How to Avoid Migraine Attacks & Vertigo at Disney World

Visiting Disney World or Disneyland with a chronic illness, frequent migraine attacks, or a vestibular disorder that creates vertigo or dizziness can be a huge challenge. As someone who lives with vestibular migraine, I wanted to share everything I’ve learned over a lifetime of visiting Disney World – from if you qualify for DAS (disability access), to rides that won’t give you a vertigo attack, and the best restaurants and spots to calm your brain.

As someone who grew up near Disney World, these tips are sourced from 40 years of experience, as well as other Disney experts like Disneyland cast member, Amy Kimes. Together, we can help you navigate your vacation successfully! This post has everything you need to feel prepared for Disney World and Disneyland with a chronic illness.

My Disney Experience

Growing up in a Florida, a large portion of my childhood was spent at Disney World. In fact, my first trip was when I was less than 6 months old! Even though I’m no longer a Florida resident, I’ve spent many weeks visiting Disney since it still feels like home. From my first trip with my now husband to my bachelorette party, it’s been full of special moments for me.

However, on 2017 trip, there was something that scared me even more than squeaky buffalo – how I would handle my vestibular migraine at a massive theme park?

I imagine I’m not the only one with this fear. Heat, crowds, overstimulation, and rides are hard enough on anyone with migraine, but for those of us with vestibular migraine, it’s almost too much to think about.

Thankfully with these tips, I’ve been able to navigate future trips with minimal discomfort!

Bottle Refill Stations

Bottled water can cost around $3.50 so you’ll want to consider bringing your own. Pack an insulted water bottle (not glass) that you can continue to refill as needed. Fill it up before you enter the park as the transportation time from the hotel to the park can take up to an hour from some places. Any Disney quick service restaurant will also supply you a cup of ice water for free.

Around Disney World and Disneyland there are bottle-filling stations. You can check the Disney app or website for locations.

• Magic Kingdom – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Epcot – Starbucks in the World Showcase restrooms, Sunshine Seasons, Regal Eagle, Epcot Experience outside Guest Relations, Odyssey Center (where there’s also a first aid center).
• Animal Kingdom – Flight of Passage (located in the queue), Na’vi River Journey (queue), Jambo House playground, Expedition Everest (queue).. Satuli Canteen quick service.
• Hollywood Studios – Before security when you enter the park by the skyliner/transportation plaza, Smuggler’s Run exit, Galaxy’s Edge Restrooms, and Docking Bay 7.
• Disneyland – Pioneer Mercantile in Adventureland
• California Adventure – Ancient Sanctum in Avenger’s Campus

First Aid at Disney

I haven’t had to use Disney First Aid until this past year when my son got sick in the middle of Les Halles Boulangerie. If you’re breastfeeding or have young children, the baby care centers are a great place to relax and soak in the AC. The Magic Kingdom one is the nicest, providing food, formula, diapers, and wipes as well as private nursing rooms.

First Aid Centers:

• Epcot – In the Odyssey center off the beaten path – it’s right between Mexico and Test Track.
• Magic Kingdom – By The Crystal Palace.
• Hollywood Studios – The Crossroads of the World (left entrance).
• Disneyland – End of Main Street by Baby Care Center
• California Adventure – Next to the Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.

If staying at one of the hotels, Disney World outsources to Advent Health Centra Care Urgent Clinic. It can get busy so there may be a long wait, but complimentary transport is available and they accept most insurance plans.

Sensory Break Locations

If you go at a really busy time of year, these locations can provide a little peace and quiet.

I often try to book a hotel room on Disney property to take a middle of the day break, which has worked out well with little ones to take a nap too. I also recommend booking at least one sit down restaurant a day, to get out of the sun and just relax.

• Magic Kingdom – Baby care center near Crystal Palace if you have young kids, Castle Hub Grass (not shaded), Tom Sawyer Island, Pirates of the Caribbean courtyard, Hall of Presidents (has AC), Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe/Liberty Square patio. I also find the People-mover aka TTA to be a very relaxing attraction, as well as the Carousel of Progress. To me, Magic Kingdom has the most sensory overload of all the parks. For restaurants, I recommend the West Wing room in Be Our Guest for a darker place to relax.
• Epcot – The Seas pavilion (covered umbrellas), Journey to the Imagination, Odyssey Building, Pavilions in Canada (Victoria Gardens), UK (especially the garden), Japan, Morocco, and America. I often find the country movies to be relaxing and provide a nice dark place with AC. I also find the queue for Frozen to be very dark and relaxing on the eyes! For restaurants, I recommend San Angel Inn, Space 220, Coral Reef, or Le Cellier for a dark and cool place to relax.
• Hollywood Studios – Baby care center near entrance, Commissary Lane benches (shaded umbrellas), Echo Lake (benches and umbrellas), Pixar Place (benches), Tower of Terror exit. For restaurants, I highly recommend Sci-Fi Dine In for a dark and cool place to relax.
• Animal Kingdom – The least amount of sensory overload from all the parks, in my opinion. Conservation station (has AC), any of the “trails and treks” don’t really have a place to sit, but they do offer some more quiet and space away from heavy crowds. Tiffins has a great side patio that is usually quiet and not crowded in off-hours.
• Disneyland – Tour Garden table and chairs, Town Square benches and tables, picnic area near the lockers by the main entrance, Main Street train station, Tom Sawyer Island. Jolly Holiday and Plaza Inn have lots of tables with shade (some hidden by First Aid).
• California Adventure – Benches near Paradise Pier and Radiator Springs Race Track, Sarge’s Surplus and Flo’s Diner, Hollywood Studio’s Backlot, Golden Vine winery, and Galaxy’s Edge near Smuggler’s Run.

Renting a Wheelchair

Disney parks can mean you’re walking up to 20-25,000 steps a day (or roughly 11ish miles). Dodging crowds when you feel off balance can be exhausting.

Guests can rent wheelchairs from $12-15 a day or $60 for an ECV (electric scooter), and you can transfer them between theme parks. Rentals are limited and first come, first serve so if you’re going during a busy time consider renting from a place like ScooterBug or at least picking one up at the beginning of the day.

Also don’t be embarrassed about having to use one, there are some benefits! I had to use one on one trip that I tore my hamstring and we got preferential seating during some shows, and we were able to wait in a separate line on certain rides which provided a quieter space. Just be aware that the benefits don’t outweigh some of the hassle so this is definitely only a perk for people who need it.

Just a tip for guests who need strollers, we usually rent from Kingdom Strollers and they deliver it to our hotel. It’s a lot easier than traveling with one – especially a double stroller!

DAS Guest Pass

If you do not require a wheelchair, you may consider applying for a DAS guest pass, especially if you struggle heavily with vertigo and migraine attacks while waiting in crowded areas or lines. This system doesn’t let you “cut the line”, but allows you to have a designated return time, rather than waiting in the queue. While you still have to wait the same amount of wait time, you do it outside of the line.

I do want to warn that you get put into the line with other Lightning Lane members, so sometimes the line can still be long or slow. If you cannot handle that without sitting, a wheelchair is the way to go.

In more recent years, DAS had been abused by people on social media promoting it as a “cut the line” pass. Unfortunately this led to tighter restrictions, which has hurt a lot of folks with legitimate chronic illnesses. I’ve had a few followers apply for the pass with pretty severe Vestibular Migraine, vertigo or POTS events, and they’ve all been denied.

For the best chance at being accepted, come with doctor’s explanations, notes, and proof of why standing in longer lines can be difficult for you. Cast members are also lovely, and can often help you to leave the line and return later if you have any issues. We had to rely on this kindness a few times with toddlers who had those surprise trips to bathroom.

Lightning Lanes Explained

If you don’t qualify for DAS, but still struggle in long lines, you have two options available – lightning lane passes, and “premier” passes.

Lightning lane passes are available to everyone, but those staying on a Disney property can make ride selections up to 3 days in advance, while people staying off property can select 3 days in advance. They run roughly $25-40 a person, per day. You can use them at multiple parks if you choose to park hop.

Often how I’ll use this to my advantage is book 3 rides at the park we attend in the morning, and then after we scan in our first LL ride, I book my next ride in the park we are going to later that day. I do find the more popular rides sell out quickly – sometimes 7 days in advance for rides like Slinky Dog Dash.

With this lighting lane, you’re also limited to selecting 1 top tier ride (the most popular rides) ahead, so you want to choose the ride you want the most, or that tends to have the longest lines. You can always book other top tier rides that same day, or even edit your current selections – they just tend to be at much later return times, like evenings or completely sold out.

Premier Pass Lightning Lane

Premier pass – This is a VERY EXPENSIVE pass you can purchase that runs about $200-450 per person, per day. This allows you to ride all the rides in a single park within one day. Not ideal if you’re park hopping a lot, but good if you have one or two parks where you love ALL the rides.

I purchased this for Epcot in 2025 just to test it out, especially since we love all the rides there. It was a relief to not be on my phone all the time trying to book new lightning lanes for everyone, or run back and forth all over the park to make reservations at certain times.

If you’re especially challenged with walking a lot, going during a very busy time like spring break, or want to accomplish a lot in one day at an easy pace, this may be worth it for you.

Best Disney Restaurants for Migraine

Disney is one place that really caters to special diets. I reserve at least one sit-down restaurant a day to take a break and enjoy the AC. Unless I know I’m doing a quick service, I book both lunch and dinner if spending all day in the park. Or I will book an early dinner if we plan to go back to the hotel to nap and take some quiet time around lunch. This gives me time in my schedule to relax and let my brain calm down.

Disney also allows you to bring in a small cooler, so if you’re planning to bring your own food consider doing that and renting a locker.

Magic Kingdom

Overall, this park is a struggle for decent food and quiet places. Be Our Guest, West Wing Room – this room is darker and much more quiet than the others. Skipper Canteen can be busy and not all that dark, but the food is decent.

Columbia Harbour House is our most frequented meal each year. It’s a seafood-focused quick service that has upstairs seating for a more peaceful experience. I find this is the best tasting and healthiest quick service option in the park, with their salmon and green beans being my choice.

Epcot

This is my favorite park for dining. San Angel Inn, Mexico and Le Cellier, Canada – both have great food and tend to be more quiet and dark than others. Space 220 is also dark and great for kids, especially if seated a little further away from the windows. Just be aware that the initial elevator part may be triggering for people with vertigo. You can request to not have the “pre-show” and they will take you up in a separate elevator.

If you can score a table on the patio at Rose & Crown Pub, it’s quite relaxing as well. If you’re looking to spend a little more, Monsieur Paul is a wonderful experience in France, and a little more quiet than the popular Chefs de France.

A good quick service option is the dining in The Land Pavilion at Sunshine Seasons. The meals there use the fruits and vegetables they grow in the greenhouse you see on the ride and they typically have healthy, additive-free options. I also really love the patio at Spice Road Table.

Hollywood Studios

While I’m a fan of the 50’s Prime Time Cafe for theming, it does get very loud in there. The Sci-Fi Dine In is one of my personal favorites for migraine days. The food is not great, but the atmosphere is dark and cool. I’ll stop in here during lunch for a milkshake or simple burger and it helps to just calm everything down.

I also really like Round Up Rodeo BBQ for it’s darker atmosphere. It’s a prix fixe BBQ meal, and of course I’m used to really good BBQ in Texas. This is definitely Disney BBQ, but it’s not terrible. It’s also fairly quiet in their booth sections, despite being a larger restaurant. Set expectations and you’ll have a great time. My kids love the Forky cupcakes!

The Hollywood Brown Derby has great food and is a little more upscale, which lends itself to a quieter environment. ABC Commissary has some fairly migraine-friendly options for quick service. Ronto Roasters also has some options that may work for you!

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has surprisingly good food options, but there aren’t many places that are cool and quiet. Satu’li Canteen is a quick service that is probably you’re healthiest (and safest) option. Yak & Yeti is one of the few table service restaurants there, but it is loud.

Tiffins is the most upscale option, automatically making it a little more quiet and subdued. The food is fantastic. It also has a bar off the side called the Nomad Lounge that can be relaxing if you score a table outside. Venturing over to the Animal Kingdom lodge could provide you with more relaxing choices. We really enjoy Sanaa there.

Disneyland

Bengal BBQ you can get chicken, steak or vegetable skewers (unseasoned) or baked potatoes at Troubadour Tavern. Both are migraine diet friendly options.

Disney Migraine Diet Tips

Advance reservations are a must when it comes to sit down restaurants at Disney. When you make one (also known as an ADR), you can also input any dietary requests. To assure that you’re well taken care of, make your Advance Dining Reservations 60 days in advance and place your migraine triggers on the note of each reservation.

If you’re extremely worried, email special.diets@disneyworld.com within 14 days in advance to make sure any restaurant can accommodate your needs. They are familiar with sensitivities to MSG and citrus, among others. I found I was able to get by just communicating with my waiter, but if you want to have peace of mind this is the way to go.

The chefs at Disney seem to be surprisingly aware of MSG, and I’ve had several people who are sensitive to it tell me they tolerate the food at Disney very well. Again, just note it in your preferences.

Whether you’re low carb, dairy free, gluten free, vegan, or following low tyramine, there are plenty of options for everyone. You can see the Disney Food Blog for more tips.

Caffeine-Free Options

Some people can be helped by caffeine to bring quick relief for a migraine attack, but others like myself are caffeine-sensitive. I either bring my own k cups, or my own naturally caffeine-free teas. Starting the morning with this ritual can be helpful to kicking off a good day!

Whether it’s rooibos, peppermint, or blueberry, it’s easy to prepare a cup of hot water in the room, or get one from the hotel. And in case of a migraine attack, peppermint or ginger tea can help ease pain and nausea.

Best Disney Rides for People with Vertigo

It seems counterintuitive, but it is worse to jump on Tower of Terror first thing in the morning and be left with drop attacks from your vestibular migraine disorder the rest of the day. I find Epcot to be the most dizziness and vertigo friendly of all the parks, however, there are a few good shows at Hollywood Studios and lots of animals to see at Animal Kingdom.

If you’re sensitive to movement, I recommend only going on rides that are allowed for pregnant individuals and young children, with the exception of anything that spins. This is surprisingly inclusive (coming from someone who went 7 months pregnant!). Don’t let the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger “Spin” fool you – you get to control the cart!

Rides I enjoy at Disney World (and some cross-over with Disneyland):

• Na’vi River Journey (boat)
• Frozen (boat)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (boat)
• It’s a Small World (boat)
• Haunted Mansion (dark/fairly quiet)
• Voyage of The Little Mermaid and the Living Seas with Nemo
• People Mover (relaxing)
• Spaceship Earth (dark/quiet)
• Living with the Land (quiet and dark in parts, very relaxing)
• Gran Fiesta Tour (boat)
• Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan
• Soarin’ (has a large screen/heights)
• Journey into the Imagination
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Toy Story Mania (a little more intense than Buzz Lightyear)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (now 2d which makes it SO much better!)
• Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway
• Test Track (goes fast and some jerky movements)
• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (Usually I can’t tolerate these types of rides but I did ok with this. But definitely go on with caution!)

These rides I would recommend avoiding or trying these later in the day – Rock’n Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Mad Tea Party, Carousels or anything that spins (duh), Mission Space, and Expedition Everest (which goes backwards). I recommend avoiding Guardians of the Galaxy entirely if motion-sensitive. The last time my husband rode it, they were cleaning up someone’s vomit as he exited the ride.

There are also many great shows to watch if you want to avoid all the rides! Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have a great selection (I was actually a part of the Indiana Jone’s Stunt Crew one year!).

Here’s a great list of attractions for people with severe vestibular symptoms.

Recommended Hotels

These recommendations can be pricey since they require staying on property, and at Disney you pay for convenience. You don’t need to stay at one of these to have a great trip, they just make life a little easier.

Staying in some of these Deluxe Resorts gives you the chance to enter the park 30 minutes early, or stay late some evenings. This can be very beneficial if you’re highly triggered by crowds or easily over-stimulated.

• Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan and Dolphin, or Boardwalk – If you’re a huge fan of Epcot or Hollywood Studios, I highly recommend staying in one of these. They’re within walking distance (Beach Club and Boardwalk being the closest).
• Polynesian, Contemporary, or Grand Floridian – These provide very easy access to Magic Kingdom.
• Animal Kingdom Lodge – This is the closest hotel to Animal Kingdom, but also provides some great dining and a more relaxed environment.
• Riviera Resort – This is fairly close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios by Skyliner, but the real selling point is the suites have kitchens, which allows you to prep a lot of your own food.
• Art of Animation – This has some great family suites and is at a lower price point, but also on the skyliner like Riviera.

What is a “Rope Drop”?

A benefit to staying on-site at Disney is having 30 minute advanced access to the parks before the general public can ride the rides. This can allow you to participate in a “rope drop”. A rope drop is arriving to the park before opening so you can be one of the first in line to enter and get on rides.

The benefits of this for someone with migraine or chronic illness is the park is much less crowded at this time, and it’s usually a lot cooler with a nice breeze. Within the first hour at the parks, you can ride 2-4 favorites without much of a wait at all. Although this does involve getting up early, I find we can wake up between 6:30-7am, eat a quick breakfast, and still arrive at a park by 8-8:15. You really don’t need to do this if using a Premier Pass.

What to Do if you Have a Migraine in Walt Disney World

1. At any sign of pain, vertigo, or dizziness, take acute migraine medications or use the neuromodulation device that works best for you.
2. Use one of the sensory break locations above, or head to a first aid center.
3. Drink water with electrolytes – mixed with a fruit juice can help, or coconut water or watermelon for those who are sodium-sensitive.
4. Head back to the hotel – If the migraine attack is not improving, heading back for a few hours can help. With a migraine disorder, I’ve learned to look at hotels with comfort in mind, knowing that I may be spending more time than the average person. If you’re already going to Disney, it’s expensive. Booking rooms with a view (and especially ones of fireworks) can allow you to feel like you’re not missing out on the fun. Let the My Disney Experience employees help you make these kinds of requests!

Additional Tips

Some of my favorite tips on enjoying Disney with migraine disorders from myself and others are:

• Visit during off season times – Usually during the school year and avoiding major holidays.
• Avoid summer – Not only is it peak season, but the weather can be hot and humid. If this is a trigger for you, it’s best to go during the winter season. I like to visit around this time and enjoy the Christmas decorations! If this is unavoidable, wear a cooling wrap!
• Use noise-reducing ear plugs – Whether it’s loop or another brand, noise-reduction can be helpful, especially in crowded spaces.
• Take a break – The past few years, we’ve recognized the huge benefit to paying more to stay closer to the parks. So we take shorter trips! A big perk of this is being able to walk back to our hotel room if anything should happen. Our last trip, my son got sick and we spent a lot of time in our hotel room. We were upgraded for free to a water room, and got to watch the boats go by at the Boardwalk as well as fireworks from our patio! We didn’t feel like we missed out on anything. It also made it incredibly easy to come back for naps and quiet time. This is probably most beneficial if you have really young children, like myself.
• Bring medication – Bring acute medications and devices like gammaCore with you to the parks! That way if you have a migraine attack at Disney, you can just reach for what helps the most.
• Order groceries to the hotel – This last trip we placed an Instacart order that was delivered to our Disney hotel! It was easily the easiest and best thing I’ve done on a Disney trip. I ordered bread and sunbutter to make easy sandwiches, cottage cheese, snacks, milk, berries, and lots and lots of water!

I hope this list gives you the confidence to enjoy a magical trip to Disney World even with migraine and/or vertigo!

Travel with Migraine Posts

For more posts that can help you travel with migraine and vertigo, check out these posts.

Life with Migraine

How to Avoid Migraine Attacks & Vertigo at Disney World

Lifestyle

On A Boat: Why My Vestibular Disorder Doesn’t Define Me

Lifestyle

Acute Treatments for Vestibular Migraine

Natural Treatments

Natural Treatments for Vestibular Migraine

This post was originally published August 8, 2019 and has been updated July 2023 to include updated tips, Genie+, and Disneyland suggestions.