Help "convert" a coaster chicken

[twotoohappy]

I know how you feel

I hated the drops in the dark at Splash Mountain. I'd do it again, but not if I didn't have to.

Big Thunder Mountain is great! No drops!

Space Mountain is a little faster and no drops.

RocknRollerCoaster is faster but smoother. The take off is the worst part. Just sing and count one, one thousand...two one thousand..... three one thousand and it's over. This ride scared me at first, but when it was over it was like...."that's it?"

ToT - nope won't even try it. I hate drops so it's out!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[MeredithJ]

Thanks for your input everyone! It looks like I will definitely be trying BTMR and RNRC, still not sure about TOT though. Like someone else said, I would love to experience the TOT attraction, but without the drops. How does the chicken exit work? Would I still get to experience some of the "pre-drop" fun? If so, I may be able to manage that far. But if I do brave it all the way and live to tell about it ( ) then I will be sure to post back here and let you all know.

Meredith

 

[kmgl78]

My daughter was always terrified of roller coasters and we could not get her to ride with us and enjoy the fun. We finally convinved her to ride Tower of Terror a few years ago, and now she thinks it is the best ride ever invented. Don't miss it! She also loves Rock & Roll Coaster. It is not so much like a normal coaster because you don't have to go up a huge hill at the beginning.

Keep in mind, these rides are over with so fast that you really don't have that much time to be frightened. Just don't worry about it and go! Try to keep your mind on something else right before the ride so you don't have time to get anxious.

 

[rlyrehc]

My son was involved in a school bus accident when he was in 1st grade in which another child was killed. He is now in 7th and still has panic attacks if he stands in lines at fast rides even if he isn't planning to ride. We have a deal. I ride the ride first and then I come back to him and I am completely honest about every drop and turn. Most of the time he refuses to ride the ride and now he is old enough to take the chicken door by himself. However, we once saw a show on tv about getting over phobias and it said to keep redoing the thing that you fear over and over and soon the phobia eases. He has chosen to use this advice on several rides and found that he can tolerate them and actually laughs on some. He doesn't want to be stuck afraid. He sees everybody else having fun and doesn't want to be left on the sideline. Some rides, however, he refuses to confront. TOT is one-maybe that's because mom refuses to confront that one. Good for you for standing up to your fears. It may seem silly to say that about theme park rides but fear is a horrible thing to face.

One other thing though, be careful with your blood pressure if your prone to high blood pressure. The poster that said to get a fast pass because the longer you wait in line the higher your anxiety climbs is right on target. 

 

[ithacan]

You can exit ToT just before you would get on the elevators. This means you can enjoy the hotel grounds, the lobby, and the preshow Twilight Zone film. At the very least, you can experience part of ride!

 

[orangebreezer]

I too was terrified of going on any coasters, this was all made much worse by the fact that my family love them and we all have annual passes for some of the parks here in the UK. So every weekend they had fun whilst I sat and watched. I really don't know what made me do it, but one day I said I wanted to try the smaller coaster. As I stood in the line I started to panic, got in the chair and started up the lift. Now if I could have screamed and jumped off I would have done, but my hubby was talking to me and said do not close your eyes. As we reached the top and started down I started to close my eyes but thought no I can do this. So I starred at my feet instead!!! and it was over before I knew it. When I got off I was so impressed with myself for being so brave. I even phoned my mother to tell her!!! I then started building up and now I not only do all the big coaster but have found that I really enjoy them. I have found that the scare is all part of the rush and instead of fighting against it I actively embrace it....

 

[nkkilala]

Hello!
I would like to let you know that I too was once deathly afarid of roller coasters. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I started ridding them. I was with my friend at WDW and she wanted to do everthing. We just made a pack that we would do evertying and I stuck to it.
We actually ended up doing all of the Thrill rides at least twice beucase the first time I was so scared I closed my eyes. The second time, after know I could do the ride no problem I would open them.
I was terrified and waiting in the long line for RnR didn't help much, but I stuck with it and was glad I did.

Here are some tips I have about how I conqured my fear

1) when I would start to panic I would think "Just breath" and focus on breathing. This is what really got me through

RnR- Before you take off take a deep breath in and lean back. Once you go though the shoot it is really easy. I didn't notice we went upside down until the ride was over!! It is very smooth.

Splash- I love the ride but hate the drop. I still normally close my eyes for the drop but it is worth it to see the inside of the ride.

Space- I love this ride because it is in the dark. I like not knowing how high up I am or what is coming next. I don't get panicky if I don't knwo what is next

Thunder- This ride really was more of a kid ride to me compared to evertying else. It is smooth (eventhough is doens't sound smooth, the ricketing is all sound effects!!) I can do this one no probelm!

ToT- Yes I get really freaked out about this one every time. But eveytime I get off and do it again. The first time was the hardest. Try not to have a purse or antying in your hands. It makes it easier to grab onto the handle at you sides. Try not to sit in the back row with no seats in front of you. I did this the first time and felt really inscure, but was fine!!!

Good luck.
Remember JUST BREATH!!

 

[rich_84]

I went to Disneyland Paris with a friend a couple of years ago, he was terrified of rollercoasters too but I got him to at least stand in the line with me waiting for Space Mountain. I thought it would be like the US WDW Space Mountain so told him there were no inversions etc. Well then come the warning boards telling us there were!! He was a bit apprehensive at this point but I managed to get him to stay in line.

We eventually got there and managed to get him seated but he did turn totally white and did not take a word I was saying to him in....but once he got into it he really enjoyed it and then we went onto Indiana Jones's coaster (inversions backwards), so there is a happy ending for you.

At least if you're up for it, then give it a go! If you don't like it you don't have to do it again.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Just one word of advice, DRUGS. Valium, Atavan, nice calming DRUGS. Just kidding. I won't get on them because I am the biggest chicken ever but I say just try them, you only live once.

 

[MouseClubMom]

My 36 year old firefighter DH is TERRIFIED of any type of coaster or fast ride but my youngest daughter started riding BTMRR at age THREE!!! How embarrassing for DH to stand outside with the stroller while I took the girls on the "fast rides"! The man will go into a burning building but wont ride BTMRR. Go figure! (Can you tell we tease him mercilessly about this?)

I am a HUGE Coaster Chicken but have ridden all things Disney. I hate the TOT but have ridden it a few times with friends. The first time I rode TOT was with my boss and a co-worker. I sat in the middle between them and on the first drop I reached down to grab the handles on the seat and accidentally grabbed each guy by their legs! The look on their faces was priceless and I was so mortified that I dont even remember the rest of the ride. LOL

Good Luck!
MCMom

 

[kimwim8]

personally, I like the roller coasters that shoot you out (like RnRC) b/c then I don't have time to think about anything that's gonna happen. Those other roller coasters with the big climb to the top (click, click, click) get my stomach all in knots.

And I REALLY don't like the ones that only have lap harnesses. There's one at Six Flags Great Adventure (in NJ) I think it's Nitro or something like that....scares the beejeezies out of me. Some say the whole "no shoulder harness" thing is a rush....for me it's just toooooo scary.

 

[leebee]

I HATE the dropping feeling (it's actually a biochemical response- different hormones emitted in the brains of drop lovers (dopamine) and drop haters (serotonin)...yes, it's all in your head!!) AND I can get motion sick in the bathtub, watching TV, etc. I have been on Splash Mountain two or three times...let's just say I'm a Splash retiree! You won't catch me riding RnR, ToT, or Space! I DO ride BTMRR because I do get that kind-of left-out feeling, not riding the big rides. I love BTMRR, but I do feel pretty dizzy after....no public vomiting, just DIZZY! But the WORST of the dizzy-makers is that little teeny tiny kid's coaster, Goofy's Barnstormer!

Paragon Park- now there's a blast from the past!
DD LOVES Cedar Point! Can't wait to do the Dragster. Last time we wre there was the summer the Dragster opened and it wasn't working reliably, so I wouldn't let her get on. DH, who is terrified of heights, actually rode the Millenium 2000 (Force? the really big one!)- didn't know what it was, got dragged on by BIL because there ws miraculously no line when we passed by. DH was not happy getting off the coaster, but when we turned the corner and he saw how high he'd been, he turned white and his knees buckled! LOL! We have a GREAT photo of DD on Magnum Force (200? I get the names confused- the red coaster)...braids are standing straight up in the air! Not for me! I'm the official "sweater holder"!

 

[TrickyFish]

I HATE the dropping feeling (it's actually a biochemical response- different hormones emitted in the brains of drop lovers (dopamine) and drop haters (serotonin)...yes, it's all in your head!!) AND I can get motion sick in the bathtub, watching TV, etc. I have been on Splash Mountain two or three times...let's just say I'm a Splash retiree! You won't catch me riding RnR, ToT, or Space! I DO ride BTMRR because I do get that kind-of left-out feeling, not riding the big rides. I love BTMRR, but I do feel pretty dizzy after....no public vomiting, just DIZZY! But the WORST of the dizzy-makers is that little teeny tiny kid's coaster, Goofy's Barnstormer!

Paragon Park- now there's a blast from the past!
DD LOVES Cedar Point! Can't wait to do the Dragster. Last time we wre there was the summer the Dragster opened and it wasn't working reliably, so I wouldn't let her get on. DH, who is terrified of heights, actually rode the Millenium 2000 (Force? the really big one!)- didn't know what it was, got dragged on by BIL because there ws miraculously no line when we passed by. DH was not happy getting off the coaster, but when we turned the corner and he saw how high he'd been, he turned white and his knees buckled! LOL! We have a GREAT photo of DD on Magnum Force (200? I get the names confused- the red coaster)...braids are standing straight up in the air! Not for me! I'm the official "sweater holder"!

heehee, its the Magnum (XL 200) and the Millennium Force

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Meredith, I could have written your post, word for word. I too am a big chicken, HATE the drop feelings, but also am just tired of missing out. I know once I do them once, I will go on over and over and love most of them. SO, I have to know what I am getting myself into with these rides. I am going to read this thread and ask questions if I haven't seen them answered.

My first one though. There are NO drops on Space Mountain???

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Space Mountain - Another one with no big drops lots of curves. After the first few seconds was able to open my eyes.
Jeanelle

When on the TTAuthority you see inside SM and the cars are going up a VERY steep incline. So, it doesn't drop back down? DH says he remembers there being a lot of drops on this one.

 

[MouseClubMom]

There is at leat one drop on Space Mountain where you lift out of your seat for just a second but it isnt really bad at all. If you can do BTMRR you can do Space Mountain with no worries! It's just DARK is all. If you get the front seat in the train you can see the track and can anticipate the turns and such.


MCMom

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I feel your pain! It took me a long time to learn to love coasters. My first WDW coaster was BTMRR....and I immediately loved it. I really recommend this one as a "first" coaster for kids or the faint of heart. Its my favorite ride now.
!

OK, to show how much of a chicken I am....how does BTMRR compare to Donalds Barnstormer.....which I HATE!!!! Too intense for me! Seriously. I hated the jerkiness of it and the way my stomach felt at times. Can't explain it really.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

But the WORST of the dizzy-makers is that little teeny tiny kid's coaster, Goofy's Barnstormer!
"!

I just read this after I just posted about this one. WOOHOO, I am not the only one that doesn't like this ride.

 

[Collette]

Please don't miss out - ride ToT, too!!! There have been so many good tips here. I backed out three times on our first trip when I was 48 and was sure that I could scare myself to death. The third attempt when we were gathered in the little room, I said something to my kids about thinking this maybe wasn't such a good idea for me. The bell service CM came up to me, completely in character, and slowly said "The only way out is to ride." At that point I was seriously questioning where that chicken elevator was!!

I was disappointed that I couldn't find the courage to do it that trip and vowed to do it on the next trip. Three years later on a rainy night in October just before park closing, I was determined. I think the tip for fast pass was a good one, because we walked right on and I had no time to think. It became one of my very favorite rides.

And a couple thoughts about the coasters. If you don't like to rise out of your seat so much, choose to sit toward the front on BTMR. If you like it, which we do, ride in the back!! A very fun ride and especially enjoyable at night.

I felt that one side of Space Mountain seemed a little smoother than the other. The problem is that I can't remember which one. I'm thinking the left.

My first trip, I was sure that I would be spending a lot of time browsing gift shops while my family rode. I sent my teenagers on the rides first When I was finally tired of having no courage, I made myself ride RnRC and just loved it. While I was waiting for my kids to ride ToT, I was chatting with another Mom about coasters and my fears. She told me that if I could ride RnRC, I could ride all the coasters at Magic Kingdom. The trip just got better and better after that.

Good luck to everyone who is hesitant. I completely understand your fears and truly hope you find the courage to try the rides at least once. So now that being said, I have yet to talk myself into riding Mission Space!

Collette

 

[bigmerle1966]

When we go in June I will be watching the little kids while Memorymakers2669 (DS), a friend and the two oldest children go on the big rides. Got to have one chicken in the group to take over babysitting.