Motion Sickness - Forbidden Journey compares to Flight of Passage

DisneyDogFan · May 2, 2019

So, even though I’ve wanted to ride, I’ve always avoided Forbidden Journey like the plague because of motion sickness issues.

On our last trip to Florida, I decided to risk the nausea, headache, and fear of shutting down a ride, and ride Flight of Passage just because of the rave reviews. It did make me feel a little wonky but I was lucky enough to ride four times in four days and it was totally worth feeling sick. That experience is now making me reconsider Forbidden Journey.

It’s primarily a visuals problems. 3D gives me headaches and I really struggle with simulators (nausea, dizziness) so Universal in general is hard on me. TMI, but I couldn’t find a trash can soon enough after riding the Simpsons. I can handle Transformers and Superman but not back to back and it requires a lot of deep breathing. At Disney, Star Tours is a no go and I wound up sitting on the floor with my head between my knees the last time I tried one of the CircleVision movies. Soarin’ is fine - a few of the swoops turn my stomach but i recover immediately. I’m also fine with all of the actual rides other than the teacups.

Going back to Flight of Passage, the air that blows on you helped as did the smoothness of the motion/visuals and the sheer exhilaration but it was about at the limit of what I can handle and I’m glad the ride wasn’t longer. I needed to sit down on the bench immediately after you unload once because I was too nauseated to make it down the exit ramp.

So for those of you with similar struggles, do you think that maybe I could handle Forbidden Journey? Or should I just keep skipping it? I don’t really mind not riding but I know my DH gets tired of riding things alone and it really does sound pretty amazing.

Peppeperoni · May 3, 2019

It’s hard to say everyone is so different. I do not get motion sickness, easily. I do recall feeling a little woozy after forbidden. But to say if it’ll affect you? Most likely yes if you’re that prone to it. I think it’s more to consider what your recovery time is after those rides

TommyJK · May 3, 2019

If you are somewhat ok with FOP, you might be ok on Forbidden Journey. The Screens sections are not 3D, and they are somewhat similar in style/motion to FOP, and they are not the entire ride, but a few sections within the ride where you have that "flying" type simulation. Each section that has it lasts about 30-60 seconds I would guess.

MeridaAnn · May 3, 2019

I love Flight of Passage and have no nausea issues on it. Star Tours makes me a little queasy for a minute or so afterwards, but I'm okay riding it once per visit. I'm mostly okay in Spiderman and King Kong. Forbidden Journey is tough for me - I'd rank it a little bit worse than Star Tours.

I can get through it if it's my first ride of the day, but it's definitely the toughest non-coaster ride on my stomach between both Disney and Universal. The motion of the ride is *very* jerky, and doesn't always really align with what you're seeing visually. It's not actually 3D, in that you don't wear glasses, and they did just recently update the video to a much clearer version, which helped me a lot, but the physical movement is more the issue for me than the screens. It also tilts you so far back a couple times that you are almost upside-down, which does not help. (I also end up having to close my eyes for the entire Forbidden Forest section because of my arachnophobia, so I don't know if that helps or hurts my stomach issues overall.) I've never actually thrown up from it, but I've definitely had a couple times where I spent the whole time riding with my eyes closed and just focusing on breathing in an attempt to get through (when it wasn't my first ride of the day). I usually skip it when I'm at the park alone (I'm a local passholder, so I visit pretty often.)

That said, it's still a really cool ride conceptually (especially if you don't mind the spiders), so it's up to you whether or not it's worth the risk. Even if you do decide you're not up for it, definitely go through the queue if you're a Potter fan, because it's really beautifully done and has a *ton* of great details! They have an exit spot right before loading and it's very normal for people just to go through the line and then not ride.

mamapenguin · May 3, 2019

FOP does not bother me FJ does. I did it once and that was enough. Everyone is different though. Good luck.

The Foolish Mortal · May 3, 2019

The OP's description sounds very similar to mine and I would say avoid Forbidden Journey. I had virtually no problem with FOP, but have the same problems with Simpsons and Star Tours. First time I rode Forbidden Journey, I almost lost it and collapsed against the wall after getting off the ride. I was convinced it was a result of visual distortion of flying on the brooms early in the ride. So I tried Forbidden Journey again a year later, planning to close my eyes for the first minute of the ride this time. It didn't help much. I learned the sickness was caused just as much by the tiny twists, turns and jerks you experience sitting in the ride seats. I would avoid. Gringotts is a better ride anyway!

DisneyDogFan · May 3, 2019

Thank you! We will actually be at Universal Hollywood instead of Florida next week but I knew that this board would have good advice.

You’re all reminding me of all the reasons why I’ve been avoiding it and I think probably need to just stay off. The idea of spending five minutes deep breathing while being flipped and jerked around is making me sick just thinking about it. And I forgot about the bloody spiders!

I have done the castle walk through in Florida and it is amazing. I’m sure the ride is too but so is Butterbeer and Harry Potter themed shopping while I wait on solid ground. I definitely wouldn’t want to ride first thing in the morning with the high risk of ruining the whole day.

Anyway, thank you again. A tendency towards motion sickness is just the worst!

RJstanis · May 4, 2019

DisneyDogFan said:
Thank you! We will actually be at Universal Hollywood instead of Florida next week but I knew that this board would have good advice.

You’re all reminding me of all the reasons why I’ve been avoiding it and I think probably need to just stay off. The idea of spending five minutes deep breathing while being flipped and jerked around is making me sick just thinking about it. And I forgot about the bloody spiders!

I have done the castle walk through in Florida and it is amazing. I’m sure the ride is too but so is Butterbeer and Harry Potter themed shopping while I wait on solid ground. I definitely wouldn’t want to ride first thing in the morning with the high risk of ruining the whole day.

Anyway, thank you again. A tendency towards motion sickness is just the worst!

Sounds like you are decided, but wanted to add my 2 cents. I too struggle with motion sickness, and have had issues one time or another on all the rides you mentioned. Luckily with Meclizine (same as non drowsy Dramamine) it minimizes the effects enough for me to enjoy the rides, or if nothing else, helps me recover a whole lot faster afterwards. Without it, my whole day can be ruined like you said. I can't take regular Dramamine, because there's not enough caffeine in the world for me to counteract the zombie effect it gives me.

So with that said, I would hate to tell someone to completely avoid a ride without experiencing it yourself first. Just like FOP, FJ is a great ride/experience. And this is coming from a non-HP fan (don't tell my kids that). Just like others have mentioned, everyone is different and experiences their motion sickness different. You never know, maybe you can handle it better. I would try it at least once and then you'll know and if nothing else, you can say, been there, done that, never again as a worst case scenario. First time I rode it, I thought I was done for and swore I wouldn't ride it again, but I was able to recover from it pretty quickly. Since then I ride it multiple times (spread out) with my kids and just close my eyes during the motion screens usually. I can handle the animatronics version of the ride with no issues and I seem to be fine. To me, Simpsons and FOP was worst bc its all motion screen without any breaks during the ride to focus on something else.

So if you are able to take something that helps or minimizes your motion sickness enough to a least give it a shot, I would highly recommend trying it at least once.

damo · May 4, 2019

I had the exact same experience on FOP and I can ride Forbidden Journey IF I have taken a bonine that morning. Without it, I need to keep my eyes closed through the screen parts.

I enjoy Forbidden Journey much more than FOP and will happily avoid FOP in the future. It's just not worth the hassle. However, I do need to ride FJ each day we are there.

AussieFan8 · May 4, 2019

Word of caution: If you try FJ and do fine, be careful about assuming you're okay and doing it again. I can ride it once a day and be okay but found out last time I was there that twice is too much. I hope you're able to ride it; it's a truly amazing ride!

PSN · May 4, 2019

I need Dramamine before riding Forbidden Journey but was fine on Flight of Passage without it

Disxuni · May 6, 2019

I strongly suggest getting advice and knowledge on how to deal with extreme motion sickness on rides, as a lot of individuals here deal with it all the time and still go on the ride with their own remedies and methods on prevention of getting sick. Of course to me it's easy to say it's worth it, because it is not an issue for myself, but due to the amount of people who power through and I've seen this topic time and time again pop up and they encourage people to do it too since they suffer it as well. That itself should definitely be a sign that it is worth it.

It's truly (for me) the best, most unique ride experience at the entire resort.

If you go back even just a few pages on these forums, you'll see this topic come up and up again and while it definitely affects people a lot, people typically share their remedies and prevention tips and I do want to say compared to other simulators it is one of the smoothest rides in the parks as well. Even during the Whopping Willow moment, you're not being bashed and thrashed around, the movement is a bit dramatic (you feel as if you're upside down at one point, but not), but it is smooth and graceful.

buckeev · May 6, 2019

I may hafta take a Dramamine...Just sittin' here at my desk...I'm startin' to feel it... :tilt:

GoofyDad_4427 · May 8, 2019

mamapenguin said:
FOP does not bother me FJ does. I did it once and that was enough. Everyone is different though. Good luck.

Same here. I could ride FoP 10 times in a row with no problem. I rode FJ once and hope to never go again, but I am sure my kids will drag me back on it next trip at least once.

mevelandry · May 8, 2019

DisneyDogFan said:
So, even though I’ve wanted to ride, I’ve always avoided Forbidden Journey like the plague because of motion sickness issues.

On our last trip to Florida, I decided to risk the nausea, headache, and fear of shutting down a ride, and ride Flight of Passage just because of the rave reviews. It did make me feel a little wonky but I was lucky enough to ride four times in four days and it was totally worth feeling sick. That experience is now making me reconsider Forbidden Journey.

It’s primarily a visuals problems. 3D gives me headaches and I really struggle with simulators (nausea, dizziness) so Universal in general is hard on me. TMI, but I couldn’t find a trash can soon enough after riding the Simpsons. I can handle Transformers and Superman but not back to back and it requires a lot of deep breathing. At Disney, Star Tours is a no go and I wound up sitting on the floor with my head between my knees the last time I tried one of the CircleVision movies. Soarin’ is fine - a few of the swoops turn my stomach but i recover immediately. I’m also fine with all of the actual rides other than the teacups.

Going back to Flight of Passage, the air that blows on you helped as did the smoothness of the motion/visuals and the sheer exhilaration but it was about at the limit of what I can handle and I’m glad the ride wasn’t longer. I needed to sit down on the bench immediately after you unload once because I was too nauseated to make it down the exit ramp.

So for those of you with similar struggles, do you think that maybe I could handle Forbidden Journey? Or should I just keep skipping it? I don’t really mind not riding but I know my DH gets tired of riding things alone and it really does sound pretty amazing.

IMO, you're missing out by skipping Forbidden Journey (it's also more about movement than 3-D images). Have you tried taking ginger pills (non-drowsy dramamine)?

jodybird511 · May 8, 2019

I get motion sickness fairly easily. FOP does not bother me much at all--and I agree, the air blowing in my face probably helps with that. The only way I'm able to do Forbidden Journey is if I use a prescription scopolamine patch. The first time I rode it, I took bonine, and it did absolutely nothing. I have never been so close to losing my cookies on a ride.

Wild4Walt · May 11, 2019

The 1st time I rode FJ was the 1st time I ever got motion sickness - and I LOVE any rides that spin. I think it was a combination of the strobes, 3D and the speed of the ride. Now that was shortly after it opened. I went on it again last year because my husband really wanted to try it and I didn't get sick this time. I notices the ride had slowed down a bit and the strobe wasn't as bad - not sure if it was because I knew what to expect or if changes had been made.

Vicki Rickerd · May 11, 2019

I am putting my faith in the patch. My pharmacy had to order them tho, so if you are thinking about getting them don't wait till the last minute. Fyi- Goodrx had a coupon that made the total cost$24. Cheaper than my insurance

blackpearl77 · May 16, 2019

We just got back yesterday. I swore I wasn't going to ride Forbidden Journey after reading how everyone with motion sickness gets sick on this ride. I get car sick. I have not ridden Flight of Passage and I don't do roller coasters except for Mine Train. I do not do spinning rides. I even feel weird in elevators sometimes. I rode Gringotts ride which I liked and it didn't make me sick - I didn't care for the drop it took my breath away. But I was glad I did the ride and would do it again. Gringotts has the 3D glasses. My son wanted to ride so I did it. I ended up riding Forbidden Journey. You are in a seat like Soarin where your feet hang free and you have a over the head harness thing to hold onto. What helped me was I made sure my head was pressed back against the head rest and didn't move it the whole time. I didn't feel car sick. But a couple parts it tips backwards - doesn't go upside down but you are almost laying flat on your back almost tipping and that freaked me out. My stomach never bothered me but towards the end at the dementors part which is almost the end I felt real shaky and I started crying! I wanted it to end! But I never felt sick to my stomach just shaky and crying! But I was fine though it but if it was any longer I might have started to feel sick. My son thought it was the best ride ever! Maybe I was just nervous for him - I held his leg the whole time so I was only holding on with one arm which could have made my feeling the ride worse but I was worried about him and he loved it! I won't ride it again! haha But I also didn't take any motion sickness medicine since I didn't think I was going to ride it!

petrola · May 16, 2019

I enjoy riding every coaster at universal (Hulk, Red Rockit etc.) I have also been on FOP and enjoyed it! For some reason I did not do well on FJ - but I thought it was just me as everyone else in my group (mostly kids) felt just fine. Interesting to see from this thread that it's not just me! I don't think I have a need to ever go on this ride again..

Motion Sickness - Forbidden Journey compares to Flight of Passage

Earning My Ears

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Semi-Local Disney & Universal AP Holder

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Negative, I am a meat popsicle

Proud Redhead

Mouseketeer

Earning My Ears

"Where's the fun without a bit of risk?"

RedNeck Mouseketeer

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

Share this page