Seeking help with Guardians - the twisties

[holden]

I'm hoping someone here has had the same experience as I did and can offer some advice.

I recently read about Simone Biles and her struggle with "the twisties." The twisties is the closest thing I have found to what I experienced on Guardians. I've only ridden it once because of this experience. The twisties are described as a disconnect between the mind and the body while the gymnast is in the air. Basically, they lose sense of where their body is.

When I rode Guardians I fully expected to enjoy it because everyone raved about it. What I experienced, however, was quite different. It was like my brain couldn't process what was happening. I've never had this experience before, and it was unsettling.

I coped with it by closing my eyes and breathing, hoping it would be over soon. I was not nauseous or sick in any way, just disoriented and unsettled. I survived, but haven't been on it since.

I would like to try it again, but I'm wondering if anyone else had this experience and has any advice. I keep thinking, "Since I've already ridden it, maybe it will be easier next time? Because I sort of know what to expect?" or "Should I avoid it because my brain can't handle it?"

Anyone else out there who can relate?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I'm hoping someone here has had the same experience as I did and can offer some advice.

I recently read about Simone Biles and her struggle with "the twisties." The twisties is the closest thing I have found to what I experienced on Guardians. I've only ridden it once because of this experience. The twisties are described as a disconnect between the mind and the body while the gymnast is in the air. Basically, they lose sense of where their body is.

When I rode Guardians I fully expected to enjoy it because everyone raved about it. What I experienced, however, was quite different. It was like my brain couldn't process what was happening. I've never had this experience before, and it was unsettling.

I coped with it by closing my eyes and breathing, hoping it would be over soon. I was not nauseous or sick in any way, just disoriented and unsettled. I survived, but haven't been on it since.

I would like to try it again, but I'm wondering if anyone else had this experience and has any advice. I keep thinking, "Since I've already ridden it, maybe it will be easier next time? Because I sort of know what to expect?" or "Should I avoid it because my brain can't handle it?"

Anyone else out there who can relate?

Thanks for any help!

I have a similar issue that is neuro related and I will not ride this particular ride b/c of it. It makes me sad that I can't b/c i'm such a huge GotG fan. But after seeing people livestreaming the on-ride experience then seeing others during my visit outside disoriented, having vertigo-like reactions and getting physically sick (vomiting): I told my husband it was a definite that I wasn't going on it.
The Twisties that you spoke of that gymnasts experience is a dangerous phenomenon and I honestly wouldn't be risking my life and brain for a theme park attraction--JMO.

I wish you all the best.

 

[sponica]

I will say that even as a ride person, the ride can be VERY disorienting the first time. But then we ended up buying an ILL for it practically every day we were there and by the 4th or 5th ride, I wasn't as scrambled.
But I guess it depends on what you're willing to risk to ride it again?

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Generally if you feel that way on an attraction you should just avoid going on again.
Its likely that your brain and body aren't going to easily find a solution.

 

[fofinia]

I felt pretty dizzy and disoriented the first time I rode it. And I chalked it up to I'm getting older and not as able to handle the spinning rides like I did when I was a kid. My husband does not like rollercoasters or anything spinning. And he felt the same kind of heachachey way after Guardians as he does most rides.

Our next trip I rode again. And I concentrated at looking at the scenes. As you are going around in the circle formations around a scene I just really concentrated on it. And I tried to pay attention to the dialogue. I did not feel sick or dizzy or headachey in any way that 2nd time. I thought the first time the ride was very chaotic with the voices, and the loud music, and the new movement of the cars. But the second time it was not so unusual and overwhelming.

Subsequently, we got to be at Epcot for a Moonlight Magic party. And you did not need to get a virtual queue or a LL to ride. So I rode 3 times during the party each with about a 20 minute wait in between. After riding earlier in the day before the party started. The 3x at the party after 9pm ended up being a little too much. By the time I was walking off the 3x I felt dizzy and like I was walking crooked. I actually wanted to go again. But knew I'd have to crawl out if I did.

My husband still felt a little off after his second ride. But not as bad as the first time. He probably won't ride again. but like I said he doesn't love rides very much.

Good luck!

 

[afan]

I have that issue on the 3d rides at Universal. I know how it works but my head and my body don't connect the Simpsons or minions as being on a "rollercoaster" even if that's what part of it is.

I was concerned about guardians but read a ton of the reviews here when it first opened and what worked for me was to always look forward don't turn your head. There were some spots that I really wanted to look around but I forced myself not to and let the ride dictate what I see, which is part of why it's built that way. I didn't have any issues and had so much fun.

 

[holden]

I have a similar issue that is neuro related and I will not ride this particular ride b/c of it. It makes me sad that I can't b/c i'm such a huge GotG fan. But after seeing people livestreaming the on-ride experience then seeing others during my visit outside disoriented, having vertigo-like reactions and getting physically sick (vomiting): I told my husband it was a definite that I wasn't going on it.
The Twisties that you spoke of that gymnasts experience is a dangerous phenomenon and I honestly wouldn't be risking my life and brain for a theme park attraction--JMO.

I wish you all the best.

Thanks for giving me pause to think. I hadn't considered that it could be dangerous. Certainly no attraction is worth it.

To comment on some other posters, I too dislike The Simpsons ride and had to close my eyes through that one. Forbidden Journey affected me in a similar way to Guardians. That was a one and done for me. Didn't care for Gringotts either.

Now that I'm piecing this all together, I think I'll skip Guardians and let everyone else enjoy it.

Thanks for all of your input!

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Thanks for giving me pause to think. I hadn't considered that it could be dangerous. Certainly no attraction is worth it.

To comment on some other posters, I too dislike The Simpsons ride and had to close my eyes through that one. Forbidden Journey affected me in a similar way to Guardians. That was a one and done for me. Didn't care for Gringotts either.

Now that I'm piecing this all together, I think I'll skip Guardians and let everyone else enjoy it.

Thanks for all of your input!

You're welcome. I've had issues with and also cannot ride "flight of passage" and some 3-d rides like Ratatouille as well as Minions at Uni

 

[Princess Steph]

As a former gymnast and current physical therapist, I can tell you both situations involve the vestibular system responsible for balance and spacial awareness. The difference is Simone is losing track of where her body is in relation to the ground. It’s dangerous because she could land on her head not her feet which could be catastrophic. You are also having a disconnect because your body knows its sitting in a ride but your eyes think you are traveling through space. When the vestibular system reports movement but the visual system reports no movement, the motion disorientation is often called motion sickness(or seasickness, car sickness, simulation sickness, or airsickness). In the opposite case like yours or when a person is in a virtual reality session, the disoriented sensation is often called virtual reality syndrome or space adaption syndrome. This condition usually resolves once you stop the movement and visual stimulus and your inner ear settles. Its temporary and I don’t believe it’s dangerous unless you have a history of vertigo (it could set off BPPV but that’s totally different condition) That ride causes me to become sensitive and I don’t like that feeling so I close my eyes. I don’t mind the motion, its the screens that bother me and that defeats the whole ride. I’m bummed because I love Guardians too! Good luck

 

[TAK]

As a former gymnast and current physical therapist, I can tell you both situations involve the vestibular system responsible for balance and spacial awareness. The difference is Simone is losing track of where her body is in relation to the ground. It’s dangerous because she could land on her head not her feet which could be catastrophic. You are also having a disconnect because your body knows its sitting in a ride but your eyes think you are traveling through space. When the vestibular system reports movement but the visual system reports no movement, the motion disorientation is often called motion sickness(or seasickness, car sickness, simulation sickness, or airsickness). In the opposite case like yours or when a person is in a virtual reality session, the disoriented sensation is often called virtual reality syndrome or space adaption syndrome. This condition usually resolves once you stop the movement and visual stimulus and your inner ear settles. Its temporary and I don’t believe it’s dangerous unless you have a history of vertigo (it could set off BPPV but that’s totally different condition) That ride causes me to become sensitive and I don’t like that feeling so I close my eyes. I don’t mind the motion, its the screens that bother me and that defeats the whole ride. I’m bummed because I love Guardians too! Good luck

That is such a great explanation!

I am prone to vertigo, though, and have Meniere's disease. So imho GotG is out of the question for me, which is seriously disappointing because I'm such a MCU/Guardians fan. But ultimately I know I can't risk it.

 

[ned911]

I have problems with EE and Aerosmith. Same with first time on Guardians but after riding I grabbed a bottle of ginger ale and my head cleared right up. 2nd time riding I drank half the bottle before riding and had zero issues, finished afterwards.

Now if they only had ginger ale available in parks besides Epcot.

 

[vinotinto]

I've suffered from BPPV (Eppley Maneuver has worked for me when it has been triggered) and I have ridden GotG on 3 separate occasions and each time it has been absolutely awful. Tried the pressure bands, non-drowsy Bonine, and still could not make it work.

My family adores this ride - it is their favorite ride anywhere! But I am never doing it again. Saved $17 this past July and used it to get a tasting of the Chateauneuf du Pape in France instead of riding it.

 

[DaviVascaino]

Don't feel pressured to ride GoG and HAVE to enjoy it. Some people are more sensitive to motion and twists, and no matter how many times they ride, they might still not have a pleasant experience.

don't ruin your day if you don't have to. take care!

 

[robinb]

I was a bit nauseous the first time I rode it. I realized that I got dizzy at the place three quarters through the ride where you circle the planet. I was learning into the turn and focusing on the planet, so I was rotating an an angle. Since then, I sit up and look elsewhere or just close my eyes during those few seconds and I'm fine.

 

[MickeyP]

Has anyone besides myself, decided that after riding Tron and GotG CR, that you hate Space Mountain because it's so choppy?

 

[Eighty8Keys]

Has anyone besides myself, decided that after riding Tron and GotG CR, that you hate Space Mountain because it's so choppy?

I’ve never ridden Tron or GotG CR but after regularly riding Space Mountain at Disneyland since opening weekend in 1977, I was very disappointed in the WDW version when we finally made our first visit in 2005. It reminded me of the rough, choppiness of Disneyland’s Matterhorn. We haven’t felt the urge to ride WDW Space Mountain since.

 

[European]

Before I rode GOTG for the first time this month I watched it on 1 maybe 2 YouTube videos. Didn’t really get why they were so exited and hadn’t done any research. When I rode it, I was overwhelmed by everything that was happening and I got a bit nauseous, dizzy and headache at the same time and was happy it was over. I just thought I was getting old, because I didn’t enjoy RnRC or Expedition Everest as I used to. And didn’t even want to give Space Mountain a chance. The bad feelings after GOTG went away really fast though.

But I decided to give GOTG a second chance (LOVE virtual queue!) and decided to keep my back against the seat and just look in front of me and enjoyed it so much. I rode it 6 times this past holiday and it became my favorite attraction ever. Even got tears in my eyes from the happy feelings it gives me (Flight of Passage does that too).

So maybe it is worth it to give it a second chance. Just don’t go after eating

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I'm so glad I read this thread. I will NEVER ride knowing others have experienced unsettling twisties. I have had BPPV before and I believe I live in a mild permanent stage of it right now. The thought of anything that would make my unbalance any worse, I say NO THANK YOU!

 

[Lumpy1106]

Did you try Dramamine?

I got a little queezy just as you leave the "gravity" of the moon helix. Something about how the cars go back to facing forward there just isn't quite right.

Have you ridden Forbidden Journey? I found the transition between set pieces and the screens left me far more queezy on that one.

 

[holden]

OP here!

I did wind up riding it. My DH suggested I look at the little safety sign on the back of the seat in front of us (we were in the back row of the car). I stared at the sign the entire ride and was ok!

Now that I've conquered that, I'll try looking straight ahead next time gradually working my way up to being able to look at everything eventually.