I Have Claustrophobia and I Avoid These 6 Disney World Pinch Points at All Costs

Nothing can ruin my trip to Disney World more than sitting in the middle of a ride and realizing this space is just too dang small. I’ll be vibing and enjoying myself when all of a sudden, I can’t find the exit, there are people everywhere, and the walls are caving in. Yeah, not really magical in my opinion.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Queue

Because of my distaste for small spaces at Disney World, I’ve made a list of rides or attractions I just won’t do because of them. Does it mean I never do them? No, but I come prepared with headphones, a book, and plenty of anxiety medications. So if you’re like me, here are some rides I would avoid in Disney World.

Mission: SPACE

It actually gets closer than this

Have you ever wanted to feel like an astronaut, cram yourself into a tiny capsule with three other people, and come face-to-face with a wall? No? Then you probably want to skip Mission: SPACE. It doesn’t matter if you choose green or orange; they’re both going to squish you into a capsule (and you will literally see the walls coming closer to you), and paired with an over-the-head harness, this is always a skip. Always.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Please! I do not want to feel like a rat

This is one of those rides where the theming is almost too good. I want to give special appreciation to Walt Disney Imagineering for figuring out how to make a queue feel like you’re a rat in the sewers of Paris, but this is a feeling I typically try to avoid. The queue has a ton of twists and turns, and you can barely see ahead, and while I don’t have major issues on the ride, I’ll try to buy a Lightning Lane or only ride when the line is short since I do not want to be a rat crawling under a kitchen.

Pirates of the Caribbean

How I feel

Pirates is on the same vibe as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. You’ll come across very tall walls made of stone and cement, and it will feel like you’re crawling down a cave and entering a private cell. While I do appreciate that the queue is fairly wide, it’s also very dark and has some switchbacks where you feel on top of one another. Again, I don’t usually have problems on the ride, but the queue is not my friend.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets

How about some different harnesses?

This version of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be coming in summer 2026, but it will be the same ride mechanism as its predecessor, so I have a pretty idea of what’s in store. There are very few over-the-head harnesses at Disney World, and since this is the only ride with a loop, it’s been blessed with a claustrophobic harness. It’s tight. It’s bulky. It’s never a good time. Maybe seeing Kermit and the gang will make me forget about it?

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Inside Smuggler’s Run

Who doesn’t want to smother themselves in a pod with five other people and fly a hunk of junk in the galaxy? Well, I really do like this ride, and there is a fair amount of space between the seats, but keep in mind that you are literally climbing into a small space capsule. It’s also pretty stimulating and bumpy depending on how good your pilot is, and this queue is also pretty dark. If you can brave it alone, the Single Rider line might get you through the queue faster, but you won’t have your support buddy with you.

Rise of the Resistance

I promise I love Star Wars — I just can’t stand their queues. Rise of the Resistance is probably one of the most impressive Disney rides I’ve ever been on, but the queue is brutal. You’ll be packed with a bunch of people like sardines (or uh, stormtroopers) and you’ll weave back and forth through a cave-like queue. There are twists and turns and high walls, and it can feel a bit trapping, especially as they shove as many people as possible into the preshow rooms. The actual ride portion? Very enjoyable, and even once you’re past the first preshow, it’s pretty fun, but getting to that point might be a bit of a struggle.

Inside Rise of the Resistance

I love Disney theming as much as the next person, but I also want to feel like I can breathe and move around inside. These aren’t hard-set rules, and depending on the wait time or how I’m feeling that day, I might brave the queues if I’m with the right person. These are just a few rides to keep on your radar before you charge right in. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more of the best tips and tricks for your next Disney World vacation.

I’M A RAGING INTROVERT, AND THESE ARE THE QUIETEST TIMES TO VISIT MAGIC KINGDOM

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What rides do you avoid because they feel too small? Tell us which ones in the comments.