I'm back from Orlando. My internet connection there was basically non-existent so although I had planned to do a few posts, you pretty much got silence. Where to begin? With the end, of course. I'll start with my last day, since it extended my blogging vacation one more day than planned.
By the time we reached the last day in Orlando, both boys were wiped out. While I normally like to enjoy every last second on my vacations, I was happy to rest as well. I hadn't been feeling the Disney "magic" this trip, because most of my time was spent at the Magic Kingdom riding around on kiddie rides. We decided to have a "hotel day" and hang out at the pool. There was a Krispy Kreme nearby, and, since we love their donuts but can't get them in MA, the Big Giraffe bought some for the whole extended family. Everyone really enjoyed them.
As I was getting ready to go to the pool, my aunt, uncle, and cousin invited me to join them for one adult-only day at Epcot. Voila! A chance to reclaim the Disney magic. It took a little bit for everyone to get ready. Then we all went and got Fast Passes for this really cool ride called Soarin'. My cousin really wanted Japanese food for lunch, so we headed over to the International area of Epcot and stopped in "Japan" where I got sushi. It was quite good, but my stomach did rumble a couple of times as the sushi, donuts, and some French pastry that I don't recall buying made a really weird combination.
After lunch and the ride on Soarin', my aunt and uncle really wanted to try a ride called Mission Space. This is the ride that loads everyone into a giant centrifuge that is going 2.4 G. Each person is expected to stare into a "window" in front of them, which is really a screen playing a 3D movie to complete the illusion of being launched into outer space. My aunt and uncle insisted that the experience was completely amazing and as long as we only looked at the screen, we would be fine. My cousin and I were nonetheless a little nervous about it.
As we tried to find the ride, we saw a kid walking towards us pushing his skin back on his face while animatedly talking to someone. We knew we were in the right place at the ride. This didn't inspire confidence that we wanted to be at the ride. The continuous warnings that those with any motion sickness, high blood pressure, claustrophobia, a fear of heights etc. should not go on the ride did not help either. Seriously, they were everywhere. Plus they kept on making recorded announcements that I swear said something like "if you even think you shouldn't be on this ride, then you shouldn't be on this ride". In fact it's even mentioned in this review from All Ears Net. I gave a long look to each of the many places available to bail out. Surprisingly there was no line so before I knew it I was being rushed into the prep room.
In the prep room you watch a video where Gary Sinise tells you about the ride. A female narrator stresses that you should only look straight ahead and you should not under any circumstances close your eyes. They even show a demo of a girl looking to the left and right and closing her eyes while the narrator tells you not to do that. I looked around and there were little kids around my older son's age in line. They told me that they had already gone on the ride before and it was great. My uncle used this as further proof that the ride was fine. I was not convinced. I was a camp counselor for four years, and I know that kids can eat a half a pizza and twirl around on a swing without throwing up. It doesn't mean that I can do it.
All of a sudden we were ushered to our rocket pod to board. I bailed. The rest of my family held strong, and I met up with them in the bailout area. We all went onto other rides. However, after hearing from my cousin that the ride was not as bad as she had thought it would be, I began regretting that I bailed. It took me a while to admit it though. Finally just before we were about to leave the park, my uncle offered me the chance to save face to go with me again. How pathetic is that that my 57 year old uncle had to talk his 31 year old niece into going on an amusement park ride? It should have been the other way around.
Again there was no line, but because I had already been through the prep, I was much calmer this time. Plus there was a boy who looked like he was about 12 who was really excited about the ride. He and his aunt had just gotten off the green version of the ride, which is the tamer version without any spinning. He couldn't wait to go on. See what I mean about kids? He knew all about the ride.
We boarded our pod. Everyone was assigned their "duties". My aunt's theory is that everyone is assigned a job to force them to look at the screen so they won't get sick. Basically each person has two buttons on their screen and at various points they light up and need to be pressed. Each person also has a joystick. We got in and I was pleased to be sitting next to the barf bags. I lowered the harness. My seat tilted back, and the screen moved up closer to me. Then Gary Sinise started speaking again about the rocket and about only looking straight ahead and not closing our eyes. I know he said other stuff too, but I was too nervous to pay attention. Finally just when I was getting annoyed that this was taking so long, the "rocket" launched. It was both the coolest and most nauseating feeling. I really felt like I was being launched into space (or what I assume it feels like to be launched into space). As I broke through the clouds, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was going to see my donuts and raw fish (and French pastry) again. I was fighting against all of my instincts to not close my eyes. My eyes were tearing and I could feel my skin pulling back on my face. I dug my heels to the floor and waited for the inevitable barfing. Then, like my cousin had said, the feeling went away and I felt like I was floating in space (this is really because I was being spun around like crazy). I pressed my buttons. I moved the joystick when I was told. I only felt slightly ill, if at all. We landed on Mars and our mission was complete. (Not sure how we got back though.)
When I exited the ride, I couldn't believe what a wimp I had been. I felt fine. Or so I thought. It wasn't until last night when I was googling the ride and reading rider reviews that I found out that it can take 15 minutes after the ride ends to feel the effects. I have to say that my stomach felt weird. Apparently that weirdness can also last for a few days. I can attest that it lasted a good 24 hours. Good thing I loaded up on all those calories, because I didn't feel like eating a thing. I feel fine today, but I swear on the flight home yesterday a few times I felt like I was traveling to Mars instead of MA.
(The Big Giraffe claims that I left for Mars long before this week, and he remains unconvinced that I have returned.)
A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: Do not eat donuts, sushi, and French pastry together, particularly if you are about to go on an amusement park ride that causes long-term nausea.
I am amazed you went on it after all. You are braver than me. I just remember hurling into a garbage can at Disney Land as a 5th grader some time after a ride. I understand those 10 minute to 24 hour effects....
LOLZ! Poor Alex. I can't do those rides anymore! Too old or sumthin'!
Btw, Welcome Back! I've been doing some bloggy tasks and FINALLY blog rolled you, 'cause you're so awesome, and you've been a good friend to me. :) I also gave you an award while you were gone. :D It's here.
Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.
My husband and I LOVED that ride. We went on it 3 times when we were down there 2 years ago.