Anxiety in the parks

[Diasmom]

Hi, hoping to get some feedback. I have a 14 year old daughter that has just started day treatment for anxiety and depression. She's always been very sensitive to sensory overloud, e.g crowds, noise, heat and we're going in August. Not the best idea but we love Disney. We're only doing one day starting with emh in AK and taking a break and spending the afternoon and evening at HS. We've gone a few times and it's been good but this time thinking about trying the DAS if possible. Feeling a little guilty but think this would be the only way to successfully try for SDD and maybe one or two other rides. I think we'll be fine in the am if we start an hour or so early before rope drop and leave after a couple hours. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[gap2368]

Do not rely solo on the DAS and what I mean by this is do other things help her if she Hs problem with nosies ear plug Noise canceling headphones or music for het Columbia Omni freeze and chilling towels And fans. Also when in a crowded area make a bubble around her so that she is in the middle of people she know. For me looking down at the people feet right in front of me ( and having something to do with my hand like a Fidget Cub or a game on my phone helps a lot ).

Enjoy your trip

Just a note I am not saying do not ask for and if given the DAS not to use it just to use all the tools available to you.

 

[Bjkandma]

I would try for the DAS. I would suggest trying first thing in the morning and if you receive ons, use it for entire stay.

 

[Claudia1]

I could have written your post about our 17 yr old DD. We have been going to WDW 3-6 times a year for all of her life but her diagnosis has really blown up and we used the DAS for the first time this week. It worked exactly like it was supposed to work. I had a doctor's note and I gave it to Guest Services but they simply handed it back to me with a compassionate smile.

As previously mentioned, the DAS is only part of the plan. Our DD needs isolation in a stimulation-free zone which we acquired thru headphones & music on her phone is quieter places. We chose our times in busy/loud areas wisely but soon realized that going back to the room was more trouble than it was worth. If she was anxious, the walk to transportation thru potentially loud/busy areas was counterproductive. We found breaks in counter service restaurants (we bought a lot of water and snacks!), quiet walking paths in AK, Carousel of Progress in the MK, and the car showroom at Test Track were some of our better spots. I can't speak for Studios because she didn't need extra support there. Our emergency plan was to go to the Baby Center and sit in the TV room if necessary but she didn't need it. Another coping mechanism her counselor taught her was counting. Disney has a plethora of things that anyone can count in any given spot, so that was a go-to mechanism.

One thing I liked about the DAS is that anyone in the party can go get the pass. That saved her from trekking all around to get it. I also like that Disney is enforcing the policy that nobody can use the pass without the person who owns the pass in the riding party. More than once, I observed guests trying to use it without the DAS owner and they never succeeded.

Good luck!

 

[gap2368]

also look in my signature for the link to the guest experience booth where you can get a return time. They are now in all the park but EPCOT I was told ( at the end of April begging of May ) they would last until the end of September but I have a feeling they are here to stay

 

[kaytieeldr]

but this time thinking about trying the DAS if possible. Feeling a little guilty

Do not feel guilty!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Okay, you did ask...
August ? Multiple parks? Star Wars visitors etc and a child with serious anxiety issues.
I don’t think DAS will be enough and truly hope you have plenty of coping strategies in place for helping your child. Without Any of those factors sensory Overload is possible and actually likely.
I hope this vacation is enjoyable... especially for her.
Wishing you Best of luck...anxiety can be so
Debilitating.

 

[gap2368]

Okay, you did ask...
August ? Multiple parks? Star Wars visitors etc and a child with serious anxiety issues.
I don’t think DAS will be enough and truly hope you have plenty of coping strategies in place for helping your child. Without Any of those factors sensory Overload is possible and actually likely.
I hope this vacation is enjoyable... especially for her.
Wishing you Best of luck...anxiety can be so
Debilitating.

Since SWGE opens on the 29 so they might not be there when it opens so it might not be that crowded

 

[DisneyOma]

I could have written your post about our 17 yr old DD. Our emergency plan was to go to the Baby Center and sit in the TV room if necessary but she didn't need it.

In the past there have been posts about the baby care centers only allowing people with babies to use the facilities. Did you have any problems with this?

Since SWGE opens on the 29 so they might not be there when it opens so it might not be that crowded

I know of a lot of people going down early, hoping to get a soft opening experience, so it may be more crowded than you think. Plus, Disney just released more discounts for the summer.

 

[Claudia1]

In the past there have been posts about the baby care centers only allowing people with babies to use the facilities. Did you have any problems

I was not aware of this but we didn't need it so we didn't try it.

 

[gap2368]

I was not aware of this but we didn't need it so we didn't try it.

first aid is the go-to quite place in all the theme parks.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hi, hoping to get some feedback. I have a 14 year old daughter that has just started day treatment for anxiety and depression. She's always been very sensitive to sensory overloud, e.g crowds, noise, heat and we're going in August. Not the best idea but we love Disney. We're only doing one day starting with emh in AK and taking a break and spending the afternoon and evening at HS. We've gone a few times and it's been good but this time thinking about trying the DAS if possible. Feeling a little guilty but think this would be the only way to successfully try for SDD and maybe one or two other rides. I think we'll be fine in the am if we start an hour or so early before rope drop and leave after a couple hours. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My DS11 has an anxiety disorder and we've gone to WDW the last week of August every year for the past 8 years. If you haven't already done so, I highly suggest purchasing your 1-day park hopper now and making 3 FP+ reservations for your AK morning. I would also highly suggest putting those FP+ in an order that makes getting around the park simple with no criss-crossing. For example, in AK, we typically start in Pandora and then circle all the way around and end in Dinoland. In AK, we typically use DAS for FoP if we can't get a FP+. Are you traveling alone with your daughter? If not, I would suggest, upon entering the park, sending another family member to get your first DAS return time at a ride of your choosing while you and your daughter either start heading to your first FP+ ride or simply walk through the animal areas in the front of the park. I wouldn't stress her out by having her walk all the way over to a ride to get a DAS and then walk to another ride (attractions in AK are so spread out) unless the rides are close to each other (for example, you have a morning FP+ for Nav'i, so you get DAS for FoP right before you go on Nav'i). I hope that makes sense. Take a look at the AK map to find some places with AC that you can duck into if need be - QS restaurants, shows (if she can handle them), Nomad Lounge near Pandora etc. My DS11 also likes poking in the shops, getting a cold drink at Starbucks, etc. If you plan on eating lunch in AK, consider getting a Landry's Select Card so you can get priority seating without an ADR in both Y&Y and Rainforest Cafe. Be ready to bail at any time. My DS can handle his 3 FP+ plus one DAS ride and he is absolutely done, especially in August.

As soon as you tap in for your 3rd FP+ in AK, go into the MDE app and schedule a FP+ for DHS for later that evening. At that point in time, it may be tough to get a FP+ for any of the Toy Story rides (though we had great luck with 4th, 5th, etc. FP+ in August last year). If you can get one, great, if not, I would use the same DAS strategy used in AK. As soon as you enter DHS, send someone to get a FP+ for the TSL ride of your choosing while you and DD head to whichever FP+ you were able to get. Again, be ready to bail at any time. DHS does not have great AC options IMHO (some QS restaurants), so we don't spend a ton of time there in the summer. If you need to bail, alternate activities could include taking a Friendship Boat over to the Boardwalk area for the evening (you could get off at the first stop - Swan/Dolphin - and walk over to the Boardwalk). One of DS11's favorite WDW activities is spending the evening on the Boardwalk, watching the jugglers/magicians, watching a movie on the Village Green and playing the carnival games. It is typically not crowded there.

I hope that helps a little bit.

 

[Diasmom]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. She does use music for stress and sensory and my husband and I automatically make a bubble, I just never thought of that way! We are prepared to bail at anytime and have fast passes set up and a Mama Melrose fantasmic package. Thank you for your support. Disney is crowded and stressful but I think it feels "safer" than so many other vacation spots. I think knowing the bus is there to go back is so reassuring. We have made a habit of avoiding the crush after park closing by slow strolls or late adrs. We definitely want to check out Boardwalk.