Parades & Anxiety.

[MataHari22]

Hi there. I am not sure if there is even an answer to this question, but I thought I would post and see if anyone had any ideas and useful feedback. I have some medical issues and health concerns and just one of the things I deal with is general anxiety and clinical depression with agoraphobic tendencies. I have been doing better with panic attacks and everything and meds have made a big difference. I did pretty well last year with my WDW trip, but one of the things that was particularly stressful and I was totally unprepared for, was the Electric Light Parade and Wishes and how absolutely packed Main Street was. One of the things I really wanted to see was the ELP and I ended up having to leave the park, because I couldn't take it. I was about a millisecond away from a full blown panic attack. I really do not like people touching me (especial strangers) and it was so packed that we were wading through a sea of people that were way too in my personal space. I had to actually hold onto my friend that I went with so that we didn't get separated and I could get out of there.

This year we have tickets for MNSSHP on the 28th of October. I really want to see the Headless Horseman and Boo To You parade. I have read that the second parade is usually less crowded than the first. I am wondering if it's going to be as crazy and crowded as what I experienced last year. I am not sure I can deal with that again, although now that I know it can get so crowded, maybe that is a better thing, as I was totally unprepared for that last year. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a good plan of attack for me to be able to see the parade. Maybe a better place to stand and what time I should find that spot to be able to see the parade. Any spots less crowded than others?

 

[Drusilla99]

If it takes the same parade route as the elp, than I would suggest watching near country bear jamboree. We watch the elp from there, and even if it's the early parade very few people are over in that area; nothing like the crazy crowds at Main Street! Good luck, I hope that helps. Parade routes are generally the same, so I hope this works out for you.

 

[j2thomason]

We also watched the parade from the second level of the train station. If you get up there early and claim a spot, it's great! The Tremaines were also up there the whole time goofing around with everyone. It was so much fun and not nearly as crowded as down on the street. Also, I always bring a blanket , a sarong or large beach towel in my backpack to sit on for parade watching (sometimes we rent a locker for that big stuff). The blanket also creates a "boundary" that people usually don't encroach on. It allows us some extra space to get comfortable without bumping into other people.

 

[lam0037]

I also have anxiety and depression, but without agoraphobia but I feel I can help some. We watched the second parade from frontier land and that was great. Less crowded due to the location and the second showing. I don't do well with waiting in one place too long so my mom held our parade spot and I looked in a few stores and then walked by Liberty Square to watch the fireworks. It was less crowded and I could easily make a break for it back to the parade spot if I got overwhelmed.

I am planning a solo trip in the fall for MNSSHP and I plan on adopting the same strategy, but with my parade spot closer to Liberty Square so I can watch the fireworks from there as well without having to give up my parade spot!

 

[jmartinez1895]

We went to MNSSHP last year and the night we went was sold out. Even being sold out the crowds did not seem that bad. The first parade was packed so we decided to hit some rides while the bulk of the people where watching it. The second parade was crowded as well, but not nearly as much and not as bad as MK during ELP. We watched from Liberty Tree tavern and it was not to bad. We had plenty of room. I do not have a condition as sever as yours, but I can not stand to be touched by strangers and I start to feel like I can;t breath if I am smashed in a crowd and I never had that feeling during the 2nd parade. Of course your experience may be different, but i think that you will enjoy your self. Just stay away from main street.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

I have similar issues (anxiety, depression, ASD, which means lots of panic attacks about people being too loud and close in my personal space), and one of the things that has really helped me be able to see the parades is finding a spot further down on the parade route. Everyone wants to see it on Main Street, especially ELP because it's so close in time to Wishes and all that, so it's a total zoo...but almost no one thinks to set up shop over in Frontierland. We usually end up watching parades across from the Hall of Presidents and have never had the crowd-crush experience over there, and from what I've heard/seen it's even less crowded further down. HOP also has the benefit of being on a quieter 'street' anyway, so IME people tend to find a spot, settle in, and leave others be. I would second going to the later parade if possible anyway, but location helps a LOT.

 

[MataHari22]

Drusilla99, j2thomason, lam0037, jmartinez1895 and fabfemmeboy.

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions! Maybe I will try and watch the parade from Frontierland and the fireworks up by the train station. Most helpful.

 

[JLTraveling]

I'm a little late, but I wanted to weigh in. I have Asperger's, anxiety and agoraphobic tendencies along with mostly-resolved panic attacks.

I definitely agree with everyone's advice to watch the second parade from either Liberty Square or Frontierland. Something that also really helps me is to anchor myself. I always make sure to put a wall, a post, a fence, even a trash can at my back. For some reason, even if people do press up close, I'm much more okay if I have carved out a "spot." I also spend my wait time playing with my phone. It's my comfort item. My best friend, who has similar issues, carries at least one Rubik's cube everywhere she goes. That's her comfort item. Is there anything small and portable that you can lose yourself in?

I know it's tough, but as a local with an AP, I also know it's possible to have a great time despite the challenges. Best of luck!

 

[geek+nerd]

Drusilla99, j2thomason, lam0037, jmartinez1895 and fabfemmeboy. Thank you all for the excellent suggestions! Maybe I will try and watch the parade from Frontierland and the fireworks up by the train station. Most helpful.

The spots at the train station get taken EARLY. We were there two weeks ago. We got there about two and a half hours early and there were people who were claiming spots since 4:30 that afternoon!

In order to get a spot there for Wishes, you'd almost definitely have to be up there before the first parade starts. Then, you'd be able to catch the first showing and then the fireworks.

 

[MataHari22]

I'm a little late, but I wanted to weigh in. I have Asperger's, anxiety and agoraphobic tendencies along with mostly-resolved panic attacks.

I definitely agree with everyone's advice to watch the second parade from either Liberty Square or Frontierland. Something that also really helps me is to anchor myself. I always make sure to put a wall, a post, a fence, even a trash can at my back. For some reason, even if people do press up close, I'm much more okay if I have carved out a "spot." I also spend my wait time playing with my phone. It's my comfort item. My best friend, who has similar issues, carries at least one Rubik's cube everywhere she goes. That's her comfort item. Is there anything small and portable that you can lose yourself in?

I know it's tough, but as a local with an AP, I also know it's possible to have a great time despite the challenges. Best of luck!

I will have my iPhone with me, so I will have my music and games if I need an escape. Funny how having the wall at your back or something like that, anchors you. For me, that would make me feel trapped. I feel better if I have an escape route on all sides of me. Lol. Thanks for the feedback. I am going to try Liberty Square or Frontierland.

 

[MataHari22]

The spots at the train station get taken EARLY. We were there two weeks ago. We got there about two and a half hours early and there were people who were claiming spots since 4:30 that afternoon!

In order to get a spot there for Wishes, you'd almost definitely have to be up there before the first parade starts. Then, you'd be able to catch the first showing and then the fireworks.

Holy cow, yeah, I don't want to camp out there for hours, I won't get to see or do anything else. I will try Liberty Square or Frontierland. Thanks.

 

[kandb]

I have anxiety and don't like crowds either. I always get less anxiety if I have an "escape" route. If I know I can get of the crowd easily, it makes me feel much calmer. You could always go into a store, or perhaps the HOP and sit and relax if you start to feel anxious. Good luck.

 

[cobright]

I have many of the same issues. PTSD, panic disorder, general anxiety disorder. I can give you a laundry list of suggestions for passively mitigating the effects of anxiety on your vacation, but what you are describing needs a much more active intervention. I have to imagine that the mere thought of the upcoming parade will be a constant stressor throughout the day.

You say meds have helped. So there are meds you take every day like paxil or effexor or whatever right? and there are meds you take to arrest a panic attack or anxiety episode; some kind of benzo like klonopin or whatever. The first kind is more common than the last, drs hold back the tranquilizers for a lot of reasons (usually good reasons). But a wdw vacation is a special occasion, a special opportunity, and a special anxiety risk. Special rules apply. If you don't normally take tranquilizers for anxiety, talk to your doc about taking them prophylacticly in anticipation of a certain anxiety event.

I don't normally take benzos anymore, but when I get dental work done you better believe I have a big fat klonopin in me. Just knowing that it is there makes the days leading up to the dentist visit bearable.

 

[Jenheartsdisney]

We did MNSSHP 2 years ago, it was close to Hallowe'en and packed!

We watched the parade from Frontier land and the only thing i would say is watch out for kids!

We staked out a spot, CMs appeared and asked kids to step forward to collect candy from Goofy - fair enough. Parade started passing through and everyone stayed still until Goofy came into view on the horizon then I swear a whole bunch of teenagers appeared out of nowhere and shoved through, tore my dress and the CMs just stood there while parents tried to push forward to get their kids out the way of these teens who were shoving without care to get a few bits of candy!

Probably doesn't happen much but I'd recommend really watching who is around you