What to Do If You Feel COVID Symptoms on a Disney Vacation

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If you are enjoying a Walt Disney World vacation and you start feeling sick and suspect you could have contracted the coronavirus, here is a helpful list of steps on what to do. This includes local Orlando area resources that you can access while staying at or around Walt Disney World property.

Related: Disney World Shares New Health and Safety Video

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Symptoms and Testing

If you begin developing symptoms during your vacation at Walt Disney World it would be a smart idea to stop visiting the parks and get yourself a coronavirus test ASAP. Thankfully there are abundant resources very close to Walt Disney World that can get you rapid COVID-19 testing.

There is an Urgent Care clinic very close to Walt Disney World property that offers a rapid coronavirus test. This will help you have peace of mind during your vacation, and a negative or positive diagnosis will allow you to better plan out your next steps. There is also a testing site for Disney Cast Members and their families, which you can read about here if you are a family member of a Disney Cast Member and you are visiting the parks with them.

Each urgent care clinic that is owned and operated differently may or may not require a reservation, the one we provided a link to above does not and is minutes away from Disney World. Be sure to check the website to see the procedure for the clinic of your choice before you go!

You can still get sick with other illnesses and your covid symptoms might turn out to be symptoms of another sickness like strep throat or the flu. In that case, you can pick up the medicine you need from urgent care that can help you get back on your feet and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Related: Cast Members use Disney Magic to Enforce Face Masks

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Quarantining

If your coronavirus test comes back positive, be responsible, isolate yourself, and call the front desk of your Disney Resort hotel to let them know the situation. Quarantine and move your flights back until you get a negative test result — people with COVID-19 should not be flying, and Disney World strictly says that Guests with COVID-19 symptoms should not be visiting the theme parks. Thankfully, many airlines are being extremely lenient with moving flights and are not charging fees to move flights during the pandemic.

If you are driving and want to cut your trip short to go rest up from the comfort of your own home, contact the front desk of the Disney hotel you are staying at. Disney Customer Service is known for going above and beyond for their Guests. They can help you shorten or lengthen your stay accordingly, although keep in mind that all rooms are subject to availability.

Disney World’s current policy says the following below the COVID-19 health warning and list of symptoms on the Experience Updates page:

Guests who cannot confirm all of the above criteria must not enter Walt Disney World Resort. If at any point during their visit a Guest does not meet all of the above criteria, they and their traveling party will be required to isolate and may be relocated or asked to leave the property.

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Related: Disney World Guests MUST Abide by Mask Rules

It is also imperative to follow the guidelines set in place by the Florida Department of Public Health. You can read the most up-to-date information on state recommendations here.

Negative Test Results

If you suspect you have COVID-19 symptoms, but you then test negative, that is amazing! Be sure and call Disney’s Guest Relations department or call your hotel’s concierge. If you have missed out on going to the parks during the days you had secured reservations because you felt (or suspected you may have been) ill, explain your situation to Disney. While it is not a guarantee, they MAY be able to help you secure new reservations once you are feeling better and have a confirmed negative COVID-19 test result. You can contact Disney Reservations here and attempt to reschedule your trip, dining reservations, experiences, and more. You can find Disney’s full health and safety guidelines here.

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Orlando Airport COVID Testing

MCO or the Orlando International Airport is now offering rapid coronavirus testing. This is a great resource if you want some extra peace of mind while you travel to or from your Walt Disney World vacation. The rapid tests are being offered by Adventhealth take only fifteen minutes. So if you can head to the airport a little bit early before your flight back home you will have the ability to take the rapid test. You can read more details about the coronavirus rapid tests being offered at MCO here.

COVID-19 & Disney

There is an inherent risk of contracting any illness when traveling, and this includes visiting theme parks like Disney World. Disney explicitly states that anyone who is experiencing symptoms — or anyone who has been exposed to someone with the virus without completing a two-week quarantine– must not visit Disney property.

This is what Disney has to say about the coronavirus while you visit their resort:

We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other Guests, and Cast Members. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting Walt Disney World Resort.An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and Guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

By visiting Walt Disney World Resort you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

Help keep each other healthy.

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They also have a detailed health acknowledgment that all Guests are required to review before their visit:

Please make sure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to Florida. Visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/travelers/ for information. By entering Walt Disney World Resort, you are confirming that you and all persons in your party:

  • are not experiencing any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at CDC.gov, including:
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • have not been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a 14-day quarantine
  • are not under any self-quarantine orders

Guests who cannot confirm all of the above criteria must not enter Walt Disney World Resort. If at any point during their visit a Guest does not meet all of the above criteria, they and their traveling party will be required to isolate and may be relocated or asked to leave the property.

If you need to reschedule your reservation, please call the Disney Reservation Center at (407) W-DISNEY or (407) 934-7639. If you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member, please call Member Services at (800) 800-9800.

By entering Walt Disney World Resort, you acknowledge that you understand and will abide by the above health-and-safety requirements.

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We hope you found this guide to be helpful in navigating being sick at Disney! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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