Mission Space: My Rant follow-up

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by Aubrey
In people's experience, how much has meclazine or dramamine helped with the discomfort? I hate roller coasters because of the "thrill" (ie FEAR) factor but I think I could handle M:S if the disorientation was minimized and there wasn't much attempt to terrorize the rider. I'd love to experience the theming but don't want to be scared witless.

Not wanting to spoil anything... there is a bit of a "scare" during the ride.

Ted

 

[wdwnut]

hi: can you tell me how much "scare" there is without giving anything away? my sil and i will be there in november. when i first took her to alien encounter when it opened, i thought she was going to puncture my arm from her fingernails or try to climb in my lap. is this worse than that? also, i wear progressive lenses- will this be a problem with the screen? thanks for the advice.

 

[Ted and Holly]

No, it is nothing like that. And nothing that jumps out at you. Just, not everything goes smoothly with your trip. (Man! I hope that didn't spoil anything for anyone!)

Ted

 

[diathoney]

I would describe M:S as "tense" more than "scary". There are no aliens or gruesome parts. It gets dark during the "sleep", it's bumpy during the asteroid encounter and they simulate a near miss on the Mars landing. It's scary in the way Test Track or RnR (speed, G forces, crashing) are scary, not the way Alien is scary. Does that make sense?

 

[mkymouse4ever]

We were down at wdw in august, and I had read every thread on MS so, I gave my sister the instructions. She wasn't worried, I'm the one who gets car sick, won't ride the tea cups, etc... . We get to EPCOT about 11:30 am and plan to get a fast pass, have not eaten a thing, as we walk up, the man tells us, right now there is NO line, just walk on. BUT no one here warned me that WE SHOULD OF MADE SURE TO STOP AND USE THE FACILITIES (BATHROOM) FIRST. I really had to go, but the excitment was too much and her to. We went for it, and got in line. When they line you up for your mission, there is 5 in our line? So we are moved over to our "own" pod and have to wait, inside while the ride goes. We were over by the cm station, where they run the ride, It is very loud and its entirely closed but makes some very loud noises.

Anyway, because of the mix up we get our own pod. and sit in the 2 middle seats. Now we both have to go. The G's start and I'm gettting sick, but thank you we hadn't eaten, so I fight through it, start feeling better and she is sick. Really sick. Looking for the emergency stop button! Finally its over and she's like get me out of here to the bathroom. I ask the CM where is the bathroom? Oh, its in the life pavillion, or by the stores near test track. HUH? NO bathroom? Where are you supposed to get sick? You have to walk through a maze of white halls to get to the packed store, and then fight your way out of there and hopefully make it outside, or better yet to the life pavillion? Well since she held it in that long by time we got to the life pavillion she didn't barf but she was nauseated still. Anyway, back to the Please do not ride this ride when your running on full issue: Even after a couple of hours later our lower mid sections still "hurt" from the pressure build up. So be aware of this pit fall. I was starting to think we would wind up in an emergency room for some sort of "mission space" disorder.

We thought the ride was very unique and as they like to say "intense" . Gary is good. And I thought the picture quality was excellent. But I could see if you suffer from clostraphobia you should not ride, the capsule is small with the board moved up.

MKY

 

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by diathoney
I would describe M:S as "tense" more than "scary". There are no aliens or gruesome parts. It gets dark during the "sleep", it's bumpy during the asteroid encounter and they simulate a near miss on the Mars landing. It's scary in the way Test Track or RnR (speed, G forces, crashing) are scary, not the way Alien is scary. Does that make sense?

I was trying to hint at this point, without providing spoilers.

 

[w. josh]

We rode this twice last week and loved it. DW has trouble with Star Tours/Body Wars but had absolutely no queasiness or dizziness after MS, and we saw no one "get sick" before or after our ride. There was a CM taking surveys outside the ride, and we stood around for a few minutes to listen. Out of twenty people, exactly one complained of dizziness afterwards.

The CMs go out of their way to explain that those with motion sickness may have a problem with this ride - so much so that I think it probably helps those who are eanticipating problems. Sort of a "Hey, that wasn't bad at all!" reaction from a lot of people who expected to get sick based on (overreactive, IMHO) advance reviews.

It truly is one of the most fantastic ride experiences I've ever had. The theming is amazing, and the ride itself is incredible. I really think it's something that everyone should try at least once.

 

[Rajah]

I rode it for the first time this weekend and loved it!

First time through the queue, we bailed at the last second: I needed to use the restroom, my parents were concerned about whether they could handle it or not, and my friend didn't want to leave us alone. So we just went through the games at the end and the gift shop, then left my parents at Wonders of Life while my friend and I returned. I was nervous, but decided to try it anyway. After all, I can handle the launch on RNRC -- don't enjoy it, but can handle it.

I loved the ride! Didn't feel sick, but I can tell that if I'd had a full stomach or hadn't stopped at the restroom first, I very well might have had a problem. So I advise waiting at least 2 hours after eating *or* drinking anything heavy, and if you have to use the restroom, get out of line and come back when you're done.

After our ride, we went on Journey Into Imagination, then my mom decided to try it, so we returned to Mission Space and rode it again. After this one, I was dizzy a little longer, but still not too bad. I wouldn't be able to ride it twice in a row without a few minutes' break, but that doesn't bother me. This time, I did quickly glance around the cabin, moving just my eyes, and did just fine -- was even able to hit my mom's button on one occasion since she didn't see which button to hit, and hit the button in the empty seat next to me when that was ready. I didn't try moving my head at all. My mom loved it as well and didn't have any problems, but we both agreed my dad shouldn't risk it since he gets motion sick at the drop of a hat and especially if he gets dizzy.

I can't read in a car, can't lie down in the back seat of a car, and had been having some stomach issues the week before our trip, and was nervous about the ride. I did fine. No dramamine or wrist straps or anything.

As for the claustrophobic feeling -- the only time I felt a little claustrophobic is as the control console and window lowers down after everyone is strapped in. Once it's down, the image on the viewscreen gives a good enough illusion of space that I didn't feel confined at all.

And as for spinning -- I could tell. I don't know how, but I could tell we were spinning. Maybe it's because I know how the ride works, but there was a definite spinning sensation for me in addition to the G-forces (which do get pretty heavy, but as for "eek" feelings, I think RNRC is still much worse)

The tips I have:
*Don't ride with your stomach or bladder the slightest bit full.
*Don't look around until you know how you're going to react -- at least the first ride, stare straight ahead as instructed. And whatever you do, Don't Look Left!!! (There's a physical reason for it involving the inner ear)
*Don't lower the chest brace/restraint all the way to your chest/stomach if you can keep from it -- you'll be better off if you leave at least a finger's width between the brace and your chest/stomach, or better yet an inch.
*Breathe! Take a few deep breaths to relax as the ride starts up, and after that just breathe normally
*Relax into the seat. This was one of the smoothest rides I've been on, but make sure you're comfortable in the seat when they tilt you back for takeoff because you won't be able to move again until the ride is nearly over!
*If you can handle the launch on Rock N Roller Coaster, the loops on Rock N Roller, the spinning on the Teacups, and the video of either the DisneyQuest VR games or Star Tours, you should be fine on this ride. If you can't, then maybe. I will say the closest sensation I can compare it to was a more intense plane liftoff and banking.