Claustrophobia

[KSL]

@SueinMN - thank you, I don't know how I missed that! Excellent info; much appreciated.

 

[BabyFu18]

I would avoid Disney transpiration in high traffic times (EMH, park opening/park closing, etc.) buses, boats and the monorail can get super packed and can be claustrophobic for those who aren't normally affected so for someone with issues being in enclosed spaces it might end up being a nightmare. Since you have a car I'm sure that won't be an issue, but just something to think about in case you decide to walk to a park then hop to another, might be forced to use Disney transportation to get back to your hotel.

 

[DisneyOma]

She does not need to be in a specific seat, but does cope better when she can sit 4-8 rows from the front of the plane. Not sure how my post gave you the impression that she lives miserably. I'll ignore your comments regarding drugs and therapy.

I guess the part about having to sit to be able to see the back and front, not be here nor there, made it into a specific seat to me. And to me, that means nothing else will work - so if that seat is not available, no flight. And that's miserable to me. Do you have something against therapy and drugs? If so, that's your problem, and you shouldn't project that on other, especially your mom, who could live a much more relaxed, fuller life if therapy and drugs help.

 

[KSL]

I do not wish this thread to involve arguments or debate regarding the pros/cons/appropriateness of drugs/therapy. Hence, I am ignoring. The fact that I am ignoring does not imply any negative sentiment.

 

[StaciaRae]

I suffer from anxiety and claustrophobia and one thing that helps me is Rescue Remedy chewing gum. My doctor says it is psychosomatic, that its just gum - but I don't care. That gum really helps me. I always have a pack in my purse and if I start to get anxious, I'll start chewing a piece or two and within a minute or two I feel much better. And, it tastes good too! My kids like it - but I try to not let them have any because it is sort of expensive. I get it from amazon. I would suggest trying it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Let's get back to suggestions for which attractions might be problematic please.

 

[gap2368]

not sure if anyone has said this but RD might be a problem if you are in the middle of it, I know I have a few disabilities where I do not do well with crowds and this is one of the hardest things because I want to be there for RD but not in the DR crowd to have some shorter lines

 

[DisneyOma]

I'd suggest staying off any attractions with restraints. Could you show her the attractions on Youtube so that she'd know what it would be like before she gets on?

 

[ttintagel]

2 yes you can skip the stretching room just ask when you get in side.

OMG, if you actually made this work you're some kind of wizard. I'm visually impaired, and it isn't safe either for me or the people around me for me to walk through the stretching rooms and the passageway to the loading area, ever since the stretching rooms for made wheelchair-accessible every single CM has taken no signed with their own blood and pledging the life of their firstborn that nobody is going to get any kind of accommodation that lets them bypass. The old vision stamp in the old GAC days? Don't care. Walking into walls? Don't care. Ask for a manager? Wait 45 minutes to hear the same thing. One guy kept insisting, over and over, to the point of interrupting me mid-sentence, that it was physically impossible to enter the show building without going through the stretching rooms.

Since the HM CM'saren't required to act in a cheerful and sunny manner, way too many of them take that as an excuse to not actually be helpful.

So sure, you can ask, you should ask, never hurts to ask - just don't go in there blithely unprepared for disappointment.

Don't get me wrong, Disney is head and shoulders above most destinations for accommodation. But my first visit as an adult with disabilities was *way* more disappointing than it should have been, because I went in with this super-unrealistic attitude I gained from reading lots of message boards that said, "All you have to do is ask, and all the CM's will give you the accommodation you need regardless of whether it's part of written policy!"

The reality is that CM's are human beings like everyone else, and some have more caring and empathy than others. Some will go out of their way to make sure that people with disabilities get the same opportunities as able-bodied guests, and some will do only what the letter of the rulebook absolutely requires them to do, and no more.

(Some will try to do even less, like the college kid who told me I had to walk up the broken speed ramp at the end of Pirates of the Caribbean on crutches and a cast because 'Well, there *is* an elevator, but we're not supposed to use it' because he didn't feel like getting the keys and walking us over to the elevator doors.)

I had a much better time on my second visit, because my expectations about CM attitudes were a lot more realistic.

 

[gap2368]

OMG, if you actually made this work you're some kind of wizard. I'm visually impaired, and it isn't safe either for me or the people around me for me to walk through the stretching rooms and the passageway to the loading area, ever since the stretching rooms for made wheelchair-accessible every single CM has taken no signed with their own blood and pledging the life of their firstborn that nobody is going to get any kind of accommodation that lets them bypass. The old vision stamp in the old GAC days? Don't care. Walking into walls? Don't care. Ask for a manager? Wait 45 minutes to hear the same thing. One guy kept insisting, over and over, to the point of interrupting me mid-sentence, that it was physically impossible to enter the show building without going through the stretching rooms.

Since the HM CM'saren't required to act in a cheerful and sunny manner, way too many of them take that as an excuse to not actually be helpful.

So sure, you can ask, you should ask, never hurts to ask - just don't go in there blithely unprepared for disappointment.

Don't get me wrong, Disney is head and shoulders above most destinations for accommodation. But my first visit as an adult with disabilities was *way* more disappointing than it should have been, because I went in with this super-unrealistic attitude I gained from reading lots of message boards that said, "All you have to do is ask, and all the CM's will give you the accommodation you need regardless of whether it's part of written policy!"

The reality is that CM's are human beings like everyone else, and some have more caring and empathy than others. Some will go out of their way to make sure that people with disabilities get the same opportunities as able-bodied guests, and some will do only what the letter of the rulebook absolutely requires them to do, and no more.

(Some will try to do even less, like the college kid who told me I had to walk up the broken speed ramp at the end of Pirates of the Caribbean on crutches and a cast because 'Well, there *is* an elevator, but we're not supposed to use it' because he didn't feel like getting the keys and walking us over to the elevator doors.)

I had a much better time on my second visit, because my expectations about CM attitudes were a lot more realistic.

Are you talking about Disneyland or Disney world because at Disney world I have skipped the streaming room, ever time I have gone on for the last 3 years, I do not do this that often but will say at lest 50 to 60 time easily and ever time I have no problem with skipping it.

 

[ttintagel]

Are you talking about Disneyland or Disney world because at Disney world I have skipped the streaming room, ever time I have gone on for the last 3 years, I do not do this that often but will say at lest 50 to 60 time easily and ever time I have no problem with skipping it.

Walt Disney World. And it's not just me; most of the people I've encountered online have had the same problem. I know that some people have had success bypassing the stretching room when they have small children who are frightened, but as far as adults, your experience is one I'm very rarely heard of. You've had some pretty serious pixie dust that the okay simply can't count on replicating.

(It would be different at Disneyland, because it's an elevator that takes you down to the tunnel under the berm that leads to the show building.)

 

[gap2368]

Walt Disney World. And it's not just me; most of the people I've encountered online have had the same problem. I know that some people have had success bypassing the stretching room when they have small children who are frightened, but as far as adults, your experience is one I'm very rarely heard of.

(It would be different at Disneyland, because it's an elevator that takes you down to the tunnel under the berm that leads to the show building.)

hmm that is ward I can think of 5 people I know personally that skip it for different reason and only one has a child ( 15, and the child has no disabilities at all. the last time I want someone behind me asked to skip it too. and I have not heard of anyone beside you say they have a hard time ( not saying that you did not I just do not remember it)

sorry this happened to you maybe you can try agin when the line is not long and see what happens, you just might have had a bad CM and manager

 

[ttintagel]

hmm that is ward I can think of 5 people I know personally that skip it for different reason and only one has a child ( 15, and the child has no disabilities at all. the last time I want someone behind me asked to skip it too. and I have not heard of anyone beside you say they have a hard time ( not saying that you did not I just do not remember it)

sorry this happened to you maybe you can try agin when the line is not long and see what happens, you just might have had a bad CM and manager

It wouldn't be *a* bad CM and manager, it would be many consistently bad CM's and managers over multiple trips, for multiple guests.

 

[gap2368]

It wouldn't be *a* bad CM and manager, it would be many consistently bad CM's and managers over multiple trips, for multiple guests.

sorry this happened to you but all I can say is what has happened to me and people I personally know that has asked for this, and it has worked for a number of people I know. I would suggest anyone that need to skip the stretching room to talk to the CM and explain why they need it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have heard of more people being told they could NOT skip the stretching room than were able to skip it in the last few years.

This has happened in the last few years to us (travel with a wheelchair) and other people who came in at the same times as us with various other issues (mobility cane, vision cane, Service dog):

- at the Fastpass merge point, directed to stay to the right in the line before going into the building

- entering the building into the first room, directed by the CM to stay to the right in that room and let all the other guests enter the stretching room before us. Most of time, that CM has a flashlight to point where the right side wall of the room is located. (It's possible there may be a 'chicken exit' from that room to the exit hallway, but I have not seen or heard of it.)

- entering the stretching room after all the other guests are already inside. Directed by the CM by voice and flashlights to the stay close to the wall closest to where we entered and told to stay in the stretching room until all the other guests have left to be directed to an alternate boarding area.

- after the stretching room, at least one (usually 2) CMs directed us by voice and flashlight to the small hallway that bypasses the regular loading area and goes to the exit to board.

- there is a chain at the end of the hallway; the CM from the exit who comes to the chain asks guests what assistance they need.
Our need is to have a complete stop of the moving walkway and bring DD's wheelchair up to the ride car. This has not been an issue. The CM tells us the ride can only be stopped on a certain car and about how long it will be. A few minutes before, we are directed to wait just outside of the end of the moving walkway.
Mobilty devices can be parked by the user or one of their party in a parking area outside of the building (about 100 - 200 feet from the hallway waiting area). A small number can be parked in the exit hallway.
Those who can walk and don't need the walkway stopped have been directed to walk up a hallway with a 1/2 wall that runs parallel to the moving exit walkway. They board at the start of the exit moving walkway so they have the whole distance to board.

DH lifts DD into the Doombuggy and the CM takes the wheelchair out to the exit (about 20 feet from the stopped doombuggy). After we are done riding, the walkway is stopped for us to get out. I am usually the one to bring the wheelchair to the doombuggy.

 

[stitchlovestink]

OMG, if you actually made this work you're some kind of wizard. I'm visually impaired, and it isn't safe either for me or the people around me for me to walk through the stretching rooms and the passageway to the loading area, ever since the stretching rooms for made wheelchair-accessible every single CM has taken no signed with their own blood and pledging the life of their firstborn that nobody is going to get any kind of accommodation that lets them bypass. The old vision stamp in the old GAC days? Don't care. Walking into walls? Don't care. Ask for a manager? Wait 45 minutes to hear the same thing. One guy kept insisting, over and over, to the point of interrupting me mid-sentence, that it was physically impossible to enter the show building without going through the stretching rooms.

Since the HM CM'saren't required to act in a cheerful and sunny manner, way too many of them take that as an excuse to not actually be helpful.

So sure, you can ask, you should ask, never hurts to ask - just don't go in there blithely unprepared for disappointment.

Don't get me wrong, Disney is head and shoulders above most destinations for accommodation. But my first visit as an adult with disabilities was *way* more disappointing than it should have been, because I went in with this super-unrealistic attitude I gained from reading lots of message boards that said, "All you have to do is ask, and all the CM's will give you the accommodation you need regardless of whether it's part of written policy!"

The reality is that CM's are human beings like everyone else, and some have more caring and empathy than others. Some will go out of their way to make sure that people with disabilities get the same opportunities as able-bodied guests, and some will do only what the letter of the rulebook absolutely requires them to do, and no more.

(Some will try to do even less, like the college kid who told me I had to walk up the broken speed ramp at the end of Pirates of the Caribbean on crutches and a cast because 'Well, there *is* an elevator, but we're not supposed to use it' because he didn't feel like getting the keys and walking us over to the elevator doors.)

I had a much better time on my second visit, because my expectations about CM attitudes were a lot more realistic.

I skip the stretching room too. I once had a CM who tried to insist I couldn't. I didn't enter the stretching room. She told me I couldn't skip it. I said I most definitely can and did not go in. She asked her fellow CM about skipping and the other CM said "yes she can skip it" and then told her to take me down the hallway. She was annoyed that I was right. While we were waiting to board, a different CM told us that sometimes they try to do that and make it appear you cannot skip the stretching room when they are short/under staffed as it temporarily takes a CM away from an assigned position and it is just easier for the CMs not to let guests. But it can always be done. Don't let the CMs bully you.

 

[gap2368]

I skip the stretching room too. I once had a CM who tried to insist I couldn't. I didn't enter the stretching room. She told me I couldn't skip it. I said I most definitely can and did not go in. She asked her fellow CM about skipping and the other CM said "yes she can skip it" and then told her to take me down the hallway. She was annoyed that I was right. While we were waiting to board, a different CM told us that sometimes they try to do that and make it appear you cannot skip the stretching room when they are short/under staffed as it temporarily takes a CM away from an assigned position and it is just easier for the CMs not to let guests. But it can always be done. Don't let the CMs bully you.

This maybe why I never have had a problem as the HM is not one of the rides I really like so I only do it when it is slow and not many guest around. I have had a time or two the CM will say go out the door and stand by the crips and another CM will be with you soon.

 

[2disneywego]

I have an anxiety disorder with some claustrophobia and the 2 attractions that triggered a full-blown panic attack were Nemo and Tough to be a Bug. The lower ceilings and being surrounded by people with "no way out" were the big issues.
My mom suffers from severe claustrophobia and anxiety and I just focused on her and was always able to get her out quickly. I was concerned about her so much if there were any comments by anyone, I never noticed.
Hugs and pixie dust for you. Remember that many people feel the same way and will be understanding.
Feel free to pm if you have any specific questions.

 

[msce2]

Everyone is a little different but here are my 2 cents...

Easy Mission Space - I freaked out, it could not end soon enough for me. I did sing it's a small world to get through it though.
Tower of Terror - Could see this causing panic
Star Tours is definitely a no go for me. I think it's the door closing but I also have motion sickness so the combo for me was enough to say never again.
Soarin - Don't know whether it's the height or the straps but I can usually relax enough through it to enjoy but could see it not being for everyone
Stitches Great Escape - I put my hands up when the bars try to come down so that they aren't on my shoulders and aren't tight and that seems to help.

 

[lindseyanne]

I've suffered from severe anxiety for a few years now, and much like your mother, I usually experience claustrophobia that can evolve into a full-blown panic attack when I'm in a situation where either I a) can't see an exit or b) feel like I CAN'T exit. I'm not a thrill ride fan, so I just don't ride things like Tower of Terror or Mission:Space. These are the non-thrill rides where I've felt intense claustrophobia:

--Star Tours: As others above have said, knowing the doors are locked and that I'm strapped in and can't leave until the entire ride sequence is done triggers intense panic.
--Spaceship Earth: Your mileage may vary with this one, because I know many people who suffer from claustrophobia don't experience it on SSE. Besides the entrance tunnel and the backwards exit tunnel, a lot of people feel like the ride scenes create the illusion of open space. Unfortunately, I don't, and entire ride feels very "tight" for me--which stinks, because it's a great ride, and one of my favorites! I will note that if your mother is sensitive to lack of air flow, I would definitely recommend bringing a handheld fan on SSE in particular, because over the past few years the air flow on SSE seems noticeably bad to me. Lately, it's felt incredibly stuffy on that ride.
--Universe of Energy: The good thing about UoE is that the ride vehicles are wide and usually never completely full, so you have a nice amount of space, and the walls and rooms are high. The bad thing is that you can't leave for almost 40 minutes without triggering an emergency stop.
--The Great Movie Ride: Again, this is one where your mileage my vary, because the ride itself creates the illusion of wide open spaces. However, I can't ride this one anymore due to the seating (I hate feeling like I'm being crammed into a ride vehicle like a sardine) and the fact that it's on the longer side and I can't exit.
--Stitch's Great Escape: Claustrophobia + a harness that locks over your shoulders = NOPE NOPE NOPPPPPPPE.
--Carousel of Progress: This one is usually okay for me on days when the Magic Kingdom isn't super busy and the theatre isn't completely full. I will often feel anxiety rising up because I know that the only way to exit will trigger an emergency stop, but I can usually ride it out (no pun intended) knowing that the show itself is only 21 minutes long.

One thing I would highly recommend when you're in the parks is to pull up the guide that WDW has for guests with cognitive disabilities (I access it at this link: https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...bilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide_rev.pdf) and keep it up on the web browser on your phone because on pages 22-38 it lists the run times for every attraction (not taking into account time spent waiting in line/attraction down time). When I'm feeling particularly claustrophobic, either in line or on an attraction, I can usually calm myself down by checking the attraction's run time; that way, I can think to myself, "well, there's only about 2 minutes left...anyone can survive anything for 2 minutes."