Motion Sickness - Rides You Avoid?

[CinderellaMouse]

I have a friend in her mid-20s who is considering WDW for the first time. However, she has always had severe motion sickness with rides (and not just roller coaster type things), and she doesn't want to spend $$$ to go to WDW and discover she can't ride anything. When her family would go to smaller amusement parks near their (small) hometown, she would end up sitting on a bench and reading the whole time.

I've told her I think she would probably find that WDW is very different with a lot of much tamer rides - for example I don't think things like Peter Pan or Haunted Mansion feel much different than a slow car ride, and Jungle Cruise is just a boat ride. (She has no trouble with regular cars, boats, trains, etc.) But do you think that's the case? Is there anyone out there with a similar problem who has had good or bad experiences with "tame" rides at Disney? And, even if you think she can ride the calmer stuff with no problems, do you think she'll enjoy the parks enough without any of the bigger thrill rides?

 

[Michigan]

I take Ginger pills before I go if I know I'm going to ride anything I think will make me sick. They really do work I also use them on cruises.

 

[CinderellaMouse]

Do they allow you to ride pretty much anything? Or do you still have to be relatively careful?

 

[Bearshouse]

I too take ginger pills. They work great. I rode Expedition Everest, Dumbo, Mission Space (in green only) and many other rides. I did stay clear of the teacups though!! If I was a bit queasy and it had been a couple hours since my last pill after a ride I would just take another and be fine in about 20 minutes.

I get mine at GNC.

Bearshouse

 

[nyrebecca]

I would have her look at youtube and check out some of the rides so she can see how they move. That may give her a better understanding on if her motion sickness will be impacted or not.

I have severe motion sickness. To the point where I can't even be in a car without taking motion sickness meds if I am not the one driving. I use transderm patches behind my ear as the pleasure of being able to ride some rides with my kiddo outweighs the side effects of the meds.

 

[MrsDuck]

I get motion sickness very easily and always take Bonine before we go to the parks. The only ride that makes me sick is Rockin' Rollercoaster.

I think your friend will be okay if she takes the necessary precautions!

 

[Carnie]

STAR TOURS

Oh my, stay far, far away from it. Even with Dramamine, I was violently ill from the moment the thing started. Nothing helped, closing my eyes, looking at a point in front of me.

I also don't do well on the carousel, Primeval Whirl, Dumbo, Aladdin, Triceratops Spin, teacups, Astro Orbiter, and all the roller coasters.

Face forward on the monorail and the PeopleMover. Close your eyes at the end of Buzz Lightyear and the Great Movie Ride.

If I think of anything else, I'll add it.

I do sit out for some of the rides. But even with horrible motion sickness potential, I do okay on probably 60% of the rides. And as people say, there is SO much more to do in Disney than go on rides!!!

 

[maganda]

I agree that there's plenty to do at WDW without stepping foot on a ride.

I just got back from a week there with my family. I have BPPV, or positional vertigo. I actually had an episode two weeks ago that I thought would completely ruin my trip. It was so severe I couldn't go to work or drive because tilting my head in a certain position would send the room spinning. It subsided after 48 hours and I haven't had an episode since. I didn't have vertigo in 2010 when we last visited so I was dreading that I wouldn't have a good time this summer.

Vertigo is different from motion sickness but both can make you feel queasy. I've always avoided the tea cups, Astro Orbiter, Mission Space: Orange... anything where there's continuous and repetitive motion does me in. I used to do RNR and SM but avoided them on my last trip because I didn't want to set off the vertigo. My head tends to get jostled on those rides because I'm short and the headrest position is designed for people taller than me.

I did most of the 3D shows with my family but didn't wear the glasses. Had to look down during parts of Ellen's Energy ride and didn't even attempt Soarin' or Star Tours. I was fine on ToT, HM and BTMR.

The one that surprised me was Peter Pan's Flight. I'm not sure if it was the swinging, or having to look down and around at the scenes but I felt motion sick after that one.

My MD armed me with meclizine and I also brought ginger pills but didn't have to take anything the whole trip.

I was able to stay with my family in line until they boarded, which was nice because I didn't have to sit in the sun waiting for them. At the end of each line I just told the CM that I wasn't riding and I was directed to a waiting area where the ride ends, usually there was a bench to sit on.

Good luck to your friend.