Mission Space Claustrophobic

[BarbieGal457]

Oh I didn't mean to make it sound like people don't enjoy it. I was speaking as someone prone to claustrophobia.

It is considered a commercial flop though considering how much money they spent building it versus how many people ride it per day.

I definitely can see that point! For instance, I've avoided ToT forever because I'm terrified in real life of an elevator dropping, so I can only imagine that would be a horrible idea for me to ride it. It definitely makes sense that if you're claustrophobic that Mission Space would be an awful experience. ToT is the one ride I've never done in all my Disney trips and that nags at me so I might attempt it in October haha

 

[nilla]

My wife's not really claustrophobic, but she did have a panic attack once when the ride start was delayed for an extended time once, with us in it.

You're in there really tight. If you are the least bit claustrophobic, you might not like it.

 

[nilla]

Yes, I rode with some strangers and one of them freaked out after the capsule closed and started banging on the door begging to be let out.

I literally freaked out and had to bang the door to get out before the ride started.

What were your visit dates?

 

[wdw4rfam]

Our family has never taken the time to ride Mission Space because of the fear of how closed in you are inside the simulator. Thinking about the possibility of trying it now but still a little apprehensive about the claustrophobia. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if they have this issue and rode anyways and how bad it was really (FYI we would not be doing the spinning side lol). Also if we did give it a go and had a change of mind once the ride takes off is there a way to stop or are you just stuck until the experience is over?

I can tell you that I tried and didn't even make it to the door closing. I sat down and said no way, the guy with us said that it's even worse once the door closes and the ride starts. No way. I do know why I even tried. There are warnings, and I won't even ride in elevators.

 

[nilla]

Would you be okay with being locked in a coffin for 6 minutes, as long as you had a video screen to watch? If not, skip Mission Space.

I'm going off topic here, but I worked a temp job at a casket warehouse once when I was in my early 20s. I remember being overly tired one day (following a far-too-late night out), looking at the caskets, and thinking, "man, that would be comfy right now."

Then, I imagined waking up inside the trailer of an 18-wheeler bound for Tennessee, so the initial thoughts disappeared rather quickly.

 

[Mouseketeers4]

I think maybe you can just give it a try. You can just do the queue (if it's not long, don't use a FP if you're not sure) and the pre show. Then check the cabin and consider the space you will have after the panel is down and the door is closed. They take some time to check all the cabin so you have a minute to think about it I think that at least you can go inside the attraction, just for your curiosity.

by the way, I really love this ride, the Orange team is really an immersive and incredible experience. Personally I never felt sick after that (but, for instance, I ALWAYS get sick after harry potter and the forbidden journey).

The same thing happened to me and I wasn't expecting it at all! Mission Space orange is one of my favorite theme park rides. Last year I rode it five times in a row and only stopped because I needed to hop back to MK. But after Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Simpsons, and Spiderman I felt so sick. It ruined the rest of my day at Universal.

 

[BrianL]

The same thing happened to me and I wasn't expecting it at all! Mission Space orange is one of my favorite theme park rides. Last year I rode it five times in a row and only stopped because I needed to hop back to MK. But after Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Simpsons, and Spiderman I felt so sick. It ruined the rest of my day at Universal.

Yeah, Mission: SPACE doesn't get to me, even Orange Team (I usually ride Green Team because of back issues not motion sickness), but I will say that I get a tad queasy on Forbidden Journey. It doesn't last long, but it's one of the few rides that actually gets to me. The Simpsons Ride also does it a little bit, and very rarely Star Tours. I am usually fine as soon as the rides are over, but maybe a little sweaty. Mission: SPACE though, for all its warnings, just doesn't bother me.

 

[nilla]

The same thing happened to me and I wasn't expecting it at all! Mission Space orange is one of my favorite theme park rides. Last year I rode it five times in a row and only stopped because I needed to hop back to MK. But after Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Simpsons, and Spiderman I felt so sick. It ruined the rest of my day at Universal.

I'm ok on Mission: Space - Orange, but feel sick after riding the Carousel

 

[Px4]

I am extremely claustrophobic and have somehow managed to ride it several times. But only on the green side. I concentrate on the air blowing in my face when it closes. Then once the ride starts, I'm good. It's tight, very tight. Recommend setting in one of the middle seats, gives a more open feel.

However be prepared for resets or breakdowns. Which put you in it a lot longer then planned. We were stuck in the closed capsule for 20 minutes once. I sat there silently crying and trying not to panic because a strange and his kid were in it with me and my daughter and the kid was scared. I didn't want to make him worse. I realized that day, I have much more control over my fear.

 

[Huff]

I think there is some confusion going around here. Mission: SPACE does not actually go upside down. The "Weightless" feeling is simply the difference your body feels after being pushed into your seat by the centrifuge, plus a bit of a swing to the outside to push you against your harness as opposed to your seat (Green Team only does the swinging). The actual pods do not flip over.

Everything I have found indicates the pods tilt forward and backwards. At lift off your back is facing outwards from the center and you are pushed into your seat. For deceleration the pod is tilted far forward such that your head is tilted downwards while the spinning slows. You feel weightless at this point. If the pods didn't rotate then your back would always face the outside of the arc and you would not feel that effect.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

What were your visit dates?

The incident I mentioned occurred late September 2014.

 

[Mitzicat]

I'm claustrophobic. Can't watch nature shows where they crawl into tight caves and tunnels - makes my palms sweat. I also have a fear of freight elevators, heights, and open grating (can't look down between the monorail and the platform. But for some reason Mission Space (both sides) does not bother me. My arms aren't confined and there is something to look at. Plus the cool air blowing on me helps. And Mission Space orange is nothing like Mission Space back in 2003 when it first opened!

And even with all my fears - I love ToT, Everest, RnR.

 

[BrianL]

Everything I have found indicates the pods tilt forward and backwards. At lift off your back is facing outwards from the center and you are pushed into your seat. For deceleration the pod is tilted far forward such that your head is tilted downwards while the spinning slows. You feel weightless at this point. If the pods didn't rotate then your back would always face the outside of the arc and you would not feel that effect.

The pods do tilt inward and outward. The inward swing is the only thing that "presses you into your seat" on Green Team (at 1G as you just feel the push of gravity changing from down to your back). It does also swing out to press you forward against your Harness, but does not swing so far as to point your head downward. I don't know the exact angle, but it is less than 90 degrees. So you are facing somewhat down, but it's not really an actual inversion. So I think you are thinking about it correctly, but that's not really upside down.

The weightlessness felt on Orange Team is in part from the difference in the tension and relaxation between the cycles of the centrifuge spinning. It only spins for about 10 seconds, three times during the course of the ride. After the 3 Gs or so you pull during the spinning, your arms feel lighter than they did and the angle makes you feel pushed against your harness, as if you were floating.

Actually, forget everything I said here. The real answer is that Gary Sinese is an astronaut and you really go to space.

 

[AngiTN]

Actually, forget everything I said here. The real answer is that Gary Sinese is an astronaut and you really go to space.

Best answer ever!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I'm claustrophobic. Can't watch nature shows where they crawl into tight caves and tunnels - makes my palms sweat. I also have a fear of freight elevators, heights, and open grating (can't look down between the monorail and the platform. But for some reason Mission Space (both sides) does not bother me. My arms aren't confined and there is something to look at. Plus the cool air blowing on me helps. And Mission Space orange is nothing like Mission Space back in 2003 when it first opened!

And even with all my fears - I love ToT, Everest, RnR.

I just got back from the World on Sunday and rode Mission Space (Orange) for the first time. I was really nervous about the claustrophobia/potential back issues from reading previous threads on the Dis. I discovered my claustrophobia about 15 years ago when I went on a submarine tour and started to panic as soon as I got to the bottom of the ladder. (Bless the veteran who was answering questions at the end of the tour, but he was standing on the exit ladder while doing so and I started to hyperventilate because I didn't want to disrespect him by pushing my way out.)

Mission Space didn't bother me at all. I like spinning rides, which is why I picked orange. I am a rather large person and did not feel confined at all - for the same reasons you mention. My arms could move freely, the cool air blowing was great and my legs were comfortable. I was a bit dizzy when I came off, but that wore off quickly.

OP, I think the only way you can know if it will bother you is if you try it yourself. I didn't try it last time because it bothers my SIL's back, so I was sure it would bother mine. There are definitely people who have a terrible time on this ride, so it's up to your individual tolerance for risk.

 

[BrianL]

Best answer ever!

I just wish they didn't put you in hyper-sleep for 3 months. I had a lot of explaining to do last time I rode it!

 

[nilla]

I realized that day, I have much more control over my fear.

 

[nilla]

I just wish they didn't put you in hyper-sleep for 3 months. I had a lot of explaining to do last time I rode it!

My son and I rode with two teenage strangers once. During "liftoff", one of them said he wasn't going to push the button he was asked to push. I yelled, "push it or we'll crash!"

They got a kick out of that

 

[Shanti]

...be prepared for resets or breakdowns. Which put you in it a lot longer then planned. We were stuck in the closed capsule for 20 minutes once...

............Not sure what the right emoticon is. How traumatic. Good job staying calm. That was my real fear while on this ride. I've been stuck a while on other malfunctioning rides- no issue, but if it happened to me in Mission Space, I'd be a basket case for the rest of the day.

 

[Klayfish]

My son and I rode with two teenage strangers once. During "liftoff", one of them said he wasn't going to push the button he was asked to push. I yelled, "push it or we'll crash!"

They got a kick out of that

Are you trying to tell me that if we don't push the buttons, we WON'T crash? All this time I've been freaking my kids out to push the button at just the right time.

So what is the Orange side like, in comparison to the Green? We've done the green at least 15 times over the past 12 months. My 8 year old son wants to try Orange, but not sure he'd like it.