Mission Space Claustrophobic

[JoWilly]

Our family has never taken the time to ride Mission Space because of the fear of how closed in you are inside the simulator. Thinking about the possibility of trying it now but still a little apprehensive about the claustrophobia. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if they have this issue and rode anyways and how bad it was really (FYI we would not be doing the spinning side lol). Also if we did give it a go and had a change of mind once the ride takes off is there a way to stop or are you just stuck until the experience is over?

I would never suggest this ride even if your claustrophobia is minor.

 

[minnie mum]

If your DH couldn't handle an MRI, he won't be able to handle MS. Simple as that. But is the entire family claustrophobic? If not, why not let the others enjoy the ride while the affected members wait for them?

 

[manakin]

I think maybe you can just give it a try. You can just do the queue (if it's not long, don't use a FP if you're not sure) and the pre show. Then check the cabin and consider the space you will have after the panel is down and the door is closed. They take some time to check all the cabin so you have a minute to think about it I think that at least you can go inside the attraction, just for your curiosity.

by the way, I really love this ride, the Orange team is really an immersive and incredible experience. Personally I never felt sick after that (but, for instance, I ALWAYS get sick after harry potter and the forbidden journey).

 

[ldo]

I didn't know I was claustrophobic until I got in MS. I literally freaked out and had to bang the door to get out before the ride started. If I could have stopped the ride at any time, I probablly could have done it. But, knowing I couldn't just push a button and stop it made it a no go for me.

 

[AngiTN]

I love the ride but I have always said that if you have even an iota of claustrophobia this is a ride you should stay far away from. I can't imagine how bad it would be

 

[Koroshiya-Ichi]

Last year my mother and I decided to ride Mission Space for the very first time (green/less intense side.) I had wanted to ride it for a long time but my mother is claustrophobic and I didn't want to go alone, so she finally talked herself into riding it on our last trip. I'd rank her claustrophobia in the moderate-to-severe range, and though I expected her to have an anxiety attack at best or a full-scale freakout at worst, she was surprisingly calm and ended up really enjoying the ride. She does get very uncomfortable at the beginning when it swings you in towards the console, but as others have said, once the ride gets going it seems to get easier to let the fear slip away as you are immersed into the ride experience. My mom even went so far as to say she regrets letting her fear keep her from trying it out for so many years. That being said, I wouldn't advise a claustrophobic person to ride Mission Space UNLESS they felt confident a potential panic attack had no chance of ruining the rest of their day.

Personally, I'm terrified of heights/rollercoasters and had to psyche myself up for YEARS to ride things like Everest, TOT & Space Mountain by telling myself "yes I'll be terrified, but the ride lasts only a few minutes of my life - then it's over and I'll have the dual victory of having gotten to ride the rides as well as facing my fears." Fear dominates my daily life as I have terrible generalized and social anxiety, so I was very proud of myself for being able to use something positive like Disney World rides to try to challenge myself to not let my fears make my decisions for me. Not everyone feels strongly enough about these rides to want to do that, and that's totally fine too. Just know that it IS possible for claustrophobics to ride and enjoy Mission Space, and make the decision that's best for your personal safety and sanity that will allow you to go forth from your trip with as few regrets as possible.

Some other thoughts - is there something you can do to try to stay calm(er) if the tight space does cause a panic attack? Do you practice any relaxation techniques to utilize during super anxious moments? Things like focused breathing exercises that can help you push through initial high levels of anxiety in order to calm down. Or maybe there's a small personal belonging you associate with calming/positive feelings that you can take with you and hold to distract and soothe yourself. That might sound silly, but hey, whatever helps!

 

[manakin]

I think that also may be a big help knowing that inside the cabin there are lots of fan who keep the air inside really fresh and cool during all the ride. Seem a minor things, but that really help a lot

 

[Parker Clan]

I rode it and felt extremely claustrophobic! I would never do it again

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

If your DH couldn't handle an MRI, he won't be able to handle MS. Simple as that. But is the entire family claustrophobic? If not, why not let the others enjoy the ride while the affected members wait for them?

This is what we do. I can do Sum of all Thrills and I can do an MRI; I can't do Mission Space green. At least the MRI had an opening even if it was further away than I liked it to be. You are harnessed into MS like for an upside-down coaster and then your capsule (4 people total) is shut and then the screens and "controls" you're looking at come toward you - right there, as in just in front of you!
Note that those riding will seem to be gone a long time due to the pre-show, mission brief, etc. so the person not riding could sit down and have a coffee rather than worry about what happened to the rest of the group.

 

[Dreamport]

Mission Space is a very tight space. My claustrophobic friend rode it was the Green side (no spinning) and she had to enter first so she could exit as soon as the doors opened again and we headed straight outside. That was her second ride and she said no more.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I have no idea if I rode green or orange, but I'm not sure it mattered. When that panel moved toward me I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I might have been a little better off if I was on the end of the row, but I had people on both sides of me and felt very squeezed in. It was a horrible experience. I have never felt that kind of panic before and I never want to experience it again.

 

[nicolebridget22]

I never thought I had issues with claustrophobia until I went on this ride. Now I know I am claustrophobic. It was one thing to squeeze in there but then when the console tilted in...NO. NOT WANT. I didn't want to make a scene so I just closed my eyes, thought of wide open spaces, and breathed deeply until it was over. Now I know I can't handle it and I won't ride again.

 

[disneyfam31]

It's definitely very different than having an MRI. However if someone can't handle an MRI it's highly unlikely they can cope with the lack of space on this ride.

I am moderately claustrophobic, but did both the green and orange rides. The first experience on green was hard at first when the CM shut the door and the ride starts. However, after that I was enjoying the ride and taking my mind off the small space.

I would consider talking to a CM to see if they can open the door after it starts in case you want to get off.

 

[Shanti]

Our family has never taken the time to ride Mission Space because of the fear of how closed in you are inside the simulator. Thinking about the possibility of trying it now but still a little apprehensive about the claustrophobia. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if they have this issue and rode anyways and how bad it was really (FYI we would not be doing the spinning side lol). Also if we did give it a go and had a change of mind once the ride takes off is there a way to stop or are you just stuck until the experience is over?

Would you be okay with being locked in a coffin for 6 minutes, as long as you had a video screen to watch? If not, skip Mission Space.

I am mildly claustrophobic (have no issues with other rides, planes, etc., just with very small enclosed spaces) and I hated it both times (did both green & orange to please my son). This is the only ride anywhere that I've decided to never go on again due to it feeling claustrophobic.

No, there is no way to get out once the 6-minute ride begins. And it's very small, no windows, three other people with you... I kept thinking, "I can handle a few minutes of this, but what if the ride breaks down or there's a power outage?"

It's not about whether you do green or orange. I've done both & the capsule is exactly the same. The spinning is miserable in orange if you have even mild motion sickness issues (this is the kind of intense spinning that you feel deep in your stomach, not mild, Tea Cups-type spinning), but the claustrophobia is the same for both green and orange.

As another poster said, it's not a great ride anyway. It is NOT like Soarin', where you'd be really missing out if you skipped it. I strongly recommend that anyone with even mild claustrophobia issues skip it entirely.

 

[AngiTN]

I have no idea if I rode green or orange, but I'm not sure it mattered. When that panel moved toward me I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I might have been a little better off if I was on the end of the row, but I had people on both sides of me and felt very squeezed in. It was a horrible experience. I have never felt that kind of panic before and I never want to experience it again.

I've done both green and orange and the confined space you are in is the same on both sides. The only difference is the intensity

 

[aprincessatlast]

The one and only time I rode it they shut the doors and nothing happened for about 5 minutes. There was a technical problem and it was terrible. I was freaking out but held it together but when it was over I ran out of the area. Never again!!!!

 

[cmph]

Don't do it! I'm not claustrophobic in any other circumstance, but I really, really disliked it the one and only time I went on. DH and older DD were going on orange, which we didn't think our younger child (5 at the time) could handle. So, I went on green with him. He was fine, but I really did not enjoy it - it's some combination of the tight space and the motion you have no control over, just not fun to me. Luckily, I will never have a reason to go again, b/c DD hated orange so much that she refuses to ever go on MS again (even green). Parenting fail on that account! Give me a good wander through the World Showcase over MS any day!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Hell, that would freak ME out!

Lol yes, it was my first time riding it too.

 

[sullyfam]

This ride was a one and done for me. I closed my eyes and went to my "happy place" until it was over. My husband is officially on duty for this one if any of our kids want to ride it.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

My mother is too claustrophobic for an MRI and no way would I ever take her on either side of Mission Space. Between the over-the-shoulder restraint, the small space, and the control console coming down right in front of you, she would absolutely flip out.

There are announcements all throughout the ride queue that tell you if you're uncomfortable with tight spaces, simulators, or spinning (on Orange) then you should exit.