Star Tours At MGM/Small Children and a Dad's Bad Back ?s

[HyattVacationClub]

Hello everyone! We are all very excited about our upcoming trip to WDW, but I need some advice re: the Star Tours attraction at MGM.

Both my DD (7) and DS (4 1/2) are absolute FANATICS about Star Wars. My wife and I love the movies, but we have not watched them a dozen times as our childred have!

My DD and DS are both over 40" tall and have riden the MAd-Hatter's tea cups at the Magic Kingdom MANY TIMES when we were last there a little over a year ago. Only daddy got a little motion sickness, much to the amusment of my DW, DS, and DD! My questions are:

1). I've read that the Star Tours ride is really only appropriate for ages 8+. Others say 5 and up. My son is big on things moving around (the bouncier the better) while my daughter is a bit more timid and has been prone to occasional motion sickness in cars, as well as rides that go up and down (Frog Jumper...not at WDW, but at the beach).

So what do you think? How have YOUR children fared on the Star Tours ride?

I'd test it first, but that leads me to my second question.

2) I have a bad back (herniated L5/S1 disc) though I've had no problems for 2 years. So, I really want to go on this ride, but not if it means throwing my back out.

Anyone with this type of injury know if it's safe to go on (w/o injuring the back)? I know this is a FLIGHT simulator, so I suspect the chair or seat just violently rocks you around but stays pretty much in place (am I correct?). I certainly wouldn't want to riisk ruining the vacation for everyone!

3) Lastly, did I hear that at MGM (or somwhere else at WDW) there is a brand new space ride attraction? If so, what is it and how does it compare to Space Tours? Again, would that ride be appropriate for a 7 and a 4/2 year old as well as a middle-aged daddy w/a bad back? Thank heavens my wife is not falling apart! LOL.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[tinkerbell6]

Our DD (almost 6 now) went on Star Tours at DL for the first time when she was almost 4, since she was tall enough. She thought it was fantastic and was laughing the whole way through! She still says it's one of her favorites. She seems to always be one of the youngest ones on the ride still, but she loves it. She is quite fearless, loves all rides, especially the BTTR, Space Mtn, etc. I would think your kids would be alright, especially your brave DS!

The ride does rock quite abruptly, so I'm not sure if I would risk it with your back trouble...but only you could make that call.

The new ride at Epcot is the Mission:Space, where it simulates flight into space. My DH will be trying this ride, but I am not sending DD onto it. The motion sickness can be pretty extreme, and gets to a lot of people apparently, so DD and I will sit out and let space-fanatic DH go by himself! I would think this ride wouldn't bother your back, but it might bother your stomach!

Our trip's getting close too!

 

[keriannhoward]

Hi Steve!

As far as Star Tours, I wouldn't worry about it throwing your back out, it's not THAT jerky. I would, however, worry about motion sickness. I am only prone to motion sickness in simulators, and this ride makes me very very ill. My 16 year old DS loves it and rides it over and over again, but he's a Star Wars freak. I think it would be ok for your DS to ride if he's tall enough, it's not scary as long as he has a parent there, since the doors do close and you're in a small room. Be sure and check out the little space rider thingy that he can sit on for pictures outside of the ride as you walk towards New York, it will be on your right. I'll have to see if I can find my pic of DH on it last weekend, it's really cute.

I think the other ride you are talking about is Mission: Space in Epcot. DH and DS rode it last weekend and said it was just ok. I stayed off it since any ride that provides airsick bags is definately WAY too much for me. DH said it's also a very confined space and so I'd be claustrophobic in it. When DH and DS came off it, DH had a headache and was slightly woozy, but a coke and brownie at the electric umbrella cafe perked him up!

Btw, DH and I both have herniated discs in our back (car accident) but his back hasn't ever bothered him on either ride.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The height requirement for Mission to Space is 44" so your son might not be tall enough. If my 4yo had of been tall enough I would have brought him because I think he would have enjoyed it.

He went on and liked Star Tours. The only type of attraction he doesn't like are the 3D type shows. Those scare him, but he's fine with Tower of Terror, Splash Mt, etc.

T&B

 

[Jordan's MOM]

My DH has the same type of back situation as yours. He rode Star Tours two trips ago and said that it bothered his back just a little. It is very jerky. He has not ridden in the last two year as he said he was just afraid of it causing him problems.
DS has problems with motion sickness but can ride ST as long as he takes dramamine. He still feels a little queezy on exit. This ride is very different for the tea cups, but they cause my DS more motion sickness problems than ST so you child may be ok with those issues.
It's a cool ride but not worth getting sick or pain from.


Jordans' mom

 

[QuickGold]

I'd say you should be fine with your back problem. As for your child, the only problem is it can be loud at times so its up to you to guage if your child can handle it.

 

[GlennandAnn]

Our DS has been riding Star Tours since he was about 4 years old. He loves it, I think he would say it's his favorite ride in WDW. Also, I have a herniated disc in my low back, and sometimes the ride bothers it and other times it's fine. I have discovered that most of the time I can ride once, but to ride two times in a row is pushing it.

Ann

 

[LoveToDisney]

Star Tours is pretty jerky and abrupt as it makes quick course changes. I love it and I have to be careful about my back. I wear a simple pad around my waist in back while riding the rides so I always have extra cushioning to help impacts. My husband has no back problems, but says Star Tours has a tendency to make him feel ill (I guess motion sickness).
I think someone mentioned on another post sometime back that there is a Star Tours ride theater that doesn't have the motion simulator so you could see all the special effects on the screen, but sit in non-moving seats. It would be something to ask the CM about. Also, whether you ride or not, walk through the cueing area...it is GREAT and has a lot of Star Wars stuff that your kids will love! You can always exit before the actual ride.

No matter what, have a great trip!!

 

[NotUrsula]

My DS is a precocious Star Wars junkie (he wants starship technical manuals for bedtime stories, and at 6 can hold his own with teenagers at KOTOR). He has been addicted to this ride since he was 30 months old, which is when he met the height requirement. If they like Star Wars, esp. Return of the Jedi, which it is themed to, then they will probably love the ride. BTW, you can buy a working toy verson of the ride vehicle at WDW, a VERY cool and unique SW toy not available anywhere else but WDW & DL.

The ride does jerk you around a bit. Some seats are not as bad as others, I think center front is the smoothest, and the bonus is that you can see the "cockpit" clearly from there. Avoid the outer rear corners if you can. I've heard you can also do the ride without motion, but the whole 20-some person car will not move, so the folks around you might not be happy with that. (Unless there is almost no one around, and the CM would be willing to let you do it alone.)

If your kids just barely make the height requirement, make sure that they walk into the ride area; a child who is carried in will be subject to much closer scrutiny. I saw kids who were a smidge taller than DS fail the measurement after being carried in, while DS walked right past with only a cursory check.

 

[lagirl]

I'm glad I found this thread. We are doing MGM on Monday and I want to do Star Tours. I'm not sure how my DD (6) will like it though. She loves spinning rides and roller coasters and hasn't had motion sickness (yet). After reading this thread I think I'll ride it first, without DD and see how "jerky" it is.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I've had back problems from a car accident, and I actually went to WDW just days after it happened back in '98. Now, I have problems with Star Tours because of motion sickness, but it's never bothered my back.

 

[KaityBsMom]

My 4-year-old DD loved Star Tours. It was her favorite ride, along with Splash Mountain.

In terms of motion sickness, I don't think it is as 'jerky' as some of the other rides. I have problems with motion sickness, but I was mostly fine on Star Tours. I would agree with the other poster to try to avoid the rear, outer seats, though. On one of the many times we rode Star Tours, I was seated there and I did get a little queasy. The other times, I sat in the center front and I was totally fine. ST is the only one of the simulators that I can do (Body Wars, for example, is similar but at least to me it seems more 'jerky' so I don't chance it anymore).

My husband has a similar back issue to yours and he was not bothered by Star Tours.

Have a great trip!

 

[ThwTwinsMom]

My boys were 4.5 the first time they went on Star Tours. They live and breathe Star Wars. It was absolutely their favorite ride in all of WDW. The moment it was over, they asked to do it again. It is dark and jumpy at times, but their love of the movie easily overcame any worries.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I second the motion to avoid the rear corner seats.
I was seated in the last seat, left side for my one and only ride on this attraction.
I felt sick for hours afterwords. I was so worried about yacking I didn't enjoy the ride. I don't have a clue as to what happens on it!
For that reason, I have not ridden it again. However I may have to suck it up and ride with my son next trip. He just got into Star Wars, and this ride is at the top of his list.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Chim Chiminy, ride in the middle of the front row and the ride is smoother from what another post has said. That portion of the simulator must travel less versus the back corners.