Trying to get up the courage for Everest

[Lucius Best]

EE is just BTMRR on steroids. It's a lot if fun and the theming is unreal!

Came here to say the same thing. EE is a bigger, more intense version of BTMRR. If you love BTMRR, there is no reason not to give Everest a shot.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

I don't like drops & heights. The 3 rides I refuse to ride are TOT, RRC, and Everest. Didn't ride Splash mountain last time either. I heard the theming is amazing on Everest. Is there a point I could duck out but still see the majority of it? I heard you can duck out at the elevators at TOT...We probably won't be back for about 5 years, so I really would like to conquer Everest. I love BTMRR and even Space Mtn. Can you compare Everest to these?

I don't like Space Mountain but I love Expedition Everest. I think that if you're fine with Big Thunder and Space Mountain, EE is worth a shot. I don't think the drops are that bad at all. It's a fun ride!

 

[piglet1979]

I don't like drops & heights. The 3 rides I refuse to ride are TOT, RRC, and Everest. Didn't ride Splash mountain last time either. I heard the theming is amazing on Everest. Is there a point I could duck out but still see the majority of it? I heard you can duck out at the elevators at TOT...We probably won't be back for about 5 years, so I really would like to conquer Everest. I love BTMRR and even Space Mtn. Can you compare Everest to these?

I just went on Everest for the first time in September. I was trying to be brave for my 8 year old daughter. If I won't go she won't go. I held my 10 year old sons hand the whole time. I am not a fan of it. But it really was not that bad. I would say about the same as space mountain. I just did not like the feeling of going backwards. You should do it.

 

[bluezy]

I am exactly like you. I hate drops (they make me very sick) and refuse to ride ToT and RRC. I do Splash Mountain because it's a classic and "must-do." Also, the drop on that ride is quick enough that it's over before I have enough time to get sick.

With that said, I have done EE once in 2009. Most of the ride is fine. From what I remember, it was very smooth and most of the "drops" were at an angle (like how BTMR curves instead of drops straight down). I feel like these kinds of curved drops don't make me nearly as sick and I enjoy them. The only part that I was screaming my head off was the backwards part. There is at first, a straight backwards drop, this curves around, but you're in the dark and can't see the track and know how the coaster is moving or how long you'll be going backwards. My advice for that part is to 1) scream a lot because it distracts you from that uncomfortable feeling in your stomach. 2) Plant your feet firmly on the floor of the car because I've read it helps "ground" you and 3) I tried to turn my head around to feel like I was going forwards instead of backwards. This doesn't work too well because you're strapped in, but it's worth a shot.

I've chickened out during the 2 times I've been since 2009, but I'm going again in August and plan to force myself to ride. It didn't kill me the first time and I didn't get sick (did feel shaky for a little while afterwards) and I felt like 75% of the ride was very fun, so I want to try it again!! Also, try finding POV videos on YouTube so you can get an idea of what to expect.

I tried to be as honest as possible, so hopefully this helps you out!

That was my issue with EE as well. My one and only ride on EE was also in 2009. Overall, I loved the ride. The view from the top of the hill is just gorgeous. I wish I could just sit there for a few minutes. The drops and curves were all very smooth and not intimidating (to me). However, that backwards section just ruined the entire experience for me. I don't feel well when going backwards and will avoid any ride that does that. However, I really wanted to try EE because I had heard so many good things about it. I knew the ride went backwards but after talking to several people who had experienced it, I was assured that the backwards portion is very short and wouldn't be a problem if I just closed my eyes. HA! If you don't like going backwards, that portion of the ride feels like it goes on forever. I felt sick for about 3 hours after I got off of the ride. Never again. I'm very happy that I rode it once and I wish I could figure out a way to ride it again without feeling sick and without taking meds that are going to make me tired for the rest of the day. I strongly encourage anyone who's is thinking about ridinig it to go ahead and give it a try. Unfortunately, I think it was a once and done thing for me.

 

[KittyKitty]

The backwards part made me a little nauseous too. I was telling a respiratory nurse/friend who told me I probably didn't breathe when I went backwards. She said to yell while riding that part. Sure enough, I yelled and felt great after the ride. Who knew???

 

[Tomh]

I do not handle drops well. Splash Mountain (which my DS12 LOVES, and insists I ride with him) horrifies me. I haven't done RnRC, though I have thought about it, and I avoid ToT like the Plague. I did EE two summers ago (didn't go to AK last summer) and loved it. There is one drop that is fairly intense, but it is curving, not straight down, and therefore, you feel some g forces pushing you into the seat, and that makes it MUCH more tolerable for me. It is still a pretty intense ride, but not horrifying. I handled that much better than splash, and the theming / scenery is amazing!

 

[BarbieGal457]

I did it for the first time in June and I will be honest 100% with you. I found it scary BUT I would do it again and I hate drops! The big drop you can see? Don't let it fool you - it doesn't give you that stomach drop feeling AT ALL! I honestly think that because it is at an angle you don't really get that tummy feeling at all. It was also extremely smooth so I wasn't in physical pain as well as nervous. I would not lie to you because I would not want to be lied to about it either. The parts in the dark were scarier to me because of the little bunny hills and such but I would do it again! Also I am afraid of heights and the big lift didn't scare me either and with my bad anxiety I get scared fast. When I get home I will post the ride photo for you because it's one for the ages! I rode alone with the nicest mom, Susie, and she held my hand! Be prepared that when you go backwards, and when you go into the dark again after the big drop, it's very hard, next to impossible, to see but it's okay they're over fast too. I even said to Susie mid-big-drop, "wow this feels like no drop at all!"

Also, RnRC is my favorite! No big drops and you don't even feel that you go upside down. The takeoff is the worst part but if you clench your tummy and press your feet into the floor it really helps a lot! ToT is the single ride I have yet to do in WDW. If anything, Space Mountain is far scarier to me because of the element of being in the dark the entire time. I like when I can see the track for the most part to brace myself.

You can definitely take the "chicken exit" on rides to see most of the queue, but I would recommend FP. I did it with FP and it didn't give me enough time to back out (though you still can) or work up my nerves like it would if I had to wait in a longer queue. I think you can do it! Even if you only try it and never do it again, it was over in minutes. I can see why people love it! I also hate calling it the chicken exit because there is nothing wrong at all with backing out of a ride and you aren't a chicken if you do! It's just easier to call it that haha

 

[BarbieGal457]

The backwards part made me a little nauseous too. I was telling a respiratory nurse/friend who told me I probably didn't breathe when I went backwards. She said to yell while riding that part. Sure enough, I yelled and felt great after the ride. Who knew???

I yelled like there was no tomorrow during that part! Poor Susie next to me, I bet her ears rang all day. Honestly I think the screaming helps because to me at least it gets the nerves out! I didn't even do an "omg!" I did a full-on screech for the entirety of it haha my abs were sore!

 

[DiannaVM]

It was also extremely smooth so I wasn't in physical pain as well as nervous. I would not lie to you because I would not want to be lied to about it either. The parts in the dark were scarier to me because of the little bunny hills and such but I would do it again! Also I am afraid of heights and the big lift didn't scare me either and with my bad anxiety I get scared fast.

You can definitely take the "chicken exit" on rides to see most of the queue, but I would recommend FP. I did it with FP and it didn't give me enough time to back out (though you still can) or work up my nerves like it would if I had to wait in a longer queue. I think you can do it! Even if you only try it and never do it again, it was over in minutes. I can see why people love it! I also hate calling it the chicken exit because there is nothing wrong at all with backing out of a ride and you aren't a chicken if you do! It's just easier to call it that haha

That's my problem, getting all anxious over it. I have anxiety even for small things sometimes, so I am trying to get my mind to do certain rides from now. That's what I had to do when we went last October, even for rides I already have been on several times and like (for example, Space Mountain, and BTMMR which I almost chickened out of at the last minute!). Every day its s different thing. I have watched several Everest ride videos and I have convinced myself its not so bad because the drop doesn't look so long (and as pps have said it really isnt because it curves), but some days I am ready to go and other days like today I am like....no....My heart is beating fast just thinking about it lol.

I agree with the FP thing. Having a FP for a ride that scares you, helps getting you on the ride faster, rather than wait around thinking over and over again how you don't like the idea of going on it. I also find that doing the scary rides first thing in the morning works better too because the more tired I am the more my anxiety seems to be triggered. I hope we both conquer our fears and just go on EE on our trips!


BTW, my sister is trying to convince me to ride RnR and my Dh is trying to convince me to go on ToT. I think there is a greater chance I'll go on EE, before I go on either one of those two. I know alot of people say you dont feel (or can even tell) when you go upside down on RnR, but I cant get that thought out of my mind. And the take-off I think will be too uncomfortable to me (I have breathing issues sometimes so having air blow towards me at that force is just going to freak me out). And ToT....even in my braver days I didn't want to do it so.......lol

 

[BarbieGal457]

That's my problem, getting all anxious over it. I have anxiety even for small things sometimes, so I am trying to get my mind to do certain rides from now. That's what I had to do when we went last October, even for rides I already have been on several times and like (for example, Space Mountain, and BTMMR which I almost chickened out of at the last minute!). Every day its s different thing. I have watched several Everest ride videos and I have convinced myself its not so bad because the drop doesn't look so long (and as pps have said it really isnt because it curves), but some days I am ready to go and other days like today I am like....no....My heart is beating fast just thinking about it lol.

I agree with the FP thing. Having a FP for a ride that scares you, helps getting you on the ride faster, rather than wait around thinking over and over again how you don't like the idea of going on it. I also find that doing the scary rides first thing in the morning works better too because the more tired I am the more my anxiety seems to be triggered. I hope we both conquer our fears and just go on EE on our trips!


BTW, my sister is trying to convince me to ride RnR and my Dh is trying to convince me to go on ToT. I think there is a greater chance I'll go on EE, before I go on either one of those two. I know alot of people say you dont feel (or can even tell) when you go upside down on RnR, but I cant get that thought out of my mind. And the take-off I think will be too uncomfortable to me (I have breathing issues sometimes so having air blow towards me at that force is just going to freak me out). And ToT....even in my braver days I didn't want to do it so.......lol

Agreed totally on all points. I try to do them ASAP if I'm nervous because I can't stew in my anxiety all day. EE was an exception because I couldn't get a FP until 2 but in the end I was happy I did it. I'm the same way with ToT - I can do it, I can do it! for weeks and then I get there and freak out. I watched Splash and EE videos for MONTHS and timed the drops etc so on Splash I could say "it's literally under 2 seconds, you can do it!" I did it and seriously almost wet myself from nerves but I was happy I did it. I may never again but at least I tried it to know if I like it or not, but I know that is much easier said than done. On Splash we got stuck RIGHT at the top of the drop and I wanted to cry. We got to the bottom and I just kept yelling "I lived! I'm not dead!" and the people who could hear me were hysterical.

DiannaVM, honestly you don't feel the loops at all and takeoff is seriously so quick that by the time you freak out it's done but I completely get your apprehensiveness. I was almost in tears waiting to launch and by the end of the day we had ridden 4 more times! In fact, when the CM heard it was my first time he sent me through the back way and I got right back on. I just take my anxiety with rides minute-by-minute and if I have to back out, hey that's okay, baby steps!

 

[Bridgett_Anna]

I am a big baby when it comes to those types of rides. But 3 years ago, I forced myself to ride the rides I have been avoiding; RRC, TOT, EE.

Now, those rides are my favorites! Just try, it's not that bad

 

[Gaurhoth]

I can vividly remember the moment I started having issues with some roller coasters. Zydeco Scream at Six Flags in New Orleans (for the brief time it was open). When the shoulder harness was brought down, it didn't immediately click... and had a lot of 'play' in it. I could move the harness a good 4-6". My wife's only moved about 1". The "kid" checking the harness checked it, took a step forward, stopped, stepped back, checked it again... and then moved on to the next harness in line. I was DOOMED from that moment on. My PRIDE wouldn't let me disembark the ride screaming, but that seat was the LAST place on earth I wanted to be in at that moment.

Before the ride started, my brain had analyzed the physics and determined going forward was fine... you have a solid cart/chair that momentum is pushing you INTO. Backwards however - my life hangs on the balance of this $ 0.50 bolt and nut that are holding this harness together, that the maintenance guy forgot to tighten because he'd had a fight with his wife the night before and didn't get much sleep... (scenario made up by my panicking mind).

Obviously I survived, but I swore I'd never get on a backward coaster again. I've ridden ToT, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, etc .. but not Everest or RnRC. We are headed to Disney in June and I'm determined to get on both for at least one ride. Life's too short... and if I do manage to die on one of the rides, I guess there are worse places for it to happen

G

 

[DisneyFan2013]

The backwards part made me a little nauseous too. I was telling a respiratory nurse/friend who told me I probably didn't breathe when I went backwards. She said to yell while riding that part. Sure enough, I yelled and felt great after the ride. Who knew???

I love the backwards part but I know everyone is different. I rode EE 11 times during one trip and enjoyed every minute!

 

[Deborah LeSueur]

I don't like drops & heights. The 3 rides I refuse to ride are TOT, RRC, and Everest. Didn't ride Splash mountain last time either. I heard the theming is amazing on Everest. Is there a point I could duck out but still see the majority of it? I heard you can duck out at the elevators at TOT...We probably won't be back for about 5 years, so I really would like to conquer Everest. I love BTMRR and even Space Mtn. Can you compare Everest to these?

The only thing that gets me is the part where you go backwards, but for my kids sake I agree to do it once every trip.

 

[ahutton]

If you don't like drops and still want to conquer the mountain sit on the front row or closer to the front row, the drop won't feel as fast.
Every ride at Disney has a "chicken exit" so you can still do the standby line and duck out.

In this instance, I disagree with sitting closer to the front. I find the backwards portion of the ride far more intense up front; this is a sit in the middle type ride for me...

 

[yulilin3]

Yeah, I was saying the front cause she specifically said she doesn't like drops, in the front you feel less of the drop but more of the going backwards and vice versa

 

[DiannaVM]

I love the backwards part but I know everyone is different. I rode EE 11 times during one trip and enjoyed every minute!

Oddly the backwards part is not the part that scares me. Even though it doesn't compare, I like it when the raft on the Kali River Rapids turns and has my back facing the drop. I feel it less somehow

 

[Ravenclaw2015]

You can always check out youtube and see for yourself.

 

[epcotty]

We still haven't tried EE, maybe this time coming up (although some coming along from my family won't want to go on I know). Maybe near the end of the night

 

[MissErikaRae]

You should totally try it! I love rollercoasters but my boyfriend HATES them...like really hates them. I had to do TOT and RR by myself. I somehow convinced him to go on EE and he LOVED it. We went on twice during our trip.

You should try it and if you don't like it after then now you know but you won't know until you try!