There are a lot of different rides in Disney World. Some are nice and slow. Others will jostle you around a bit but aren’t too intense. Some will give you a bit of that thrill factor. And others will truly have you screaming!
Thunder Mountain
Not all rides are created equal, and if you struggle with motion sickness, there are a few at Walt Disney World that you’ll probably want to avoid! We made a list of eight that you’ll likely want to steer clear of if your stomach tends to get queasy with too much motion.
A quick disclaimer to start us off: everyone is a little different when it comes to motion sickness! What makes our heads spin really badly might not affect you at all, so keep that in mind! The rides we chose for this list are just some with the worst reputations for motion sickness.
1. Mission: SPACE
Mission: SPACE, located in EPCOT, turns guests into astronaut recruits and has them board a shuttle simulator and launch into space! We’re guessing you can already see how this might be bad for those prone to motion sickness? 🤢
Get ready to step inside a human centrifuge.
There are two options for this ride: the green side and the orange side. What side you pick here is VERY important. The main difference between them is the level of intensity.
Green or Orange?
The green side is not as intense and doesn’t include spinning. It’s more family-friendly, but still uses a motion simulator that “offers light movement.” It’s “less likely” to cause motion sickness, but you’ll still want to be cautious if general motion simulators can get you sick.
Inside Mission Space
The orange side is probably a no-go for most people prone to motion sickness. On the orange side, the attraction uses a centrifuge that spins and tilts. This helps the ride simulate the speed and G-forces of being in a space shuttle! Disney’s own website notes that guests who wish to experience the Orange side should be free of motion sickness. So yeah, if Disney’s fully warning you of this, you may want to heed their warning (at least that’s what we think!).
Mission Space
You may be fine going with the slightly less intense green side, but if you’re really prone to motion sickness we’d recommend skipping both!
Click here to see a full list of the thrill rides in Disney World!
2. Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
One of the worst things for motion sickness is motion simulation/simulators, and that’s exactly what Star Tours — The Adventures Continue in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about. Guests on this ride are buckled into a ship that’s meant to take them on a tour of the Star Wars galaxy, but — spoiler alert!! — things go a little awry. (Don’t they always.)
Star Tours
The ride is a simulator that includes sudden drops (with that sinking feeling in your stomach!) and bumpy crashes. And to top it all off, the ride is a 3-D experience, which can make things even WORSE for those with motion sickness!
Star Tours
One of the worst (or best, depending on your perspective!) parts of the ride can be the “jumps to lightspeed.” Those can happen a few times in this ride. When they take place, the “ship” simulates very fast, sudden forward.
Star Tours
You’re going to see a trend on this list that the simulation rides (Star Tours and Mission: Space included) are some of the worst for queasiness! In this case, you might just be better off watching a Star Wars movie at home, enjoying some popcorn, and skipping the motion sickness. If you do hop on this ride and are prone to motion sickness, may the Force be with you.
Click here to take a look at the Star Wars item you’ll literally use every single day!
3. Mad Tea Party
Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom is an outdoor ride where guests sit inside teacups and spin in circles, both in place and around the other cups — a true recipe for success for those prone to dizziness, no?! (For a person who is prone to motion sickness, you could say it’s not their cup of tea — get it? 😉)
Mad Tea Party
It’s a classic ride though, and one that many might want the memory of having been on (and the photos to prove it). If you simply MUST go on this ride, then you’ll want to be cautious about who you pick to ride with you! Depending on who you’re riding with, this ride may not be as bad for motion sickness as some others.
You’ll have control of how much your cup spins in place, but not over the movement in circles around other teacups.
You Teacup Awaits
If you can convince everyone in your group to *pretty please* not spin quite so much, this ride might be tolerable for you! Still, there is a good amount of spinning involved, even if you don’t spin your own teacup at all around itself. So maybe take a look at it from the outside and watch for a bit. If the spinning around the room seems like it’ll be too much for you, even if your teacup is not spinning on itself, then move on!
Teacups
Just as a note — a sort-of similar ride is Alien Swirling Saucers in Hollywood Studios, which involves a decent amount of spinning as well, though it is somewhat different in structure and guests do not have control of any spinning in their own vehicle.
Click here to see what your favorite Disney World ride says about you!
4. Avatar Flight of Passage
This one is another 3-D motion simulation ride! In Avatar Flight of Passage, located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll sit on a motorcycle–type seat with restraints on your back.
Flight of Passage ride vehicles
When the ride begins, it’s a full-view simulation of riding a banshee (the flying animals in Avatar) through mountains, over open water, and through forests. There are simulated quick turns and sharp drops as well. If you think you’d be sick riding a flying horse (sorry Pegasus!), this ride is probably not for you.
Flight of Passage loading bikes
Another thing about this ride that can make your stomach a little queasy is at the very beginning when the restraints come up on your back and sort of lock you in. The ride “scans” you to link you to an avatar, and it vibrates a little. Usually, it’s fine, but if you get stuck waiting for a while before the ride begins, the vibration can get to be a bit much or you might start to feel queasy!
Click here to learn more about Pandora — The World of Avatar
5. Astro Orbiter
If you’re not familiar with this ride, think Dumbo the Flying Elephant or the Magic Carpets of Aladdin but higher! Astro Orbiter (located in Magic Kingdom) is the same idea — guests spin around a central point and have the option of moving their vehicle up or down.
There It Is at the End!
All three of these rides could be bad for queasy stomachs and dizziness, but the height of Astro Orbiter can make it a little worse than the others. Plus it just feels like it goes so fast!
Astro Orbiter
Guests go up to this ride in an elevator because it’s raised pretty high up. Heights + spinning = not a great experience if you get motion sickness. If you want the same feel with a little less risk, maybe stick to Dumbo!
Click here to see our ultimate guide to Magic Kingdom!
6. Space Mountain
Oh, Space Mountain, how some of us love you! But oh, Space Mountain, how you also sometimes make us feel quite ill! This classic in Magic Kingdom is a high-speed roller coaster in the dark, with sudden drops, jerky turns, loud noises, and some repeated spinning.
Space Mountain
We think the main issue with this one is the jerky-ness of the ride in general, coupled with the fact that it’s in the dark and does have some fast motions. Honestly, even experienced riders can get headaches from the fast, unexpected turns.
Ready to Board?
If moving through dark spaces in a jerky fashion with loud music and sudden drops sounds like a recipe for disaster with you and your motion sickness, then this is probably a skip for you.
Click 10,000 fans voted on the best Disney World mountain — do you agree?
7. DINOSAUR
DINOSAUR in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a fast, jerky ride through the jungles of the late Cretaceous period. Picture yourself riding a fast jeep through very rocky terrain surrounded by loud sounds, lights, and dinosaurs.
DINOSAUR
The ride vehicle starts and stops quickly and takes some sharp turns. This ride is also pretty dark, so not being able to see the track in front of you could mean those quick turns might catch you off-guard.
Get Ready!
In the pre-show, the host “hacks” into locked coordinates to send you on this exciting ride, but if you’re prone to motion sickness, you might want to keep those coordinates locked and skip this one.
24,000 Disney fans ranked every ride in Animal Kingdom! Click here to see the results!
8. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Repeated fast drops straight down and sudden movements that pull you straight up is what makes The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (in Disney’s Hollywood Studios) a recipe for motion sickness disaster.
Hope the elevator works!
If that flipping feeling in your stomach makes you queasy, this is NOT the ride for you. This ride simulates a broken elevator, “dropping” the ride vehicle down several stories and then pulling them up again to repeat the thrilling fall.
Tower of Terror
But we think the ride queue and pre-show are worth the trip, so you might want to consider walking through and then ducking out the “chicken door” right before the ride actually begins if you think it’ll make you sick!
Click here to see the best and worst lines to be stuck in at Disney World!
9. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
We need to mention Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This newer addition to the France Pavilion can leave guests feeling a little bit queasy due to the dramatic shifts between oversized sets and screens.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
You’ll also want to keep in mind that a large portion of the ride is in 3D, so you’ll be wearing 3D glasses throughout. On top of that, the adorable rat-shaped ride vehicles spin, turn, and twist this way and that, which could add to the possibility of motion sickness. Being a rat can be tough!
Click Here to Take a Look Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure!
10. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
With a heavy heart, we’re reluctantly adding EPCOT’s newest attraction to the list. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an Omnicoaster, which means the ride vehicles spin around a full 360 degrees (we’re getting queasy just thinking about it).
Cosmic Rewind
The ride goes backwards and is almost as intense as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. So if you’re prone to motion sickness, this may be a ride to avoid.
Click Here to See Our Experience With Motion Sickness On This Ride!
Some Honorable Mentions:
These rides didn’t make our top list, but if you get pretty bad motion sickness, you might still want to avoid them!
- Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom. Dangers: fast turns and a long, fast section where your vehicle goes backward in the dark
- Test Track, EPCOT. Dangers: high speeds, fast turns, sudden stopping
- Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith, Hollywood Studios. Dangers: goes upside down, fast turns in the dark
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Magic Kingdom. Dangers: spinning in one section of the ride (optional! you can control the spinning most of the time) and a section of the ride goes through a tunnel with spinning stars
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Hollywood Studios. Dangers: jerky turns, fast stops
- Dumbo and Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Magic Kingdom. Dangers: spinning, though not as bad as some other attractions
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
That’s our list of Disney World rides that you may want to avoid if you’re prone to motion sickness! Remember that there are plenty of more “tame” rides throughout the parks that you can enjoy just as much (and probably more if they won’t make you sick!) as these! Keep following DFB for all the info about Disney park rides!
Rise of The Resistance Motion Sickness Info and Tips
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I see that Alien Swirling Saucers didn’t it appear on your list…do you think this ride is pretty easy in the stomach? I have been scared to ride because I thought it would be too spinny!
What is your opinion on Ratatouille? We are trying to decide if we should ride on our upcoming trip, but keep reading mixed reviews about the motion sickness aspect.
For me sadly it’s nearly the entire list above, sans Buzz and Dumbo, and now includes Remy and Runaway Railway…got sick on both of them.
Hi Katie! I personally love Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, but I can certainly see how it could be an issue for those with motion sickness. You’re wearing 3D glasses and spinning around quite a bit so if you’re prone to motion sickness, that one might not be a good choice.
Hi Laurie! Alien Swirling Saucers doesn’t spin as much as the Teacups, but you can’t control the spin. Being a ride that was made for the younger set, it also doesn’t spin super fast and lasts for about 3 minutes. I would describe it as wide slings more than spins, but it does spin a little. You may get a little dizzy, but you’re not constantly spinning like you would on a traditional spinning ride. It’s more of a slinging from side to side, if that makes sense.
Avatar doesn’t bother me at all! Mission space is the only ride in my life (other than the satanic teacups) that I wanted to scream for an emergency stop! I can’t do rockin because of the dark, u learned I can do Everest a million times but at night it makes me sick I guess because you can’t predict and adjust your head for turns? Thunder mountain doesn’t bother me but Dinosaur does (dark again)…did you know they now make 24 hour dramamine?
I definitely cannot handle the Tea Cups, but Aliens is fine for me. Smugglers Run had me nearly unable to walk I was so queasy! If you have a hard time on Star Tours, definitely watch out.
Alien Swirling Saucers – I can’t do most of the rides on this list, but I didn’t get queasy on Alien Swirling Saucers. It’s not really very “spinny.” It is, however, really bumpy. I didn’t enjoy it at all.
There’s an excellent video on Youtube about riding Flight of Passage if you’re prone to motion sickness. I used his tips and kept my discomfort to a bare minimum. I’m so glad I tried it. For reference, I get sick on the Skyliner and at the Canada movie.
2 seconds into Star Tours I had to pull my baseball hat because everything was coming up. I couldn’t even look around for an exit, opening my eyes made me sicker. But the temperature in the ride dropped quickly and the ride ended even quicker. There was a cast member waiting for me. Talk about embarrassing.
I have a couple;
Soarin in ECOPT
The films in Canada , France and China. World Showcase.
Any simulated movement can spend me into vertigo attack, I have to be very careful.
Soarin should be on there, when my mother when on it I think she had her eyes closed for the entire ride.
I don’t know how smugglers run didn’t make this list. I’ve NEVER had an issue with virtual rides, but I really had an issue with smugglers run in Sept. I tried Star Tours again last month (skipped in Sept since everyone did it after smugglers run), and I ended up just shutting my eyes for it and was fine. Lol. I felt a bit of the woozy feeling from the start. I did not have an issue with Remy, thank goodness. I know my husband would.
My MIL was not a fan of expedition Everest because of it going backwards and having a backwards turn, and she felt woozy after space mountain (so she skipped Soarin and rock n roller coaster).
You forgot(?) to mention that at the end of Dinosaur, one of them bites your head clean off! That’s a little more stressful than any of the motion effects…
Expedition Everest is the WORST! I was sick for two full days after riding (with having taken Dramamine AND wearing motion sickness bracelets.) Remy, Star Tours, Smugglers Run, RC Racer, and Avatar are also all on my NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN list. Internationally, I was in agony on Paris’ Crush’s Coaster and Hyperspace Mountain. I was surprisingly ok on all Hong Kong rides, most Shanghai (including TRON – let’s see what they do to it in the US – and their way better Pirates ), and Tokyo (including Journey and Raging Spirits – and except for those previously mentioned).
Take this warning article seriously! I, a 79-year-old passholder, just HAD to try the spectacular Tron ride for myself, despite disliking coasters in general and having bad experiences on others– including a really bad one on the Potter ride at Universal. So after the worst experience with waiting (over 7 hours from the 1PM group join until riding AFTER the fireworks that night, I tortured myself with the ride which took me 15 minutes to recover from. Stupid ME!
I do NOT blame the intense ride for my discomfort nor Disney who posted sufficient warnings that even an aging fool could comprehend. Riding Tron was MY choice and my bad experience was MY fault.
Moral: Be wise! If you have ever experienced this kind of discomfort on a ride, ship or the like, STAY OFF TRON and the other “thrill rides” for your own sake.
You’ll be glad you did even if your friends call you silly names for not riding! And the rest of your day at the parks will be lots more pleasant.
You left out SMUGGLER’S RUN. OMG never again!
it was the silly swinging chairs at disneyland that did me in. all the above mentioned rides i was fine but this one was the killer
I was surprised not to see Smugglers Run on this list. That was hellacious for someone with motion sickness. Soarin is too. I was a bit surprised to see Guardians last, I remember them having to change the tops of the trash cans where you exit the ride because people were getting sick so much and they weren’t angled properly. 😂😂😭😭 Motion sickness is the worst! I just take Dramamine non drowsy and hope for the best now. I still avoid the really bad ones that are all simulated & super intense. Remy is good for me and Tower is my favorite. Coasters I love. It’s the dang simulator that gets me every time. Every. Single. Time! 😳🤬
I have to deal with motion sickness, however, I have never had problems with Remy’s, Test Track or Buzz Lightyear. I occasionally felt a bit dizzy on Soarin’ and Avatar. Hope this helps with some other “not certain if I should try” people.