A T1D’s Guide to Disneyland

A trip to Disneyland is a dream vacation for many: the magic of Walt Disney for kids and adults alike can pull at the heartstrings and create memories that last a lifetime. But when you live with diabetes, the logistics of a day at the theme park can quickly blow the magic away like pixie dust—unless you’re prepared. 

This guide will tell you everything you need to know for a successful (and fun!) trip to Disneyland.

Start before you even get to the park

Disney days start early. The park opens at 8 a.m., but lines to get in can start a few hours beforehand.

• Get a full night of rest. A good night’s sleep to balance out your hormones, which will make blood sugar management easier throughout the day. 
• Eat a solid breakfast. Choose something with plenty of protein, fiber and healthy fats before entering the park, like an egg avocado wrap or protein breakfast bowl. If you eat only carbs at breakfast, you’re more likely to have a mid-morning blood sugar crash, and you don’t want to be treating lows before you’ve even reached your first ride of the day! 
• Hydrate. Hydration also matters more than you might think at Disneyland. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can bring your own water bottle from home and fill it up for free throughout the day at Disney’s water filling stations. Recommendations vary, but the average person needs between 11.5 cups and 15.5 cups of total liquid per day, and more if you’re exercising or spending time in the heat and humidity. 
• Dress smart. Wearing comfortable shoes is always smart, but even more so on a long, hot day at Disneyland. Dress appropriately (sun visors, sunglasses, and light clothes are recommended) and don’t forget to wear sunscreen! 

Pack like a pro

Disneyland means walking, and lots of it. Sometimes it can be more walking than you used to. And mixed with the Southern California sun and a healthy dose of sunshine, that can spell low blood sugar. 

Pack plenty of low snacks, including glucose tabs and gels, juice, fruit snacks, fruit and granola bars. You’ll also want salty snacks (because you’ll be sweating, drinking lots of water and losing electrolytes) like nuts, crackers, roasted edamame and pretzels. 

You’ll also want to pack extra supplies, including insulin, syringes, testing supplies, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump equipment, and extra alcohol swabs and adhesives, along with an emergency glucagon kit, in case you have a severe low. 

Disneyland is definitely not a “let’s hope for the best” kind of day, and you don’t want a CGM or insulin pump site malfunction to stunt any fun you’re having. 

Wearing a medic-alert bracelet and surrounding yourself with people who both know you have diabetes and can help you treat a severe low if you have one, are good things to do as well. 

Your insulin dosing might be different at Disneyland

A day at Disneyland is—and should be—completely different from your usual routine. However, breaking out of your usual daily rhythm might require changing your insulin dosing for the day. Some of these factors may include:

• Heat. Some people’s blood sugars spike in the heat while others have unpredictable drops in the amount of insulin they need because the heat makes them go low. Know your body and adjust your insulin accordingly.
• Walking. This may mean that you take fewer units of your basal insulin the night before your big Disneyland day, or that you stay in activity mode on your insulin pump for much of your day while you’re walking around. 
• Excitement. Your blood sugar levels might even spike from all the excitement and adrenaline (you are at the happiest place on Earth after all), so you might need a few extra units of insulin or some Afrezza to help with hyperglycemia.

If you’re drastically planning on changing your insulin doses for the day, double check with your health care provider before making a change. 

Food is everywhere, and this is a blessing and a curse

Ice cream, churros, giant pretzels, nachos—food is everywhere at Disneyland! So while you may not struggle to find a low blood sugar snack, you may have a harder time finding something healthy to eat that won’t spike your blood sugar. 

This is where packing a picnic may come in handy. Depending on the size, you can bring in a small cooler with reusable ice packs for healthier sandwiches, hummus and veggies for an easy lunch (no loose or dry ice is allowed in the park, however). 

You can also use the Disneyland app for mobile food ordering to make selections simpler. You can pick a restaurant in the app, choose your food items, and select your arrival time to them pick up and keep your day moving. 

Restaurants are typically very flexible with offering substitutions to help with blood sugar management, celiac disease or allergies. Just let them know what you need ahead of time. 

Diabetes is a disability, right? So what about lines? 

This is the question everyone with diabetes has! Diabetes is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which grants certain protections and accommodations in public spaces, like at school and work.  

Historically, Disney granted people with diabetes access to their Disability Access Service (DAS), which helps anyone with a disability receive special accommodations to access parks and rides more easily. 

The DAS doesn’t provide immediate access to rides, but allows guests to request a return time for a specific ride so the guest doesn’t have to wait in line. Many people with diabetes experience low blood sugars waiting in long Disney lines, so this pass has been helpful over the years.

However, Disney changed the eligibility criteria for their DAS in 2024. Now, DAS is primarily designed for guests with developmental disabilities (like autism) who cannot tolerate waiting in a traditional line, and type 1 diabetes (T1D) on its own does not qualify for DAS under current guidelines. 

There are still accommodations that people with T1D can access, and Disney parks try to be very understanding of people living with all disabilities, including diabetes: 

• Leave-and-return (line re-entry): If you go low (or high) in line, you can let a Cast Member know, step out, treat, and return to your group when your blood sugar is within a safe range
• Flexible food rules: You are allowed to bring diabetes supplies and snacks into the park, and most restaurants are very understanding with food substitutions and allergies (they will replace bread with a salad or give you fruit instead of a side of fries, for example) 
• Cast member support: They’re generally very understanding—don’t hesitate to speak up if you need help 

You don’t have to tell anyone ahead of time about your diabetes; if you need help to go treat a low, just tell a cast member nearby, and you can utilize the leave-and-return line re-entry option. 

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency and need help, nurses are available during normal park hours (8 a.m.-11 p.m.) to offer over-the-counter medications, bandages and other remedies.

Know where first aid stations are located in the park

If you need your insulin safely stored while you’re at the park, first aid stations can also store it and provide refrigeration for you. Make sure you label all your medications with your first and last name and telephone number, so nothing gets lost or accidentally given to another guest.

First aid stations also have special containers for the disposal of syringes if you need a place to discard them after an insulin injection. 

If you’re not feeling well and are unable to walk to a first aid station, tell the nearest cast member that you need help, and they can assist you. 

Remember: Disneyland truly is a marathon, not a sprint

Take breaks! You don’t have to go non-stop, and you really shouldn’t. There is no way to see all of Disneyland in a single day. That’s true whether or not you live with diabetes. 

Plan intentional breaks like sit-down meals, shaded benches, slower and calmer rides or even an extended coffee break. These moments help stabilize blood sugar and give your body a chance to reset. 

Managing T1D in a place like Disneyland can be a lot. There’s pressure to keep up, to not miss out and to not let diabetes slow you down. But you can and should prioritize your diabetes care: don’t be afraid to check your blood sugar in line, treat a low when you need to (even if it isn’t pretty) and adjust your insulin on the fly. 

Remember that this is all part of thriving with diabetes. When you prioritize your well-being, and the diabetes management that comes with it, all the noise tends to fall away, and your blood sugars might even follow. And that’s about as magical as it gets. 

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