My trip to Disneyland with a stoma | by Phillipa

Since the age of 3, I have always been a Disney fan, and forever will be. I have been lucky enough to visit Walt Disney World at the ages of 3, 6 and 18, and also have an upcoming trip September 2026 around my 30th. Last year, I finally got to experience Disneyland Paris for the first time ever and the nostalgia came crawling back – it was everything!

This trip was my first Disney experience in any of the parks with a stoma bag, which definitely brought a mix of nerves and excitement. In this blog, I’m going to share my experience along with helpful tips on managing a stoma at Disneyland, so that you can feel confident and enjoy all of the Disney magic yourself.

Why this topic matters

Living with a stoma does not mean that you have to miss out on the most amazing experiences like Disneyland. But it does mean you may need to prepare and plan a little differently. When I was preparing for my trip, I struggled to find any posts on social media or advice from anyone who had actually done it. That’s why sharing experiences like these are so important – it helps others, like me, feel less alone and so much more empowered to do it.

My experience

Going to Disneyland felt like a full circle moment for me as a massive Disney lover (12 years since I last went to a Disney park) but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the trip.

It was my first time going to a Disney park with my stoma and I had all the worries going through my head, for instance: what if my bag leaks whilst waiting in a queue or just in the park somewhere? What if I can’t find a toilet? Will my abdomen with my stoma be ok on these rides? And lastly, will it stop me from having fun?

One thing that made this incredible and helped massively was the Disneyland Premier Access Pass. If you have a chronic illness, IBD or have a stoma bag, you’re allowed this and it made the biggest difference to the trip! It meant I didn’t have to stand in long queues worrying about my bag and I could enjoy all of the rides with absolutely no stress. You can get one of these passes on the Disneyland Paris website or, if you’re like me and the trip is extremely last minute, you can take a doctors note, an access pass card and let them know before you enter into the main park – they are so helpful with this. Also, I would recommend getting a lanyard so you can have the premier access pass on you all of the time when going to the rides.

Once I got there, I realised Disneyland is actually really manageable with a stoma. The parks are full of clean, accessible toilets and I never had to go far to find one. I downloaded the Disneyland app as this gives you a full map for the parks and shows you where all of the toilets are, as well as showing you ride queue times, great food locations and when the parades are on. You are also allowed to stand in the accessibility part to watch the parades when getting the premier access pass too and that made an even better experience! The app gave me so much peace of mind and made the days that much better.

When it came to rides, I went on everything I felt comfortable with which was literally EVERYTHING! I love rides so much so my stoma wasn’t stopping me going on anything at all. My favourites had to be Big Thunder Mountain, Hyperspace Mountain, Tower of Terror and Avengers flight force and a special nostalgic favourite, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I’m such a rollercoaster fan and absolutely love the adrenaline rush so when I was in those moments, I actually forgot about my stoma completely and just enjoyed myself. After an hour into it, the anxiety faded and I was just enjoying every moment. Fully in the magical Disney bubble, making memories again and realising my stoma wasn’t holding me back at all.

My top tips

Pack more supplies than you think you need. So on any holiday or trip, I always pack more supplies than I usually do – twice as many is my recommendation.
Use a small, essentials bag to take into the parks. I got a Disney themed Minnie Mouse one for my trip and it held 2 stoma bags, dry wipes, 2 black waste bags, 2 eakin freeseal^® and a REFRESH3in1 spray. This is an essential as you never know when you may need to change your bag.
Get the premier access pass. We are eligible for this free of charge with having a chronic illness or a stoma bag. It makes your trip so much better and less stressful.
Get the Disneyland app. You’ll have toilets located and also perfect for ride queue times, and finding different restaurants.
Empty your bag before going on a rollercoaster. This will put your mind at ease, make you feel comfortable and you’ll forget about your stoma during the ride.
Stay hydrated. You can take your own water bottle in and there are fill up stations around the parks. If you can, bring some electrolytes with you to add into your water. This will help especially with having a stoma.
Wear comfortable clothing. This is a must when going to the parks, you want your stoma to feel comfortable throughout but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it Disney themed. Go all out if you want to and feel like you’re part of the magic!

FAQs

Do you wear a stoma support belt during rides?

You can wear a stoma support belt if this makes you feel more comfortable. I personally don’t wear one as I don’t feel I need to. I think if I was new to having a stoma, I would definitely wear one for my first trip if that was in the first year of having surgery, but it’s completely up to you.

Are there enough toilets at Disneyland Paris?

Yes there are plenty of toilets! You can download the Disneyland app to see exactly where they are all located.

Did you take breaks during your trip to Disneyland Paris?

Yes I did! We would spend half the day in the park and then go back to our hotel for a refresh and then come back an hour later. Also we took breaks in the parks after several rides where we would sit and get some food and drinks.

Is there a variety of food in the parks?

Yes there is so much variety of food! I actually checked before we went what you can eat in the parks and there’s so much to choose from. If you want to, you can actually bring your own snacks in.

Conclusion

Looking back now at my trip to Disneyland, it was everything I hoped it would be and more. Being a Disney fan through and through made it even more special and having a stoma didn’t take away from that whatsoever!

The preparation definitely gave me confidence but actually being there showed me just how capable I am. If you’re thinking about going but feel unsure, take this as your sign that it’s possible and make it a reality. Don’t let fear hold you back from making memories, especially the magical ones. Your stoma is a part of you, but it doesn’t define what you can and can’t do. So book that Disney trip and live your best life!

Phillipa
@phillipakayx