Tips for taking your anxious or easily overstimulated child to Disneyland
For many people, Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. For people who struggle with anxiety or have sensory processing issues, it can be a very different experience. Disneyland, like many of the major theme parks, tries to make an immersive experience that can delight many but it can be very overwhelming for others. All the crowds, temperatures, rides, lights, sounds, and even the smells can make going to Disneyland very stressful for many. Luckily, there are a number of ways to cope with all this stress and stimulation to allow for everyone to have a magical time.
Talk to your child about the plan
It is very important to include your child in the plans for your time at Disneyland. Most parents want to surprise their kids and not share much about the day. While that can add to the magic for some, it can add to an anxious child’s concerns. I recommend that you talk to them about the plans, ask their opinions, and make sure to ask what things they are most excited to do. That way you can know ahead of time if meeting characters is important to them or if they are looking for thrill rides. Also you can adjust the plans for the things they are most worried about. For most kids with anxiety, they are worried about the unknown. Reviewing the plan with them helps them to feel in control, which is a major way to address their anxiety.
Watch ride videos online
It can be very challenging to determine if certain rides will be appropriate for your family. I always recommend to watch YouTube videos of the rides and discuss everyone’s thoughts about them. I recommend that you focus on positive aspects of the rides to help remind your anxious child about when you are waiting on the line. One very interesting video is of Space Mountain with the lights on. It gives you a very different perspective of the ride and helps make is less scary.
Now I know a lot of people do not want to “spoil” or “ruin” the surprise of the ride. It is a valid concern and can affect some people’s enjoyment of the ride. However, for anxious kids, anxiety is mostly anticipatory and is rooted in not knowing what will happen. Watching the videos allows them the understand the ride and stay rational with their fears. It is very helpful to remind them of their thoughts and reactions to the ride videos while waiting on the line.
Manage your expectations and do not try to do too much
I know I have fallen into this trap more than once and it can cause stress for the entire group or family. It is easy to want to do everything that Disneyland has to offer, especially if you do not get to go very often. However, when this happens, it can take the fun out of the trip quickly. I recommend that everyone in the group should have 1-2 things that are a priority and to make those part of the plan. Then you could add in 1-2 things as extras that you hope you can do. Expecting more than that could create a lot of tension which will only exacerbate your child’s anxiety. Also, you want to have a level of flexibility in your plans to adjust for special activities or to manage the ride times. Everyone in the group will feel better when you expect less and just enjoy the moments that you are at the parks.
Have distractions and cool down toys for the lines
Lets be honest, the lines are long and boring. It can be very difficult for anyone to stand in those lines all day long. I recommend having different distractions for the lines, such as cool down toys, phone games, or even video games. Make sure you bring a few options that work for your child. Also remember to have a suitable way to carry these items on the lines and try to not bring anything that is too heavy or delicate.
Find quiet and calm places to cool down throughout the park
This recommendation can seem very difficult at times. Certain parts of the parks can be very crowded, such as New Orleans Square and Main Street around show times. It is very easy to become overwhelmed and overstimulated in these parts of the parks. I recommend finding some quieter places to relax and take a break if the crowds are getting to you and your family.
Disneyland has actually made a low sensory area called Popcorn Park in Toon Town near the Gadgetcoaster that is designed for people who can become overstimulated easily. Another option is Tom Sawyer island. You have to take a boat to get there but it is usually very quiet and has a lot of paths and caves to explore without too much stimulation. Some other recommended areas are the paths between Fantasyland and Frontier Land, the bottom of Hungry Bear restaurant, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Main Street Cinema, and the area between the Matterhorn and Tomorrowland. Not all of these places will have seating or shade so I recommend keeping your eyes open when you are there for any space that seem to be quieter.
There are a number of areas in California Adventure that tend to be quieter. The area past the Monsters Inc. ride and the Hollywood lounge are typically quiet. Some of the others are near Soarin’, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Sorcerers Workshop, and in Cars Land on the path behind Flo’s café heading to San Fransokyo (formerly the Pacific Warf).
Take advantage of ride swap
If your child is uncomfortable with any of the more adult rides, you can take advantage of the rider swap service. This allows you to take turns waiting for the ride so one adult can stay with the child or children that are not tall enough or comfortable enough to ride. This is a great option if some of your group really want to ride a particular ride that someone else is too scared to ride. You can check to see if the ride you want offers ride swap by talking to the Cast Members at the ride entrance or research it online before heading to the parks. I suggest you plan to do something else special with the child or children that are not going on that ride, such as going on a different ride or having a snack break.
Have snacks and water with you on the lines
This recommendation may seem obvious, but time can slip away quickly and waiting in the lines with hangry kids is not fun. I recommend bringing a few small snacks to have in your bag on the lines or to make sure to buy snacks throughout the day. One tip is to bring ziplock bags with you to keep any of leftover food or snacks in throughout the day so you always have a snack handy when you need it.
Also, depending on the time of year, it can be very hot and sunny in the park. Dehydration can also exacerbate any anxiety. Make sure to drink plenty of water and have water bottles with you on the lines. If you are bringing your own bottles, remember to fill them up throughout the day either at the water refilling stations or with the water from the restaurants.
Use noise cancelling headphones
For anyone with noise sensitivities, having noise cancelling headphones can make a huge difference. A lot of the rides have very loud noises and it can be very overwhelming. Even if your child does not typically have noise sensitivities, the loud sounds can become overwhelming so having noise cancelling headphones can make a big difference. Just make sure your child is comfortable wearing them before you go to the park.
Use the DAS (Disability Access Service) if you need any accommodations
The DAS is there for any guests that require accommodations. If you think you or your child requires these, you can reach out to DAS between 30 days before your visit until 2 days before. You can speak with them about any options that you qualify for. Note, the person who requires the accommodations needs to be present on the call to receive any accommodations. If you do not do this before your visit, you can stop at City Hall in Disneyland or the Chamber of Commerce in California Adventure to talk to them, but be prepared to wait a little while to speak with a Cast Member.
Hopefully these tips help to make your trip to Disneyland as magical as possible. If you or your child’s anxiety is impacting your lives too much, you should consider setting up a free consultation call to learn about some treatment options. To set up a free phone consultation, contact us here at La Canada Psychology.