Overcoming Fear of Rollercoasters

[BarbieGal457]

If you can do Rock n Roller coaster, Expedition Everest will be an easy ride, other than that one drop at end, it is pretty much a standard Disney Roller coaster and that drop isn't any worse than Splash Mountain, IMHO.

As a side note and a coaster lover, if any of you haven't tried the Hulk coaster, you must do so the next time you are at IoA. Launch coasters are great at helping you get over your fear as you sit in your seat waiting.

I've actually been timing the drop as I watch videos!! I did that for Splash Mountain and when I finally did I was screaming "THIS DOESN'T FEEL LIKE 2 SECONDS!!!" hahaha my poor terrified boyfriend was hiding in my shoulder! I hear so many wonderful things about Everest that I am super determined. In fact, in 3 weeks from today, we will be in AK and I will be on my way to Everest! I grabbed a FP so I give myself less time to worry in line!

 

[goofyintoronto]

My worst fears are cable cars, tower of terror, and ferris wheels. OMG i really do think im going to die when i get on those rides. And yes, i've gone on cable cars, ToT and ferris wheels to please my son....im a single mom so i go on for HIM. Not sure if the fear is something i can get over since i've been plenty of times and the fear/anxiety is still very much alive! But the trick is to just go on and do it. For the record, no i dont have fun, and ive been on plenty of times.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

How would you feel about starting small and working your way up? Try Barnstormer, and keep reminding yourself that it is made for kids. Ride it a few times. Then try SDMT then Big Thunder then Space Mountain.

 

[For]

Our daughter went skydiving! She was terrified of everything! Flying in a plane was excruciating, she cried the whole time. We couldn't get her on many rides. She just wouldn't go. Since she jumped out of a plane( much to our dismay), She's brave for anything. She now goes on all rinses not even a peep.

 

[Tigerlulu]

I'm a big chicken too! My last trip I had my doctor give me Xanax for the flights. He gave me 10 and I cut them in half, giving me 20 doses. Which I used to make myself ride RnR, Space and Splash. I could NOT have done those without it! And I had a blast!

One thing you can do is to watch YouTube ride videos. Especially the dark ones--look for the rides with the lights on. RnR has a controlled speed the whole time and no drops b/c of it. Space doesn't go into a drop immediately when you get to the top and it helped me to know that. Good luck!

 

[once]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I'm not a roller coaster fan, either. In fact, the first time I've ver ridden once was 2 years ago at WDW!!!

Like some of the people here have said, I also check out the youtube POV for the rides online. The videos will always seem milder than the actual ride but at least I'll know what to expect. The first time riding everything was horrifying. As soon as I was strapped in, I was like "What did I get myself into???" But now Splash Mountain has become my favorite ride. I'm looking forward to riding it again (not looking forward to what my hair looks like afterward, though).

Expedition Everest, the name and the look of it scared me. I regretted it as soon as the ride started but afterward, it was fun because I made it alive!! Woo hoo! I did feel my breakfast churning, though...

What surprised me the most was Space Mountain. I've heard from many people that it was an intense ride. Looked it up on youtube, didn't see much because it was in the dark, saw the facts about the ride that it only moves at 35 miles/hour. Nice and slow, right? I drive faster than that! Wrong. It FELT so intense. The whole time, I was like "Make it stop! Make it stop!" (not out loud) and "How could THIS be 35 mph???"

So for me, rating from mildest to roughest: Splash Mountain, Rock n Roller Coaster (the suspenful part is waiting for it to start), Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Space Mountain (35 miles/hour!!!). Try the "kiddie" rides first and make your way up. Good luck and have fun! Don't close your eyes, not knowing what comes next is worse

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Hi everyone,
I have been on several family trips to Disney and a couple trips with my friends, and each time, I have been way too terrified to ride any of the "scary" rides- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is above my limit. On my last trip, I was even too scared to get on the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train! I was able to ride Splash Mountain my past three trips, but each time, I spend hours beforehand riddled with anxiety beforehand. Next week, I am moving into the Disney College Program (so excited) and will be spending months in Orlando! I really don't want to be crippled by these fears when so many of my friends will be riding together and making memories; I don't think I'll ever become a big coaster person, but right now I can't even get myself to ride Space Mountain once to experience it!

Does anyone have any tips, or any stories of how they overcome fear of rollercoasters? This fear is kind of debilitating to me as a lover of adventure travel. While I turned down ziplining last year, I did go an an extremely ricketedy cable car, parasail, and climb a high mountain; so kiddie coasters are in my potential domain if I can ever get over the fear. Any advice?

While I have terrible anxiety regarding some things, I happen to love roller coasters. If you're truly terrified, I don't think you should try to force yourself to ride. You will make lots of memories with your friends doing other things. I love Expedition Everest and would ride it every day if I could, but not everyone feels that way and that's ok. I could tell you that the ride is safe and tons of fun, so there's nothing to fear. But if you would be riddled with anxiety for hours even thinking about riding it, I'd say just don't ride it.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I think you just have to do it.

Growing up I was terrified of heights. I didn't like the feeling of looking down and the idea of falling. I used to even be afraid of elevators. I remember the days of visiting my aunt in Queens and my dad walking 8 stories with me.

The most emasculating moment of my life was when I was around 13 or 14 and at a Mets game. We were sitting in the upper deck. Going up, I had no problem. The game ended and I froze. I couldn't leave and walk down the stairs. I waited for my section to clear out and actually did the "Grandma" by sitting on the stairs and making my way down.

In high school, we went on a band trip to Disneyland. There was a girl I liked and I couldn't look bad in front of her. She was brazen and went on everything - and called me out if I didn't. I soon ran out of excuses and was on Tower of Terror - it wasn't so bad. Next I was on the big coaster in California Adventure. That was crazy - if I was afraid of heights, I was REALLY afraid of going upside down, but I did it. The icing on the cake was one ride - I can't remember where it was... We did Disneyland and Universal, as well as the San Diego Zoo.. but each person sat in a seat and it brought you all the way up and revolved with your feet hanging. I thought I was having a heart attack.

Well, I've now been on ToT and RnR countless times, I've never had a problem walking stairs at a Mets or any other sports game and I'm a total adrenaline junkie (within reason - I'm not jumping out of a plane anytime soon..) But you get the point. Just do it.

 

[ajfd]

While I can't say this for all coasters or for all people, but if you want a slightly less intense ride on EE, BTMR, or 7DMT, sit in the front as it will minimize the "falling" sensation on the big hills.

This is very evident on BTMR where you can be halfway down a hill before the train starts accelerating. Your speed will be no different than it is in the back of the train but more of it will be on the flatter sections of the track instead of the drop.

Note that the visual impact of sitting in the front may override any acceleration benefit...

 

[rance]

roller coasters allow us to experience the emotion of fear and feel adrenaline in a safe environment. If you can get comfortable with experiencing the emotion of fear then you will be able to enjoy any ride.
Feel the fear and embrace it.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Thanks for the really helpful advice, everyone! As someone mentioned, I am fairly young (21) but when I see 5 year olds crying because they are too short to get on the rides, it's hard to think of myself as having plenty of time to ride these coasters in my life!

When I get off of Splash, I don't necessarily want to do it again right away but I've usually had fun and am normally smiling as I leave! I think the scariest thing about it is the long anticipation and the smaller drops leading up to the big one, so a constantly moving coaster might actually be better for me. I already watch YouTube videos and the rides always look doable on there; it's just when I am actually standing in front of them that I chicken out.

My friends who are already in Florida have made fastpasses for 7DMT on one of my first days there, so I think I'll just get on it and hope for the best! I'll let you know how it goes

 

[Jeannie in NJ]

on our last trip I was afraid to ride the coasters (I love Test Track and Dinosaur tho) so my sil rode all the coasters with my dd. I was kinda bummed that I sat and waited for them. Towards the end of the trip, one day I was busy talking with sil and dd while they were waiting in line for Big Thunder Mountain and before I knew it I was on the ride. I actually laughed (but closed my eyes) for the entire ride. I enjoyed it. So next trip I will try some if not all of the others.

 

[chelseabun76]

For me a lot of it has to do with anticipation, and being too tense. I read on the boards to NOT hold my breath when approaching the drops and turns, because it makes it worse... and it really does!! I instead was one of those hilarious people laughing and squealing my way through the ride even when it wasn't that big of a ride (we only did BTMR and 7D for coasters), and by the end of our week my dd had gotten me on BTMR at least 9 times, and we used all 4 fp+ for 7D that I had booked. And I loved them, and can't wait to go back and do them again!! I promised my dd I would go on any ride she wanted on her once in a lifetime trip, so I couldn't exactly back down. lol

 

[RighteouusssCrush]

I'm proud to say Space Mountain was the first roller coaster I ever rode. I was young, and terrified out of my mind, but Disney if the perfect environment to get used to coasters. What helped me was thinking about all the safety precautions that went into the ride, reminding myself that I was safe, and i'm not really falling, i'm strapped in. Funny enough, all these years until 2012 I was too freaked to do Tower of Terror. Up until the last point of the line I was considering not going on the ride - then I saw a 5 year old kid, excited of his mind to ride, and I thought to myself "I have nothing to be afraid over". Did I scream like a lunatic? yes haha, but it was worth forcing myself to go on now, and i'm excited I conquered that fear.

 

[grecorj]

I'm in similar situation but haven't even braved Splash yet. I *love* Pirates but my family teases me when I talk about its "big" drop, lol. I'm going to try to do Splash on our next trip as I'm told it is the best themed ride at MK. Also I'm going to do 7DMT -- it doesn't look much worse than Barnstormer and I was able to do that. I also did Test Track and will do that again - tho the speed at the end surprised me my first time! I can't imagine doing Space or RNR! Maybe if I can do 7DMT I'll eventually work up My courage for BTMRR.

Definitely baby steps for me.

Good luck. Just remember you're not alone!

 

[JennyDrake]

Have you ridden Goofy's Barnstormer?

If not, I would start with that. BTMRR would be next. Ride with a friend and either count through it or very DELIBERATELY breathe in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 4. Practice before the ride! I find that all of WDW coaster *look* worse than they are to experience!

 

[baldy6060]

When I was around 13-14 we went to Kings Island near Cincinnati, OH. I'd been many times but never did anything worse than The Racer, a tame, hilly coaster. A few friends said they wanted to ride the new Vortex, a looping, corkscrewing, upside down-going coaster. My friend and I said "No way!" Long story short, they twisted my friend's arm enough he agreed and I didn't have much choice. We waited in line forever and I was gagging from nerves the whole time. We got on, I closed my eyes, opened them twice (both times while we were upside down), I cussed uncontrollably (it was a church youth group trip), and...I was hooked! When I went to Magic Kingdom years later I hated it because I was expecting world class thrills. I rolled my eyes at Space Mountain and twiddled my thumbs on BTMRR. I've since rode some of the best, wildest coasters (even EE and RnR Coaster pale in comparison to anything at Cedar Point). Now, I'm getting older and my back, neck, and motion issues keep me from riding some jerkier rides (I'm fine on RnR but Space has really done some damage to my body). So the moral of the story, kids, is "Do it!" Just do it. Try it out now while your body can take it. If it's not your thing, fine. It's not for everyone. But you're missing a lot of the magic if you don't try at least once.

 

[Kathryn777]

I agree, do Barnstormer. A few times and see how you feel. I'd do 7dmt next, it is such a smooth ride

 

[soniam]

Definitely work your way up from Barnstormer, 7DMT, maybe Primevil Whirl, BMTRR, Space Mtn, etc. The drop in Pirates had been bothering me, as well as BMTRR and 7DMT. Last trip in March, I decided to breath deeply, relax, and let go of the tension in my body. After riding all 3, I felt really wussy about my previous sensations. For me, I was getting small anxiety attacks. This only developed over the last few years, and I would feel them on airplanes too. When I was younger I liked roller coasters, and I was always incredibly relaxed on airplanes, even with turbulence. I just have to notice the anxious behavior and talk to me myself about relaxing and that it will be OK. Breathing out deeply helps too, especially if I concentrate on the air filling my lungs then my abdomen and then doing the opposite on the way out. My other issue is that my stomach is not always good about keeping food down, even standing up just walking. So big drops have an extra level of anxiety for me. However, I plan on doing Space Mtn next trip. If I like it, then I will do either Expedition Everest or RNRC.

I was also getting a little anxious on the motion simulator rides at Universal. I found with those you can just close your eyes, and you no longer feel the intensity. You can also sometimes look to a point that's not moving, like the ceiling or the back of the vehicle.

Good luck.

 

[IrishNYC]

Aside from the dark factor, and the jolting, there's nothing insanely scary about Space Mountain, now that I think about it. I kept waiting for the typical "big drop," but there wasn't one. Lots of small drops, and crazy turning, but no big fall.