The backwards helix on Expedition Everest

[hannahmr91]

How bad is it? I've never ridden anything that did something like that. I can handle drops on roller coasters but only because they are over so quickly! But that backwards part looks like it's about 20 seconds. Do you get that same feeling in your stomach that you get from drops? I'm just afraid that 20 seconds of that will make me really sick. But the ride does look really neat and I don't want to miss it. I've also never been on any coaster with inversions, and I've heard some people say that this part of Everest FEELS like an inversion, even though it's not. Is it going to freak me out if I've never experienced the upside down sensation on a roller coaster? We'll be spending out first day of our Disney trip at Animal Kingdom so this may be one of the first things I'll be riding.

 

[mm1971]

How bad is it? I've never ridden anything that did something like that. I can handle drops on roller coasters but only because they are over so quickly! But that backwards part looks like it's about 20 seconds. Do you get that same feeling in your stomach that you get from drops? I'm just afraid that 20 seconds of that will make me really sick. But the ride does look really neat and I don't want to miss it. I've also never been on any coaster with inversions, and I've heard some people say that this part of Everest FEELS like an inversion, even though it's not. Is it going to freak me out if I've never experienced the upside down sensation on a roller coaster? We'll be spending out first day of our Disney trip at Animal Kingdom so this may be one of the first things I'll be riding.

I don't remember it being all that long of a trip backwards, certainly less than 20 seconds from memory. I don't find it to be that bad, but I like coasters so I may not be the best judge for your situation. I found that my attention was on the theme and it helped to distract from the intensity.

The sensation for my family is more of a tight cornering that actually an inversion. We actually love going upside down and it felt different than that. It is in the dark so I'm sure people feel different things.

Good luck. Eat light and sat hydrated. It makes any motion sickness a little less intense.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I love coasters! LOVE them. I rode EE 3 times in a row though and don't plan on doing it again...well once but not 3 in a row. It doesn't mess with my stomach as much as it does my head. Makes me feel like I had a few too many adult beverages.

 

[goin' again!]

I think the drops in coasters are worse than the backwards section of EE. But like the PP I am a coaster enthusiast and perhaps not the best at gauging the intensity of it. EE is one of my favorite coasters and the last time we were there DH and I rode it about a dozen times in two days!

 

[Boudin]

It's not bad. What I mostly remember is the sensation of speed. For whatever reason, the stomach in your throat effect seemed much less going backward than it does frontward.

 

[kay1864]

It's the opposite of a drop. With a drop you float out of your seat a bit (and your stomach feels funny). With the backwards part, you're pushed down into your seat, and your stomach is fine (mine is, anyway).

 

[Shock13]

I like roller coasters but I do no like that feeling in my stomach from a hard drop. I will never go on ToT because of this. it also took me a long time to ride RNR because of the inversions and corkscrews but after riding it I really enjoyed it. EE is much tamer and even though the riding backwards is intense I never once felt like I was going upside-down and I didn't have that "falling" feeling in my stomach either. EE is one of my favorite rides.

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm in my 30's and the backwards helix does get me a bit dizzy,but my mom who's in her 60's can ride it continuously with no issues,so obviously some people handle certain things better than others.Also I'm somebody that's been on some of the biggest and fastest coasters on the planets,300-400 foot drops and speeds of 100-120mph,I ride those no problem but the Everest backwards part does get me somewhat dizzy and I can't ride it more than 3 times in a row,I would ride it and see how you like it and handle it.

 

[Tribe]

Disagree with several posters here. I am a coaster enthusiast too and love Everest but I have to cringe during the backwards part just hoping it gets over with. It IS a motion sickness issue AND a headache issue, but only if I ride it 2-3 times in a row. It is a rather intense feeling and IMO tougher to take than going forward down a huge drop. Being in the dark and going backwards is much harder on the equilibrium than going forward in the light.

 

[ratlenhum]

The first time I rode it it made me very dizzy and nauseous. What I do now is, as soon as it starts going backwards, I take a deep breath hold it and tighten my stomach muscles until the backwards part is over. Also, keeping your head back against the rest helps. Now I can ride it over and over with no problems.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the backwards part is the most intense part of the ride. But for some reason, keeping my eyes closed helps with the weird sensations.

 

[FLchick415]

For me, the backwards part is my favorite part! lol My last trip there, I rode EE three times in a row. I would have gone more, but I figured three was enough. I personally don't think the backwards part is all that bad, but I'm someone that loves roller coasters.

 

[TheGreatGafsby]

How bad is it? I've never ridden anything that did something like that. I can handle drops on roller coasters but only because they are over so quickly! But that backwards part looks like it's about 20 seconds. Do you get that same feeling in your stomach that you get from drops? I'm just afraid that 20 seconds of that will make me really sick. But the ride does look really neat and I don't want to miss it. I've also never been on any coaster with inversions, and I've heard some people say that this part of Everest FEELS like an inversion, even though it's not. Is it going to freak me out if I've never experienced the upside down sensation on a roller coaster? We'll be spending out first day of our Disney trip at Animal Kingdom so this may be one of the first things I'll be riding.

If you suffer from motion sickness at all, this will likely do you in. It doesn't feel like a drop or an inversion, and likely won't bother you at all while on it. I ride coasters all the time, and have never been bothered by them except for this one (mild nausea) and The Bat at Canada's Wonderland (severe nausea) which is much longer backwards and does go through a couple loops as well.

If you don't suffer from motion-sickness, you should be fine. It is otherwise a very tame coaster, but really neat with the theming etc.

 

[notnothin]

Disagree with several posters here. I am a coaster enthusiast too and love Everest but I have to cringe during the backwards part just hoping it gets over with. It IS a motion sickness issue AND a headache issue, but only if I ride it 2-3 times in a row. It is a rather intense feeling and IMO tougher to take than going forward down a huge drop. Being in the dark and going backwards is much harder on the equilibrium than going forward in the light.

I have the same issue with this backwards helix. It's the only ride that I can't tolerate more than two or three times in a row without feeling a bit 'off'.

 

[DOOM1001]

The first time I rode it it made me very dizzy and nauseous. What I do now is, as soon as it starts going backwards, I take a deep breath hold it and tighten my stomach muscles until the backwards part is over. Also, keeping your head back against the rest helps. Now I can ride it over and over with no problems.

That's the absolute best way to handle a section of a ride that feels intense to you.A perfect example where I do the same thing is the pretzel loop on Manta at Sea World,way more intense than the Everest section and even doing so you feel serious g's but at least it doesn't literally take your breath away.

 

[blessedby3]

I love EE, but can only do it a couple times in a row. The backwards part is crazy! If you are sitting at the back of the coaster, I think it feels like you go upside down!
The first time we rode and were at the back, I was SURE we had flipped. I know we didn't, but it sure felt like it. I even asked my dd if we had

 

[MichiganDVC]

First of all, the backward part lasts for hours! Or so it seems. Secondly, I had noodle legs for quite some time after that ride.

Of course, my DW told me "it's just like thunder mountain." Liar. ;-)

 

[DisneyFan2013]

How bad is it? I've never ridden anything that did something like that. I can handle drops on roller coasters but only because they are over so quickly! But that backwards part looks like it's about 20 seconds. Do you get that same feeling in your stomach that you get from drops? I'm just afraid that 20 seconds of that will make me really sick. But the ride does look really neat and I don't want to miss it. I've also never been on any coaster with inversions, and I've heard some people say that this part of Everest FEELS like an inversion, even though it's not. Is it going to freak me out if I've never experienced the upside down sensation on a roller coaster? We'll be spending out first day of our Disney trip at Animal Kingdom so this may be one of the first things I'll be riding.

I like it. It's fun! Guess you won't know how it'll affect you until you try it...

 

[LoKiHB]

The backward part DEFINITELY feels like you are inverted. My 7 yr old still insists that we went upside down. The fact that you are in pitch blackness doesn't hurt the illusion either.

As for motion sickness, he was a bit queasy afterward. My wife said she saw a woman in the bathroom laying on the floor because her motion sickness got so bad that it caused vertigo. So, my opinion, if you are prone to motion sickness, I would be wary.

 

[JanaDee]

The backwards part on Everest is what does me in. Being pressed into your seat while spinning is not the greatest sensation (especially when prone to motion sickness).