Ride Question - Quick Drops and Acceleration

[Frozen2014]

Last year I had some eye surgery (retinal detachment for anyone who is familiar with it) and thus there are some rides that I must avoid. There are also some 'maybe' rides so I'm trying to figure out which of those maybe rides are ok.

Basically I can't go on things with sudden acceleration or quick drops.

So I know that Rides to Avoid

• California Screamin
• Twilight of Terror

"Maybe" Rides that I'm Interested In

• Big Thunder Mountain (I love this ride at Disney World so will discuss with my doctor)
• Indiana Jones
• Matterhorn
• Radiator Spring Racers
• Goofy's Sky School
• Hyperspace Mountain

Do these have sudden drops or quick acceleration? On Disney's site, they are listed as "small drop". I'll check closer with my doctor but just wondering from those that have ridden them. I know some rides too like Splash and Pirates have basically one drop so those are iffy too.

Thanks.

 

[WonkaKid]

Obviously, check with your doctor first, but I think Big Thunder, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn and RSR should all be OK. They're swift but I wouldn't call the drops quick and the acceleration isn't too harsh. I'd be wary of Hyperspace Mountain. Then again, that ride may only *feel* like it's fast due to the darkness, fans, etc. Best of luck!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Last year I had some eye surgery (retinal detachment for anyone who is familiar with it) and thus there are some rides that I must avoid. There are also some 'maybe' rides so I'm trying to figure out which of those maybe rides are ok.

Basically I can't go on things with sudden acceleration or quick drops.

So I know that Rides to Avoid

• California Screamin
• Twilight of Terror

"Maybe" Rides that I'm Interested In

• Big Thunder Mountain (I love this ride at Disney World so will discuss with my doctor)
• Indiana Jones
• Matterhorn
• Radiator Spring Racers
• Goofy's Sky School
• Hyperspace Mountain

Do these have sudden drops or quick acceleration? On Disney's site, they are listed as "small drop". I'll check closer with my doctor but just wondering from those that have ridden them. I know some rides too like Splash and Pirates have basically one drop so those are iffy too.

Thanks.

Big Thunder, there's a lot of rapid side to side motion and very fast drops. "Small" in roller coaster terms, but still significant, in my book.

Indiana Jones - I don't recall any drops or sudden acceleration, but it is a very rough ride.

Matterhorn - again, drops and centrifugal forces, and really rough.

Radiator Springs - While smoother, still some up and down drops and big swooping turns.

Hyperspace Mountain - sudden acceleration as well as some significant drops and centrifugal forces turns.

Goofy's Sky School - Very typical (think rickety) carnival roller coaster.

 

[Nevada Jen]

THe ones on your list all have small drops with the exception of goofy's sky school). None of them are big drops. But they give you a momentary feeling of weightlessness. I think of the ones you listed, Big Thunder is the closest to dropless. I would say that drop is about as bad as Pirates (which I do not see on your list). None of the rides have multiple drops. TO give you an idea, I almost puke when someone lifts me up by the waist and drops me and get sick on the regular swings because of the drop. None of the rides you listed cause me a problem so I would say the drop is less than the effect of the downward motion of a regular swing.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you. Ok...so avoid Hyperspace. And looks like I should also avoid Matterhorn if it has a centrifugal force. Those are really good descriptions. I will definitely discuss with my doctor (seeing him in the new year, which is way before our summer trip next year) and ask about roughness and swooping turns.

 

[Butterfly123]

Do you have to be careful about jolts? I ask because sometimes when the boats are lined up on pirates and IASW (the ones I can think of off the top of my head) you are bumped by the boat behind, or you bump into the one ahead. I've had some pretty strong jolts on those. I don't know if that will be a concern for you, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[Frozen2014]

Do you have to be careful about jolts? I ask because sometimes when the boats are lined up on pirates and IASW (the ones I can think of off the top of my head) you are bumped by the boat behind, or you bump into the one ahead. I've had some pretty strong jolts on those. I don't know if that will be a concern for you, but I thought I'd mention it.

Didn't think of that. :-(
Good point...I am adding it to my list of questions. Sucks as I may have to skip a lot of rides. When at an amusement park in the spring (not Disney), I avoided most rides. But Disney will be more tempting.

 

[bcla]

Every ride you listed has rapid directional changes which result in high lateral G-forces.

 

[Frozen2014]

THe ones on your list all have small drops with the exception of goofy's sky school). None of them are big drops. But they give you a momentary feeling of weightlessness. I think of the ones you listed, Big Thunder is the closest to dropless. I would say that drop is about as bad as Pirates (which I do not see on your list). None of the rides have multiple drops. TO give you an idea, I almost puke when someone lifts me up by the waist and drops me and get sick on the regular swings because of the drop. None of the rides you listed cause me a problem so I would say the drop is less than the effect of the downward motion of a regular swing.

Ah yes...Pirates and Splash are others with one or two drops in the ride. Will ask about those too. I guess the problem is that aside from the obvious ones, my doctor probably won't have a definite answer of "yes, that's fine". So it'll be a hard decision.

Yes...I know the feeling that you mean. That sounds like Tower of Terror feeling...or some older rollercoasters the way that they fall.

Hmmm...if describing them all with a g-force, then maybe none are ok. That would make me very sad. :-(

 

[SMD]

Personally, I would avoid all of those plus Splash for the drop and Star Tour because of the potential to e-stop.

 

[DahliaRW]

Ah yes...Pirates and Splash are others with one or two drops in the ride. Will ask about those too. I guess the problem is that aside from the obvious ones, my doctor probably won't have a definite answer of "yes, that's fine". So it'll be a hard decision.

Yes...I know the feeling that you mean. That sounds like Tower of Terror feeling...or some older rollercoasters the way that they fall.

Hmmm...if describing them all with a g-force, then maybe none are ok. That would make me very sad. :-(

I would think the dark rides would be totally fine. They're pretty tame. Also IASW. Mr. Toad's is the only dark ride I can think of that has turns that feel significant, and I think they are still pretty tame.

 

[Frozen2014]

I would think the dark rides would be totally fine. They're pretty tame. Also IASW. Mr. Toad's is the only dark ride I can think of that has turns that feel significant, and I think they are still pretty tame.

This will be our first DL trip so don't know Mr Toad, but I love dark rides (Haunted Mansion is my favourite). Yeah, IASW is pretty tame. The poster was just commenting that the boats do sometimes hit each other causing a jolt. But that won't scare me off since otherwise it's very calm.

 

[lindyv321]

Watch ride videos on YouTube to get an idea of the speed and drops

 

[DahliaRW]

This will be our first DL trip so don't know Mr Toad, but I love dark rides (Haunted Mansion is my favourite). Yeah, IASW is pretty tame. The poster was just commenting that the boats do sometimes hit each other causing a jolt. But that won't scare me off since otherwise it's very calm.

The "jolts" is probably less than if you jump up and down once or break quickly in your car. You can't avoid every sudden movement, and you probably don't need to.

 

[Frozen2014]

The "jolts" is probably less than if you jump up and down once or break quickly in your car. You can't avoid every sudden movement, and you probably don't need to.

Agreed. I could stay locked in the hotel room...so there has be some middle ground. That's why the above are 'maybe' rides so am trying to get a better understanding.

From YouTube, the Goofy Sky School looks like a small rollercoaster that just keeps turning and doesn't even go fast, so this "looks" OK.

 

[lindyv321]

Agreed. I could stay locked in the hotel room...so there has be some middle ground. That's why the above are 'maybe' rides so am trying to get a better understanding.

From YouTube, the Goofy Sky School looks like a small rollercoaster that just keeps turning and doesn't even go fast, so this "looks" OK.

I think this ride and Matterhorn are the most jerky of all the coasters.

 

[Frozen2014]

I think this ride and Matterhorn are the most jerky of all the coasters.

Goofy Sky School is jerky? It "looks" gentle on YouTube.

 

[Jkpark]

Jumping in here on Goofy's. The ride itself is smooth but when it breaks (intentional hitting the breaks, not breaking down) - especially at the very end - it really jerks. Based on your needs - I would skip that one. On Thunder Mtn - I would ride it and just ask to sit in the front. Based on my fear on the drop on Splash - I wouldn't view it as a quick drop - it is painfully slow with the music and build up - it is a good drop - but nothing quick about it. I also agree with the PP that boats bump into each other sometimes (Splash, IASW and Pirates). Star Tours does have some jerky sequences where you are falling toward a planet and pull up fast. Matterhorn

 

[lindyv321]

Goofy Sky School is jerky? It "looks" gentle on YouTube.

In my opinion yes! But we only rid it once so I may be off. I remember it jerking to a stop numerous times and no one in my family enjoyed it. Hence why we only ride once...

 

[Nevada Jen]

Goofy is super jerky. I actually think it is one of the roughest rides in the park and I am always almost sure we are going to go over the side! Based on when your trip is, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't have any restrictions at Disney minus maybe TOT and CS unless you are prone to retinal detachment in the future.