Coping with theme park crowd traumas

February 21, 2:54 PMOrlando Theme Parks ExaminerBarbara Nefer

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If you're planning to visit Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld, or any of the major theme parks during the summer, you'll probably face hot, muggy Orlando weather and endless crowds. I'm not just a theme park buff; I'm also a professional counselor who helps people learn how to deal with stress. Here are four tips for helping your family deal with common theme park stressors:

1) Be prepared for the crowds. Lines are a fact of life in the peak season, whether it's during the summer or a holiday break. Brainstorm with your kids before your trip to let them know what to expect and help you come up with boredom-defeating some ideas. Go beyond hand-held games into ideas that spark creativity, like I-Spy or joke telling contests.

2) Be prepared for disappointments. A favorite ride might closed or your child might be just below the height requirement for some of the attractions. The sun might suddenly disappear behind storm clouds. Preparing your kids for potential disappointment lessens the chance of a meltdown when they are faced with the situation.

Make plans for these possibilities beforehand: “If your favorite ride is shut down, what will we do instead?” Answers like, “Ride the other roller coaster again!” or “Could we stop for an ice cream cone?” give the child a sense of power over a situation that cannot be controlled.

You can also prepare the family beforehand by knowing which attractions are closed for refurbishment before you visit. To find out what is closed at Disney World, click here. Universal and Islands of Adventure have closures noted on their calendar. Click here to see it. Of course, these are only the scheduled closures. A ride can shut down due to mechanical failure or for a variety of other reasons at any time.

Sometimes there is a circumstance, such as Florida summer thunderstorm, that creates a hard-tp-salvage situation. Use this as a learning experience to help a child understand that disappointments happen and that it's okay to express feelings of anger and frustration appropriately. Encourage them to let out their feelings openly, and respond in empathic ways: “I know how angry you are! You waited a long time for this trip, and now we can't ride your favorite rides. It really can make a person frustrated when things like this happen and you can't change them.” As a parent, you don't have to “fix” everything. Sometimes your job is to simply help your children learn how to deal with things that go wrong.

3) Be realistic. If you are staying at a vacation destination for multiple days, make sure that you stick to a realistic schedule. It's human nature to want to jam-pack every day with as much activity as possible. Unfortunately, commando-style vacationing can backfire. Instead of having fun, you might end up with a tired, cranky brood that can't focus on good times because their feet are too sore and their eyes are too heavy.

Your schedule should include enough sleep time, including naps if age appropriate. It's often wise to return to your hotel at the hottest, busiest time of the day. This gets you out of the crowds and gives your children a chance to rest and recharge or to do another activity, such as playing in the pool.

4) Be flexible. Even the best laid plans can fall to pieces due to unforeseen circumstances. You might get delayed and miss the parade or show, or the only sit-down restaurant in the park might have lost your reservations. Instead of giving in to stress, regroup and make new plans on the fly. You may even be able to turn it into a new adventure. For example, if the restaurant cannot seat you, turn choosing a counter-service option into a fun activity. Being flexible will prevent stress and save energy for more important things.

For more information on coping with the crowds at Disney World, click here. A comparison of crowd-fighting at Universal and Disney World can be found by clicking here. Software and book related planning strategies are discussed in an article you can read by clicking here.

If you missed my Saturday Theme Park Etiquette article, click here to read about the rudeness contest between smokers and non-smokers at the theme parks. For my earlier etiquette article on flashers at the theme parks, click here.