Fear of Roller Coasters

It's not our place to try and pick them apart and understand them.

You're right. That's just my job. :)

True story; there was a certain NASA astronaut at Cedar Point for science week 3 years ago who was the captain of one of the shuttles, and he had to be coaxed into riding Top Thrill Dragster because he was too scared.

Irrational fears are simply that: irrational.

Yeah, I love coasters, but ladders? I am scared to death of climbing ladders. Coasters are secure. Ladders could topple over at any moment, plunging me to certain death.

Rationally, I know that's not true, but every time I climb a ladder, there's that voice....

I used to be fearful of El Toro because looking at the first drop and seeing how steep it was caused me to panic. The trick was to simply ride it and not look at it; after enough rides I became able to both ride and look at it and even admire it as a work of art. However, I was still afraid of steel coasters, inverts and launched strata coasters; it was only through a gradual evolution and a lot of experience on different types of coasters that I reached the point of being almost fearless - at least when it comes to coasters. I probably wouldn't ride a Ferris Wheel because getting stopped at the top with the car rocking would be nerve-racking.

My dentist, a coaster enthusiast, said it best. He was trying to persuade a friend of his to get on a coaster and the friend refused, afraid that something awful was going to happen if he did get on. My dentist said "Are you so arrogant that you think something's going to go wrong with this coaster just because you're on it?"

As to billb7581's comment about Steel Force, it's a good one. The ascent is so slow and the chain seems to be working so hard, clanking away loudly, to pull the train up the lift hill that making it to the top seems nothing short of miraculous.

30 years ago I was watching America Screams with a friend (Who was also an ACE Member) when they showed footage of the Crystal Beach Cyclone. My mother peered into the den, when she saw that coaster she yelled "THE CYCLONE! OH GOD ! I RODE THAT THING!!!" She was not prepared for what happened next as we were all over her saying "WHAT WAS IT LIKE!, WHAT WAS IT LIKE!" <LOL>

Everybody's stories are cracking me up!

I've seen Steel Force get stuck on the lift hill, and they had to evacuate the riders and walk them down... oh HECK NO. I don't even think I'd be able to climb out of my seat, much less walk down the hill. They'd probably have to come get me with a firetruck ladder or something lol.

I don't do Ferris Wheels or sky rides, either. Do not dangle me over the ground with nothing beneath me. DON'T.

I'm also scared of launch coasters. I've never done one. At least on a normal lift hill, I KNOW when the speed is gonna hit lol.

vrf19977 said:

I've seen Steel Force get stuck on the lift hill, and they had to evacuate the riders and walk them down... oh HECK NO. I don't even think I'd be able to climb out of my seat, much less walk down the hill. They'd probably have to come get me with a firetruck ladder or something lol.

Hell, that's a freebie. Busch Gardens makes you pay for the experience:

From the irrational musings of of the mind:

"One of my biggest fears is that when we are launched, I will vomit, and the speed of the train will force it back into my mouth and I will choke and possibly die. How will I be able to breathe?"

- 20 year old female attempting to exorcise some demons about her goal to conquer Top Thrill Dragster. Lucky for her one can go without oxygen for 17 seconds.

Lord Gonchar said:

vrf19977 said:

I've seen Steel Force get stuck on the lift hill, and they had to evacuate the riders and walk them down... oh HECK NO. I don't even think I'd be able to climb out of my seat, much less walk down the hill. They'd probably have to come get me with a firetruck ladder or something lol.

Hell, that's a freebie. Busch Gardens makes you pay for the experience:

*paralyzed with terror*

Thanks, LG. Now I'm traumatized for life. Your work is finished.

Oh no it isn't...

RCMAC said:

Oh no it isn't...

If I weep preemptively, will he have mercy?

vrf19977 said:

I don't do Ferris Wheels or sky rides, either. Do not dangle me over the ground with nothing beneath me. DON'T.

I'm also scared of launch coasters. I've never done one. At least on a normal lift hill, I KNOW when the speed is gonna hit lol.

I love being up high, although I have a terrible fear of falling, it took forever to get me to go up on a drop tower, now I don't have as much problem with it. I still generally don't go up too many drop towers, but it's more of finding them boring. Superman: Escape from Krypton at SFMM is an exception, 100 Mph backwards and then straight up some 400ft, I can't wait to go back on that one. Launch rides are some of my favorites, I love the thrill of being catapulted forward. I can't wait for the opportunity to go on some of the bigger launches out East.

I'd probably be fine if I just sucked it up and did it one time. It's that unknown thing.. "what if?".. I keep thinking it'll scare me so badly I'll have an aneurysm and perish before the ride is over. How awkward would that be?

^ I always think that same thing about skydiving, But if I do go with my first jump, I'll go with a smile on my face.

I keep picturing the train pulling back into the station with my corpse slumped over, hair whitened with terror. I'll wear a tshirt that says something like "told you so".

I think Touchdown said it nicely. If they have tried it and don't like it, then they just don't like it. I guess you could always make the case that maybe they didn't ride the right coaster, but even the bad coasters i still enjoy, so maybe not so much.

Some people like hanging from the ceiling with hooks in their skin. I haven't even tried it, but i think i'll pass.

Good Lord, vrf19977! Do you consider yourself an enthusiast?

Or are you one of OhioStater's "kids"?

It's good to know you, but regardless, I think I shall refrain from inviting you to visit a park with me....

:-)

vrf19977 said:
Everybody's stories are cracking me up!

I've seen Steel Force get stuck on the lift hill, and they had to evacuate the riders and walk them down... oh HECK NO. I don't even think I'd be able to climb out of my seat, much less walk down the hill. They'd probably have to come get me with a firetruck ladder or something lol.
.

They'd have to bring me a blanket, a pillow, and some meals to eat because I wouldn't be leaving the coaster car while it was being "unstuck". Heh...

He's not one of mine. If he was his tune would be changing in about 20 days.

:)

Come play.

RCMAC said:

Good Lord, vrf19977! Do you consider yourself an enthusiast?

Or are you one of OhioStater's "kids"?

It's good to know you, but regardless, I think I shall refrain from inviting you to visit a park with me....

:-)

I was kidding!! :) I LOVE coasters, but not all of them. I like coasters that are fun, not coasters that try to rip my face off or make me pass out or rearrange my internal organs. Some favorites: Loch Ness Monster, Great
American Scream Machine (RIP), Comet. Classics, I guess.

bunky666 said:

vrf19977 said:
Everybody's stories are cracking me up!

I've seen Steel Force get stuck on the lift hill, and they had to evacuate the riders and walk them down... oh HECK NO. I don't even think I'd be able to climb out of my seat, much less walk down the hill. They'd probably have to come get me with a firetruck ladder or something lol.
.

They'd have to bring me a blanket, a pillow, and some meals to eat because I wouldn't be leaving the coaster car while it was being "unstuck". Heh...

Heyyy, that actually sounds pretty cushy... :D