DaisyMom09
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2015
- Messages
- 65
Hi everyone! I recently went to Disney World in September with my DH, DS (4 at the time), DD (1 at the time), and my parents. This was my 8th trip (I think) to the World but only my 2nd since being diagnosed with anxiety disorder/panic attacks. While DW is truly my "happiest place on earth", it is still a daunting place to visit while dealing with an anxiety disorder. However, I am here to offer some tips that I find helpful, hear what tips others have found beneficial, and to encourage anyone with anxiety disorder (or any other mental illness) to not be afraid of going to DW.
Tip #1: Be sure you have your medication worked out well in advance. I made the mistake of not following this tip on this trip and suffered greatly the first few days of my vacation. Long story short, I had gone off medication a few months before my trip, had been doing great, and then my son started pre-school and we went to DW all in the same week, which triggered major panic attacks for me. I suffered the whole 18 hour drive down and wasn't able to enjoy several of my dining reservations. A few days into the trip, I was fine and enjoyed the rest of my stay. When I got back, I visited my Dr., got a new medication to use as needed, and am happy to say I am doing great. Moral of the story: don't change/go off medication right before your trip.
Tip #2: Know your limitations. I was most nervous about dining with my children in nice restaurants, how they would handle lines, and avoiding meltdowns in the parks. To ease my anxiety with this, I scheduled many reservations for lunch instead of dinner, so I knew I wouldn't have to worry about nap time running into a dinner reservation. If I wouldn't have gotten free dining, I would've just had almost all quick service meals, which were ideal for my kids' ages. I did not tour the parks with a "commando" style, planned for naps daily, and approached the days with flexibility, knowing my kids' moods and preferences could change our plans. I can't tell you how many times we rode the carousel, It's a Small World, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends, because they had short waits and were my kids' favorites.
Tip #3: Be proactive. Things I know about my panic attacks: they are often related to my stomach issues, I do much better with exercise, and I have more when I don't get enough sleep. Because of these, I was very careful about what and how much I ate (especially at dinner), I drank a ton of water and avoided caffeine, and I took a pack of sleeping tablets with me to ensure I got a good night's sleep every night. I also loved all the walking we did every day. I wore my tennis shoes and walked my butt off (literally, I lost a few pounds) and it felt great. Walking definitely helps me work out some of my jitters. Knowing what triggers your anxiety and what helps you feel better is key. Don't think that just because you are at Disney those things will change.
Tip #4: Take breaks. I get easily overwhelmed. That is a vast understatement. I traveled with 3 other adults, which was fabulous, because it allowed me to have moments to myself when I needed it and I didn't have to worry about dumping my children on my poor husband. There were a few times when I just needed to sit in the cool air somewhere. There were a few times when I needed a walk. There were a few times when I needed a quiet hotel room. I did not approach park touring with the idea that I was going to see and do everything. In fact, there were several rides and shows that I didn't do that week because I just didn't feel up to it. It's okay. I'll go back. I still had a great time.
Tip #5: Don't be afraid of lines. I know that waiting in line can be daunting for someone with anxiety disorder. In fact, when I was on my honeymoon at DW, I had to be escorted out of a line at a waterpark because I got overheated and had a panic attack. It truly was no big deal. The cast members were amazingly helpful. They got me out of line quickly, gave me water and a cool towel, and kindly escorted me out seamlessly. It was a little embarrassing but the cast members helped ease the suffering by being efficient and compassionate. Don't be afraid to ask a cast member for help if you need it. If you have to be escorted out of line, then so be it. You won't be the first or the last person to do this.
Tip #6: Enjoy the little things. There are so many little things to enjoy at DW that don't involve FP+, ADRs, touring plans, meeting characters, and reserving a parade spot an hour in advance. One thing that I enjoyed this trip was taking pictures. There are so many beautiful seasonal decorations to notice and of course, each park has great photo opportunities all over. We stayed at AKL and I don't know if I've ever seen such a photogenic hotel before. One of my son's favorite things all week was the bird show at AK and riding the monorail. We only did one character meal and that was enough for my kids. We didn't do most of the nighttime shows, because my kids are sensitive to loud noises. We had a great time just walking around, enjoying the sounds, sights, and smells. My kids had the most fun at the hotel watching the nighttime movies, enjoying the views of the savannas, and using the gorgeous pool area and playground.
Tip #7: Don't over plan. I think part of my meltdown that week was due to my obsessive planning the year before. Yes an entire year. I had to have ADRs because we had the dining plan, but if I could do it again, I would not choose the dining plan and just do quick service. It's just so important to have flexibility when your traveling with little kids. I made all the Fastpasses but I think we only used half of them. I didn't worry about trying to plan different Fastpasses for different people. I had no idea what my son would want to ride and how brave he would be, so we just used our best judgment as we went. I didn't use touring plans or insist that we see all the parades and nighttime shows. For me, over planning just adds too much pressure to my vacation. And pressure = anxiety, in my case.
Okay.. I've rambled long enough. What tips do you have for touring the parks with anxiety or other mental illnesses? What have been your most difficult times in the parks and what have you found helpful?
Tip #1: Be sure you have your medication worked out well in advance. I made the mistake of not following this tip on this trip and suffered greatly the first few days of my vacation. Long story short, I had gone off medication a few months before my trip, had been doing great, and then my son started pre-school and we went to DW all in the same week, which triggered major panic attacks for me. I suffered the whole 18 hour drive down and wasn't able to enjoy several of my dining reservations. A few days into the trip, I was fine and enjoyed the rest of my stay. When I got back, I visited my Dr., got a new medication to use as needed, and am happy to say I am doing great. Moral of the story: don't change/go off medication right before your trip.
Tip #2: Know your limitations. I was most nervous about dining with my children in nice restaurants, how they would handle lines, and avoiding meltdowns in the parks. To ease my anxiety with this, I scheduled many reservations for lunch instead of dinner, so I knew I wouldn't have to worry about nap time running into a dinner reservation. If I wouldn't have gotten free dining, I would've just had almost all quick service meals, which were ideal for my kids' ages. I did not tour the parks with a "commando" style, planned for naps daily, and approached the days with flexibility, knowing my kids' moods and preferences could change our plans. I can't tell you how many times we rode the carousel, It's a Small World, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends, because they had short waits and were my kids' favorites.
Tip #3: Be proactive. Things I know about my panic attacks: they are often related to my stomach issues, I do much better with exercise, and I have more when I don't get enough sleep. Because of these, I was very careful about what and how much I ate (especially at dinner), I drank a ton of water and avoided caffeine, and I took a pack of sleeping tablets with me to ensure I got a good night's sleep every night. I also loved all the walking we did every day. I wore my tennis shoes and walked my butt off (literally, I lost a few pounds) and it felt great. Walking definitely helps me work out some of my jitters. Knowing what triggers your anxiety and what helps you feel better is key. Don't think that just because you are at Disney those things will change.
Tip #4: Take breaks. I get easily overwhelmed. That is a vast understatement. I traveled with 3 other adults, which was fabulous, because it allowed me to have moments to myself when I needed it and I didn't have to worry about dumping my children on my poor husband. There were a few times when I just needed to sit in the cool air somewhere. There were a few times when I needed a walk. There were a few times when I needed a quiet hotel room. I did not approach park touring with the idea that I was going to see and do everything. In fact, there were several rides and shows that I didn't do that week because I just didn't feel up to it. It's okay. I'll go back. I still had a great time.
Tip #5: Don't be afraid of lines. I know that waiting in line can be daunting for someone with anxiety disorder. In fact, when I was on my honeymoon at DW, I had to be escorted out of a line at a waterpark because I got overheated and had a panic attack. It truly was no big deal. The cast members were amazingly helpful. They got me out of line quickly, gave me water and a cool towel, and kindly escorted me out seamlessly. It was a little embarrassing but the cast members helped ease the suffering by being efficient and compassionate. Don't be afraid to ask a cast member for help if you need it. If you have to be escorted out of line, then so be it. You won't be the first or the last person to do this.
Tip #6: Enjoy the little things. There are so many little things to enjoy at DW that don't involve FP+, ADRs, touring plans, meeting characters, and reserving a parade spot an hour in advance. One thing that I enjoyed this trip was taking pictures. There are so many beautiful seasonal decorations to notice and of course, each park has great photo opportunities all over. We stayed at AKL and I don't know if I've ever seen such a photogenic hotel before. One of my son's favorite things all week was the bird show at AK and riding the monorail. We only did one character meal and that was enough for my kids. We didn't do most of the nighttime shows, because my kids are sensitive to loud noises. We had a great time just walking around, enjoying the sounds, sights, and smells. My kids had the most fun at the hotel watching the nighttime movies, enjoying the views of the savannas, and using the gorgeous pool area and playground.
Tip #7: Don't over plan. I think part of my meltdown that week was due to my obsessive planning the year before. Yes an entire year. I had to have ADRs because we had the dining plan, but if I could do it again, I would not choose the dining plan and just do quick service. It's just so important to have flexibility when your traveling with little kids. I made all the Fastpasses but I think we only used half of them. I didn't worry about trying to plan different Fastpasses for different people. I had no idea what my son would want to ride and how brave he would be, so we just used our best judgment as we went. I didn't use touring plans or insist that we see all the parades and nighttime shows. For me, over planning just adds too much pressure to my vacation. And pressure = anxiety, in my case.
Okay.. I've rambled long enough. What tips do you have for touring the parks with anxiety or other mental illnesses? What have been your most difficult times in the parks and what have you found helpful?
