not to scratch our eyes, nose, etc, and get to bed early each night.

So far, none of us have gotten sick.

 

[North of Mouse]

Zinc works, but not Cold-Eeze. See this: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2016...fights-colds-youre-probably-using-wrong-kind/

Cold-Eeze works also - the above is just an advertisement for their product!

OP, wash hands often, keep them away from your face, don't touch (as much as possible) anything that the public is handling. Use hand gel often, especially when not able to wash.

These preventives have worked well with us wherever we go, including too many trips in the past to WDW to count. We haven't gotten sick on any of our trips, or right after, except one, (had strep and went to emergency many years ago).

We also follow these guidelines around and about at home.

 

[ZoZo]

Don't touch your eyes/nose/mouth when you've been touching door handles, handrails at the attractions, etc.

Get enough sleep.

Yes, most people don't realize how often they touch their faces throughout the day. That's how germs get in. Even if you wash your hands often, you can still pick up germs in between washings. Try to remember not to touch your nose, eyes and mouth, and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door in the rest room.

 

[wnwardii]

One bit of advice I have is to try and have had plenty of rest before you start your vacation/trip. Last October I wasn't sleeping really good before my trip. Once I got to WDW I still didn't sleep well. While I didn't exactly get sick, I ended up with some sinus issue.

I went again last December and then just got back from a Disneyland trip. With these last two trips, I was well rested before the trips. Plus I wasn't going all commando around the parks. I took my time and made sure I rested and got plenty of sleep. I didn't get sick after either of these trips.

I did take hand sanitizer and used it often. But as others have mentioned, I tried to wash my hands frequently as well.

 

[BigAlsGal]

We have yet to catch anything. We go many times. Maybe we just get lucky. We don't go out of our way to prevent anything besides the typical hand washing.

 

[mousehockey37]

Ultimately, if you're going to get sick, you're going to get sick. There may be NOTHING you can do to keep from catching something.

For plane rides, you can get the disposable surgical masks that cover your face.
For actually being in the park? Purell and hand washing.

Again though, you just may not be able to battle off all the germs from everywhere. Heck, the weather in Orlando isn't going to be the same as where you're coming from, so yeah...

 

[FrenchGirl]

I swear by 3 things because they work for my family all the time... we start these at the first sign of illness (sniffles, sore throats, muscle aches or nausea). #1, "Wellness Fizz" (natural version of Airborne); #2, elderberry syrup/ tincure and #3, manuka honey (especially good for any stomach ailments but can also be used topically for stings, skin infections, etc).

 

[rinnythepooh]

Wipe down airplane tray, seatbelt, armrest ect with Lysol wipes
Wipe down remote, door knobs ect in room
Don't use hotel room drinking glasses, or wash them before using them.
Wash hands before eating anything
Use alcohol base sanitizer after EVERY ride
Use paper towels to open rest room door after washing hands
Avoid door handles and railings when I can

I use to get sick every trip. It was a real problem. I started doing the above and I have not gotten sick on a trip since.

 

[mikegood2]

Other than the more obvious things like washing hands regularly I agree that rest is very important.

I'm a night owl, and hate getting up early, so a trip to Disney really conflicts with my usual wake/sleep cycle. When we hit a park for EMH mornings I'm getting up about 4 hours earlier than I usually do. It also doesn't help that I live in Illinois so theirs an hour time difference.

I'm planning to change my schedule, closer to what it will be at WDW, about a month before we leave and hope that helps. I also work at home and usually have a calm relaxing morning, so I think I'm gonna try use that month and take a nice walk first thing in the morning.

Luckily, I have never gotten sick at WDW. Well that's not entirely true, our last trip I started getting sick when we were getting ready to head to the airport.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Thanks to everyone for the many great ideas! My trip is in early March and I will try extra hard to stay healthy....

 

[MrsPMcD]

Great question! I have also had colds after our last two trips and would add a couple of my own suggestions. A lot of people are saying don't touch your face before washing your hands, great tip btw but also use antibac wipes on your cell phone... Think how often you touch that, how many surfaces you place it on and then put it near your face. I also now hold my nose when going under water at the bottom of water slides - I definitely caught my honeymoon sinus infection from a water park...Aquatica, I am looking at you (serves me right for cheating on Disney!)

 

[Mermaid Olivia]

Stock up on some mini hand sanitizers before your trip! Bath and Body Works has some cute ones that smell yummy and not so medicinal. Try to wash up before you eat (especially finger food), but if you can't use soap and water, the sanitizers are a good second choice.

 

[whitney250]

I just up my hand washing to an obsessive level and wipe down any quick service table and airplane seats/trays with clorox wipes. I also carry hand sanitizer and use it after touching handrails or ride lap bars, etc.

 

[baildrk]

Try taking vitamin D and C starting well before your trip, Everyone knows the Vitamin C but Vitamin D helps out your immune system among other things. Talked to my doctor this last start of fall/winter becuase it never failed I always got sick mutliple times, told me to take Vitamin D pills and got sick and that lasted less than a few days when everyone else was sick for weeks.

 

[JodyLynC]

A pharmacist shared this with me. Before getting on a plane, put a little neosporin on the end of a qtip and run it gently just inside each nostril. (we're not scratching our brain with the qtip , just making a barrier at the entrance of each nostril). DH used to get sick every time he flew. After using this advice, he never got sick again.

Also, make sure you take a Vitamin D every day before and during the trip.

 

[cdndisneymum]

Wash your hands