I Survived Space Mountain: Confessions of a Ride Wimp

[mjallemand]

I don't know how you could be a ride wimp at any of WDW's rides, to be honest.

Their "thrill rides" don't compare at all with some of the ridiculous outdoor coasters you see at the smaller theme parks around the nation.

 

[DIS-OH]

Congratulations to the OP for conquering her fear of Space Mountain!

On one of my Space Mountain rides, something hit me in the face and fell in my lap. I grabbed it, knowing the grandmotherly lady seated in front of me had been wearing a visor.

At the end of the ride, when we came out of the darkness, my suspicions were confirmed...I had recused the lady's visor.

When I returned it to her as we exited the ride vehicle, she thanked me and said, "I would have taken it off, but they told me this was a train ride!".

Guess she didn't read those warning signs...

 

[chimo2u]

I can say my first trip Jan 2008, I was a bonafide, take the chicken exit every time 100% certified ride wimp!! I went through the Chicken Exit 3 or more times before forcing myself to jump in EE and pull down the lap bar before I could change my mind....squeeled like a baby as my DH explained each and every hill/turn/drop! But I did it, and found out, I don't know why I was so scared....I used the same tactic for RNRC, and just did it.....guess what , I survived!
I Left that trip as only Ride Princess/ not Queen.....because I stayed clear of TOT!!! actually, my whole family steered clear of TOT!!

2nd Trip, Sept 2009, I was determimed to be promoted to RIDE QUEEN!!! and do ALL the rides at WDW, even the forbidden TOT! Fast Forward, yes, I did it....employed the tactic of just get on before you can get off!!! My youngest son (then 13) and I and our family friend (also 13) where the only ones of our group to brave it.....guess what??? it became one of my favourite rides!!! We loved it....I was officially BONAFIDE WDW Ride QUEEN! (ps....but my DH and son made up for it when they went on MANTA in Seaworld...have you ever seen that thing???!!!! I don't even think i'd ever get on it!!!!)

Trip 3 FEB 2011, Just my DS 15 and I -- DETERMINED this time to stop being a wimp and get over my irrational fears....Let's see.....
I did EVERYTHING AT WDW, and then I did EVERYTHING AT Universal!!! Including Hulk, Rip Ride Rockit, Both sides of Dragon Challenge, and actually feel I can finally say, I am not as fearful as my mind would try to have me believe! Mind over matter, I think alot of fear can be over come by as NIKE slogan says: Just do it!! I am so glad I did, because I now have nothing to fear about those rides, and i actually enjoy being able to share the experience with my kids I think if we ever go back to Sea World, I would even jump at trying Kraken....now Manta??? I may just think twice about, but that is more about the G forces than anything else....my body is extra-sensitive to weird G forces, and that ride looks like it packs a whallop!!!
Have fun and try the rides, you may surprise yourself like I did and become a new Thrill Ride Lover!!

 

[bluejasmine]

Hey Im impressed too! I too am a ride wimp! The last time I rode Space was in 2005 and I thought I was gonna die! LOL I rode it many times as a teen..

I can ride Tower of Terror for some reason I feel safer with the whole floor moving then in a car on a little track.

I can do Missions Space, I love that one..

I love BTMRR but its not bad at all, I know but its more my speed..lol

DH talked me into getting on EE, it really wasnt bad BUT I had just seen what I thought was a straight down drop so I was hyperventilating the entire ride! The pic shows me clinging to my DH bawling!! It was so embarressing! LOL

I have done Splash a couple times but I just dont care much for it so I wait in the little store beside it..lol

I stood in line with my family to do RRR, the first time I watched that car take off as fast as it does and hear my family talk about donuts I headed for the chicken exit! It freaked me out so bad I wouldnt even ride Tower of Terror which I normally do..

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Happy that you were able to conquer your fear! I have an issue with SM--as a child, my mom and I used to ride SM at DL. The cars at DL allow you to sit next to each other, not in a row. The first time I rode SM, I am pretty sure I spent most of it tucked under my mom's armpit, lol! The cars at WDW are a big factor for me not riding SM as an adult. I am a ride wimp, and so is my DS11. I would love for both of us to be able to ride it and get it over with already, lol, but I'm afraid he won't like sitting in front of me rather than next to me either. I finally got over my fear of BTMRR about 4 years ago (LOVE it!) and about that same time I "took the plunge" and got on Splash all by myself (sat in the back of the log clinging on for dear life). I really want to try RNRC, but I know I will NEVER go on ToT.

 

[jmkrat]

Thank you for that, I have been afraid to try Space Mountain for years. I nearly got on one year and of course it broke down. I will try it for sure this time.

 

[torinsmom]

Thank you for that, I have been afraid to try Space Mountain for years. I nearly got on one year and of course it broke down. I will try it for sure this time.

Yes, if you haven't tried it, you really should. I really hate drops, but SM is not so bad because you can't see them coming. By the time you realize you're dropping,it's over and you're curving left, then right, etc. I find myself laughing hysterically when I ride it.

I need to work up courage for Splash Mountain and EE for our trip in July. Looking at the YouTube videos, I think the backwards part of EE might do me in more than the forward drop. It looks like it goes on for 10-15 seconds at least. Makes me woozy just thinking about it

 

[jkshel]

Good for you!!

Heres a link to Space Mountain with the lights on....see what you conquered!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXyTPdOjWlo

Looks a lot scarier with the lights on!

 

[flortlebap]

I wish OH would read this thread

 

[Nina1]

I don't have any height, speed, etc. issues; however, I cannot ride Space Mountain because it makes me horrendously motion sick. This has happened both in Walt Disney World and Disneyland, so it's definitely something with that particular attraction. I hate it. So, I am duly impressed when anyone successfully rides it and has fun!

 

[WSLover]

I don't ride many coasters - especially anything with a loop but I do ride Disney coasters - even CA Screamin' The indoor coasters don't bother me I think because you really can't see what is coming.

The first time I road RnRC I was talked into it by sister, niece, and nephew. My niece had a cast on her ankle and chickened out at the last minute and my sister went with her. They left me with my 8 yr old nephew. I held on to him as tight as possible without cutting off the circulation in his arm.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

My gf loves this ride. i on the other hand get motion sickness just by turning around..but for this ride i tried to man up and took some motion sickness pills lol ! we went on it with out that much of trouble but the darkness was tough for me. Unfortunately our fast pass time was ready to go right away after we just got off and lets just say the second time was more memorable. i couldn't get out of there fast enough !! i did get a new Disney t shirt out thanks to my gf !! LOL. this year its one and done for me..
Congrats btw! and great story thanks for sharing !

 

[JESSketeer]

My gf loves this ride. i on the other hand get motion sickness just by turning around..but for this ride i tried to man up and took some motion sickness pills lol ! we went on it with out that much of trouble but the darkness was tough for me. Unfortunately our fast pass time was ready to go right away after we just got off and lets just say the second time was more memorable. i couldn't get out of there fast enough !! i did get a new Disney t shirt out thanks to my gf !! LOL. this year its one and done for me..
Congrats btw! and great story thanks for sharing !

LOL, yes this is true. He was a real trooper riding Space Mountain back to back!! I suppose I should take it a little easier on him and only ride it once this year!!!

To comment on your story, I too will not ride TOT!! Maybe one day I'll work up the courage, but right now I'm completely content with looking at it from the ground!

 

[Tara D]

Congrats on conquering your fear. The one Disney ride that I am too scared to try is ToT. I don't really know that anything could make me try it at this point... but my kids are only two and five years old so they haven't asked yet

 

[torinsmom]

No way would I ever ride ToT! I don't think I could do it even if someone paid me $1000.

 

[kandb]

I am a total ride wimp! I am most comfortable with, "living with the land" ride. , but will get adveturous and go on POC.

 

[LSUDis]

Wimp here, too.

Have done SplM--can't enjoy it b/c I'm hyperventilating about the last drop.
Have done EE--kids talked me into it. Do you know that the walkway moves near the exits and continues for several yards? Never again.
Have done SpM--not as bad as I feared, but not something that I would seek out.
Will probably never do Tower of Terror, MS, or RnR. Hate feeling nauseous.
Fine with BTMRR. Just get sloshed around a lot.

Now, Peter Pan--THAT'S where all of the action is . . . .

 

[princess_ariel_85]

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.

I feel as though I could have wrote this myself! I'm glad I'm not the only one scared of Dumbo... If I ever ride it then it's pretty much a given I'll be in the Dumbo thats flying the lowest.

I freaked out on ToT in Paris, as we were being seating some poor girl had taken my seatbelt. I panicked and I mean full board panicked.

On RnRc I rode it 4 times in a row in Paris because there was no queue. I closed my eyes the first time and concentrated hard on the music.

Them two rides alone terrified me ( I now love ToT). However the worst experience for me was Soarin'. I have real issues with heights. I was told Soarin' was a pretty tame ride and it probably is to a normal person. We got seated and I put on my seatbelt. I was fine, until we lifted off the ground. My feet couldn't feel the floor below me, I started to freak. I was then convinced that I was going to fall out of my seat. I grabbed whatever I could and held on for dear life. I was so terrified that tears had started to form and I was seconds away from having a panic attack. I felt so ashamed walked off that ride, all them little children coming off laughing.

So there, I hold my hands up. I am a complete and utter, shaking in my boots ride wimp.

(I am getting better though, I will ride EE over and over again!)

OP - Congratulations on conquering Space Mountain.