Rides for those who hate roller coasters?

[rosa727]

We are heading to Universal for 2 days (staying at Sapphire Falls) for my son's 10th birthday. He LOVES scary rides and loves HP. He will want to go on everything. We also have his two smaller siblings.

My question is for myself - I love rides but hate roller coasters, if that makes sense. I want to ride a lot and have fun with him, but since we've never been to Universal, I'm unsure of what I can ride. I like Big Thunder Mountain and the Mine Ride, but don't do "real" coasters. What HP rides do you suggest? Will King Kong be fine? How about Spider Man?

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[TheConsciousness]

I'm not a big fan of coasters myself.
Kong and Spider Man are great 3D track rides, not in the same class as roller coasters.

The coasters are: Hulk, Dragon Challenge, RipRideRockit, The Mummy.

Unless I missed some, I'd say you're good to go.

In Harry Potter world, Escape From Gringotts has about a 30 foot drop into darkness. The darkness makes the 30 foot drop feel like a 10 foot drop, so I think you'd like it.

 

[rosa727]

I'm not a big fan of coasters myself.
Kong and Spider Man are great 3D track rides, not in the same class as roller coasters.

The coasters are: Hulk, Dragon Challenge, RipRideRockit, The Mummy.

Unless I missed some, I'd say you're good to go.

In Harry Potter world, Escape From Gringotts has about a 30 foot drop into darkness. The darkness makes the 30 foot drop feel like a 10 foot drop, so I think you'd like it.

Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to know!

 

[Parker Clan]

I'm not a huge coaster person myself either. I agree with the PP, Gringotts is fine! King Kong is good too, I wasnt scared on that one either lol
Pretty much every ride except the few coasters mentioned are "tame"

 

[TommyJK]

The coasters are: Hulk, Dragon Challenge, RipRideRockit, The Mummy.

If the OP likes Big Thunder Mountain and Mine Ride, I'd say they'd likely be fine with The Mummy.

 

[perditax]

If the OP likes Big Thunder Mountain and Mine Ride, I'd say they'd likely be fine with The Mummy.

How much of Mummy is in total darkness, and doesn't it run backwards?

I had trouble on Space Mountain after I hadn't been there in over a decade and didn't realize the ride is almost completely dark these days (back in the day you could see the track ahead of you and other cars). Ended up with a neck ache because I couldn't see the curves coming.

 

[TommyJK]

Yes. Some parts are in total darkness and there is a small bit where it goes backwards. So there is that to take into consideration. But if the OP is weary of full on roller coasters like Hulk or RRR, I just wouldn't put this in the same class as those. It's more a "Dark Ride" on roller coaster rails, but I won't classify it as a standard BIG coaster.

 

[perditax]

Yes. Some parts are in total darkness and there is a small bit where it goes backwards. So there is that to take into consideration. But if the OP is weary of full on roller coasters like Hulk or RRR, I just wouldn't put this in the same class as those. It's more a "Dark Ride" on roller coaster rails, but I won't classify it as a standard BIG coaster.

Thanks. I'm one of those "Thunder mountain is my limit" people, and I'm planning my first UO trip in over a decade, and I've been trying to figure out what I can and can't ride. I know Hulk and the dragons are out, but the indoor stuff is more confusing. The new indoor rides seem like they really throw you around a lot, and I'm more prone to motion sickness/vertigo than when I was younger. (I saw the behind the scenes stuff for how FJ works--no thanks!)

 

[rosa727]

Well I LOVE Mine Ride and Big Thunder Mt. but the drop at the end of Splash Mt. is my limit! I'm such a wimp about drops! But fast and jerky aren't a problem.

I appreciate all your thoughts - I'm feeling better about this!

 

[perditax]

For what it's worth, does anyone know if this little rendering is accurate to the way FJ works? This is what made me decide not to try it, as being flung upside down will probably kick up my positional vertigo. (I'm fascinated by the video either way.)

 

[soniam]

Mummy is definitely a step above Thunder Mountain and Seven Dwarves. It's sort of comparable to Space Mountain but maybe a slight step above. I have slowly become less of a coaster chicken. However, when I was, I actually liked riding the Simpsons. It's one of those rides that you can just close your eyes or look off to the side and you realize that you are just in a car that is moving around a little up/down, forward/back, and side-to-side. It's a motion simulated ride. Men in Black spins around but not as much as the teacups. You might want to avoid Forbidden Journey; it moves around a ton but not as scary as a roller coaster. Gringott's is pretty easy. I hates forward drops and find it fine. I still haven't ridden Splash because of the drop, but I enjoy Everest

 

[soniam]

For what it's worth, does anyone know if this little rendering is accurate to the way FJ works? This is what made me decide not to try it, as being flung upside down will probably kick up my positional vertigo. (I'm fascinated by the video either way.)

That's pretty much how it works. The benches are on the end of the arm of a Kooka Robot. You don't actually go fully upside down. You definitely go on your back. We got stuck in one of those positions for a bit, and my knees were slightly above my face. If you have vertigo or motion sickness, absolutely do not ride Forbidden Journey. That ride makes people who don't have those issues get sick. It's a lot of fun, but there's a lot of movement.

 

[perditax]

That's pretty much how it works. The benches are on the end of the arm of a Kooka Robot. You don't actually go fully upside down. You definitely go on your back. We got stuck in one of those positions for a bit, and my knees were slightly above my face. If you have vertigo or motion sickness, absolutely do not ride Forbidden Journey. That ride makes people who don't have those issues get sick. It's a lot of fun, but there's a lot of movement.

Thanks! Am I right in thinking Gringott's isn't the same design? Drops don't bother me too much.

So far I'm thinking that Mummy is off my list for straightforward coaster-ness, and FJ for physically shaking up my inner ear particles too much. I think the other simulator rides should be ok. On the fence for Simpsons--it sounds like that one gets a lot of motion sickness complaints, but more from the "brain" perspective.

(Not the OP, by the way, just tagging on.)

 

[soniam]

Thanks! Am I right in thinking Gringott's isn't the same design? Drops don't bother me too much.

So far I'm thinking that Mummy is off my list for straightforward coaster-ness, and FJ for physically shaking up my inner ear particles too much. I think the other simulator rides should be ok. On the fence for Simpsons--it sounds like that one gets a lot of motion sickness complaints, but more from the "brain" perspective.

(Not the OP, by the way, just tagging on.)

Gringott's is like a dark ride with two spins and a drop about like Pirates. It seems worse due to the images though, but it's not bad. Simpsons does bother people with motion sickness. Being scared is one thing, and you can always close your eyes. However, I imagine once you start feeling ill, closing your eyes may not help.

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks! Am I right in thinking Gringott's isn't the same design? Drops don't bother me too much.

So far I'm thinking that Mummy is off my list for straightforward coaster-ness, and FJ for physically shaking up my inner ear particles too much. I think the other simulator rides should be ok. On the fence for Simpsons--it sounds like that one gets a lot of motion sickness complaints, but more from the "brain" perspective.

(Not the OP, by the way, just tagging on.)

I have (occasional) positional vertigo too, and Simpsons was the only ride I'll never do again. I do however take tablets prescribed from doc while I'm there and they help. Just not with Simpsons!

Once it starts, you know that feeling I'm sure......closing your eyes doesn't help in the slightest. I needed help from TM getting off Simpsons and ended up in a heap on the floor. Never again. There's something on that screen that seems to set it off so bad. Ended up back in the hotel for the afternoon after that one.

Forbidden Journey for some reason I can do once a day. Again it's a case of keeping your eyes open and focussing, don't know about you but closing my eyes makes it worse, always has done. Really messes with the brain closing your eyes.

Gringotts should be fine for you........never hear of folks having issues with that one, and I can do that many times in a row.

I'm a bit odd in that I can do coasters including Mummy, Hulk, Dragons and even RRR as long as I'm at or near the front, and be absolutely fine as long as I keep my eyes focused and never close them........it's more the simulators where you don't wear the glasses, like the Simpsons I have issues with. I'm fine with Despicable Me ride too.

Good luck with what you end up doing, it is an awful thing to deal with. We are all so different in what we can tolerate, sometimes it is a case of trying, but not so good if it doesn't agree with you.

 

[Rovim]

Thanks! Am I right in thinking Gringott's isn't the same design? Drops don't bother me too much.

So far I'm thinking that Mummy is off my list for straightforward coaster-ness, and FJ for physically shaking up my inner ear particles too much. I think the other simulator rides should be ok. On the fence for Simpsons--it sounds like that one gets a lot of motion sickness complaints, but more from the "brain" perspective.

(Not the OP, by the way, just tagging on.)

I wouldn't give up on the Mummy. There are some drops and it is dark and fast, but it's one of the best rides in the park.

 

[NYCANC]

Gringott's is like a dark ride with two spins and a drop about like Pirates. It seems worse due to the images though, but it's not bad. Simpsons does bother people with motion sickness. Being scared is one thing, and you can always close your eyes. However, I imagine once you start feeling ill, closing your eyes may not help.

Is Gringott's (or any of the rides there) like Dinosaur (or Indiana Jones in DL)? Similar to the track style? Thanks!

 

[soniam]

Is Gringott's (or any of the rides there) like Dinosaur (or Indiana Jones in DL)? Similar to the track style? Thanks!

Gringott's is similar to Dinosaur/Indy, but I think it's way less jerky than Dinosaur. It's also 3D. There are two spins and one drop that's mostly simulated.

 

[soniam]

I forgot about Minions. It's a motion simulator ride, like Simpsons, but less intense. There's less sense of motion, since you are in a big room and can easily see the other seats.

 

[bchbetha]

I wouldn't give up on the Mummy. There are some drops and it is dark and fast, but it's one of the best rides in the park.

Yeah, give it a try!! It won't kill you even if you wind up hating it. It's such a great ride and it'd be a shame to miss it. Our feeling is to try all rides and if they're awful, don't do them again.