Aging out

It's the coaster.

Ever since getting stuck with the front part of the train hanging out of the station on Raptor for almost an hour and basically having an anxiety attack from being so tightly held in, I haven't been able to bring myself to ride that again. This happened a month ago or so, and even last weekend, riding Rougarou, I was scared of being stuck in that restraint. Kind of weird, but the older I get, the more claustrophobia sets in, I guess.

I relate. Ever since my bad experience on Vortex years ago, I've never been able to relax and enjoy the ride. I've gotten on it, but always with trepidation bordering on anxiety.

Yeah, the 30-year old me could marathon-ride anything. The 50-year old me just says no to MaxAir, Scrambler, top-spins, and those sadistic multi-axis carnival flats.

Plenty of good advice above about water and taking an anti-emetic and spreading out the rough rides and spinny flats. Power Tower is a good filler ride; a nice breeze and no rotation or big bumps.

Getting too queasy or headachey? Take a break with a nice walk on the beach or boardwalk.

The slamming on Maggie's bunny hops started to bother me a lot but cinching the seatbelt very tightly eliminates a lot of it.

Feeling claustrophobic/panicky when restrained? Ask your doctor if generic diazepam would work for you. 5 mg every 4 to 6 hours works for me; it makes getting stapled into OTS-restraints much more tolerable.

Pete said:
Really feel no different experiencing rides, can go on everything I always did, flat rides and coasters both. The only age related difference I feel now is my hangovers last a little longer!

This exactly with the addition of being 6'3 and 230lbs I don't fit comfortably in some of the older coasters, which can equal a painful ride.

So far my only issue is being sore from walking around the park, not the actual rides themselves. Fitting a bit tightly in some of them though. I have to be careful about hydration and not just water. Cardiologist tells me I should be drinking Gatorade when I walk the park in the heat and it does make a difference.

But an endocrinologist will tell you otherwise. :)

e x i t english said:

Ever since getting stuck with the front part of the train hanging out of the station on Raptor for almost an hour and basically having an anxiety attack from being so tightly held in, I haven't been able to bring myself to ride that again. This happened a month ago or so, and even last weekend, riding Rougarou, I was scared of being stuck in that restraint. Kind of weird, but the older I get, the more claustrophobia sets in, I guess.

Here's my card...

;)

Hmm. The only rides I've "aged out" of are things that spin, which seems pretty typical.

e x i t english said:

But an endocrinologist will tell you otherwise. :)

Oh God I get enough conflicting opinions just between 2 cardios I don't need to add another specialist into the mix...

Kind of unnerving when 2 specialists can't see eye to eye on something, isn't it?

It's almost as if they call it "practicing" medicine for a reason. :)

Yeah, I just pick the one that makes a better more detailed arguement and just don't tell the other one what my hobbies are anymore.

darkrider68 said:

Maverick has new restraints. It's fantastic. Arguably best ride in the park now.

Agreed, I was surprised by the new restraints when I visited last week for the first time in about eight years (was a first rider when it opened!) Huge difference, and would love to see those restraints on other rides. Maverick is now #2 for me behind Millennium Force.

One would think :)

I actually never left, either. I just went behind the scenes to a billing/coding/chart management company. Better hours.

Trader. No glad you found better hours. I actually still have your Coronado Springs beach pic. Going back in Nov for free Disney dining. (Cheapskate alert!) I never have had a claustrophobic issue like some of you. Just got laid out on a bench in Camp Snoopy nursing a h/a & sporting a rather pale-ish green hue. But hubbie can't ride tight fitting harness rides d/t that. He misses out of a lot of rides thanks to that.

randi b said:

Trader.

*Traitor

|ˈtrātər|

noun
a person who betrays a friend, country, principle, etc.: they see me as a traitor, a sellout to the enemy.

^ Lol! Damn spell corrector on my phone. It's a blonde too ;)

While I know my tolerance for rides has decreased as I've gotten older, one thing that has definitely turned back the clock (especially in terms of motion sickness) is losing weight / getting in better shape. Additionally, eating and drinking healthier while in (and out of) the park has improved my stamina. There was a time where I felt sick and exhausted midway through the day at a park. Now I can go on multi-day park trips without issue.

So before some of you accept that you're getting too old for this hobby, ask yourself if you are of comparable fitness to your teenage self. And if you can't tolerate regular bouts of pizza, fudge, elephant ears, and sugary drinks, don't expect to run on that kind of stuff at a park and feel great riding a bunch of rides.