Are these scary? Star Tours, Maelstrom, Test Track

[afcgirl]

I really want to broaden my horizons.

I am terrified of roller coasters. I also don't like when it gets pitch black (Spaceship Earth unnerved me for a few seconds). Suffice it to say, the scariest rides I have been on at WDW are the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of Caribbean (which I like but I still dislike the drop in the dark). Pathetic, I know.

However, I really want to try Star Tours (and even Dinosaur) because I don't understand how a simulated ride could be that scary. I am more scared of movement and drops, then of scary themes. Am I missing something? Do simulated rides still move somewhere?

What about Maelstrom and Test Track? Are they on the mild side? Any other suggestions? I think I would like these rides (and probably even rollercoasters) if I could just get the nerve to try them.

Thanks

 

[MariDisney]

Star Tours isn't bad, IMHO. It doesn't get really dark, as I remember. It does move quite a bit as your seeing the "movie" in front of you. So you feel like you're being pitched around like the spacecraft.

Dinosaur isn't a simuator. It's an honest to goodness ride. It sounds like you wouldn't like it. You get thrown around quite a bit. It's dark and loud. Now, I love it, knowin gthat it's pretend ;-) But you might not.

Maelstom probably won't be scary to you at all. There is a drop, but it's not that high/steep IMHO and I don't recall any dark parts. The trolls and such that you see are very much stuffed-animal-looking. My DD started riding it with no problem at 3, so I thin kyou're OK.

Test track has a lot of movement, obviously, as you go through the testing of the car...you skid, go over major bumps, etc. You also go amazingly fast on the last part of the ride around the track. I don't think it's scary at all, but it is physically exciting/thrilling.

HTH!

 

[goofy's friends]

Star Tours does move quite a bit and esp. in the back can make people motion sick---it did for my DH, but my DS4 wanted to ride over and over.
You really feel like you are in a star wars scene.
Dinosaur is VERY bumpy and lots of dinos jumping out at you.
There is an unexpected drop in Maelstrom.
Test track is my fav. of the ones you listed---no real surprises, because they tell you what is coming up as if you are testing the car for them. It is bumpy in parts, but not uncomfortable. It goes very fast at the end, but it is really fun.

 

[Dorisk3]

Test Track is fine- inside a few short stops, bumps, no dark, even the end in more of a fun speed feeling, you don't get that weightless drop feeling that you get on a rollercoaster where your stomach is in your throat.

Just my two cents, I agree with the previous poster- I wouldn't do Dinosaur. There are some dark moments and you are on a very bumpy car and even though I don't have much problem with Disney rides, this got me screaming- not the motion but what I was seeing and what was coming around the corner.

Both my 2.5 and 5 year old loved Maelstrom- no complete darkness, sometimes it may be a bit dim but its fun more than scary and the drops are harmless (like Pirates).

 

[cjb71870]

Star Wars is more of a motion sickness ride. I don't like it , because looking at the screen and bouncing all over makes me feel sick. Dinosaur is a simulator only it moves. It is completely dark at times. Don't do that. Test Track is fine. The fast part is outside the building. Maelstrom is not bad.

 

[welovewdw]

Star Tours is more of a motion sickness ride - I totally agree! DS has figured out that the middle seats move less than seats on the edges (after riding 21 times in one day. ) I do ok on it, but I close my eyes sometimes. LOL (I hate for him to ride alone! - although my limit is 3-4 times in a day)

Test Track is fun - not scary at all, imo - just a fun, fast ride. Bumps are easy, it's like a fast car ride in a convertible at the end.

Maelstrom - nothing at all to be afraid of. Easy ride - no big deal, imo.

Dinosaur - I LOVe this ride and know exactly what is coming and it still scares the bejeebers out of me! Not for the faint of heart, imo. Dark, bumpy and dinos jump out at you - like I said, it still scares the heck out of me.

My 14 yo ds who does not like thrill rides (he includes Splash Mountain in that group. LOL) rides all of these - he won't ride tot, rockin roller coaster or any other thrill type ride -

 

[iliketoby]

Star Tours is extremely jerky, but not scary. You don't drop or anything.

Maelstrom has a drop a bit like the Pirates of the Carribean and does go dark at one point, with lightening flashes.

Test Track shouldn't be a problem. At the end, your car zips around a track at about 55 mph. You do that all the time in your car, right?

If you are as scared as you say you are, I'd avoid Dinosaur.

 

[afcgirl]

Thank you all so much for your advice. Very helpful!

Looks like I will try Star Tours, Maelstrom and Test Track. I will definitely skip Dinosaur!

My big goal of the trip is to get on Splash Mountain!

 

[psiprez]

I LOVE both rides, but IMHO, based on your post, you absolutely will not enjoy Dinosaur.

It is a "dark ride" (like Pooh or Snow White), with turbulent motion simulator cars going around on a track through scenes depicting your journey. Every so often, the dinosaurs realistically reach out to take a bite. The story and ride are intense, and you will get tossed about. Definitely not for anyone with physical injuries (like a bad back), or afraid of being eaten in the dark.

Test Track has sudden movements, near crashes, and the fast (but exhilarating) ride around the banking curve of the track. You should be ok if you keep in mind that it is a ride and you are completely safe!

 

[cjb71870]

Splash Mountain is calm and slow until the drop, but it's outside in daylight if you go at that time. You could handle that.

 

[the kabuki]

Maelstrom is fine, my DD was 3 when she rode it this year.

I'd stay off of Dinosaur.

Test Track to me is no big deal. My DS went on it when he was 6 yrs old. I think the max speed is 65 mph. For more info on this look here:http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_tt.htm

 

[Laurin612]

afcgirl, I just wanted to chime in to tell you that you're not alone! I, too, am deathly afraid of roller coasters, etc.

I'm also trying to broaden my horizons this trip! Thanks to all for the info about Maelstrom and Test Track. I think I will try those!

 

[KristineN]

We just got back from WDW...hubby is afraid of roller coasters etc but decided to try a few things....he went on Dinosaur & HATED it...said it was so jerky he couldn't breathe.

Splash mountain...so so for him, but wouldn't do it again.

Test track...wouldn't go on

Thunder Mountain....HATED it, wouldn't do it again..thought it was too jerky

Maelstrom...liked it...not scary at all

Star Tours...closed when we were there.

 

[MaggieDoodle]

Everybody else has described to you what the rides are like, but I just wanted to chime in as a fellow roller coaster coward and tell you that I love both Maelstrom and Test Track. TT is just fast and the drop in Maelstrom is small and doesn't bother me at all.

 

[KristineN]

I wish hubby would have tried TT. Unfortunately by the time we got to it he had already riden the others I mentioned that he didn't like. I think he would have been ok on it. Good reason to go back!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DreamGirl's Mom]

Like the original poster, I am also deathly afraid of rollercosters etc.

However, when I went in April I decided to try some rides - partly because my 6-year old daughter wanted to do a lot of rides (she is fearless) and also because as a woman newly separated and nearing 40, I figured - why not - this is the start of my new life!

Well, we adored Star Tours! Rode it several times - not scary at all!!! Also, loved Soarin at Epcot. However, my daughter and I were terrified in Tower of Terror and I still have no desire to do any rollercosters.