So you’re taking your family to the happiest place on earth. There’s magic in the air, pixie dust floating on the breeze, you’ve finally snagged a lightning lane for the hottest attraction in the park, and suddenly – your anxious child is absolutely petrified of getting on that ride vehicle. Sound familiar?
You may know all about how to manage your anxiety as an adult, but just imagine for a moment that all you know is the comfort of your home and family. You go from a quiet daily routine to being woken up early, walking miles upon miles in a bustling theme park, and then hopping on something called a “ride” that suddenly throws you into a dark, unfamiliar place full of loud noises, flashing lights, and even an unexpected drop or two. Adults know at all times that what they’re encountering isn’t real, but kids have no real perception of that yet.
It’s pretty frightening, isn’t it?
While some kids love everything about theme parks and never feel this way, it’s always important to know how to help your child navigate this strange, new environment. As a mom and former anxious kid myself, I’ve put together 5 quick tips to help your anxious child in Disney World. You ready? Let’s dive right in.
5 – Do the Prep-Work
One of the most important things you can do to make Disney World easier on your anxious child is to do the prep-work. Nothing makes a trip or vacation more stressful than not being prepared or informed about what you’re walking into. Disney World is a massive undertaking and extremely demanding both physically and emotionally. Making sure you have all your ducks in a row can mean all the difference in the anxiety-levels of both you and your child.
For Example
Here are a few things I recommend doing for Disney prep-work with an anxious child:
- Talk with your child beforehand to learn what concerns or fears they have about the trip – and plan accordingly.
- Make sure you arrive prepared with tickets, reservations, etc.
- Know what to expect on each ride and queue you plan to take your child on.
- Set aside plenty of time for meals and snacks – making sure your family has all the fuel it needs for demanding park days.
- Plan fun, little activities for long queue lines (like the Heads Up game or charades – just be sure you’re not bothering anyone around you)
4 – Bring What They Need
Perhaps the most impactful thing you can do when taking on Disney with an anxious child is simply to bring what they need. This, of course, can mean just making sure they’re fueled up on water and healthy snacks, but it’s also crucial to know what your child requires to curb their anxiety in an unfamiliar place. Take special note of your child’s daily routine and how they handle stressful situations at home.
Do they have oatmeal every single morning before school? Why not hold onto piece of their familiar routine and bring oatmeal to the resort? Do they have a special toy or lovey that brings them a lot of comfort around bedtime? Bring them along! The more “safe” your anxious child’s surroundings feel, the less overwhelming your vacation will seem to them. The smallest things can make all the difference.
For Example
A few things I recommend bringing for your anxious child are:
- Comfort-items from home – it doesn’t have to be a lovey or other precious item if you’re afraid of losing it. You can even have your child help pick something from their room to bring along.
- New special toy for your child to nurture and role-play with during the trip – this can help defer their anxiety onto something else and conquer it by “helping” that toy through scary situations. (i.e. “Oh no, Buzz Lightyear is afraid of the dark! Can you give him a big hug when we get on Pirates of the Caribbean?”)
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Comfortable clothes and shoes
- Snacks and meals they love and enjoy at home
3 – Have Flexible Plans
As important as it is to do the prep-work for you Disney vacation, it’s also crucial to allow some flexibility in your schedule. You just never know when and what will come up, and it pays to leave a little wiggle room. Your child could be really shaken up by your first ride and be done for the day. There could be a skinned-knee situation that lands you back at the resort instead of cashing in that lightning lane. With how utterly exhausting and demanding a Disney vacation is, you just have to allow your child the opportunity to escape the chaos if need be.
For Example
Here are a few ways I’d recommend adding flexibility to your schedule:
- Lower your expectations – sure, this trip was expensive and you’ve been planning for weeks, but is it really worth powering through if you or your child are tapped out?
- Schedule-in naps if your child still needs them – go back to the resort for a couple of hours or find a quiet corner to let them snooze in the stroller.
- Make an effort to eat and rest away from the crowds – the hustle and bustle can be overwhelming if you’re stuck in it all day long.
- Give yourself and your child breaks – even if it means missing that lightning lane.
- Recognize that your child likely has a much smaller capacity for it all, and remember how physically and emotionally draining this trip is for them.
- Be patient – your anxious child is doing the best they can.
2 – Assure & Affirm Them
Sometimes the best thing you can possibly do for your anxious child is just to be there for them. Affirming and assuring your child is so incredibly powerful. Think about it – you’re the most trusted person in their world and an “it’s going to be okay” from you can make all the difference. Whether you’re supporting them emotionally or physically by just offering your hand to hold, just being there is one of the best things you can do for your child’s anxiety.
For Example
A few things I recommend for assuring and affirming your child are:
- Plan out who’s riding with who ahead of time – do they want to ride next to Daddy or big sister? Give them the choice.
- Give your child the option to ride every single attraction – if they say no, it means no.
- Always give your child the opportunity to exit – even if you’re in the middle of a queue or stage show.
- Honor your child’s feelings and worries – affirm them without feeding into their fears.
- Calmly and consistently remind them that everything is okay and that they are safe.
1 – Tell Them What to Expect
Just like adults, an anxious child also needs all of the information they can get before making the decision to hop on a ride. Knowing just what to expect around every corner can be a huge help – and can even put aside fears completely in some cases. While, of course, some guests want to be surprised and immersed by every attraction, it’s also important to recognize that others need to feel prepared to truly enjoy the ride.
For this reason, I’ve included all the details I could in my ride guides to make sure you have all the information you need for every attraction and queue. Go check them out here for more specifics!
For Example
Here are a few things I’d include when telling your child what to expect:
- Give them as many details as possible about the ride AND queue – then give them the option to ride only after they have all of the information.
- Warn them that their surroundings will completely change and some rides may be dark at times
- Emphasize that although everything on the rides might feel very real, they’re definitely not. Nothing can hurt them.
- Give your child options and opportunities to take back control – like letting them choose whether or not to ride and reminding them that they can always close their eyes or cover their ears if they want to.
What do you think? Do you agree with my 5 Quick Tips to Help Your Anxious Child in Disney World? Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know!
