Sudden aversion to coasters--need help

[NCRedding]

I've always ridden coasters, but lately, I find myself making excuses not to ride--even did the chicken exit at Apollo's Chariot in BG-Williamsburg. Convince me that I can still ride the coasters, and that IOA is where I need to start back riding them--we're going in Oct. and I don't want to watch my DH andDD having all the fun.

[WebmasterBarry]

It's time for my story again! :)


How I Learned to Love Roller Coasters and Stop Worrying About the Beast

by Barry Hom

"Inside Edition" reported that your chances of getting into a fatal roller
coaster accident is 1 in 10 million. Yet, everytime I thought about riding
one, I thought that I would die.

I used to avoid riding roller coasters. I chickened out on Space Mountain.
I avoided Busch Gardens Tampa for years. If I didn't ride the roller
coasters, what else is there to do at Bush Gardens? I did ride Big Thunder
Mountain at the Magic Kingdom and I swore to never to do it again!

That all changed when I visited Islands of Adventure in May 1999. I
initially planned to avoid riding the roller coasters. I really just wanted
to ride one ride -- Spiderman. I passed by the Incredible Hulk Coaster and
I kept on thinking, "I'll save it for later." Finally, I decided to ride
it.

I almost ran away from the entrance, but I thought of what my mom said when
I wouldn't eat lima beans -- "How do you know if you don't like it if you
haven't tried it?" I never ate my lima beans and I still don't like them, but I figured I'd ride it once and if I didn't like it, I'd
ride something else. There are plenty of other things to do at the park!

I entered the queue and I felt my heart pounding, my skin crawling, and my
breath becoming shorter. I finally was strapped in and I was terrified! As
the car rolled into the launch tube, people in the back of the coaster
started yelling, "Whoo!" I began to yell "Whoo!" too and suddenly, my fear
turned into excitement and I was launched out!

I yelled "Whoo!" so much that my voice was harsh after the ride. I don't
remember much of what the track looked like because I kept my eyes closed
(especially during the upside-down parts). At the end of the ride, I said,
"What a rush!"

I had planned to ride the Hulk Coaster zero times, but I ended up riding it
seven times. I finally conquered Space Mountain. I visited Busch Gardens
a few months after visiting IOA and enjoyed the coasters there. I'm
planning to visit the roller coaster mecca, Cedar Point, one day.

Perhaps one day I will have the courage to eat lima beans

[gschmerl]

Barry,
I'm right there with you on the coasters, but forget the lima beans!!

[Cindy B]

WEll, I'm of the mind that, well, its 2-3 minutes maximum of my life..

Dueling Dragons was petryfying for me. I dont mind twists, upside down, etc.. but as long as I am enclosed. The dangling feet just FREAK ME OUT! I went on both, with the urging of my DH. I did it, glad I did it, but I did conquer some weird fears..

I'm still not CRAZY about them but I am glad I did them

Another one that was scary, but glad I did was the High Roller in VEgas. Not only is it a coaster, but on top/side of a 900 foot building.. I went there up on a dare, chickened out for a minute, and then said "Hey, I'm in Vegas,!" and I did it...

IT was scary.. theres a small gap between the car/track and the building, nothing like looking down 900 feet! :eek: I almost lost it there, but preceded!

You can do it really you can!

[nhrenee]

Barry, LOL! I'd forgotten you used to be afraid of coasters! Now you'll even eat bug pops to get people on them!