Overcoming Fear on Roller Coasters: Tips for the Timid

Are you new to coastering? Or are your kids, significant other, or friends urging you to ride roller coasters with them? However, does the thought of boarding one of the new breed of behemoths frighten you? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Park rule number one: Never pressure anyone (including yourself) to ride a roller coaster or other thrill ride against their will. Amusement and theme parks should be about fun and shared experiences, not lessons in intimidation and anxiety.

Having said that, at least half the fun of thrill rides is—the thrilling experience. The best roller coasters turn knuckles white and induce screams.

The trick is to acclimate slowly. If you’ve never been on a major roller coaster or it’s been some time since your last ride, it’s probably unwise to immediately tackle a 200-foot plus, 80-mph hypercoaster. Instead, test your bravery on the more tame “family coasters” found at most parks. These coasters are not kiddie rides; they are slightly more robust options that accommodate guests of all sizes. Here are some examples of relatively tame family coasters:

• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster at Universal Studios Florida: Start with this very tame ride that is only slightly above a kiddie coaster. The steepest drop is 20 feet, with a top speed of 22 mph. Similar coasters include Goofy’s Barnstormer at the Magic Kingdom and Gadget’s Go Coaster at Disneyland.
• Flight of the Hippogriff at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, FL: This is a typical family coaster with a biggest drop of 30 feet and a top speed of 28 mph. A similar ride exists at Universal Studios Hollywood.
• Space Mountain: Found at Disneyland, Anaheim, CA, and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, this ride features special “space” effects that enhance the experience, particularly because it’s indoors and dark. Despite the hype, the two Space Mountain rides are really quite tame, reaching 27 mph (in Florida) and 32 mph (in California) without steep drops or inversions.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Another slight thrill, this outdoor mine train ride reaches 28 mph (in California) and 36 mph (in Florida) without steep drops, making it a good choice for those wary of the dark themes of Space Mountain. Similar attractions can be found at many other parks, not to mention the original Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Over Texas.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds: This Disney mountain ride climbs 80 feet, but does not have any steep drops and maintains relatively slow speeds.

Once you’ve braved the family coasters, it’s time to test yourself on coasters that are a bit taller and faster without inversions. Here are some suggestions:

• Runaway Mountain at Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX: An indoor steel coaster that drops 30 feet and reaches speeds up to 40 mph.
• Comet at Hersheypark, Hershey, PA: A classic wooden coaster with a 78-foot drop and a top speed of 50 mph.
• Cobra’s Curse at Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: Hitting 40 mph, this ride’s cars spin, adding extra excitement without overwhelming the rider.

After you’ve gained confidence on intermediate coasters, explore progressively bigger ones, but save the hypercoasters and those with unique features (flying, magnetic launch, etc.) for when you feel ready. You might discover that inversions, such as corkscrews and loops, give you pause. If so, it’s best to avoid coasters with inversion elements altogether. However, if you’re curious, try a coaster featuring only one inversion, like New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA, the first modern-day coaster to showcase a loop.

Once you’ve conquered these challenges, you might find yourself excitedly hooked on roller coasters for life. Your kids, significant other, or friends may even find themselves trying to pry you away from the rides.

On the other hand, if coasters genuinely frighten you, and you are unable to overcome your fears, you might want to explore tips for enjoying Walt Disney World without the thrill rides.