Fantasmic23
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2008
- Messages
- 1,531
As the title of my post states, I am a Ride Wimp. The BIGGEST Ride Wimp you will ever meet. Don't dispute me on this!
I don't like heights and I don't like drops. Dumbo scares me. It's too high, too fast! One ride was more than enough. Goofy's Barnstormer might be a "kiddie" coaster, but I don't like it. Thank God it only lasts a mere thirty seconds or so. I have major anxiety while waiting in line for Splash Mountain. Why a 40 foot drop? Why? Even though it is now one of my favorite rides, it took years before I would even consider stepping in line for Big Thunder Mountain. Primeval Whirl? Not that bad, but I still tremble and quake while waiting in line. I'm fine once I'm up and away on Soarin', but I pout until I'm given the not-as-high third row. Astro Oribiter is just plain out. I want to vomit everytime I glance up at it. Tot? Not ever going to happen ... Not unless Publisher's Clearing House is waiting for me at the exit with a huge check and a bouquet of balloons. Same goes for RNRC (do I even have the right acronym?).
So yes, I'm a big baby, pestering Cast Members as I go about my day in the parks: "Spaceship Earth ... It doesn't turn into a roller coaster, right?" "How sudden is a sudden drop?"
You get the idea.
Now, I've never liked the looks of Space Mountain. That high-peaked white dome with antennae on the top ... It's weird, it's eerie ... God only knows what goes on in there. And it's in the dark? You can't see what's coming? Bad. Very bad. However, my DD (now 13) has been raving about Space Mountain since November 2010. She even got my husband to go on with her in 2010, and he's an even bigger Ride Wimp than I am. Of course, he said he would never ever go on again.
Cut to last Tuesday. We get to MK early. DD is campaigning for Space Mountain already and DH decides to walk toward Tomorrowland so she can "get it out of her system". There's only a 10 minute wait. My DS (now 10) who wanted nothing to do with Space Mountain in 2010, surprises me by saying, "I'm going to try this." The boy who punctuates every ride on Soarin' with his shouts of, "Oh, no! I don't think I like this!" is giving Space Mountain a whirl. His face is full of fear and he's wringing his little hands together, but he's going to try it. Then he looks at me and in the sweetest voice he asks, "Mom, will you please go on with me?" Oofah. The kid knows how to play me. And before I know it, I'm agreeing to go on.
DD is jumping up and down, thrilled that she finally has ride buddies.
Negotiations are quickly made while we're waiting in line. My son wants to sit in the middle seat, this way, DD can reach forward and reassure him in case of a freak out. This leaves me with the front seat. Hoo boy. DH waits with us for a few moments before wisely departing for the Chicken Exit. As we're waiting to take off, DS asks the Cast Member how bad the drops are. "Oh, they're only little hills." Little hills my foot, I'm grimly thinking. My mind is quickly running through everything I've ever read/heard about Space Mountain: Coaster in the dark, super fast (but you're really only going about 28 mph), steepest drop is 39/40 feet
scared1
, etc., etc.
And yes, I'm in the dark but my eyes are sort of adjusting and being in the front seat, I can see that first drop coming. I can actually see the black track dipping dangerously forward. Turns out, it's not a drop. It's a sharp curve to the left (or right ... I can't remember). Okay ... This is not too bad. A bit like BTMR. And oops. There was a "hill". I feel a little pull in my stomach,but not too bad. Any moment now, I'm expecting to hear the terrified wails of, "Oh, no! Mom!", but instead my son is laughing hysterically and shouting, "This is awesome!" And ... It kind of is. It's dark, yes, and after that first psych-out drop, I cannot see anything else. It's actually better not to see what's coming. The dark is my friend. And just like on Soarin', I can feel the height, rather than see it, and I'm always better off when I can't see how high up I actually am. That being said, the ride is very herky-jerky and it's doing a number on my back. 28 mph? Really? It feels more like 88.
The ride is soon over and DD and DS are clapping and laughing like loons. DH's mouth is hanging wide open, given the fact that me and DS are still alive and smiling. DS is asking for another ride and since the wait is still only ten minutes, we all get back in line, including DH. Big mistake, as he is soon screaming, "Never again! I don't like this!" His antics are a good distraction, though, as I hardly feel any drops or speed this time (basically because I'm lauging my head off).
My sick kids want a third consecutive ride, but the wait time has grown considerably. We compromise by getting Fast Passes for later.
My third ride, however, proved to be the worst. Perhaps we were on another track, but the ride felt extra herky-jerky and the drops felt much steeper and my back was singing when we exited.
So, I'm not going to say it's my new favorite WDW ride, but at least I can say that I conquered my fear (sort of) and rode the beast three times. And I'll probably ride it again.
Thanks for letting me ramble.

So yes, I'm a big baby, pestering Cast Members as I go about my day in the parks: "Spaceship Earth ... It doesn't turn into a roller coaster, right?" "How sudden is a sudden drop?"

Now, I've never liked the looks of Space Mountain. That high-peaked white dome with antennae on the top ... It's weird, it's eerie ... God only knows what goes on in there. And it's in the dark? You can't see what's coming? Bad. Very bad. However, my DD (now 13) has been raving about Space Mountain since November 2010. She even got my husband to go on with her in 2010, and he's an even bigger Ride Wimp than I am. Of course, he said he would never ever go on again.
Cut to last Tuesday. We get to MK early. DD is campaigning for Space Mountain already and DH decides to walk toward Tomorrowland so she can "get it out of her system". There's only a 10 minute wait. My DS (now 10) who wanted nothing to do with Space Mountain in 2010, surprises me by saying, "I'm going to try this." The boy who punctuates every ride on Soarin' with his shouts of, "Oh, no! I don't think I like this!" is giving Space Mountain a whirl. His face is full of fear and he's wringing his little hands together, but he's going to try it. Then he looks at me and in the sweetest voice he asks, "Mom, will you please go on with me?" Oofah. The kid knows how to play me. And before I know it, I'm agreeing to go on.

Negotiations are quickly made while we're waiting in line. My son wants to sit in the middle seat, this way, DD can reach forward and reassure him in case of a freak out. This leaves me with the front seat. Hoo boy. DH waits with us for a few moments before wisely departing for the Chicken Exit. As we're waiting to take off, DS asks the Cast Member how bad the drops are. "Oh, they're only little hills." Little hills my foot, I'm grimly thinking. My mind is quickly running through everything I've ever read/heard about Space Mountain: Coaster in the dark, super fast (but you're really only going about 28 mph), steepest drop is 39/40 feet


And yes, I'm in the dark but my eyes are sort of adjusting and being in the front seat, I can see that first drop coming. I can actually see the black track dipping dangerously forward. Turns out, it's not a drop. It's a sharp curve to the left (or right ... I can't remember). Okay ... This is not too bad. A bit like BTMR. And oops. There was a "hill". I feel a little pull in my stomach,but not too bad. Any moment now, I'm expecting to hear the terrified wails of, "Oh, no! Mom!", but instead my son is laughing hysterically and shouting, "This is awesome!" And ... It kind of is. It's dark, yes, and after that first psych-out drop, I cannot see anything else. It's actually better not to see what's coming. The dark is my friend. And just like on Soarin', I can feel the height, rather than see it, and I'm always better off when I can't see how high up I actually am. That being said, the ride is very herky-jerky and it's doing a number on my back. 28 mph? Really? It feels more like 88.
The ride is soon over and DD and DS are clapping and laughing like loons. DH's mouth is hanging wide open, given the fact that me and DS are still alive and smiling. DS is asking for another ride and since the wait is still only ten minutes, we all get back in line, including DH. Big mistake, as he is soon screaming, "Never again! I don't like this!" His antics are a good distraction, though, as I hardly feel any drops or speed this time (basically because I'm lauging my head off).
My sick kids want a third consecutive ride, but the wait time has grown considerably. We compromise by getting Fast Passes for later.
My third ride, however, proved to be the worst. Perhaps we were on another track, but the ride felt extra herky-jerky and the drops felt much steeper and my back was singing when we exited.
So, I'm not going to say it's my new favorite WDW ride, but at least I can say that I conquered my fear (sort of) and rode the beast three times. And I'll probably ride it again.

Thanks for letting me ramble.