Alleviate my fears, please

[DisneyElite4]

My fiance and I will going to US/IOA for the very first time next weekend! We are staying at Royal Pacific Resort and going to the parks on Saturday and Sunday. This is a big deal for us, as we have lived in Orlando for almost 3 years and never visited. We are very excited to say the least!

My question for all of you experts is around the attractions at US/IOA. I am not a huge thrill seeker, which is one reason why we have shied away from Universal. I really have to work myself up to get on a ride - I usually end up loving them all though! I want to enjoy as much as possible without pushing my limits next weekend.

I have ridden and can handle every attraction at Disney. However, I do not particularly care for RNR or TOT. The first inversion on RNR is too much for me, and I don't enjoy the continual dropping on TOT at all. Everything else is fine - in fact, I find most attractions at Disney too be a little lame on the thrill factor. (This is big coming from me - I was literally forced on to EE by friends crying, and now find it fun, but a little boring.)

I already know I won't be riding Hulk or Dueling Dragons - way too much for me. But I really want to try everything else at least once!

From the info I have given, do you think I will be able to handle The Mummy? Is the roller coaster portion more intense then Everest - specifically the backwards portion of Everest? I think I can handle a little bit more then Everest has to offer, but not much. Honest opinions, please. I am not worried about the special effects, just the intensity of the coaster. Are there long drops?

I am also a little worried about Jurassic Park and the other flume ride. The drops on these seem to be a bit steep. Like I said earlier, the drops on Splash and EE are a breeze for me - how would the drops on these two rides add up?

I sincerely appreciate your feedback - I am one of those people who gets really worked up before riding something, but get the best feeling of accomplishment once I have ridden. All it takes for me is a little bit of encouragement that the rides are not as bad as I am working them up to be.

Thank you!

 

[macraven]

check out the interactive map for universals to get more details on the rides you mentioned.

what is ok for me, might not be for you.
i wouldn't want to steer you to a ride and have you become upset over it.

what i consider a thrill ride might be considered complete torture for someone else.

universalorlando.com is the website to find the map

the shows are good.
try the horror make up show and animal planet for entertainment while there.


i do the rides at disney and don't find them thrilling or scary on the drops. but, we each judge rides in a different way

 

[minniejack]

The Fantastic Four ride--Tower of Doom I think is the name just absolutely terrifies me. This is the 1st year that my family got me on it and I screamed all the way up every time I rode it (3x). They absolutely could not get me to go on it again. I can do Cedar Point's, Disney's, King's Island's similar rides, this one, though--it's got that lift. I even had Dramamine in me.

The Mummy is just fast with the 1st backwards short drop so be prepared--but it is not scary. IMHO it doesn't have tummy heaving drops--just fast and through the dark with cool special effects.

And Jurassic park is just a cooler version of Splash Mountain, but we got some crazies in the car with us last week and we just had to buy the picture at the end. The guy by my husband was holding his ears the entire time--I think he really thought the dinosaurs were going to eat him--hysterical.

Then in the picture, the woman right in front of me was funny--all you could see was her eyes bulging. If I can figure out how to post the pic, I will.

The Dudley ride has a steeper drop than splash mountain and has a really nifty double drop sort that makes it really fun. I do admit that I screamed before I dropped--not just my usual scream to scare the newbies, but a real scream, but it was loads of fun. And you will get wet with all of the wet rides, so be prepared to have all your wet fun in one shot so you can ride dry rides later.

 

[DisneyElite4]

Thank you so much for your feedback! I am not afraid of the dinosaurs or the Mummy himself, just the ride elements and the intensity level. I appreciate your comments Minniejack - I am feeling better already about these attractions. I know I can do it!

Anyone else? I would appreciate any comments on this - I realize that everyone's ride tolerance is different, but I will promise I will not come hunt you down if I hate these rides. If you have any reviews on what these attractions are like that would also be welcome.

 

[Metro West]

The Fantastic Four ride--Tower of Doom I think is the name just absolutely terrifies me. This is the 1st year that my family got me on it and I screamed all the way up every time I rode it (3x). They absolutely could not get me to go on it again.

Dr. Doom's Fearfall is definately a favorite...not of me but friends like it. I can ride any roller coaster known to man kind but I hate drop rides like Dr. Doom!

 

[macraven]

Dr. Doom's Fearfall is definately a favorite...not of me but friends like it. I can ride any roller coaster known to man kind but I hate drop rides like Dr. Doom!

that's one of my two favorite rides.
that and dueling dragons...

 

[Metro West]

that's one of my two favorite rides.
that and dueling dragons...

The next time you come down, I'll snap some pictures of you on Dr. Doom...just make sure you're screaming a lot!

 

[kirbsam]

op, you know yourself well. dueling and hulk are the only rides that you need to skip. you will love mummy, and all the rest. now go have fun.

 

[d4est]

Dr. Doom's Fearfall is definately a favorite...not of me but friends like it. I can ride any roller coaster known to man kind but I hate drop rides like Dr. Doom!

It's not the drop on Doom that I don't like. It's the trip up. Once and never again.

 

[macraven]

this is why i don't recommend rides to the homies.

dr doom is a wimp ride.....no scare factor...


if you go thru the regular line, and you hear the story, it makes sense on the last thing you hear before the doom ride goes up..........

 

[Planogirl]

The Mummy has one pretty decent dive but I think it fits well into the adventure. I wonder if following a story might help you?

I personally love the Mummy but you never know how someone else will take it. You do have to lock your stuff up in a locker and DS lost his glasses on it a few years ago. It's intense but not Hulk intense (IMO).

 

[dolphindan1]

The Mummy is intense....I compare it to a mix of EE and Space Moutain...Also the Simpsons may be a bit too much for you too...Dr. Doom fails in comparison to ToT....it is so short but it is cool...Hulk is my favorite Roller Coaster in Disney, Kraken being a close 2nd....If RnR is too much for you dont even bother with hulk and definately not Dueling Dragons...DD whips you more than any coaster I have ever been on, I always have a headache after riding fire and Ice...

All that being said there is still plenty for you to do...ET, Jaws, JP, MIB, Twister, Disaster, SHrek, Terminator, Suessland at IOA, Sinbad and Psoeidons fury...You will still enjoy yourself

 

[d4est]

this is why i don't recommend rides to the homies.

dr doom is a wimp ride.....no scare factor...


if you go thru the regular line, and you hear the story, it makes sense on the last thing you hear before the doom ride goes up..........

"...no scare factor..." Theory of relativity!

Now, my Ds would agree with you. In his words, and I quote, "it was a baby ride." And too short.

 

[LilMommyBug]

The Mummy actually scared me. I was fine going backwards, but then it launches you & It took my breath.

 

[stephaniebatesjones]

I have a similar view on coasters as you. I don't do big dips. I can do upside down, backwards, fast, ...just not the big drops. I do do tower of terror but am very scared of Dr. Doom, Hulk, Dueling dragons. Mummy is fine. No problem to me. Jurasic park and the other water rides all fun as well.

One helpful hint that my younger sister taught me is that if you don't like drops, you can still ride the coasters where there is a floor under you (Ex:EE and Tower of Terror have a floor under your feet as opposed to Dr. Doom which has your feet dangling). When you start to drop, push your feet against the floor and stand up a little bit. It will take the dropping feeling away. Works great on Tower of terror. You should try it.


I'm considering trying one new thing I'm afraid of each year. I thought about Dr. Doom. So if anyone can compare Dr. Doom and Tower of Terror for me I would like to here it.

 

[macraven]

The Mummy is intense....I compare it to a mix of EE and Space Moutain...Also the Simpsons may be a bit too much for you too...Dr. Doom fails in comparison to ToT....it is so short but it is cool...Hulk is my favorite Roller Coaster in Disney, Kraken being a close 2nd....If RnR is too much for you dont even bother with hulk and definately not Dueling Dragons...DD whips you more than any coaster I have ever been on, I always have a headache after riding fire and Ice...

All that being said there is still plenty for you to do...ET, Jaws, JP, MIB, Twister, Disaster, SHrek, Terminator, Suessland at IOA, Sinbad and Psoeidons fury...You will still enjoy yourself

homie, hulk is at ioa.
are you thinking RnR or EE at disney?

either way, they both are kewl

I do do tower of terror but am very scared of Dr. Doom, Hulk, Dueling dragons.

I'm considering trying one new thing I'm afraid of each year. I thought about Dr. Doom. So if anyone can compare Dr. Doom and Tower of Terror for me I would like to here it.

Dr Doom follows a story line.
the last words you hear before you are shot up to near the top of the tower portion of the ride, explains why you are doing that.

you are shot up quickly.
it is all over within 5 seconds or less.
(if you have ever been on the Giant Drop at the 6 flags ride, this is the same shoot up)

you are gently let down to the ground level of where you entered the ride once you have reached the top.

it slowly lowers and you can look all around the park. it goes in about 3 stages of sitting a few extra seconds each time you are lowered.
it is very smooth and not jerky when it lowers.

rooms 3 & 4 give you the over view of the park.
the other rooms, 1 & 2 can give views of rph and the out side of the park which includes the highway.

you can store your belongings and flip flop shoes in the bins that are in the launch room of your ride.
the doors are not accessible to anyone else with the exception of the TM's that are working that ride.

on TOT, another of my favorites... , you rise quickly and dropped quickly. both ways up and down are rapid.
like i said before, Doom only has the rapid rise to the top on the ride.

one other difference of the 2 rides, on TOT, you can only view what is straight ahead of you. The area around you is blocked and you can't see all around.

on Doom, you have no restrictions and get a full view of all over.

 

[tttessa]

Hi -

I don't "do" coaster as such (only through FEAR!!) , so can only help on a couple.

Jurassic Park was FANTASTIC - did not expect the drop to be so steep, so it was exhilarating -smooth though, so I loved it - as did my 5 year old and 7 year old daughters (except the T-Rex when I covered their eyes!!).

Other water rides - you will get WET - not just a little bit , a big fat drenching bit!! We had been warned so took a change of clothes - thank goodness!!!!!

oh and my view only - Poseidon's fury- I wouldn't bother with again - the story and effects were great, but there was suchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh a long wait...

Tessa

 

[Metro West]

Jurassic Park was FANTASTIC - did not expect the drop to be so steep, so it was exhilarating -smooth though, so I loved it - as did my 5 year old and 7 year old daughters (except the T-Rex when I covered their eyes!!).

Other water rides - you will get WET - not just a little bit , a big fat drenching bit!! We had been warned so took a change of clothes - thank goodness!!!!!

The drop on JPRA is pretty intense the first time isn't it?

 

[tttessa]

The drop on JPRA is pretty intense the first time isn't it?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yes!

 

[Timmy Boy]

you can store your belongings and flip flop shoes in the bins that are in the launch room of your ride.
the doors are not accessible to anyone else with the exception of the TM's that are working that ride.

Nice description! Everything you said is very true. Actually NO ONE has access to the storage bins. Ones the Doom Face doors close and lock, and once the TM's leave the launch areas, no one is inside there while the ride is in motion. If the TM were to open up one of the doors, the ride would Estop and the TM would get in trouble for causing an unnecessary downtime. So your stuff is safe! Trust us.

Yea Dooms cycle time from launch to harness release is 52 seconds. Tower of Terror's entire ride with the drop sequence and special effects and such is almost 5 minutes. The scariest part on Doom is before the launch sequence. You sit there and scary music plays and Dr. Doom talks to you about you being the "the last and final piece of his plan." Your vehicle floats up about 4 feet and sits there, then you hear the air pressure build up behind you, then you launch up. But there is no warning to the launch.