The Mouse, the Meltdowns & the Mystery Rash

We had big dreams for our very first Disneyland trip as a family of four. Our daughters were 18 months and 3 years old — the perfect ages (we thought) for castle selfies, matching ears, churros, and all the classic Disney magic.

But on day one, our oldest broke out in a full-body rash — the kind that stops you in your tracks. One of us left the park with her and headed straight to CHOC Children’s Hospital, while the other stayed behind, babywearing a squirmy toddler for hours, sweating to death in the sun and trying to hold it all together.

At CHOC, she was diagnosed with roseola. Thankfully, she was never febrile during the trip, and as it turns out, the rash phase meant she was no longer contagious. Still, not exactly the kickoff to our magical vacation we imagined.

The rest of the trip was a blur of stroller naps, character sightings, and us doing our best to soak in the moment — but something felt off. The kids were low-energy, not their usual bubbly selves. We figured it was just early mornings, late fireworks, or a serious lack of sleep from sharing a hotel room. Honestly? We were just trying to hang in there.

And then, in the middle of all the chaos, Magic Keys (Disney’s annual passes) suddenly became available again. And even though this trip felt like a trainwreck, we knew deep down: We’ll be back. So we bought them — sweaty, sleep-deprived, and a little delirious, but committed.

When we got home, we had the pediatrician check the girls out — mainly because one family in our group ended up with COVID, and another had the flu. To our surprise? Our kids tested positive for RSV and parainfluenza. So, roseola was just the beginning.

That first trip was hard. It was messy, exhausting, and nothing like the perfectly curated Disney trips you see online. But it was also our first step into the wild world of traveling with little kids — and everything that comes with it.

And you know what? We’re still glad we went.

Because real memories aren’t always pretty. They’re built in the unexpected moments — in hospital visits, in carrying 30 pounds of sweaty toddler around Fantasyland, and in promising each other we’ll try again.

And we did. And we still are.