When you’re in Disney World, there are a lot of problems that can happen that you may not expect. On the very top of that list is getting sick or injured, and both have happened to us in the parks before!

It’s never fun — you want to have the best time on your vacation, but sickness and injury can come when you least expect them. Members of our team have had multiple occasions that we’ve been faced with less than ideal situations on vacation, and we’ve learned a lot from it (me personally, I’ve had a low blood sugar episode in the middle of the night, I’ve vowed to do everything in my power to never repeat). Recently, we experienced “Disney Rash” (yes, it’s a real thing), and it is NO joke.

What is Disney Rash, you may ask? Well, it’s a seemingly random rash that normally appears on people’s legs, but can also be on arms and other parts of the body. It comes out of nowhere for many people, and it usually looks like red, purple, or brown spots/blotches on the skin. While some people don’t feel any pain with it, others experience burning pain, itching, and/or swelling. Overall, not something you want to deal with on your trip.

It’s not contagious, and you don’t get it from rides or by touching anything that’s contaminated with something. Disney Rash is actually a form of exercise-induced vasculitis, which means all that walking you’re doing around the parks in the hot and humid climate? Yep, that’s what causes it.

How can you avoid it? It’s fairly simple in words, but actually remembering to DO it in Disney World is hard. You need to stay hydrated and take lots of breaks, especially in the AC. That’s easier said than done, because when you’re in the parks, you’re running around from attraction to attraction and wanting to make the most of your day, but we’ll be the first to tell you that if you don’t take those breaks and develop your Disney Rash, walking around will be PAINFUL and your body will force you to rest.

If you do wind up with Disney Rash, elevating your legs and using cool compresses can help reduce the inflammation. However, if you’re in some pretty intense pain or find yourself sick or injured in another way, you can head to the first aid locations that are in each Disney World park.

You can also get a doctor’s appointment without needing to leave your hotel room through AdventHealth in the My Disney Experience App! No one ever wants to get sick in Disney World, but knowing how to take care of yourself if it does happen is VERY important. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney tips, tricks, and news!

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