How do I keep from chickening out...

[Tinky]

on The Hulk!
I have walked up to it many times and just cant get the stroke to get on. Going in 11 days and I really want to try it!

Any ideas??

 

[simonuk]

i used 2 b exactly the same, i am sure most people r
i eventually went on cause i thought f@*k it u only live once u have to try as many things as possible because u never know if u will ever get the chance again
once u have been on u will never keep off
i guarantee that
simon

 

[the Dark Marauder]

This is Barry's cue to post his story.

As for you, Tinky, I'd say the best bet is to just say "there's nothing to be afraid of" over and over again. Remember that it's more than okay to scream your lungs out when you're riding. Remember that the ride is extremely safe and that no matter what, it'll be fun.

Or just have whomever you're going with drag you on and not let you bail out.

 

[Prince Eric1]

Just make yourself go. Watch for a few minutes and you'll see that no-one comes off ill or collapses after. The rides are designed for maximum affect in a minimal time so you really don't have time to be ill, in case thats a problem. Its over before you know it.

 

[Tinky]

Thanks for the input you guys!
I'm on my own for the ride but I AM GOING TO DO IT... i think

Someone come drag me on!!!

Seriously, its one of those things I HAVE to do just to say I can do it. Flying doesnt bother me (it used to until I flew transatlantic, if I can do that I can do anything) but this is definately my demon.

I'm sure it will be fine.... right

 

[ritzbuddy]

I also am very nervous aboutn the biggest rides. Is Hulk the "worst one?" How about Dueling Dragons?

We go for our first time in March and I know my family will think I am such a wienie if I don't try them. In the past on big rides like RnR at MGM, I found that I just had to recognize that I was going to squeel like a pig the entire ride, but I would probably enjoy it. I did!

I know my palms will be sweating as we go FOTL, but I WILL try them.
I'm sure they will be able to hear me all the way home!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Both of these coasters are steel coaster and are very smooth. The hulk has 7 inversions i think, but they are so smooth and fast you hardly notice them. The rides are over in less than two minutes, and you can buy yourself and tshirt or purchase your picture to show everyone you did it.

 

[highlander447]

I suggest thinking about it in time it lasts about 2 minutes it takes longer getting in the ride almost also just decide right i am doing it and go for it

 

[D&D's Mom]

I was a roller coaster chicken until the Hulk. It was so smooth & such fun that now I have ridden several in the past 5 years. I do, however, have a strategy. I always ride the first time with my eyes closed. The second time, & thereafter, I can ride with eyes open. I don't know why, but it works for me. Although I do love DD, I am always a bit dizzy when I get off - not sick to my stomach, but kind of wobbly for a couple minutes. Doesn't stop me from getting back on again, though! Go, tryi it, & have fun.

 

[ritzbuddy]

Thanks for the info. Smooth roller coasters are not as scarey - at least for me. I'm game to try them!

But I still will squeel all the way!

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Just do it. It's not that scary. You won't regret it. If you think about too much, you just won't do it.

 

[bjakmom]

I was also a roller coaster chicken (especially anything that went upside down!) - then a few years ago I went on RNR, not even realizing in the dark that I had gone through a loop and a twist! On the next trip, DS had been facing many challenges and we were travelling alone - he just asked me to challenge myself to ride Hulk with him and if I didn't like it I never had to ride again - how could I say no to that?! I was the most shocked of all that I absolutely loved it - I truly almost passed out waiting to get on I was so scared - but wanted to show him that I, too, could face my fears and challenge myself. From there we went right to DD and I loved that, too (although DD also makes me a little more disoriented for a bit than Hulk does).

Just last week we were travelling with friends who had never been to an amusement park like USF - their 11 yo son went right on Hulk with us and loved it - on the 2nd day their 13 yo daughter got up the nerve to try and loved it - went right on fire, then ice afterwards - on the final morning my friend and her hubby decided they just had to try it, too - and they loved it, also - my dear friend says she needs to ride it again and actually 'look up' next time!!

Just remember - if you don't like it you never have to go on it again - but at least you'll know!!- Good luck - let us know how it goes!

 

[BarryHom]

Yes, due to popular request, here's the story!

How I Learned to Love Roller Coasters and Stopped Worrying About the Beast


The TV news show "Inside Edition" reported that your chances of getting into a fatal roller coaster accident are 1 in 10 million. Yet, every time I thought about riding one, I thought that I would die.
I used to avoid riding roller coasters. I chickened out on Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom. I avoided Busch Gardens Tampa for years. If I didn't ride the roller coasters, I didn’t think I could do much else at that theme park. I did ride Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom and I was terrified. I swore to never do it again!

That all changed when I visited Islands of Adventure in May 1999. I initially planned to avoid riding the roller coasters. My main draw to the park was one ride – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. I passed by the Incredible Hulk Coaster many times thinking, "I'll save it for later." Finally, I decided to ride it.
I almost ran away from the entrance, but I thought of what my mom said when I wouldn't eat lima beans -- "How do you know if you don't like it if you haven't tried it?" I never ate my lima beans and I still haven’t put them in my mouth, but I figured I'd ride the roller coaster once and if I didn't like it, I'd ride something else. There are plenty of other things to do at the park!

I entered the queue and I felt my heart pounding, my skin crawling, and my breath becoming shorter. Finally, I entered the coaster and was strapped in. I felt more scared than any other time in my life. It was scarier than my first date! As the car rolled into the launch tube, I want to cry. Then guests seated in the back of the coaster started yelling, "Whoo!" I began to yell "Whoo!" too. Suddenly, my fear turned into excitement and I was launched out!
I yelled "Whoo!" so much that my voice was harsh after the ride. I don't remember much of what the track looked like because I kept my eyes closed (especially during the upside-down parts), but I was having so much fun that I didn’t really care. At the end of the ride, I said, "What a rush!" At that moment, a roller coaster enthusiast was born!

I had planned to ride the Hulk Coaster zero times, but I ended up riding it seven times. I finally conquered the Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain. I visited Busch Gardens Tampa a few months after visiting Islands of Adventure and enjoyed the coasters there. I’ve visited Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio – the roller coaster mecca – several times as well as many other roller coaster parks around the United States. I’ve joined the American Coaster Enthusiasts and the Florida Coaster Club. Even though I’ve ridden the tallest and fastest coaster in the world – Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster – as my 100th coaster, I haven’t found a roller coaster that gave me a rush like my first ride on the Incredible Hulk Coaster, but I find joy in each and every one that I ride.

Perhaps one day I will have the courage to eat lima beans

 

[Prince Eric1]

That was beautiful Barry. Brought a tear to my eye.

 

[Tinky]

You are my hero

I can eat Lima beans so I KNOW I can do this.

Thanks again all!
;

 

[edie w]

Tinky - my DH and I joined the queue for Kraken at the end of one day and got talking to a very scared looking single rider in front of us, who said she'd been trying to pluck up the courage all day to ride the coaster. Every time she'd joined the line she'd chickened out. This time, because we were encouraging her and my DH and I sat either side of her so she didn't have to go on the outside, she dared to stay on and loved it.

That was the first time I ever dared to sit in an edge seat, so she did me a favour too!

Hope you are brave enough!

Hulk is very smooth. Have a fab time.