Motion sickness - rides to avoid?

[TexasGalHolden]

What rides have you found that cause nausea/motion sickness?

Dramamine is awesome but it can only do so much... lol

 

[ashley0139]

What kind of motion sickness? Spinning? Simulators? I don't get motion sick, but I know people who have problems with Star Tours, the teacups, the swings, and Goofy's Sky School. And there are some who get sick on any of the roller coasters.

 

[SMD]

What causes your motion sickness? Spinning, 3-D glasses, sudden jerks? It's different for everyone.

 

[Wahlee]

I get motion sick pretty easily. To minimize, I take meclizine (Dramamine II or Bonine are two popular name brands) which seems to work better than regular Dramamine for me, and also sometimes get the motion sickness patches from my doctor (I have to pay out-of-pocket as insurance won't cover them, but they're worth it to me). That makes it okay for me to do most rides.

However, I do try to avoid anything that goes in circles (teacups, Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, Flik's Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Golden Zephyr, Silly Symphony Swings, carousels) or straight up and down (Tower of Terror/GotG, although I used to do it once per trip but mostly avoid it now) and generally can only ride California Screamin' once per trip as well (although I might have to start skipping this one too, sadly-- it made me feel pretty dizzy last time I went on it). If I'm already feeling a little off, I'll avoid Space Mountain and Star Tours. I never do SM, Star Tours, or Screamin' right after a meal. My tolerance for those kinds of rides goes down the longer I'm there too, so Space Mountain on day 5 feels a lot different than Space Mountain on day 1. Generally I'm fine with Indy, Matterhorn, RSR, and Big Thunder, although YMMV. Sitting in the front of BTMR helps to minimize queasiness. I avoided Mater's for years, but tried it last time and I'm actually okay with it--the swooping sensation is fairly gentle. Toy Story can make me feel a little oogy as you're swept between the games, but the feeling doesn't last too long normally. All the dark rides are fine for me, with the possible exception of Roger Rabbit, which is never a priority anyway.

 

[Abbey1]

California Screamin' is the only ride that's made me sick, but my husband avoids the tea cups, the lady bug ride in Bugs Land, and Goofy's Sky School.

 

[BayouQueen]

It really depends on your sensitivity. I have a really long list of attractions I avoid, anything spinning, jerky or 3-D, BUT....my sister can ride virtually everything with no problems, except Star Tours. So I'm pretty sure that one is a tough one.

 

[meagarunt22]

I get HORRID motion sickness, so much so that I am the only one allowed to drive or I will get sick. This past trip I went with my 6yo so I HAD to ride all the spinning things more than once and am elated to tell you the non-drowsy Dramamine allowed me to do that! They're called Dramamine natural I believe and is a giant dose of ginger. I took 2 in the morning, then halfway through the day. Make sure you take a few bites of something with it because that dose of ginger burned my stomach when I took it without food. And not being so tired that I didn't want to be there...super bonus.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

I personally don't get motion sick but my mom does and can't handle anything spinning ...teacups are out, the swings are out, etc.. but she can do everything else! As for what rides I think it really depends on what bothers you.

 

[TexasGalHolden]

Thanks so much! I'm going to watch POV videos for the rides listed so I have a feel for them. I think most of it is jerkiness or spinning for us.... Appreciate the input!

 

[MikeRx]

I've moved on to the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch for my sever motion sickness. I can do roller coasters (Screamin') once with a break afterwards, but can not do repeated drops (ToT) spinning or simulators. With the patch I can do back to back CS, Star Tours and ToT (when it re-opens) and have no problems. It's not cheap and requires a prescription, but getting to ride ST with our 9 year old son is well worth the price. One patch lasts 3 days.

It can cause dry mouth and blurry vision (for me it was hard to focus on close objects), but again, well worth the potential adverse effects (ADRs). I wear readers so the vision problem is no longer an issue...but back before readers it was odd to say the least. Disclosure, there are potential serious ADRs with this product as with any prescription or over the counter medication (get informed before you ask your provider). It may not be for everyone, but for met it's vacation saving! The antihistamine based agents like Dramamine and cousins did nothing for me except put me to sleep...

Mike (yes the Rx is for pharmacist)

p.s. my wife still rides the tea party with our son as I've not been brave enough to test the patch on this one...my first motion sickness event was on the tea cups when I was 5 years old...nearly 44 years ago.

 

[DDhunter]

I don't suffer from motion sickness as a rule, however, Star Tours destroys me for some reason. And, obviously, those swings at DCA.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks so much! I'm going to watch POV videos for the rides listed so I have a feel for them. I think most of it is jerkiness or spinning for us.... Appreciate the input!

If you jerkiness is an issue, I'd also add Indy Jones to the list of attractions that might cause you issues. There are several abrupt starts/stops.

 

[todzwife]

I don't have motion sickness usually but Star Tours makes me feel pretty yucky for awhile. I do OK on Dumbo but fliks makes me sick. It's so weird. Totally random for me.

 

[StormyCA]

I've moved on to the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch for my sever motion sickness. I can do roller coasters (Screamin') once with a break afterwards, but can not do repeated drops (ToT) spinning or simulators. With the patch I can do back to back CS, Star Tours and ToT (when it re-opens) and have no problems. It's not cheap and requires a prescription, but getting to ride ST with our 9 year old son is well worth the price. One patch lasts 3 days.

It can cause dry mouth and blurry vision (for me it was hard to focus on close objects), but again, well worth the potential adverse effects (ADRs). I wear readers so the vision problem is no longer an issue...but back before readers it was odd to say the least. Disclosure, there are potential serious ADRs with this product as with any prescription or over the counter medication (get informed before you ask your provider). It may not be for everyone, but for met it's vacation saving! The antihistamine based agents like Dramamine and cousins did nothing for me except put me to sleep...

Mike (yes the Rx is for pharmacist)

p.s. my wife still rides the tea party with our son as I've not been brave enough to test the patch on this one...my first motion sickness event was on the tea cups when I was 5 years old...nearly 44 years ago.

I asked my Dr about the patch and he said I'd still feel nauseated, but just not enough to vomit so I said never mind. But it sounds like it works really well for you. You don't feel any nausea? Does it make you tired? And finally, can you simply put it on and take it off or do you have to wear it all day? I may push the issue with my Dr if there's really no nausea and it doesn't make you really tired. I know, individual results may vary, but it would be worth giving it a try. The scary part would be the worry about what if it doesn't work!!

My MS is moderate I'd say. I can do ToT, BTMRR, & MH multiple times no problem, but not CS, SM, or ST. The Forbidden Journey at USH didn't bother me, either. I was like you with CS (it's the rapid deceleration at the end), but then it got just enough worse that I no longer want to chance it. SM sent me back to the hotel for 2 hours, sick as a dog.

 

[WonkaKid]

I do fine on Dumbo but I find the diameter of Astro Orbiter a little tight for also. Also, Star Tours gives me a little trouble. I've never ridden the teacups and probably never will -- they look sketchy to me .

 

[Wahlee]

I asked my Dr about the patch and he said I'd still feel nauseated, but just not enough to vomit so I said never mind. But it sounds like it works really well for you. You don't feel any nausea? Does it make you tired? And finally, can you simply put it on and take it off or do you have to wear it all day? I may push the issue with my Dr if there's really no nausea and it doesn't make you really tired. I know, individual results may vary, but it would be worth giving it a try. The scary part would be the worry about what if it doesn't work!!

When I use the patch, I still feel dizzy, but it doesn't affect my stomach as much, so I don't feel the nausea. Like, my head is saying "I'm sick enough to throw up" but my tummy is like "Eh, I'm good." Make sense? I always use the patch (and meclizine) when I have to fly, and I haven't felt sick enough to throw up since I started using it, even when the flight is bumpy. I did get pretty near to it on the third day of a patch during a rough ferry ride back from Mackinac Island, though.

You do have to keep it on for the duration--if you take it off, it won't re-stick. I like to put it on the night before I'm going to go on rides/an airplane/etc. so it has time to get into my system. You wear it behind your earlobe and it isn't terribly noticeable. I pay about $40/patch.

 

[AladdinRapunzelTink]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the swinging gondolas on Mickey's Fun Wheel which, to my knowledge, is the only ride that provides barfbags.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I had issues with indoor roller coasters (Space Mountain), Star Tours and spinning rides. I was always okay on everything else. Oddly, I felt sick once on Matterhorn, but only in the dark part where I couldn't see what was coming up ahead of me. Once I could see the tracks, my motion sickness went away. I can ride Tea Cups if I don't spin the cup extra and I keep my eyes focused on the center park where my hands are. For me, it seems to be about being able to focus my vision on something.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I have really bad motion sickness -- cannot do spinning rides AT ALL, cannot do motion simulators. Roller coasters are a little better but I have to be careful. I also get seasick very easily. Last summer I rode one of those pirate ships at the fair that swing on a pendulum -- I thought it looked ok because it wasn't very fast and didn't spin. Ended up spending the rest of the day in the first aid tent.

I have found one thing that works for me -- the Relief Band.
https://www.amazon.com/ReliefBand-Motion-Sickness-Device-Batteries/dp/B00VU8XXBE/

This not one of those inexpensive pressure bands. It zaps your wrist with a small electrical (battery operated) current.

http://www.reliefband.com/how-it-works/

Wearing this, I can go on Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, Indy, GRR (it spins big time), and just about anything else in the park. I've been on teacups (although only on the condition that my kids didn't spin it). I've worn it every time I've been to DL in the past 8 years or so ... still, until our last trip, I was afraid to try Star Tours because motion simulators just make me so sick. Finally last year I decided to try it, making it the last ride of the night just in case. No problem. I ended up riding it two more times before we left that week. There is only one ride that was still awful for me ... Space Mountain. OMG I thought I was going to die before I got off that ride!

It's pricey but unlike patches, etc., you don't have to have a doctor's rx and you can use it again and again. You can also wear it just when you want, so it doesn't affect you at other times. You can even turn it on AFTER you get off a ride if you're starting to feel sick and it should help. Although I've never tried that because I always turn it on before. You do have to be sure you have it in the correct spot on your wrist, but that's explained in the instructions.

Best investment of my life to be able to go on all these things with my kids!

 

[22Tink]

I always take meclizine or Dramamine on our trips but I still can't do Star Tours or the teacups. I'm fine on everything else as long as I remember to take my meds!