I Hate Roller Coasters... Thunder Mountain Question

[Marty Joe]

So - just when I think BTMRR is doable after many encouraging posts, my hopes get squashed! I think I'll let DD and my harassing wife do the BTMRR thing. After my adventure in the Mansion, with Buzz, the Pirates, and the Bears, I will guard a spot on the curb with a BABOP (big a**ed bag of popcorn) and wait for the parade and reminisce about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (plastic fish and all).

 

[Snoozan]

I try to experience all of the rides, at least once. I, too, am a fan of taking a Bonine every morning before visiting the parks as I can get motion sickness rather easily. I find half the problem with these motion rides is the anxiety leading up to them. I now do BTMR on each trip and each time it gets easier(i.e.less scary). I have also loved flume rides so Splash Mtn. has never been a problem, but I've done Space Mountain only a few times-mainly so I could brag to my kids that I went on it!

I think the Bonine helps enough to keep me from getting nauseous after the rides, but I think most of the feeling is from being so anxious.

 

[Disney-Kim]

its me the big chicken again...

don't compare Barnstormer with Big Thunder. BS is small and you go high and you feel like you are going to fall out at any moment.
but you don't. plus its over before you can get scared.

BT is different. I felt safe/secure in the cars. I can hold on in front and secure myself against the jolts (back problems). I even put my hands up sometimes. Yes, me.

I get scared on Dumbo...don't laugh. I hate heights and spinning. But I can handle Big Thunder. Not twice in a row, but a couple times during a trip is fine.

I am being honest. Its a slower/jerkier ride. So...no motion sickness for me either.
Good Luck

 

[leebee]

Bonine is the OTC name for meclizine. I find it works far better for me than Dramamine- more effective, far less drowsiness, etc. I buy it at Wal-mart. You can take one or two chewable pills and they last 24 hours. When I'm flying I take both pills but usually only take one for the theme parks. I wear Sea-bands, which I also bought at Wal-mart, or maybe RiteAid (local drug store). You can most likely get both Bonine and SeaBands at any big chain grocery, pharmacy or discount store near you.

You can also call your doctor and ask for a prescription for a motion sickness patch. It is a little patch that sticks on behind your ear, laced with a drug called scopalamine, that is supposed to be extremely effective against motion sickness. You can wear them for several days at a time, even thru showering and swimming. I have these patches also, but haven't worn them for flying. I am afraid that I'll discover that they don't work for me when I'm at 30,000 feet and there is nothing else I can do! I did wear one once to go to the parks and it seemed to work well BUT...I accidentally touched the patch and then rubbed my eye (the precautions warn you to be VERY careful not to touch the patch). This transferred some of the scope' to my eye and dilated the pupil for the day. Annoying in the Florida sun, as I was the driver for our group (we cheated and had a non-approved person do the driving that morning). I had to wear sunglasses all day and it was a little disorienting, to say the least. Now I just rely on the bonine and sea-bands.

I think you can do BTMRR this way. I am extremely prone to motion sickness- can't look for things in my purse, etc. while in the car, can't face backwards or sideways in any moving vehicle (a challenge on the monorail!), sometimes even take Bonine when I know I won't be doing the driving. While I won't list BTMRR as my favorite ride, I do like being able to share the excitement of a "thrill" ride with my DD and am willing to put up with a little off-balance feeling for 10-15 mins. after the ride so that I can share the fun with her!

 

[moinab]

I used Bonine on our DCL cruise last summer. It worked great for me. I cannot emphasize enough, however, that if you are going to try a motion sickness remedy, try it out before your trip. Different people have very different reactions, so what works for one person might not work at all for you, or might cause unpleasant side effects.

Snoozan, ITA about the anxiety. The first time I went on Splash Mountain, the woman behind me was even more anxious than I was. Throughout the entire ride, she kept chanting, "Oh my God, I'm going to die. I can't handle this." I was riding by myself while DH took the kids on the WDW Railroad, so I was having a really hard time keeping my anxiety under control. She got me so worked up, I felt ill the entire ride, and couldn't enjoy it at all. I was so irritated afterward, because the drop was so fast, it really wasn't bad at all.

 

[Marty Joe]

Dumbo is not my favorite ride either - especially when my DD is at the helm. While we're in line that hour and a half I tell her to ease off the up and down thing or you will loose your driving privileges.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Lucky for me I'm a thrill ride junkie, so I find BTMRR almost a kiddie ride. Space Mountain freaks me out only because its in the dark, but its a tame one too. Nothing, not even Rock N' Roller Coaster at Disney World is cause for the terror I have felt riding some of the stuff with launches from 0-80 in 2 seconds at other theme parks.

However, to my great amusement, I HAVE felt motion sickness on things that go around in a circle...I got woozy after being on the swings at Paramount's King's Dominion this weekend (this, after riding Hypersonic XLC). This motion sickness remedy discussion is a GREAT tip. Thanks so much for posting about it!

Oh, I'd also point out that BTMRR is LOUD and rattles alot so if you are prone to headaches, I'd avoid as well. Or bring some Excedrin.