Surviving The Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure
I enjoyed Islands of Adventure rides thanks to a prescription patch.
If you suffer from motion sickness as I do, then a day at a theme park, such as Universal Studios, can be an anxiety-inducing experience. You spent a lot of money to be there. Used vacation days. But will you be able to enjoy the experience, or nervously watch for the nearest trash can or first aid station?
Braving the parks with motion sickness
Amusement park rides have always been a struggle for me, but an over-the-counter patch has made most Disney rides enjoyable – except Guardians of the Galaxy.
However, heading to our first visit to Universal Studios in Florida, I knew the rides were going to be more intense, and the patch wasn’t going to be able to prevent motion sickness. I expected to skip most of the rides and just enjoy the atmosphere while my family did the rides. I opted to get a prescription for scopolamine to help me avoid any motion sickness and still brave some of the rides.
The scopolamine patch was a game-changer for me. I didn’t have any feelings or nervousness, no shaky nerves. I didn’t get the tight stomach clench during drops and I didn’t feel lightheaded or dizzy stepping of the majority of attractions I rode.
How am I rating each attraction?
My scale for this assessment is on a 0-5 range. A score of zero means I had no feelings of stomach clinch, nausea, or dizziness. A rating of 5 means I was dizzy or sick and needed to sit down or lie down to recover.
| Rating | Symptoms experienced |
|---|---|
| 0 | no symptoms at all |
| 1 | some nerves and head fuzziness |
| 2 | some nerves, head fuzziness and queasiness in the stomach |
| 3 | headache, weakness in limbs, unstable balance |
| 4 | headache, weakness in limbs, unstable balance |
| 5 | headache, dizziness, weakness, potential vomiting and needing to lie down |
I am also adjusting for the scolopomine patch, so I will give my best guess on how I would have reacted without the patch, so you can compare the difference.
Finally, I give it a “would I ride it again?” Score. 1 thumb is not likely, 5 thumbs is absolutely!
My experience at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
There are several rides I did not attempt. Since I didn’t have small children in my travel party, I skipped the Seuss Landing™ area. In Toon Lagoon, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls® was closed and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges® was running but my group wasn’t interested in getting soaked.
I also skipped the rides in Marvel Superhero Island® area.
Let’s look at my ratings
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
Motion sickness rating: 2
Non-medicated rating: 6
As a Potter fan, there was no way I was skipping the queue for this one. I knew that this was a notoriously triggering ride for people who normally don’t get motion sick, but I decided to give it a try. I closed my eyes for most of the ride and just peeked here and there. I was able to walk off with just a slight feeling of fuzziness in my head and instability in my stomach. I didn’t need to sit down. My family went on it a second time on our 4th day and they needed to take a moment after so I was proud of myself for getting on it.
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I am so proud of myself for getting on this ride and attempting it – even if my eyes were closed most of the time. That said, I don’t ever need to ride it again. Now, I may wander the queue though and seek out all of the wonderful details. . One thumb up.
Flight of the Hippogriff™
Motion sickness rating: 1
Non-medicated rating: 3
I was suprised that this one did deliver a bit of stomach-in-the-throat feeling. I think it was the tight turn in there that did it. I loved the ride though and it does have one of the best views.
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I did like this coaster. I would ride it again if the wait is reasonable within 25 minutes or less. Four thumbs up!
Jurassic Park River Adventure™
Motion sickness rating: 0
Non-medicated rating: 4
This ride was one I had spoiled, and I knew there was a significant drop at the end. The drop is 85 feet at 54 degrees, which is almost double the height of the drop on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. My family was directed to the front row and I asked to be in the back. I said it was because I didn’t want to get soaked (which was true), but really, I didn’t want to be in the front row for the drop. I was directed to the back row. Not sure that was better, but I did manage to complete the ride without any symptoms of motion sickness or stomach drop.
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I was brave, but that drop at the end is enough to make me hesitate to do it again. . Two thumbs up.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Motion sickness rating: 2
Non-medicated rating: 4
Another ride with screens, fast movement and opportunities for disorientation. Luckily, I only had to close my eyes during the scene where both sides of the car have screen elements happening. Otherwise, it was a fun experience, but not one I would make time to ride again.
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This one felt like a one-and-done experience. Again, not a fan of being jostled around in front of giant screens.. Two thumbs up.
Hogwarts Express™ – Hogsmeade™ Station
Motion sickness rating: 0
Non-medicated rating: 1
I expected this ride might trigger some feelings of fuzziness or instability since everyone is watching a screen in a moving train. I didn’t have that in either direction. Lovely little experience for Potter fans.
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This is a fun way to journey back and forth between the Harry Potter worlds. If I were visiting with my focus being just the wizarding areas, I would use this transportation as long as the wait time is shorter than walking or if it is a hot day. Four thumbs up.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™
Motion sickness rating: 1
Non-medicated rating: 4
I watched spoilers of this ride before our visit and I honestly thought I wouldn’t feel ok riding it, but was going to be brave and attempt it anyway because I love the concept and the different mechanisms this ride employs. We rope dropped it and waited over 65 minutes to get on.
My child and I were seated in the front car, they on the bike, me in the sidecar. This is my favorite ride in all of the parks – Disney and Universal. It’s magical on so many levels. The scenes, the speed, the drop and the backwards motion. It’s a fantastic ride. I did close my eyes on the backwards drop and I did have a little bit of stomach clinch with it and on some of the fast turns but it was worth it.
When we exited the ride we headed back to try another ride but the line was already at a 180-minute wait.
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This is the only ride I would find ways to experience multiple times during a vacation. I am going to Epic Universe this fall but I am making time to run over to Islands of Adventure solely to ride Hagrid’s. I am not sure yet just how long I am willing to wait. My usual limit is 45 minutes but I might tolerate up to 90 for this one. It’s that good. Five thumbs up!
Conclusion
This completes my ratings for Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Be sure to check out my ratings for Universal Studios and Epic Universe, too.
I hope this rating review helps anyone else who experiences motion sickness that prevents them from having fun at amusement parks. While your reaction and experiences with scopolamine may be different than mine. I am not a doctor and I am not providing medical advise. I encourage you to talk to your doctor about taking scolopamine.
