Splash Mountain for scaredy cats

[TiffanyK]

I'm taking my parents to WDW for their first trip. My mom, who is 60 wants to try to ride Splash Mountain. Song of the South is one of her favorite movies and I've told her that the theming of this ride is great. But, she is pretty nervous about that drop. Any hints of how to help her get through it? I thought I remembered reading on this board several years ago about how people get themselves through that drop. I usually just look at the castle at the top, then shut my eyes and scream!

So how do you handle the drop?

 

[*Fantasia*]

I'd like to know too cause I would love to try this ride with my kids, especially with my son, but I am too scared of the drop. I don't like drops..that's why I don't like coasters!

 

[bevemjake]

I give her credit for trying it. I'm don't think my mom would go on.

I guess closing your eyes and trying to remember it's a quick drop would help. I don't have good advice since I love it!

 

[tinkerrn]

I would also like to know....I HATE DROPS!!!!!! I don't like the feeling at all. I don't ride roller coasters either. My FDH tricked me last year, telling me that RnR was not a real roller coaster. HA! It was ok, since it is mainly in the dark. I would love to ride Splash Mt. . How tall is the drop and what angle is the drop? That might help psychologically. Anyone know????

 

[annie1995]

We went at night for our first time. So the drop was entirely in the dark. I personally didn't think it felt as big I guess that was because it was just a black hole. Maybe if it were light out it would have felt bigger. Try and sit toward the back too, we sat up in the first row the second ride got totally soaked, the first time we were about 3 rows back, wasn't too bad back there! Good Luck!

 

[*Fantasia*]

The way it looks to me watching from the bridge that the drop is long and steep! I guess it probably wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't steep. I can just feel my stomach turning upside down and having it left behind at the top.

 

[safetymom]

I am a scaredy cat also but I did try Splash Mt. last year. It was before one of the hurricanes and the parks were empty. So rather than stand around while the rest of my family rode I decided to try it.

We went all the way around until the final climb before the drop. We were about halfway up when the ride stopped. We were stuck there for several minutes, long enough for me to get really scared. Then finally we dropped. I was so glad to get off the ride. I probably won't do it again though.

 

[tinknme]

I'm not found of big drops or rollercoasters myself, I am a big baby On our June trip I decided to give this ride a try, with my 2 ds(they had already been on & told me I would love it). I was nervous throughout the ride waiting for the drop & then going up that last hill I was thinking what am I doing I closed my eyes & my stomach got butterflies, but I made it & turned around went on it again with them The 2cd time was much better beings I knew what to expect & I enjoyed the ride alot more. I even tried to keep my eyes open on the drop, but that didn't work I am glad I went on it & I will go again on our trip in Oct. RnRc & TOT, no way!

 

[JRawkSteady]

I dunno - I don't think that drop is all that bad. It's very smooth, unlike a lot of other rides. Just hold on to the little bumpers in the logs and I'm sure she'll be fine. Closing your eyes really does help (unlike simulators). Plus the ride is about 13 minutes long and the drop is only about 3 seconds...when you think about it that way, even if you are a scaredy cat, it's not so bad

 

[4orm]

I was terrified to try this ride. It's about 9 minutes of fun (I really didn't mind to dark drop inside the mountain) but that last drop.... with the vultures telling you to go to your laughing place. I find the steep uphill pulling you towards to drop is way worse then the drop itself. I'm fine until I hit that point then I start to freak out. I just wish it was a drop, with no uphill before

 

[hockeybabe]

I hate the drop on any ride...hate that tummy-floating feeling It doesn't "float" as badly if you press yoruself into the back of your chair. I do this by using my arms to press against the rail, and by pressing my feet against whatever in front of me, like the chair in front, or anything I can anchor my feet against. It helps.

As far as the height of the ride, I hesitate to say, as this might scare you off, but it is apparently 5 stories high (gulp!) But if you sit in the front, you are part way down the hill before it even gets any momentum, which results in a less-droppy feeling, but you will get wetter. It's not a huge difference with Splash, since the vehicle is so short, but makes a bigger difference with other rollercoasters, that do that oh-so-slow ride up the hill...you are part way down before it starts going fast, which is when the tummy floats

That being said, I'll be riding it in just over 2 weeks As well as RnR for the first time

Have fun!

 

[grimley1968]

I don't find the drop to be all that bad, and my 5 YO DD LOVES this ride, even though she's scared of most non-kiddie rides.

One bit of advice: try to steer your mom away from those views of the drop from outside the ride. Those views make the drop seem scarier and bigger than it really is, and might cause her to worry more about it before the ride, than if she was more or less surprised at its tameness at the time of the ride itself.

 

[rickdeni]

I am afraid of roller coasters and am almost 2 years older than your mother and I love Splash Mountain. Like one of the other posters stated the worst part is the climb before the drop. I am afraid of "falling" but this ride does not bother me. Let her watch it and see what she thinks.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

If your mom really wants to try the ride, make sure she's near the back of the boat. Going over that ledge when you're in the front can really activate the butterflies in the tummy.

Warning her when to shut her eyes might be a good idea too.

 

[rifamtrav]

Splash Mt is my all time favorite ride. I do like roller coasters to a point, but its the theming of Splash that makes this so wonderful. We just returned (9/6-910) and rode it many times during the week. On Sat. first thing in the morning there was no line, we rode it 3 times in a row, loving it each time. All I can tell you is the drop looks much worse than it is, if you can get through the first time you'll be running to go back on again. I don't think the drop is bad enough to even give you that floating feeling, at least not for long enough that you even have times to realize it. As others have said, it only lasts a few seconds. My girls are 10, 10, 12, they've loved this ride since they were 4. The hardest thing to do is to relax, but try hard to concentrate on the wonderful music and characters. Good luck.

 

[allaboutmm]

Have to tell you my DS , who was 5 at the time was a little scared to go on After a little pep talk (from his DB 8) he decided to go one. I wish you could see the look on his face (from the picture they take ) OMG! Its so-o funny !!! But, he got off the ride and rode it 2 more X's!!!! At the end of our trip, we each bought a pin of our favorite ride. Guess which one my DS picked? Yup, Splash Mountain! Do you want me to send my DS's & for a little pep talk? Good luck and have fun!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ShannonRT]

I like most roller coasters, but am too not a fan of the "drop" feeling. Going upside down doesn't bother me at all. I ride such things mostly for DD and I just try to tell myself that it will only last for 3-4 seconds and then it's over.

Interesting side note regarding Splash Mountain:
Two years ago my friend at work jumped off this ride while going up the last hill. He had convinced himself he wasn't going to live through it and jumped over onto the stairs to the right of the hill. He said they immediately shut the ride down and escorted him out. His wife and son were absolutely mortified and had to wait for like 20 minutes while they got the ride going again. I also read a story that a man died in 2000 doing the same thing. Apparently jumped off the back this time and was hit by the next ride vehicle. Of course, I pointed this out to my friend at work. He could've been KILLED!!!

 

[tinknme]

Two years ago my friend at work jumped off this ride while going up the last hill. He had convinced himself he wasn't going to live through it and jumped over onto the stairs to the right of the hill. He said they immediately shut the ride down and escorted him out. His wife and son were absolutely mortified and had to wait for like 20 minutes while they got the ride going again. I also read a story that a man died in 2000 doing the same thing. Apparently jumped off the back this time and was hit by the next ride vehicle. Of course, I pointed this out to my friend at work. He could've been KILLED!!!

 

[foolishmortal]

this was a must do for my son last week and he loved it. I rode it with him and thought it would a nice drop like a coaster but was veeeeery disappointed.

It gives no butterflies at all to me. I have been on a few of these log type rides and Splash is the tamest of any I have ever been on. The worst part of the ride is going up the last hill, the falling part is simple.

If you can do thunder railroad you can do splash, niether one gives the funny stomach feeling.

 

[jann1033]

imo the only really scary thing is looking down before you drop so sit toward the mid of the boat if you can and look outacross the park not down when you are perched on the top of the hill ( learned that first time i went on the magnum at Cedar Point , now that's a drop)

to me shutting my eyes makes me imagine worse than it really is!