Autistic Adults Has Meltdown at Disney On Ice

Sometimes being autistic is really difficult, and having meltdowns in public can be embarrassing

Before I dive into the story, I want to mention something I've begun to notice. It appears that my intolerance for certain things makes my meltdowns and autism more apparent.

In January 2025, we visited Disney World, and after returning home, I noticed Disney On Ice was coming to a nearby city. I thought it would be fun to experience some Disney magic again, so I bought tickets and was really excited, as it had been years since we last attended Disney On Ice. When the day finally arrived, things started to go wrong. I didn't sleep well the night before due to loud storms, so I woke up feeling off. I had some caffeine and toast, and we got to the venue with plenty of time. I wanted to be first in line, but that didn't happen. There was a special line for T-Mobile customers, but it wasn't being used, so we had to join another line, which I dislike. By then, I was holding back tears. When we were finally let in, there was a merch stand and character cutouts with photographers. I took a picture with my phone and was told photos weren't allowed, which made me feel like I was in trouble. Upstairs, I started crying. Processing big emotions is hard for me, especially at 32, when most people don't realize I'm Autistic. It feels like I'm always messing things up, and I wished we hadn't come at all. It's frustrating! Fighting back tears as I write this! I did see a sign upstairs saying no photos, but it was at the bottom. Who's really going to read that?