calling all claustrophobics

[think tink]

i to suffer from severe anxiety attacks. i am on Rx for them and it helps a little. i love this thread because i thought i was the only one going through this. i don't ride the monorail, boats or buses. i don't ride any of the rides, i wait outside and hold everything while my wonderful husband takes our 3 kids on all the rides. i really hate it because i used to ride everything and i really miss it.. i have so much respect for all of you who push through the fear and do it anyway.


does anyone have any experiences with cm's doing something special to accomodate guests with these phobias??

 

[cottontail]

Hi:

I have had a very nice cm help me with my problems. In epcot, the seas pavilion, when you exit you have to go into an elevator type area ,(hubby says it does not go up nor down) but I am still in an enclosed small room, so I told one of the cm's that I had claustrophobia and he took me down a hall and out an ordinary door. That really made me feel better. I honestly thought I was trapped in there, lol cause I did not want to go in the elevator door at the end.

I really want to try test track, have others been okay on that attraction and another one is the dinausaur attraction in animal kingdom park, anyone with problems okay on that one.

Deb.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Only place it gets me has been in Living Seas. Can not go through the hydrolators, only drops 4 inches but I take the chicken door to the left. Flew to Fla. three times and thats all over now. I'm a confirmed Amtrak traveler but really wish I could get one a plane and be there in 1 1/2 hours. For my mind and body, being tensed up, it ain't worth it, let alone all the other passengers. Used pills many years ago to do those flights and they are all gone now and ain't going to get another prescription.

 

[bavaria]

Really. I have ridden Test Track countless time. I really find this a giggle ride more than anything else. The ride has broken down, but usually only for a minute or two, so the chances of getting stuck in the hot room are very very low. I was lucky to be 'adopted' for a few days before TT opened by a family with a retired GM exec, and we rode TT before it was open to the public several times. At that point, the breakdowns were more common.

Typically now it's not a breakdown, but rather a 'slowdown' as they have too many cars on the track and delays in the load/unload area. As a result, they shut down for a minute or two.

I hope that you can go and enjoy it, and then find that you can ride again. The outside portion with the fresh air should more than make up for the few seconds in the hot room.

Best wishes and enjoy!!!

 

[bavaria]

So I am not the only one who has problems here! I usually go in early in the am when there is no line, and sometimes skip the hydrolator if I can't be the first one in facing the door. The CM's here are great, in particular the sweet older man who insisted that I go through the back way and see Crush, even though I kept protesting that I could just leave.

I don't know how Crush will fare however during the busy season, as even in early January there were waits to see the show.

 

[bavaria]

I have done that, and explained the problem, and they are very understanding. (OK, some of them just think it's weird, so just go find someone else or go back later)

I walked all the way through Mission Space so that I could check out the preshow and see if the seating would get me. Yup, it did. I was with another DIS'er, so I volunteered to look after her Pal Mickey while she rode, and backed out. The CM was great - he pretended to be pleased that I was looking after Pal Mickey so well, who was obviously frightened to ride MS.

Maybe start with something easy, like an outdoor attraction such as Dumbo, Aladdin, etc. I also find that it depends who I ride with - I have a friend who makes me more anxious, while others make it easier.

A stranger and her child approached me and asked ME to go on Space Mountain with them as neither had ever ridden, and the mother wanted some company on the ride. I hadn't gone in years, but by 'looking after' them, I was able to be the brave one and ride. Now I usually don't ride unless I am with another DISer, who sings 'It's a Small World' on the entire trip. It makes me laugh so hard that I can handle the ride.

Conquering small steps makes it easier for me - hey, I did the bubble elevator up 50 stories in New York, so that's my latest triumph to make me feel more brave.....

 

[bavaria]

Just another thought to help some of you out - sometimes anxiety can be caused by the anticipation and lack of knowing what comes next. How about finding a sympathetic CM who can describe the ride in detail? or send a spouse or friend first who can check it out and do the same? maybe even videotape it for you? that way you'll know about the ride and what to expect.

That was my intent when starting this thread - not to scare people off attractions, but to share experiences so that we can hopefully take some new experiences, or at least feel better that others share the same anxieties.

I still remember my first ride on Big Thunder Mountain at DL - went with a friend, and I asked the CM at the entrance if there was a 'chicken exit' in case I needed it. My friend described the entire ride in detail before we boarded, and when it was over, I was the one laughing, saying 'can we go again?!' She did a great job of 'stepping up' the rides, taking me on the Matterhorn next, and finally coaxing me onto Space Mountain. It was a matter of taking small steps with someone who knew me and understood my concerns.

 

[GoofyinNY]

I've really enjoyed this thread because it has certainly hit home. I can and do go on most rides, but I admit that there are moments when a wave of panic will hit me. It always follows a moment when I asked myself the eternal question, "What if this ride gets stuck?" The good part about Disney rides is that there are a lot of discreet exits throughout all their rides. (I've looked!) Besides I always carry one small, but terrific, flashlight.