Vertigo & Rides

[Susan Savia]

I avoid coasters and spinning rides.

 

[teenamw]

Thanks for the input. I'm really torn about what to ride. I sure don't wanna be sick the whole time I'm there but I love the thrill. Mine is called benign positional vertigo and my dr. says my crystals get out of whack. Crazy. I've been taking a vitamin, Lipo Flavinoid Plus, that is specifically designed for inner ear health that my dr. recommended. It does help but sometimes just turning in my bed can make me dizzy.

 

[J_Carioca]

Thanks for the input. I'm really torn about what to ride. I sure don't wanna be sick the whole time I'm there but I love the thrill. Mine is called benign positional vertigo and my dr. says my crystals get out of whack. Crazy. I've been taking a vitamin, Lipo Flavinoid Plus, that is specifically designed for inner ear health that my dr. recommended. It does help but sometimes just turning in my bed can make me dizzy.

Sorry to hear that you have benign positional vertigo (BPPV) - believe me, I know how awful it can be. Have you seen a specialist (ie not just a GP but an ENT) or even a physiotherapist who's trained to deal with BPPV? There are physical maneuvers that can be extremely helpful in addressing BPPV. BPPV is a mechanical problem (the crystals that you mentioned get into the wrong ear canals) and these maneuvers are the only proven way of treating them (in other words, the lipo-flavanoids won't hurt you but they won't fix BPPV). http://vestibular.org/understanding...isorders/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo

In terms of rides, various things could set off BPPV, such as having your head tilted back or forward. So I would avoid any ride where you're on your back. I also find that BPPV can be exacerbated by having your head jostled around, so I would avoid very very bumpy rides like Dinosaur.

 

[bethymouse]

I would think some 3-D or 4-D experiences might make you feel a bit sick. That would include TS Midway Mania!

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Sorry, but you are incorrect. The medical definition of vertigo is perceived motion when there in reality there is no motion: either you feel that you yourself are moving when you are not, or you feel that things around you are moving when in reality they are not (the best example of this would be feeling that the room is spinning around you). http://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertigo/article_em.htm

The misuse of the term "vertigo" to describe a fear of heights probably came from the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name, but it is inaccurate. Height has nothing to do with true vertigo: just ask someone who has BPPV or meniere's disease.

This ^^^ My husband was just in the ER last month with an attack of vertigo. MRI, blood work, you name it... it is not motion sickness. We even have dramamine in the house at all times. We even invested in the wrist bands people use on cruises.

 

[Clever Name]

So I would avoid any ride where you're on your back.

Her significant other won't like that too much.

 

[Figments Friend]

-

Yeah, there are a few rides that stand out in my mind that may be best to avoid if there are concerns.

As a general rule, i would avoid anything that spins such as :

at MK -
Mad Tea Party
Dumbo
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Prince Charming Regal Carousel ( you might be okay...you can decide )

EPCOT -
Test Track
Mission: Space ( Orange Team only ) - Green Team version of the ride does not spin so you may well be okay.

Hollywood Studios -
Toy Story Midway Mania

Animal Kingdom -
Triceratop Spin
Primeval Whirl


Also good to avoid are the fast moving rides that create bodily sensations or have rapidly passing environments :

at MK -
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

EPCOT -
Test Track ( again! )
Finding Nemo ride ( one sequence involving Crush surfing the ocean currants may cause you problems )
Soarin* ( the size of the film presentation may effect you ..not nessesarily the ride aspects )

Hollywood Studios -
Star Tours ( flight simulator with extremely fast graphic images and flight sensations )
Rock N* Roller Coaster ( high speed coaster that does inversions )
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ( in-ride effects and moving sensations may effect you )

Animal Kingdom -
Dinosaur - ( bumpy, jerky jeep ride may effect you )
Expedition Everest - (backwards ride segment of this coaster may effect you, as may the speed of the main drop)

Hope this helps you out!
A shame you will have to miss some of these great attractions, but it is better to play it safe then end up feeling sorry later on.

Have a great vacation!

 

[NormC]

I actually see a physiotherapist as part of my treatment for my inner ear problems. At my last session we started talking about Disney and the different rides and the effect that they can have on people who suffer from vertigo or dizziness. She suggested that I would probably have big problems on Soarin!

I have BPPV and Soarin' does not bother me at all. Teacups and Mission space orange are off llimits for me now. Last time I did Orange my vision closed down like I was looking through a pipe. I can do Star Tours, Rockin' Roller coaster and ToT. At Universal the Hulk had the right sequence of turns to trigger it but the Harry Potter FJ and coasters did not. To be honest some of my worse episodes are caused by rolling over in bed. Luckily it comes and goes and is not a constant condition.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Stay off of "Primeval Whirl" at AK in Dinoland.

 

[NormC]

Stay off of "Primeval Whirl" at AK in Dinoland.

That one did not affect my vertigo much but it is one uncomfortable ride. I think it is the only ride in Disney that will bruise you. I will not ride it again.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

That one did not affect my vertigo much but it is one uncomfortable ride. I think it is the only ride in Disney that will bruise you. I will not ride it again.

Funny, I had the same reaction. Same with Dinosaur. I thought maybe I was just "getting old and cranky" but I find those rides needlessly... "Jerky."

 

[J_Carioca]

I have BPPV and Soarin' does not bother me at all. Teacups and Mission space orange are off llimits for me now. Last time I did Orange my vision closed down like I was looking through a pipe. I can do Star Tours, Rockin' Roller coaster and ToT. At Universal the Hulk had the right sequence of turns to trigger it but the Harry Potter FJ and coasters did not. To be honest some of my worse episodes are caused by rolling over in bed. Luckily it comes and goes and is not a constant condition.

I have never actually done Soarin (because I refuse to stand in line for 90 minutes+) so I don't know if it would bother me or not, but in addition to BPPV the balance portion of my inner ear is severely damaged, so I have a lot of other problems. I am dependent on what I see (as opposed to the information provided by the balance sensors in my ears) to help me balance and to orient myself, so I can see how Soarin would be a problem. But ultimately it's a very individual thing. Glad you have found what works (and doesn't) for you!

 

[Poofiesdream]

For motion sickness I take ginger capsules. Over the counter near the vitamins. They have them in drug stores, Walmart, and target ect. They are what the sailors in the olden days used. No side effects and are great for any stomach upsets!

 

[l4dybu6]

I don't have vertigo, but get motion sick pretty easily and Soarin' and Star Tours usually make me quite dizzy. I love both rides, so I go on them anyway, but have to sit for half an hour or so to recover afterward! Same with teacups lol. Never tried M:S and have no plan to!

 

[FabulousFigment]

I get vertigo from time to time but mine does not sound as severe as yours. Mine is brought on by stress and can be aggravated by certain rides. No mission:space for me. That is about the only thing though. Even dumbo and the flying carpets I can do as long as I look right in front of me and not out at what we are passing.

Since like a pp had mentioned, it is different for everyone, all I can say is do not push it because if you get stuck with it, it will ruin your day

 

[Gonzo79]

Mission Space orange is the only thing that really bothers me. I loved the ride but sadly will probably never do it again.

 

[Kelly Ann]

I am going to Disney in 3 months and have periodic bouts of positional vertigo. Do you think I can ride the rides? I don't do spinning rides ever, but like coasters.

 

[wdwjmp239]

I get vertigo (dizzy) easy and I know not to get on some rides (tea cups lol) but what about the roller coasters? Anyone out there have experience with vertigo can tell me how it affects them?

The one ride I absolutely and positively will not do are the tea cups. The last time I went on tea cups was before my wife and I got married in 2007. We went on the tea cups and after we got off - it was a quick "protein spill" in Disney's landscaping (sorry Mickey) and the rest of the day was spent back in the hotel. I just remember the splitting headache the next day....never again.

But yet, I can do Dumbo, the "rocket ride" in Tomorrowland (the name slips my mind right now), and other rides (with the exception of Mission:Space) that has spinning involved and I'm alright. Go figure.

 

[marissieviolissie]

I suffer from both dizziness and vertigo spells. Last September was particularly bad for me, especially after The Simpsons ride at Uni. Not sure if everything after that was anxiety or some lingering issues but everything gave me issues, even a Small World. Also Ellen's Energyride wasn't good for that reason.

I avoided the spinning rides, but I tried almost everything else. Rollercoasters weren't without issues but they were minor enough to ride more than once.
Kali River Rapids was fine after the first spin and Everest was doable too. The backwards part got to me a bit but nothing that was bad. The last turn left was a different story though. ..although I was fine once off, that turn just was a bit too long.

Space Mountain was OK for me but I did have a bad headache from all the jerking. You can't see and can't anticipate a (sharp) turn or drop and my neck just didn't like that. One ride was enough for me.

Rides like Soarin I'd never do again. It probably was the size of the screen or the just not sharp images that got me but it gave me a quite bad spell of vertigo and I only wanted off. ...I couldn't and got a panicattack, making everything worse.
No throwing up though (yay) and once done I felt OK quite quickly.

Philharmagic and Muppets didn't give me any trouble. As long as a "ride" with a big screen doesn't move or I don't really register (Carroussel of Progress) it's good,apparently.

I skipped Mission Space, Star Wars, Prince Regals Carroussel and the Tea Cups. I did the latter at Disneyland Paris when I was 18 and I had no issues back then. Now, I don't think I could walk afterwards and the teacup would have to be closed down for desinfecting the rest of the day lol.

It's hard to know which rides will hi he problems. And if they do, to what extent. Is it only a few minutes and then over? Or do you have to get back to the hotel, like I did after Simpsons? You don't know and I understand you don't want to risk much. But I would have missed a few rides and attractions if I didn't try. I had done the Gringotts Vault at Uni before the Simpsons and honestly no issues whatsoever even if it was dark and 3d and a little jerky at times. I hated what happened during The Simpsons (another panicattack at the very start and I honestly thought I'd die. I never believed my heart could keep up, it was the worst attack I've ever had )and after, but I'm still happy to have tried other potential problem rides. Even with the dizziness and vertigo.

Heck, I rode Splash 3times in one go (thank you CM! !)and Seven Dwarfs 4 times in one day. (and other rides too, limes were a max of 45min that day for 7dwarfs) Once I knew I was fine on a ride, it really did make it great because I could get on it again, be fine and enjoy.
But it does come down to trying and winning or trying and "losing" sometimes. It doesn't sound nice if I say this but it's up to you to see if you are willing to take chances. It's your vacation and it's totally Ok if you stay on the safe side.

What you could try though is save a "want to but not sure "ride for the last part of a day. That way it may not be much fun if it doesn't go well but at least you've had a day behind you and it may not feel as disappointing if you have to get back to your hotel.

I'm done now, sorry for the long post

 

[gptraveler]

Looking for updates on vertigo and rides. It's 2022 now and there have been a few changes in the way of rides. My vertigo is pretty bad and especially when I roll over in bed quickly with a low pillow under my head. Can't always elevate my head because of neck and arm pain issues. I do the Epley maneuver when the vertigo acts up and can get back to things pretty well. I'm planning to do as many rides as possible even though they scare me to death. What are the worst rides? I might avoid those so my day isn't ruined. I will find a bench to make the correction if necessary but it would be nice to avoid it.