Tell me about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster... I don't like launches!

[stinkpickle]

Breathe forcibly but steadily OUT during the launch.

This! ^^^ Screaming and/or yelling accomplishes the same thing.

 

[CAS239]

It's a very mild coaster. The launch is fun and I don't find it to be intense. Just sit there relaxed with your head back against the seat.

 

[StacyStrong]

Honestly, the best part of a coaster is the drop to me. I hate going up though. It freaks me out like I'll fall backwards lol. So launch coasters are great. But you'll probably feel that same feeling.

I will say that rock and rollercoaster is a bit bumpy to me. I need to make sure I really "tense" up and lock my head back or I'm bobbing around like a bobble head.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

With kiddos the age of ours, I had successfully avoided this ride in my WDW travels for a few years. Until this past Feb on an adults only trip, DW and I got a FP since we had the opportunity.

Well... IMHO it was horrible. Never again. I cringe at the thought of my kids getting old enough to actually want to do this ride. Even my daredevil “sneak off to MK to ride Space Mountain after we put the kids to bed” wife hated it.

I like to keep an open mind with all rides and to each their own.... but this one just did not do it for us....at all!

 

[Bostonbeans99]

Okay, it's sounds like just what I was afraid of...

Next question- If I do decide to do it, any recommendations for how best to handle it? I know my tendency is to brace for impact and completely tense up my body. I couldn't imagine relaxing, but would that in fact help diminish the sensation a bit? Or does it not really matter what you're doing with your body, it's going to feel as wretchedly awful either way?

Seriously try it.
When I first saw it "launch" or as I viewed it "get sucked into the abyss"........I thought "crap this thing looks rough".

With my teenage son next to me...once it took off I literally giggled and laughed the whole way through. The music is soooooo loud it was crazy!!!!!!!!
Once I realized I was still alive (2 seconds into it) all I could do was laugh......

 

[Shanti]

When it comes to roller coasters, my husband and I are kind of wimps. Really it's mainly the long, steep drops we don't like, you know, that feeling of your stomach dropping out that everyone else lives for we basically can't stand! I'm perfectly fine with high speed, loops, corkscrews, high heights and anything else, it's just the falling feeling I hate.

A number of years ago we were at some run-of-the-mill amusement park and saw what seemed like an innocent coaster that simply made a loop and didn't have a tall drop. It was very short, and operated in a linear fashion, started at one end, made the loop and then came backwards through the loop to the beginning again. We thought it couldn't be that bad, we liked loops, there's no drops, what could be bad? Well, that was our introduction to launch coasters. Little did we know that the high acceleration in just a few seconds actually recreated that stomach-dropping lurch we detested so much. Since it took us by surprise and was pretty intense, we came off of the ride kind of shaking from that experience!

Never again have we done any launch coasters... we only stick to ones that the main drop isn't super long or that it curves since that seems to take away from the stomach-dropping feeling. Even though this has kind of been our self-imposed rule, I've been very curious about RnR and deep down I think I want to try it, but I'm scared! Yes, a grown woman and I'm admitting my somewhat irrational fear of something that literally takes a few seconds to get past. I'm pretty sure I'd love the rest of the ride if I can just get through that launch.

So all this to ask if you all can describe the launch part to me... does anyone know the speed it gets up to in those few seconds? Do you in fact get that stomach-dropping feeling, or is there a chance that perhaps was the one we rode was more intense? I just assumed any launch coaster would be the same but the more I think about it, I'm wondering if certain factors (like how high the speed gets up to) may cause certain launches to be not as bad as others? I'm hoping to hear something from you guys that might convince this fraidy-cat to try it out!

I find the launch very intense. The rest of the coaster is easy after that.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I’ll take this launch over ToT any day. Love RnR.

 

[StacyStrong]

I’ll take this launch over ToT any day. Love RnR.

Well that's insane!!!!

I could ride ToT every second for the rest of my life and still not get enough

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I Love this coaster! last year my 6 year old was finally tall enough to ride it and cried at the launch but started laughing after the first loop and screaming Woo Hoo! as loud as she could! Im very happy she loves it as much as I do! My youngest isn't tall enough yet but I'm sure she will love it also since she loves ToT! Now to convince my wife to ride it lol

 

[Antaniasmom]

My DD is not really one for coasters but she handled RnRC just fine. If anyone has ever ridden HULK at US, RnRC is a piece of cake as far as launch goes. My advice: relax, try it..keep your head back. Just think, if you don't like it, you'll never have to ride it again...but at least you won't wonder if you missed out.

 

[Deanie1]

Ok, this is what I have to do to get through the ride - Grab the handles and keep your head against the head rest. Then I do the deep breathing technique that I learned in my pre-natal classes (youngest baby is now 30 yrs old!). Then, the launch is over and I move onto phase 2 - Sing along with the song as loud as you can until the ride is over. Don’t worry, the music is loud and nobody will hear you singing! It’s actually a lot of fun but I didn’t ride it last trip.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I used to be able to grit my teeth and make it through the launch.

But now, I just wave as my husband gets in line. It just beats me up way too much.

 

[holden]

The launch literally takes my breath away. I really don’t enjoy it.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

I really consider all Disney coasters a 3 or 4 of 10 at most when compared to other places like Six Flags (I don't ride coasters more than 3 or 4!). The launch is intense, but there are no big drops (i.e. splash mountain type drops). The launch is more like Test Track.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

I'm perfectly fine with high speed, loops, corkscrews, high heights and anything else, it's just the falling feeling I hate.

Rereading OP, I definitely think you'll be fine. RnRC is exactly these things: High Speed (launch) followed by a lot of corkscrews and curves. There are no long stomach turning drops. It is more lit up and a smoother ride than Space Mountain. I add that because Space doesn't have long drops, but it is so dark that even small drops seem larger than they are.

 

[ExcitableMouse]

I’m 53 and truly thought my thrill ride days were over. I’ve stopped doing even local fair rides. Sure enough, we went to WDW this April and I chickened out the first time my family rode R&R Coaster. I too was deathly afraid of the launch. However, I summoned up the courage to go with them on their second run, and actually enjoyed the ride. It is intense, but not so intense that I wouldn’t do it again.
Same with ToT. Hate drop rides, but found this one just thrilling enough to actually enjoy, and would do it again.

 

[Whositsgalore]

It's crazy intense at the launch. I instinctively brace for impact every time. However, it's an awesome coaster. My nightmare is ToT. I hate being dropped.

Same!!!! I love RR and TRY to be “cool” for the launch but I brace for sure. TOT= Hard Pass for me

 

[sara_s]

Can’t lie - the launch is intense. It’s not among the top 10, but it still packs a punch. As a PP noted, about 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. I don’t notice a stomach drop so much as the compression from the acceleration and a bit like having the air forced out of me. A little deep breathing before the launch helps that. And the ride overall is so much fun that it’s worth it.

One thing that doesn’t help - the “limo” pulls around and stops for a bit before taking off. That brief wait seems to intensify the launch - especially since you’re going from a dead stop. The countdown also catches people off guard (spoiler: you launch right after 2 and not 1).

One other note on the ride - you pull over 5g’s, which does rank the coaster in the top 10. As a result, you feel it quite a bit as you launch and go into the rollover at the end of the straightaway (which, as some people like to point out, subjects riders to higher g-forces than astronauts experience on shuttle takeoff). Maybe save it for the end of the day at DHS if you decide to give it a shot.

It is so much fun! I'm not a huge fan of coasters that do loops, but this one is a good ol' time. If you like Aerosmith, it's even better!

I think a lot of the nerves comes from that wait at the beginning....you want to say "just do it already!!"

Like everyone's been saying, keep your head back, scream, and have fun! Sing along if ya want to!

 

[hart6066]

Ask for a seat in the way back--makes the launch a bit easier. Do the deep breathing as people say at the beginning. As you are walking through the line to get on, just keep your breathing and stay in the zone. With this ride, I think they totally build up the anticipation and honestly, the worry with the anticipation is almost worse than the launch! I also sort of brace my feet on the bottom of the seat in front of me.

And I can see I'm not the only one who literally starts to laugh as soon as the launch is over--the rest of the ride is amazing and so much fun! During the launch, have your head firmly in the seat and concentrate on the song--that helps too!

 

[sasmom]

I’m terrified of launch coasters too, but not big drops. I’ve ridden RnRC a few times, but my son, who was more of a daredevil when he was younger, doesn’t really like roller coasters anymore. My 2 daughters won’t go near it, and I’m ok with that! It is the only ride at WDW I won’t do. The launch is intense, but I will say the anticipation is usually worse than the reality. The few rimes I’ve ridden, I’ve enjoyed the rest of the ride post-launch. If one of my kids wanted to do it, I would suck it up and go with them.

I absolutely love ToT though. I was so bummed when I missed it on our last trip because no one would ride it with me. I agree with the poster who said you should go through the queue just to see the theming even if you don’t ride.