Pete Trabucco has a new book out called: America’s Top Roller Coasters & Amusement Parks: A Guide for Those Who Ride Them & Tips for Those Who Fear Them. I’ve seen a ton theme park and roller coaster books in my time, but I can’t recall one that had tips for people who were feared roller coasters. Believe it or not, I was scared of roller coasters until I was a teenager, so I can sympathize with those who don’t have the stomach for the thrill machines. Over the years that I’ve been blogging, numerous people have contacted me with questions on how they could overcome their fear.
Pete Trabucco has offered up some great tips in his chapter called: “Fighting the Fear of Roller Coasters”. Let’s have a look:
Never Coerce People or be Coerced
His first tip isn’t so much of a tip; it’s more of a rule. If someone’s not quite ready to tackle the towering thrill ride at your local park, don’t pressure them. It typically turns out bad. I feel that some gentle nudging and encouragement can’t hurt as I’ve converted three of my good friends this way over the years, but I’d stop there.
Start with Smaller Roller Coasters
To me, this is a pretty obvious tip, but I’ve been shocked by how many people have intense roller coasters as their very first ride. I just met a girl at SeaWorld whose first roller coaster was a flying roller coaster at another park. Try a smaller, slower roller coaster for your first time out or even if you’re rusty and haven’t ridden in a while. The recently mentioned mine train roller coasters are great for gearing up for the bigger rides. They have short drops and relatively short heights. These junior roller coasters are maybe just a bit taller than your house.
Learn the Layout of the Roller Coaster
How many times have you been in the queue and heard someone asking, “Does this ride go upside-down?” As a novices you may feel more comfortable and mentally prepared if you can get someone to explain to you in detail what to expect. Even better, if you can see the ride’s entire layout and study it, it might make you feel more up to the task. This was always a problem with terrain roller coasters like Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens Europe. I could never get my brother to ride because he couldn’t see the layout.
Brace Yourself
Roller coaster enthusiasts loathe being stapled into a coaster by lap bars and over-the-shoulder restraints. We want to be free to feel that sought-after airtime and floating sensation. Newbies probably aren’t ready for this and will likely want to feel as safe and secure as possible. So lower that lap bar as low as possible (while still being comfortable). You’re not going to fall out of the roller coaster regardless, but a tighter lap bar may help convince your worried mind.
Breathe & Scream!
Breathing and screaming can keep the blood flow in your upper body. This can decrease the chances of blacking out. Maybe I should’ve tried this on Magic Mountain’s Goliath. Pete Trabucco is a seasoned pilot, his recommendation is one that pilots use to as they experience heavy g-forces just as we coaster riders do. So yes, screaming is not only fun, but it’s recommended.
For more on Pete Trabucco’s “…Tips for Those Who Fear Them”, and some great, in-depth roller coaster reviews of the America’s best roller coasters, pick up a copy of his book today. I hope to interview Pete and have a complete review of his book up soon.
Roller Coasters Are Safer than “Fill in the Blank”
For me, knowing that I’m not going to die and that roller coasters are much safer than driving a car is enough. It’s the perceived danger that makes riding roller coasters fun. But remember that the danger is only perceived. In a car chances of death are 1 in 18,000 and in a plane chances of death are 1 in 350,000. You even have a better chance of dying from parts falling off an airplane than on a roller coaster (1 in 10,000,000). In comparison, you have a 1 in 1.5 billion chance of being fatally injured on a coaster. Those kids in Final Destination 3 really had some bad luck, huh? I understand that fears aren’t always rational, but these numbers might put you at ease.
What’s Your Take?
Do you have a fear of roller coasters? Have you tried to overcome them? What do you think of Pete’s tips? What tips have helped you? Leave a comment below.
Coaster Critic 
58 responses to “How to Overcome A Fear of Roller Coasters”
"Start with Smaller Roller Coasters"
That is the best piece of advice that can be given. I was afraid of roller coasters my whole life because my first was the Millennium Force at Cedar Point! I fell in love with them last summer after getting tired of the little coasters. Hersheyparks is the best local park for this, because their rides have a clear procession. The Woodies, Wild Mouse, and Trailblazer–Super Dooper Looper–Great Bear–Stormrunner and Fahrenheit. I overcame my fear there. Also, it helps to have a single trusted friend with you. They'll make you feel safe and carefree and whatnot. Final tip– act unafraid. If you act a certain way, your nerves will end up believing your act, too. Put your arms up while going down hill– for some reason it's actually scarier if you hold on!
My method was to get on and click in. Millenium force was the cure for me. I suggest getting on the biggest scarriest ride you can find and just putting on the safety restraints. When you get off you will be happy you did and your day from then on will be much better. Look foreward if you decide on an air/hydraulic launch like kingda ka or top thrill dragster. Newer rides are smoother as well this may help your enjoyment. If you are tall like me don't get on an over the shoulder harness ride if you have to slouch even the tiniest bit. Not worth it believe me that is a bad day.
do you know what coaster is on the cover, and where it is?
well i think its scarier because youre nervous, and expecting to die. if you can throw your hands up, you will feel free, and like you can overcome anything. and im not a hippie
The coaster on the cover of the book is Millennium Force at Cedar Point. It's in Sandusky, OH I think about an hour west of Cleveland. It's a monster of a ride!
My biggest problem is the inablity to scream on a drop any higher than about 50 feet. Any ideas?
hey thanks for the tips heres the story i love roller coasters just not the upside down ones when i was 3 my cousin and my family went to six flags st.louis and they were going to ride the batman and i was too small while we were waiting for them to get off he told me that when u go upside down all the blood rushes to your head and u die harsh huh? i know its not true but everytime i get in the line and see them go upside down i keep thinking about him telling me that and i feel bad when we go cuz my mom spends money on me and i only ride the mild ones i think i could bt i just need a bost could u help me???????
Like I said, for me I find comfort in the numbers. 300 million people visit amusement parks every year. Many of those people ride roller coasters with no incident at all. During loops you'll experience g-forces. It feels like a pressure pushing down on you or the lack of pressure where you'll feel like you're floating. You've already experienced g-forces when riding in a car. The forces are just more intense on a roller coaster. And again, it sounds silly, but you're statistically, much, much safer on Batman than in a car.
I'm no psychologist, so I'm not sure what to tell someone who knows they have an irrational fear. Maybe you could try going to the area where riders exit. Do a little people watching. See all the people that are getting off the ride. Some are anxious to get right back on, others are winded, others a little disoriented, but they're all fine. You'll be one of those people too. Just tell yourself you'll be fine. Even better you'll likely have fun!
Thank you for this blog. My boyfriend is taking me to Cedar Point in a couple of weeks, and he loves roller coasters-especially the big ones. When I was younger I had no problem with them and rode everything at King's Island. However as I get older (late 30's) I seem to be developing an irrational fear-I'm going backwards! I think it's because a few years ago I rode the Vortex (which I had ridden many times before with no problem) @KI and I was spent for the rest of the day-never got sick but nauseous and a headache that wouldn't quit. I am only 5'2 and I think my head really took a beating from the restraints. I really want to be able to enjoy these rides at Cedar Point and I will remember the tips from above and appreciate any further advice as well.
How I got over my fear of rides was at the age of 8 was i went with an experienced rider(my aunt) and she made me go on every ride. This was at California's Great america. Later that summer my dad and i went to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz. It is a great place for beginners because the rides aren't very tall. I became addicted the following year when i went to six flags discovery kingdom, my favorite rides there being V2 vertical velocity and Medusa. Now i'm 15 and i'm planning to go to Magic Mountain this summer and take the next step in my Roller Coaster junkie career.
"Never Coerce People or be Coerced" – I have a hard time explaining to others that 1. I love, love roller coasters! 2. I have the world's weakest stomach: I've vomited after a hour's car ride. Most of my friends have learned from experience (disgusting, putrid experience) to honor my similar "No Means No" policy. People have a pretty good sense of what rides they can and can't handle and when, respect their decisions and don't guilt them into something they don't want to do!
I used your tips and kept repeating mind over matter to myself, them started the day on Top Thrill Dragster and proceeded to ride them ALL at Cedar Point-even rode Millenium Force and Top Thrill (at night-THAT was cool)TWICE (-; Also, made it to the front on the Maverick.
Wow really nice Kristen. I dont think of roller coasters scary. They were made to thrill us, not kill us
I overcame my fear of roller coasters when I got in line for the Timberwolf at Worlds of Fun(gladly my first roller coaster EVER!!), and I wanted to go through the "chicken exit", but my sisters told me that they would make me dance to the chicken dance… ever since then, I've barely ever had a problem with my fear of roller coasters…(my sisters were lying, of course…)
I used to be afraid of roller coasters years ago until I rode Millennium Force in 2001. I think a lot of the fear comes from simply not knowing what its going to be like going through loops and corkscrews ect. I think its almost useless to know the layout of a coaster but not know what its going to do to you. When going through a verticaly loop you are actually being pushed into your seat. Many people wouldn't even know that. I think telling people little things like that could go a long way.
^I have a very good idea of what coasters will do to me. Through my meager coaster count, the only force I haven't felt is a launch. It is just dropping that gets me. I am not afraid of going upside down, being flung from my chair, or standing up. But when I drop even the slightest distance, I get butterflies. So if I'm plummeting 11 stories like on my tallest coaster as of now, Nessie, my gut is pushed in and I cannot scream. Any ideas?
never close your eyes on a coaster. then if u do, there is no way to see what is coming even the littlest bit, and will be scarier. The feeling is with pretty much everyone, so there is no helping that. hope you get on griffon soon!
My personal fear is of the lap bars not being secure. I have no problems with harnesses, but those pesky lap bars create more insecurity than I ever want to have. Especially the ones with no back ups. Make no mistake, I'm a coaster fanatic, but sometimes feel really nervous about getting on rides with that type of restraint. What's some assurance that they won't come undone in the middle of a ride? I'm so paranoid :).
I overcame my fear when I my friend urged me on thunder road when I was about 7. The next year I rode the Hurler and my dad finally convinced me to ride carolina cyclone. The next year I rode everything in the park and was no longer scaired of rollercoasters.
My kids first coaster was the Titan at six flags. They were brave and just got on. My sons face was a little white when we started the first drop. My wifes first coaster was Millenium Force. She screamed so loud but had fun. My stepson was shorter and he rode Vortex at Kings island in the back seat as his first. Get the scariest ride first and then tell them that its all down hill from here. Worked for me and my family. My wifes second coaster was Top Thrill Dragster.
That is also something that crosses my mind also. Maybe the CC can write something on how that works if he hasn't already but I'm new to the site so I wouldn't know. I was scared of heights for a long time and my father pushed me to go on Loch Ness Monster (home coaster from tidewater area) and Big bad wolf and drachen fire. After that I hadn't been on a coaster for at least 10 years. I worked in CT close to Lake Compounce. Our company had a day where we could go free. For some reason I don't know why I just decided to get on Boulder Dash. It was my first coaster w/o over the shoulder harness because i had the same fear as Austin. Since then I've become more comfortable riding and now with my wife last year we went to BGW and encouraged each other and rode all the coasters. Before we left we rode Apollo's chariot 3 times in a row. Now i'm hooked!! Also really enjoy the site CC.
Thanks Mike! And it's great to hear that you've overcome your fear. You definitely have ridden some great rides with Lake Compounce and BGW under your belt. You didn't happen to work at ESPN, did you? I know that it's near Lake Compounce. Anyway, I'm glad that you're riding again. I didn't like roller coasters until I was about 15, so I was a late bloomer too.
I love all kinds of steel coasters, but except for Kings Island's Beast, I hate woodies.
Hey CC,
Yeah I worked at ESPN for almost 4 years. Now i moved back to VA (but the Northern VA area)to get away from the snow and cold. It's funny because we have more snow here than CT lol. I was probably 16 when I first rode Loch Ness so I am a LATE LATE bloomer (we are about the same age). This summer my wife and I want to hit a bunch of parks tho and catch up on lost time!
I overcame my fear when my Dad wanted me (I wouldn't say pushed me) on Giant Dipper when I was 9. I loved it and went on it six times that day. I wanted to go on bigger ones. So I got on Roar (SFDK version) and got hooked. But I was still scared to go upside-down. Next time we visited SFDK, I tackled boomerang, my first inverting coaster. That coaster turned my life around. Now I get to any Amusment or Theme Park I can.
as stupid as it may seem, I`d suggest riding Kinda Ka. it`s drop helped me whith the stomach churningness of large drops.
I thought you said Beast was your second favorite coaster. and you criticised El Toro for not feeling like a woodie.
Exactly, Quil. I hate most woodies, but Beast is and exception. And about El Toro, I was never saying I rode it, I was simply commenting on its unnatural smoothness. Afterburn is my favorite steelie.
My first little coaster was Barnstormer at Disney World, my 2nd (1st looping) was Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, also at DW. Third and 1st floorless was Kraken at SeaWorld. BTW, does anyone have any advice for fear of pitch black rollercoasters? I have a season pass to Kings Dominion, but i'm scared to go on Flight of Fear because of the ride videos. I know it's like rock n rollercoaster, but that one had lights for the signs. any advice???
I've been to KD 3 times this year and Flight of Fear has strobe lights and it's not completely dark so it shouldn't be a problem for you. You can see pretty well. I also rode Skull Mountain and Dark Knight in NJ and those were completely dark and I thought it just made the rides boring.
awesome! thanks, i'm going on the eighth so maybe i'll try it but who knows we may just stay at waterworks! But I WILL TRY FLIGHT OF FEAR!!!!!! Hooray!
you haven't happened to have been to KD, have you? i love that place! hurler and grizzly are AMAZING.
that could be a roller coaster catch phrase. nice.
So, Ive ridden Kingda Ka and all the other massive coasters, i have no fear of height and speed
however i have never gone upside down, for some reason i am terrified of it.
any suggestions?
Just try it. Tell someone you'll be going to a theme park with that you're going to ride a small looping coaster. Once you get there, walk dirrectly to the qeueu of that ride. Make sure the person you told is in the qeueu with you as you ride.
This is sort of a positive version of peer presure, and it works.
I have had/still have a fear of riding roller coasters. My first "real" roller coaster was Space Mountian at Disneyland, then Roller Coaster at Lagoon, and Bat at Lagoon. For some reason, they took a lot of courage for me when i was 8. I did become confident after riding bigger rides though due to friends saying how easy and slow the rides are. I made a big jump and rode Wicked at Lagoon, and after realizing that i enjoyed it, i rode Colossus. Then I conquered all the rides at SFSTL, but after many trips. Screamin Eagle was pretty easy to make myself go on, a little harder with Boss. Batman took a big amount of courage, but since i braved Wildfire and Powderkeg at Branson, i figured I could do it. It is now one of my favorite rides. Mr.Freeze was the hardest for me to go on, but i got off realizing just how slow the ride was! my toughest coaster by far was Maverick. I got off not knowing whether I liked it or hated it. I still to this day HATE launches on coasters, but Mr.Freeze has a pathetic one so its really easy. I have now realized that basically as long as its not more intense as Maverick, I can easily handle it. My advice to those who are scared: 1. Riding the big one first isn't ALWAYS the best option, although some times it is. I have to build up by riding a couple smaller (but not too small) rides first. 2. Loops aren't nearly as scary as they appear, and are over with before you can notice. Lastly, appearance doesn't really show you how scary it is: Mr.Freeze is tall but not scary at all, while Maverick is really small yet super intense. Dont be scared about riding a roller coaster, it will be for nothing.
All good tips, Frog.
Hi Coaster Critic! I love your blog and have really enjoyed reading it. This post caught my attention because I used to be very afraid of tall coasters and water slides up until I was about 12 years old.
I actually had some friends convince me to ride Viper at SF Magic Mountain when I was 11. I stood in the line scared to death and the only thing that consoled me was thinking that everyone I had seen walk off the ride was still alive and smiling.
I think the only tip I would add to this list (all of them good tips) is to try closing your eyes on your first really big coaster. This is what I did on the Viper and it helped a lot. After that, I never had to close my eyes!
I will admit that I did like tamer roller coasters before then like Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain at Disneyland, so the peer pressure I gave into was probably something I was ready for.
I made the mistake of taking my sister in law on a woodie at Lagoon, and she hated it; she definitely wasn't ready, so I think that talking someone into something can go either way depending on the person.
I think Steel coasters may tend to be a bit better for starting out than woodies.
I went to Cedar Point last year and rode Raptor. Iblcked out on thethe drop andloop but the I was fine from there. Iwan to ride Millenium but just don't knw what really to expect because it looks very intimidating. Ihink if I went on it it I would love it I just ahte the anxiety whn in line and on the lift hill. Any tips???
This has been a really helpful post, because I was terrified of coasters until I was 20! I started facing my fears and riding last year at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and this year at King's Dominion. I've gone from chicken to coaster junkie in that time. My advice is to get some info about the ride before you get on it. Read reviews, learn how it works if you like. Sure, nothing can really prepare you for the forces you will feel, but it does help to learn as much as you can. Tell yourself "Look at all the people getting off the ride. They're fine, see? The ride isn't going to hurt you" Also, I find that if you can make yourself wait in line and get fastened in the seat, than the hardest part is over. Tell yourself, "No backing out now, so just sit back and enjoy the ride!" After you facing your fear on one ride, you will hopefully have a good feeling of accomplishment that should help you feel braver about facing new ones! Thanks to the Coaster Critic for a great blog too! Love reading your reviews and planning my next coaster conquests!
I am somewhat guilty of the first tip. Anytime my friends chicken out on rides I make fun of them and really try to force them on the rides. Although I do say alot of tips to them like the chances of dying and that the rides are inspected every day. I don't want them to miss out. I don't have that problem anymore because my method worked. Almost all my friends love roller coasters now. One of my friends puked on his first coaster and won't go on anymore coasters, and wont even go to an amusement park now though. But most of my friends love to go to amusement parks and ride roller coasters.
Well, my 1st roller coaster was Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventures and Rockin' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios. When I went on it, I was actually holding on to the holding bars and half of the ride I had my eyes closed, later I just opened my eyes and found out that everything was O.K ….. it was in 5th grade. Last year I was in 7th grade and I chickened out to go on Dragon Challenge!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!Now i'm in 8th grade and i'm going in Oct. 29 but I want to ride it without chickening out!!!!
…My daughter, however, has informed me on the basis of POV viewing that she's never going on an inverting coaster, and if she doesn't change her mind, that's OK. They just aren't for some people.
Loops are interesting, though–I was terrified of the *idea* of them before I had actually ridden one, but, in my youth, when I finally worked up the courage to ride the good old Loch Ness Monster at BGW, I was surprised to find that the loops were the least scary thing about the ride! Big drops and big airtime always unnerve me a least a little, but, somehow, loops and other inversions are just fun, not frightening. I think I just get more of a scare from negative Gs than from visual discombobulation.
(Which is my one quibble with the Critic's Thrill Scale: to me, old-timey woodies (class 2) are scarier than simple steel loopers (class 3)! But this is a subjective thing that will vary from person to person, so I don't suppose it's a legit objection.)
Good point on the quibble. I think I created it that way because of the reactions that I've overheard thousands of times in queues from people wondering if a ride "went upside-down" or not. It seems to me that the average park-goer puts loopers on a higher intensity scale than even an intense woodie from just the looks of rides. Of course, this isn't always accurate, but the scale's meant for the general coaster riding public and I think it works that way. Good point though, I can see what you mean completely. Thanks for the comment.
Yeah, maybe if you're at the point of realizing that airtime can be scarier than loops, you know too much about coasters to really need the Thrill Scale…
I always appreciate it when knowledgeable people are willing to reach out to the general public in that way!
Thanks Matt. I've always tried to make that a goal for the site. To bridge the super geeky and the general public as best I can.
I completely agree with that, I got my cousin to ride everything at Carowinds by getting him to start with Intimidator, then stepping down from there. Worked like a charm!
I actually for over my fear or roller coasters by getting on a big ride first (: I had only been on small coasters like (the mummy at universal studios) but I was always terrified of speed and drops so when we went to six flags for grad night my best friends made me get on Tatsu first and I worked like a charm ! Every other ride has been breeze. Went to Knotts berry farm last week and I got on ALL of the roller coasters 😀
Hey my girlfriend is deathly afraid of rollercoasters, and NOTHING I say can convince her to try one. It’s really disappointing to me because I’d love to take her to theme parks to ride all the awesome coasters with me. Is there anything I can do to change her mind?
My boyfriend thinks this will fix everything…ooops!
Okay so im going to great adventure this weeked with mah uncle who makes me go on i just dont know how to overcome this i like have anxiety attacks
My first coaster was actually a probably 30-foot tall wooden coaster. I was in elementary school when I rode it, and from there I slowly, very slowly, grew used to over 200-foot tall coasters with inversions.
The thing I’ve noticed about coasters is that every time I rode one with a specific trait, that trait never terrified me again on other coasters. For example, if I went on a loop, loops didn’t seem threatening anymore. By eventually riding hyper coasters (coasters that basically are extremely large and fast without inversions) and then small coasters with inversions, I was mentally prepared for any coaster, since I had experienced every trait (with the exception of standing up. That sill scares me a little).
So I would say that if you are scared of a specific coaster, analyze just what is scary about it. Is it the inversions? Sheer size? Huge speed? The launch system? The noise? Your position? Just ride coasters that touch those specific fears and soon you adapt to every trait, leaving you without fears for stepping onto roller coasters.
I’m 11, I was scared until this year. I went to six flags great adventure for the first time go the season and I wa with 3 kids tht didn’t like rides and 2 others tht did. Now, I didn’t want to be the loser not going on so I forced myself on every single ride! And now I’m glad I did I love coasters now!
I do have fears of roller coasters, but even if I go on some other rides, I get really nervous. There’s this ride called, ” Goliath” at sixflags over georgia, but I want to go on it, but I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to do so. But I made a meme to myself: if you survive Goliath you can survive the other rides.
P.s, Goliath is the tallest ride there
Sorry this is almost a year too late, but, tell her that you are more likely to be struck by lightning while driving than to be killed on a rollercoaster. Also tell her every element and explain them in each coaster. And that a huge ammount of people have been on it and have never gotten killed.
“Start with smaller rides.”
For me I didn’t get over my fear of coasters until I was a teenager and I was with my friends at Busch Gardens. Apollo’s Chariot was a new ride at the time and I was peer pressured into going on and screamed obscenities the whole time I was on it because it was terrifying.
So you could say I went big for my first ride and it was hard to be afraid of roller coasters after that. I rode every other coaster in the park that day. I’m glad I did because I probably would have missed out on Big Bad Wolf forever if I hadn’t.
I loved your tip of trying a smaller roller coast first before you go to big ones. My son is wanting to go to a carnival for the first time and he was wondering how to get over his nerves of riding roller coasters. I’ll be sure to tell him that he should ride the small roller coasters before going to big ones.