Ever since I was young, I've loved visiting amusement parks. My family didn't really do the whole vacation thing, but we always went to an amusement park for my father's company's picnic. I spent the day riding roller coasters and water slides with my family, and I still love the thrill of a good coaster.
But, living with asthma, waiting in a long, winding line (essentially a giant group of people) can mean being exposed to perfume. Another potential pitfall is cigarette smoke, though many parks only allow smoking in designated areas now.
So what's a wheezy woman to do?
Scope out (and avoid) designated smoking areas
Many parks limit smoking to designated areas. All of the parks I scoped out provide a park map online, and all that I've visited provide paper maps at the entrance or guest services. Grab a map, chart your (smoke-free) course, and have fun!
Queuing accommodations
Many parks also provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities like autism spectrum disorders or for individuals with mobility limitations. Some provide even less restrictive guidelines for who can obtain a pass that allows them to wait for a ride without actually waiting in the line. Check out the park's website for information on what accommodations are offered and how to obtain them.
If the website only cites specific conditions, and asthma is not included, contact the park. I did so with one in my area and was told accommodations would be extended to me, even though asthma wasn't among the conditions listed on their site.
Avoid fog machines
During the fall, and for certain shows at other times of the year, certain amusement park attractions use fog machines that can contain irritants that can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Depending on the severity of your asthma, you may want to visit only outdoor attractions that utilize fog machines. If that's too irritating, you could steer clear (again, check the map) and enjoy the spooky ambiance elsewhere in the park, visit during the day (when these attractions aren't yet up and running), or even skip a visit at that time of year altogether.
Medications
Certain rides require that loose items such as book bags and purses be secured in a locker rather than being able to take your items up to the platform (meaning you'll have them on you if you have to wait in line) which, when it comes to inhalers or other medications, isn't ideal or smart for many of us. A park's website will usually tell you what is acceptable to bring on each of the rides, so be sure to plan appropriately.
Do you enjoy amusement parks? If your asthma impacts or would impact your visit, how do you deal with it?
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