With age comes fear...has this happened to you?

[chrisn]

I'm curious to see if this is a normal thing or if I'm just becoming paranoid. I've always been a theme park thrill seeker. I remember my dad always saying to me that as soon as I was tall enough we would go to ride XXXX and I lived for it.

I am 37 years old and I still love SOME of the coasters and things. TOT is my fave ride and I have ridden every scary ride at every theme park in Florida but I find that with every year older I get, I'm slowly turning into a chicken . Rides that I loved before are making me anxious. I stand there with a wary look in my eyes and think oh, I don't know, then my peeps drag me on and I'm fine.

Last trip to WDW/US/SW was Feb of 2005 and I am already thinking that I don't think I will ride the scaries. It's mostly the really scaries like Kraken, Hulk, Dueling Dragons, but I'm also even starting to feel leary of RRC.

Has this happened to you and is it normal or am I just a freak?!

 

[Cinderellafifi]

Hasn't happened to me...YET...but I'm not as old as you, either (close, too close). I can imagine this happening to me though...I start thinking of the bad things that could happen - bolts losening, short circuits, etc...but I haven't let it stop me so far.

 

[penguin087]

You and I are close in age. I think it must be normal. Rides don't normally phase me too much but last trip I had to force my self on the scarier rides just so the kids wouldn't be scared and I couldn't force myself onto Kraken. It wasn't crowded so the boys (both 11) rode alone...3 times. Next trip they won't need me for rides at all and I am pretty happy I can be waiting at the exit for them

 

[dbenlee]

I too have noticed that I am getting more and more hesitant to ride things as I get older. I am 39 and while I haven't always been very adventurist when it comes to thrill rides, I know that there are several rides that I won't even think about trying now. 20 years ago I would have tried ToT and Kraken, but today I won't even consider getting in line for these rides. My 7 year old son loves to call me a chicken and start clucking while he and my wife get in line for these.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have ridden ToT and RnR many times, but not the past few trips. I think my days are behind me on those two. I also did the original MS several times, but am very comfortable now with the green version.

 

[kimnkel]

With age comes fear?

Or is it that with age comes good sense?

Are you wanting to avoid them because you are afraid of mechanical malfunctions, or because they are just not enjoyable for any variety of reasons?

The rides are there to enjoy. Ride what you enjoy, don't ride what you don't enjoy. I hardly think it tests our bravery--not in any way that truly matters.

That zoomzoom stuff makes me feel blech. For me it's not a question of being scared, it is that I am just not willing to spend the rest of my day at WDW feeling like yech simply to prove some sort of pointless point.

My fiance is terrified of It's A Small World. I mean TERRIFIED. He is so afraid of that song being stuck in his head that the thought of going on Small World causes him to break out in a cold sweat. He won't even let me talk about it, and he is a 6' 2" 245 pound former football player. A defensive lineman, for heaven's sake! A 23 inch neck! bench press 300 pounds!

And yet...

It's a world of hopes, and a world of dreams! There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware, IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL!!!

I can get him to mow the lawn in 100 degree heat by humming that song while I do the dishes.

The bigger they are the harder those dancing dolls make 'em fall.

 

[KIANGA]

Just Wait Until You're 75 And 79. We Still Ride TOT, BTMRR, Star Tours And A Few Others. We Love To Watch People, Enjoy The Beautiful Grounds And Especially Love To Eat At TS Restaurants. We Take In All The Fireworks Shows, But Love Illuminations Best. We Never Miss The Lion King Show At AK. We'll Stay At AKL So That We Can Enjoy The Animals While Sitting On Our Balcony. Will Be Back Soon. So You See You've Got A Long Way To Go To Catch Up With My Husband And Me. Go And Enjoy Whatever You Do.

 

[6mouskateers]

chrisn I 'm a few years older than you BUT I have 2 teenagers and that has actually made me BOLDER! I have made it a point to keep up with them to remain the ALPHA DOG MAMMA.

They have to run pretty fast to get to the coasters before DH and me.

Now I have to admit that a couple of times it has cost me--I love the roller coasters and they are not a problem ,but TOT for instance makes me feel yucky for the rest of the day as does the first MS at EPCOT. The dropping sensation at TOT makes me sick now,and pulling the G's on MS gives me a headache. BUT they do not have to know that. Lucky for me we have 2 smaller ones also, one is big enough to ride (DD-9) but DS-8 doesn't like TOT and prefers green MS (although he has done both) so I get to say-"You two take lil sis on TOT AND DON'T LOSE HER and I'll take lol bro to the rest room. If you prefer YOU guys can take lil bro to the restroom and I"LL take lils sis on TOT" Works like a charm. I'm not the BIG DOG fer nuthin!

 

[diddldonna]

I think its normal it now takes me ages to pluck up courage to go on coasters etc. when several years back i would have gone on them one after the other. I think with me its fear as well as my weight, i worry that i am going to be too heavy.

Donna

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I'm nearly 50 and I am not fearful of rides. I DO avoid woodie coasters because of the roughness. I get tired of holding my head up, if you know what I mean. And I used to love them.

When I became a parent, I developed other sorts of fears... heights, drunken drivers. Became a real "Captain Safety" too. Not taking risks like I used to.

But still love the rides!

 

[buckylarue]

I'm just the opposite. I would never even think of riding any roller coaster or thrill ride until I was in my mid-30's. Now at (nearly) 55, I ride most anything, except for a few. Still don't like the outdoor drop rides (love ToT though) and won't do the Mad Tea Party, aka the spin-n-barf. Also, with the rash of reports of injuries/deaths on moving carnival rides this year (many due to operator error or inadequate inspection), I didn't even go to the Midway at the MN State Fair. I am planning on doin all the biggies at WDW on my birthday trip though; Everest, all the MK mountains, RnRC and ToT, Misson:Space and Soarin', etc. etc.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've always been scared to death of Ferris Wheels. Nothing else scares me, but I go into a panic on those things. Won't do it, not for anyone.

Now that I'm older, some rides are too jerky for me. The Hulk hurt my teeth. I don't like Dinosaur, either. But I can still ride Dueling Dragons.

 

[BlindTyldak]

I'm getting leery but only because I'm starting to be more prone to motion sickness. I handled standard M:S okay last trip, but I'm thinking green is good enough for me this trip. RnRC made me motionsick as well (I think it was the inversions in the dark with very few things to focus on) so I'll be skipping that, though I would not hesitate to go on a loop coaster again outside still. I'm actually going to be skipping Dumbo and the carousell this thime as well.

 

[shafke]

The only rides I avoid are the ones that would cause motion sickness. I find that some rides that I used to be able to handle with no problems when I was younger now make me a bit queasy. As for being afraid, no. I have never turned down a new coaster that I have never been on. Having kids helps. For example, when DS was 6 we took him to Blizzard Beach. He was just 42" so therefore tall enough for all of the slides. Normally I would have had 2nd thoughts with Summit Plummet but when DS just sat down and went down without hesitation I had to do the same.

 

[dznymom1]

That is the funniest thing I have read here in a long, long time! As I sit here watching the Patriots I am having visions of It's A Small World theme song being piped into the locker room and the whole bunch of them screaming and quaking in fear. Thanks for the laugh!

My fiance is terrified of It's A Small World. I mean TERRIFIED. He is so afraid of that song being stuck in his head that the thought of going on Small World causes him to break out in a cold sweat. He won't even let me talk about it, and he is a 6' 2" 245 pound former football player. A defensive lineman, for heaven's sake! A 23 inch neck! bench press 300 pounds!

And yet...

It's a world of hopes, and a world of dreams! There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware, IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL!!!

I can get him to mow the lawn in 100 degree heat by humming that song while I do the dishes.

The bigger they are the harder those dancing dolls make 'em fall.

 

[BillyM]

i agree the nuts and bolts that i am worried about coming loose are the ones in my back i am only 33 and i always love the thrill rides i ride them with my 9 yr old but now i pay for it for a while and i will only ride it one time not multiple times like when i was younger

 

[JulyGirl]

I've started to not like the upside down rides anymore.

 

[micksterlee]

I am 52 and I still love to ride the thrill rides and roller coasters but I have noticed that after riding some of the big attractions things are starting to hurt a little more than before.Must be because the attractions are getting older and rougher because we all know it can t be me.

 

[theostwalts]

Just Wait Until You're 75 And 79. We Still Ride TOT, BTMRR, Star Tours And A Few Others. We Love To Watch People, Enjoy The Beautiful Grounds And Especially Love To Eat At TS Restaurants. We Take In All The Fireworks Shows, But Love Illuminations Best. We Never Miss The Lion King Show At AK. We'll Stay At AKL So That We Can Enjoy The Animals While Sitting On Our Balcony. Will Be Back Soon. So You See You've Got A Long Way To Go To Catch Up With My Husband And Me. Go And Enjoy Whatever You Do.

That is Great!!!!! I hope me and my DW are still like that when we are 75 and 79 years young!!!

To the OP, I am 37 as well. This summer we went to Carowinds here in North Carolina. I rode the Borg, which is a roller coaster that has you laying down, face first toward the ground. I just kept thinking, I really hope this shoulder strap holds, or else..... I know what you mean

 

[alloyd1170]

We just got back from WDW last week. I hadnt ridden a roller coaster in 6 years because of pregnancies (possibility and actual). I havent gone scuba diving in 6 years either (Im an instructor).

I was worried about how I would handle the roller coasters the other week. I have noticed my body just doesnt deal with spinning and jumping like it has in the past (Im 36). My biggest fear is if something should happen to me and how my kids would deal without me (theyre 4 and 1). I even dread flying these days because of that. I used to be sort of a daredevil before they came along-bungee jumping, sky diving, scuba diving (wrecks, great white sharks, etc).

Needless to say, I handled the rides at WDW just fine. Space Mtn did freak me out a bit as I forgot how dark it really is. My 4 yr old didnt want to ride that one again (his first roller coaster ride too). He loved Thunder Mtn RR, Test Track, and Mission Space (green version ) though. He backed out of Everest, but I loved that one!

alison