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. But it's one that I have taken on, even 7 months pregnant!
I'm not that blogger that goes to Disney once and writes a post on what to do. As someone who grew up near the parks, these tips are sourced from 37 years of experience, as well as other Disney experts like Disneyland cast member, Amy Kimes. Together, we can help you navigate your vacation successfully!
With migraine diet and food allergy recommendations, rides that are gentle for those who experience vertigo, and suggestions for those who are experiencing a migraine attack while there, this post has everything you need to feel prepared for Disney World and Disneyland.
Jump to:
- My Disney Experience
- Bottle Refill Stations
- First Aid at Disney
- Sensory Break Locations
- Renting a Wheelchair
- DAS Guest Pass
- Best Disney Restaurants for Migraine
- Disney Migraine Diet Tips
- Caffeine-Free Options
- Best Disney Rides for People with Vertigo
- Recommended Hotels
- What is a "Rope Drop"?
- Genie+
- What to Do if you Have a Migraine in Walt Disney World
- Additional Tips
- Travel with Migraine Posts
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! I remember the car rides there and back where I would fall asleep with whatever stuffed character I convinced my parents to buy me that day, but they always had me face a fear to get it!
One of the rides I was deathly afraid to go on was Living with the Land in Epcot. It had these big buffalo that really scared me whenever we would eat dinner at The Garden Grill, a rotating restaurant that overlooked the ride. My dad promised me a Figment doll (I’m really aging myself here), if I would just go on the ride. Thankfully I overcame my fears for Figment, and it's a great memory for me.

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 disorder at a massive theme park? Going to Disney World with Vestibular Migraine could be its own scary attraction.
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 a day or $10 for multiple days, and you can transfer them between theme parks. They are first come, first serve so if you’re going during a busy time consider renting or at least picking one up at the beginning of the day and parking it outside of a ride or a restaurant until you’re ready to use it.
Also don’t be embarrassed about having to use one, there are some benefits! I had to use one on one trip and we got preferential seating during some shows, and we were able to wait in a separate line on certain rides.
DAS Guest Pass
If you do not require a wheelchair, you may consider a DAS guest pass, especially if you struggle with vertigo in crowds.
If you have trouble waiting in line, consider using a disability access service for guests with disabilities. This new system 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 can do it outside of the line.
I do want to warn that you get put into the line with other Genie+ members, so sometimes the line can still be long. If you cannot handle that at all without sitting, a wheelchair is the way to go.
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.
My favorite restaurants at Disney World with either a calm, dark atmosphere or great food options are:
- Magic Kingdom - Be Our Guest, West Wing Room - This room is darker and much more quiet than the others. Columbia Harbour House is 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. At Sleepy Hollow you can get a churro sandwich with vanilla ice cream, which I consider to be fully allowed on HYH.
- Epcot - San Angel Inn, Mexico, Le Cellier, Canada, Coral Reef Restaurant - All 3 of these are fairly dark or dim and quieter than some of the other restaurants. I also enjoyed Space 220, especially if seated a little further away from the windows. Just be aware that the elevator part may be triggering. You don't have to watch the screen though!
If you can score a table on the patio at Rose & Crown Pub, it’s quite relaxing as well. The inside, however, is one big party! 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.
- Hollywood Studios - While I’m a big fan of the 50’s Prime Time Cafe, it does get very loud in there. The Sci-Fi Dine In is one of my personal favorites. The food is not great, but the atmosphere is dark and cool. I’ll often stop in here during lunch for a milkshake or simple burger and it helps to just calm everything down. 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!
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- Animal Kingdom - 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. If you have the time, venturing over to the Animal Kingdom lodge could provide you with more relaxing choices.
- 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 abort 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 (uses a boat)
- Frozen (uses a boat)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (uses a boat)
- It's a Small World (uses a boat)
- Haunted Mansion (dark/fairly quiet)
- Under the Sea/Little Mermaid and the Living Seas with Nemo
- Spaceship Earth (dark/quiet)
- Living with the Land (quiet and dark in parts, very relaxing)
- 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 and Minnie and Mickey's Runaway Railway (large screens and 3d glasses may be triggering for some)
These rides I would recommend avoiding or trying these later in the day - Rock’n Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, Mad Tea Party, Carousels or anything that spins (duh), Mission Space, Space, Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest (which goes backwards). I'd 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.
What is a "Rope Drop"?
A benefit to staying on-site at Disney is having fairly quick access to the parks. This can allow you to participate in a "rope drop" without having to do a ride share or pay to park. 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.
Genie+
Is there still a benefit to Genie+ if you have a DAS pass? Yes! Genie+ allows you to schedule rides in advance, and as you complete the ride, you can make a new reservation. It can take some time to get the hang of it, and I don't love that it requires you to be on the Disney App during the park, but if you have an idea of the rides you want to do, it should only take you a minute or two to complete.
On average, you can make at least 2-3 reservations for the day - one very popular ride, and two smaller rides. Making this reservations as early in the day as possible is helpful to get the most out of this product. If a popular ride doesn't have availability till late in the afternoon or evening, it's better to try to "rope drop" that ride first and use your Genie+ on smaller rides to not have to wait in line a long time.
The current process for Genie+ is the cost coordinates with how busy the park is. You do have to make your selections at 7am that same day. If this stresses you out, skip the Genie+ and just enjoy doing what you can!
What to Do if you Have a Migraine in Walt Disney World
- At any sign of pain, vertigo, or dizziness, take the medications or use the device that works best for you.
- Use one of the sensory break locations above, or head to a first aid center.
- Drink water with electrolytes - LMNT unflavored mixed with a fruit juice can help, or coconut water or watermelon for those who are sodium-sensitive.
- 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.
This post was originally published August 8, 2019 and has been updated July 2023 to include updated tips, Genie+, and Disneyland suggestions.
I love Disney (both Land & World), am a very senior citizen with vestibular issues & migraine.I noticed you didn't mention Rise of the Resistance. I avoided it last spring at Disneyland but may visit WDW next year. What do you think? I can do Buzz & Toy Story Mania but haven't been able to ride Star Tours since it went 3D. Also concerned about Remi & Runaway Railroad (never ridden yet) but will probably try both, since I can ride Toy Story.
I haven't been able to ride it yet! The first trip there around when it opened, it was shut down and my last trip I was pregnant. So I've missed it both times. I also didn't get to Runaway Railway this last trip (my son got sick our last day), but I did well on Remy! No issues at all. And I did have a few people tell me that Remy made them sick. I think if it does, you could just close your eyes or look down. If you do fine on toy story, I think it would be ok!
For reference, Star Tours makes me incredibly sick. I think there's something off on the screen vs the movement (this is what my dad says who builds flight simulators).
May I please receive your articles via email. I have a vestibular disorder and I love Disney World. I function very well, after medication and physical therapy. My last trip triggered me badly. I find your article inspirational, bc I would like to still go. I also have an ankle with metal in it from breaking it terribly. But, I can now walk over three miles. I am considering, now that I am working again, saving for a Disney Trip.! I would like to please receive your blog in my email box and save them to help me plan a trip with less vertigo provoking situations. Great ideas. Please add me to your list.
Sorry I missed this, Shelley. If you're still interested there's a subscribe button at the top of my page where I'll send out weekly emails!
My lifesaver last spring was Apple’s AirPod Pros. The noise canceling feature honestly preserved my sanity and allowed me to stay for hours and know I could go back the next day.
I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines and severe vestibular damage in November. While I am still recovering, we have an upcoming trip to Disney planned. I have some family members who qualify for the DAS Card, and we were talking about trying to get me a card.
I have severe symptoms (fainting, extreme dizzy spells, etc.), but I still want to enjoy Disney to the best of my abilities. Do you think even trying to get a DAS card is worth a try? I don't want to abuse it, but I thought it would be worth a try.
It's worth a try as I know standing in lines can be triggering for a lot of people. 🙂 Best of luck. I applaud you for still trying these things!
I just got back from WDW, first trip since vestibular condition (2 years since diagnosis). Bought a rolling walker ($65) just before I left, used it at the airport & at every park after the first night, when I tried to go without it. It's mostly the crowds, everyone walking in every direction at once, bumping into you or almost bumping into you & making me lose my balance. After that 1st night, I never went to a park without my walker. It made all the difference - 10 to 12 hours on the go, no problem keeping up with my friends. Glad I bought it.
I'm so glad you made those changes that ended up with you having a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing your tips with us.
Way to go! I like that idea. I tried a cane, but people kept stepping on it. I clung to my husband and daughter. I will be going back. I don't know when. Just started working again. This stuff can be tough, but yes, I will do Disney now. So awesome that you made it work!
It’s amazing you were even able to ride. I’ve suffered with vm for six years. Just found out I had it recently. I’ve been on many Disney trips within the six years and I have such an extreme motion sensitivity that sometimes I feel like it’s not VM and it’s something else. my mother always rent a scooter because she has fibromyalgia so when I feel like I can’t walk or stand anymore I sit on it however being on the scooter gets me extremely dizzy and i start shaky. So i can’t stand for long yet o can’t use the scooter or wheelchair because it’s an intense motion sensitivity.
Thank you for sharing your tips ! I love this article. I will keep in mind some of the things you listed.