Claustrophobia & Rides/Queues

[Didi8367]

One member of our party is somewhat claustrophobic. It's not severe (she's fine in, for example, elevators), but it's something that she's had issues with at other theme parks in the past. She's found that it's worse when she's kind of caught by surprise by a small, confined space than when she's mentally prepared for it.

So, besides the obvious (Mission Space), what are some rides she should "watch out" for? Also, are there any rides where the queue is confining?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ronda93]

You mention elevators... what about really full elevators? The HM stretching room, ToT library and Nemo hydrolaters are places where guests are packed in fairly tightly for a few minutes.

 

[aidtrismommy]

Claustrophobic here, my father is also very claustrophobic in that he cannot ride elevators or go on rides with a harness, even seatbelts and lap bars that are automatic can be problematic for him. It's not necessarily tight spaces, well it is, but it is additionally places he cannot get out of.

Rides that he cannot do:
-star tours
-tower of terror
-rock in roller coaster
-stich

Rides that have uncomfortable queues:
-Some parts of Voyage of the Little Mermaid (not bad unless full of people in first cave)
-It's tough to be a bug waiting area (inside under the tree)
-Haunted Mansion when first inside
-Tower of Terror room

That's all I can think of right now...

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

The HM stretching room comes to mind. If she's good with elevators, she may be fine, but it's a packed elevator like environment that gets dark, and mentions having "no windows, no doors, no way out".

 

[Didi8367]

Thanks all. Good info.

Yes, she's OK with elevators--even full ones. She says it's because she knows what to expect from an elevator and can employ whatever breathing/visualization techniques work for her. So HM and TOT should be OK.

I was with her recently at another theme park (Silver Dollar City in Missouri) and the times she got a little panicky were when we suddenly found ourselves in a small space or otherwise confined. For example, in one attraction (It was one of those "Crooked/Slanted House" type attractions--where balls and water seem to roll uphill, etc.), you start off in a series of regular size rooms and she was fine with that. But then as we wound our way through the attraction, we suddenly found ourselves faced with having to walk down a very tight, dark, narrow stairway (like, so tight that you really couldn't fully hold your arms out to the sides) and that freaked her out.

Or, (similar to what aidtrismommy pointed out) attractions that have very tight, over the shoulder harnesses were tough for her as well. So, she'll probably want to avoid those.

 

[Vernie822]

I am not severely claustrophobic, but at some points very uncomfortable if I feel the space I'm in is too small/stuffy. I also hate the darkness, so Space Mountain was awful the last time I went. This is the first time I have went as an adult - as a kid this did not bother me. Not sure if this is something that would bother her or not but thought I would point it out!

 

[TillyMarigold]

I'm somewhat claustrophobic also, and there are some indoor twisty queues (the ones where there are walls on both sides of you rather than low ropes or bars) that I can find hard to deal with; but more so at DLR than WDW.

The main one at WDW is some parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue. The HM stretching room can be tricky--I like to stand near the wall and put my arms behind me so I know at least there's space behind me I can move into. You used to be able to skip the stretching room but I've heard you can't anymore due to the new queue there. Weirdly, the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor waiting area is probably my biggest issue after the PoTC queue and the HM stretching room. Star Tours is a little weird at first when they shut the doors, but once the story gets going, I can ignore the claustrophobia.

No one should ever ride Stitch's Great Escape under any circumstances, but claustrophobia probably makes it worse. I don't like It's Tough to Be a Bug so I don't remember the queue very well because I haven't ridden it in 15 years. I haven't ridden ToT (been through the queue, and no problems) but I'm planning to do RnRC for the first time this year.

At DLR, I remember the Monsters Inc. ride queue and especially the Roger Rabbit queue being very difficult.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think the best thing you can do is make a list of the rides you want to ride and have your friend watch them on Youtube first (the POV videos). Many of them show the queues as well.

That way they can see exactly how it's set up and make their own choice about riding or not.

 

[KristinU]

Probably not an issue since it isn't very popular, but the caves at Tom Sawyer Island can be tight.

Also something for her to anticipate is ride stoppages, especially on the continuous looping ones, they happen a lot (Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion), or if it is busy you may have to wait to pull up to disembark on Rock n Roller and others like it. The RnR wait kinda wigged me out on our last visit.

 

[alvernon90]

I think it would also be helpful to be sure to let your friend know that it's OK not to do everything, and you are perfectly happy if your friend skips an experience due to issues with crowds or confined spaces. I can imagine that the self-imposed pressure to go along anyway so as not to be the "wet blanket" ruining everyone else's fun would be intense. A bench and snack based trip can be just as fun as a thrill ride based trip.

 

[tzolkin]

Do they still have the roller coaster simulator in Innoventions?

If so, do not do that one. I tried it once with DD. The ride was bad enough (I have severe motion sickness), but then our capsule failed to open. During the ride there is a fan blowing on your face and the screen is illuminated, but we had to sit with our upper bodies basically inside a dark box with no air until maintenance came to get us out.

I knew there were warnings for claustrophobia, but I figured I would be fine to let DD do a quick ride. I never thought about the possibility of being stuck in there.

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I will start this off by saying I'm the type that avoids elevators at all costs, won't go in revolving doors you get the idea

As a Clautophobic these are my NOPE NOPE NOPE items:

Caves at Tom Sawyer: Not only are they covered by walls on the sides but also top and are narrow and dark with no way to know when you'll be out. But also teens like to hide in them and scare people (yes I've almost punched a kid at Disney)

The line at Splash especially in the mountain part and during summer can be daunting and people pack in so close to you its hard to find your breath

Mission Space and Sum of All Thrills the screens are just way too close to my face and that combined with being locked in a harness NOPE

I've never had a problem with ToT thought that my be because that is my favorite ride and I always get front row and have never gotten "stuck" in the boiler room.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

"Probably not an issue since it isn't very popular, but the caves at Tom Sawyer Island can be tight."

I am not so much claustrophobic, but, fear getting stuck (whatever phobia that is). I have started to force myself to go through the caves on TSI (specially the escape tunnel in the fort). I get the shakes sometimes thinking about it.

I can't think of anything else at WDW that makes me feel trapped or likely to get stuck.

As for punching folks at WDW, I had to backhand a guy once. Guy attacked my wife while we waited for Expedition Everest. Went all crybaby over it afterwards. I think he had drunk too much at dinner.

 

[Mikie]

The workshop room at Enchanted Tales with Belle has a "crowded elevator" feel. Strangely, I got a little claustrophobic waiting for Monsters inc laugh floor! Something clearly delayed our entering and we had all done the "move all the way up, fill in all empty spaces" routine & just ended up standing bout 7 additional minutes squished in a room. Basically, I think most rides/attractions will be ok if operating normally, but unexpected stops and delays could be a problem (agree with RnR when stopped & you've got those big shoulder harnesses on)

 

[Disneylover99]

Do they still have the roller coaster simulator in Innoventions?

If so, do not do that one. I tried it once with DD. The ride was bad enough (I have severe motion sickness), but then our capsule failed to open. During the ride there is a fan blowing on your face and the screen is illuminated, but we had to sit with our upper bodies basically inside a dark box with no air until maintenance came to get us out.

I knew there were warnings for claustrophobia, but I figured I would be fine to let DD do a quick ride. I never thought about the possibility of being stuck in there.

Ugh....getting stuck on that would be a nightmare for me! I tried to go on it once and as soon as they shut me in, I screamed for them to open it. Not my finest moment.

Anyways... I have problems with lap bars. Just don't let anyone put your lap bar down so it's touching you. And always have a bottle of water and some mints handy as a distraction. It helps a bit.

 

[PAMom24girls]

I am mildly claustrophobic and the one that gets to me is TSMM, only the portion where you go up the stairs and it looks like you are inside a big top. For some reason once i round the u-turn and am facing out I am fine.

 

[tommy44440]

Does Disney recognize claustrophobia with their GAC cards

 

[prudence64]

None bother me during the rides, but I get uncomfortable during the wait to go into the theater for its tough to be a bug

 

[Didi8367]

Thanks again! I am making a list for her and I think she'll probably do exactly as suggested and look everything up on YouTube. I know she won't feel "peer-pressured" to do anything she doesn't want to do, but this is her (and my for that matter) first time and we're going with several other family members (she's actually my SIL), so she'll want to do as much as possible.

At any rate. Thanks for all the great info. and suggestions.

 

[lurkernj]

I'm fairly claustrophobic. I do 8 flights of stairs everyday at work to avoid the elevators.

The rides I have a problem with are
Mission space
Stitch
Tower of terror (occasionally, not sure why sometimes I'm ok and others not )
Tom Sawyer caves
And once I started freaking out in bugs life entrance when it was pretty packed

For some reason the stretching room doesn't phase me