HELP! Big Chicken here....

[taben]

Okay, watched videos on Expedition Everest numerous times trying to tell myself if I can handle Space Mountain, I can do this.....HMM? I am doubtful....SM still scares me a little. Is there anywhere out there where I can look at a full layout of the track somewhere posted on a website or the full ride with the lights on like SM? I am concerned with the way it goes backwards. AND (it doesn't stop here-LOL) I don't like heights and the lift hill climbs way up there. Help! Please change my mind about this. This ride looks like fun and kinda like Thunder Mountain on Steroids. I love that ride and can ride it over and over. What to do?

Signed,

"Scared in my princess heels!"

 

[Robo]

There are dozens and dozens of ride-thru videos (lights-on in Space Mtn, included) on www.youtube.com

Just type into the youtube search window the name of the attraction you want to see.


Enjoy!




.

 

[abner1776]

Comparing EE to SM is like comparing riding a moped to jumping on a Harley. A more valid comparison to EE would be Rock n Roller Coaster. I have had no problems with any of the thrill rides at WDW until I went on EE. It must have something to do with the going backward because it always causes me to have an inner ear imbalace for many hours after riding EE.

Personally, I love the EE ride itself as it is a lot of fun and the drops are really not that bad, but I tend to stay away from it now and concentrate on the other rides including as many trips on BTMRR as I can.

 

[Twinkle Lights]

Just do it. Get in line, tell yourself its only 3.5 minutes and you'll live....so even if you don't like it, it will be over fast. If you think standing in line will make you even more nervous, do single rider and then your wait time will be much less, not as much time to chicken out.

Another thing I've read is that when you are scared, pretend like you are excited. Being nervous and being excited evoke similar physiological feelings. So if you keep telling yourself, "I'm so excited, this is going to be so fun, I'm pumped..!" maybe you can psych yourself out and handle it. Its really not that bad, I promise. I rode it 8 times in a row in single rider while my friend took the kids over to Rafiki Planet Watch last December and though I felt a little queasy by the 8th time, I was fine the first 7!

 

[Cherinva]

I feel your fear...I don't ride it...now, my girls (one teen and one adult) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. They keep telling me that I will be ok, but I say no way...when they are on it, I shop or go for other Fastpasses and meet up with them after. I don't go on Space Mountain anymore either....but I love Big Thunder

 

[kaligal]

I like EE. It's a good ride.

As coasters go, it isn't that thrilling, but it is a coaster. And it's in the top two for thrilling rides at WDW.

If you're afraid, don't ride it. It isn't that big a deal. It's one ride.

It's your vacation. It should be fun.

So skip the stuff that has you freaking out so badly...and have a good time!

 

[W.E.D.]

I've posted this before. It's my mantra that helps me get on new rides at WDW, because I am NOT a coaster/thrill ride guy. I really needed it for EE. I refused to ride it in '06, and was determined I wouldn't miss it in '11. It also helped me tackle ToT.

"Look at all the happy, smiling people coming off (insert ride here). It can't be that bad. I am at WDW. These rides are supposed to be for the whole family. This will end up being a lot of fun."

Repeat this over and over to yourself while waiting in line.

 

[ajpa]

I'm another Big Chicken. No plans to ride either EE or RnR.

 

[TavieP]

I understand your trepidation. It's about the limit of what I'll do with a thrill ride. I don't like big drops and refuse to go on upside-down coasters (EXCEPT for Rockn Roller Coaster w/Aerosmith - that ride is just a blast and I always wish it was longer - for some reason I don't find it at all scary, except for when you first take off and I really have to brace myself for that) Luckily, EE has no upside-down and just really the one big drop.

I've now learned that I can handle both ToT and EE the same way I've handled Splash for years - my "coping" mechanism is to prepare myself for the big drops by crouching - almost as if I'm standing in my seat (but with my knees bent so I'm really just lifting up slightly) - this aligns my stomach somehow so I don't feel the stomach-drop of the drop. Also, I don't look.

That said - EE is more scary for the atmosphere than the big drop. Besides that one drop, everything else is just build-up, noise and pomp. Even the backwards stuff is pretty tame, more like Thunder.

EE was a ride I'd never let my mother go on when she was alive - but if you can handle ToT, Splash, Space and Thunder, you can handle this.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I love Expedition Everest! I enjoy this coaster much better than rough Space Mountain, because it's smoother and I don't feel beat up afterwards! Have fun!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

You sound EXACTLY like me. I love thrill rides - as long as they don't have steep drops (mainly those with the slow click-clack uphill climb before the fall .) I'm not crazy about heights either. It's not that I'm scared of the drops, I just don't like the feeling. I absolutely love BTMRR. I refuse to go on Splash, but will comprise on Space. Don't like it, but will do it because the drop is sudden, but you don't have the anticipation of the click-clacking {{shudders.}}

With that being said, 2 trips ago, my dh and kiddos (who LOVE every thrill ride - and especially those with the drops - go figure) finally bullied me into riding EE after their 6th time or so. Needless to say, I screamed and sobbed throughout that entire ride. That lovely pic they take of you shows my 5 year old (at the time) dd with her arms in the air shrieking in delight and me with my head buried in my arms sobbing hysterically. Not my finest moment.

No amount of bullying will get me to ride that darn thing again. It's just not worth the horror it brings me. I know that my story is NOT helping you here, but I can only hope that you are braver than me!

 

[minnie mum]

Hi, OP. Another big ride chicken here. How ya doin'? I know exactly how you feel. BTMRR is about my limit too. I've done EE (and TOT, and SM, but not RnRC) as well as SM in DLP (over the shoulder harness was my first hint that the ride has loop + corkscrew). And having done those rides, I'm now good. Been there, done that, don't have to ever, ever do them again. But at least I did them once. It's true that you just never know till you try something whether you'll like it or not. I was terrified of the big drop before I tried Splash the first time. Now it's one of my very favourite attractions.

The first big climb on EE may look intimidating, but it wasn't as bad as I feared. If you're really scared of heights, just don't look out as you near the top. After that you're going too fast to notice any height. The worst part for me was actually the backward spiral part. It does seem to have a g-force effect, but it is short lived. Unfortunately my only ride had me seated at the back of the train, which is apparently where you feel the effects the most. Maybe try to ride near (but not actually AT) the front. I agree with the PP who recommended watching some of the You Tube videos of the ride. A little fore-knowledge may help a lot.

 

[Claire-Bear]

To be honest I normally find fear of the coasters a lot worse than the coasters themselves I've completely panicked whilst waiting to ride duelling dragons but then really enjoyed it. In comparison I haven't been to MK in years but are going for mnsshp this sept and I'm scared to ride space mountain since its in the dark and only one per row!! But will give it a go probably more significant is trying to ride Manta too! I'm not overly fond of major stomach drops though

 

[mjp12831]

EE isn't as bad as you think it might be - I think because there isn't one of the places where you have a slow clime and go over the peak and drop. The big climb you see from the park just leads to a slow roll out. The largest drop comes more suddenly - I think because you are disoriented from the forwards/backwards/forwards part.

I'm advocating to ride it because like you I hesitated to do it, then after I did I was so happy I braved up because it's such a fun ride.

go for it!

 

[t_catt11]

OP, I was terrified of Everest before I rode it the first time, but I can tell you, those fears are unfounded.

A lot of roller coasters give you that big climb at the beginning where you are then perched on a skinny track way up in the sky. Everest does not give you this. You get the mountain beside the tracks at pretty much all times, so you are never just "blowing in the breeze".

It doesn't go terribly fast, it doesn't go upside down. This is a fun thrill ride, but far from an extreme one.

 

[capegirl]

Personally, I could not honestly compare any of Disney's coaster with EE . Granted, it is not like one of those extreme rides you might find at Six Flags, etc, nevertheless the journey backwards on EE does not agree with everyone; myself included. It was the first time in my life that I actually felt a little faint on a Disney ride....I handled Rockn Roller Coaster with no problem. I am assuming it was due to EE 's fairly intense positive G forces that I experienced going backwards. My DH, and DS loved EE, but it is not a ride for everyone. If you have any health issues this would be a good one to skip.

 

[Disneyworld2122]

how is rocking roller coaster? i think ill try that thrill ride but not to totally sure. not a big fan of going upside or loops but since it goes so fast hopefully i wont realize it just went upside down.

 

[capegirl]

how is rocking roller coaster? i think ill try that thrill ride but not to totally sure. not a big fan of going upside or loops but since it goes so fast hopefully i wont realize it just went upside down.

Rockin Roller Coaster takes off in a heartbeat, and you really fly. I believe it has 3 inversions, but in my opinion it is a smooth ride, and you can barely tell when you are upside-down. I think you'll love it !

 

[suzicute20]

I was really scared, too. So, we went there first. When we got there, we practically walked right on. I didn't have any time to worry about it or change my mind. That would be my first tip - do it first before the line gets too long.

I was determined to get over my roller coaster fear, so I decided I was going to try all of them except tower of terror. Still can't handle the big big drops.

With that experience, I think if you can handle Space Mountain, you can handle Expedition Everest. I agree, I watched video before we went as well. The backwards part still felt surprising. But, the drop looks longer than it feels. It goes to a less steep angle quicker than it looks like and feels more like a fast Thunder Mountain.

If you don't like the heights, just look straight ahead or close your eyes. I did this the first time. When I went again, I was able to look - it's a nice view.

Good luck. Go early and scream a lot - it helps.

 

[DisLis]

The one ride I do not go on is RnR (been there, makes me sick). I have no problems with Ex. Everest. I can ride it over and over and not even hang on for dear life. I'm afraid of heights and get vertigo - no problems!
We managed to ride over a dozen times on a wonderful early December day. The singles line is great!