Rides and Motion sickness?

DrMom

New Member
Original Poster
I have been using several guide books since I haven't been to Disney since I was a child. They are full of good information, however, when you look at them, you get the impression that most of the more adventurous rides are going to cause motion sickness. While there are certain rides that I avoid now that I've gotten older (such as tilt-a-whirl or giant viking ship swings), I am usually able to ride most things. One of my sons has a tendency to get mildly queasy in the car at times. Should I be concerned about avoiding many of those rides or is this a case where the guidebooks are overly cautious with their warnings? Which rides are likely to bother a kid who can have a touch of motion sickness?
After all, an upset stomach can put a real damper on things...
 

TTATraveler

Active Member
I have been using several guide books since I haven't been to Disney since I was a child. They are full of good information, however, when you look at them, you get the impression that most of the more adventurous rides are going to cause motion sickness. While there are certain rides that I avoid now that I've gotten older (such as tilt-a-whirl or giant viking ship swings), I am usually able to ride most things. One of my sons has a tendency to get mildly queasy in the car at times. Should I be concerned about avoiding many of those rides or is this a case where the guidebooks are overly cautious with their warnings? Which rides are likely to bother a kid who can have a touch of motion sickness?
After all, an upset stomach can put a real damper on things...

Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Rock N Roller Coaster
Space Mountain
Body Wars
Mission Space - Team Orange
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest
Test Track
Thunder Mountain
Mad Tea Party

Of course some of these could be a problem and then again may not. For roller coasters, I would test out Thunder Mountain. If he is not ok on that, I would avoid all other coasters. If he is ok on it, the next step up would be Space Mountain or perhaps Everest.
 

ELopez

Member
Most rides are relatively tame at WDW. But it depends on what bothers you.

I don't mind spinning (I love to get the tea cups going although my husband can't even stand to watch me ride it!). But I hate to drop. I tolerate the small drop in Pirates, but I don't enjoy it.

Start slow and work your way up. The only thing that seems to really ruin anyone's day is Mission:Space. Anything else your ride - if you don't like it - it will be over in a minute or so!

I also suggest you search the forums on this site for the indiviudal rides, so you read many different opinions. Have a great time!
 
My dad doesn't get motion sickness in the car, but he gets motion sickness on the rides. He can only do Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain...every other thrill ride makes him sick, then he gets really cranky!!
 

mousermerf

Account Suspended
Elopez, i think you're my long lost twin. I hate drops, but can (and enjoy) spinning, while my other half can't spin but loves drops.

Anywho, some people get sick anywhere, I swear (slow moving rides have people yak on them too). It's really just a matter of the individual.

I'll second that the Astro Orbitor makes me dizzy. I think the height, speed, and the angle of the ships makes things a bit more thrilling then one would expect. You pull some G-forces up there.

How/why does he get sick in the car? Is it because he's doing something else and not watching the movement...? If i dig around in the glovebox while someone else is driving, I get close to yaking (i stink at being "map-reader" copilot).

I'm fine with being flung/spun around though, just hate them drops.

I think Test Track might be a good place to try things out. It's car-like, doesn't have any obstructed view, and the intense part is very brief and at the very end. If he survives, you're probably good for any ride that actually moves, and should be aware of simulators - Star Tours and Body Wars, and there's a slight chance that Soarin' might bother him.
 

C&D

Well-Known Member
Ginger has been implicated is reducing nausea, if in fact your condition is stomach related (can you say, ginger snaps cookies). Remember, however, that a lot of motion sickness can be caused by inner ear aggitations, which can cause nausea and/or dizziness as well. What you can do is wear a sea sick patch, say the night before and that has been known to help with inner ear causes. (The sea sick patch can dry you out and cause drozzines so you have to weigh the side effect too, but that's the reason you may want to wear it the night before.) I am not a doctor, don't play one on T.V. or have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, so please take my comments as my opinion and determine if any suggestions might warrant investigation.
 
I tried Ginger Root pills the last time we went away and we were going to be on high intensity rides.. I took them for a few days before we were going to the parks to get a level in my system.. The day we went I took a few Gravol (for those Americans who don't know what that is, it's a motion sickness, Anti-nausea pill).. Unfortuantely niether worked.. That isn't to say that it can't work for others.. I get sick as a dog once you flip me over.. I think that anything with major G's I'm not able to do.. But I have no problem on Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Star Tours, Soarin' etc etc..
 

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
If it is simple motion sickness you are concerned over, usually Dramamine has worked for my fiancee. She gets extremely motion sick, but had no problem on anything after taking this. They sell it in a non-drowsy, 24-hour dose. Just start taking it a day before you intend to try and get motion sick, and it will work wonders! I don't know if this helps, but good luck!
 

smk

Well-Known Member
I rode the rock n roll roller coaster last year for the first time and I felt that I might die right then and there :cry: :cry: :cry: . I shook for a full hour when I got off that darn ride. I never expected that response, I usually have no trouble on rides, spinning or drops. I will never ride that one again, ever. I will ride the Mission Space, not the full force one but the other version. I loved Everest, but appartently I screamed the whole time becasue my voice was hoarse the rest of the day. And Slash Mountain is becoming a favorite of mine, even tho the drop and the anticipation of a soaking used to bother me. Soarin, first row, can't beat that one at all:sohappy: . I think the second row is awful because you can see the feet of the riders in the row in front of you dangling in the air, that bothered me some. I would go to WDW any day and not ride a thing, just stroll around and shop. In fact, I'd go there right now if I could! :wave:
 

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
Neither ginger nor dramamine work for me. I take antivert (a prescription) when I fly, but I usually just skip the rides that cause me trouble. On ride that simulate flight I just close my eyes and deep breath until that part is over. I cannot do spinning at all because it screws up my inner ear and I'm shot for days with vertigo.
 

hokielutz

Well-Known Member
Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Rock N Roller Coaster
Space Mountain
Body Wars
Mission Space - Team Orange
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest
Test Track
Thunder Mountain
Mad Tea Party

Of course some of these could be a problem and then again may not. For roller coasters, I would test out Thunder Mountain. If he is not ok on that, I would avoid all other coasters. If he is ok on it, the next step up would be Space Mountain or perhaps Everest.


Actually TTA, I would think that Thunder Mountain would bring out the worst feelings of motion sickness than say some of the bigger attractions. BTMR has a bunch of humps, bumps, jumps that will throw your stomach in knots quicker than a standard steel coaster. Dinosaur, Body Wars, and Star Tours are all examples of motion sickness inducing rides. I would even go as far to say that Dumbo... because it is a spinning ride, could cause complications.
Mad Tea Party is a definite stay away from.

Why not start with Goofy's Barnstormer with your son and then try out Space Mountain and Splash mountain. Then work your way up from there.
 

kcnole

Well-Known Member
I get very sick on Star Tours, I don't even try Mission Space (I haven't been back since the new version option went in), Test Track hasn't bothered me, Rockin Roller Coaster can with the loop, Tower of Terror makes me feel weird but it's not a motion sickness feeling. Soarin gives me a slight nauseous feeling but it only lasts for like one minute after the ride is over. Some of the circle vision movies that simulate flight bother me as well.
 

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