Feel like I'm missing out...

[MyOtherSS]

Hey all, like the title says I feel like my motion sickness is making me miss out on some of the rides I've always wanted to go on and feel like they are a must try for any Disney goer. A few rides being Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Star Tours and Expedition Everest. I have no problems with fast swooping turns or drops seeing that Tower of Terror does not bother me but its more so the constant sharp jerking back and forth. I did ride Rockin' Rollercoaster a few year back and I was good about 10 minutes after getting off the ride but it was on the edge of being too much. Think I could handle any of the 4 rides I listed above?

 

[jujie77]

Hi! We r goin to FL soon for our Disney vacation. I have motion sickness too. I find it helps to chew mint or wintergreen gum to help ease my stomach a little. I also found this little bottle of motion sickness 'oil' that you put behind your ears (i think i found it at Walgreens or Target). It seems to help a little too, sometimes I even take a little sniff of it right before boarding a ride. I can go on Expedition Everestt, Rockin Roller Coaster, Space Mountain, etc. I'm going to try Dramamine less drowsy for the plane ride & see how drowsy I actually feel. I don't want to miss out on the fun!

 

[zaz]

I am not usually sick in the car or in boats, but those rides do make me sick. Therefore, every night before bed, I take a bonine or generic meclezine (the effect lasts 24 hours and because you take it before bed, it doesn't affect you during the day).

 

[CerysG]

Last time we went I used those patches you put behind your ear. I think people use them mostly for when they are on ships but I found they worked quite well. I gave the ones I had left over to a family member who was going to Disneyland and found the worked well for her also. I did suffer from dry mouth from them so they are not without side effects. I as took them off when were going somewhere that I wasn't going to be on rides.

 

[skater]

I suffer with this too. In a few weeks, I'm taking my 11 year old down - exciting except for the fact that he'll want me to ride some of those dreaded attractions with him . The last time I rode EE, I prayed out loud the whole time that I wouldn't throw up . Has anyone had good luck with less drowsy dramamine? I'm guessing that it still makes you feel tired?

 

[opaleyes]

I feel like it's worth noting that if Rock and Roller coaster is the only coaster at Disney that you've done, you might find that you're ok on the others; particularly if Tower of Terror doesn't bother you. I don't get motion sickness, but I do get bad headaches and neck pain from some coasters- to the point that I just can't ride them anymore (and I'm not even 30 yet!). RnRC is one of those for me. I love it, but can't ride it without a LOT of pain. It's the only coaster at Disney that gives me trouble.

At Universal I can ride the Harry Potter Dragon Challenge just fine, but The Hulk and Rip Ride Rock It are a painful nightmare. Have no idea why some do that to me and others don't. It's really upsetting though because I love coasters. It makes me afraid to go back to Carowinds, or to finally go to Cedar Point bc I don't know if I'm going to be able to ride anything without pain.

I'm not saying you shouldn't prepare for motion sickness, but you may be pleasantly surprised by the other coasters? RnRC seems to be the roughest.

 

[Herfnerd]

I am not usually sick in the car or in boats, but those rides do make me sick. Therefore, every night before bed, I take a bonine or generic meclezine (the effect lasts 24 hours and because you take it before bed, it doesn't affect you during the day).

I am extremely prone to motion sickness and generic meclizine works well - I don't need to to take it the nite before, but many do. Bonine, the brand name version runs about $5 for 16ct pack at Wally World, but you can get the generic at the pharmacy counter much cheaper. As in less than $5 for a 100 ct bottle - no Rx needed. DW and I take a lot of cruises and wouldn't dream of going without it!

Last time we went I used those patches you put behind your ear. I think people use them mostly for when they are on ships but I found they worked quite well. I gave the ones I had left over to a family member who was going to Disneyland and found the worked well for her also. I did suffer from dry mouth from them so they are not without side effects. I as took them off when were going somewhere that I wasn't going to be on rides.

Scopalamine transdermal patches can be lot more expensive and needs an Rx. They also have lot more side effects - they make me very loopy, tired and the worst cotton mouth ever. You also need to be careful taking them off/putting back on - if you get any of the drug on your fingers and rub them into your eyes, its not good and don't ask me why, lol!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

OP, if the jerking back and forth is what causes you problems, I'd skip Space Mtn forever and maybe BTMRR too. Both are very jerky. If you can do RnRC, you'd probably be fine on EE (though the backwards part is something you'd just have to try and see). Star Tours is a whole different animal. I'm one of those people that absolutely cannot do a simulator ride without turning as green as Kermit and needing to get out NOW. Maybe someone else can comment on how much jerking is involved there.

I'm watching intently to this conversation about Bonine, meclazine, etc. I almost tried Bonine last time (so EE didn't make me hold my breath during the second half) but I was afraid of the drowsiness. So, am I understanding correctly that if it's a 24 hour med and you take it before bedtime the night before, the drowsiness not not be as bad? Maybe I'll try taking it at home one day before our trip and see how I feel. Definitely don't want to gamble with a Disney day!!

 

[bennifer]

I am very prone to getting motion sickness (I make myself carsick when I'M driving!), but the only ride that you listed that I cannot do is Star Tours. It really bums me out because I'm a huge Star Wars fan, too!

 

[MrsDuck]

Hey all, like the title says I feel like my motion sickness is making me miss out on some of the rides I've always wanted to go on and feel like they are a must try for any Disney goer. A few rides being Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Star Tours and Expedition Everest. I have no problems with fast swooping turns or drops seeing that Tower of Terror does not bother me but its more so the constant sharp jerking back and forth. I did ride Rockin' Rollercoaster a few year back and I was good about 10 minutes after getting off the ride but it was on the edge of being too much. Think I could handle any of the 4 rides I listed above?

Do you take anything for your motion sickness? I too suffer from motion sickness and before hitting the parks I usually take a Bonine. It really makes a huge difference. I can ride anything.

 

[ThreeBeans]

Someone mentioned the scopalamine patches above. Friend, try them! Yes, they have certain pitfalls, but not everyone gets the side effects. You put one on and you can leave it there for 72 hours. Makes a world of difference.

(Protip: if you're a barfer after surgery, ask your anesthesiologist for a scopalamine patch pre-op. All the difference in the world.)

 

[MyOtherSS]

Thanks for the responses everyone! It may sound dumb but I've never tried taking anything to ease my motion sickness. I decided years ago that certain rides weren't worth riding because I'd feel sick afterwards but I'm getting tired of skipping the ride I've always wanted to try. I'm going to give Bonine a try and see how it goes. I never get sick to the point where I throw up but I just feel out of to the point where I just want to sit down for a few minutes.

 

[Herfnerd]

I'm watching intently to this conversation about Bonine, meclazine, etc. I almost tried Bonine last time (so EE didn't make me hold my breath during the second half) but I was afraid of the drowsiness. So, am I understanding correctly that if it's a 24 hour med and you take it before bedtime the night before, the drowsiness not not be as bad? Maybe I'll try taking it at home one day before our trip and see how I feel. Definitely don't want to gamble with a Disney day!!

Bonine/Meclizine is an antihistamine like Dramamine - the active ingredient in Dramamine, dimenhydrinate, actually turns into Benadryl, diphenhydramine, in the body. Meclizine tends to make people less drowsy but being an antihistamine, can. And being effective for up to 24 hours, many will take it at bedtime the nite before to avoid the bulk of the drowsiness. Less Drowsy Dramamine is Meclizine as well but not chewable like Bonine or the generic you can get from the pharmacy counter. Dosage is also key - normal dose is 25-50 mg or 1-2 tablets. You could start out with one tab and if doesn't work, take another. You need to take it at least an hour beforehand, though....

While the transderm Scop patch does work, I still think its overkill and the side effects make it not worthwhile - at least for DW and I.

 

[jjas]

I have always had trouble with motion sickness in the past - spinning, going upside down and motion simulators have always been my problems. My last trip was a girls only with my DDs who were 19 and 25 at the time and can ride anything. I didn't want to be left out so I was bound and determined to find a solution. We started with a couple of days at Universal and then moved to Disney.

I started with taking Bonine each park day. I took it in the morning before heading to the parks and didn't have any trouble with drowsiness. For rides I was really nervous about I also used Sea Bands. These are little pressure point bands that you put around your wrists. I just put them on a little while before getting on the ride and then you can just take them off when you are done. I also kept some ginger gum in my bag. If you feel a little unsure after the ride just pop a piece of that - it's kind of like a solid ginger ale.

I rode a ton and never had any trouble with doing the above. At Universal I rode the Mummy several times, The Simpsons (motion simulator that actually made my girls a little queasy - they chewed some ginger gum and were fine), Men in Black (lots of spinning) and Rip Ride Rocket (this was very jerky though and kind of hurt my head).

At Disney I rode Space Mountain about 4 times, RNRC 3 times, EE 2 times, TOT 2 times, Star Tours and Mission Space - Green (BTMRR was closed for reno or I would have done that also). I would have never tried some of these rides in the past and I really had no troubles using my trio of goodies above !!

Good Luck on your trip!

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

Ok-stay away from Star Tours. I get severe motion sickness. 20 years ago I went, and felt miserable. I never went back till last summer when they "redid" it to reduce motion sickness. 1 second in and I felt like I was going to vomit. I kept my eyes closed and prayed that i wouldn't throw up.

I can go on Tower of Terror, Soarin, Expedition and Rock n Roll. I no longer go on RnR because I despise the take off but that doesn't really have to do with motion sickness.

I can do Big Thunder Mountain, although I don't love it.

I would also stay away from Space Mountain. I seriously thought I was going to be tossed out on my head, and my motion sickness was out of control.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The ride I'd stay away from is Mission:Space Orange! Everything else, you need to see for yourself. From everything I've read, reactions are very personal. Even rides as tame as IaSW can bother some folks. If RNRC did not bother you then it may well be that the rest are fine for you. Of the ones you list, I'd say only EE is the same intensity.

I also suggest that if you go the meds route- test your reaction on a day before you go to WDW to see if they make you drowsy. Maybe take one on a quiest Saturday? I'd hate to find out while on vacation that one of them makes me very sleepy.

What I've noticed for myself, is that over the course of a WDW vacation, the more things I ride the more I become desensitized. I've also found simple breathing techniques to be highly helpful. I suggest trying the new ride late in the day, and/or late in the vacation.

A short class on breathing exercises (yoga lite) also made a big difference. Just taking a few deep breathes can really help.

With Star Tours, as others have said, if you close your eyes, it's just a tilting box. The majority of the 'motion' comes from the movie. In many cases, motion sickness comes from the difference you notice between what you see and what motion your body knows it is experiencing. A tiny difference between the two is the problem, which your inner ear detects. Closing your eye eliminates the movie. So the first time you try it, try riding it with your eyes mostly closed. If you use a fastpass, you wont have wasted much time.

I think it also helps to keep in mind....most of the attractions are only about 3minutes long. RNRC is only 90 seconds.

 

[bopper]

Just don't go on the Primeval Hurl (Whirl) in Animal Kingdom if you don't like jerky rides.

 

[Herfnerd]

The 3-D effects, especially in Star Tours doesn't help matters.....

 

[davedmaine]

Go on each of the rides. If you throw up, you could not handle it.

 

[CerysG]

I am extremely prone to motion sickness and generic meclizine works well - I don't need to to take it the nite before, but many do. Bonine, the brand name version runs about $5 for 16ct pack at Wally World, but you can get the generic at the pharmacy counter much cheaper. As in less than $5 for a 100 ct bottle - no Rx needed. DW and I take a lot of cruises and wouldn't dream of going without it!



Scopalamine transdermal patches can be lot more expensive and needs an Rx. They also have lot more side effects - they make me very loopy, tired and the worst cotton mouth ever. You also need to be careful taking them off/putting back on - if you get any of the drug on your fingers and rub them into your eyes, its not good and don't ask me why, lol!

Well I live in Canada and I can get them as over the counter so they must be milder then the ones you've used. Maybe ask at the drugstore what your options are.