Afraid of heights - will I be OK on EE?

[KimR]

We are going to WDW in about a month and I'm a bit nervous about EE. I am terrified of heights (I'm embarrased to admit that even Dumbo gets to me a little). Strangely enough I do fine on rollercoasters because they are so fast and you are never really up high for a significant amount of time so my brain never registers the fact that I'm that far off the ground. It's that feeling of being suspended high up with no or little support that terrifies me. From what I've heard about EE, there is a point in the ride that does just that. I'd really like to experience this ride, but that one part really concerns me. Can anyone elaborate on this a bit for me? Any tips for dealing with this?

 

[noladave]

no tips, but it does go up high, and you get a great view of Disney. That's probably the part you don't like. It is brief, but it does happen.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Same boat as you - don't really like heights. Never much liked Dumbo either, and I thought EE was absolutely superb. Not sure where you are suspended high up with little or no support - and I rode it twice. It's a superb attraction - enjoy it...

 

[LiteBrite]

There's one big, fairly slow hill climb near the beginning of the ride. I think if you just look straight ahead of you you'll be fine - it's not too obvious how high you are. Just don't look from side to side - that's where the great view comes in (great for somebody like me who loves heights, not so great for you).

 

[KimR]

Thanks! You guys have put my mind at ease a and now I'm looking forward to riding!

 

[cleo]

I would never contradict LiteBrite but it's EXTREMELY obvious how high you are. I wouldn't want to talk you out of trying the ride (it's fantastic!!) but I think it's only fair you know that first hill is very, very high and you're going to be fully aware of just how high it is, with an extended view (like, you can see other areas of Disney from there!) on both sides. You can also see all the way down into the queue area.

I remember it well, since I thought it was a spectacular view, but if you are afriad of heights you are NOT going to like that part. But, as LiteBrite says, you may not be frightened by it if you close your eyes on the way up and think 'happy thoughts'. That's the only place you really KNOW you're up high. Very high. And you've got a while to think about it.

Not trying to scare you, but I know I'd want to know the truth if it were me, so I could make the right decision. Maybe when you get there you can look at the hill (easy to see from all around Everest area) and decide from there. Obviously, you aren't REALLY 'suspended with little or no support' but if it's that FEELING you're afraid of, it's possible you will feel that way as you travel up the mountain.

 

[Sunshine427]

Are there any STEEP drops on EE?? THat's the one thing I cannot handle!!

 

[cleo]

Define 'steep'.

There is one steep drop (you can see it as the train comes down out of the mountain) but it really doesn't FEEL as steep as it is because it makes a fairly wide, sweeping turn. I would consider the drops to be sort of like Big Thunder Mountain's 'older brother'. A bit more drop, but nothing like TOT or even Splash Mountain.

 

[LiteBrite]

I would never contradict LiteBrite but it's EXTREMELY obvious how high you are.

No problem, cleo - I've got a teenager so I'm very used to being contradicted.

I may not have been remembering the view dead ahead of me clearly - it just seemed like if I hadn't looked to the side I would have mostly just seen the sides of the hill and the sky in front of me. Like you, I loved the view, and I remember feeling like I almost had to lean out sideways a little bit to fully take it in. That being said, I would never want to recommend that Kim do something that was going to be too frightening for her, so Kim, maybe you'd be better off assuming cleo's right. EE is a wonderful ride, and I hope you get to experience it, but if you do, perhaps closing your eyes for the ascent would be a good compromise.

 

[Charlotte&Carolina]

Kim - you will do great.

I am afraid of heights as well. A hint on when this part is coming up as you will feel the cars slow and it is like they are "hooking up" to the track. It is very near the beginning. Everyone - am I saying that right? I just knew we were going up. My DBF wanted me to look around and one quick glimpse convinced me to look down at my feet but I didn't want to close my eyes because I thought that my disorient me. (Too much Mission:Space!)

Before you know it that is over and you are zipping through the rest of the ride. It is worth trying at least once - I loved it!

 

[cleo]

Hi LiteBrite! You're right about the view ahead of you being ok (pretty interesting, actually, since you get to anticipate going into that temple and you can tell there's a lot to look at in there. I just remember the view off to the sides because it took me very much by surprise (as a former fear-of-heights gal). DH and I were looking over the sides saying, 'Look, you can see.....' and pointing out various locations beyond AK. Then I looked down at the queue below and thought "geez, this is high".

And I know what you mean about teens. Mine just turned 13.

Having said it's high up, I hope the OP still trys it. It's such a great ride, positively breathtaking, and worth a little fear at the beginning for the thrill of the rest of the ride!

 

[MinnieM21]

At the beginning of the ride, the climb is very steep. I'm not afraid of heights at all and I even freaked out a bit. It was very obvious how high up we were. But going on EE was so worth it! Even though I was scared the whole entire time, it was amazing and I'll definately be riding it again.

Ok I hope I just didn't discourage you with the "I was scared the whole entire time but it was fun!"

 

[crazyj4488]

Are there any STEEP drops on EE?? THat's the one thing I cannot handle!!

Uhh yes, one really steep drop and the ride defines the meaning of heights as far as Disney park rides go. My lord you are so high up that you can see the ENTIRE resort. I'm not trying to scare anyone...just not going to sugarcoat it. It's one heck of a ride. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Rode it 24 times like a big GEEK. Hehe.