12 Walt Disney World Attractions That Might Give You Motion Sickness
When it comes to planning your Walt Disney World getaway, it pays to be prepared for any eventuality. If you’re visiting the theme parks and have been known to suffer from motion sickness then there are a handful of Disney attractions that may make you feel a bit queasy. Though everyone experiences motion sickness differently and you are your own best judge of what you and your family can handle, here are dozen rides that my clients with motions sickness have said make them go a bit weak in the knees :
1. Primaeval Whirl – Animal Kingdom
This colorful Coney-island themed ride may look seemingly harmful at first but looks can be deceiving. As a matter of fact this attraction is part coaster part Tilt-a-Whirl and frequently tops Blog lists when it comes to motion sickness. Quick spins, sudden stopping and starting and a jerky change of direction can have you wishing you wouldn’t have eaten that churro before boarding!
2. Flight of Passage- Animal Kingdom
If you’ve ever gotten sick at an IMAX movie theatre, the sensation you ‘ll get here is largely the same. You straddle a ride vehicle (a bit like a motorcycle) which elevates you through the magical world of Pandora using a giant video screen. Though your body may not be moving as drastically as the screens would have you believe, there are a lot of big dips and fast-paced dives that may set your tummy aflutter.
3. Soarin’-Epcot
Similar to Flight of Passage, on the surface this hang-gliding simulator looks innocent enough and offers beautiful peaceful views of some of the worlds most breathtaking vistas. However, people that don’t like heights should note that the ride will hoist you up about 40 feet in the air for the simulation. Like Flight of Passage you are also surrounded by a giant screen and the images featuring a lot of swoops, and dives. Though it’s not as intense as Flight of Passage it can still make those with motion sickness a bit woozy.
4. Star Tours – Hollywood Studios
The first time I published a list of rides that give visitors Motion Sickness, I left out this attraction and was bombarded with messages from readers saying that this is one that makes them sick every time. Like Flight of Passage and Soarin’ this ride employs a large screen to give you the feeling that you soaring through the Galaxy with some of your favorite Star Wars friends. However, the ride carriages do shift, move, rumble and shake quite a bit making for an unsettling combination for those that get motion sickness easily.
5. Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom
This “high speed” indoor space coaster is vintage Disney at its best. However, its jerky track has also given it a reputation as one of the rides that may just make you feel a bit shaky when you get off. The attraction is completely in the dark except for occasional strobe-light effects. This can make you feel a bit disoriented as you can’t see what twist or turn is coming up next. The ride has been upgraded since it first premiered in 1975 but is still a bit rough compared to some of Disney’s World’s more modern rides. As a result, it might not be the best option for those that suffer from motion sickness or with neck and back problems.
6. Tower of Terror – Hollywood Studios
Coming in at over 190 feet, this attraction is hard to miss in the horizon when visiting Walt Disney World. If the mere thought of plunging 131 feet down an elevator shaft has you feeling a bit shakey than it is probably not the attraction for you. It’s also important to point out that there is not just one plunge but visitors will find yourselves bungeeing up and down the shaft a few times before the ride comes to an end. For thrill ride seekers, it doesn’t get better than this. For those with sensitive tummies, I’d give it a miss!
7. Dinosaur – Animal Kingdom
I have to admit that I don’t suffer from motion sickness that often but this is one attraction that makes me feel mildly nauseous every time. Part track ride, port motion simulator. Dinosaur takes you back 65 million years to locate an Iguanadon. Though the ride boasts some of the most impressive animatronics that you’ll find at Disney, the ride is VERY bumpy as you are hurled through a dark forest as you try to avoid a meteor shower. There are quite a few hairpin turns, dark spaces and strobe lighting effects to consider for those with a history of motion sickness.
8. Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom
This coaster is the tallest attract at Walt Disney World and features a 118-foot hill. There are lots of twists and turns as you board a Himalayan railway train for a scary encounter with a Yeti. Visitors with motion sickness should note that as you progress through the various twists and turns of this steel coaster the ride reaches a dead end and the coaster will send you hurtling backyards through a windy, dark path. If you’ve ever gotten sick travelling backwards on a train, subway or bus, that is a pretty good indication of how Expedition Everest may make you feel.
9. Astro Orbiter- Magic Kingdom
On the surface, this Tomorrowland attraction may look like a mild-mannered ride in the same vein as Dumbo the Flying Elephant. However, it can pack an unexpected punch. The fact that visitors have to take an elevator up to the ride platform and that the cars soar over 80 feet above the theme park suggests that there is more to this attraction than meets the eye. It’s definitely not the best option for those with a fear of heights or with vertigo. The ride also moves much quicker than Dumbo and features a joystick allowing your rocket to move up and down rather rapidly
10. Mad Tea Party – Magic Kingdom
This is one of those classic rides that most of us think of when we think about Magic Kingdom. These colorful tea cups have served as the setting for many a Disney World family photo or even tv commercial. However, what starts off as a fun lighthearted Disney attraction can quickly go astray if you have a maniacal family member spinning the central wheel as quickly as possible. These cups can spin fast so for those that get dizzy easily or can get a bit sick exercise caution!
11. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Hollywood Studios
This Hollywood Studios indoor steel coaster will take your from 0 – 60 miles per hour in under 3 sections. offers an inversion that promises 4g’s (that’s one more g than what astronauts experience at a shuttle launch) and takes you on a lot of crazy twists and turns all while blaring the songs of Aerosmith. Sensitive riders would steer clear or risk ending up with a headache or tummy ache.
12. Mission: Space (Orange) – Epcot
Though it is difficult to predict what rides may make guest sick as everyone is different, this is the one Disney attractions that I’ve heard the most motion sickness complaints about. It also comes with its own complimentary barf bag. Mission: Space is a centrifuge ride that is designed to simulate what a space flight would feel like.
It spins quick (up to 2.5 gs as it simulates a landing on the moon. The effect can be anything from the feeling of weightlessness to one of extreme nausea. At the ride’s launch, Astronauts said that this rise is as close as many people will get to experience the true feeling of space travel. It’s not one for the faint of heart. Luckily Epcot has a second version of the ride without the centrifugal force for those a bit leary of the Orange Mission.
For those suffering from motion sickness, vertigo or neck and back pain we hope this list will help you plan park days around rides and attractions that will keep you feeling magical!
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