Mars Without Spinning - Can I Do It?

[granball]

My husband went on and tried it for me. He feels I can do it, but the cast members were discouraging me from trying. My hubby feels I'd love it as I'm a total sci-fi space fan. I've always dreamed of space travel! He feels I'd absolutely love the experience. I told him I'd post on this board and research it further for our next visit. (We go fairly often)

I have had bouts of vertigo and no one has any idea about why I get it or what sets it off. I can't see a trend to determine what sets it off. I have no idea if the motion without the spinning will be a problem or not. I also have pretty severe neck pain that is made worse when I look downward or have to hold my head up facing the floor.

What do you guys think? Can I do it without getting hurt?

 

[mbb]

I have no problems with vertigo, no neck pain, and heights don't bother me.

Mission space.... leaves me feeling ugh for an hour or so afterward.

DH, who is afraid of heights, gets dizzy watching me and the kids on the carousel, and gets white knuckled on Soarin'....loves MS.

Go figure

DH thinks it's because he can firmly press his feet on the floor - it kind of grounds him, I guess.

Try the non-intense "green" training, (no spinning)..I'm looking forward to doing that with the kids

HTH!!

 

[phillybeth]

Definitely go for the green version! I have terrible vertigo on anything that goes in a circle (including the carrousel )- I have done the 'original' M:S and while I don't vomit, I get very dizzy and disoriented and I'm basically good for nothing for at least an hour or so. While I am willing to suck it up once per trip, I'm very glad they went with the less-intense version, so I can go on it over and over again (while DH does the spinny version over and over again).

 

[granball]

Thanks all! How about the motion with my neck or back? What about looking down or having to hold my head up in a position where I'm facing towards the floor? Is there a lot of that positioning? That can be painful for me.

 

[phillybeth]

Have you done any of the other simulator type rides at WDW- Body Wars or Star Tours? The 'green' version of M:S is very similar to those, except you are in a row of four seats looking a a screen up-close, rather than in a large cabin looking a a movie-type screen. Your attention is focused on the screen and instrument panel- I don't remember any need to look down at the floor during the ride.

 

[mbb]

The seats are fairly basic, straight back, and the restraint comes down over your head quite comfortably.

In the spinning capsules, you *have* to look straight ahead, and focus on the video - you'll get sick if you don't

When the doors close on the capsule, the video screen console tilits in toward you, maybe 14inches or so away from you..? You don't tilt.

You just get in, sit down, restraint comes down, and blast-off!

Is the green version jerky like Star Tours, phillybeth?
Or is just basically enjoying the video sitting in the seat?

 

[granball]

doesnt the entire capsule you're in tilt so that you are looking downwards as if you're capsule is diving and also tilts upwards at times like during take off? The cast members also says the capsule tilts side to side. This is when I'm concerned about having to hold my head up - when the capsule is tilted so you are sort of resting on the shoulder restraints on an angle that has you holding your head up unsupported (as if you were looking bending over from the waist)

I also wonder when this capsule motion happens, do you feel shook up or is it pretty smooth?

I've never actually done any of the simulators with the motion on. I've heard that the ones like star tours are really jerky. My neck and back are so sensitive to jerking. Yet my hubby says that he didn't feel this space ride is at all jerky except for a moment when the ice supposedly breaks under you. I wonder if you guys would agree with that?

 

[AJKMOM]

If I were you, I wouldn't try it. Go for the tamer version, the other is stressful on your body.

 

[granball]

I'm not sure if I'm being clear - No way would I even consider the spinning version. Not a chance. I'm just wondering if I can handle the motion in the simulator on the non-spinning version. I would love to go on it, but I'm still concerned about my neck and even vertigo with the motion of the simulator. Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Even though there is motion on three axes, all you need to do is keep looking at the screen which is right in front of you. You will never be looking down toward your feet, your entire seated body will move and the screen will also move so all you will be looking at is the screen and maybe a few inches to each side of the screen.

 

[granball]

Thats a good explanation. Is there any jerking around in this process? And will I need to support my own neck at any time, or is it always either upright or supported? I'm not sure I'm expressing it clearly, but I get the impression that the entire car tilts in a way so the shoulder straps are holding me in my seat and I'd need to support my own neck. I'm wondering how drastic that is and how long it lasts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I really don' think the capsule tilts at all. If it does, it tips slightly backward.

At any rate, your head would be held (either by you or, if you choose orange, by the G-force at some point ) comfortably and completely against the back of the seat, because really you're just sitting in this capule.

The screen/control panel comes down close to your face after you're strapped in and the doors close - so you can reach whichever buttons your position in the crew has to handle, and so you can reach the joystick (and, okay, the individual protein spill containment units if necessary).

Longwinded way of saying yes, your head is always upright and supported, as long as you don't intentionally move your head forward.

IN MY OPINION, the motion on the Green side should not affect you at all (in fact, has anybody heard any medical complaints about the toned-down version?)

Now, I consider myself 'average' (well, really, 'special' - but that's overall, not just for Mission: Space )

I had absolutely NO trouble on the Orange side, except the extra twenty or so minute wait when it broke down . On the other hand, one of the Epcot attractions has a couple of astronauts floating in space, and a space vehicle, on a larrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrge screen? THAT makes me nauseated!

 

[granball]

Hi Kay - I enjoyed your post. You really must be special overall! Which attraction has the space walkers you mentioned that make you queasy?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Would you believe I can't remember, and I was just at Epcot Wednesday??????? I swear, I'm losing it! Seriously, though, I'm fairly certain it was Ellen's Energy Adventure - I think there's a point where they talk about exploring space for new sources of energy. THAT makes me dizzy - go figure!

(and, oh yeah - there's at least one bus driver who thinks I'm special. I know this conversation actually exists in another thread but... knowing what I do about Disney transportation, wheelchairs on buses, and the occasional but vocal impatient Guests - if there's a long line of Guests waiting as I approach a bus stop, I will (as does Sue) hang back at least until one bus fills. Well, this driver had just finished loading one wheelchair and started letting passengers on the bus. When I knew it was too full for me to bother trying to board, I pulled up closer. He saw me, and I explained about it not being my turn and all these other people waiting, yadda, yadda, yadda. When the bus was almost full, he came back and said "You are my favorite Guest ever. Nobody has EVER said/done that before!")

 

[granball]

Well you were incredibly unselfish there! It must have really impacted the bus driver. Did you get on his bus or the next one?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, the next one of course - and it came extremely fast! I don't think we waited five more minutes for a bus

 

[shoes99]

I took my scardy cat sister on Mission Space, non-intense version yesterday. She was fine. I have gone on both versions and will not do the spinning version again. As other posters have said, if you just keep looking at the screen, and listen to the narration, it is fun. She was more scared on test track.