Coaster chicken needs advice

[daisax]

Okay, I'm 42 years old, and I had a bad experience with a roller coaster as a teen

I love spinning rides, had no problem with Mission: Space or Test Track. Went on Tower of Terror twice back when it was ONE drop. The second time was even scarier than the first, so I skipped it on my last trip

I don't mind the super fast modern coasters where the big contraption lowers over your chest and holds you in (along with the velocity of the ride). I got up the courage to ride Rock N Roller Coaster and enjoyed it.

However, the thought of riding a coaster with just a lap bar scares me. And thus I've never ridden Thunder Mountain/Splash Mountain/Space Mountain. I've seen the little children riding on it happily, but it's the sustained plunge with nothing between me and certain death but a lap bar that spooks me out.

So my question is -- how many actual drops ARE there on those rides? There are visual ones at the end as I recall. I may be able to suck it up and deal if I can veiw it ahead of time and know it's at the end and then I'm done, but I probably don't want to do more than that if there are others outside of park view.

I'd love to enjoy the theming, but after being bent over a lap bar with my butt off the seat as a teen, convinced I was going to die (while my seatmate sat happily screaming with her hands in the air) I have ZERO faith in "the air pressure will hold you in your seat."

It wasn't true for me then, so I don't buy it. (Obviously I rationally accept that millions of people ride those damn things all the time and they're not flying off into space, and yet if God forbid I DID die that way, well, I would not be amused.)

I could ride any of them with a locking mechanism, but not with a lap bar

 

[stinkerbelle]

not a big fan of coasters either...but I can handle everything on disney property. and I do enjoy tower of terror.

splash mountain has 3 "noticeable" drops...1 is the big visual one. and really - hold the handle in front of you and push yourself down in the seat - no problem.

big thunder mountain - I think only 1 drop. not a big deal. the lap bar keeps you VERY secure.

I'm not a fan of space mountain...but it's really all turns...I honestly don't remember and drops where I felt my stomach drop.

 

[MommyPoppins]

not a big fan of coasters either...but I can handle everything on disney property. and I do enjoy tower of terror.

splash mountain has 3 "noticeable" drops...1 is the big visual one. and really - hold the handle in front of you and push yourself down in the seat - no problem.

big thunder mountain - I think only 1 drop. not a big deal. the lap bar keeps you VERY secure.

I'm not a fan of space mountain...but it's really all turns...I honestly don't remember and drops where I felt my stomach drop.[/QUOTE]


There is really only one drop on Space Mountain too. But I find that it makes me way more sick feeling that Rockin' Rollar Coaster, I think because it's so jerky.

 

[goofy4tink]

I know how you feel, being somewhat of a coaster chicken myself. But, I love BTMRR. It has been my dd's favorite ride since she was 8, now almost 12. I don't care for Splash Mt. since I don't like that drop with nothing 'holding' me in, however I do have a ride photo of me with my hands in the air on the last ride I took there. Space Mt is a hoot, but I have to do it with my eyes closed. Dd loves it, so we ride it a lot. But, I just can not stand seeing the 'space' that I'm about to drop into. It isn't bad at all with my eyes closed. Same thing with Primeval Whirl in AK. Have to do it with my eyes closed. And I love spinning rides...maybe it's the dropping while spinning that gets me.

But, keep in mind...those lap bars on both Space and BTMRR lock. They don't release until the CM releases them at the end of the ride. and they do check them before you start off. Of course, I'm the one that's always turning around to double-check my dd's bar on Space Mt.!!! I say go and try them. If the drops bother you on Space Mt..try closing your eyes. Oh, and there are a lot of drops on Space...some big and some smaller.

 

[daisax]

They lock, huh? That's useful info. Thanks!

 

[stinkerbelle]

I= Same thing with Primeval Whirl in AK. Have to do it with my eyes closed. And I love spinning rides...maybe it's the dropping while spinning that gets me.

ok - I take back what I said before - because I forgot about Primeval Whirl

HATED this ride! I can deal with the teacups...but PW just HURT and I couldn't get off it fast enough!

It took me a while to be "ok" when riding Rock-n-rollercoaster...but I actually do love it now

 

[WDWLinda]

If you can do RNR, Thunder Mtn is a piece of cake! Take the train out of the Frontier Land station and you can get a look at the back side of the coaster - there's not much else to it, no big drops at all. More like fast curves. The start of the ride has you going up a mine shaft tunnel where it looks like the sides are trembling from an avalanche or earthquake, and you may think you're going to go down a big hill after the climb, but you don't. You can brace yourself against the side of the car to keep from moving around too.

I'm not a big fan of Space Mtn - that might scare you more cuz its dark and you can't see what's coming, but I don't remember any big drops on it. Again, at the start you climb up a big hill, but it doesn't drop too much after it - just fast (looks fast cuz of the lights whizzing by) curves in the semi-darkness.

Splash Mtn. has the big drop at the end, but I think its only about 50', so its over quick. All of them are worth at least one ride to see the themes.

Good luck!

~Linda

 

[GGOOFY1]

My DS hated roller coasters when he was younger, but Splash Mountain was his favorite. Two of the drops are more like bumps and the last drop you can see. The theme is the best with Song of the South. It really isn't bad. Space Mountain has a few small up and downs, but the big attraction here is it is in the dark. If you are going to try one, I would start with Splash Mountain, you'll love it.

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh. no I hate Space Mt. I thought I was gonna die on it this past March. I am a huge chicken and strangely I loved this ride as a teenager but can't do it now. I do remember there being one huge drop but there were others as well, my biggest fear that we were going to fall out, I tried to lean back into the seat to "mold myself" to the seat but then my head kept hitting the seat, it was such a bumpy, jerly ride. I will NOT do it again. For that reason I did not do Splash or the RRR, although I had planned to do it but chickened out after Space, I LOVED TT, MS, TT, the drops on the tower feel different to me not as scary, I feel more secure so I can do it. I say there is nothing wrong with chickening out of a ride, because it is just not fun riding something while you are terrified!

 

[eeyore45]

Okay, I'm 42 years old, and I had a bad experience with a roller coaster as a teen

It wasn't true for me then, so I don't buy it. (Obviously I rationally accept that millions of people ride those damn things all the time and they're not flying off into space, and yet if God forbid I DID die that way, well, I would not be amused.)

Oh forgive me please!! I couldnt help it, I ended up

How in the world you can deal with "spinning" rides!????? As a teen I went into one of those "barrel type spinnig rides" you know, the floor drops, but you're spinning, and you "stick" to the side?? Yea Right, NOT... I sunk!! I was so scared (and not pooh sized AT ALL!) I kept trying to crawl up, people were pointing and laughing... Awful.. of course I've since read where kids have lost body parts for the same experience....

so I get your pain!! I cant spin, but by golly I love the dips! My great aunt would drive over little bumps and call them "tickle tummies".... so those dips bring me "joy"!! (and I passed the "tickle tummy" phrase and joy to dd!!)

Good Luck! You shouldnt miss Splash, Space Mt is an experience since its in the dark, and with the capsule so small you feel closed in with your feet, and arms to hang onto...

 

[MrShiny]

I hate drops (Pirates takes some prep for me - especially the DL version). I can only comment on Splash, which I forced myself to do last year. I did like it (but not enough to run back to it!). There are 3 drops as mentioned, before the big one. I found the second drop the worst, actually. The third (the one in the dark) has an actually fun little surprise that had me actually lauhing. The big drop, I just screamed, but it seemed not to give me that feeling in my stomach as much as the others.

I really should do Space, as twists and turns don't bother me at all.

 

[Jamesbyr]

Interesting. TOT used to have a metal bar that held down everyone in the row. Smaller people, and kids, would not really be held down if there was a larger person in the same row. They would actually rise out of their seats during the drops. They replaced the bar this year with seat belts.

Splash Mountain has no bar or belt at all, just a handle you can grab. I pointed this out to some first-timers as proof that the ride was not meant to throw them up in the air and that they were not going to fly out of their seats. That got them over their trepidation.

 

[cat1258]

I don't usually like roller coasters either. That feeling of falling terrifies me! However, I love Splash Mountain and BTMRR. Neither one of them is the least bit scary to me now. Splash is kind of scary the first couple of times you ride, but once you've gotten over that initial fear it's great fun! BTMRR isn't bad at all. Just kind of bumpy. Just the thought of ToT and RRC on the other hand scares me to death! I've never ridden either of them and don't plan to, so you can count me in as a fellow coaster chicken!

December '05 CBR here we come!!

 

[daisax]

I guess what I'll need to do is get on with some snotty 7 year olds and try to keep my composure to save my pride!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Splash Mountain is very tame compared to RRC and others that you have ridden. It is quite a mild ride with the exception of the drop. I don't find it scary but that does not mean it is not to some/many.

Have a great time on your trip, no matter what you decide.