Ride Chicken

[Karbase8]

HI I am going to WDW in August with my 11 year old son. I have been to Disney 5 times and I have never ridden Space Mountain, I plan too as I think I will be ok because it's dark. Last year, I rode Splash Mountain I screamed at the end but I did well overall. I am very fearful of heights, I like the feeling of the drop when it's in the dark. My son really wants to ride RNR and Expedition Everest. How will I do on these? I am terrified LOL. I do want to face my fears though. I often close my eyes as well.

 

[tlbwriter]

I don't like heights and I don't like big drops. I haven't ridden RNR but I can handle Splash Mountain and I *loved* Expedition Everest. So there's one data point for ya.

 

[Reddy]

have you tried watching the rides on u-tube?? I have heard that that helps some
others do good if they keep their eyes closed

 

[ms_missy66]

Mama, I am 100% with you! I have never ridden ToT and never plan too. I also haven't ridden Space Mountain for like 20 years and don't plan too. Splash Mountain is one of my least favorite rides. However, I love Thunder Mountain Railroad.

I don't rank RnR as having a big drop. At the start of it, you go from 0 to 60 in like 2 nanoseconds. It's insane and I don't particularly like it. The rest of the ride is filled with twists and loops, so if going upside down scares you, don't do it. The ride, for me, isn't particularly frightening (other than the beginning) but I always get off it with a headache.

Expedition Everest is actually a really cool ride, though it's a thrilled. The one thing to know is that the biggest hill - the one you see from the outside - is really small. I have no scientific data, but I believe it's smaller than Splash Mountains. All three times I've been down it, I thought, "Was that it? That was the big one? Noooo." However, a part of the ride is backwards (sorry for the spoiler) but it isn't bad. My only complaint is that the ride is really rough. You're tossed around a good bit. I get off it and feel old.

Hope that helps!

 

[amym2]

I'm somewhat afraid of heights as well and don't like big drops when I can see them, but I love Expedition Everest. Personally I don't like RnRC because of the take-off, but the rest of the ride is fine. I'm going to have to work up the nerve to ride it with my kids on our next trip now that they're both tall enough to ride. Strangely, I love ToT, but I'm glad I rode it as a young adult because I don't think I would have had the nerve to try it as an adult for the first time. Really there's nothing at WDW that I won't ride, although Splash Mtn and Space Mtn aren't my favorites (Space Mtn hurts my head).

 

[crisi]

My husband doesn't do "big rides" He's been on MOST rides at Disney once (never Rock n Rollercoaster), but once is enough. He figures that its just as good role modelling for your kids to say "it may be the cool thing to do, but I'm not interested."

I pre-rode Rock-n-Rollercoaster when my kids were younger, hated it, and won't do it again. I'm not a big roller coaster person.

We send the kids by themselves - when they were younger, we waited at the exit. Last trip they went off to ride RnRC and we were off in a different area of the park.

 

[WantToGoNow]

If you're 11 y/o is ok riding by himself, walk through the lines with him and then take the chicken exit just before boarding. Then you can wait at the exit for him to get off - this way he gets to ride and you don't have to torture yourself by doing things that scare you.

If it were up to my dh to take the kids, they wouldn't ride any of the bigger rides (he doesn't even do Test Track or Soarin).

We will be doing a similar approach -ds9 doesn't ride and dh won't be with us this trip. So he will take the chicken exit and wait for us at the exist.

 

[sksjasams]

I don't like big drops at all. I have never ridden RNR or Splash Mountain. I really did enjoy Expedition Everest though - it was very exciting and fun. I think you will like it.
The scariest ride for me was Space Mountain. I screamed the whole time and couldn't wait for it to be over. That was because I couldn't see what was coming, and I kept expecting a big drop. But guess what. No big drop! If I ever get to ride it again, I think I will relax and enjoy it.
My favorite ride was Dinosaur.
Everybody likes different things, and I'm sure your DS11 understands this and won't mind meeting you at the exit on the few rides you don't want to do.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[justhat]

HI I am going to WDW in August with my 11 year old son. I have been to Disney 5 times and I have never ridden Space Mountain, I plan too as I think I will be ok because it's dark. Last year, I rode Splash Mountain I screamed at the end but I did well overall. I am very fearful of heights, I like the feeling of the drop when it's in the dark. My son really wants to ride RNR and Expedition Everest. How will I do on these? I am terrified LOL. I do want to face my fears though. I often close my eyes as well.

I despise coasters and big drops and LOVE RNRC. I haven't done Everest though cause I'm a ride chicken too! My husband takes our 7yo on it and they both like it, but they both like all coasters so I guess that doesn't say much. The drop in Everest is outside, so you'll be able to see it if that helps you make a decision.

If it were me, and I really, really didn't want to ride but my kid did, and my kids were your kid's age, I would walk them through the line, up to the ride, then tell the CM I am not riding and they'll direct you to the chicken exit. That way your child isn't unattended for however long the ride takes and you'll be waiting right at the exit for him.

 

[Day Dreamer]

If you can handle Splash Mountain you can easily handle Space Mountain. Space mountain if a very mild coaster with no big drops like Splash; you'll be fine. Now Everest and RnR are a different story. If you can handle the take off of RnR the rest is a piece of cake. The drop on Everest is a pretty good drop but not too bad. One thing about Dinsey coasters is that they are not out in the open like other coasters in parks so you do not have a sense of being high in the air. My one piece of advice is to WARM UP on a ride first! I would ride Splash Mountain to warm up then try Space Mountain; you're going to love it. Never ride a coaster cold, you will be a nervous wreck.

 

[Karbase8]

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! I will do my best and try to ride them all if I can if I chicken out I will take the exit! I really do not want to chicken out though.

 

[Cynestra]

No one here but us chickens!

I have a hard time with long turns. I did test track because I was expecting quarter turns. I thought I was going to die halfway through that! Space Mountain is mostly turns, but none were unreasonable. Big Thunder had what felt like a turn and a half, but I can handle it. I don't enjoy it though.

As my dad said, I don't like the feeling of my red and white blood cells separating.

 

[Ro Z]

I hate the climb on EE. Love the rest of it! If you are afraid of heights it helps if you sit on the left. On the right there is nothing between you and the view of the ground at least on the left there is a stairway to block the worst of the view. You might want to sit behind the 5th row or so. There is one other spot that it stops and if I am closer to the front I get that same panicky feeling! I think RnR is less jerky in the front. I love all the other thrills in the parks!

 

[USAND3KIDS]

When in August are you going to WDW? We will also be there in August and due to my husband being a ride chicken, we will not be paired up evenly for rides....meaning one of my boys would have to sit solo. I have two boys 9 and 10, so if you'll be around on the same dates it's possible we could meet up in the parks and your son could hop on with one of my boys.

BTW Expedition Everest is actually a really tame ride compared to what it appears to be. I love rides and coasters and was almost disappointed with it the first time we rode.

 

[MomToOne]

I'm a ride whimp. I HATE roller coasters, ferris wheels, etc.

But my motto is "I can survive anything - ONCE", to keep my thrill-loving daugher happy. I just close my eyes and pray. The last time I road Space Mountain, I started off praying just to make it to the end of the ride, but by the middle I changed to praying for the man upstairs to take me NOW

 

[vellamint]

When in August are you going to WDW? We will also be there in August and due to my husband being a ride chicken, we will not be paired up evenly for rides....meaning one of my boys would have to sit solo. I have two boys 9 and 10, so if you'll be around on the same dates it's possible we could meet up in the parks and your son could hop on with one of my boys.

BTW Expedition Everest is actually a really tame ride compared to what it appears to be. I love rides and coasters and was almost disappointed with it the first time we rode.

How would you compare Expedition Everest to Big Thunder Railroad please...?

 

[USAND3KIDS]

I actually would consider Big Thunder Railroad to be the scarier ride of the two. Expedition Everest was disappointing to all my older riders and fun for my at the time 4 year old daughter. I keep trying to convince DH that it isn't as scary as he thinks, but he's not going for it. Maybe this year lol

 

[tlbwriter]

How would you compare Expedition Everest to Big Thunder Railroad please...?

To me, EE is scarier. BTR is simply fast and has lots of sharp turns - there are no big drops.

 

[damaris13]

HI I am going to WDW in August with my 11 year old son. I have been to Disney 5 times and I have never ridden Space Mountain, I plan too as I think I will be ok because it's dark. Last year, I rode Splash Mountain I screamed at the end but I did well overall. I am very fearful of heights, I like the feeling of the drop when it's in the dark. My son really wants to ride RNR and Expedition Everest. How will I do on these? I am terrified LOL. I do want to face my fears though. I often close my eyes as well.

My mother isn't a fan of these type of rides either, but she did both SM and EE fine as long as she rode them first (we even got her on Hulk at IoA one year, and then she did Dueling Dragons later on that day). We would then do some milder rides to let her recover. She's never been on RNR, so I can't speak to that one. Only suggestion from my perspective...try to sit toward the middle on most of these. In the front you'll see the tracks (especially RNR); in the back you get a little more of the swing and speed (or wind up in the front on EE). Whatever you do, don't get down if you can't handle it. You might be able to talk with the CM about walking through the line with DS and then meeting him where he would get off the ride if it's one you don't choose to ride.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Ride Chickens Unite! I think we need our own section on these boards. There are many of us.

ToT just isn't going to happen for me anytime soon. Not unless someone is waiting with a huge check and a bouquet of flowers at the end of the ride. I don't like drops, I don't like drops, I don't like drops.

Splash Mountain isn't that bad. Trust me: I'm the BIGGEST of the Ride Chickens. The theming of this ride cannot be beat and the infamous drop is over in a matter of seconds. I do close my eyes and wince the short time going down, though.

Expedition Everest ... No way, no day. Again, me riding this would have to involve some large cash incentive.

Big Thunder Mountain - It took me a few years to work up the courage and now, it's my favorite ride. Again, Queen of the Ride Chickens here. There are jerks, there are bumps, there are sharp turns, but no drops. And if there are drops, I didn't feel them.

Space Mountain - I have until late November to work up some courage. Everyone is telling me if I can handle Big Thunder, I can handle Space. I don't know. No one has given me any specifics on the drop(s). Is it 30 feet? 20? Ten?

"That Aerosmith Coaster Thingy" - NO.

Goofy's Barnstormer was always a big stretch for me. The Flight of the Hippogriff (WWOHP) at Universal was much more tame. Astro Orbiter? NO. Dumbo? I know he's a flying elephant, but not so high!