If you’ve ever gotten sick immediately after a Disney vacation, you’re not alone.

The Disney Crud eventually comes for all of us at least once. This is the phenomenon many folks experience after a Disney vacation, where they just immediately feel sick. It may not even be a particular illness — you might just feel rundown, experience cold or flu-like symptoms. You’ll also be plagued with incredible amounts of fatigue. Ultimately, you feel sick — and you might actually have caught something, causing you to have some regrets about your trip. Fortunately, we’ve gone through this experience enough to be able to equip you with several tools to help you overcome the notorious Disney Crud!

Usually, the Disney Crud comes for people who don’t go to the Disney Parks all the time and/or haven’t properly built up their immune systems in time for their trip. But don’t worry! Here are FIVE tips to help you prepare for that crash and possibly prevent it altogether!

Slow Down

The first tip is simple: SLOW DOWN, especially at Disney World. Disney World is basically its own major city. To try to do everything in one trip is a fool’s errand — and impossible.

Do not operate on a go-go-go basis at the Parks, especially if your body isn’t used to a fast-paced environment like this. You might be on vacation, but this vacation requires 10-plus miles of walking per day, and you can break your body EASILY on Day 1.

Instead, we recommend creating a small list of must-dos. Once you complete that, everything else you do will be gravy, and you won’t have as much FOMO (or fatigue). Take your time. Do the can’t-miss things, and go at a speed that leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to do it all over again the next day! The alternative is breaking down your immune system and body before your trip even gets going.

Prioritize Sanitation and Cleanliness

Whether you’re at the Disney Parks or out in public in general, it’s never a bad idea to bring hand sanitizer and practice cleanliness.

It’s not a very well-kept secret that theme parks are a breeding ground for germs and illnesses. There’s just no escaping that fact.

But you can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently and practicing good hygiene. Take care of yourself and your family, and you greatly improve the odds of staying healthy throughout your trip.

Get Rest

A Disney vacation isn’t your typical time off from work and real-life responsibilities. You are actively choosing to place yourself in stressful environments and fast-paced activities. There’s not a ton of time for rest and relaxation, so you have to take it upon yourself to seek it out.

Get some rest! Don’t rope drop or stay until park close if you’re struggle-bussing it. Try to treat your vacation like a vacation, and work in time to relax. If that means finding a bench to take a quick nap on during the day, or sleeping in and going to the Parks later in the day, so be it!

Schedule Off Days

Speaking of rest, don’t be afraid to work in off days into your itinerary.

These are days when you allow yourself to be out of the Parks to give your feet a break and recharge your battery. But these days don’t have to be unproductive, where you just stay in bed (unless that’s what you’re craving)! You can make it a relaxing pool day, or a day you visit Disney Springs for some great shopping and dining.

These pauses in your vacation give you that extra boost to reset and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Get Your Immune System Nice and Strong

The simplest solution is to prepare well before and during your vacation for the stresses your body will undoubtedly face.

You’ll be moving — a lot — in likely hot and/or humid environments, battling large crowds, fighting for elbow space, and losing your voice on some of those scary thrill ride drops. There is so much happening during a Disney vacation that it challenges even the strongest immune system.

You should prep your body with vitamins, practice a healthy diet, keep hydrated, and pack immune-boosters. Disney is going to put your health to the test, but if you prep for that before and during your trip, you’ll put yourself in the best situation.

With all this said, Disney vacations are definitely worth the burnout we’ve felt at the end, but with the right planning, it’s possible to minimize or totally negate the effects! We’ve been mastering the Disney Parks around the world for decades, and we’ve suffered from Disney Crud multiple times. However, we’ve also learned that these tips can be lifesavers.

What are some of your best tips to help avoid the dreaded Disney Crud? Let us know in the comments and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney Parks advice!

8 Rules You NEED To Follow To Avoid Getting Sick in Disney World

How do you prevent getting sick at Disney World or Disneyland? Let us know in the comments!