Rides compared to RnRC and TOT

[Sassagoula]

I'm slowly overcoming my fear of thrill rides and I'd like to get some opinions here. I'm now almost completely fine with going on RNRC (though I still get pretty nervous waiting for that launch!) and I just rode TOT for the first time, which I will try to go on with my eyes open next time! I'm going to Islands of Adventure pretty soon. How would you compare these two to the Hulk coaster and Dr. Doom's Fearfall? I think that dropping sensation is my biggest fear, and I can tolerate it enough to go on Spash Mountain, EE, and TOT. I'm ok with the inversions on RnRC, but the ones on the Hulk look pretty extreme. Thanks in advance for any and all advice/opinions!

 

[El Tel]

I'm very similar. I think it is due to a bad experience on fairground rides when I was a kid.

On my last visit to Orlando I rode all of the MK "mountains" no problem (though I didn't do SM on the visit before that). I chickened out of RnRC and TOT though (but I did sample a corkscrew and loop at Busch Gardens - Python and Scorpion - again no real problem). I plucked up courage to do RnRC in Disneyland Paris - actually enjoyed it.

Now I'm going back to Florida in October I'd like to up the stakes a bit, especially as trips to Orlando are so infrequent. I'd love to give TOT a go because of the theming but I really dread drops. I'm most impressed that you gave it a go. How did you find it?

I'd also like to try other coasters in the area. My son has progressed from a roller coaster chicken to a roller coaster nut. I'll get him to grade them in order of difficulty for you (and me). Though I don't always trust his judgement these days - he's got a sneaky sense of humour.

 

[Sassagoula]

Now I'm going back to Florida in October I'd like to up the stakes a bit, especially as trips to Orlando are so infrequent. I'd love to give TOT a go because of the theming but I really dread drops. I'm most impressed that you gave it a go. How did you find it?

I just kind of forced myself to do it on my last day there. I really wasn't paying attention to anything because I was wondering when it would be over. The drops that I had went both up and down quite a few times, but it didn't seem like a huge distance. Not big enough to feel it in my stomach. But I guess with the random drop sequence, it might be completely different next time! I'm willing to give it another shot, though.

 

[El Tel]

OK, sorry about the delay but I've now got 'scores' from my son. The first figure is 'thrill factor', the second is 'droppiness' - whatever you interpret these to be:
RnRC - 6 , 4
TOT - not ridden
Hulk - 6, 6
Fire - 4, 5
Ice - 6, 6
Dr Doom - 9, 9
Kumba - 7, 4
Montu - 5, 5
Scorpion - 3, 2
Python - 3, 1
Gwazi - 8, 8

My son isn't that keen on 'droppiness' either. He found Gwazi to be a bit of a bone shaker with long drops.

My wife on the other hand doesn't like fast, dark rides but has no problem with droppiness. Her scores are:
RnRC - 9
TOT - 7
Hulk - 8
Fire - 6
Ice - 6
She also wasn't keen on Space Mountain because it gave the impression of being much faster than it was.

As you can see, these are very subjective. Everyone has their own view of what makes a thrilling ride.

A lot of the problem is in overcoming expectations. You've made the first step with TOT and RnRC (well done) so you will be ok.

Hope this helps. After your post, I might even do TOT myself this time, so thanks.

 

[MrsMud]

RnR cannot compare to Hulk or Dueling Dragons in terms of thrill (scare?) factor. It is great because of the whole preshow and theming, but the coaster itself is nowhere near as intense as Universal's Big 2. Then again, the Hulk usually hurts my head so that I can't really enjoy the ride, I am too worried about having an aneurism! I like DD better, the near misses are so cool! If you do ride try to wait for the front row or at least the 2nd or 3rd.

Dr. Doom is really not anything like ToT, it is the opposite. You shoot UP really fast, have a split second of air time (just long enought to see how very high you are), then you just kind of "glide" back down. Well, actually you do drop halfway down, but it is a very slow, controlled drop, then you stop briefly and continue the rest of the way down. The thrill is in going up, not coming down. There is no real theming to speak of at this ride, but I still love it for a quick rush. That said, I have always had FOTL when I rode and walked right on, I don't think I would wait more than a few minutes for it, it is so short.

Hope that helps!

 

[Sassagoula]

Thanks for the info! I really want to try and get the courage to try at least the Hulk next time. I definitely expect it to be more intense than RnRC, but at least I sort of have a feel for what a launching inverted coaster is like.