What's scary about a roller-coaster?

[T-1MILLION]

All these everyone has listed are factors but I find that a lot of it is just the intimidation.

When you first see a huge coaster that is tall and fast and you know you are about to go on your first ride..the adrenalin is already getting ready to flow and your stomcache gets the oh no, but also oh yeah, kind of feeling.

That does not just apply for outdoor coasters.
Enclosed coasters adds maybe even more intimidation for the first ride especially, cause most of the time for most people the intimidation level dies down after the first ride.
that is my two cents anyway.

-Preston

 

[AndreainNY]

I am one of those folks who is not afraid of coasters, but I am very sensitive to motion, so coasters tend to make me dizzy and nauseous. I can ride all the Mountains without a problem, they really are not aggressive coasters, and coasters with big drops don't make me feel sick, but those that go upside down or have too many circular turns get me! I REALLY want to ride EE, but going backwards is one of those things that makes me disoriented. I plan on sending my husband and son on first to "test" it. If they think I will be okay - then I am riding!! I am also curious about MS - the less intense version. Same thing - I will send my test subjects on first before I ride!

 

[JustinTheClaw]

So there seems to be a general consensus that once a person tries a rollercoaster, they almost instantly overcome the fear. I guess that's what must have happened for me.

One other thing I truly don't understand is a few people mention the fear of speed. This makes little sense to me, because most rollercoasters, at their fastest, travel at the same speed or less that what we're used to driving. The major difference being, in my opinion, your car is not on rails, and you can go off the road. You can't really come off of a rollercoaster track.

No one has been able to explain to me how closing your eyes makes it less scary. I would think, especially if you're afraid of dark coasters, that closing your eyes would make it worse. Not only that, but one of the most common causes of motion sickness is feeling where you are going without seeing it. (That is why Mission: Space tells you to always look forward and to keep your eyes open. Even though it's not real, your brain puts the images together with the sensation and it calms your systems.)

For example, I've ridden Space Mountain dozens of times. I know both tracks by heart. I usually ride it wearing sunglasses, which makes everything darker without making it totally dark. One time I rode it wearing those cool-looking light-up sunglasses they've been selling. (The ones with the wire that lights up completely, not the cheap ones they sell with a few LEDs that just light up in dots.) When I turned them on I could see almost nothing. It was cool and all, but I found it made me feel a little nauseated rather quickly.

 

[coasterphil]

The thing that scared me for the longest time were the drops, and not knowing how they would effect me. All that changed really quickly once I went on a few, now I don't fear anything at amusement parks.

 

[PlaneJane]

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 haven't been back to Dollywood in a while. I've been to Pigeon Forge many many many times but its always in the off season. It becomes one big parking lot in the summer.

 

[pescador1f]

I'M NOT AFRAID, I USED TO HAVE A FEAR YEARS AGO, BUT NOT ANYMORE. THE FEAR WAS VOMITING ON A CAR FULL OF STRANGERS & OR ON MYSELF . I DONT KNOW IF THIS HAS EVER REALLY HAPPENED, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT IN MY LIFE OR HEARD OF IT HAPPENING. THE ONLY TRUE VOMITING THAT I KNOW OF WAS AT SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE HERE IN N.J. SOMEONE YACKED ON THAT HUGE PENDELUM THAT DROPS YOU DOWN AND YOU SWING REAL HIGH BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES. IT WAS ODD AS WELL BECAUSE THE PERSON YACKED WHEN THEY WERE AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE DROP/SWING, MAYBE THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY VOMITING AT DISNEY EXPERIENCES, PERSONAL OR WITNESSED???? :sohappy:

 

[*disneymagic*]

I'm afraid of roller coasters too. I'm almost 19 and i've only really been on one roller coaster and that was Space Mountain last summer. I didn't like it at all during the ride and it feels like you are going to fall out because the bars that hold you in are so low. But now that i've been on it and i know what to expect, I can ride it again. (Same thing with Splash) I think the darkness factor helped me tho, i'm afraid of heights so not seeing how high up i was helped.
I think fear of heights, fear of the unknown and motion sickness are the main factors of being afraid of roller coasters. I know those are mine. I always get nervous (never sick,just feel exremely nervous). But now that i've done Space Mountain, I can do it again and I'll try BTMR but I am still very far away from trying Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and EE and ever Tower of Terror (falling sensation is not pleasant to me at all).

 

[Punkss]

I'M NOT AFRAID, I USED TO HAVE A FEAR YEARS AGO, BUT NOT ANYMORE. THE FEAR WAS VOMITING ON A CAR FULL OF STRANGERS & OR ON MYSELF . I DONT KNOW IF THIS HAS EVER REALLY HAPPENED, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT IN MY LIFE OR HEARD OF IT HAPPENING. THE ONLY TRUE VOMITING THAT I KNOW OF WAS AT SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE HERE IN N.J. SOMEONE YACKED ON THAT HUGE PENDELUM THAT DROPS YOU DOWN AND YOU SWING REAL HIGH BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES. IT WAS ODD AS WELL BECAUSE THE PERSON YACKED WHEN THEY WERE AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE DROP/SWING, MAYBE THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY VOMITING AT DISNEY EXPERIENCES, PERSONAL OR WITNESSED???? :sohappy:

Owwwww, my ears and eyes hurt please turn the CAPS lock off!

But now that i've done Space Mountain, I can do it again and I'll try BTMR but I am still very far away from trying Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and EE and ever Tower of Terror (falling sensation is not pleasant to me at all).

Well good on you for trying, i think you will find BTMRR pretty good, its fairly tame and you will not feel like you're going to fall out at all so do it once, hold on for dear life and concentrate on getting it over with, and then try it again later in the day so you can enjoy it a bit more because you know whats coming. Good luck!

 

[justducky78]

One other thing I truly don't understand is a few people mention the fear of speed. This makes little sense to me, because most rollercoasters, at their fastest, travel at the same speed or less that what we're used to driving. The major difference being, in my opinion, your car is not on rails, and you can go off the road. You can't really come off of a rollercoaster track.

No, in a way, it doesn't make sense - but you do feel the speed much more than you would in a car. I can go 80 in my car on the highway and not even notice the speed. It's much more intense when you sitting in this tiny little coaster car, going 80 mph through loops and big drops.

 

[Mr. WDB]

I don't fear most coasters now, but what used to scare me was the possibility that I might get sick and vomit. It was an irrational fear as it had never happened to me. So when I went on my first coaster as a teen, and I did not get sick, nor felt even remotely queasy, I was pretty much over any fear of coasters. Once the realization that I wasn't going to get ill riding these things was revealed to me, I was able to enjoy that thrill of anticipation that probably most people feel before they board a coaster, that "fun-scary" feeling that gives us that rush and makes us want to do it again. I'm 37 now and I still won't go on some coasters, simply because some are too high for me and being in those little cars at that height makes me feel exposed and too vulnerable (to what I don't know, but that's how I feel). I don't have a fear of heights, but I certainly have a respect for it! LOL
That being said, I going to WDW July 8 for a week, and I absolutely cannot wait to ride Expedition Everest.

 

[T-1MILLION]

I'm afraid of roller coasters too. I'm almost 19 and i've only really been on one roller coaster and that was Space Mountain last summer. I didn't like it at all during the ride and it feels like you are going to fall out because the bars that hold you in are so low. But now that i've been on it and i know what to expect, I can ride it again. (Same thing with Splash) I think the darkness factor helped me tho, i'm afraid of heights so not seeing how high up i was helped.
I think fear of heights, fear of the unknown and motion sickness are the main factors of being afraid of roller coasters. I know those are mine. I always get nervous (never sick,just feel exremely nervous). But now that i've done Space Mountain, I can do it again and I'll try BTMR but I am still very far away from trying Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and EE and ever Tower of Terror (falling sensation is not pleasant to me at all).

Sounds like you are getting a great start. Work your way up and see what you like. If you are like most people I have seen. Chances are you will work your way up and love Tower of Terror (in my opinion is the tamest drop ride ever but the most fun! ) and Rock "N' Rollercoaster. That one is the most intense only because of the launch.

Big Thunder you can probably easily do. Height is not a bad factor in that one becuase you stay close to the terrain. Also, the cars are much larger on Big Thunder MT. espacially if you get your own row, this way you can put the bar down as low as you want. Everytime Big Thunder starts to go fast (top speed is just a tad under 32MPH) it hits brakes or another lift to go over the terrain.
:wave:

-Preston

 

[Pabgo]

The most scariest thing in a roller coaster is probably waiting in line for it and just looking at it!

 

[Valawen9]

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?

I just don't like the feeling I get in my stomach when there's a big drop.
And I'm not a fan of heights, but I still go on them anyway.

 

[susanmary]

It's funny but I've only been on a roller coaster twice...and I'm 19! I, personally love the feeling and excitement! What are the best roller coasters at Disney? Any suggestions?:veryconfu

----Susan

 

[DisneyChik17]

Hmmm...why I hate roller coasters.

I don't like the shifty-ness (is that a word?) of them. I prefer smooth chages of direction, personally. I don't like the whole "wind in your hair" aspect of them. No matter how slow it moves, it feels fast and I don't do fast. I don't like the dark on the dark ones. I hate the dark. End of story. The whole "loosing your stomach" :hurl: feeling really sucks, but for some reason I LOVE ToT. LOL! Basically, I hate roller coasters.

 

[JustinTheClaw]

Hmmm...why I hate roller coasters.

I don't like the shifty-ness (is that a word?) of them. I prefer smooth chages of direction, personally. I don't like the whole "wind in your hair" aspect of them. No matter how slow it moves, it feels fast and I don't do fast. I don't like the dark on the dark ones. I hate the dark. End of story. The whole "loosing your stomach" :hurl: feeling really sucks, but for some reason I LOVE ToT. LOL! Basically, I hate roller coasters.

So I take it you've tried a few roller-coasters?

 

[Dragonrider1227]

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:

Yes, well... not everyone is thinking logically when they're scared. In fact, many of them arn't thinking at all XD

 

[JustinTheClaw]

It's funny but I've only been on a roller coaster twice...and I'm 19! I, personally love the feeling and excitement! What are the best roller coasters at Disney? Any suggestions?:veryconfu

----Susan

In my opinion, Space Mountain, Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest are three must-see coasters in WDW. Of course, that's three out of only five, so you may as well do them all!

 

[JustinTheClaw]

In my opinion, Space Mountain, Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest are three must-see coasters in WDW. Of course, that's three out of only five, so you may as well do them all!

I must correct myself. I forgot about Primeval Whirl, which makes six roller coasters on property, the other two coasters I haven't mentioned being Big Thunder Mountain and Goofy's Barnstormer.

 

[Sledge]

And I'm not a fan of heights, but I still go on them anyway.

You ride them anyway? Babe, you're a Splash and ToT virgin. Eaaaasy rides.