Need help from other "ride chickens"

[Harambe]

I'd like to try a few more rides with the kids this trip. I can do Pirates, but could never do the mountains, or RRC, or ToT.

What thrill rides have you tried that turned out to be not that bad?

I pumped myself up for Big Thunder last trip - waited in line - got up to the car - walked across the car and out the chicken exit!

 

[tci1212]

I am a Big chicken, and I grew up in an area with huge amusement rides, I can't even go on the giant slide. I made myself go on the thunder railroad and I love it! There is no large drops, you do go up a large hill but coming down it is little hills and turns. I went on Splash mountain and hated it, I held my breath going down what I thought was the large drop, then my daughter says "oh that wasn't it"! Ugh! Rock in roller coaster is okay no drops, you do go upside down, but it is quick. I got in line for Space mountain but chicken out after reading their warnings!

 

[Karibeth19]

I'm not exactly what you would call a chicken, because I love roller coasters and things like that. However, I was nervous about riding ToT because I have never liked the feeling of falling straight down. Slopes on roller coasters and log rides don't seem to bother me, but I have always hated things like jumping off high dives or anything that feels like a "free fall". Anyway, as nervous as I was, I felt like it was a ride I shouldn't miss, so I made myself do it. I went on with my husband and my father, and knew I would have too much pride to chicken out in front of them. And, you know what? I LOVED it!! It is now my favorite ride at WDW and I can't wait to go on it again next week! I guess what I'm saying is, you never truly know how you're going to like something until you try it. I know it's easier said than done, but if you can make yourself try everything just once, then you will know for sure. None of the mountains are that bad, they're pretty tame actually. And, here's a tip: if you tense up your tummy muscles and press your feet against the floor of your car when going down a drop, it won't feel as funny!

 

[beatnik]

I have a fear of heights and have never even attempted Big Thunder Mountain. Have ridden Splash Mountain a number of times but find that I spend the entire ride stressed out about the final drop, so now I don't bother. Goofy's Barnstormer is about my speed.

That said, I went on Mission Space and had a great time-- have ridden it about 5 or 6 times in total. Very intense and the first time I had a brief (1-2 second long) panic during the launch sequence (because of the impression of height), but just when I was getting really panicked, we broke into space and all was well. But this is a really great ride, and it makes me feel brave in that I rode it once when my husband (a former Navy pilot) sat out because we had just eaten and he didn't want to stir up his stomach.

I will say however, that all kinds of spinning that makes most people sick does not affect me at all.

My husband has been trying to talk me into trying Space Mountain. He says that it is really just a kiddie-coaster on steroids and the only thing scary about it is that its in the dark. But since my basic problem is a fear of heights, the dark might be preferable for me. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Beatnik

 

[goofy4tink]

I am a ride chicken too!! I do Splash every trip just because that's what we do. Do I enjoy it?? Nope. Now, BTMR is a whole 'nother story. I just love this ride. It's really not bad. Neither is Space Mt. I was really prepared for something really awful the first time I rode it. Now, no big deal. It's quick and jerky but the drops aren't bad. I worry more about smacking my head on something if I lean too far to the side. RnRC is my favorite. But, since I can't seem to convinve my dd that it is a ball, I have to pass it by. The inversions are really quick. The only way you know you'r upside down is your shoulders hit the restraint!!! Now, ToT is the one I like the least. (Well, that and Primeval Whirl). I really can't stomach that free fall feeling either. But, I do it, again, just because it's there and we're in WDW. This is the only one I would not be comfortable telling you to tough it out on. I love the stuff before the free fall tho. The other attractions are terrific. Now, I wonder what Mt. Everest is going to be like. hmmmm.

 

[Cruella17]

I'm not a big fan of Space Mountain, but that's probably because I had an incident with a seatbelt around my neck back when they used them.

I haven't had a "freak out" about any Disney rides. (ToT & RnR weren't there the last time I was) However, I won't do "traditional rollercoasters" anywhere. If I'm going off to my doom, you had better bet I'm having a bunch of cute Disney characters waving at me!

 

[threeboysmom]

I think you should try Big Thunder first. It is the tamest of the "thrill" rides at Disney. There are no big drops at all in this ride. Sit up near the front so you can always see what is ahead. I'm the type of person that is literally frightened to death the first time I ride anything that is considered a "thrill" ride, but always end up LOVING whatever it is that I braved. As I stand in line, I literally shake & cry because I'm so scared, but I force myself to go on regardless and so far I've loved everything I've tried. My latest was Tower of Terror. It took me 3 years to finally work up enough courage for this one, and it is now my favorite ride!! I believe you have to try everything at least once in order to decide if you like it or not. It drives me crazy when one of my boys tells me they don't like a certain food, but they have NEVER TRIED IT! It's the same with rides - you have to at least try it. Then if you don't like it, that's fine, don't ride it again! Even if you absolutely HATED it, 2 minutes of riding a certain attraction is not going to kill you! I see you're leaving in a few days - make sure you tell us all what you went on and how you felt afterwards!!!

 

[ttfn3]

I'm pretty chicken about riding thrill rides. I, too, am not a big fan of the big drops. I have been on Goofy's Barnstormer, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain. If you can handle Goofy's Barnstormer, you can handle Big Thunder Mountain. Goofy's drop is much faster/steeper than anything on BTM, IMHO. BTM is a slower coaster and you will have time to "catch your breath" with several lifts (hills) where you slow down. I'm also afraid of heights but this ride isn't really very high. My coping technique on the hills is to scream when we first start dropping over the hill. It helps me to force the air out instead of holding my breath. The only downfall of BTM is that it is jerky/bumpy. You should try this ride before any of the other thrill rides. The first time I worked up the nerve to go on it, I think I was too scared to really enjoy it. So, I immediately went back on it and enjoyed it much more the second time since I wasn't so scared. It's now one of my
favorites.

I enjoy Splash Mountain's overall theme and I don't avoid it. However, I can't say the drops are my favorites. The last big drop, I shut my eyes/lower my head/ and scream. It works for me and allows me to enjoy the other parts of the ride. I think if I don't see how much I drop, I don't get as scared.

That said, I haven't worked up the nerve to go on Space Mountain yet. Maybe one of these days. And I won't be going on Tower of Terror or RRC anytime. Too much for me.

 

[Earstou]

I'm a big chicken too, but I've always felt that I had to try every ride at least once. Unfortunately, I've had bone work done on my neck and CAN'T ride all the rides now! So I've never been on RnRC, so can't comment on that.
I loved BTMR, it was one of my favorites (can't ride it anymore). Splash Mountain worries me, but I ride it. I slugged my brother after he talked me into going on Space Mountain and swore I'd never ride it again. If I could, I would ride ToT once to see what the new sequence is like, but it wouldn't be something I would ride on, on a regular basis!
I definitely think you should try BTMR. Good luck!!

 

[meeko_33785]

I'm somewhat of a ride chicken too, but there are a number of the thril rides at WDW that I don't think are too bad. Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain arn't bad at all. The theming is great and the drops arn't as bad as you think. The thought of riding TOT use to scare me to death, but after riding it, it's my favorite attraction. It's a lot of fun. Space Mountain was OK, but a little too much for me. I'm not rushing to do that one again, and don't laugh but the Barnstormer freaks me out a little too. Not a good hights person so I don't like being able to look down and not see something under me. I do much better on something like Big Thunder when there's a mountain under you. I did better on Primevial Whirl at AK. Don't know why, but it was more fun than scarry to me. Never done RRC, so I can't comment on it.

 

[Figment2]

I think a lot depends on whether you get motion sickness. I do and can't do a lot of the rides even Big Thunder Mountain. I've tried Test Track, Dinosaur, among others and always feel sick for awhile. BTMRR was the worst. I can do Splash Mountain though.

Cyn

 

[Harambe]

Well - I have my heart set on Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, and the Norway boat ride! I bet none of you thought I was waiting for feedback on these "tamer" rides!

Anyone have ideas about these? I like how so many of you have the "try it once" attitude!

 

[CHIPSTER]

Norway boat ride is nothing to be concerned. If you can do the little drop in Pirates you've got it made in Maelstrom.

Dinosaur - well it's in the dark and very bumpy there is one small hill towards the end but it goes very fast. Don't think you would have a problem with this. We took our 5 year old on it and he was a real trooper until the very end of the ride someone said "that wasn't bad was it" and he just cried. But it was because he was more afraid of the dark than anything. Now when we go to amusement parks (he's 10) he runs with the big dogs and does rides I don't do.

Kali Rapids - If you don't mind getting wet, this is no problem at all.

FYI - I don't do TOT at all, will only do Space if someone else needs a partner. Haven't tried RNR or Mission Space. I may get up the nerve to try RNR next trip. I always check how long the actual ride is and figure I can survive 1-1/2 minutes holding my breath. Mission Space may take a while. I just don't want to take a chance at getting sick in a park and hurling in front of someone.

I do not like Spash's big drop but I too just close my eyes, put my head down and scream. But I figure it's such a neat ride that I am not going let 3 seconds keep me off. However, there are other drops in this ride for chickens.

Thunder took me 3 years to get up the nerve to go on it and when I did I thought, boy was I ever a wuss. It is great fun.

 

[Harambe]

Thanks Chipster! I want to get in at least one family ride photo! DH, DD, and DS have some great shots on Splash and RRC - I'm no where to be seen!

So I guess it's Dinosaur for me!

 

[Kaycee]

My older son hates thrill rides and coasters. He doesn't get sick, he just doesn't like heights, fast movements or getting jerked around.

We talked him into riding Space Mountain, but he absolutely hated it and still, three years later, hasn't forgiven us! He rode BTMRR and didn't complain too much, but refused to ride it the next trip.

He hated Dinosaur. He said it was too loud and jerky. I love thrill rides and coasters, but I have to say I agree with him on this one.

He loves to ride Pirates and Star Tours. He rode Goofy's Barnstormer with no problem at all. He didn't even blink over Maelstrom - no problem at all.

He's never rode Kali River Rapids, but it's not because he won't, it's because he has parents who don't enjoy getting wet on rides!

I say definitely ride Maelstrom. I'd probably reconsider Dinosaur though. Can't really offer an opinion on Kali River Rapids since we've never rode it.

 

[meeko_33785]

Definatly do Maelstrom. It's along the same lines of Pirates- just one drop at the end. Not too big- not like Splash at all.

DINOSAUR is pretty jerly but is more of a psychological ride than a thrill ride. It's not incredably fast, no big drops, no inversions. If you can handle the psychological things ("Eek! There's a dinosaur behind you!" type thrills) and the loud noices.

Never been on Kali. Don't like getting wet. I've been on other rides like this before with no problem, but I hear this one has a bigger drop, so I don't know.

 

[southernwingz]

The thing that kept me from being a 'chicken' was that I really wanted to be brave for my son. I wanted him to enjoy a full Disney experience and ride everything, so I enthusiastically rode everything, and to tell you the truth, I had a fantastic time. It really was great and made us both more brave.

 

[shortbun]

I've done all of them at least once - some stupid thing about
facing fear....lol. I ride Splash every visit, will never ride BTMM again- way too rough, slammed my knees several times an jerked
me around. Space is very smooth, I like it but only do it occasionally. RRC - first (and last) this trip. It was very cool but
the fast take off and the barrel rolls made me a bit sick. Test Track was fun but again-I got my knees slammed and was bruised on the ride. I haven't ridden MS yet, DH said it was ok
but not the thrill he was looking for and DS loved it as he got to
be the commander. I am now the designated FP securer as I don't
ride most of the thrill rides. Maelstrom is more my speed! lol
Have fun!

 

[Harambe]

LOL Shortbun - I'm with ya! Official backpack watcher, baseball cap holder, and shopper. I know all the great little shops because I am constantly "waiting" for my wild family!

 

[GarrettJD]

My GF was a ride "chicken" before we left. She was CERTAIN that she was NOT going to do the Mountains, ToT, RnRC, etc. Well, I managed to get her on all the rides, and she loved most of them. She ended up loving BTMR, Test Track (not that scary, just fun), Dinosaur, and RnRC. Space Mountain and ToT were different stories, though. Personally, I find Space Mountain to be rougher than RnRC, because Space Mountain is so jerky, and RnRC is VERY smooth.

Anyone who is scared of RnRC, get up the courage and do it! The fact that there are no big drops and the ride is in the dark really takes away a lot of the "fear factor" that a lot of people have. My GF was REALLY nervous about this one (she was determined that she didn't want to go upside down) and she ended up loving it!

Same with Test Track. Not scary at all (for us anyway), just fun.

Oh, and we ended up doing TT 3 times, RnRC twice, Splash Mountain twice, and BTMR about 9 times (8 times in a row during E-ride night!) Fun, fun , fun!