Wimp on Roller Coasters

[Buttercup7and10]

I don't have tickets yet. One can still dream they are not fake ( separate thread) and I will be able to make fast pass reservations soon. I need recommendations for non scary rides in each of the 4 parks. TIA !

 

[lovetoscrap]

Moved to the Theme Parks Forum

 

[bocaj1431]

It is a little difficult to give advice for this only because there are different factors involved such as whether a ride in the dark is scary or spinning etc. I think the best way for you to determine what rides would best suit you is to go to disneyworld.disney.go.com. Click on the link at the top for theme park and tickets. Then on the drop down menu click on Magic Kingdom. Once on that page click on Attractions. That page lists all attractions in MK. There is a filter at the top for level of thrill rides. Then you can do the same for each park.

If you have any rides that you are considering from the list but are unsure of, if you look up that ride on. Youtube, there will be a video for you to watch.

I hope you have a great vacation filled with just the right amount of excitement.

 

[pjhootch]

It is subjective but if you give us an example of a roller coaster or motion type ride somewhere that you DO like- people can probably come up with suggestions.

 

[Buttercup7and10]

Thank you for your response. I tried space mountain years ago as an adult and did not like it. Funny I didn't even realize it was a roller coaster, stupid me, until I got on and then realized oops too late. That was the scariest ride I had ever been on. Is Soarin' worse ? And other ones ? I would probably sit out and just wait outside until DH and DCs are done.

 

[siskaren]

Soarin' would probably only be bad if you're afraid of heights. Once it lifts you off the ground, it's basically stationary.

 

[DrBanner]

Soarin isn't to bad as long as you don't look down.. I recently went with someone who is afraid of heights and he said it wasn't bad at all..

 

[pjhootch]

Soarin' tricks your brain into thinking you are flying/gliding. It isn't frightening but some people get motion sickness. I take a bonine before I spend a day in the parks anyway since I know I can get green with motion but love rides.

Pirates- a short drop in a boat and then just floating through the rest of the ride. The drop is manageable for toddlers so even if you don't like the drop, it isn't bad enough to ruin the ride (I think).
Peter Pan- cool and not scary
Winnie the Pooh. Sweet and not scary. Hated by some because of what it replaced.
Its a small world. Unless you have a fear of dolls or HATE the song (that would be me).
Buzz Light year. In the dark, flashes and lights and the car turns from side to side as you shoot aliens. But there are no up and down type swoops or drops and it is really slow. Some feel motion sickness here too.
Haunted Mansion- dark and comic ghosts. No drops, nothing fast just a car on a track that rolls along inside the attraction. The ghost thing is a little scary for some young children (mine were always fine) and some adults just don't like the idea. But it isn't "creepy" scary. It is lighthearted, in my opinion.
Jungle Cruise- nothing scary at all except the standby line.
Magic Carpet and Dumbo are slow spinning rides. Not even bad enough to give me motion sickness. Not terribly exciting rides once you pass 8 years old, but some adults still enjoy them.
Mad Tea Party- Just NO unless you have a cast iron stomach. Even Bonine is useless on this thing.
Tomorrow land speedway. Nothing scary at all.
Under the Sea- should be fine
Disney World Railroad- nothing scary

Obvious bad ideas: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, 7 Dwarves and probably Goofy's barnstormer

 

[Buttercup7and10]

Thank you pjhootch for your comprehensive answer ! You just provided me with the great idea of checking to see if any toddlers are standing on line, then I should be fine. While I love rides, my fear of heights seem to be getting worse with age.

 

[North of Mouse]

I don't have tickets yet. One can still dream they are not fake ( separate thread) and I will be able to make fast pass reservations soon. I need recommendations for non scary rides in each of the 4 parks. TIA !

Soarin' is 'not' scary at all - I hate flying (on planes) but this is totally relaxing to me.

Also, as for coasters, can't ride any of the really jerky ones anymore, but we are here now and have ridden SW7D's ride twice and it is really smooth - fast, in places, but smooth because of the seats swinging slightly side to side.

 

[JZCubed]

Thank you pjhootch for your comprehensive answer ! You just provided me with the great idea of checking to see if any toddlers are standing on line, then I should be fine. While I love rides, my fear of heights seem to be getting worse with age.

My 4 y.o. rides 7Dwarfs & Big Thunder Mountain.

Two of her relatives with motion issues cannot ride these.

Avoid Splash Mountain, Soarin' & Everest if your problem is just heights.

 

[goofyernmost]

I have never been on a roller coaster other then in WDW in my life. I just don't like the feeling and frankly I just do not enjoy them anyplace but Disney. At Disney I ride them all at 67 years old. I have ridden Space Mountain, BTMR, 7DMT, Everest, RcRC and other similar that I wouldn't do elsewhere like Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. A couple of them are exhilarating, but, I don't find them scary at all.

 

[fla4fun]

I am so not a thrill ride person! I skip the coasters, M:S, ToT and Splash, but pretty much do everything else. My sister doesn't like heights, but has no issues with Soarin (you can always request the 3rd row, which doesn't go up very much). TT is pretty much like driving on the freeway, so that is OK. I have tried all three "mountains" in MK, just in case, but found they were a little too much for me. I do take Bonine as well though - those 360 movies make me sicker than any ride ever could .

 

[KathyNY76]

I'm getting more scared of the height of roller coasters as I age, too! However, the thing with the most Disney coasters, they are 'enclosed' by the theming - generally rocks and such on either side, so I don't feel like I'm up high at all. And none of the drops are even big - except for Splash and you don't see that til you crest it and then it's over in 3 seconds. Barnstomer is a typical coaster in that it is 'open' and you can see how high you are, but it isn't very high at all so it didn't bother me in the least.

I will say I've not been on Expedition Everest yet and it looks to have some open parts that would probably not be good for you. And Space probably freaked you out b/c it is all in the dark and you weren't prepared for the ride.

 

[kiford]

My mother was the same way. My father tricked her into going on Space Mountain and she said that it was the most terrifying experience of her life. My sister is the same way. Fortunately, my dad and I both love fast rides so my mom and sister would usually sit and wait for us to go on those. Those attractions that my mother would go on:

MK:
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Mickey's PhlharMagic - this is a 3D movie. It may or may not be to your taste because of the 3D glasses. My mother didn't like swift movement but had no problems with 3D. If you get there and find you have a problem with it, you can always take the glasses off or just close your eyes and listen
Haunted Mansion
Buzz Lightyear's Ranger Spin - you don't have to make the car spin
Tomorrowland Speedway - don't let the word "speed" fool you, the cars go slow
all of parades or firerworks

Epcot:
Spaceship Earth - the cars do tilt up as they go up a track and there are some dark parts but it's slow as you're meant to look at the exhibits on either side
Innoventions East and West
Universe of Energy
Living with the Land
Soarin' - unless you're afraid of heights
The Seas with Nemo
All of the pavilions and street performances in the World Showcase

AK:
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Festival of the Lion King show
Finding Nemo the Musical show
It's Tough to be a Bug - 3D movie
all of the street performances

HS:
The Great Movie Ride
Fantasmic night show
Beauty and the Beast show
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (is that still there or has it been removed?)
MuppetVision - 3D movie
Lights, Motors Action! Stunt Show
all of the actors playing parts on the streets

DH and I both love thill rides but what we like about WDW is that you don't have to go on them and there's so many other things to see and do. We sometimes will only do one or two rides on a day and spend the rest of it wandering through the shops or watching street performances and hit one of the shows or 3D movies. Then relax, have dinner and go out for the fireworks or night shows

 

[kaetra]

DisneyWorld is probably the best theme park in the world for people who don't enjoy coasters. We live very close to Six Flags and I used to love coasters before I had my daughter. After my pregnancy something in my brain changed and I starting getting motion sickness and anxiety on big thrill rides, and thus began avoiding them.

Disney World has been a true blessing for me. With some trial and error and a bit of "exposure therapy", I can ride almost anything there now. There are only only a couple rides in Disney World I avoid. But even I find Space Mountain to be very jerky and rough on my body, so I avoid it even now.

If I were you I'd definitely try Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain and Barnstormer one time. They are thrilling but somewhat tame for coasters and perfect candidates if you are interested in any kind of "exposure therapy". I haven't ridden Seven Dwarves Mine Train yet, but from what I hear it's pretty tame and I will definitely be trying it.

I would avoid these:

• Space Mountain (MK) - It's rough and you already tried it and did not like it
• Rock-n-Roller coaster (HS) - It's very fast and pretty rough
• Expedition Everest (AK) - It's a smooth coaster but does have some pretty big drops (I ride this coaster and love it, but I don't have a height thing)
  
• Tower of Terror (HS) - It's a giant drop, it's not rough but it's one I still avoid because it's just too much for me
• Mission Space (Epcot) - Green or orange I avoid. It's extremely enclosed and frankly too boring for me to justify enduring any discomfort

If you're willing to push the envelope a bit, these are thrilling but not-too-scary:

• Big Thunder Mountain - thrilling but zero big drops. You just zoom around quickly, but fairly smoothly. It's not a tall coaster either.
  
• Splash Mountain - there's only one big drop and the rest is a lovely enjoyable super-tame boat ride. The big drop may be harder for you though with the height thing.
  
• Barnstormer - very tame coaster, not very high

Just about everything else is good to go! Soarin you just sit in a chair and it lifts you very gently and a wind machine blows lovely cool air in your face while you watch a giant flying movie. Ask for the bottom row if you're worried about the height thing, it shouldn't be a problem because most people want want the top row anyway. Do try it once though, you may love it - it's one of my favorite rides in the world!

 

[karmacats]

If you do decide to try big thunder or 7 dwarves mine train, ask to sit in the front car. It is *much* slower in the front; at least, it feels that way. I hate roller coasters (i get nauseous, but also hate the way they feel even without the nausea), but i find both of those pretty fun as long as i'm in the front row. a quick "i need the front so i don't throw up" to the cast member who's directing you to the rows will usually do the trick. Also, do not try this on expedition everest - i found out the hard way that the ride goes backwards for part of it, so the front becomes the back. i was so sick after that we had to return to our hotel.

FWIW, i also hate to fly but Soarin' is one of my favorite rides; you are in the air but the ride is very smooth and you are strapped in. You can also ask to sit in the bottom row. There will be a few seconds of movement when the top and middle rows rise up at the beginning of the ride, but otherwise the movement is very gentle.

 

[drcmk]

Everyone is different. Soarin is the one ride in Disney World my husband won't ride. It just feels too real to him, like he is high in the air with nothing below him. He breaks out in a sweat when he thinks about it.