California Screamin' and Space Mountain

[thinkerbell]

My husband and I enjoy roller coasters but certain ones really hurt. We like riding Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. We do not enjoy ones that are jerky. We rode the one at NYNY in Las Vegas several years ago and we will NEVER ride it again. Spent the whole time wishing it was over. We also will no longer ride Space Mountain in WDMagic Kingdom. Too jerky. How smooth of a ride is California Screamin' and Space Mountain at DL? We would like to ride but not if it is going to make us hurt.

 

[Azjenn]

Space at Disneyland is about the same as WDW in my opinion. California screaming on the other hand is one of the smoothest roller coasters I've ever been on.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I adore rollercoasters but TOTALLY AGREE with NYNY. That ride hurt me when I was 20. I refuse to go on it ever again. Ow.

Space is pretty Jerky. Not like..Matterhorn jerky, but not the smoothest. It didn't hurt me at all, but if you're really sensitive, Skip it.

Screamin' is TOTALLY smooth. One of the smoothest I've been on.

 

[Congo Queen]

The jerk-factor rating is somewhat subject, and I am sure this question will get a range of answers. Here is my assessment for your consideration. The worst in terms of jerkiness are the Matterhorn and Goofy Fly School - no stop being thrown around. The smoothest is BTM. Screamin' to me is not jerky. It is smooth but thrilling because it is fast and there are deep drops. You will feel that slightly sick, bottom-dropping-out-of-your-stomach feeling several times on that ride. Space is a little jerky in my opinion. It is thrilling because you can't see the track in the dark so you are not able to anticipate which does mean you can't brace yourself for direction changes. Hope that helps.

p.s. Love your mackerel tabby avatar. My kitty is a mack tabby too. They are the sweetest!

 

[Niltiac]

I agree with others that Screamin' is very smooth. My only word of caution there is that I have heard some people with neck problems have trouble with the loop. It's not that it's rough, I think it's just that sticking your head out and looking around while doing a loop is straining. I was given the advice to lean against the headrest and look straight ahead during the loop, and have never had a problem.

I would also describe Space as a smooth ride. It has a lot of quick turns but it's never jerky. I've never been to WDW, but I've heard others say that the ride technology for Space is very different there. I have heard WDW Space compared to our Matterhorn before, and Matterhorn is a very bumby ride. So if that comparison is even remotely close, then our Space will be a big improvement over what you're used to.

Speaking of which, it sounds like you should skip Matterhorn.

 

[tiggeroo42]

WDW Space Mountain is very similar to Matterhorn at DL. Space Mountain at DL is a much smoother ride and has real seats that support your back and neck. If you didn't have a problem on Expedition Everest you won't have a problem on Space or Screamin. Skip Matterhorn and Goofy's Fly School.

 

[2princesses*Mom]

In order of smooth to painful:
1. Screamin'
2. SM
3. BTMRR
4.GFS
5. Matterhorn

If it helps any, I'm 6 feet tall, so some of my issues aren't neck/back, but my knees knocking into things.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

In my opinion, Space Mountain at Disneyland is quite smooth. I thought the WDW version was jerky by comparison. California Screamin' is even smoother than Disneyland' SM.

 

[agamble]

I've never noticed that Goofy's has a jerky track. It is quite jarring the way it constantly turns, but the track seems pretty smooth.

 

[Meriweather]

I think DL's Space Mountain is much better than WDW's (I can't ride that one anymore)

 

[Malcon10t]

Rides I won't do any more due to being too jerky: Star Tours, Indy, Goofy's.

 

[tarheelalum]

If you don't like jerky rides stay far away from the Matterhorn.

 

[ktlm]

California Screamin is basically RNRC from DHS in the sunlight. If you can do RNRC, you can do Screamin. I did Matterhorn once and never again- too rough. DH and I also think that Goofy's is rough and jerky. Space Mountain seems smoother at DL than at WDW.

 

[DisTXMom]

WDW Space is jerky. DL Space was smoother. California Screamin was very smooth.

 

[Winnowill]

We were one-and-done with Space at WDW because it was so jerky, but we ride it almost every day (sometimes a few times) when we're at DL. CS is our favorite. It's not jerky at all.

 

[Miggee]

Indy is jerky to me as well as goofy, screaming and space mountain are both smooth

 

[danceanddisney2010]

I think both are smooth rides..I never get off in pain! Matterhorn... that's a different story..ouch.

 

[RedRosie]

I had a neck injury and found Goofy's Sky School to be quite painful. No problems with Screamin or Space Mountain.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

Never been on the WDW SM, but have heard/read multiple sources that say it's much better at Disneyland due to the complete rebuild they were able to do in 2005.

Screamin' is very smooth, like others I think it's one of the smoothest coasters I've been on.

And, despite my love for the ride, the Matterhorn can be quite uncomfortable, to the point of being painful.