The upmost concern I had about going had to do with people. Originally I didn't want to go in summertime, because I knew there would definitely be a crowd, but as circumstances were, it was the best time for me to go. With as much concern I had for crowd sizes, my ability to observe and familiarize myself with my surroundings came quickly, I had no trouble finding the places where it was less crowded, or at least had enough space that it didn't rev up my anxiety, and it certainly helped to have beautiful landscaping to appreciate and admire in those places. Beauty makes me feel beautiful. What can I say?
There is one thing I had to learn the hard way: to stay away from Main Street one to two hours prior to the parades and/or fireworks if I wasn't planning on watching them. They begin to rope off the areas during that time and the walkways for those not planning on staying gets restricted. I ran into this one night when I was intending on going somewhere for some food, and being unprepared had an anxiety attack because of the crowd and restrictions. I ended up running the other direction and went on the Disneyland train with the hopes it would help calm me down, but it was crowded also. I was near crying point, because I was at a loss for finding some open space, so I ended up leaving the park earlier than I intended to that night with an achy hungry stomach. After that, I knew what to expect, so it wasn't as much of a struggle.
There is one thing I had to learn the hard way: to stay away from Main Street one to two hours prior to the parades and/or fireworks if I wasn't planning on watching them. They begin to rope off the areas during that time and the walkways for those not planning on staying gets restricted. I ran into this one night when I was intending on going somewhere for some food, and being unprepared had an anxiety attack because of the crowd and restrictions. I ended up running the other direction and went on the Disneyland train with the hopes it would help calm me down, but it was crowded also. I was near crying point, because I was at a loss for finding some open space, so I ended up leaving the park earlier than I intended to that night with an achy hungry stomach. After that, I knew what to expect, so it wasn't as much of a struggle.
Another concern had to do with rides. Frankly, I hate thrill rides. I suffer by watching them, so being on them is worse. I was concerned about how many of them I'd tolerate. There were a few I didn't get on, but for the majority of them I felt like they were not as bad as I thought, though Guardians of the Galaxy (don't hate me for this) was definitely not a favorite. I have issues with the falling sensation: basically was done with the ride after the second drop, though I didn't show it. That may have to do with a traumatic childhood memory when I almost fell off a cliff. My absolute favorites were low key and ones that tipped into my imagination, though a few of them I wished I could stop for about five minutes and absorb the scenery (*clears throat* Storybook Land!). I also enjoyed the single rider line not only because it was faster, but because it was less crowded. I don't mind waiting in line--provides for some people watching--but sometimes when it gets tight, it can get uncomfortable.
Speaking of people watching, I found some quiet spots to watch people's reactions while they are on the rides, and for some of them it was just as enjoyable to watch as it would be to be on it, perhaps even more so. The Grizzly River Run was my favorite. I got to watch the reactions and got misted (not soaked) at the same time, plus it was in shade. It was a beautiful thing.
Ah, people watching. I'm fascinated with humans. Their behaviors, their actions, their words, their thoughts, their existence; whatever the subject, I've wondered about it. It's like being surrounded with hundreds of mysteries all at once that I wish I could solve...all at once. One thing I enjoy particularly that is human made is enjoying the talents of so many. I love music and dancing with perhaps a fun little story to go along with them, so it was only natural that the entertainment provided suited me, and for the most part, there was plenty of space to wander into to enjoy it all, and despite the constant shifting of my littleness around the bigness surrounding me to get some sort of view during the evening performances, it was still something worth watching, and I'd figured out to wait a little while afterward so I didn't find myself in the middle of a claustrophobic inducing crowd.
I spent quite a bit of time alone and it didn't bother me that much, but I confess being alone in a park that is family oriented and where friends come together does make one highly aware of it. When going to a ride and telling them you're only one to going to lunch and eating at a table clearly large enough for at least four people, it's like you stick out like a sore thumb, and I confess one day it got to me a little. I found myself for a moment wishing my sister was sharing the table with me or if that one friend who would be hilarious on such and such a ride was next to me. Yes, I'm not bothered by having to do things myself, but sometimes having that one person with me is a beautiful thing, too. I was highly aware that this might happen at some point, so it wasn't too alarming when I found myself experiencing it.
Ah, people watching. I'm fascinated with humans. Their behaviors, their actions, their words, their thoughts, their existence; whatever the subject, I've wondered about it. It's like being surrounded with hundreds of mysteries all at once that I wish I could solve...all at once. One thing I enjoy particularly that is human made is enjoying the talents of so many. I love music and dancing with perhaps a fun little story to go along with them, so it was only natural that the entertainment provided suited me, and for the most part, there was plenty of space to wander into to enjoy it all, and despite the constant shifting of my littleness around the bigness surrounding me to get some sort of view during the evening performances, it was still something worth watching, and I'd figured out to wait a little while afterward so I didn't find myself in the middle of a claustrophobic inducing crowd.
I spent quite a bit of time alone and it didn't bother me that much, but I confess being alone in a park that is family oriented and where friends come together does make one highly aware of it. When going to a ride and telling them you're only one to going to lunch and eating at a table clearly large enough for at least four people, it's like you stick out like a sore thumb, and I confess one day it got to me a little. I found myself for a moment wishing my sister was sharing the table with me or if that one friend who would be hilarious on such and such a ride was next to me. Yes, I'm not bothered by having to do things myself, but sometimes having that one person with me is a beautiful thing, too. I was highly aware that this might happen at some point, so it wasn't too alarming when I found myself experiencing it.
Thankfully for your sake, I'm almost done. One more point to address and you're relieved of my mental wanderings. This last thing I would like to address is character meeting. As many introverts know, conversations can feel terribly awkward with people on a day to day basis, and for me that was also the feeling I had concerning dealing with the meet and greet situations. To be honest, I never got comfortable with the spontaneous character appearances and missed several chances to meet them, because I hadn't had the time to mentally prepare. So I missed out on several things, but fortunately, there are formal meet and greets that provided me the ample chance to prepare myself beforehand. My first meet and greet probably took me twenty minutes of mental "preparation" (I flatter myself: More like trying to overcome the inward raging battle). Those first steps I took to get in line were absolutely the hardest ones I'd taken in a long time, and to be honest, that meet and greet was probably the most imperfect thing ever. There's an interesting thing that happens to me when I face the unexpected. Naturally I'd think that I'd kick into fight or flight mode when I face something so completely new, but in this particular situation, I kicked into another mode that I've experienced sometimes, and that is the submissive child mode. This basically means that as I finally got the turn to meet the characters, I completely entrusted the situation to them and went along with whatever happened, though I did manage to find a conversation topic that lasted for a minute of two. I didn't talk a lot, and was a little surprised at how calm I felt at the moment. It's a little funny and embarrassing at the same time, but this particular meet and greet was with Elsa and Anna, and I'm afraid I nearly gave Elsa a taste of her own medicine when I went into automatic introversion mode and nearly walked out on them without a single hint that I was going. Fortunately, I'd thought to look back at the last minute, which gave us a chance to wave to each other goodbye. I wanted to apologize later for that, but the opportunity was gone. Knowing what to expect, the following meet and greets were much easier to handle. Still took me a few mental "preparations", but nothing quite so difficult as that first step. I joke that I had to go to an expert to help me "Break the ice," and so she (throat clearing *they*) did.
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| I have to confess out of all the meet and greets, I look more like myself here. |
