Well, I was planning on writing a blog once a week, but I've been busy helping my mom after she had surgery, so I didn't quite get around to blogging last week. Maybe I'll make it a goal to blog every other week.
When I went to Universal Florida a few weeks ago I was extremely excited. DYA is my favorite thing, but Harry Potter is my second favorite thing. I loved Harry Potter world, and the rest of the park was cool as well. I went expecting to spend much of my time in Harry Potter world, and some of it in the rest of the park, waiting or shopping while my parents and brother rode rides. I've never been a big fan of most types of rides. In addition to depression, I also have anxiety issues and am claustrophobic and don't like to be strapped into rides. I also have never liked heights or the feeling of my stomach dropping. I do enjoy walking around amusement parks though, so I just thought I'd do that.
After several lovely hours in Harry Potter world looking at every possible thing there was to look at, my family finally approached Hogwarts, which appeared to be only accessible through a ride, which had several warnings that indicated to me that I was very unlikely to enjoy riding it. My family looked for another entrance to the castle, but we couldn't find one. I told them to ride it and let me know if I could possibly handle it, and I would just look at things because I could live in Hogsmeade and be happy. I was kind of bummed that I couldn't get into the castle, but I was still really happy to be there. When my family got off the ride, they told me I would not have liked it, but that they asked an attendant if I could just go through the castle but not get on the ride, and they said sure. When I heard that I was almost as excited as when I first found out I'd be going to Harry Potter world. I felt somewhat awkward and embarrassed asking attendants about just looking and not riding the ride, because many people in my life have often told me to just "get over" my anxiety and do the things that provoke it anyway, which is sometimes practical advice, except when I've already done those things and know I'm not about to get over them anytime soon. So I let my Dad ask them for me, and I got to see the castle and it was super amazing.
After Harry Potter world, we went to some other things I was excited about seeing, only to find out there were also rides with a long list of warnings. I don't know why I wasn't envisioning rides associated with popular movies in a theme park, I guess I just didn't think much outside of Harry Potter. My family went on one or two rides without me, but my parents felt bad about leaving me behind even though I really didn't care. My brother wanted to see a 4-D type show, but I had never seen the movie it was based on, and don't really like being in moving chairs even if I'm not strapped in, so I didn't want to go. Again, my parents really didn't want to leave me for a long time and then someone noticed on the park map describing the rides and other attractions that some of them had "Stationary Seating Available" listed next to them, including the ride my brother wanted to ride. So I reluctantly went in, still feeling somewhat awkward and embarrassed, and there was a lady directing people and she pointed out the stationary seating, so I sat there and enjoyed the show and also enjoyed not being shaken around by the seats. I'm pretty sure I went on everything in the park that had a stationary seating option, and I had to ask attendants where the seating was just about every time, and by the end of the second day at the park I felt confident in asking them and excited to get on the ride. The park attendants were really friendly and helpful about it. I was somewhat concerned because I do not appear to have a physical disability that would keep me from riding anything, but no one gave a second thought to me asking for the stationary seating, which I believe is mostly for physically disabled individuals. They were also nice when I anxiously asked for details about the few rides I got on that I was strapped into and they told me exactly what happened on the ride so I felt ok about getting on them.
One of my favorite rides had stationary seating, and before it started I looked down the row I was sitting on and saw someone in a wheelchair, someone to heavy to fit into the seats, and a mom who was with a child too short to be in the strapped in seats. Then there was me, with my mental illness that would otherwise have prevented me from being on the ride. And I really loved it. I appreciated the care taken to ensure that everyone could at least have some experience. I would guess that it's probably not about deep concerned for disabled people, but probably because they're afraid of getting sued or something like that that the parks do that, but that could just be the cynic in me. Whatever the reason was I was really glad.
I had not thought much about disability access prior to going here. I don't know much about physical disabilities as they're not a part of my everyday life, but mental disabilities certainly are. I don't know if it's appropriate to equate the two, as I'm sure both are very challenging in different ways. I'm not even sure mental illness and mental disabilities should be equated. In the past I've learned about a lot of disability services offered for those with mental illness at my university, but I only took advantage of one, because I felt like it would be awkward, or I thought about the people I know who are worse than me. I also didn't like the idea of receiving "special treatment" because I often hear people complain about others getting "special treatment". What I did take advantage of at school was tremendously helpful to me though. Life is hard for everyone, I think, in different ways. I am close to the struggles of those with mental health problems though, and I think their lives are just a bit more difficult because we deal with the same problems everyone else does, but also are sick all the time. The same is possibly true of those with physical disabilities, that their lives are a bit harder.
I suppose my main thought on this is when everyday life is a struggle because of a long term disability, it's really nice when someone goes out of their way to allow you to get as close as possible to the experience everyone else has.
Also, forgive any spelling or grammar errors, I didn't intend to write this much or this late. I will try to blog again next week, if I can think of a topic.
