Mission space?

[Storeyann]

Last time we went to Disney, DS was 5 and having some motion sickness issues, so we skipped this ride. My question. Is it really that bad? Should I risk letting him ride it, or skip it? We have a FP+ for our second morning, and I'm not sure if I should just change it to something else...

 

[L&Lfan]

My advice would be to try the less intense (green) version first. The intense (orange) version is pretty rough, imo. I am fine on the green but the orange produces (for me) a really uncomfortable pressure on my chest. I would be interested in reading others' reactions and responses to this attraction.

 

[tjevans]

Honestly, nobody can tell you. The best thing would be for you to ride it first since you know your son better than us.

My son, then 7, who was afraid of roller coasters went on Mission Space and loved it. My daughter, then 6, who loves roller coasters was terrified of it. My wife who loves roller coasters, hates it.

If you decide to let your son try it, I would move the FP to a later time in the day. If he gets scared first thing, he may not want to go on any other ride.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Obviously everyone's tolerance varies, but I don't think the orange is that bad. Just keep your eyes on the screen and you should be fine.

 

[nkereina]

I'm fine on most rides, even coasters, but Orange did me in. I broke out in a cold sweat and was shot for the rest of the afternoon. Last trip I did green and though it was better, it still was not for me. I avoid this now.

 

[tjevans]

I found this after my first reply, and it was just different enough I though it didn't fit in as an edit.

This site contains measurements taken at WDW with an accelerometer. In other words, it can tell you how many g's you pulled on different thrill rides.

Mission Space was, as was Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, in the 2 G range, although it is for slightly longer on MS. E:E was the WDW "champ," hitting 3 g's after the drop.

 

[JimmyV]

Difficult to explain. It is not like a roller coaster at all. But the Orange side leaves me with a dull ache, headache and uneasy feeling all throughout my body for about an hour. Kind of a cold sweat, unsteadiness which I don't get at all on roller coasters, Sum of All Fears, Star Tours or Tower of Terror. And it doesn't happen while the ride is taking place. It kicks in after the ride is over. Bottom line for me is that the ride is in no way good enough to warrant me ever wanting to feel like that again. If I am with people who want to do it, I go Green and don't feel bad about it in the least.

 

[tjevans]

I'm fine on most rides, even coasters, but Orange did me in. I broke out in a cold sweat and was shot for the rest of the afternoon. Last trip I did green and though it was better, it still was not for me. I avoid this now.

It's the confined space and lack of visual cues that causes the problems. As the link I posted earlier shows, MS isn't even the most extreme ride at WDW.

 

[GlennN]

Orange was an incredible experience that I am glad I tried. Having said that, I will never do it again. My system took a couple hours to recover (I am fine on SM and EE). From now on, I just do the green version. My daughter, then 12, loved orange so much she went three times by herself.

 

[figment_jii]

Unfortunately there is really no way to know until you ride it. The green version is very mild, but also rather boring. You seem the same video, but without the spinning there really isn't much to the ride. Other than it does feel like you're sitting in a closet. The orange version is more intense.

Personally, if you do opt to do the ride, I plan to make it the last thing you do that day. If he does get sick, then he won't lose out on the rest if the day. If he does fine, you know for next time.

 

[BrianL]

If you have any concerns then Mission: SPACE Green Team Less Intense training may be right for you. I love how they always say the whole thing in all the safety videos. Mission: SPACE Green Team Less Intense Training does not spin and only shakes a little. If the screen bothers you then you can close your eyes. Also, if you are at all claustrophobic, keep in mind that the space is very small.

I would give it a try and if it goes well maybe you could try Mission Space: Orange Team More Intense Training once you have an idea of what the ride is like.

 

[Storeyann]

Thanks everyone. In general the kid loves thrill rides, but certain rides just don't seem to sit well with him, and I don't want to spend the day covered in his vomit! I think I'll switch it and let him decide later in the day.

 

[monorailrabbit]

DH and I did orange, during the ride, we thought it was fun, not too intense at all. After it was over, I could barely walk through the hallway to exit and was dizzy and just "off" for about half an hour. Won't do it again, but were glad we tried it.

 

[LaurenT]

I'll weigh in on this. I recommend he try the green version. For a kid, it will be a decent gauge. And have him do it later in the day in case he doesn't respond well.
I do not get motion sickness. I was a flight attendant. Turbulence doesn't make me sick, driving in the car doesn't make me sick ... Me and the captain were the only ones who didn't throw up once on a very choppy ferry ride.
But .... Everyone once in a while I come off the mission space orange feeling a bit queasy....

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Like many others have experienced I was fine on the ride, it was the MS hangover that did me in. Not so much nausea, but achy and sapped of energy. I am an avid coaster rider and have never had this same experience

 

[tinkerbesh]

I have not experienced green, so I can't speak to that, but I would not let him do orange. And the main reason is this:

They repeat the instructions that no matter what not to close your eyes or look away from the screen, because that will only enhance discomfort. So where on any other ride if he were scared or uncomfortable, he could use techniques like closing his eyes or looking away, he wouldn't have that option here.

As you can guess, like others have posted here, I also love thrill rides and roller coasters, but had a very bad reaction to MS orange. It was so awful for me that it ruined the entire rest of the day (didn't feel right- thought I might need to see a doctor), and we went back to the hotel room. During the ride I thought at the very least I would probably pass out or throw up, but I also wondered what would happen if we died - which felt like a possibility! The screen is so close to your face that it made even me - a not particularly claustrophobic person - long for escape from just a few seconds into blast off. It was torture start to finish, and the worst part was not being able to look away or pretend I was anywhere else-- looking away made it worse just like they said it would!

Oh, and one more side note. Friends of ours were on the ride with 2 people that threw up during the ride. No one wants to be in a claustrophobic space with other people's vomit...

 

[tjevans]

I have not experienced green, so I can't speak to that, but I would not let him do orange. And the main reason is this:

They repeat the instructions that no matter what not to close your eyes or look away from the screen, because that will only enhance discomfort. So where on any other ride if he were scared or uncomfortable, he could use techniques like closing his eyes or looking away, he wouldn't have that option here.

... and then there's freaks like me who close their eyes and shake their heads from side to side to increase the feeling.

 

[Disney Dynamite]

The blast-off sequence made me pretty queasy the first time I rode MS, but I haven't had any issues since then. I don't think hearing all of the pre-ride warnings and seeing the airsick bags in the ride vehicle helped, though. I'd suggest trying the green and then making a decision about the orange version.

 

[nuzmom]

I would also vote for planning it during a time where you don't have to rush off afterwards. Either ride green or skip it all together. If he doesn't really WANT to ride, just skip it.

I've done both orange and green many, many times. However, while doing orange one time, I kept looking to the side to check on my DS. NOT a good idea... best to keep your head facing forward!!!!

In reality the "cockpit" rotates/spins one way in order to achieve the g-forces and effects for the ride, but not the way the screen makes you think you're moving. Basically, as long as you are viewing the screen and looking forward, your brain/body is tricked into thinking you're actually going in that direction. But, if you look away for a while, your brain receives signals from the eyes that don't match what the inner ear is telling it.

I find green to also produce a bit of an odd feeling... the screen makes me feel like my body should be expecting more movement than it does. Again, a disconnect between what the eyes see and the body feels. It's just strange. However, you probably could literally ride green with your eyes closed and be fine.

Personally, I don't care for the VERY confined space with the stale air blowing on me. I feel like I'm directly breathing in everyone else's germs! - I have "issues" with the air on airplanes, too. Oh, and can't sleep with my husband "breathing on me".

My advice - if he doesn't care about riding it - skip it. If he want to try, then only do green.

 

[justcallmeminnie]

Mission Space is pretty intense. When you get inside of the ride, there are barf bags directly in front of you. I've never actually seen someone use them, but more than one person must have thrown up in order for Disney to put those there. I absolutely love the more intense version; however, it makes me very dizzy and light headed to the point where I want to pass out. It is different for every person so I do agree with some of the other people and you should go on the ride first. I don't think I have ever seen that ride longer than a 20 minute wait so it won't take too much time out of your day.