Ride drops in feet and degrees?

[SecretFan]

Can anyone point me to a source describing the drops on Disney World rides in both feet and degrees (steepness)? I have some idea of what is okay for me based on other rides, and I would like to be able to compare how bad Space Mountain is in particular to Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. I found from searching that this comparison comes up fairly often, but I would like more specifics than the general observations of other fans.

I was surprised to read elsewhere that the drop in Pirates (fine for me) is almost the same length as the drop in Splash Mountain (52 feet) (horrible for me), but Pirates is obviously a lot less steep, so not as scary. Unfortunately, that resource didn't have any other statistics for the other rides.

 

[Miniefan]

I am not sure where people are reading that the drop in POC is the same as SplMtn but it is not, I assure you. The drop in Poc is probably only about 15-20 ft if I had to guess, and there is no height or age restriction on the ride, so I highly doubt it.

Space Mountain doesn't really have any steep drops, I think it is just the fact of being in the dark, I have heard it compared to many "wild mouse" type rides.

Splash Mountain has a series of smaller drops all leading up to the final plunge at the end.

There are no drops on Big Thunder.
Kim

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I am not sure where people are reading that the drop in POC is the same as SplMtn but it is not, I assure you. The drop in Poc is probably only about 15-20 ft if I had to guess, and there is no height or age restriction on the ride, so I highly doubt it.

The lengths of the drops are the same, but the heights aren't. They're both about 52 feet in length. The difference is the angles. On Splash Mountain, it's 45 degrees, meaning you start higher and drop faster. On PotC, it's much less steep, around 21 degrees, and you only drop a total height of 14 feet.

 

[SecretFan]

Brian, do you have info like that on the other rides? That is exactly what I want!

Minnie, I'm sure there are "no drops" in the eyes of many people on TTR, but for me, there definitely are drops! These are mild enough that I can handle them in the day, and have only a little trouble at night. Splash Mountain is fine for me up until the big drop at the end. I can't tell you how much I wish there was a way to ride until that point, and then leave by the stairs!

Ditto for ToT. I love the Twilight Zone, and desperately wanted to see the first half of the ride, but I nearly peed while I was on the ride and nearly passed out (honestly) when I stood up to get off at the end. I have literally never been so scared in my entire life, not even when my house was broken into!

Mousetrap rides have "big drops" for me. I was scared stiff on the little mousetrap in DinolandUSA in AK. My husband really wants me to ride Space Mountain with him this year. I remember being okay on this ride as a kid, even though I have always been phobic of heights, but my tolerance for falling has gotten worse as I've gotten older. I injured myself really badly falling on stairs a couple years ago, and ever since then I have a much lower adrenaline threshold than I used to.

That's why I would like the actual numbers, if I can find them! I can evaluate my wussiness scientifically. They must be somewhere...

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Brian, do you have info like that on the other rides? That is exactly what I want!

On Space Mountain, the longest drop is 35 feet at an angle of 39 degrees. It's much shorter and tamer than Splash's.

I don't have the stats for BTMRR, but it doesn't have any big drops like Splash has. It's more like Space Mountain. So if you can handle Space, you should be able to handle BTMRR.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I get nervous on PoTC, but love it, I absolutely will NOT ride Splash or Space Montain and BTMRR is my favorite ride after Test Track. To me BTMRR has NO drops, or I don't see it that way due to the way you go down. I love it even better at night.

I am like one poster where I wish you could get off Splash before the big drop.

Dh had convinced me to ride RnRC in December, because there are no drops and neither one of us will ride ToT.

Suzanne

 

[nuttypretzel]

To me BTMRR has NO drops, or I don't see it that way due to the way you go down.

It does if you do the goat trick.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It does if you do the goat trick.

WHAT? Please explain.

Suzanne

 

[Miniefan]

The lengths of the drops are the same, but the heights aren't. They're both about 52 feet in length. The difference is the angles. On Splash Mountain, it's 45 degrees, meaning you start higher and drop faster. On PotC, it's much less steep, around 21 degrees, and you only drop a total height of 14 feet.

I'm sorry for being inaccurate, I guess it doesn't seem that long while you're actually riding it. I guess wherever this info is being provided is failing to give you all the details of the drop, because I thought I had remembered reading somewhere that the actual feet you drop was about 15, and although they may both be 52' they are definitely different! I googled roller coaster stats and found two sites that included disney rides

rcdb.com and coastergrotto.com

Maybe you can find the info you are looking for there.

Kim

 

[SecretFan]

Thanks for your help, everyone! Thanks for the links MinnieFan! I heart these boards.