jpkkld
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2009
A few weeks ago, I asked about the ride experience for the HP rides, considering the challenges a person with a bad back might experience. Overwhelmingly, the concensus was that Gringotts was "milder".
My mother, DD, and I just got home from 3 awesome days, and I want to clarify that Forbidden Journey is FAR gentler than Gringotts, for back pain specifically.
It sounds like a lot of people are affected by motion sickness. This really has nothing to do with the physical events that impact the back - hard stops and starts, bouncing on the tailbone, sharp turns sideways. For motion sickness, Gringotts is certainly milder. However, there are 2 hard start/stop movements and a few sharp spins. I rode with my eyes closed to learn where to cue my mother to brace herself. It was a rather interesting experience! DD and I also noted that the 1st cart (rows 1-3) is more of a controlled movement (slightly smoother), while the 2nd cart (rows 4-6) gets pulled by the 1st cart (slightly jerkier).
FJ is entirely gentler. There are no hard stops or starts. The parts that allow you to slide upwards in your seat also include a gentle slide back down. There are a couple sharp sideways turns, but if you tuck your arms in along your sides, it helps minimize the twisting, wrenching motion of a side spin.
Definitely try the test seats to feel how secure you are in the ride vehicle. Gringotts does a good job holding the tailbone down (no bouncing). FJ does better at keeping your upper body stationary. The FJ outer seats are wider than the inner seats. The inner seats may be preferable to constrict movement.
We learned FJ also has a stationary loading area with no moving floor. This was key to riding, as mom could not have managed the logistics of the moving floor at all! There's a certain amount of twisting when stepping onto that conveyor belt. I will say, the mechanism they use to merge the stationary cart into the sequence is really cool.
My mom enjoys rides a lot, but full coasters are too much for her now. She was thrilled to find the HP simulator rides were well within her ability, and she kept up with DD and me for 3 park days, with no pain, no rough mornings, and the ability to walk many miles each day. She even upgraded to an annual pass!
I hope this helps someone with their ride decision making.
My mother, DD, and I just got home from 3 awesome days, and I want to clarify that Forbidden Journey is FAR gentler than Gringotts, for back pain specifically.
It sounds like a lot of people are affected by motion sickness. This really has nothing to do with the physical events that impact the back - hard stops and starts, bouncing on the tailbone, sharp turns sideways. For motion sickness, Gringotts is certainly milder. However, there are 2 hard start/stop movements and a few sharp spins. I rode with my eyes closed to learn where to cue my mother to brace herself. It was a rather interesting experience! DD and I also noted that the 1st cart (rows 1-3) is more of a controlled movement (slightly smoother), while the 2nd cart (rows 4-6) gets pulled by the 1st cart (slightly jerkier).
FJ is entirely gentler. There are no hard stops or starts. The parts that allow you to slide upwards in your seat also include a gentle slide back down. There are a couple sharp sideways turns, but if you tuck your arms in along your sides, it helps minimize the twisting, wrenching motion of a side spin.
Definitely try the test seats to feel how secure you are in the ride vehicle. Gringotts does a good job holding the tailbone down (no bouncing). FJ does better at keeping your upper body stationary. The FJ outer seats are wider than the inner seats. The inner seats may be preferable to constrict movement.
We learned FJ also has a stationary loading area with no moving floor. This was key to riding, as mom could not have managed the logistics of the moving floor at all! There's a certain amount of twisting when stepping onto that conveyor belt. I will say, the mechanism they use to merge the stationary cart into the sequence is really cool.
My mom enjoys rides a lot, but full coasters are too much for her now. She was thrilled to find the HP simulator rides were well within her ability, and she kept up with DD and me for 3 park days, with no pain, no rough mornings, and the ability to walk many miles each day. She even upgraded to an annual pass!
I hope this helps someone with their ride decision making.
