What's scary about a roller-coaster?

[JustinTheClaw]

I was reading the "Expedition Everst is SCARY!" thread and it got me thinking: What is it about roller-coasters that scares people so?

I am not a coaster enthusiast, but I certainly am not afraid of them. However, up until my mid-to-late teens (I'm 24 now) I would not go on one unless I was dragged on. I was terrified of them. Now I go on every coaster I come across (I love Expedition Everest) and I've forgotten what used to scare me about them.

So, why are you afraid? Or, why aren't you afraid?

 

[ToTBellHop]

people are afraid for different reasons--usually height or speed. Darkness also scares a lot of people b/c they can't see what is happening. For example, if you put Space Mountain outside, it probably wouldn't scare many people b/c it's not especially tall or fast.

I love coasters for the airtime and speed, myself.

 

[PlaneJane]

Being on a rollercoaster for the first time and not knowing what to expect can be thrilling or frightning. The only rollercoaster that scared me a little was Dollywood's Tennessee Tornado because during the very large loop it felt like we were going to roll back. It literally felt like it stopped for a couple of milliseconds at the top of the loop. The only other coaster that had that effect on me was the cannonball here in Chattanooga. It has massive amounts of air time since its a down and back woodie. When I was a kid I thought I was going to fall out.
here is some pics http://www.themeparkreview.com/photos/dollywood/tt.htm
http://www.themeparkreview.com/photos/lakewinnie/cannonball.htm

 

[JustinTheClaw]

...if you put Space Mountain outside, it probably wouldn't scare many people...

I would have to debate that...I've ridden Space Mountain with the lights on. It's scarier that way.

Darkness also scares a lot of people b/c they can't see what is happening.

What's ironic about that is when most people get scared on a roller coaster, they close their eyes. What the heck sense does that make?!? :brick:

 

[JustinTheClaw]

The only rollercoaster that scared me a little was Dollywood's Tennessee Tornado because during the very large loop it felt like we were going to roll back. It literally felt like it stopped for a couple of milliseconds at the top of the loop.

I think that might actually make me a little nervous too.

 

[coastermaster83]

well I live in tampa and my fear up until about 3 months ago was height of the drop well then my girlfriend and I went to Busch gardens and she begged me to ride Sheikra "200 ft straight down"(Until then the tallest I had been on was a 60 foot drop) I told her only if there was no line thinking I could get out of it. well we get to the loading station and just my bad luck the station is empty and they are loading a train so I gave in and loaded the train mad at myself for being so stupid as to think that on a wednesday there would be a line. Well we start up the lift hill and around the bend and stop and then 1....2....3....4....5...6.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh straight down and up into the loop and now I can say that drops dont bother me that much. I think for most people they just need to try it once and then it will be fine but my biggest problem with coasters is waiting inline and thinking about the drop. So I would say the biggest fear is the thinking about it factor.

 

[Pongo]

I think it's the lack of control and the unknown forces/motion of the coaster that scare most people.

I, however, love them.

 

[MommytoMJM]

I would have to debate that...I've ridden Space Mountain with the lights on. It's scarier that way.


What's ironic about that is when most people get scared on a roller coaster, they close their eyes. What the heck sense does that make?!? :brick:

For me, if I can't see where I'm going then it doesn't bother me.....I hate most coasters, I would never go on RnR if it was outside, but inside it's not bad....

 

[makonyy15]

The National Geographic Channel just had a special on last night called Supercoasters, not sure if it'll be on again but it had a small segment on how Disneyland introduced the first steel coaster, therefore starting the coaster revolution.

It also mentioned WHY people love rollercoasters, connecting it all back to the brains use/processing of Dopamine (SP). After each ride we go on that's extremely intense, our dopamine levels don't return to normal, they go lower, meaning we want more and more each time. The reason people are so scared is because of a fear of the unknown, at least for first time riders, knowing they're supposed to end up safe, but with no way of knowing how they'll get back to the station.

EDIT: Looks like the next time it's supposed to air is 6/4 from 6-8PM, it was a good special, I recommend it.

 

[Nansafan]

What bothers my son (19 yr. old) about certain coasters is the upside loop ones e.g. RnR. Almost anything that goes in circles too fast or too often bothers his balance and well, he loses his lunch. I wouldn't say he is afraid of the coaster, he is afraid of the aftermath. He loves the big drops and air time etc. It's the circling thing that bothers him. He even stays away from things like Dumbo.

I myself don't like the outside looping ones. My feet dangling just makes me nervous.

 

[clarksfan95]

I agree that it's more the lack of control of your environment and for some coasters, it's the speed. For one, you have no choice as to what the coaster is going to do once it starts. When I was 13, I rode a Corkscrew coaster at Myrtle Beach and during the inversions, being as small as I was, I lifted probably 6 or so inches off of the seat. For me, that was a horrible experience, it was quite a while before I rode another coaster.

Shortly thereafter we visited Disney and didn't have any problems with their coasters (Space Mountain and Thundermountain were the only two at the time). At that point tho, Kennywood, a popular amusement park in the Pittsburgh, PA area had gotten the Steel Phantom, which at the time was the fastest coaster in the world and had 2 or 3 loops at the end....my first time on that....I was extremely afraid and kept thinking about my Corkscrew experience. I had a new experience with this ride though....I had grown and this time didn't move in the seat during the loops which then made me want more.

My dad doesn't like coasters, but he does ride Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. As a family, we know that RnR is a bit too much for my dad...heck he can barely stand the teacups (but I think that's a common issue for most people...go figure)

 

[bsandersjr]

I was once terrified of rollercoaster.
I think it was the height and drops.
After our honeymoon trip to WDW, US, and IOA, I quickly lost that fear. Now, I love them.

 

[justducky78]

I think for a lot of people it's a mix of the speed, height and unknown.

I personally love coasters...but even so, on the bigger ones, I prefer a shoulder restraint versus the lap restraint. It's not a big deal to me on coasters like EE or space mountain, etc but on coasters like RnR or anything that has huge drops or corkscrews, it's a must. I love RnR because of the shoulder restraint. It makes a big difference and gives you a sense of security and something to hold onto!

The only fear I have on coasters is malfunction. For instance, getting stuck upside down for an hour. That would not be fun.

 

[Since1976]

Rollercoasters take many things we are naturally predisposed to avoid and force us to face them head on. I vividly remember chickening out of Disneyland's Space Mountain at the last minute. It wasn't until 5 years later that I mustered up the courage to ride the WDW version, albeit with my dad holding on.

So, Space Mountain was the first of many coasters for me -- it really got me over my fear. I didn't experience the pre-boarding fear of a coaster again until over a decade later, when I saw the first rise of Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

I kinda miss that feeling of dread. It only happens rarely now, and usually only when the Imagineers throw in a particularly scary story element into an attraction.

 

[magicfan]

The only rollercoaster that scared me a little was Dollywood's Tennessee Tornado because during the very large loop it felt like we were going to roll back. It literally felt like it stopped for a couple of milliseconds at the top of the loop.

Ah, yes. The Tennessee Tornado. Good coaster. Good fun. My only problem was that it was a very short ride. But still, plenty of action for the time you ride it. While you were at Dollywood, did you ride Thunderhead? Thunderhead is, I believe, rated #1 wooden coaster right now. What a ride! Good memories .

I think for most people they just need to try it once and then it will be fine

My thoughts exactly. It drives me crazy when someone I'm with won't go on a coaster because they think they won't like it. How do they know they're not going to like it? You have to try it once. And I think most of the time if you try it, you'll like it.

my biggest problem with coasters is waiting inline and thinking about the drop.

That's my biggest problem, too. However, for me, waiting in line and thinking about the drop makes me more excited, not scared. I can't wait to experience it lol :lol:

 

[gatordoc]

but even so, on the bigger ones, I prefer a shoulder restraint versus the lap restraint. It's not a big deal to me on coasters like EE or space mountain, etc but on coasters like RnR or anything that has huge drops or corkscrews, it's a must. I love RnR because of the shoulder restraint. It makes a big difference and gives you a sense of security and something to hold onto!

That's interesting, because for me, it's just the opposite. The shoulder restraints often feel somewhat stifling to me, so I'm much more confortable with the lap bars - I just feel more able to breathe comfortably with them.

 

[Timothy Q Mouse]

I was once terrified of rollercoaster.
I think it was the height and drops.
After our honeymoon trip to WDW, US, and IOA, I quickly lost that fear. Now, I love them.

I was exactly the same way. Until I was 25 I had never been on a rollercoaster. Then my wife dragged me on BTMR on our honeymoon and now I can't get enough of them. My first three rollercoasters were on that trip to WDW (including RnR, never thought I'd do a loop!). I still get that uneasy feeling heading up the first lift hill, but now I equate that feeling with excitement more than with dread. Sometimes, all it takes is that one person dragging you on a ride that changes your feeling about it.

 

[poohbear6103]

I think the dark can definitely cause anxiety, even if you are not scared of the dark. It just intensifies everything.
I remember riding Space Mountain for the first time and not knowing where the drops were because of the darkness. I kept wondering every time we climbed up a little "Is it coming? Is it coming". Even though it is not a coaster, I also felt the same the first time I rode Splash Mountain. Since there are quite a few small drops inside, I kept wondering, "Is this the big one?" Total anxiety but in a good way I also remember on RNRC I had heard before I went on it for the first time that the "take off" was really intense so I was terrified. The fact that they count down before you leave the station was the worst because I was so scared at how fast it would be and then it being in the dark, not knowing if there would be any steep hills,etc. Sometimes too much info or not enough before you ride a coaster for the first time can make you scared depending on what you hear. Luckily, after you know what to expect it's more of a thrill and then that need to ride it again and again sets in.

 

[Punkss]

Thats so right, the first "beaking the duck" coaster is the one you remember. I tried The Vampire Ride at Chessington World of Adventures (UK) aged about 13/14 and went on it 2 more times that day.

The feeling of uneasyness i still get on the first hill (nowadays lining up for the big shoot-off!) is part of the fun, i always feel proud when i get off and a little giddy. The droppers, and shooters (up & down only coasters) are the worst for me as the openness and height really gets me!But i have done one now and.......never again!!

 

[Melerella]

I'm scared of coasters too....to an extent. Like, I was scared of Splash Mt. and my friend dragged me on and now the drop is like nothing to me (sometimes I don't even feel it...honestly!).

I've even been on RnRC...but that was a promise I made to someone(I go on that, they go on Splash). After all this I won't step foot near Space Mt. I'm just scared of it...lolol..it makes no sense. And I do agree waiting in line messes with your head..lolol.:animwink: