Guests with "Unnatural" fears

[LittleDollClaudia]

I was thinking the EXACT same thing after I read that. If a person is extremely claustrophobic, how would they even be able to handle just being in the building itself? Hell, just being at the park in general. Such unfamiliar terrority to deal with. I know it's not the same thing but my son is Autistic and sometimes that sensory overload is too much. Most attractions are inside very close spaces. There are times that I get a little panicky if the park is really crowded. How did she get through the gate without freaking out??

[SueOKW]

It's kind of the same thing in the way that the reaction is unpredictable. I've seen lots of people with claustrophobia post on the boards created for disabled people (as well as people with autistic kids etc.)....

Anyway - the claustrophobic will be right up front - - what does this ride do, what's this like, what's that like?

I never thought that Soarin' would be considered that frightening ..... the seatbelt. Wow. Poor thing. I can understand her wanting to enjoy what she can in life with her limitation. I would SO be on meds for that... if there are meds.

[Syndrome]

Sometimes claustrophobia isn't just about being in an enclosed space, but rather about being in a position from which there is no escape. For her, the seatbelt probably made her feel trapped, even tho' Soarin' itself takes place in a relatively open area (I know there are the overhead canopies, but I doubt that's what got to her.

As a comparison, when I am flying for the DCL repo from Spain to FL this year, I plan to be so zonked on Xanax that I am a drooling zombie. I have flown to WDW countless times before we moved to Celebration, but the big difference for me is being over the water. When flying over land, I know there is a place to land in an emergency. The idea of being over water, with no "escape zone" if we needed to land, is what makes me crazy. Thus, I will remain peacefully knocked out till we land (the really crazy thing is that it won't bother me being out in the middle of the Atlantic on the ship...just in the air).

[leftcoaster]

As a comparison, when I am flying for the DCL repo from Spain to FL this year, I plan to be so zonked on Xanax that I am a drooling zombie. I have flown to WDW countless times before we moved to Celebration, but the big difference for me is being over the water. When flying over land, I know there is a place to land in an emergency. The idea of being over water, with no "escape zone" if we needed to land, is what makes me crazy. Thus, I will remain peacefully knocked out till we land (the really crazy thing is that it won't bother me being out in the middle of the Atlantic on the ship...just in the air).

You're not into "water landings," eh?

I sympathize. I am not afraid of heights, but am afraid of "freefall." So, I don't do coasters, etc. I suspect (I am not an expert), that if I could go on the same ride several times in a row, that I could get over my fear of freefall." *shrugs

[Euterpe]

Sometimes claustrophobia isn't just about being in an enclosed space, but rather about being in a position from which there is no escape. For her, the seatbelt probably made her feel trapped, even tho' Soarin' itself takes place in a relatively open area (I know there are the overhead canopies, but I doubt that's what got to her.

Actually, people get scared at Soarin' more than you would think. I think it's just because they don't understand the nature of the ride. I'll admit that when I was 15, I went to DCL and refused to ride Soarin' because I'm afraid of heights, because I didn't understand the ride. But I was chicken about everything then.

And I do think Soarin' can definitely create a claustrphobic mood. The Gate area gives me panic attacks, where I can't breathe and I'm afraid I'm just going to burst into tears for no reason. I think it's either the weird lighting or the idea that I can't leave under any circumstances because no one could take my place, if I got sick or something. I'm kinda glad I don't work there anymore. I used to feel the same, though, when I was on cash at the food court at Port Orleans, and all the other cashiers would leave me alone out there for extended periods of time. It's like... Social claustrophobia. That physically you can leave, and you're not closed in at all... but if you were to leave, it'd be your job.

Scary, scary... And a little off topic. Sorry.

[RagnarokandRoll]

I've got one!

Last time I went to WDW as a guest, I took friends along: Let's call 'em, Bob and Jane, who were my good friends and a couple, and Steve and Emily, who were friends of Bob and Jane and whom I had never met before. (none of these names are real)

Emily turned out to have an extreme fear of what she called "grated bars"; what any normal person would refer to as simply a grated floor, the likes of which they have all over property.

She made a BIG DEAL out of this, to the point in which it seemed as though it was for attention. It might sound mean of me to say that, but that's how it came across. Case in point: We were on line at Dinosaur, and when we got to the actual loading area, she made a SPECTACLE out of not stepping on the "grated bars" that made up the floor. I am sympathetic to people with these unnatural fears (I myself used to be terrified of dogs, after being attacked as a 5 year old - I am pretty much over it now, but I can understand), but the narcisstic way this person seemed to carry on, drawing as much attention to our group as possible, was an unwelcome surprise.

[LittleDollClaudia]

May she never play Silent Hill in nightmare mode. That place is covered in grates and when you move your character, you can hear the tromping sound. I love it, but that's just 'cause I'm weird. :twisted:

[Marilou]

Ok, so this prob doesn't fall under the category of "unnatural fears" but my thing is heights. Which sux because I love the sensation of the roller coasters, but visually seeing how freeking high I am keeps me off many.
I never miss Space Mtn......its dark so I can't really see how high i am! I also did RnR for the 1st time last yr and loved it! I did ToT just for my daughter (she's the daredevil of our group) and had to keep my eyes closed the whole time.
Uhh I even feel slight panic attacks on Dumbo (hanging my head in shame) so with me its the heights thing. TTA doesn't bother me and I'm ok on the monorail except for the one time we rode right up front. I liked Soarin' altho it was a lil overwhelming....but I just kept reminding myself that I was only a lil bit high.

[CycloneMan]

This isn't Disney related, but here you go anyway!

I'm a Jr Docent here at the Staten Island Zoo and last year I worked the summer camp as a counsler. It was a normal day camp (well not that normal), but anyway! This kid, was terrifyed of Snakes and hated all animals! So why was this kid here anyway? He was a nasty little son of a bitch and fought with all the kids. Also, he was too young for this age group, so we are still baffaled on how he got in.

So as one of the counslers, we had to give them a tour of the Rainforest section. I told the kid that he could close his eyes, and I can walk him through to the end of the exhibet! That's not what happened. The kid pulls up my shirt and sticks his head under it and snugged against me grabbed on rfeally tightly ! "OWE!!!!!!!!!!!" So I pulled the kid out and I thought to my self ("Hell no kid, you are NOT doing that!"), so I covered his eyes, well he clung on to my shirt and I walked him out.

-Dainan "But Jesus Christ, why the hell was this kid here?" Rafferty

[leftcoaster]

Ok, so this prob doesn't fall under the category of "unnatural fears" but my thing is heights. Which sux because I love the sensation of the roller coasters, but visually seeing how freeking high I am keeps me off many.
I never miss Space Mtn......its dark so I can't really see how high i am! I also did RnR for the 1st time last yr and loved it! I did ToT just for my daughter (she's the daredevil of our group) and had to keep my eyes closed the whole time.

I have the exact opposite problem. I am afraid of the "free-fall" effect, but I don't have a problem with heights (if I feel that I am properly secured).

I wonder if Syndrome could give us free counseling ? :p:

Actually, my thought is that if I could ride the same ride a half dozen times in a row, I could get past that free fall sensation. Hmm..a medical note from Syndrome, to get a GAC card to ride Space Mountain 10 times in a row. ;)