The following is an abridged and unedited page from my upcoming book, Vacationing With Food Allergies at Disney. Though you might not have food allergies, there's still some very helpful planning information, because who doesn't get hurt at times on vacation? 

Finding First Aid
 
Disney is well equipped to handle emergencies. Each of the theme parks also has a first aid station. What you’ll find there, is they are able to handle anything from rashes or chemical burns (like from a sunscreen your kid’s face didn’t like!) to headaches, those lovely pollen allergies Florida always seems to have, and just about any of the minor things you might need, including scrapes, sprains, and other injuries. Just don’t expect a Mickey bandaid! Sorry kids, they are plain flesh toned.

All first aid stations are staff by a nurse, be it a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant or Licensed Practical Nurse, or some combination of the three, all working for the local hospital system. They are very helpful and caring. More than once we’ve been offered a quiet place to rest or even lie down if needed. And for various little things, we’ve been given a dose for now, a dose for later, or multiple little packets of cream.
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Obviously, just because there IS a first aid station fully stocked does not mean you should leave your epipens at home. And, it’s likely you travel with a few meds too. If there’s something you need non urgently, your resort gift shop will likely sell it. We also tend to travel with quite a few first aid essentials, just because. Let’s be honest…it’s always something!

First Aid Essentials 

Here’s what I usually put in my mini first aid kit.

• Bandaids
• Ointment
• Dermaplast
• Anti itch cream
• Thermometer
• Gauze / tape
• Alcohol wipes

Additionally, I always bring:

• Advil
• Tylenol
• Zyrtec
• Multiple epipen sets
• Upset tummy meds
• Any prescription medicines

I make a small sandwich sized Ziploc bag with a portable kit. A few advil, some bandaids, etc, just to throw in my park bag. I’ve used it more than once.

Last year it was drizzling and our shoes were a bit wet as we stood in line at Space Ranger Spin. There was a child swinging on the bars, maybe ten or so. She was almost my size, so when she slipped off the bars and fell right into me, her body filled with momentum, it literally knocked me over. Thankfully, I didn’t fall on my kids. However, I got a deep gash on my ankle from her shoe, watched as she started swinging into the opposite direction, completely unaware, and cleaned and covered my ankle before we got on the ride.

That mini kit really comes in handy for headaches from the heat, minor skinned knees, or the other little things that you don’t want to be bothered to get out of line for. 

For the budget side, I like being able to reach for my own inexpensive products, instead of paying a few dollars for a dose of medicine at the giftshop, or a big bundle for a tube of anti itch cream. 

What do you pack in your mini first aid kit? 

As vacations are being planned, one question I'm hearing over and over is, is 2021 the year to visit Disney? While I have my own opinion, and I'll mention it at the end, here are a few reasons why you might want to visit, and why you might want to postpone your trip. 

Shows

So many great shows are paused in 2020/2021, including the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular! It's now a mask break area. If shows are a part of your favorite thing, or if you've never been, it's going to be tough, I won't lie, to not see the nighttime fireworks or other shows. It really felt like something was missing, not getting to see those. The resorts stream those, but you don't have that incredible, magical and overwhelming feeling of being THERE and soaking in all that magic. 

If you don't care about shows and always skip, you might not even notice. 

Character Interaction

We all know hugs and autographs have left, and it's said they might not return because lines move faster without! (Which stinks, I'd gotten these cute wooden ornaments to paint and have autographs on for Christmas 2020. Didn't happen.) 

If you are good with selfies, waves from a distance and the cavalcades, which don't quite have the luster and magic of a parade, but are easier to catch and happen more often, it might not be a big deal! If meeting a princess or Mickey is the only way your tot will be happy, prep them ahead of time. 

Food

With less cast members, lower guest numbers, and reduced park hours, there is also less when it comes to food offerings. Menus are reduced, beloved favorites are gone, or only served in one location, and many eateries are simply not open. 

If you bring your own food or don't care too much about what you eat, it might not be a problem for you. 


Rides

When the parks reopened, only a few rides weren't open. Now, it seems that more and more are closing. Be it due to trying to cut costs, reduce crowded or bottlenecked areas, lack of staff, of just they all need maintenance at once, there's not been a clean answer. The fact is though, less rides are open. 

The ones that are, if possible, they are no longer loading every other ride car. In some instances shields are installed, which for some rides, like Rise of the Resistance can really stink if you are in the back row and trying to look through the plexiglass. 

Wait times aren't quite as low as they had been, due to fewer rides available. Still, if you are smart, have been before, utilize a touring plan, and understand not everything might be there, you might still benefit from the lower crowds. 

Resorts

While yes, the buzz is true, some value resorts are getting upgrades to deluxe, overall that's not what's happening in the majority of cases. On our last visit, we did not like the lack of mousekeeping. They came one for fresh towels, and I had to beg for clean sheets. Let's be honest here, on an 8 night stay you need clean sheets at least once, especially because if there are four in the room, there's not enough seating and someone needs to sit on the bed and crumbs and park dirt makes their way on the bed. Ick.  I had to flag down people for towels, beg for toilet paper and soap. Not the level that we are used to. It was pretty disappointing. Trash overflowed, and though we set it out, it wasn't always picked up. 

While this is for on property resorts, my understanding is that outside of the bubble, SOME hotels are still offering daily housekeeping.

Masks

Disney has said that marks will be required through 2021. They are quite choosy on the types you are allowed to have. For 3/4 of us in the house, no biggie. But the gaiter fan struggled a bit, in part the a large head size, regular masks were difficult. Some people don't mind masks, others, it's a definite no at Disney. 

​While it's not a requirement in Florida to wear a mask, anywhere on Disney property it is, and special mask-ateers will remind you to follow the rules. 

Overall? 

This isn't the year for us. We went last year when Disney first opened after the pandemic. While it was great getting to go on rides with almost no wait, that, and much of what we did enjoy, has been closed. Having reduced park hours, reduced menu options (especially when we are already restricted) , no shows and no characters really were disappointing. It was still a good trip, but instead of a 10 out of 10, it was more like a 6. There was just so much missing! 

Did you go last year? Will you be going this year? 

Have you ever wandered through Disney World and had to search for a trash can? It's like your eyes just glide over them. Same thing if you are wandering over to the castle, and the fence is there. You just...don't really notice it. It blends in. 

Well, it turns out that that green, is actually a special color...a no see um color! Gray and green! 

Here's a fantastic article about these colors! Tell me...do you find it as fascinating as I do? 

I admit, I struggled with what color I wanted to paint out new picnic bench and I ended up going with...go away green. I can't wait to see how looks once our grass turns green.