Claustrophobic

[aenelson]

I am just wondering what you would suggest me not to go on if I am claustrophobic. As far as I know the two rides I can not do is Stitch, Rockin RC and Mission Space. What else would you suggest me not to go on?

 

[ricktib]

The resort busses.

 

[mistyt]

The resort busses.

The ride vehicles for space mountain can be a bit small if you are super sensitive to small spaces.

 

[ricktib]

Seriously though, I wouldn't think RnR would be bad, unless you don't like feeling 'strapped in'. But I would give some consideration to the Haunted Mansion pre-show - if I were claustrophobic, I could see having an issue being in the 'stretching room' with the rest of the herd.

 

[mmwalker]

I am also claustriphobic and I can't think of anything else

 

[symphie]

Definitely Mission Space. The front panel closing in is enough to make even people without claustrophobia a little nervous.

With Rock n Roller Coaster, it's all about whether you also have a fear of feeling strapped in, or trapped. The restraints are pretty heavy and large, so you can't lean forward and see the person next to you or anything very well. I got stuck on the ride once and one of the girls in a car behind me started hyperventilating because she couldn't move.

Depending on how crowded the park is, the Haunted Mansion pre-show makes me a little nervous. If it's crowded, they pack as many people as possible into that "stretching" room. I'm sure there's a way to bypass the preshow and still ride the attraction if you explain your fear to a cast member...

Honestly, anything with a pre-show where you have the "please move all the way in and fill in all available space" situation makes me nervous. I recommend letting people ahead of you so that you're either the first at the entrance to the theater/attraction, or one of the last people into the preshow room. The only way I can do it is if I'm on the edges of the room. If you happen to get stuck in the middle, stare at your shoes. Haha. Seriously, it might not work for you. But if I just concentrate on staring at my shoes and stop looking at all of the people around me, I don't get as nervous.

 

[jamstew]

I've read that some people with claustrophobia have a problem with Mission Space.

 

[aenelson]

Seriously though, I wouldn't think RnR would be bad, unless you don't like feeling 'strapped in'. But I would give some consideration to the Haunted Mansion pre-show - if I were claustrophobic, I could see having an issue being in the 'stretching room' with the rest of the herd.

This is exactly it, it is the shoulder bars. I can handle crowds just fine, but when it comes to being held down can't do it. I start hyperventilating. I feel bad for my hubby cause he has to go on Stitch by himself, and that is both of our favorite character. Anyways I guess I was asking about the feeling trapped due to head bar rides.

 

[ricktib]

This is exactly it, it is the shoulder bars. I can handle crowds just fine, but when it comes to being held down can't do it.

In that case, maybe Expedition Everest as well.

 

[g-dad66]

Also I don't think you'll want to do Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions East at Epcot.

It's a simulator similar to Mission Space, but even more confining. I'm not claustrophobic but when the door came down on me, I felt for a moment like I was going to be crushed. And my glasses which I had put in my shirt pocket for "safe keeping" almost did get crushed.

 

[aenelson]

In that case, maybe Expedition Everest as well.

Does EE have shoulder bars too? I thought they only had lap bars?

 

[clandrum]

EE only has lap bars.

I do not consider myself claustrophobic but one thing I had trouble with this time was the waiting room area for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. We were in there about 20 minutes packed like sardines and it was warm. I about lost it. I would suggest waiting till right before showtime to go in.

 

[minandmick]

I am very claustrophobic and after my last trip to Disney, I ended up seeing a therapist because it reared it's ugly head so badly. Here are the rides I had most issues with, in order from worst to just kind of bad.

MISSION SPACE: no way on God's green earth would I even go near it..no way, no how!

RNR: I actually sat down in the car, pulled down the harness and started to panic. after screaming" I can't do this, let me out!" I had to use the chicken exit.

TOT: I was ok. I even made it through the preshow scary room. Until I was sitting on the ride and the elevator doors shut. Then I had to breathe my way through it, BUT I was glad that I went. It was totally worth it and I carry a small misting fan with me now so I think if we did get stuck I would be ok. Actually, I can't wait to go on it again. I will also carry a flashlight in case we get stuck, because it can get pretty dark on that ride.

SPACESHIP EARTH: At the top of the ride when you start going down backwards, you can actually see the outline of the triangles at the top of the globe. That freaked me out. I felt like the globe was closing in on me and I had to use my fan!

HAUNTED MANSION: The stretching room was hard for me.I held on to my husband the entire time and looked up at the ceiling. seeing all that room was a big help. also, I was in the back left side of the room, right where the door to the ride opens up. It helped to know that somehow.

SPACE MOUNTAIN: I was actually ok on this ride. I did feel a little cramped going up the first hill but it went so fast after that I didn't have time to get to freaked out. I have found that if my shoulders and arms are free, I'm ok.

RIDE IN NORWAY: I can't remember the name of the ride, but he room that they hold you in right before the movie made me a little nervous. I ran through the movie room and out into the gift shop!

COP: I was ok because there weren't tons of people in the room, but I can see how I could have freaked if the room was packed.

On the buses, I stay in the front or right by an emergency exit....same with the monorail. Oh, and the little misting fan was a life saver for me. When I panic, I get hot. The then just spirals downward. Having the fan helped me keep my "cool" in more ways than one.

My therapist said to take a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds. Keep repeating until you are out of the situation. Apparently it helps to slow the "fight or flight" reactions triggered by fear.

I can't think of anything else that bothered me right now. Hope that helps and please know that you are not alone!!!!

 

[Sleeping_Beauty81]

I actually had problems with the queue line for Soarin. Too many people jammed together for too long.
I almost ran out the emergency exit, it was that bad for me.

 

[jmpurdy]

DH is very claustrophobic too. And I am in other ways. The pre-show room at Haunted Mansion doesn't bother him, but it really bothers me. Have to stand on the outside perimeter by the door. He can't do anything with a shoulder harness (over the shoulder) thingy. He barely does lap bars, but doesn't pull them down tightly and he's ok. I almost lost it in the monorail once. The fan idea is a good one. Cool air does help.

 

[PictureJumpr]

A close friend of mine is also claustrophobic, and did have problems on (or avoided altogether) many of the rides already mentioned. She was taken in through the accessible (back-door) entrance to Haunted Mansion to avoid the stretching room - but still found the ride itself problematic. She said the omnimover cars in various rides don't really bother her but these did in combination with the overall darkness of the ride and the part where you go backwards (in the dark) made it all seem too 'closing-in' for her. She did okay on the backwards part of Spaceship Earth, because there was more light and so the effect was lessened.

She also had some nervousness in the pre-show for Test Track, although the ride itself did not bother her.

She skipped the Energy Adventure because the guy standing out front told her it was 45 minutes long - and she couldn't get out. Thanks No amount of reassurance could convince her that he didn't mean she'd be strapped into a harness for that long... (You wouldn't be, there are no harnesses and lots of space in the ride vehicles for this one.)

 

[mrbghd]

I am moderately claustorphobic. I have only had issues with a few rides. Sum of All Thrills at EPCOT and Virtual Space Mtn at Disneyquest. I tolerate Mission Space but sometimes it's iffy. My issues is more being confined by the harness than the enclosed space. Good luck and have fun!

 

[nessz79]

Just chiming in to say I'm claustrophobic as well! Nice to see you're (I'm) not alone!

To the poster that said the area of the Norway ride bothered them- me, too! I think it's because you feel stuck in that area and people keep getting off the boat rides and it crowds up.

Breathing does help quite a bit- breathing from the abdomen and slowing down your breathing. In queing areas, I try to find a wall. If I have a wall to lean against, I feel ok. I think my fear in crowds is that I will begin to hyperventilate, get light-headed, and pass out. It's never actually happened, but it's part of the fear. So if I can find a wall to lean against, I can sit down and relax.

Shoulder harnesses didn't use to bother me, but they have been inducted into my repertoire of claustrophobic issues. yay for that one. So I sympathize! I wouldn't dream of doing Mission Space (even the easier track), RnR Coaster, or anything else with a shoulder harness. I have issues with some lap bar rides, but not so bad that I can't ride them.

 

[Missytara]

This is exactly it, it is the shoulder bars. I can handle crowds just fine, but when it comes to being held down can't do it. I start hyperventilating. I feel bad for my hubby cause he has to go on Stitch by himself, and that is both of our favorite character. Anyways I guess I was asking about the feeling trapped due to head bar rides.

Don't feel bad, I have the same problem. I don't know what it is, but I just don't like the fact that if I feel slightly off-kilter, I cannot move even an inch. I did the Stitch ride, when it was the ExtraTerrestrial or something like that. No kidding, that was the longest couple of minutes of my life.

The only thing I can think of more frightening for me would be encountering a snake.

 

[bdkane]

mission space has got to be the worst- I went on only to convince my 7 year old she could do it- the scream came forward and I started sweating, I looked to the side because it gave me more room - never again!