Advice on rides

[backformore]

Hi, we have not been to universal for several years, are making a trip next month and would appreciate some help.
Just turned 60, travelling with my husband and meeting our two adult sons. We are staying at Sapphire Falls for 4 days before going to WDW for Food & Wine fest. We like rides, we are active people, don't feel like 60 year olds. (Don't act like it either).
Last trip we loved spiderman, but I found Back to the Future a little rough. The boys will go on everything, my husband and I may have some trouble with a couple rides.
dr doom is out, I don't like the drop. I will go on the Harry Potter rides, but might chicken out on the dragon coaster. I have had a neck issue, it's been fixed, but it still will act up occasionally.
So, what rides are apt to be jarring and shake up older spines? I have been wondering about transformers, mummy, Simpsons, Kong. I don't want to miss something because I chicken out, but don't want neck pain either. Any advice or ride description is appreciated.

 

[TheConsciousness]

Good:
Kong is a very easy ride to handle, sometimes I wonder if it even moved.
Despicable Me is very enjoyable and tame.
Simpsons is pretty tame as well.
Spiderman you know about.
Transformers is a lot like Spiderman.
Gringotts has one small coaster drop, but a lot like Transformers.
Forbidden Journey - easy peasy fun.
Jurassic Park River Ride only has one drop that is pretty smooth.

Less Good:
RipRideRocket I've heard is very migraine-inducing because of the head jostling.
My girlfriend said that the Hulk coaster was a head-beater.
Mummy is a good ride, but it IS a coaster and it does come to very hard, abrupt stops. (Think driving 10-15mph and stopping instantly before you hit a wall)

 

[backformore]

Thank you so much! That was exactly the information I was looking for. I welcome all opinions.
Rip Ride Rockit looks like one to skip, for sure, as well as the Hulk. Not sure about Mummy, I might give it a try.
We've been to Disney a bunch of times, Universal only twice. This trip, we are looking forward 10X more to the Universal part of the trip. It just seems stress-free, with not having to plan dinners and rides ahead of time, and the easy access to the parks. We have three full days to spend in US and IOA, and walking from Sapphire Falls will be great, I wanted to make sure we could enjoy the vacation with a minimum of fuss.

OF course, the first evening will be spent at the Strong Water Tavern at SF, catching up with the boys over tropical drinks.

 

[TheConsciousness]

That does sound like a fun trip!
You'll get to see all of the fun of the Halloween props and the crowds during the day before Halloween Horror Nights should be smooth!

 

[schumigirl]

Thank you so much! That was exactly the information I was looking for. I welcome all opinions.
Rip Ride Rockit looks like one to skip, for sure, as well as the Hulk. Not sure about Mummy, I might give it a try.
We've been to Disney a bunch of times, Universal only twice. This trip, we are looking forward 10X more to the Universal part of the trip. It just seems stress-free, with not having to plan dinners and rides ahead of time, and the easy access to the parks. We have three full days to spend in US and IOA, and walking from Sapphire Falls will be great, I wanted to make sure we could enjoy the vacation with a minimum of fuss.

OF course, the first evening will be spent at the Strong Water Tavern at SF, catching up with the boys over tropical drinks.

Definitely miss out RRR! It can be a bone rattler of a ride........

As pp said The Mummy has a couple of hard stops where you need to brace your head or else it bangs hard against the head rest! Learned that the hard way.........

I hope your trip is wonderful.........Universal is really a relaxing place if you want it to be.........we never make reservations and do what we want when we want........

We are planning a trip or 2 over to SF to try the rum cocktails available..........looks fabulous!! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time with your family.......

 

[backformore]

schumigirl! thanks for the advice! I just read your last trip report, and feel like I know you. I felt an immediate kinship with your love of fruity cocktails.

I'm totally envious of anyone who can spend 18 days in Universal! But I feel very fortunate that we were all 4 able to coordinate schedules to make the trip. We're from Chicago (now in the 'burbs), our oldest has moved to Arizona and will be joining us. We plan to eat at Cowfish and MargaritaVille.

When I called to book, they told me about Sapphire Falls, and a deal which included is $150 food credit at the resort for each room - so we've got $300 to spend at the restaurants. That was enough to get us to book at Sapphire instead of Royal Pacific, which had been the plan.
It's great to be close to the parks, in case we split up - we've got one early riser and one night owl in the group. We might make it over to RP, to go to Jake's, which we all remember as being a great place.

 

[macraven]

Chicago ???

I was one once before and lived in the north side

Then moved to the northern suburbs
Moved to GA 9 months ago but always look at chi town weather

You will love the weather in Orlando

For some reason I always get excited when someone from back home posts in the forums.......


Back to the subject, 60 is the new 40 and all the coasters are great

Mummy has about 90 seconds of a coaster ride
Think btmrr type of ride
Mummy has some quick stops and a bit of airtime on it

Simpsons replaced back to the future and is the same set up
Sit in the car and it has slight movement based on the action on the screen

Have fun on your upcoming vacation!

 

[kohlby]

I love coasters but now avoid RRR. I went on it many times without issue. But then I had one bad experience- I ended up with neck pain that lasted two weeks. I have never had neck pain on any other ride but am not prone to it - and am under 50.

I haven't had any neck issues on Mummy but there is one spot where I get jerked. I've hurt my elbow twice in that spot. It wasn't anything major - once it was a bruise and once a little skin came off. But it does make me wonder if it would effect someone with neck issues. I still love Mummy and go on it several times each trip.

Shrek has an odd jarring motion. It's not intense but I found it a bit uncomfortable. The bouncing motion could be something to be careful of with a bad neck. I don't know if they have stationary seating but it would be worth it to ask.

 

[backformore]

Chicago ???

I was one once before and lived in the north side

Then moved to the northern suburbs
Moved to GA 9 months ago but always look at chi town weather

You will love the weather in Orlando

For some reason I always get excited when someone from back home posts in the forums.......

Northwest side of Chicago here, then Rogers park area, (Loyola U) now NW suburbs. In the past, we've gone to Orlando in March/April. this will be our first October visit.

Looking forward to a trip where I'm not in charge of making sure everyone is happy, hydrated, has on sunscreen, and the youngest doesn't run off and get lost. Others in the family are teasing us, taking the kids to Disney/Universal now that they're grown. "Why don't you wait for grandkids?" no, it's a different kind of vacation when it's all adults.

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback, it's been very helpful.

 

[khgreen]

I don't have much to add except to say my son is a tough critic of rides. If he gets jarred or shaken too much he will never ride again. But he loved The Mummy and rode it multiple times. So it might be worth checking out.

 

[GaryDis]

The Mummy has a couple of hard stops where you need to brace your head or else it bangs hard against the head rest! Learned that the hard way.........

Does "brace your head" mean holding it back against the headrest? Or just focusing on holding it still? My neck hurts just thinking about it.

 

[TheConsciousness]

Does "brace your head" mean holding it back against the headrest? Or just focusing on holding it still? My neck hurts just thinking about it.

We had more luck holding our heads back against the headrest, but I'm sure there are better techniques

 

[macraven]

On the coaster part of the ride when you come down from the hill, when pictures are taken, I tend to lean my head to the side of the headrest and no pain
have not had issues with head banging
Just issue of punched in the gut at the end of the ride due to sharp quick stop

Now I hold the bar that secures me on the ride and lean a bit forward so I don't get jarred in the gut


Backformore, elston/montrose area near Suzie's
(Dang autocorrect is screwing up that word ). Where I lived for years in Chicago

 

[schumigirl]

Does "brace your head" mean holding it back against the headrest? Or just focusing on holding it still? My neck hurts just thinking about it.

When it's about to come to a stop before you go backwards......we always lean forward into the bar and don't let our heads be jerked backwards.........same with the bit before you get your picture taken.......

First time we did it we all bashed our heads against the seat as we didn't realise just how fast it stopped.

 

[schumigirl]

schumigirl! thanks for the advice! I just read your last trip report, and feel like I know you. I felt an immediate kinship with your love of fruity cocktails.

I'm totally envious of anyone who can spend 18 days in Universal! But I feel very fortunate that we were all 4 able to coordinate schedules to make the trip. We're from Chicago (now in the 'burbs), our oldest has moved to Arizona and will be joining us. We plan to eat at Cowfish and MargaritaVille.

When I called to book, they told me about Sapphire Falls, and a deal which included is $150 food credit at the resort for each room - so we've got $300 to spend at the restaurants. That was enough to get us to book at Sapphire instead of Royal Pacific, which had been the plan.
It's great to be close to the parks, in case we split up - we've got one early riser and one night owl in the group. We might make it over to RP, to go to Jake's, which we all remember as being a great place.

Thank you for saying so ........I appreciate that and glad you enjoyed it!

That is a good deal for SF............we enjoyed Cowfish a lot and can't really go wrong with Margaritaville! And of course Jakes is excellent.....

Yep, love a good fruity cocktail or two..............I sure you'll have a blast together!

 

[pcstang]

Does "brace your head" mean holding it back against the headrest? Or just focusing on holding it still? My neck hurts just thinking about it.

I just put my forearms against the lap bar and keep my head off the headrest for the two quick stops. Never have an issue doing it that way.

 

[angryduck71]

So, this isn't about the rides... but........ I'd do Royal Pacific instead for the Express Passes. Worth it. Worth even the $300 you won't have for food. In my opinion. October seems busy now there with HHN I think. And, it's a closer walk. BUT, I don't ever like lines.

 

[AgentMama]

I hated Forbidden Journey. I thought it was really jerky and jarring. I think the dragon coaster is way kinder on your body.

 

[backformore]

So, this isn't about the rides... but........ I'd do Royal Pacific instead for the Express Passes. Worth it. Worth even the $300 you won't have for food. In my opinion. October seems busy now there with HHN I think. And, it's a closer walk. BUT, I don't ever like lines.

Thanks, we thought about doing that, but the rooms are so much more expensive at RP. If the lines are terrible, we will purchase express passes for one day.

 

[backformore]

A somewhat related question:
How accurate are the wait times on the Universal app? I'm reading about long lines, but looking at the app right now, the wait times listed are under 20 minutes for just about all rides except Kong and Despicable Me, which are showing 45 minutes.