Would love help from others who have motion sickness on rides / attractions

[kkendle]

I'll be reading through all of this thread in detail and making notes. It seems that everyone's motion sickness is different. Weird how someone can handle one ride and not another, and someone else would feel the opposite.

I rode Transformers at USH a couple of year ago. DH went on with my Dad (78) and some of my kids (10 and 12). Came off it and INSISTED that I ride it. He knows my limits and since he said I really needed to ride it, I did, along with another of my kids and my Mom (72). Dad is a coaster junkie and mom is NOT.

I came off that ride so green, it ruined the better part of my day. DH was surprised. I felt bad for my Mom. She sits out the coasters and bigger rides at WDW, but she can do dark. I don't think she was green, but she sure didn't need something that intense.

I'm hoping I can handle Forbidden Journey and Gringotts. The rest I'll take day by day and ride by ride.

But wondering, if I can do Soarin' with no trouble, will FJ be an issue. Are there any similarities?

Soarin is a piece of cake compared to FJ. For me...FJ makes me the most sick. I ride it at least once..usually once on every visit and every time it makes me sick...I have to just close my eyes..usually within the first 10 or 15 seconds of the ride. I tried the meclizine and I may as well of swallowed a skittle. Did nothing. For the record...despicable me, spiderman, and transformers also bother me...but I can do them with maybe only a few eyes closings. FJ, however, not.

 

[kathy884]

I really appreciate everyone's input.

Plan to wear those wrist bands since I have some and skip quite of few of the rides then.

Heard no scientific studies report wrist bands doing anything, but many people swear by them. I'll use them and see if what studies say the placebo effect is works for me. lol

For Forbidden Journey, I'm assuming it's worth it to go through the queue with others who are riding and that you can just bow out right before the ride??

 

[glocon]

Maybe do the castle tour or just make it your last ride of the day- it is a great ride. FJ and Simpsons just do me in, but I love them anyway!

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

I did Spiderman back in 2000 when it was perhaps THE best ride in the park. Had no motion sickness. Maybe because I was enthralled? I wonder if this time around it will be a problem, since Transformers did a number on me at USH.

 

[HeddyRuth]

I did Spiderman back in 2000 when it was perhaps THE best ride in the park. Had no motion sickness. Maybe because I was enthralled? I wonder if this time around it will be a problem, since Transformers did a number on me at USH.

I was not happy with the Spider-Man changes and actually prefer transformers to Spider-Man now. I would suspect you will have similar issues to transformers.

 

[jjwampler]

How great to hear about others who suffer like I do! We are going to Universal for the first time for Spring Break. We've never been there since I don't like most thrill rides because of motion sickness, but as big Harry Potter fans we can't resist any longer! We are most interested in just EXPERIENCING the atmosphere and riding the Hogwarts Express.

My 11 year old son gets as queasy as I do and my 8 year old son is just sensitive to scary things and loud noises. My poor husband loves thrill rides, so he's stuck with a family who doesn't!

I've been going to Disney for 40 years. I enjoy Space Mountain and Big Thunder, but not Splash Mountain because of the drop.

Questions:

1) Do you equate the Dudley Do Right and Jurassic Park water rides with Splash?

2) Is Hippogriff like Big Thunder or even gentler?

The old Body Wars ride at EPCOT and also Star Tours have made me feel terrible. I wouldn't DREAM of trying Mission Space. For that reason, I think we'll pass on Forbidden Journey. I watched the You Tube video and don't think I can take it.

Questions:

1) I read that during busy times, the Hogwarts "Castle Tour Only" line is closed. I would assume that we can still do the Forbidden Journey ride line to see in the castle and exit before getting on the ride?

2) I think we're going to try Gringott's. Most of the ride reviews suggest that is is less intense than Forbidden Journey. You all seem to all universally agree?

Thanks very much.

Jackie

 

[ekatiel]

Drtiz, that was extremely helpful. I look forward to your review of Gringott's. One question - Does the patch make you drowsy or have other side effects to note?

One notable side-effect of the patch is vision problems. DH and I will not ever wear the patch again because it messes up our vision so much. It can dilate your eyes and cause your vision to blur. The last time I wore the patch, my vision took a week to get back to normal AFTER I took the patch OFF. I was worried it was going to be permanent. We stick with Meclizine now.

 

[Dee2013]

Besides Seuss trolley, I have only ridden Flight of the Hippogrif. Even THAT was pushing it!

Before it was taken down, there was a night vision youtube video of Gringotts. There was a 10 foot drop at the very beginning, and turns. Lots of dark. Some turns were 18o, but they were turns, not spins.

I had no issues at all with Gringotts, although I did close my eyes once due to a 3D effect of falling. I got off and immediately went to the single rider line to do it again. They put me in the FRONT! I LOVED it!

After, I turned to my son and asked if I could ride FJ, and he said no way.

I have walked through the castle many times through the regular line. There is an exit just before the ride itself, just tell the person there.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Besides Seuss trolley, I have only ridden Flight of the Hippogrif. Even THAT was pushing it!

Before it was taken down, there was a night vision youtube video of Gringotts. There was a 10 foot drop at the very beginning, and turns. Lots of dark. Some turns were 18o, but they were turns, not spins.

I had no issues at all with Gringotts, although I did close my eyes once due to a 3D effect of falling. I got off and immediately went to the single rider line to do it again. They put me in the FRONT! I LOVED it!

After, I turned to my son and asked if I could ride FJ, and he said no way.

I have walked through the castle many times through the regular line. There is an exit just before the ride itself, just tell the person there.

I'm so happy to hear positive things about Gringotts for those with motion sickness. My Harry Potter fanatic DD hated Forbidden Journey but loved Spiderman, so I think she'll be fine on Gringotts.

I get sick spinning around quickly or watching a fast-scrolling screen, but I loved FJ and handled Dragons by closing my eyes on the loops, so motion sickness is obviously not a predictable thing but I've heard only encouraging things about Gringotts. Maybe even my very-motion sensitive DS can handle it?

 

[damo]

None of our party of 9 got even slightly queasy with Gringotts and we all have issues of some sort when it comes to motion sickness.

 

[Tahariel]

Just came across this thread. If you struggle with motion sickness/travel sickness, ginger pastilles are a great way to cope with it without needing to take meds. Chew on one a little while before travelling or hopping onto a ride and you'll be fine
Another brilliant thing they can help with: that feeling when you've had too much food

 

[damo]

Just came across this thread. If you struggle with motion sickness/travel sickness, ginger pastilles are a great way to cope with it without needing to take meds. Chew on one a little while before travelling or hopping onto a ride and you'll be fine
Another brilliant thing they can help with: that feeling when you've had too much food

Ginger pastilles do nothing for me at all. I have tried them several times. Perhaps they work for milk motion sickness.

 

[schumigirl]

I'm a huge fan of ginger in all its forms......but it has never helped with even the slightest motion sickness on its own.

I do take it for nausea feeling after a bad ride or seasickness. But for most folks with issues on these rides it's just not enough to make any difference.

 

[Tahariel]

I guess everyone has different things that help them best. Just wanted to throw that out there
Because for me the wristbands don't help and tablets always make me drowsy and feel even worse :/

 

[angryduck71]

I've written this on every motion sickness post I find... I suffer GREATLY from motion sickness. Always have. Can't ride in the back of a car -- now can't even get on a swing set. First time I rode Forbidden Journey with bonine or Dramamine (can't remember which), I almost threw up and felt awful for hours. I did the prescription patch someone mentioned in an earlier post that was FANTASTIC. NOTHING bothered me. So, I took a chance and rode Forbidden Journey. NOT A PROBLEM. I was so excited I got off, jumped up and down in excitement that I could actually ENJOY the ride, and the guy next to me puked. I felt so bad then. Poor guy needed one of my patches! REALLY - REALLY -- get them and you can ride anything. REALLY.

 

[keishashadow]

A few things trigger for me @ Universal, Demontors are #1. No huge issue with spiderman (although I wish it'd spin one less time) but Transformers often gives me odd feeling for bit afterwards.

Recommended by my dr. To try in lieu of Rx (patch/pills) or OTC, both of which don't mix well with alcohol & can have side effects, including rebound ones:

If you find yourself getting woozy on an attraction: do not close your eyes! It can easily make things worse

Instead avert your gaze to any spot inside the vehicle. The floor, your lap, etc., Imagine a spot the size of a quarter and stare until your equilibrium has stabilized

Eating light, staying hydrated and having meds in hand if all else fails is good fail safe.

 

[anna08]

Astronauts say never close your eyes and I hadn't heard that yet when I rode FJ - awful awful awful for motion sickness - high speed film and your vehicle is spinning all over the place. And the bars come over your shoulders so if you do get sick you are restrained and unable to bend down. If you really sensitive, I would do it at the end of the day. We rode it first - sis and I were nauseated for a 2-3 hours afterward. Not a great start to a park day.

 

[nighttowll]

I definitely have bad motion sickness. Car rides, even in the front seat, can really get to me depending on the type of car, buses, rides, Laser shows, IMax Screens, 3D screens, boats rocking. I'm cursed. But it is completely hit or miss, so I never have any idea what will set it off, and once I'm sick, I'm done for the day it's that bad. I know heat makes it worse, so if I can stay cool, I can usually last a little longer before I start to feel nauseous. Oddly enough, spinning rides, like the tea-cups, don't make me sick, and coasters don't make me nauseated, instead they give me headaches or really bad ones give me migraines. I think my issue is the slower rolling back and forth or side to side motion and screens. Coasters are usually too fast and not moving those directions.

Nothing really bothers me at Disney except:

RNR Coaster - gives me a headache afterwards.
BTMR - gives me headache if in back or after repeat rides
Soar'n - nauseous, it's that back and forth / screen thing

I thought ST would do me in, but not yet. Although I've only rode it when the weather was colder. I feel like it might get to me if I was overheated in the summer.

Dragon Challenge - mild headache

Hulk - mild headache

Transformers - nauseous

Revenge of the Mummy - ok

Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket - absolutely worse coaster between Uni and Disney for me, I think I cried it hurt my head so bad. It was really jerky and my head kept slamming against the hard plastic back of the seat. I finally put my hand between my head and the seat, so my hand was getting slammed instead, very uncomfortable. First time my headache came from physically getting hit, and not G-forces.

Despicable Me Minion - not sure I've only done this in non-moving seats or with drugs in me, but it sounds like the type of ride that would really get to me.

Forbidden Journey - this one is the worst offender at Uni in my opinion. Even with drugs in me, I will feel slightly nauseous at certain parts. I can't ride this without meds. Closing my eyes does help some for this ride, as I think it is the screen more than the actual motion that sets me off on this ride, or at least the combination of the two. The parts not in front of the screen are ok for me.

I look at someone else's computer while they are scrolling, I get sick too. It is ridiculous.

I feel your pain. This gets me too. I have screen issues. I once had a phone that came with some sort of new 3D background, it made me motion sick to look at the phone it even for a few seconds. I had to get IT at work to disable it.

My husband and I both have serious motion sickness issues. There were many rides at Universal and Disney that we simply could not ride until we found out about a wonderful drug called Transderm Scop (long o—it’s pronounced Scope). It is a prescription medication, but it is absolutely amazing.

This.

Patches and Phenergan/ Zofran are my best friend. Nothing else really works for me. Non-drowsy Dramamine is ok for basic mild car sicknesses, but if I'm going anywhere and will be exposed to multiple motion sickness causing activities, especially back to back over a few days, I need something stronger like the patch.

Does the patch make you drowsy or have other side effects to note?

I've never heard of it making you drowsy, but it does have some side effects. You are supposed to be able to wear it for 3 days, but I can't keep it on more than 2 before side effects begin to kick in. I start getting neck pain that feels kind of like a pinched nerve and blurry vision. This usually starts towards the end of the 2nd day for me. At that point, I know it needs to come off. It also causes dry mouth, so it usually makes me pretty thirsty. In my opinion, the dry mouth is worth it if it keeps me from feeling nauseous. All the side effects I've experienced have basically cleared up within a day of taking the patch off, the neck pain usually stops immediately once the patch is removed. The dry mouth can last a couple more days. I think it takes a little while to get completely out of your system. I've never experienced the long term blurry vision another poster described. Not sure if that is because I never wear longer than 2 days or what.

1) Do you equate the Dudley Do Right and Jurassic Park water rides with Splash?

2) Is Hippogriff like Big Thunder or even gentler?

1) I read that during busy times, the Hogwarts "Castle Tour Only" line is closed. I would assume that we can still do the Forbidden Journey ride line to see in the castle and exit before getting on the ride?

2) I think we're going to try Gringott's. Most of the ride reviews suggest that is is less intense than Forbidden Journey. You all seem to all universally agree?

Jackie

1. Yes, they are both similar except you are in a much bigger ride vehicle at JP and the drop is not as bad.

2. I'd say Hippo is more similar to Barnstormer. It is a very tame kiddy coaster, but a little bumpy jerky in spots, not too bad because it is so short of a ride.

1. Yes, but I'm not sure it would be worth it if the lines are really long. I'd ask for the tour.

2. Yes and no. It seems less intense as far as making me nauseous, but more intense in the coaster jerky gives me a headache sense. I think this also depends on where you ride. 1st time I rode I thought it was worse than FJ. It really jerked me around and gave me a bad headache. Second time I road it on a different trip, I thought it seemed less intense, and didn't get as sick as the time before, but it still bothered me. I can't ride it more than once without getting a migraine. I've never tried it without meds in for the nausea, but it doesn't seem as bad. FJ will get me extremely nauseated on the first time without meds in me, and slightly queasy with meds, Gringotts doesn't get me queasy with meds, just hurts my head.

 

[PSN]

I got very bad nausea the first time I rode Forbidden Journey a few years ago which affected me most of the day, but ever since then I take 2 Dramamine first thing in the morning and then I'm fine after that

no more problems with Forbidden Journey

 

[theme_park_mom]

I've written this on every motion sickness post I find... I suffer GREATLY from motion sickness. Always have. Can't ride in the back of a car -- now can't even get on a swing set. First time I rode Forbidden Journey with bonine or Dramamine (can't remember which), I almost threw up and felt awful for hours. I did the prescription patch someone mentioned in an earlier post that was FANTASTIC. NOTHING bothered me. So, I took a chance and rode Forbidden Journey. NOT A PROBLEM. I was so excited I got off, jumped up and down in excitement that I could actually ENJOY the ride, and the guy next to me puked. I felt so bad then. Poor guy needed one of my patches! REALLY - REALLY -- get them and you can ride anything. REALLY.

I'm sold! going to check with my doctor about getting this.
Does it make you drowsy? any other side effects? I assume you cannot mix this with alcohol?