Please don't laugh...

[Toby]

but for a "chicken" like me re: rides, how would you rate the Maelstrom and BTMR to try for the first time? Every time I go to DW, I hope to try something new, as in "tame" with minor thrills!!

Since Thunder Mountain doesn't look too high off the ground, and doesn't seem to have huge inclines, I could probably handle that, and if I can "do" the drop in Pirates, can I "do" Maelstrom?

I do get motion sickness!!

 

[GarrettJD]

Do't worry about it! Nobody here will laugh at you for that! I know how you feel, as my GF was a ride "chicken" before I got her on the rides. Now she loves them as much as I do!

As far as the Maelstrom, you'll have no problems at all if you can handle the short drop in Pirates. It's a pretty gentle ride.

As far as BTMR goes, it's a good beginner's coaster. My aforementioned GF loves this one. We did it 8 times in a row on E-ride night. It's not like other coasters, with big drops, etc, just fast turns. If you can talk yourself into riding, you'll probably love it!

 

[cvallee]

I'm not the most adventures person in the world, but BTMR and Maelstrom are lots of fun and would not give you any motion sickness at all. I would say the drops in Maelstrom are very similar to the one in Pirates. There are no big drops in BTMR, its more about speed and corners and Gforce. I personally don't do rides with big inclines or drops either, but these are nothing!!
Maybe after BTMR you could do Splash Mountain if you feel like you conquered something. That is Fun and will not give you any motion sickness at all.

 

[tmq2766]

HA HA HA........ Just kidding. Could not help myself.

 

[~Czarina~]

Okay, I am no ride chicken. I live in the roller coaster capitial of the world and when I went on Spaceship Earth the first time I cried so hard I could hardly see anything. Since I am so close to roller coaster what must go up, must come down generally at least 3 times faster. Then when they turned me backward I almost died. (I was only 8 and I got stuck by myself because my mom was with my 4 year old brother and 4 month old brother.) And I didn't ride Pirate and Maelstrom for years between the first time I rode and last year when I did them both. Lets just say I had a bad experence with rides like that once and then the first time I rode Maelstrom which has almost the same boat and hadn't braced for the drop I was beside myself with fear. It is a-okay to be scared of these rides without being a chicken. I ride Rock'n'Roller Coaster without batting an eyelash but when it comes to those rides you need a sedative to get me on, I am now doing better but it takes a lot of deep breaths in the lines and once I am on the ride I am fine. To tell the truth, the only reason I rode Maelstrom is because I had a friend begging me to go on it with them. Now that I have figured out where the drop is and an a little bigger and better at bracing myself these rides are no problem. (For some reason I always feel I am going to fly out but I am getting better.)

Anyway, on to your question. If you can make it through pirates Maelstrom is a breeze. If you start to "panic" or "chicken out" after you are on the ride just close your eyes. Since Disney is generally effects it helps alot but you should be able to do it. As far as BTMR I haven't ridden it but I am thinking about doing it on this trip so after I do so I will post back and let you know how it went okay?

 

[meeko_33785]

I have to admit I'm a ride chicken. It took me many years to work up the courage to ride those two rides. I did Maelstrom first and I was absolutly fine with that one. If you're OK on Pirates, this one shouldn't be any worse. Big Thunder is a little bumpier and faster though, but like you said, it isn't too far off the ground and you've got a mountain underneath you (which is good for someone like me who doesn't like heigths and freeks out a little on the Barnstormer in Toontown )

 

[dvc guy]

DD 11 hated any type of thrill ride, after a terrible experence on the Barnstormer, when she was 6. This past December I finally got her to try Splash, with the promise of a picture if she went. After much fear she went and loved it. Ended up going 5 more times and then decided to try Thunder Mountain. As others have said it is surrounded by stuff so you don't feel like you are high up. She has now concured Thunder mountain . Who know maybe next time Space Mountain.
Good luck, I don't love super fast coasters and these 2 are great.

 

[NJmouse]

I am chicken when it comes to rollercoasters. I do go on Pirates and Maelstrom but I will not go on BTMR. I did do Splash Mountain I probably won't go on it again. I have a little trick I do to settle my stomach on Pirates and Maelstrom. When I know we will be going down I take a deep breath and hold it until we start going down and then let it out s-l-o-w-l-y through my mouth as we go down...it does help, try it.

 

[justhat]

I know it might sound ridiculous, but RnRC isn't bad if you're afraid of coasters because of large drops and being high up. I am terrified of those things so Splash, Space, and ToT are banned from my list after one try each and hating them. When I tried RnRC (only cause of these boards and people saying that there are no big drops/hills etc. and seeing the track) I will admit it was scary because of that initial takeoff, but the rest of the ride was great, and it's so dark you'd never know how high you are and it's true, there aren't any typical drops. It does go upside down 3 times, but you don't even notice it. I also like Thunder because there aren't any big drops on that either, it typically banks ot the right or left after getting to the top of a hill. But you don't notice the hills so much since like others said there is mountain all around you and lots of theming to look at. I like Pirates and the Maelstrom too, but for me the fear is really equal to when I'm on Thunder or RnRC. Oh, another one that's not too bad is Primeval Whirl. There are 2 drops, but both are pretty small-the rest of the ride is focused on the zigzags at the top of the hill and the spinning at the bottom.

 

[jdm]

I don't like coasters or thrill rides and even get a little anxious on Peter Pan because of the hanging and gliding through the air. I just don't like the weird feel of it.

I've done Splash a few times (kids begging me) and it's not my favorite. I haven't done TOT or Space or Rckn. But! I have done BTMR because I was with my 5 year old Grandaughter who begged me. I loved it. I think it's because there are no typical coaster inclines. Ya know, the ones where you are looking over the edge on both sides before you plummet (not that I've ever done it... but have seen the view courtesy of the cameras on the travel channel:~). This ride was a lot of fun.

After reading all these posts, maybe I'll give Malestrom a try!!!

Jenn

 

[lulu71]

To me, Maelstrom's drop is much tamer than the drop in Pirates. The Pirates drop seems steeper that Maelstrom's, which I kind of think of more like a playground slide feeling than a real drop. I think you will really like it!

 

[jellydisney]

I was a HUGE ride chicken until my friends made me go on BTMRR, and since then I've gone on every ride in WDW (except ToT, which I think I'm going to finally try this year... gulp!). BTMRR is mostly bumpy and has turns, there aren't any drops and there are several points during the ride where the train slows down. In my opinion, Pirates is actually worse than BTMRR because of the drop! I hate that dropping feeling. The drop in Maelstrom is much weaker than Pirates, IMHO.

It's funny how psychological the whole thing was for me. I can do SM (which is really just BTMRR in the dark), RnR, you name it. My brother is the same way--he'll go on RnR twenty times in a row but he'll throw a crying fit if you try to get him on Space Mt.

Just try it once and if you hate it, you never have to go again. At least you'll know what you're missing out on.

Hopefully I can follow my own advice for ToT lolol....

 

[Terry S]

In general, my Mom does not do many rides at WDW she is a huge wimp. She has done, Pooh, Snow White, Its a Small World, Peter Pan, Maelstrom, and Rio del Tiempo. She handled Maelstrom just find, Peter Pan on the other hand terrified her. She would never even consider BTMRR. On the other hand my daughter started riding BTMRR when she was 4 years old and has continued to love it ever since, so it really depends on the person.

 

[donac]

ONe thing with BTMRR is to sit in the front sections. DOn't do the back because that moves faster. In th efront it has to go part way down the hill before it let go. I think it is easier for me Also a chicken to sit in the front and be part way down the hill before it starts to speed up.

DOna

 

[Selket]

I'm not the most thrill seeking person around but here's my thoughts. Maelstrom should be fine...similar to Pirates except perhaps a bit more jerky. The thing I don't like about BTMRR is that is seems "jerky" to me and I don't like jerky roller coasters (and I like sitting low in the roller coaster and that one you don't I think - I want a big harness over me). I didn't bother doing it this time in August because I didn't really like it. Being outside only enhances that feeling. I agree 110% with the above person that suggested RnRC at MGM because that is very (VERY) smooth and you feel like you are nice and snug down in the seat and you aren't going to fall out. Being inside in the dark helps that too and the music, etc. Space Mountain is more jerky and you feel less secure in your seat...just like BTMRR except indoors. I know RnRC goes for a loop or two (frankly the ride was so smooth and cool I didn't care what it did). Since you've not ridden roller coasters so much it is hard to explain but I've been thinking of this lately...as my 6 yr old is starting to get old enough to ride along....and I think I'd take him on RnRC as that was the least scary one I've EVER ridden. But go with what looks the best to you! If you ride RnRC be prepared that it takes of really fast so keep your head back against the seat and sometimes I keep my head pressed to one side or the other of my harness as well which can help on the loops. Being in the dark really and going that fast really does eliminate the scare factor because you can't tell that you're high up or etc. I hope you find one you like!

 

[Toby]

Thank you so much for all the great answers. I'm definately going to try these two. I leave Sunday for 5 days - just hubby and myself - no older teen/early 20's kids to laugh at me and call me wimpy!!

Wish me luck!!

 

[2minny]

I'm a BIG whimp and I love BTMR, (and splash mountain) my husband rides the scary rides with the kids...I get motion sickness and it ruins my day. I haven't tried Maelstrom, but plan to this trip...woo-hoo!