My Famous Space Mountain Story and a Few Ride Questions

[PhilharMagician]

My DD loves Space Mountain which is her favorite ride in WDW. She rode it last year 7 times and she was 6 years old. She also loves test track and first rode it at 4 years old. Now this year we can hopefully get her on RNRC. Last year year she was very uspet that she was about 1/2" short to make it on the ride, so this year we will probably go on it about 10 times.
Thrill rides are safe. They have height restictions for a reason so that you can be properly restrained. If you or your son are concerned I recommend searching the internet for ride videos and look at them together. The videos do not have the thrill factor, but they can give you an idea of what to expect before you get inside a ride.
I personally do not classify any current disney ride (except Mission Space) a sensory overloading thrill ride. All of the rollercoasters are fairly mellow compared to the roller monsters being built today in other theme parks.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I also forgot to mention that I also was afraid the first time I went on Space Mountain with my daughter. We go through the line and there were the single seat coaster cars. I was so afraid that she was going to go into a panic, since she has done that before. I looked at her and asked her one more time if she wanted to ride and she said yes, so on we go. At the end of the ride I asked her if she she was ok, and she screamed that was awesome and we have to go again.

Moral to the story is YOU NEVER KNOW HOW KIDS WILL REACT!

Good luck and just have fun! :wave:

 

[Brooke]

I understand where you are coming from when you talk about Space Mountain...I used to be scared of Space Mountain when I was really little just because I had to sit by myself. I didn't like that. But when I finally went on it when I was about seven or eight I realized that it wasn't bad at all.

Rock N Roller Coaster isn't bad either. Sure, it's more intense than Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain but compared to the big looping roller coasters you'll find at Six Flags and Universal I would have to describe it as tame in comparison. The loops are really small and the ride is VERY short.

Tower of Terror is also not bad. I don't know which Six Flags ride you're talking about but it was probably out in the open. In Tower of Terror you are in a confined elevator and you feel really safe and secure (or at least I do!).

You should definitely try all the attractions at WDW....usually people who are scared come off the ride saying things like "that wasn't so bad" and "i want to do it again!" And even if you feel like chickening out you should consider letting your son try them out!

 

[Master Yoda]

Just relax. Every ride at Disney is unbelievably safe.
As for you ride list, RnRC is smooth as glass. Yes there are 3 inversions but the most intense thing about that coaster is the launch. Keep your head against the head rest before it takes of and you will be fine. Just remember to smile your picture is being taken for future memory when you first take off. ToT, I know the ride you’re talking about at 6 flags and ToT is nothing like it. The ride is never in a free fall you are actually being pushed down and up then down again. The sensation you get is not really a negative g free fall felling. Space Mountain, If I am not mistaken the top speed you reach on space mountain is 28 mph. Space Mountain is Disney illusion at its finest. It makes you feel like you are doing around warp 9 when in fact your son can probably surpass its top speed on his bicycle.
Just don’t stress it. If you are scared your son will be scared. Just relax and enjoy the magic.

 

[Gucci65]

My daughter is a trill ride junkie. When she was finally tall enough to ride Space Mtn, the whole family cheered. I think she was around 4 or 5 yrs old. Anyway, the CM wanted to know what we were cheering about and when we finally got on the ride she made an announcement to the whole building (it was in July) that Captain Lindsay was getting ready to take off on her inaugural flight. Everyone cheered. The CM gave her a pin and we took off. To this day she still remembers the magic of her first SM ride.

When RNR opened, she didnt even want my Dad & I to sit with her. She sat solo, with her arms stuck straight up in the air. I felt safe then (and now) that she wasn't going anywhere.

ToT - scared ME to death the first time because it used to be a lap bar and of course would stop on the lap of the largest person and my daughter got plenty of air time. BUT that has all changed - they all have seat belts now. The only way you get air time is if you put your fists under the belt before they get locked into place.

Have fun and enjoy your upcoming trip!!

 

[Narthex]

I can handle all the rides at Walt Disney World, but I am one who can get car sick very easily for some reason. For me the ride that bothers me the most is probably either the Mad Hatter Tea Cups (Unless you stare down in the center of the ride) or Body Wars. Rock N Roller Coaster is a very smooth roller coaster. If you happen to close your eyes on it you do not feel like you are going upsidedown at all (Well sorta do on the third inversion). The first three seconds of the launch are quite thrilling, but once you get to top speed that "speed" feeling goes away. I was always terrfied of upside-down rollercoasters until I tried this one. Its a great one first upside-down rollercoaster to try. There are no drops on Rock N Rollercoaster by the way.
For me Tower of Terror is very fun. The movement is so quick and smooth that its more fun than terrifying.
I love Mission Space. I have been on it around 25-30 times. This is probably the most physically intense ride in all of Walt Disney World do to the G-forces. Again the launch is the most thrilling part, but you get used to the feeling within about 2 seconds. The most important thing to remember is to stare directly at the screen and DO NOT close your eyes. This ride has more warnings on it than any other ride at Walt Disney. Again I am one who gets motion sickness very easily, but I am able to do this ride. However you do feel a little strange for about 5-10 minutes after getting off.
I have probably ridden Space Mountain close to 70 times in my lifetime. Maybe even more. I was there for its 30th Anniversary this past Jan. I got a pin to prove it. Anyways the ride only gets up to 28miles per hour (The same as Big Thunder I believe). Both Bg Thunder and Space MOuntain are "Fun coasters" nothing really to intense about them. Space Mountain has 3 drops on it...2 small and one medium one. Thunder I beleieve really only has maybe 2 very small drops. Most of the intensity is due to tight turns. They are both a bit rough--in terms of the track not being very smooth (especially when compared to RnR Coaster).
Splash Mountain is also very fun....mostly relaxing. There are 4 drops in it. (two small ones, one medium one, and the last one). Waterride drops are not as intense since you really don't achieve top speed until near the bottom. The final drop looks much more steep than it really is. I say give all these rides a try. I have seen 7 year old all the way up to mid-80 year old people ride ALL of these rideds. My best memory was riding Mission Space with an 80+ year old couple who just loved it.
Ignore all warning signs for Sorain' by the way, its very very gentle.

 

[Hakunamatata]

OHM? Sorry, I'm a little Disney-illiterate sometimes.


Thanks EVERYBODY for your great advice. You made me feel a lot better.
Any other advice is GREATLY appreciated!

I didnt read if anyone else mentioned this as some of the posts were really long, and I have a short attention span, but, Space Mountain is pretty much entirely (sp) dark. I think there may be some fake stars, but from what I remember, its pitch black.......thats what bothered me the most. Cause you feel like if you raise your hands, you might hit something. I am 6'2" and the whole time I had this feeling I was going to hit my head on the track above me......just a thought...

 

[tirian]

You and your son will be perfectly fine. If you start to feel clammy, or if your heart starts racing, just calm down and look at the theming; that works for me! Remember that different people get nervous about different things. I know someone who gets nervous when he rides Pirate of the Caribbean!

As for me personally, my first coaster was not at WDW. It was a Batman hanging coaster at Six Flags. I walked into the park refusing to ride it, and my friends pressured me into it. Halfway through the queue, I started to chicken out; and frankly, I prayed all the way from that point through the first lift (remember, my first experience was hanging).

I loved it, walked off in a straight line, and have been hooked on coasters ever since.