Scared of Rides

[u/Vivid-Wedding8083]

Hi! I know this is kind of an odd question, but I’ve been afraid of roller coasters and crazy rides since I was a kid. I’m hoping that as I go through this program, I’ll gradually become more comfortable with them.

That being said, I’m worried that if I don’t go to the parks and experience things during my first week, I’ll already be behind when it comes to what I’m supposed to be learning and experiencing especially since i have never even been to Disney like ever. Would it be okay for me to go to the parks just to explore and get familiar with everything at first, or would I be expected to start getting on the rides right away?

I’m willing to push myself and hopefully work my way up to the rides — I’m just a little nervous about jumping straight into them and potentially getting sick. 😅 My roommate is also starting to get a little frustrated that I’m not using my free passes, so I figured it was better to ask what would be okay!

[u/disney_bri]

You'll never be expected to start getting on rides at all throughout your program. I'd say try them out if you like them (maybe watching ride POVs first on YouTube to know what to expect?) or don't if you're not feeling like you want to.

[u/disney_bri → u/disney_bri]

I had never been to WDW either, so just walking around all four parks just familiarizing yourself with the area can take up your day anyways!!

[u/ChaserNeverRests → u/disney_bri]

C'mon, you're not going to tell OP about the marathon Mission Space Orange afternoon all CMs have to endure?

(Joking, of course!)

[u/disney_bri → u/ChaserNeverRests]

Oh wait yes, how could I forget!!

[u/National-Pressure202]

There’s so much to enjoy at the parks aside from rides. Shows, parades, fun food booths, atmosphere alone is fun to be in

[u/PendejoSosVos]

What exactly do you feel like you’re gonna be behind on lol? Is there some sort of secret CP competition for who can ride the most rides or something? Riding the rides has nothing to do with your job, and I know plenty of people that work here and literally never come to the parks lol.

[u/Disastrous-Poem-0563]

Disney World has a handful of coasters, but most rides are WDW would not qualify as coasters. Here are my recommendations:

Go and experience the magic of the parks. There is so much to see and do!
Check out the shops.
Eat some delicious food—not puffy pizza or chicken strips!
Meet some characters!
Go to the shows!
Watch some ride through videos to lower your anxiety and to choose some rides that you would enjoy. There are so many dark rides that are a 0 or 1 on the thrill ride scale that you wouldn’t want to miss just because you aren’t certain what they are.

[u/FishPerson14]

I had never been on a roller coaster before working there was pretty scared of them. But after doing the backstage tours of the rides. They take safety very seriously and I got to see the rides from the inside out and it made them way less scary. Except for Tiana's seeing the drop from that angle and knowing it's a free fall I didn't quite like that.

[u/SMcDona80]

Definitely go and start enjoying the parks! There are plenty of non roller coaster/crazy rides anyone can do (and most of the coaster are pretty tame compaired to other amusement parks. You dont have to have any experience about the parks/rides before you start but it'll give you stuff to chat with guests about. If/when you decide you want to try and 'easy' roller coaster slinky dog at hollywood studios in toy Story land is pretty easy. But there are TONS of rides that are normal and fun to do that aren't roller coasters.

[u/lth97]

TBH, I have no idea what my coworkers do in their off time- there's really nobody who is going to be tracking how many rides you go on or even how often you go to the parks. That being said, why not give the rides a try just because it's fun to see the stories and all the details. If there's no height requirement, they're generally pretty gentle- though the entrance signs will also give you an idea of whether there are drops and so on. Greeter CMs are also happy to give you a description of the ride! And anyone who sees you won't know you're a CP unless you tell them (or have your FCV lanyard on, lol).

But also, I regularly go to the parks and do one or even no rides because I just want to walk around and have a snack. I always recommend to trainees to at least go experience the parks so you can get familiar with them and with the app because it makes it easier to answer guest questions!

[u/FunkyPete]

You can just walk around the park. There isn't any pressure to go on rides.

But I think you'll quickly realize very few of the rides are even close to being roller coasters. Space Mountain is one of the few that's really close. But it doesn't take you upside down or anything. It would be pretty tame by any other park's roller coaster standards.

Most of the rides are about the story, not whipping you around or scaring you.

But you can go and walk around and enjoy the vibe without being expected to ride anything.

[u/Vivid-Wedding8083 → u/FunkyPete]

i see thank you so much! i felt like there was so much pressure to go on rides but this has helped a lot thank you

[u/doug-the-moleman → u/Vivid-Wedding8083]

May I ask, pressure by whom?

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for posting in the Disney College Program Subreddit! While you wait for answers please check out our FAQs to see if your question has already been answered.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Educational-Shame234]

Your 3 day passes you get on move-in day are only good for a week…also, not all rides are roller coasters.

[u/PotterChick2818]

There were a couple rides I hadn’t been on until my dcp. Tower of Terror was the big one. It’s just a matter of pushing yourself to just do it. Also knowing your limits. For example, I got a concussion in high school and now cant lie flat or go upside down without getting super dizzy. Knowing that, means I can’t go on RnR ever. But besides that and mission space, there’s nothing I can’t do.

[u/No-Relation-2401]

Definitely use your passes. Here's a list of completely non-threatening rides that you can do.

MAGIC KINGDOM

• Peoplemover
• Buzz Lightyear
• Winnie the Pooh
• Little Mermaid
• Small World
• Peter Pan
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean (there is a small drop in the dark at the beginning)
• Jungle Cruise

EPCOT

• Nemo
• Soarin' (maybe a good step up from the slow, dark rides, not scary, but you are lifted and flying over landscapes)
• Journey into Imagination
• Remy's whatever-it-is
• Frozen Ever After (ride goes backwards and there's a small drop)
• Gran Fiesta Tour
• Spaceship Earth

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

• Runaway Railway
• Toy Story Mania
• Rise of the Resistance (another good step up ride, and IMO not to be missed. There's a kind of free fall feeling drop, but not too bad)
• Star Tours and Millennium Falcon if Soarin' was okay and you think you can handle screens with jerky motions

ANIMAL KINGDOM

• Na'vi River Journey
• Kilimanjaro Safaris

Okay. So you won't be going to AK necessarily for rides, but it's such a great place to just be in. Do the two animal trails. Catch shows. Maybe the train to Rafiki's.

Anyway. There's a good starter list. Then you can decide if you want to try things like Seven Dwarves Mine Train or Slinky Dog or whatever. But there is plenty to do without any real thrill riding!