claustrophobic...

[gracey712]

I'm wondering what rides I should avoid that are confining? I was reading on eallears about some rides and there were a few at mk that sounded pretty tight. I'm not terribly claustrophobic, but get kinda squeemish if i feel "trapped". Anything I should avoid?

 

[jonkatony]

Avoid Misson Space.

 

[addicted2disney]

Yes, definately avoid Mission Space. Did the new Stitch attraction leave the shoulder bars on it? That makes you trapped in your seat if they are still there.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Mission:Space is the only ride that every bothered me in this way - but then again, I'm not claustrophobic by nature (only this ride does it to me).

Perhaps if you told us exactly what bothers you, it would be easier to give recommendations. For instance, some people don't like being in enclosed rooms period, some people just don't like not being able to move freely, etc. Haunted Mansion, for instance, has a few tight turns, but doesn't bother most people, but I'm sure it would some. Same for any of the dark rides, really - like Snow White, for example.

N.E.D.

 

[extraredstuff]

Let me be the third to say stay away from Mission Space. It was on that ride that I discovered how truely claustrophobic I was..... Spent the whole time alternating between closing my eyes pretending to be somewhere else and looking for a non-existent panic button

Alien Encounter didn't bother me much (haven't been on since the Stitch refurb), but I did sit a little taller in the seat when the shoulder harness was coming down. That way when it stopped I could sit more normally and not have those things resting right on me.

 

[AJKMOM]

If you are truly claustrophobic, avoid Haunted Mansion. You go into a dark room with a lot of people, and the door closes. As they say, "there are no doors and no windows", and then the lights go out for a second before they let you out.

Also the pre-show to Tower of Terror is the same way, you go into a small room with a bunch of people, and you are closed in. I personally hate elevators, but these 2 don't bother me because I know what is gong to happen.

 

[DisneyMim]

I am claustophobic too (just recently had to have a MRI, don't know how I made it!!). I don't do mission space, but Stitch, the old Alien ride, kinda bothers me. Usually I just skip it and go shopping when my family wants to go on it. If I do go on it I just grab the harness before it comes down to sit on my shoulders so it won't come all the way down. Haunted Mansion has never bothered me and I've been riding it forever. We all all different, so maybe some rides will bother you more. What I have found is that NO ride is worth getting sick over. There is much more to Disney than the rides.

Have a Wonderful Vacation!!!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

If you are truly claustrophobic, avoid Haunted Mansion. You go into a dark room with a lot of people, and the door closes. As they say, "there are no doors and no windows", and then the lights go out for a second before they let you out.

You can ask to skip the streching room.

N.E.D.

 

[philaround]

Mission Space is the only really tight ride envirinment but there are many other rides that might affect you if you are extremely clauastrophobic. These rides may be a problm for some people due to periods of blackout and/or ride restraints.
Stich
Space Mountain
Snow White's Scarey Adventures
The Caves on Tom Sawyer Island
Haunted Mansion
TTA
Journey into Imagination
Maelstrom
Body Wars
Universe of Energy
Rock 'n' Roller coaster
Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Dinosaur
It's tough to be a Bug

Now other then Mission Space, which would bother even the least claustrophobic person, you would have to be at least moderately claustrophic for most of these other rides and some would bother only the most severe cases

 

[gracey712]

I can handle rides that have the restraint coming over my shoulders, it's closed in rooms that get me the most. Darkness doesnt bother me either, unless its shoulder to shoulder crowded, I'm okay on elevators unless they're completely packed, then I need to be right in font of the door. Sometimes when I'm in the back seat of my truck and I forget the child locks are on I can kinda freak out becuase I cannot get out.

 

[addicted2disney]

gracey-
Then you might want to skip the beginning rooms of Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion. Each attraction has a room you enter before you get in the line for the ride. Both rooms are small, and depending on crowd levels that day, you may be standing shoulder to shoulder in a dark room that you cant get out of.

 

[Deedee]

I am a little like that i feel i can`t breathe when in enclosed spaces. A tip though if you don`t want to miss the ride stand close to an emergency exit door and focus on the exit sign they never go out works for me good luck.

 

[guangs]

I can say from experience that SOUNDS DANGEROUS at MGM put me right into a panic attack that lasted a week. If you have claustrophobia don't do this one. It's not a small space, but you go into a pretty large room and sit down. Then it gets completely dark!! I mean dark! You feel like you are in a very small place. I couldn't breathe. Maybe it's just me, but I will never do this again. Claustrophobia is not fun!!

 

[disneyandme]

When I was pregnant with my first I developed some problems too. (though they have mostly gone away after 6 yrs. ) Watch out for the begining of Spaceship Earth -- the begining has a ride up an incline in the dark and the area seems narrow to me. It only takes a few moments and then it opens way up!!

 

[jann1033]

i am very claustrophobic bordering on psychotic( ok erase the "bordering on") and haven't had much trouble. i was afraid about MS but the screen is right in front of you with a "view" on it and air is blowing on you and you can't look around so i didn'tfeel trapped at all.

the little rooms ie tot are kind of confining espc.cause they bring in a whole crowd...last time in tot i just turned around and "looked " at the things on the wall behind me`which allowed me to step back and no one came right in front of me so i wasn't jammed up against the wall or in a horde of people ( i couldn't see them all crowding a round behind me)

i also never watch them shut the doors on the things like MS, star tours ect. i just busy my addled little brain with "oh look how pretty that shirt is" or 'YIkes are they uglY!" thoughts and look away from the doors

definitly skip the caves on tom sayer island where i had a melt down( not a pretty sight) and (if you are going off season this won't be a problem)try not to wait in long lines cause they snake around sometimes in darkened, close places.

 

[klwdisney]

I found the waiting area for It's Tough to be a Bug to be awfully confining. I don't have too much of a problem with tight spaces, but they were packing us in like cattle and the ceilings are low, etc. Freaked me out! But I'll bet you could skip that if you asked...

 

[jann1033]

(just recently had to have a MRI, don't know how I made it!!). .

!!!

ot but
me too!!! don't know how many times they had to roll me in, i'd freak, they had to roll me out, put me in, freak, out, in, freak, out...fortunatly they were very patient with me and the music helped a little

 

[jann1033]

I found the waiting area for It's Tough to be a Bug to be awfully confining. I don't have too much of a problem with tight spaces, but they were packing us in like cattle and the ceilings are low, etc. Freaked me out! But I'll bet you could skip that if you asked...

yes that was creepy..we went first thing and so it wasn't really crowded and i was able to hover near the main entrance till "show time"or it would have been tom sawyer caves all over again and no toddler waiting with me would ever go on it again( "but Mommy will the crazy screaming lady be there again??. me scared of her!")

 

[flbelle82]

I am claustrophibic as well, but have found ways around it to ride rides I really enjoy with help from my family. I also stay away from It's Tough To Be a Bug and Stitch (although I would stay away from that terrible ride anyway!). But the Haunted Mansion is my favorite ride and I ride several times a day when I go. This is what I do, when I go into the crowded dark room, I hold on to someone in my party, usually my DMom or DBoyfriend, if I start to feel anxiety coming on, I close my eyes and let them tell me when it's time to move, then let them lead and guide me through the crowd. Also having ridden so many times, I know the ride now and feel comfortable getting around, therefore the small rooms and crowds rarely effect me anymore. Now the area I have the biggest problem with is lines. Standing still with people all around me is enough to make me sick, very fast sometimes. So my family came up with a plan when I was about 3 and still continue it to this day. Someone will get in line ahead of me and leave some space between me and them, then another person in our party gets in line behind me again, leaving about a foot of space between us. Although this sometimes annoys others in line (without reason) it seems to give me the space to never feel confined, it's amazing what those few inches can do. And finally if you do go into a show or ride where they jam you into a cramped row, try to sit in the middle of your party, it has alswyas helped me to have the comfort of my family on both sides of me, plus they are more understanding in your need for more arm, leg, or breathing room and will shift to accomodate you! Hope this helps!

 

[Kristina]

I am not really claustrophibic but I have had slight panic attacks before and it's a horrible feeling, so it was with some worry that I veiwed the photos of the Soarin seating when the ride first opened. It's wierd because the seats are wide open in a huge space but sure enough after being belted in, on two occasions, I couldn't ride and had to call for the CM to release me. I was heartbroken because I was so looking forward to riding! I tried to explain to my DBF when he got off but it's hard because I knew I would have been safe had I just sat still and enjoyed myself, but since I couldn't jump off without major injury, I felt trapped. I ride most everything else without any problem except a moment now and then of wierdness which I can shake off.

I really think that if the ride seating had feet supports and hand grips higher up on the sides, I could have ridden without any problems. When I told my Mom, who has suffered from panic attacks as well, that your legs hang free, she said " oh thats not good". She understood . I never did ride it, and came home afew days ago. I told my DBF that I would have to go home and talk to the people on the Dis to see if I can find a way to relax and ride it on our next trip.

I can ride TOT but then I have to sit in row #6, in the corner in the back row, where I feel safe because I can see everyone and the corner helps me feel secure, plus there is a extra higher hand grip there. I feel in love with TOT on this trip, because after 2 rides all my fear went away, and now it's so much fun!