Motion Sickness/Simulator Sickness

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi all. In anticipation of our trip in March, I wanted to post this scenario and question in the hopes of gaining some perspective and help!

My DH has been having an issue with screens on our past two trips and in other situations.
It started at Universe of Energy when he felt very dizzy and disoriented and nauseous from looking up at the giant screens. We didn't think much of it until it happened again the next trip, at movies, and also on a few rides at Universal, particularly Minions.

We did a little research and it turns out there is a legitimate affliction that is basically similar to motion sickness but it's caused by screens or simulators. The screen creates a stimulus for your eyes that makes you feel like you're active when your body isn't, causing your brain to become confused by the mixed signals, hence the side effects. This also explains why he seems to do ok on the rides where your body and the visuals are moving together like Star Tours.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Did anything help?
We are wondering if motion sickness patches or wristbands help at all. It's a bit different from motion sickness, but wondering if it helped anyone. He's going to speak to his doctor at his physical in a few weeks.
Worst case scenario, he just doesn't go on those rides which he's prepared to do and be ok with. Just wanted to know if anyone has experienced this and if anything helped so he can enjoy them. Thank you!!

 

[Tinkerbell 8]

I have bad motion sickness that is also affected by rides in Disney, i can't go on Mission Space or Star Tours, and i even get a little nauseous on Soarin' but its one of my favorites so I go on it anyway. I started using the motion sickness patches and I use that on all my vacations, not just Disney. They seem to help a lot, but I also tend to avoid certain things just to be on the safe side as well. The great thing about the patches is that they are good for 3 days so you don't have to remember to take something daily and they hold up even with swimming and showering.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Hi all. In anticipation of our trip in March, I wanted to post this scenario and question in the hopes of gaining some perspective and help!

My DH has been having an issue with screens on our past two trips and in other situations.
It started at Universe of Energy when he felt very dizzy and disoriented and nauseous from looking up at the giant screens. We didn't think much of it until it happened again the next trip, at movies, and also on a few rides at Universal, particularly Minions.

We did a little research and it turns out there is a legitimate affliction that is basically similar to motion sickness but it's caused by screens or simulators. The screen creates a stimulus for your eyes that makes you feel like you're active when your body isn't, causing your brain to become confused by the mixed signals, hence the side effects. This also explains why he seems to do ok on the rides where your body and the visuals are moving together like Star Tours.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Did anything help?
We are wondering if motion sickness patches or wristbands help at all. It's a bit different from motion sickness, but wondering if it helped anyone. He's going to speak to his doctor at his physical in a few weeks.
Worst case scenario, he just doesn't go on those rides which he's prepared to do and be ok with. Just wanted to know if anyone has experienced this and if anything helped so he can enjoy them. Thank you!!

Interesting that both you and your DH both developed it. Could it potentially be a viral thing?

 

[DfromATX]

A lot of people use Bonine when they cruise. It's a raspberry chewable that you take once a day. You can find it at any Walmart or other drug store. I remember feeling a little dizzy on the Simpsons ride at Universal, but they're big on those types of rides whereas not so much at Disney, except for Mission: Space (orange?) My husband sometimes gets vertigo and he won't even ride that anymore.

P.S. - Others might use Dramamine, but I think a side effect is that it makes some people sleepy so they take it at night. Also a once a day pill. Bonine has worked for me - haven't gotten motion sickness yet. The thing is you have to take it BEFORE you get sick to prevent it. It will not make motion sickness that you already have go away.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Interesting that both you and your DH both developed it. Could it potentially be a viral thing?

Not me, just him. Good thought but it's happened on several occasions so it can't be.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I have bad motion sickness that is also affected by rides in Disney, i can't go on Mission Space or Star Tours, and i even get a little nauseous on Soarin' but its one of my favorites so I go on it anyway. I started using the motion sickness patches and I use that on all my vacations, not just Disney. They seem to help a lot, but I also tend to avoid certain things just to be on the safe side as well. The great thing about the patches is that they are good for 3 days so you don't have to remember to take something daily and they hold up even with swimming and showering.

This gives him much hope-thank you! Glad you use it and feel better. He will likely avoid the worst offending rides, too.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

A lot of people use Bonine when they cruise. It's a raspberry chewable that you take once a day. You can find it at any Walmart or other drug store. I remember feeling a little dizzy on the Simpsons ride at Universal, but they're big on those types of rides whereas not so much at Disney, except for Mission: Space (orange?) My husband sometimes gets vertigo and he won't even ride that anymore.

P.S. - Others might use Dramamine, but I think a side effect is that it makes some people sleepy so they take it at night. Also a once a day pill. Bonine has worked for me - haven't gotten motion sickness yet. The thing is you have to take it BEFORE you get sick to prevent it. It will not make motion sickness that you already have go away.

Thank you-we will look into Bonine! Ugh I used Dramamine a lot as a kid and it definitely made me very tired so we'll keep that in mind for him.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Not me, just him. Good thought but it's happened on several occasions so it can't be.

Wups. Sorry. Misread.

My daughter has horrible motion sickness. Dramamine is a must for car rides. She can't do 3D movies at all and regular movies sometimes give her fits. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of Dr. ended up diagnosing the condition. She has some other issues but if it's a field we haven't tried yet we might see if some of her other stuff might be related.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Wups. Sorry. Misread.

My daughter has horrible motion sickness. Dramamine is a must for car rides. She can't do 3D movies at all and regular movies sometimes give her fits. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of Dr. ended up diagnosing the condition. She has some other issues but if it's a field we haven't tried yet we might see if some of her other stuff might be related.

Ugh sorry to hear about your little girl. I had issues like that as a kid and it stunk. Have you tried a gastroenterologist? Or a neurologist?

He has no diagnosis, we figured it out through Google research and analyzing his symptoms. It's pretty clear cut. Only happens with big screens or simulator rides. He's seeing his PCP in a few weeks and will get his opinion. It's not totally serious for him, just an annoyance. But curious to see what over the counter remedies the doctor would recommend other than skipping certain rides.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Ugh sorry to hear about your little girl. I had issues like that as a kid and it stunk. Have you tried a gastroenterologist? Or a neurologist?

He has no diagnosis, we figured it out through Google research and analyzing his symptoms. It's pretty clear cut. Only happens with big screens or simulator rides. He's seeing his PCP in a few weeks and will get his opinion. It's not totally serious for him, just an annoyance. But curious to see what over the counter remedies the doctor would recommend other than skipping certain rides.

We have been the neuro route and have just started talking about the gastro route. My wife has both gastro and migrain issues so it could be a number of things if she inherited the wife's genes.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

We have been the neuro route and have just started talking about the gastro route. My wife has both gastro and migrain issues so it could be a number of things if she inherited the wife's genes.

That's tricky. Hope it all gets worked out and hope your daughter gets better and is able to be more comfortable.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Just a thought, have you folks ever have your ears checked out? It is possible to have wax build up to the point of it throwing off your balance which in turn makes it really easy to get motion sickness. Or in my daughter's case she had a bead stuck in her ear with no idea how long it had been there? That needed to be vacuumed out because it was wedged in there so tight.

Yep. They even scanned her head because they thought she was missing a bone in her inner ear. Turned out all required bones were present and accounted for.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Just a thought, have you folks ever have your ears checked out? It is possible to have wax build up to the point of it throwing off your balance which in turn makes it really easy to get motion sickness. Or in my daughter's case she had a bead stuck in her ear with no idea how long it had been there? That needed to be vacuumed out because it was wedged in there so tight.

Good thought but in my DHs case, this issue literally only happens in a few circumstances. If it was this, I think he would have issues regularly in a variety of scenarios.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Good luck. I hope they can figure out what's going on.

 

[WDWVolFan]

Maybe because a lot of the rides are screens and motion, use the old drunk trick. Finger down your throat, make yourself puke so you can feel better and go on with your day?

I've actually seen someone do that after riding MS.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Maybe because a lot of the rides are screens and motion, use the old drunk trick. Finger down your throat, make yourself puke so you can feel better and go on with your day?

I've actually seen someone do that after riding MS.

Oh yikes! Really? Wow I think that's a bit too extreme for him. But I guess that works for some.

 

[thomas998]

Hi all. In anticipation of our trip in March, I wanted to post this scenario and question in the hopes of gaining some perspective and help!

My DH has been having an issue with screens on our past two trips and in other situations.
It started at Universe of Energy when he felt very dizzy and disoriented and nauseous from looking up at the giant screens. We didn't think much of it until it happened again the next trip, at movies, and also on a few rides at Universal, particularly Minions.

We did a little research and it turns out there is a legitimate affliction that is basically similar to motion sickness but it's caused by screens or simulators. The screen creates a stimulus for your eyes that makes you feel like you're active when your body isn't, causing your brain to become confused by the mixed signals, hence the side effects. This also explains why he seems to do ok on the rides where your body and the visuals are moving together like Star Tours.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Did anything help?
We are wondering if motion sickness patches or wristbands help at all. It's a bit different from motion sickness, but wondering if it helped anyone. He's going to speak to his doctor at his physical in a few weeks.
Worst case scenario, he just doesn't go on those rides which he's prepared to do and be ok with. Just wanted to know if anyone has experienced this and if anything helped so he can enjoy them. Thank you!!

I understand what is happening and the reality is some simulators will be worse than others and some may not impact him at all. I say this as he sounds a bit like myself when it comes to motion sickness. I can ride on the bumpiest car ride, roller coaster or be in a boat during in stormy water and have zero motion sickness... but stick me on certain simulator rides and I'm feeling sick to my stomach. It happens because some rides are not synced up very well between the image you see and the feeling they are trying to replicate. The only thing I have found is that I need to stop looking at the screen on certain rides and then everything goes back to normal. The worst ride I have been on was the Simpsons ride at Universal I thought I was going to puke on the ride where as Star Tours just makes me a little queasy... But no medicines I've found ever helped.

 

[gbruenin]

I recall reading about this when Universal first put up the Back to the Future simulator ride. Happens when the visual input is out of sync with the physical motions of the simulator. It only takes small differences...1/10 of a second can do it. They had quite a few people complain, and after additional testing with strain gauges and accelerometers the discovered the sync problem, made adjustments, and all was well. I've started to feel it too on some rides. I can't prove it, but I suspect the rides get a out of sync over time. When I feel it, I close my eyes for a couple seconds...I've found the 'unpleasant' sensation stops.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I understand what is happening and the reality is some simulators will be worse than others and some may not impact him at all. I say this as he sounds a bit like myself when it comes to motion sickness. I can ride on the bumpiest car ride, roller coaster or be in a boat during in stormy water and have zero motion sickness... but stick me on certain simulator rides and I'm feeling sick to my stomach. It happens because some rides are not synced up very well between the image you see and the feeling they are trying to replicate. The only thing I have found is that I need to stop looking at the screen on certain rides and then everything goes back to normal. The worst ride I have been on was the Simpsons ride at Universal I thought I was going to puke on the ride where as Star Tours just makes me a little queasy... But no medicines I've found ever helped.

Thank you for this-you sound very similar to him! He's great with a coaster but screens, forget it.
I agree that some are ok, some are bad. Some he will just have to avoid and he's ok with that. Sorry to hear nothing has really helped you medication wise.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I recall reading about this when Universal first put up the Back to the Future simulator ride. Happens when the visual input is out of sync with the physical motions of the simulator. It only takes small differences...1/10 of a second can do it. They had quite a few people complain, and after additional testing with strain gauges and accelerometers the discovered the sync problem, made adjustments, and all was well. I've started to feel it too on some rides. I can't prove it, but I suspect the rides get a out of sync over time. When I feel it, I close my eyes for a couple seconds...I've found the 'unpleasant' sensation stops.

Thank you-I agree totally. I think they go a bit out of sync too. I've even felt it and these rides don't bother me much. The mismatch of visuals and motion are his big issue. Closing his eyes helps a hair but by then, he's kind of far gone.