Overcoming Nerves

WDW_Emily

WDW_Emily

Well-Known Member
I love thrill rides but the first time me and my sister went on ToT we Freaked out.

First no one really "cheaks" your seatbelt. one time the Cm said have a nice trip and I didn't have my Belt on yet.
Second I got creeped out by the fact that i'm droping 13 stories extremely fast and all the i have to protect me is a seatbelt like in the middle seat of a car!

For some odd reason now its my favorite ride. The first time is always scary(for me atleast) and i'm always thinking what if i fall out? what if malfunctions? But then I get over that fear when I see an 8 year old begging her Daddy to take her on the same ride I'm debating going on.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
CinderellaFan said:
Thanks for all of the replies. I would say the roughest or wildes ride I currently get myself on is Dinosaur or Kali River Rapids both in Animal Kingdom.
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If you like DInosaur, you could take a nap on Test Track - same for BTMRR

Splash does have that drop, however it is not a fast drop as far as drops go. It really is an amazing peice of themeing. At least to me, it looks MUCH worse than it is. It really does look like you are going to get that stomach rising / free fall feeling you get on a good coaster, but it never really happens. It's more like riding a bike down a steep hill.

As for M:S - thats a tough one. It is really really really a tame ride. It's just that some people cannot take spinning, others can. It all depends on your inner ear/eyes/brain set up.

-dave
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
EPCOTPluto

EPCOTPluto

Well-Known Member
Phonedave said:
If you like Dinosaur, you could take a nap on Test Track - same for BTMRR.
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I would watch for those dips, though. They are really unexpected. :lookaroun

Phonedave said:
Splash does have that drop, however it is not a fast drop as far as drops go. It really is an amazing piece of theming. At least to me, it looks MUCH worse than it is. It really does look like you are going to get that stomach rising / free fall feeling you get on a good coaster, but it never really happens. It's more like riding a bike down a steep hill.
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Definitely true! If it helps, a good yell on the big drop always helps, as it did to me as a pre-pubescent kid. :wave:

'course, I can ride it now without any screaming at all.

Phonedave said:
As for M:S - thats a tough one. It is really really really a tame ride.
It's just that some people cannot take spinning, others can. It all depends on your inner ear/eyes/brain set up.
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Just go with what you feel like. I would try Green first and the Orange later.
If it also helps, a banana before riding Orange works wonders those sensitive to vomiting. :lookaroun
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
BTMRR is brilliant at night. I cant beliebve youll ride Dinosaur which is rough as chuff but back out of the others. IMHO your already doing the worst ride. OK ToT is a different beast but even that is more giggles now than the original drop.

As others have said you are securely fastened in, and physics works to keep you in, you dont need to hold on, it doesnt make for a good photo. :D
 
RiversideBunny

RiversideBunny

New Member
A quote from 'Band of Brothers':

"We’re all scared. ..The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you’re already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to function..."

:)
 
T

tink68

Member
I am not a big thrill ride person myself. I have tried to stick to trying one new big ride each trip we take. So far what I have left to try is ToT, Rock n Roller Coaster, EE, Dino and Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain is the one I have chosen for our trip in Oct. Wish me luck. :eek:
P.S. BTMRR and Test Track are now 2 of my favorite rides once I got over the fear.
 
M

Monsterfan99

Active Member
With thrill rides, do research before you go. Look at pictures, read reviews on the rides and watch Point of Views of the rides themselves. This will give you an idea of what to expect. Also, the safty on the rides should be a none issue. You are more likely to get hurt walking to the ride and tripping then ridding them.

Remember to do things at your pace. If you do not feel like riding something, go to something else and come back. It will be there when you return during the same trip. There is no seance in doing something due to pressure of others and then hating it. Remember the idea of rides is to have fun.

Phonedave said:
Kingda Ka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkWTfOzIqDM


Still haven't made it down there to ride it yet (Great Adventure just does not appeal to me)

-dave
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Go for El Toro alone. You will not regret it.
 
wdwmemories

wdwmemories

New Member
My thought is that it is YOUR vacation / holiday, and if you don't really want to go, then don't! :ROFLOL:
I think in nearly all cases you can wait in the line with your party and exit just before boarding the ride vehicle.

That said, if you really want to ride them but need to get past the jitters, remember that you are safer on a Disney ride than you were in your car driving to Disney.
Also, keep in mind the times when you did get on a ride and had so much fun!
Enjoy.
 
JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
This thread has been fascinating and wonderfully informative for me! I am the most timid park enthusiast ever. I was talked into going on my first rollercoaster in my 20s, and by the time it was over, I was sobbing and shaking so hard that I could not stand up to get off the ride! I hated it and have not been on another in almost 20 years. Same thing happened on one of those stupic Pirate's ship rides that I was talked into trying at a local fair years ago.

Our family went to DW for the first time 2 years ago, and I loved it, but I happily stayed with our young DD while hubby went on all the thrill rides with older DS. The only ride hubby said I definitely would not be scared on was Test Track, and I'm glad I believed him because I loved it! There are only a few seconds of speed at the end, but none of that lurching, dropping or spinning.

We're going back to DW this October, and this time DD wants to try some of the thrill rides too. I hate to be left behind alone, and I also feel like I'm missing out on some great theming, but I'm terrified. I had worked up the courage to try Dinosaur and Splash because those interest me most, but based on what I've read here, it seems that Dinosaur may be too much for me. Hubby said Dinosaur is lurchy but less scary than EE (which I definitely am too afraid to try) - what do you guys think?

That final drop of Splash sounds awful to me, but it's only one drop, so I think I'll still try it. I was surprised to read that BTMRR is not much worse than Test Track -- maybe I'll try that too. I hate being so scared, but I hate it worse when I come off a ride crying from fear. I want to push the boundaries just a tad so I can experience some new rides, but not too far that it's not enjoyable. Such a dilemma! :veryconfu
Jill
 
Wilt Dasney

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
As others have said, BTMRR and Test Track are nothing. I don't know why Test Track even has the reputation as a "thrill ride." It's about as thrilling as driving 65 with your windows down. BTM at least has some dips and tight turns, but it's very mild stuff.

WDW's Space Mt. (before it went down) I wasn't a big fan of. The ride always seemed rough to me, and the surrounding track was too visible. I was always convinced I was about to be decapitated. :lol: Hopefully they'll address some of that when it re-opens. I recently rode DL's version for the first time, and didn't have any of that.

As for drop rides...I love Splash Mt. and ToT and will ride them on every trip, but I don't think I'll ever lose that "oh crap" feeling right before the drops. My brain always convinces me my stomach is about to end up in my throat. Of course, it's never that bad. I really think the psychological "eff with your mind" effect is probably strongest on those two, so I'd work my way up the ladder with them at the top.
 
Wilt Dasney

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
JillC LI said:
I had worked up the courage to try Dinosaur and Splash because those interest me most, but based on what I've read here, it seems that Dinosaur may be too much for me. Hubby said Dinosaur is lurchy but less scary than EE (which I definitely am too afraid to try) - what do you guys think?
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If you've done simulators like Star Tours, Dinosaur is maybe just a step up from there. There are short bursts of speed and the ride is rough at times, but it's more like being tossed around when you swerve the steering wheel hard. No spinning or falling. Basically it's like being at the mercies of a bad driver for a few minutes. :lol:
 
RiversideBunny

RiversideBunny

New Member
The final drop on Splash Mountain is really a big nothing.
It looks at lot worse than it is because, when viewing it as a spectator, you see all the water splashing.

:)
 
kashmir

kashmir

Active Member
Phonedave said:
It's hard to say. Some people just do not like "thrill" rides. To me, nothing in WDW approaches a thrill ride, but for others it is like death.

It also depends on how the ride moves. I love coasters, drops are no problem. However I just rode - for the first time - this weekend a Zipper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqnKQ2gxT2g

As one website described it "2 minutes of sheer veritical hell" however my 7 y/o who was in the car with me was laughing her fool head off the whole time. She wanted to get right back on.

Rode Zippers all the time as a teen, but now hate drops in coasters...mystery to me how that happened.
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bugsbunny

bugsbunny

Well-Known Member
Motion sickness is one thing. That can sometimes be overcome by using ginger pills. They defintely work and a Mythbusters show covered that topic one time. It was amazing how effective they were.

But being scared of the ride is basically a mental block. You have to realize the Disney isn't in the business to kill their customers. They want to entertain them and they offer different extremes. if you don't like going fast or feeling out of control, it could be simply becuase you have anxiety of situations where you feel you aren't in control. If you get panic feelings when riding in the passenger seat of a car, then I can't see you riding thrill rides.

Personally, I haven't been on a ride yet that I would not go on again. In fact, I waited in line for 2 1/2 hours at Six Flags here in NJ to get on Kingda Ka. FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX FEET HIGH!!! I was the next car to go and the cable broke that shoots the coaster up to the necessary 128mph to reach the top! Even if the cable breaks on launch, it just makes you go part way up and then you glide back. It was down for the day and by that point, I left the park. Haven't been back since.

Anyway, good luck with your fears and I hope you can take them head on. Live a little!
 
CastleBound

CastleBound

Well-Known Member
bugsbunny said:
In fact, I waited in line for 2 1/2 hours at Six Flags here in NJ to get on Kingda Ka. FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX FEET HIGH!!! I was the next car to go and the cable broke that shoots the coaster up to the necessary 128mph to reach the top! Even if the cable breaks on launch, it just makes you go part way up and then you glide back. It was down for the day and by that point, I left the park. Haven't been back since.
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Hey, I live only 20 minutes away from SFGA and Kingda Ka is a great ride when it works. Its always down. Strange thing is, it doesn't give you any stomach sensation while traveling down.

but back on topic, There is no need to waste time being afraid of rides. There are sooo many more things to be afraid of than a ride. Rides are meant to be crazy, fun, enjoyable, and most of all safe. Most rides like that are over in seconds to minutes. Yea, there may be a few cases around the world of safety neglect, but those circumstances are so rare that you are better not worrying.

There is so much fun and thrill to be had on big, fast, scary rides. It would be a shame to miss them. Don't lose your chance to have a little fun on some great rides!!! Hope you conquer every thrill ride in the world some day! (or at least WDW)
 

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