Has the ride itself changed between ToT and GotG? Anyone take dreaming for motion sickness?

[ExcitedMama]

As a woman I find the machismo that apparently starts early in the male species fascinating. Last time we went my son was 4 and decided he had to ride ToT as soon as he saw it from the freeway. He was a mess afterwards. He wouldn't admit he didn't like it but he said his stomach hurt afterwards. I thought it was maybe motion sickness but my husband thought it hurt because he was so tense on the ride. Now he's 7 and says he's excited to go on it again. I know the theme has changed but is the actual ride the same as far as drops go? Does anyone get motion sick on it? Any advice on when to time Dramamine? How scary is the new ride? My DD will just turn 5 and is claiming she wants to ride everything she can, but she gets spooked so would this ride scare her? She's actually more of a daredevil and speed demon than DS but where he likes scary she doesn't so it's a bad combination!

I'm the one who started the other thread about being a ride weenie and asking for advice about doing the Matterhorn. I hate roller coasters, so I'd never feel like I was missing anything not going on Scream, but I do like themed rides like Indy and I'll suck it up to do RSR for the kids. I cannot say enough how much I hated SM! My DD is very attached to me and will often change her likes to match mine even when I try to tell her she can have her own opinions. I think she'd feel more comfortable and courageous experiencing the rides with me for the first time so I'm trying to prepare myself to do rides I wouldn't do, like SM, BTMRR, and maybe the Matterhorn. Would GotG be too terrifying? How fast are the falls? How far do they fall? Any idea how many times it falls? How much time is there to recover before it falls again? Or is it just a dizzying amount of falls? Does the theming distract from the terror of falling?

 

[wilkeliza]

My fiance said he gets more motion sick on this one. Mostly because there is no warning the car is kept in constant motion this time and the screens between drops. He said it was like a sensory overload compared to the other where you would go up or down and then stop completely before going up and down again. The new version when you "drop" you then kind of shake and hover while waiting for the next rise and fall.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I get motion sickness on spinny rides. I don't get sick at all on Guardians. I could ride it all day if it weren't for the screaming people on the ride with me. Seriously, the screaming is really loud and my ears felt like they were bleeding when I got off the ride once.

Avoid Dramamine if you can. It can make your son very sleepy and take a lot of the fun of the day away. Bonine is less drowsy, but still makes me really groggy about 5-6 hours after I take it.

I think there are around 6 drops. They are very fast. The ups and downs are quick and often unexpected. I find the ride more entertaining and lot more fun than the former version. You could prepare your son ahead of time and let him know there will be many drops, even when it appears the ride is over, and that many people scream through the whole ride and then let him decide if he wants to do it.

 

[22Tink]

We always take something for motion sickness. Bonine is our first choice, it always works very well without any drowsiness. We also used non-drowsy Dramamine on our last trip and it worked well also. I would recommend you go that route if choosing Dramamine, as the regular Dramamine definitely makes you tired.

 

[Wahlee]

I'd recommend watching some of the ride-throughs that have been posted for GotG. I haven't been on it yet, but looking at them I think it's a ride I'd better avoid (or maybe do once with a long break after), as I get motion sick on up-and-down rides (and spinny rides). I could only go on the old ToT once per trip, and have avoided it altogether the last few times I went. GotG looks like there are more ups and downs and less time between them to recover than ToT.

For the record, RSR is not a rollercoaster and does not feel at all coaster-like to me, except for perhaps the hills at the very end. It is also very smooth and I have no problems with it.

 

[disland7]

Another vote for Bonine instead of Dramamine - less drowsiness.

 

[Nonsuch]

I'd recommend watching some of the ride-throughs that have been posted for GotG. I haven't been on it yet, but looking at them I think it's a ride I'd better avoid (or maybe do once with a long break after), as I get motion sick on up-and-down rides (and spinny rides). I could only go on the old ToT once per trip, and have avoided it altogether the last few times I went. GotG looks like there are more ups and downs and less time between them to recover than ToT...

This is a great video:

The reporter is from Fresno (250 miles away) and clearly not a frequent park visitor. His reactions became newsworthy, and he was interviewed on Good Morning America.

Something to notice in the video:
The "scenes" with the Guardians are modeled in 3-D. The prospective changes as the elevator shifts vertically.

 

[wowsmom]

I always take Bonine when going to DL or on a cruise or on an airplane or anywhere over an hour away by car when my hubby's driving.

I take it the night before, so any drowsiness is not a problem and it lasts 24 hours.

I have noticed that even with the Bonine, GOTG affects me a bit, but I get motion sick very easily (sometimes even my own driving will get me!). I think it's the constant motion like others have mentioned (you kind of float up and down while watching the scenes - like you're on the escape ship). Usually I'm fine within about 10 minutes after getting off the ride.

 

[onlyoneash]

I have a little boy with extreme motion sickness (like a 15 min car ride does him in) It was recommended that he take between a 1/2 or even 1/4 a pill of "meclizine" maybe that is the active ingredient in Bonine? He has had no drowsiness or nausea and we have brought him on a cruise, amusement park, and long car rides. On the cruise we gave him 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night! It has been the best thing ever...and so inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Rugby-Travel-Sickness-Tablets-100/dp/B004FJFF2A/

*i am not a doctor, so make sure you do your own research!

Edit: Meclizine IS the generic of Bonine!

 

[SMD]

Here's one of our local reporters:

 

[Winnowill]

My husband gets motion sick on spinny rides, and even speedy roller coasters (Space and Screamin' at DLR) give him a headache, but he has no problem whatsoever on GotG. The theme on it is far more friendly than ToT was - my daughter wouldn't go on ToT at all (the theme was too scary), but GotG is fun and funny and she loves it.

 

[bumbershoot]

He wouldn't admit he didn't like it but he said his stomach hurt afterwards.

Kids don't know what to do with that stomach dropping feeling.

My son has always experienced it as a tickling in his nether regions. Therefore he has always liked rides like that. For me it scares my stomach. None of it is pain really. I've learned to quell it by breathing out during the drops (same concept as screaming).

So I wouldn't over-read into it. Just because his stomach hurt doesn't mean he didn't like it. My whole chest freaks out during the launch on Screamin', but it's such an amazing ride that it doesn't matter.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I can only reference the previous incarnation but the ride mechanics are still the same... ToT is more scary to me than Matterhorn. It's not super dark, but how do you feel about sudden drops? If you're good with sudden drops you'll be fine, if they're a problem I cannot in good conscious recommend this ride for you because those are the ride. Nothing in the parks drops as fast as those elevators.

I get motion sick at the drop of a hat but ToT didn't make me sick. Actually nothing besides teacups make me motion sick at DLR. Idk about when to take Dramamine because I take Bonine for motion sickness (the other OTC option) as Dramamine doesn't work for me. When I need it I take one or two first thing in the morning & I'm good for 24 hours.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have a little boy with extreme motion sickness (like a 15 min car ride does him in) It was recommended that he take between a 1/2 or even 1/4 a pill of "meclizine" maybe that is the active ingredient in Bonine? He has had no drowsiness or nausea and we have brought him on a cruise, amusement park, and long car rides. On the cruise we gave him 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night! It has been the best thing ever...and so inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Rugby-Travel-Sickness-Tablets-100/dp/B004FJFF2A/

*i am not a doctor, so make sure you do your own research!

Edit: Meclizine IS the generic of Bonine!

Yep, it is! I take it too. Wish my parents had discovered way back when! I even called a pharmacist friend of mine to confirm that it has no side effects and it doesn't. (Well, don't mix it with high amounts of alcohol, might make you sleepy. Admittedly I have drunk while on it & had no issues- don't think your youngin needs to worry about that yet though!)

 

[ExcitedMama]

Kids don't know what to do with that stomach dropping feeling.

My son has always experienced it as a tickling in his nether regions. Therefore he has always liked rides like that. For me it scares my stomach. None of it is pain really. I've learned to quell it by breathing out during the drops (same concept as screaming).

So I wouldn't over-read into it. Just because his stomach hurt doesn't mean he didn't like it. My whole chest freaks out during the launch on Screamin', but it's such an amazing ride that it doesn't matter.

He looked sick for most of the day after ToT. He could only say that his stomach hurt so I have no idea if it was motion sickness or if DH is right that he just tensed up too much. I don't think he liked it, he certainly didn't want to go again, but he won't admit it. He's going to be older so I'm hoping he can handle the rides or will admit he doesn't want to go, clearly no pressure here as he knows I hate those rides!

Thanks everyone, I had no idea about Bonine! Is it easy to find? Take the night before or morning of? Does your answer change for adult vs. child? We are going to USH too and I read that their rides with the screens can make people motion sick so I'm planning on taking something too that day.

I can only reference the previous incarnation but the ride mechanics are still the same... ToT is more scary to me than Matterhorn. It's not super dark, but how do you feel about sudden drops? If you're good with sudden drops you'll be fine, if they're a problem I cannot in good conscious recommend this ride for you because those are the ride. Nothing in the parks drops as fast as those elevators.

I get motion sick at the drop of a hat but ToT didn't make me sick. Actually nothing besides teacups make me motion sick at DLR. Idk about when to take Dramamine because I take Bonine for motion sickness (the other OTC option) as Dramamine doesn't work for me. When I need it I take one or two first thing in the morning & I'm good for 24 hours.

Nope, not all ok with that!! I get a little nervous on PP and PTC drops! I'm a little worried about going on Indy for the first time in about 20 years! Thanks for the warning!! I won't try to be brave enough for GotG!

 

[Wahlee]

Thanks everyone, I had no idea about Bonine! Is it easy to find? Take the night before or morning of? Does your answer change for adult vs. child? We are going to USH too and I read that their rides with the screens can make people motion sick so I'm planning on taking something too that day.

Meclizine is widely available. Bonine is one brand-name, but it's also the active ingredient in the non-drowsy version of Dramamine (not the Naturals version, though; that's ginger). Just look at the active ingredient and make sure it's meclizine. I buy the big bottle on Amazon that someone linked earlier- it's more cost effective.

The directions say to take 30 minutes to an hour before activity. I usually take it with breakfast and I'm good to go by the time we get to DLR.

I got much sicker on the rides at Universal Orlando than I do on any rides at DLR, especially the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The meclizine helped, but certainly didn't eliminate the queasiness altogether.

 

[sashasmommy]

I was just looking at motion sickness meds today and they had children's motion sickness meds. No idea what's in it. My store also has a generic non-drowsy version of Bonine/Non-Drowsy Dramamine that is much cheaper than the brand name. I have also seen on Amazon meclizine sheets that dissolve under the tongue that people say get the meds into your system much quicker and can provide instant relief. Haven't located those in a store yet.

 

[Niltiac]

We are going to USH too and I read that their rides with the screens can make people motion sick so I'm planning on taking something too that day.

Definitely do this. I'm someone who never gets motion sick, and I've been to USH twice, and both times I got sick from the minions ride. My partner also felt sick after the harry potter ride the first time, but since she knew what to expect after that it stopped making her sick.

 

[Metalliman98]

When my son was almost four, he went on ToT for the first time and loved it, ended up going five time total that trip. Each trip afterward he refused to ride it, saying it was too scary. He did Guardians last week (he's now 6) and he loved it. We'll see if that lasts, but since he doesn't do well with "scary" themes, i think it will.

The ride itself (door close to door open) is the same as ToT, but there is no narrative/story at the beginning; the action starts right away, so the ride feels a lot longer than ToT.

 

[ktlm]

There are I think 6 different versions of the ride and they all have different drop sequences. The 6 versions each go with a different song- and I think I saw that depending on which song you get it ranges from 6 to 9 drops. I have done two of them. I loved TOT's theming, but was not a TOT Ride fan because I hate those kind of drop rides. I dreaded doing TOT, but would do it for the family. I actually am excited about doing GOTG again on another trip.

It is more intense, but for me it was also more fun because it very much goes with which of the 6 songs you get, and if you are a Guardians of the Galaxy movie fan, the visuals are a lot of fun too. Our first ride we got Give Up the Funk. I don't know that song as well as I know most of the other options and that ride seemed pretty intense to me. It was definitely more intense than TOT. I got off feeling a little woozy/shaky (I can't do teacups). I was fine and just needed a minute or two to shake it off. I've heard that might be the most intense one-but I don't know if that is accurate. After that one, I wasn't sure if I would get back on the ride that trip, but the line was short a couple of days later, so I decided to try it again.

The 2nd time we got Hit Me With Your Best Shot. I am very familiar with and love that song. It was so much fun! The ride was going with the music and although it was still intense- I had a blast. It was almost like "dancing" with the drops. So for me, the theming on that song definitely eliminated the terror of the falls for me. Even though it was intense, I did not feel at all woozy or shaky. I absolutely loved it. I am looking forward to going on it again next year if we get to DLR again.

DD 11 loves Guardians (the movies) and hates TOT. She rode Guardians (the ride) and said she liked it, but once per trip was enough for her. She would not ride it the second time and took the chicken exit at the elevator (basically, when the doors open, you go through and you turn and go down the ride exit to the gift shop instead of entering the elevator itself). She was sorry that she chickened out after she found out we got Hit Me With Your Best Shot. She was really wishing she had gotten on the elevator.