Face Your Fears

Do some of your fears or preferences prevent you from wanting to try certain rides while at Disneyland?  After all, not all rides are made of fairy dust and meant for even the littlest tike.  Read this handy guide to see if the explanations of how some attractions may or may not be too much to handle are enough for you to brave it and go.

ACROPHOBIA - Fear of Heights. Many of the attractions at Disneyland are high up, but most of them don't even make it feel like you are high up. The rides certainly are less intense than places like Magic Mountain or Knott's Berry Farm.

• California Screamin - This may be one of the hardest rides for people because it is so open and so tall. But you are strapped in with an overhead bar so it is quite secure. The hardest part probably is in going up the big hills when you can see across the valley.
  
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbitor - The total height that you can possibly go is only about 50 feet in the air, and you have control over how high you go for much of the ride except right at the very end when you go up to the top and then glide back down to earth.
  
• Mickey's Fun Wheel - This is one of the most difficult rides for those with heights. The total height of the wheel is 160 feet. There are two kinds of carriages you can ride in: one that rocks back and forth and one that is stationary. Both have walls and metal caging that don't really make you feel like you are going to fall out, but still be aware that it is quite high and you can see very far.
  
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror/Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! - Although it is a ride that goes very high and travels up and down, it feels more like looking out of a tall building rather than being out in the open. If you sit on the back row, it definitely feels more secure.
  
• Other Paradise Pier rides (Silly Symphony Swings, Golden Zephyr, Goofy's Sky School and Jumpin Jellyfish) - All four of these rides fall into a similar category where they are open and about 30-50 feet in the air. The Golden Zephyr is definitely the slowest moving and not as high. Silly Symphony Swings are free-floating chairs so can feel less secure. Goofy's Sky School is designed to make you feel like you are going to fall off the track, so if that is part of what you are scared of, you may want to avoid that ride.
  
• Soarin' Around the World - Technically this ride has a warning for those who are afraid of heights. It mostly is intense if you don't like having your feet dangling in a seat. You are belted in, and you suspend over a large screen. Since it makes you feel like you are hang gliding, if even that thought doesn't appeal to you, avoid going on this.​

FEAR OF FALLING. 

• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror/Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! - This ride is the quintessential falling ride. If you like the feeling you get when in an airplane starting to descend when your stomach feels like it is moving toward your throat, this ride is for you. If you don't like that, avoid this ride. Be aware though, technically this ride doesn't "fall" as it is on a platform and you are pulled down rather than free falling. It is very secure.
  
• Roller coaster type rides (such as Space Mountain, California Screamin', Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Big Thunder Mountain) - Each of these types of rides are actual roller coasters or very similar, so there will be ups and downs, but not as intense as the feeling of falling you get from Tower of Terror.

NYCTOPHOBIA - Fear of the dark.

• Space Mountain - This is probably the darkest ride at Disneyland and you can't see where you are going for the most part since it is totally in the dark. So if that thought scares you, you may want to only ride it when it is Ghost Galaxy or Hyperspace Mountain because the projections make it slightly lighter inside, or just find another attraction to ride
  
• "Dark rides" - There are many dark rides at Disneyland (such as Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, etc), so if the ride is fully indoors and you don't like the dark at all, you may want to avoid most of these rides. Some definitely have darker parts to them such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Snow White's Scary Adventures. Some are actually not very dark at all such as Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

FEAR OF ANYTHING SLIGHTLY SCARY.

• Snow White's Scary Adventures - The evil queen jumps out at you 3 times in this ride which may be a little too intense for young riders or anyone who doesn't like scary looking things jumping out at you.
  
• Indiana Jones Adventure - This ride is very fun and intense, but sometimes too intense with situations like seeing bugs, skulls, large snakes, boulders, and feeling like arrows are whizzing above your head. Some people like this, some don't.

AGORAPHOBIA - Fear of Wide Spaces or Large Groups.  I know that Disneyland may not be the best choice for people who don't like big groups (surprise), but actually you can still do things at Disneyland. The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail has a lot of open spaces and is not as busy as other attractions. There are also certain times of the year and days of the week that are far less busy at Disneyland. Go during early November, late January, September, and avoid weekends generally. Don't go on Christmas if you don't like crowds!

COULROPHOBIA - Fear of Clowns. No worries. No clowns at Disneyland! :)

Hope this helps! Don't let your phobias necessarily prevent you from having fun at Disneyland. If your phobias definitely prevent you from going on certain rides, don't worry because there are lots of types of attractions to choose from, and even shows, parades, dining, or other things to do. Enjoy!