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Hello all I will be in Universal for 2 1/2 days (Thur Feb 10 [1/2 day arrive around 11 am], Fri. Feb 11, Sat. Feb 12) staying on site at HRH.
I am usually a big chicken when it comes to new rides. With that said, I have done EVERY Disney coaster/ride...allthough it took 2 trips to finally do TOT, I found out last Sept. how much I really enjoy it and what I had been missing! I find it is usually the unknown that freaks me out. I took the chicken exit multiple times and finally went on EE and RcNRC with my husband (with him telling me each twist, turn and loop, as it came up!!) after that initial ride, I was fine and I loved EE, especially. I can say, I don't LOVE RcnRC....I can tolerate it, I can do it more than once...but I don't LOVE it. TOT/EE I LOVE!!! Space Mountain....not so much love, but I think I will re-visit it on my upcoming trip and see if I can like it again.
NOW..... I really would love to try the HULK. I am very nervous, as once again....it is new, it is high....it looks very formidable!!! but, I'd love to try it....if I could only get the courage. I don't know how my body will feel on it....will I pull many G's? (can't stand too many G-forces on my body/ thus mission space orange side is out for me!!!) is the catapult as intense as RcnRC?? how is the ride overall??
Another ride causing me much anxiety is Forbidden Journey (for the phychological thrills of the life-sized props jumping out at me in the dark....the spiders and dementors. I am holding out on that ride too....I need a big dose of bravery that day!!)
Also, want to do the Mummy, I think I can handle the roller coaster part...it's the storyline that terrifies me!!!
I did say I'm a big baby on thrill rides, LOL!!
Can anyone give me the scoop..... perhaps it will help me find the courage I so desperately need to try these thrills with my son!!
I'd hate to be a party pooper and not share in the experience as much as I can with him....this boy is 14, and very cautious sometimes, yet others, he surprises me!! He managed Manta at Sea World, so I'd venture to say he can do ANYTHING!! I don't want to be the stick in the mud!
Thanks for your insight/help!
~Marie
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Disney Trips: First Disney Trip, Disneyland with my DH (then DBF) August, 1990 | January 15-23, 2008 AKL CL Celebrating DH leave from Afghanistan | Sept 1-12, 2009 - Storming the World with Friends, AKL CL/ Free Dining| FEB 5-13, 2011 BC CL GV/HRH CL @ US/IOA| Next Trip: Sept 28 - Oct 4, 2012 POLY GV CL/ Oct 4-7, 2012 HRH Club at US/IOA Mom, Sons and BFF do FD, first MNSSHP & F&W
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I can't give you any help regarding Forbidden Journey, because I haven't been on it yet....but as for Hulk and Mummy:
I almost never discourage someone from trying a new ride. How else do we know what we will love? However, Hulk is one of the few rollercoasters I don't really have any desire to ride again (and I LOVE roller coasters!). It's not the fast take-off that bothers me (that is my favorite part of RnRC), but the roller coaster is very big in a rather tight place. The G's that come from making some of the tight turns left me with a pretty annoying headache. I didn't have that problem with any other rides at Universal, never had it at Disney, and never at Busch Gardens either. Just with Hulk. Maybe it was just a random thing that wouldn't be an issue again, but there are too many other rides for me to worry about the headache I might get on Hulk.
Mummy: LOVE IT! This ride is super fun! If you can do any of the Disney coasters, you can handle Mummy. To me it doesn't seem so much like a roller coaster as it does a fast "dark ride." It goes fast and then slow and then fast, etc, so you can keep up with the story. It is pretty scary as far as the story, but you never sit in front of anything for too long so it doesn't really start to get to you in a panic - I can't escape! - kind of way. I definitely recommend this one!!
Enjoy your trip and good luck on new rides!!
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
i have no answers for you (sorry) as our trip isn't until may--but i AM interested in hearing your feelings on the rides you do choose to ride! i have an 'i'm here i might as well ride it' theory on rides, but after my unfortunate experience on dinosaur (and space mountain--though that wasn't as bad as dinosaur) i am a little nervous for universal rides!
for me, the scary rides are the ones where you can't see anything. but i absolutely plan to go on the hulk--i am a wuss, but outdoor steel coasters are typically so smooth they are fun. someone on here told me to go to youtube and search the rides--i've since watched almost every single one. the dark rides (spiderman, the mummy etc.) are hard to view, but i've watched the hulk (along with manta at sea world--TOTALLY doing that!) and rip ride rocket and both videos made me feel better about it. try doing that! and have a great trip!!!! you're getting close to single digits!!!
I would definitely try the Hulk coaster if you've been on RnRC. The Hulk's launch isn't as fast as RnRCs, but the Hulk is the more intense ride. I would ride near the front for a less intense ride. Row 1 or 2 might be best for your first time on the Hulk. The most intense ride is in the back row in the furthest seat on the left. If you don't like it, you don't have to ride again. You can at least say you rode it and you might have an amusing vacation story.
The Hulk is more intense than any coaster at WDW, but I love it! It's my favorite coaster at IOA. The takeoff is awesome! Dragon's Challenge is a little more intense than the Hulk.
If you've done EE, then the Mummy won't be a problem for you. I think they are pretty similar. It is soooo fun!!
I haven't done Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit yet, so I don't know how intense it is.
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I just rode the Forbidden Journey so I can give my opinion on that, I like roller coasters, while my DBF hates them. We both hated this ride, it actually gave me a panic attack. It was dark, scary, and they strap you in so tight you can't even move. I felt trapped and than things jumped out in the dark, needless to say I almost went screaming from the ride and we had to go find a quiet secluded spot for me to stop freaking out and I have never ever had that happen. My DBF refused to go on any other coaster rides the rest of the trip because of that ride, and he was even doing Big Thunder Mt back at Disney. It was without a doubt the worst ride I have ever been on, and I have done the Hulk, Dragon Challenge, you name it.
However, if you really want to do Harry Potter's castle, take the chicken exit, you will see more of the castle (which I recommend if your a Harry Potter fan) and not have to ride the ride.
I just rode the Forbidden Journey so I can give my opinion on that, I like roller coasters, while my DBF hates them. We both hated this ride, it actually gave me a panic attack. It was dark, scary, and they strap you in so tight you can't even move. I felt trapped and than things jumped out in the dark, needless to say I almost went screaming from the ride and we had to go find a quiet secluded spot for me to stop freaking out and I have never ever had that happen. My DBF refused to go on any other coaster rides the rest of the trip because of that ride, and he was even doing Big Thunder Mt back at Disney. It was without a doubt the worst ride I have ever been on, and I have done the Hulk, Dragon Challenge, you name it.
However, if you really want to do Harry Potter's castle, take the chicken exit, you will see more of the castle (which I recommend if your a Harry Potter fan) and not have to ride the ride.
Thank you for this review. I have real issues with being strapped really tightly into rides and feeling stuck. (I thought I was not going to be able to breathe on Phoenix - Busch Garden's ship that goes all the way around in a circle) What type of harness is it? Is it a typical over-the-shoulders roller coaster harness that just latches really tight? Or is it one that also comes between your legs and across your waist?
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
Hulk is a very intense coaster. The coasters at WDW are all quite tame compared to real coasters. There are inversions, high speed turns and a wild takeoff. I'd give it a shot but there's absolutely nothing at WDW to compare it to. Mummy is like EE just not as high
Thank you for this review. I have real issues with being strapped really tightly into rides and feeling stuck. (I thought I was not going to be able to breathe on Phoenix - Busch Garden's ship that goes all the way around in a circle) What type of harness is it? Is it a typical over-the-shoulders roller coaster harness that just latches really tight? Or is it one that also comes between your legs and across your waist?
Its actually worse than the over the shoulder, its an over the shoulder that goes so tight it feels like someone is pressing against you and you can't move except your arms, but it is a bucket seat so you are restricted to just moving your hands basically, it was really hard to even hold my DBF hand during the ride and I couldn't see him at all past the seat. It was much too tight, but they flip you almost all the way over so that's why it has to be so tight, overall I would say you can't move and if that is hard for you, don't go you won't like it.
There are also test seats at the front of the castle, but make sure you have someone else push down the harness to where the button on the chair clicks to green, they won't let you go with yellow.
I have the same experience as Ashli on the Hulk. I get a vicious headache from it and I've actually had to swear off of it. I had a head injury though so I think that might play into it. But Barry is right that if you ride in the front it's smoother. I find RnRC to be the same too - it's much smoother in the front and I'm less inclined to get a headache from it by riding in the first couple cars. There's a separate line to ride in the front row so if you're willing to wait, it's very possible to ensure the smoother ride. I get the same headache on EE as I do on the Hulk (can't ride EE anymore either ). I think that if you can do EE and RnRC, you can do the Hulk. The adrenaline rush from the launch is awesome and it's over way too soon for me (even though I'm already getting a headache). For sure if your son can do Manta he can definitely do the Hulk!
As for FJ... First of all, full disclosure. I absolutely love coasters and drop rides. I'm a big adrenaline junkie. And I do enjoy FJ. But that ride is intense. IN-tense! I had a little mini-freak-out at the dementers part, especially the first time I rode it. Kobeychiev's experience with the shoulder harnesses is very similar to mine. If a woman has any sort of bust or for men, a large chest, it's tight. And it is difficult to see anybody sitting beside you or hold his hand.
I can't help you out with Rip Rockit because it was really windy when we were there and they had the ride closed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoonieRooToo
Is the Mummy a coaster?
Yes, it's got a coaster part. A short part of it is backwards, like EE. There's also fire over your head in one spot and if you have a bug phobia... be prepared. The Mummy is like a bunch of thrill rides rolled up into one attraction.
Forbidden Journey is intense. My DH, who has a cast iron stomach and can ride anything, was knocked flat for a couple of hours after. I mean lying-on-a-bench-waiting-for-the-feeling-to-pass. I wanted to get him (and my SIL, who threw up) some ginger ale, but there's no soda in WWoHP and once I left the area to buy it I wouldn't have been able to get back in.
My niece took my daughter on her "first coasters" at US and IOA. They did Mummy and Dueling Dragons (DD10 loved them both) but DN wouldn't let DD try Hulk.
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Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 02-16-2011 at 09:51 PM..
I have the same experience as Ashli on the Hulk. I get a vicious headache from it and I've actually had to swear off of it. I had a head injury though so I think that might play into it. But Barry is right that if you ride in the front it's smoother. I find RnRC to be the same too - it's much smoother in the front and I'm less inclined to get a headache from it by riding in the first couple cars. There's a separate line to ride in the front row so if you're willing to wait, it's very possible to ensure the smoother ride. I get the same headache on EE as I do on the Hulk (can't ride EE anymore either ). I think that if you can do EE and RnRC, you can do the Hulk. The adrenaline rush from the launch is awesome and it's over way too soon for me (even though I'm already getting a headache). For sure if your son can do Manta he can definitely do the Hulk!
As for FJ... First of all, full disclosure. I absolutely love coasters and drop rides. I'm a big adrenaline junkie. And I do enjoy FJ. But that ride is intense. IN-tense! I had a little mini-freak-out at the dementers part, especially the first time I rode it. Kobeychiev's experience with the shoulder harnesses is very similar to mine. If a woman has any sort of bust or for men, a large chest, it's tight. And it is difficult to see anybody sitting beside you or hold his hand.
I can't help you out with Rip Rockit because it was really windy when we were there and they had the ride closed.
Yes, it's got a coaster part. A short part of it is backwards, like EE. There's also fire over your head in one spot and if you have a bug phobia... be prepared. The Mummy is like a bunch of thrill rides rolled up into one attraction.
I was originally worried about this....but i've been told the bugs are only projected on a screen in front of you, and don't actually touch you or anything, so hopefully I will be ok!!
Now, the negative reviews of FJ have me dissapointed because now I am really beginning to worry that it might be too intense for me! I really wanted to do that with my son, but I really think I will just be too scared.
Maybe a good trade off would be to tell him I'll do Hulk, instead of FJ... it might be a better tradeoff??
I am really anxious now because I know my son will be very dissapointed that I am backing out of FJ!!!! Oh, how I wish I was one of those brave people! It makes me really sad that I won't be able to experience FJ with him.
I feel slightly de-flated now, as I really had high hopes I'd be able to just close my eyes and be ok enough to get through the ride with him!
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Disney Trips: First Disney Trip, Disneyland with my DH (then DBF) August, 1990 | January 15-23, 2008 AKL CL Celebrating DH leave from Afghanistan | Sept 1-12, 2009 - Storming the World with Friends, AKL CL/ Free Dining| FEB 5-13, 2011 BC CL GV/HRH CL @ US/IOA| Next Trip: Sept 28 - Oct 4, 2012 POLY GV CL/ Oct 4-7, 2012 HRH Club at US/IOA Mom, Sons and BFF do FD, first MNSSHP & F&W
I was originally worried about this....but i've been told the bugs are only projected on a screen in front of you, and don't actually touch you or anything, so hopefully I will be ok!!
Now, the negative reviews of FJ have me dissapointed because now I am really beginning to worry that it might be too intense for me! I really wanted to do that with my son, but I really think I will just be too scared.
Maybe a good trade off would be to tell him I'll do Hulk, instead of FJ... it might be a better tradeoff??
I am really anxious now because I know my son will be very dissapointed that I am backing out of FJ!!!! Oh, how I wish I was one of those brave people! It makes me really sad that I won't be able to experience FJ with him.
I feel slightly de-flated now, as I really had high hopes I'd be able to just close my eyes and be ok enough to get through the ride with him!
Don't beat yourself up because I have great news for you. There is a bag check at every ride, and it is SO much easier if someone stays behind and holds all the stuff. You get in faster because you can bypass the bag line to the lockers and get in quicker!
Don't beat yourself up because I have great news for you. There is a bag check at every ride, and it is SO much easier if someone stays behind and holds all the stuff. You get in faster because you can bypass the bag line to the lockers and get in quicker!
Very true. You can still experience the queue with him.