I Hate Roller Coasters... Thunder Mountain Question

[Marty Joe]

Yes, I hate roller coasters. Love Aerosmith, but the Rock'in Roller Coaster ain't gonna happen. I will also be waiting for you when you get off Space Mountain! I don't even like going over hills in my car fast!

This past October my daughter (5) begged me to go on the Barn Stormer (I know - TOON TOWN!!!). I saw old ladies and young kids getting on it. I thought I saw a dead guy getting on it... sooo, I thought how bad can this be? After about 15 minutes of harasment from my wife (also not an astronaut), my daughter and I get into the last car (I'm sweating reliving that momant). White knuckles, clenched teeth, trying to grab my seat with my butt cheeks, and around a minute later stumbling off that sucker - I WAS ATE UP!

So now were going in June, and thanks to those rotten WDW promo DVD's, my daughter is hinting around at going on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Mt question is... am I going to die on this ride? I do love WDW, but I'm a Haunted Mansion/Buzz Lightyear kinda guy... HELP

 

[GoodFairies]

Honestly if you didn't like Barnstormer then BTMRR is probably not going to float your boat either. It's bumpy and twisty but not hilly. No, you won't die if you decide to give in to your daughter. But it is over quickly! My grandmother swore we were trying to kill her when we took her on it, but she was 66 at the time.

 

[Chica650]

This is a good threat for me, b/c I also am not a fan of roller coasters. The feeling of your stomach being in your throat is not natural in my opinion. What are some "safe" rides for people like us? I LOVE space mountain. I don't have a problem with relatively "small" hills. I just don't like the gi-HUGIC drops. Any ideas?

 

[disneymania]

I also hate rollercoasters & BTMR is my favorite ride at WDW. I didn't find it scarey at all. Try it...although during the day is less scarey that at night in the dark. I won't ride Space MT, Splash Mt, etc because they are too frightening for me.

 

[moinab]

There are no "stomach in your throat" drops on BTMRR. It really is more of a bumpy, fast train ride. I had a certain level of anxiety the first time I went on it, but afterward I thought it was really tame. There are a couple of climbs that make you think you're going to go down a drop, but it never does. Personally, I found the Barnstormer to be more roller-coastery than BTMRR. HTH

 

[Harambe]

BTM is one of my "possibles" for our next trip also! I don't like the big drops either. The other ride that a lot of DIS floks thought I should try is Test Track, because it has no drops and just goes fast. Maybe you can talk your daughter into that if you can't face Big Thunder (yes - I used the chicken exit the first time I tried to do BTM!!!!)

 

[sarahj]

I am not a roller coaster person either, but I won't miss going on BTMRR. I can't do big drops either, so was worried the first time I tried it, but found it doesn't have any. I have never done it at night, which I have heard is great, so will try that in September!

 

[goofyernmost]

If BarnStormer bothered you, I don't think I would recommend Thunder Mountain. Although, it doesn't have BIG drops it does have some small ones and it really moves around corners and up and down constantly.

I also do not like the feeling of falling. I do ride ToT and Splash Mountain but I do not enjoy the dropping parts. I endure them so I can see the rest of the ride.

In my opinion Thunder Mountain is more intense then Rockin Roller Coaster. Although RRC has a large number of Scary sounding moves (inversion, etc.) it is so smooth that it doesn't feel bad.

 

[campingcorgi]

The last car in Goofy's coaster is wilder than the cars in the middle. If you did the back car there you can do the middle cars on Big Thunder. You can do it for your child!!! I have faith in you

 

[donac]

I am not a big fan of roller coasters but I love BTMRR. My advise is to get a front car seat. You are half way down the mountain before the train starts to move faster so you don't feel the speed as much as in the back of the train.


Dona

 

[Disney-Kim]

I am the biggest ride chicken ever, no rollercoasters. but 1 year I tried Big Thunder because I had ridden the Matterhorn at Disneyland and could handle it. I love it. it does not go really high or in the dark a lot...things I hate. I don't do Space, Aero, Tower, etc.
I have ridden Splash before but not anymore...the anxiety/fear is not worth it.

I also ride Barnstormer and actually get a little scared of the tall height. but then its over.

I say try Big Thunder, but not at night, I think its scarier then.

 

[t2simon]

I am not a rollercoaster person, or a thrill ride person at all (heck, I just started driving a year ago at age 39!) but I do want to try BTMRR! When we went last Oct., I had finally decided that I wanted to try it with DS 4 (if he was tall enough). Right before we left for vaca, we found out it would be closed for refurbishing!

I tried Big Thunder because I had ridden the Matterhorn at Disneyland and could handle it.

I also rode the matterhorn in DL and totally loved that, it was fast with alot of turns, but no big drops, so it sounds like I would probably have no problem on BTMRR, so maybe you won't either!

I say, go for it! Just think how happy your daughter will be!!!

Have fun, whatever you decide!

 

[Figment2]

I, on the other hand, spent two hours with my head between my legs after riding Thunder Mountain trying my best not to throw up. Took about 4 hours before I started to feel better.

C.

 

[CRCrazy]

I do like roller coasters - love Rock N Roller Coaster, and enjoy Big Thunder Mountain Railroad thoroughly!

Big Thunder was my middle daughter's first experience with a Disney coaster - she does NOT like coasters at all, but LOVES this ride - it is pretty slow - no big drops - and great theming.

None of us liked Goofy's Barnstormer - it is NOT designed for adults. We are not big people - but I didn't feel safe in those little seats - felt like we'd be flying out at any moment!!

 

[wilderness01]

I am not a big fan of big roller coasters but Big Thunder is fine really. Try it once and stay towards the front. The back jerks more. Good luck.

 

[McCall]

I am another voter for I don't do rollercoasters but have always found BTR doable. I would not go on it ten times in a row or anything even if you could, but it is not a once each trip kind of ride and I like the themeing.
Now Missions Space nearly killed me and I mean literally nearly killed me, seriously almost lost conciousness and sick the entire rest of the day. But that is an extremely strong centrifuge not a rollercoaster.

 

[Baloo]

I suggest starting with Space Mt...it's all in the dark so ya won't see a thing!!!!

 

[leebee]

OK, here's the low-down (LOL)! It's a brain biochemistry thing- folks who LOVE this stuff have cells that release dopamine when faced with speed, height, etc.; those of us who hate 'em have cells that secrete serotonin...you can't help it, don't feel bad and DON'T try to get over it! ANyhow, I always take one Bonine and wear wrist bands for trips to the parks; otherwise the parking lot trams would get me. I am currently feeling woozy, just reading your description of- and remembering my experience on- the Barnstormer. The Barnstormer eats you alive, and I NEVER will go on it again. BTMRR is different. There are no real drops; even though it feels like there might be one or two coming, the engine stops when it gets to the top of the hill and eases over the rise. It's really great! I DETEST the drop-thing, won't even do kid-level flume rides (Maelstrom is just a tad over my limit), so you can trust me when I say this is A-OK! BTMRR does pick up some speed, and does some intense (to me anyway) curving, but they have a pretty wide radius, not the tight corkscrew things that you find on Barnstormer. Usually after BTMRR I feel a little unsteady for about 10 mins., but it is not that awful, dizzy-sick thing that I got from the Barnstormer. Actually, I kinda like BTMRR, 'cuz it's something I can actually ride; it does get lonely, always holding the sweaters and waiting for everyone ELSE to finish having fun. I think you should be OK if you take the precautions (Bonine!). Definitely do NOT attempt Space Mountain (on my sister's recommendation), RnR or Mission Space!

 

[Marty Joe]

Thanks... This has been very helpful. Leebee - what is Bonine, can I get it in an IV, and what kind of wrist bands do you wear!

 

[Kaycee]

My older DS(14) hates coasters and thrill rides - he's a Haunted Mansion/Buzz Lightyear kinda guy too! He still hasn't forgiven me for talking him into riding Space Mtn in 2001. He rode Goofy's Barnstormer and BTMRR each one time (after much begging) so I posed your question to him. He said if you didn't care for Barnstormer, you should tell your DD, "Sorry, honey, not this time!" He says if you didn't like Barnstormer (which he found tolerable) you'll hate BTMRR!