What flexibility can a GAC provide?

[Bens_Mom]

I have a panic disorder that's trigger by what I would call claustrophobia and my shrink calls agoraphobia. Essentially if I'm trapped with people (particularly strangers) I have a fit of the screaming meemies. Dark makes it worse. Heat makes it worse (feel like I can't breathe). I've been to WDW a few times with families just to walk around and I'm OK. I can sometimes manage to ride something like teacups early in the morning or on a rainy day or non-dark rides that are walk-ons. I can't tolerate a crush of people though. The park opening madness will have me gibbering in a corner before I make it to a ride. Strangers touching me "everyone squeeze together now" and I'll start crying or screaming.

I'm in therapy and on Buspar and I seem to be getting better. My counselor wants me to try to push my limits a bit on the next WDW trip and suggested that I ask about accomodations that might let me ride a little more since dwelling on what I can't do because of this d*** issue just makes it worse.

Can a GAC help? What I really need is an alternate waiting area that isn't crowded, special seating and maybe an alternate entrance. The MK rides I think might be OK with accomodation are:
Jungle Cruise (if I sit outside)
Magic Carpets (i've been OK when it was a walk-on)
Small world (in the front of the boat)
Dumbo (I'd rather do Carpets, honestly)
Teacups (I climbed out of the squishing box before I had a meltdown)
Pooh
BTMRR (I recall that it was very tight and dark in the loading area from being a kid - is there an alternate entrance?)
Maybe Barnstormer with DS.

Most of those don't have fastpass, and if crowds are heavy, I don't know that I could handle the line plus the ride. I don't mind the waiting - just the *people*. I generally managed about 2 or 3 hours in the parks on a given day. I might make it back in for an hour after dinner, but once the crowds start gathering for the parade or wishes - it's just too much for me. I practically run out.

So are those rides that a GAC could help with? Verbalization of my issues is still something of a trial for me, and when I have an attack, it usually takes enough out of me that I spend the rest of the day at home.

Sorry this is so long. I babble when I get stressed and it just makes me feel like such an idiot to have this problem in the first place.

 

[faeflora]

I can give you my experience. I have OCD and an Anxiety Disorder so I explained this at Guest Relations and recieved a GAC for an alternative entrance when available. If the ride was fast pass I got a fast pass if the ride was not I showed my GAC to the CM at the ride and they helped me with an alternative entrance where available. They were very helpful and my meltdowns were held down to a minimum.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Special seating and alternate entrances are definite GAC items. You should have no trouble getting one. Waiting in line is not a concern for GAC. They cannot give you one for that.

This is not necessary nor is it required - BUT - It's a lot easier if you bring a short note signed by your doctor or counsellor explaining your NEEDS. Your diagnosis is private, that does not need to be on the note.

Enjoy your time at Disney. Hope you discover that you can do more and more each day.

 

[jbird327]

My mother has a similar issue and on our last trip she would ask a CM for somewhere to wait. I did not know about the GAC at that time, but she never had a problem being accommodated.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, not all rides have an alternate place to get on - for example, I don't think that Dumbo does.
Jungle Cruise, BTMRR and Pooh all have Fastpass, so that would be a way to shorten your wait in all of those attractions.
Also, if you can get to the parks at opening, you can shorten your waits (and more importantly) the number of people. That is true even during the busy times like Spring break and the middle of summer. We can't get our youngest DD ready early enough in the morning to get there for opening, but my DH has gone with other members of our party at opening and was able to ride all the attractions in Fantasyland with mostly 'walk right on' waits. They even rode some things several times in a row with very minimal waits.

At each park there is an information booth that has wait times posted for different attractions. Those CMs are a very good source of information about when different rides are busy. For example, Spaceship Earth at Epcot is very busy and may have an hour or longer wait in the morning. By late afternoon, it's usually possible to walk right on without waiting.

 

[aurorasleeping]

I just wanted to bump this up again (hope nobody minds). I'd be intersted to see if anyone has any new information about touring with anxiety issues... particularly in adults

I have "variant" version of (as my dr calls it) S.A.D.(Social Anxiety Disorder...not Seasonal Affective... for some reason that tends to confuse some people). I'm not taking any meds for it (for some reasons that would be boring/long to explain/read)
It's to the point now, that last year at HHN, I literally ended up curled up in the fetal position in a open/empty area of Port Of Entry...I was there for about an hour trying to control my anxiety enough to be able to stop shaking and walk back out of the park. I haven't spent alot of time in theme parks since then...for obvious reasons...but I'm going back this fall for HHN again and MNSSHP..and a little worried...I'm ok in lines (there's something very orderly about that...) However large herds of people...hmm...well...that usually doesn't work. I'm pretty good about seeing a situation that's gonna create a problem and remove myself from the situation before I have a meltdown. However, I also know that at theme parks that's not always very practicle or even possible...
I don't love the idea of having to use a GAC...or having to explain to the CM why I need one... (like the OP, I'm not very good at articulating it while sounding sincere...[I'm a psychology major so my descriptions tend to come out sounding VERY clincal/cold/practiced...])
So I'd be interested in what considerations others found necessary while touring the parks...Particularly things not involving GAC's...but anything would be very helpful!
Thanks in advance!

 

[spotdog]

I like WDW best in Sept. Less crowds to squish me or trap me.

My anxiety/panic disorder is pretty well controlled now with Paxil, Buspar and Neurontin. I have developed many coping strategies over the years. My "attacks" or "meltdowns" are now so infrequent that I feel that I can enjoy most of the WDW attractions without a GAC.

I agree with slowly pushing limits. I have learned to feel proud when I accomplish something that used to be too frightening.

I also agree that it's best to leave a situation if you feel like panic is taking over.

I like to have something to read in slow lines to keep me distracted from the fact that I am "trapped" in a line. Parade crowds are really difficult for me. If the crowd is going one way, I head the other way. I never, ever stay at the parks until closing because the "bus stampede" can send me over the edge. I try to stay at the edge of the crowd in "waiting" areas. If I'm feeling nervous, I try to choose a seat at the end of the row in shows.

Try searching this forum for more ideas and support. There were some really good threads a while back about how to enjoy WDW with Panic Disorder, PTSD and other anxiety problems.

Sometimes it takes trials of different medication and coping skills but Anxiety Disorders really can be treated.

 

[3kidsmommy]

FYI, Dumbo DOES have an alternative entrance. It is marked by a handicapped tag. This is where they directed my son and our family on our last trip in April...hope that bit of info helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

FYI, Dumbo DOES have an alternative entrance. It is marked by a handicapped tag. This is where they directed my son and our family on our last trip in April...hope that bit of info helps.

You can tell I don't ride Dumbo. My DD has not been on that ride in a long time, and DH went with her when she did.
We have used the handicapped entrance for the Carousel and the Teacups (a long wait outside that door for both rides).

 

[bumpysheep]

Definately get an alternate entrance GAC. However the biggest help would probably be to go during low volume times like the Fall season and stay on site so you get EMH.

Last June we went and the evening EMHs are what made our trip really enjoyable for me (high functioning autistic & EDS), my sister (she hs Generalised Anxiety Disorder & MS) and her son/my nephew that is autistic.

We went on a short trip and stayed offsite and it was the WROST disney trip I've ever had. We like WL that is really relaxing, the ofsite hotel at DTD seemed frenzied, and even though we had our own car adding in the stress of parking and such was just too much. And since we were not at the Hilton we did not get EMH. I spent more time trying to devise how to get out of the parks or away from the swarms, than I had enjoyment.