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Attractions that still scare you?

Matt N

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Hi guys. Once you’ve ridden lots of different attractions, like most of us on here have, then it’s plausible to think that the fear element of rides that less seasoned riders often experience and is commonly emphasised in the media might wear off somewhat in most cases. But are there any attractions out there that still genuinely scare you? Are there any rides that still have you nervous before you board?


I actually have a couple of examples of attractions that have scared me or still scare me a bit:

  • Summit Plummet at Disney’s Blizzard Beach - Now, even though Summit Plummet is not particularly high compared to a number of coasters or other dry park thrill rides, at 120ft, it feels absolutely gargantuan within the sphere of waterpark attractions; it towers over everything else at Blizzard Beach, and provides a level of size and general fear factor that you would never expect from Disney World of all places. Let me tell you, as I was approaching this ride, I was genuinely quite scared; no one else was up there at the top other than me and my dad, and my goodness does it feel high up there! Because it’s a water slide, I think that adds a certain element of fear to it; you’re not strapped in like you are on a dry park ride. It is literally just you, unrestrained, falling down that 120ft plunge! When I was up at the top, my heart was racing in a way that it has been on very few rides before, and even the lovely reassurance of “Enjoy the ride, friend!” from the naturally smiley Disney cast member at the top did little to make me less nervous. However, the nerves were worth it, because I’d say that Summit Plummet is possibly my favourite water slide of all-time; you get actual, unrestrained airtime plummeting down the drop, and the sense of speed is unrivalled! Even though the speedometer at the bottom registered my speed as a mere 40mph, let me tell you it felt a hell of a lot faster!
  • Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica Orlando - I think you can just file “waterpark death slides” as a general category of attraction that still scares me, because Ihu’s Breakaway Falls really got my heart pumping! Even though Ihu’s is not as tall as Summit Plummet or even Slush Gusher, and it doesn’t have one big, sheer drop in the way that Summit Plummet does, the drop pod really adds a level of fear and suspense; the aspect of not knowing when you’re going to drop really does get your heart going! The body slide that came afterwards was fairly fast and exciting, but I don’t think I’ve ever known a start to a water slide quite like the drop pod; I almost think they’re the hydraulic launches of the water slide world, in a sense! I wonder what the drop pod slides at Volcano Bay are like; those ones have both the sheer height of Summit Plummet and the suspense of Ihu’s Breakaway Falls...
  • Jumpscare-laden spooky dark rides - Now these ones don’t scare me as such, but I always ride them feeling rather on edge for the entire ride; on my last ride on Duel, it seemed as though I was jumping out of my skin around every corner, and even the much smaller ghost train at Folly Farm still has me incredibly on edge for the entire ride!
  • Anything with actors - I know it sounds rather silly, and I’ll admit that I’m rather scared to admit it, but I have a bit of a fear of costumed characters/scare actors. Even though I know they’re not real, they really, really terrify me. Even the costumed characters and actors that aren’t intended to scare you, like the roaming characters at Disney parks, make me incredibly anxious for some reason, and I remember once being incredibly scared of a group of horror actors in County Hall in London, who were roaming around promoting some scare attraction called Fright Club or something like that. For that reason, I will never choose to do anything that revolves around actors; I’ve never done Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe, and I also haven’t done Walking Dead since its conversion. I’ve also never done a scare maze, or the Alton Towers Dungeons. I also never choose to visit theme parks during the Halloween period for this reason. I know it seems close-minded of me to choose not to do actor-led attractions, and I do appreciate these attractions from a technical and creative standpoint, but given that the costumed characters at Disney and roaming scare actors in London make me legitimately anxious, I don’t think that bodes particularly well for a full-on actor-led attraction, especially the likes of scare attractions. While the other attraction “fears” I listed above are just minor butterflies, this one is a legitimate fear that really puts me off doing this kind of attraction.
But what attractions still legitimately leave you a little scared? Or are you completely fearless?
 
Anything with actors - I know it sounds rather silly, and I’ll admit that I’m rather scared to admit it, but I have a bit of a fear of costumed characters/scare actors. Even though I know they’re not real, they really, really terrify me. Even the costumed characters and actors that aren’t intended to scare you, like the roaming characters at Disney parks, make me incredibly anxious for some reason, and I remember once being incredibly scared of a group of horror actors in County Hall in London, who were roaming around promoting some scare attraction called Fright Club or something like that. For that reason, I will never choose to do anything that revolves around actors; I’ve never done Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe, and I also haven’t done Walking Dead since its conversion. I’ve also never done a scare maze, or the Alton Towers Dungeons. I also never choose to visit theme parks during the Halloween period for this reason. I know it seems close-minded of me to choose not to do actor-led attractions, and I do appreciate these attractions from a technical and creative standpoint, but given that the costumed characters at Disney and roaming scare actors in London make me legitimately anxious, I don’t think that bodes particularly well for a full-on actor-led attraction, especially the likes of scare attractions. While the other attraction “fears” I listed above are just minor butterflies, this one is a legitimate fear that really puts me off doing this kind of attraction.

I wouldn’t call this silly, closed minded or anything to be scared to admit. It is a genuine ‘thing’ and something you may in time feel comfortable taking steps to overcome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masklophobia?wprov=sfti1

For me, it’s drop towers. Something the size of Detonator I can cope with fine. But the likes of Falcons Fury or the one at Port Aventura (can’t remember the name) terrify me. Sadly I often forget just how much until I am sat on the ride and it is climbing to the top, then I remember just how much I hate them!
 
Not that many rides still scare me, certainly not the ones I’ve been on loads. However drop towers do still get me, especially apocalypse. Not sure why, but as it’s slowing going up as you hang for a few seconds it still terrifies me.
 
I wouldn’t call this silly, closed minded or anything to be scared to admit. It is a genuine ‘thing’ and something you may in time feel comfortable taking steps to overcome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masklophobia?wprov=sfti1

I also used to be frightened of costumed characters when I was younger, and still occasionally feel a pang of anxiety around them. However, with some 'immersion therapy' I got over it throughout my childhood, and years later, I just find them amusing and weird in their dead-eyed nature. I still struggle with horror attractions as I don't enjoy my personal space being invaded; I'll avoid mazes with excessive touching, so Sub-Species is a no for me, for example. But I can usually just set my brain to the logic of it all being silly, especially after a few pints. Saying that, 'jump scares' and the relative anticipation still set me on edge, but then, that's the point and the laughter afterwards is worth it.

@Matt N it would be a shame for you not to overcome this fear to some degree, as you'll be missing out on a lot of excellent and less-than intense themed entertainment with such rigorous personal boundaries in place.

I used to be able to try anything without fear, but I rode XXL at Winter Wonderland a few years back and couldn't wait for it to be over. I'd ridden it elsewhere a decade earlier and dealt with it just fine. Not sure what prompted this sudden wussiness, but should something go awry, I suppose I have a dog to feed these days?
 
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I rode Sub Terra when I was quite young and was terrified on it! The actual ride experience spooked me but then on the way out whilst waiting for the lift part, one of the actors in a gas mask tried to make me jump and succeeded, but I ended but flicking my hand at him as I jumped and learnt that sadly his gas mask had nothing covering his eyes and I poked the poor guy in the eye! I felt terrible but vowed to never go on live actor attractions ever again since I found it so scary at the time.

However a few years later I was dragged in the scare mazes at scarefest by my friends and ended up loving them! Ironically I ended up being separated from my friends in Sub Species and was such a panicking mess to the actor that pulled me through the door, begging him to not make leave my friends that he broke character and pointed me in which direction to go haha. Saying this though, one attraction that still scares me that I wouldn't dare to go on is Pasaje Del Terror at BPB, something about it just spooks me! In terms of rides though, some of those travelling fun fair rides that are particularly big definitely scare me, they just dont look safe!
 
Starflyers and Chair-o-planes scare me. You can tell me what you want about that link chain being strong enough to carry an elephant, but look at it. It's like a piece of string. No.

Scared might be a bit strong, but being of a big build (fat!) I can't help but have the thought that I am probably the greatest test to the integrity of a restraint in a good while on anything which forces you into an otsr. Samurai I find particularly unnerving on that front.

I'm also alert to which rides are genuinely statistically less safe than others. Miami / Music Trips have an awful record. Jump n Smile and their spiritual predecessor the Ski Jump not much better. Doesn't stop me riding but its in the back of my mind.

Also worth a mention is Slammer, God rest her soul. By the end I did not have any faith in the integrity of the whole structure. It behaved in ways it shouldn't and some of the issues it had were deeply concerning. It felt to me by the end that even the park were nervous of keeping the ride running in the way they operated it, while I still loved it I was a bit relieved when it closed it did so before flinging someone across the park or slamming everyone one board into the concrete.
 
I also used to be frightened of costumed characters when I was younger, and still occasionally feel a pang of anxiety around them. However, with some 'immersion therapy' I got over it throughout my childhood, and years later, I just find them amusing and weird in their dead-eyed nature. I still struggle with horror attractions as I don't enjoy my personal space being invaded; I'll avoid mazes with excessive touching, so Sub-Species is a no for me, for example. But I can usually just set my brain to the logic of it all being silly, especially after a few pints. Saying that, 'jump scares' and the relative anticipation still set me on edge, but then, that's the point and the laughter afterwards is worth it.

@Matt N it would be a shame for you not to overcome this fear to some degree, as you'll be missing out on a lot of excellent and less-than intense themed entertainment with such rigorous personal boundaries in place.

I used to be able to try anything without fear, but I rode XXL at Winter Wonderland a few years back and couldn't wait for it to be over. I'd ridden it elsewhere a decade earlier and dealt with it just fine. Not sure what prompted this sudden wussiness, but should something go awry, I suppose I have a dog to feed these days?
I do still feel some anxiety around costumed characters, but it tends to mainly be the more “scare” focused ones that really get to me, like the ones found in scare attractions or at Halloween events at parks (at least, the more adult, scare-orientated ones). I’m OK with them from a distance, such as if they were in a parade or something; it’s mainly when they’re randomly roaming about and coming up close to you that I’m not personally into. For the “non-scare” costumed characters, I think it’s just because I’m not the most outgoing or charismatic person, so I get a bit awkward in that kind of spontaneous social setting where they randomly come up to you and want to hug you or speak to you or whatever. I’m also not really into things with forced participation in them (e.g. The Dungeons) for that same reason. I’m not really sure what made me anxious around costumed characters; I just always have been, since I was very little. These days, I think it’s more when they come close to you and

Even excluding my fear of that, however, some of the stuff that happens in scare mazes and scare zones just doesn’t really appeal to me at all, personally. I certainly don’t like the sound of all the things like the touching, manhandling, being shouted at and being chased with chainsaws, amongst other things, that is often said to happen in scare attractions. I can see the appeal of them through a certain lens, but I personally go to parks to enjoy myself and immerse myself in a themed environment that I really enjoy and want to go to as opposed to getting scared. As such, I’d rather leave the scare attractions for those who do want to experience them and enjoy them, and go off and do the things that I enjoy (the rides).

Besides, I’m personally more interested in the rides and themed environments side of theme parks than the entertainments side of theme parks anyway, even though I do still appreciate the entertainments side of it from a creative standpoint.
 
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@Matt N I would say that scare mazes seem much worse before you go in them and ultimately i think its the relief and realisation of it all not being real that makes it enjoyable in the end. I'd agree as well with what others have said that the exposure method really does help with those fears and I believe in trying everything once, but ultimately if they're not for you they're not for you! Nothing wrong with that and there's much more irrational fears out there
 
Star Flyers for sure, though I have been on the ones at Tivoli Gardens and last year at Fantasy Island in recent years.
Meant when I visited America in 2019 I never went on either Windseeker I encountered (maybe next year).

Even when I used to go on the twirling toadstool I'd always be thinking well I'd survive the fall, but be looking for areas if the chain did snap I wouldn't be flying into concrete.

Coaster wise I'll always be worried about SLCs. But that's more about being worried about having to do a lift hill evacuation.
 
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The Sky Coaster at Fun Spot in Kissimmee. Now that was scary, and I am pretty sure I would feel the same if I was to do it again.

Tall drop towers also still scare me, although I will ride them.
 
Not that many rides still scare me, certainly not the ones I’ve been on loads. However drop towers do still get me, especially apocalypse. Not sure why, but as it’s slowing going up as you hang for a few seconds it still terrifies me.

Stand up Apocalypse is the only ride that still get me.

The sky coaster and scad dive (both can be found on Blackpool south pier) were also insanely scary

Saying that, I've not been on any ride for over a year now due to covid and by the time I do get to go on one, I'm sure that my rollercoaster fear immunity will be weak and I will probably get that feeling again of riding them for the first time :)
 
+1 for drop towers. I still actively avoid the things to this day. The only one I’ve managed to get myself to enjoy over the years is Mystery Castle, as the launches and bouncing distract from the drop (along with being in the dark). But that hold at the top before the electrical effect and release still puts me on edge.

The Sky Coaster at Fun Spot in Kissimmee.

I LOVED that Sky Coaster! @Josh is a huge fan of it too ;)
 
I've been on the sky coaster at blackpool pier! I was about 14 and I think I was much braver then than I am now, I don't reckon I could do it again :sweatsmile:
Steeplechase at BPB is so scary too, not that it's a very thrilling attraction at all but I don't trust those flimsy seatbelts
 
Plus one for drop towers. Not as bad as I used to be following a trip last year which had a drop tower at every park which I forced myself to go on and try to enjoy, but tilting forwards on Highlander at nigh-on 400-foot is really terrifying!
 
Facing straight down and then plummeting face first on Falcon's Fury is one of the ones which gets me. I love it and it's still my favourite ride, and standard drop towers don't bother me in the slightest, but it's a scary experience pelting towards the floor face first.
 
but it's a scary experience pelting towards the floor face first.
See the plummeting to the floor aspect isn't the bit that scares me on Highlander, it's the fact that I told myself if the restraints failed for any reason there's no way I'm surviving! I used to really hate the feeling in your stomach during the drop but have learnt to just relax rather than tense up and it makes it a much more enjoyable experience.
 
Plus one for drop towers. Not as bad as I used to be following a trip last year which had a drop tower at every park which I forced myself to go on and try to enjoy, but tilting forwards on Highlander at nigh-on 400-foot is really terrifying!

Highlander is the last ride that properly made me scream. I rode it for the first time, alone in the rain on an almost empty gondola and the tilt sequence (which I'd forgotten about) nearly had me in tears. Genuinely haven't felt that isolated or terrified in a theme park context, ever. Rode it a few more times throughout the day, having proven to friends that it wasn't a death sentence. One of my favourite frightening aspects-of the experience is completely accidental; the speakers that accompany your ascent with bagpipe music crackling with signal issues as the wi-fi breaks around 250 feet.
 
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