Help! Husband is afraid of roller coasters...

[SeeDisney]

HI DIS Friends


We're going to WDW for our very first family trip in November.

My husband seems to be afraid of roller coasters and said several times to us and he may not ride them. I told him that I read many times the roller coasters in Magic Kingdom are very "tame" by roller coaster defination and they're no steep hills or go faster than 28 mph.

As we go into Magic Kingdom, I'd like to put him first on Goofy's rollercoaster with our toddler and children. Which should be the next roller coaster "to ease" him onto? Space Mountain or Big Thunder?

Which roller coaster is less jerky and less thrilling?

I'm really hoping that by the end of our two weeks, he'll be a WDW roller coaster lover!!!


Thanks to all your advice.

 

[punkin]

I don't do coasters (or TT or MS) but I love WDW. Don't push the poor man if he does not want to go. Let him stay in line with you and do a "baby swap" like my family (including two daredevil DDs) does with me. My 5 yr old will go on rides that scare me half to death. She tried to persuade me to go on TT but I am still glad I did not.

 

[RobinMarie]

I don't like Goofy's RC - hate the climb up the hill. I close my eyes on splash mountain - only do this ride for my daughter.

I do BTMR no problem - it's tame.

I do Rock n Rollercoaster - it's in the dark and NO click click click climb.

After more than 8 visits I FINALLY did TOT and Space Mountain (it was KILLING me I hadn't done 'em). I won't be doing TOT but manage Space every other trip.

Find out what his fear is before you try and ease him in.
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[Selket]

I might be in the minority but I'd suggest that RnRC is easiest roller coaster at WDW to ride because it is so smooth and being in the dark makes it less scary. I swear I didn't know how many times I went upside down cause being in the dark and going that fast and so smooth (and I mean smooth - it is a great coaster) it is pure fun. I know some folks think BTMRR is the tamest of them but it is very jerky and my least favorite - it makes me far more nervous than RnRC. Space Mountain is as jerky but in the dark makes it easier I think.

I wouldn't make him ride - let him watch the kids! My DH isn't much into thrill rides so I quickly figured out I can take his Fast Pass and ride again.....

 

[Eeyore2003]

My husband would agree that RNR is the easiest roller coaster. And if you want to start somewhere, he would say it's the easiest to take. Just because it's so smooth.

That being said~~~ Myself??? I don't do coasters. When you consider all the rides and attractions at DW, there's really not much reason to feel someone HAS to do them. What is the worst part of DW??? When my family constantly begs me to do roller coasters!!! I'm afraid of heights and get motion sick. They did talk me into TOT and I do it, only because that kind of "shuts them up" for a while, but I really don't like it and could do without it and I still have an AWESOME time. Test Track is not bad, the roller coaster part is only a part of it, and I know it's over with pretty quick. As far as heights go, I don't think Splash Mountain is bad cuz it's over with quick.

 

[disneyholic family]

i have a severe motion sickness problem, so there are attractions i can't do because of that (too bad....i was a roller coaster nut case growing up....cedar point was my idea of heaven)..
anyway...
this is what i can and can't do now, due to motion sickness:
Magic Kingdom:
Splash Mountain - disney fantasy at it's best - a fancy log flume - we usually do this one about 6 times in a row....(during e ticket or early december)

Thunder Mountain - i don't particularly like this roller coaster...it's very mild by roller coaster standards (too mild for my tastes)....no problem as far as motion sickness

space mountain - really a wild mouse in the dark - i LOVE this ride...be sure to go to the left when you have the choice...the left side is much more fun than the right (bigger dips and less turning for those of us with motion sickness)....if you've ever been to disneyland, the space mountain in WDW is nothing like the one in disneyland (i can't ride that one...) the one in WDW is far superior...

barnstormer - i hate this one....too mild and it makes me sick (motion sickness)

MGM:
Rock and Roller Coaster - an excellent coaster...totally smooth....however i can't ride it....terrible motion sickness on this one...really too bad as it's a good ride...(the barrel roll at the end does me in....i have to lie down for 14 hours afterwards)...

Tower of Terror - disney at its finest.....a great attraction....unfortunately, due to motion sickness i can no longer ride it...but before they changed the programming i rode it 17 times in a row with my kids on one of our visits!!!...

Epcot:
Test Track - not a roller coaster - just a rather tame fun ride....even my 77 year old mom road this one a few times in a row....

Mission Space - not a roller coaster but supposed to be fun...i know i can't ride it so i'll never know....

Norway - a short cute tame log flume..

Animal Kingdom:
Dinosaur - excellent ride...not a roller coaster....just jeeps that go bumping around....hmm....how to explain this one....but my 77 year old mom did this one too.....and no motion sickness problems.....if you want a wilder ride, ask to sit in the back row....to see more (and for a tamer ride) sit in the front row....

kali river rapids - river raft ride....no roller coaster aspects to it...no motion sickness problems (however you will get drenched)...fun ride...

Chester and Hester's something or other whirl....not a roller coaster....it's a little midway ride...it's fun...though it does have motion sickness problems...

i think that's it for 'rides"....

now if you want real roller coasters and you're not planning a trip to cedar point (in ohio) any time soon, well...head on over to universal's Islands of Adventure....the hulk coaster and dueling dragons are pretty good...not as good as anything at cedar pointe, but for florida they're as good as it gets...

 

[DisneyMim]

As someone who has been going to WDW since the 1970's and doesn't do coasters I have a hard time trying to convince anyone. Why?? I did some years ago and really didn't like them, they gave me a headache, so I stopped going on. As others have said there are soooo many things for people to do at WDW that not going on a few rides is no big deal. Both my kids and my husband love all types of thrill rides and I've always enjoyed watching them (and holding all the stuff!!). I hate it when I see parents trying to push crying young kids into going on things they don't want to. Most of the time the kids will love roller coasters if the dumb parents just let them go at their own pace and when they are ready. That being said, if you think your husband will rreally enjoy coasters then encourage him, but if he really doens't want to go IMHO I don't think he should be made to feel as though he "has"to.

Have Fun!!

 

[WDWmaniac125]

Don't force your husband if he really doesn't want to go on roller coasters. I was forced to go on ToT and RNRC and now I can't go on them. But Test Track isn't much of a roller coaster, it just goes fast at the end.

 

[moinab]

I'm a total roller coaster wimp, because I hate big drops. Having said that, I have been on every single one at WDW, and didn't really have problems with any of them.

I started out with Goofy's Barnstormer, which freaked me out a little bit, because my 3 year old DS and I were in the front seat, and it's pretty high off the ground. There are no big drops, however. If your DH has a fear of heights, though, this may be one to skip.

The next one I tried was BTMRR. I don't understand how anyone could be afraid of this one (ok, small children might be afraid of the noise and brief dark areas). It's very jerky, but rollercoaster-wise, it's very tame. I thought it was tamer than Goofy's Barnstormer.

Next, I tried Splash Mountain, which is definitely the biggest drop. I was very anxious the whole ride because I was terrified of the drop at the end. Afterward, I had to laugh at myself, because it was no big deal. It looks worse than it is, and it's over so fast, you don't have time to be scared. It didn't bother me at all (other than the 12 minutes of anxiety leading up to it).

It took me 6 trips to get up the courage to go on Space Mountain. I wasn't convinced I could handle the drops. Once I finally went on, I discovered the drops really are very mild. It is extremely bumpy/jerky however. Do not, I repeat, do not go on with congested sinuses! Ouch!

Finally, I worked my way up to RnRC. The most intense part of this one is the take off, which will leave your stomach behind for a few seconds. It reminds me of the typical rollercoaster drop sensation, but without the actual drop. The rest of the ride, even the loops, is tame by comparison. I really enjoy this one, but the take-off does make me a little uneasy (but only for a second!) I have to say, though, that, while it's not bumpy/jerky like Space Mountain and BTMRR, I would never describe it as "smooth." I went on this one the same trip as my congested sinuses Space Mountain experience. After reading so many descriptions of it as "smooth," I thought I would be ok, but I was in tears by the end of the ride because I felt every single bump. Also, my backbone tends to hurt a little after this one from jostling against the seat (not a big deal, goes away as soon as I get off, but it's not a comfortable feeling. I also experienced this on Space Mountain.) BTW, I went on it again the next few trips (with clear sinuses) and enjoyed it much more, but still felt the bumping on my backbone.

I agree, though, that if he reads the descriptions and still doesn't want to go, let him sit on the sidelines in peace. I was afraid of them, but really wanted to try them (didn't like the idea of missing out). If he really has no desire to try, he'd probably be happier sitting it out.


HTH

 

[SeeDisney]

Thanks DIS friends,




Thanks for all your inputs. My husband's problem is that he says he wants "to inspect the roller coasters and make sure they're safe to ride". I don't get him.

He rides a motorcycle and dirt bike motor cross bikes..... so I know he likes speed. He was a sailor in the US Navy for over 20 years so I know motion sickness won't be a issue.

I think maybe the issue is letting go of the control perhaps???? Also, I think partly another issue is we're older now and he hasn't been on the bigger rides in so so so many years, he's forgotten how much fun they are.


Have a magical day!

 

[kidd_freeper]

My wife doesn't like roller coasters. I love them. My wife is not a wimp - she loves Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. She just doesn't like roller coasters. There is something about roller coasters that she just doesn't like - its not a control issue - she just doesn't like them.

I got her to go on Rock'n Rollercoaster. She absolutely HATED it. It made it less enjoyable for me and we had to sit and have a cold drink for an hour afterwards so that she could get her legs back. It took another 2-3 hours before she was 100% again.

I felt terrible.

My advice: If he doesn't want to go, then respect his wishes completely. Don't push it, don't test it, don't pressure him with guilt. You will both have a better time.

 

[jellydisney]

Wow, I haven't been to these boards in a while!!!

I was a ride chicken too once, and Disney thrill rides are the best way to overcome your fear precisely because they are tame and you can work your way up. This is the the order I rank the rides, from most tame to most intense, for the purpose of easing somebody into riding rollercoasters:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Maelstrom
3. Test Track
4. Big Thunder Mountain
5. Dinosaur
6. Splash Mountain
7. Space Mountain
8. Rock N Rollercoaster


To be fair, rides 1-3 and 5 are NOT rollercoasters, but thrill rides that either have small drops or go fast. Different people have different experiences, but in general I think most people would rank Big Thunder and Splash as less intense and Rock N Rollercoaster and Space Mt. as more intense. I didn't include Tower of Terror, Primieval Whirl, or Goofy's Barnstormer (which, from what I've heard on these boards, it seems that is too tame for thrill-seekers and too intense for people who don't like thrill rides.... just my impression) because I haven't ridden them.

May I also suggest figuring out the root of your husband's fear of rollercoasters. For some people, it's the drops, for others it's motion sickness, for others it's speed or jerkyness... Personally, I had to get over the fear of drops. If you can figure out that one thing he dreads the most, it will be easier to customize what rides you should go on and in what order.

Hope that helps,

 

[NotUrsula]

For me it's absolutely about control. I *DON't" do coasters, and that isn't going to change. WDW is supposed to be fun, right? It won't be fun for him if you won't leave the roller coaster thing alone.

Bring wireless phones or walkies, or just good watches, then arrange a good meeting system. He'll meet you when you get off.

 

[meaneausindisney]

Well, I'll throw my two cents in too!

Just got back last week and I am a HUGE scaredy cat when it comes to coasters or any kind of thrill ride. My hubby however LOVES them and refused to go on without me. Only one he allowed was Mission Space and even he said that one was too intense for him (and he'll ride ANYTHING).

I am not in the "for" camp for RnR Coaster. I felt very very ill afterwards and the take off of 60mph in 2.0 seconds was more than my head could take. I screamed the whole ride, it was God awful.

Big Thunder, very mild, no major drops, I could do that one a couple times without a problem.

Splash Mountain, I close my eyes when it's the big drop but I like it and it doesn't give me any illness/headache.

Test Track - so easy it's dissappointing. Went on that twice volunteerily.

Space Mountain - I HAD to do this. I couldn't go to MK and not go on. And dare I say when we go back in Fall, I'll go again. For someone that doesn't do coasters it can feel intense, but it is FUN. And I don't recall anything too horrendous, just a lot of darkness and screaming

And of course Tower of Terror. Since I was raised on watching the Twilight Zone I had to do it. I nearly back out but stuck with it. The first drop is hard, just the anticpation is enough to stop your heart (well mine anyway!). But when you do the couple drops afterwards, it's fun. I grabbed my hubby's arm, screamed and loved it.

So, anyway, please believe me, I NEVER EVER did rollercoasters before WDW, but I felt safe and felt a need to (plus hubby guilted me into it - which in retrospect I don't mind, except for RnR coaster. AWFUL).

My advice, don't force him. I ended up resenting my husband and being pretty miserable in line knowing I was being guilted in to riding these rides. Again, I did end up loving most of them and will do them again (once you go on, atleast you know what to expect - it's half the battle!). Share with him people's feedback and see what makes him most comfortable. I'm SURE he could do test track, it's not even a coaster really at all. And splash mountain and big thunder pretty easy stuff. Space Mountain - I'm still so proud I did it! And would do it again!

Hope my ramblings helped!
meaneaus were in disney

 

[PieInYourEye]

Rock n Roller Coaster is the smoothest ride. You can borrow a line I use on my nephew.... you can remind him that Mickey wouldn't have anything is his parks that will harm a prince like him.

 

[meaneausindisney]

RnR coaster may be "smooth" but it's got three inverted loops and rockets you to 60mph in 2 seconds. In my honest opinion, that's not a good one to put a non-coaster rider on. I know I hated it and felt horrendous afterwards.

 

[KELLY]

I'm a big ride chicken but love WDW here is what I love my favorite is RNR Roller Coster very smooth inside in in the dark. I will also do Thunder Mountain this is also tame. Will not do Space Mountain the Ticking noise drives me to think I'm going to die on this ride. Will not do Splash Mountain or the Rapid at AK I hate getting wet unless at a water Park. I have done Splash and TOT. I would rather do TOT than Splash.
I have tried all of these rides at least once and maybe will give Space Mountain and Splash Mountain a try again this year I just do the thrill rides in the evening that way it doesn't ruin your day.
KELLY

 

[canwegosoon]

I hate Roller Costers. They scare me too!!! But this year I did Dinosaur, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain. I was great on Dino, so-so on SM, but got very dizzy on thunder mountain. I did them for my kids...but I screamed my head off on Astro Orbitor....I will never go on that again Best of luck

 

[snyderla]

I don't like heights and I hate that feeling you get in your stomach when you drop, I don't like it at all. It's horrible. I don't do thrill rides anymore, although I did a few when I was a teen. But I love WDW! I don't love going with my sis, however, because she pressures me into going on rides I don't like. I have been on BTMRR and was sick and couldn't walk right for a long time after. I rode Splash Mt. once and that was OK, except for the 2 drops in the dark, then the drop in the end. At least the last drop was very quick. I haven't been on any of the other thrill rides, but I do go on POTC, the drop is small and quick and I can pull my legs up and not feel it in my stomach.

Please don't pressure your husband to go on rides he doesn't want to go on. There are so many other rides and attractions to enjoy together. I have so much fun at WDW with my husband and kids because they accept me for who I am and what I want to do. They do the rides they want without me and I go shopping while they are in line, or I rest or eat a snack. I dread going with my sis because of the pressure and making fun of me.
We could have so much more fun together if she would just give it a rest and let me do what I want without grief while she does what she wants without grief!!
Lori

 

[Micca]

It's all so subjective. I agree that RnRCoaster was smooth, but I had a headache for a couple of hours after I rode it. BTMR is very jerky, but I love it. I have been on SpMtn a couple of times and didn't care for it at all. Splash Mtn, Chester and Hester, Dinosaur, no problem. TOT is maybe the best attraction on property