Soarin': For Those With Acrophobia

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks again to all of your for the replies. I really appreciate your input. We're going to be in Epcot Friday. If we can get a FP, I think I'll try it. If not, I'll count my blessing.

Maybe I'm being very simplistic about all this...but why would anyone go on any ride that causes them distress in any way shape or form? Skip it. Go on to something that makes you happy.

I want to experience as much as possible in life. My health already prevents me from doing some things. I hate that my fear prevents me from doing others. After I've experienced it, I'll be fine with skipping it in the future. I just really want to see the ride.

The kiddie belt is simply a red strap that goes between your legs and has a loop that goes around the regular belt... it's there to stop kids from sliding out under the regular belt.

This is exactly how I felt. I felt like I was falling out the whole time. I was in the middle & had a death grip on my DH & DS. I'm 5' 1". Do you think I can get away with using it?

Same here - mild fear and the sight of AstroOrbiter makes me shudder as well!

I rode that with my DS once when he was young. Poor little guy spent the whole ride telling me it was going to be okay. That one I'll never ride again. I can see what it looks like just fine from the ground.

 

[kandb]

It sucks having phobias. I have a few of my own. I don't like heights either. We went to see an imax 3-D movie about Mount Everest. I was panicky and had sweaty palms throughout the movie. It felt so real.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks again to all of your for the replies. I really appreciate your input. We're going to be in Epcot Friday. If we can get a FP, I think I'll try it. If not, I'll count my blessing.



I want to experience as much as possible in life. My health already prevents me from doing some things. I hate that my fear prevents me from doing others. After I've experienced it, I'll be fine with skipping it in the future. I just really want to see the ride.



This is exactly how I felt. I felt like I was falling out the whole time. I was in the middle & had a death grip on my DH & DS. I'm 5' 1". Do you think I can get away with using it?



I rode that with my DS once when he was young. Poor little guy spent the whole ride telling me it was going to be okay. That one I'll never ride again. I can see what it looks like just fine from the ground.

My MIL is only 5 feet tall because she has high hair. She used the extra belt once and got told not to use it once. she has not used it since. She's the one who has problems with staircases and escalators, but has said Soarin' was worth it.
My youngest DD is a young adult, but looks very young, so I think that's one reason she gets away with it. Plus we have to lift her out of her wheelchair into the seat - so I think the CMs give her a little more slack.

Funny story about holding on....

My family has been on Soarin' many times, but on this trip we were on with some friends who had never ridden. During row assignment, our group of 6 got split into 2 different rows.
A male friend, big weighlifter type guy, was going to sit next to DD on one side, with me on the other and the rest of our row was strangers. The guy next to our friend was another strong weightlifter type guy.
While we waited, our friend kept telling DD that if she was afraid, she could hold his hand and he would protect her.

As we lifted off and the movie came on, I glanced over toward our friend to see how he liked it. He and the guy next to him we're holding hands (both hands, not just one) and grabbing onto each other for dear life!
Then the funniest thing happened, they both looked down, saw that they were holding each other's hands, and quickly pulled their hands apart. Our friend grabbed DD's hand - she thought it was pretty funny.

 

[fairestoneofall]

I just can't handle Soarin'. The first time, I kept telling myself that I wasn't that high. We were on the end of the third row. The second time I rode it, I cried. We were in the middle of the third row--something about being in the middle made it even worse for me. I don't like heights, but it's more the sensation of flying that really gets to me.

If you really want to try it again, I'd maybe try to get towards the outside of the third row. It wasn't quite as bad there versus the middle.

I will not be getting on it again. It doesn't bother me in the least to miss it.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Myself and my DH aren't thrilled with heights but we do like Soarin and when we go on it we BOTH put our seat belt strap through the kiddie loop. Every time.

I do feel like I am kind of slipping forward out of my seat the whole time I am on it.