The Ultimate Motion Sickness Guide to Universal Orlando
I rated Universal rides on a scale of 0–5 to see if a prescription patch could keep queasiness at bay.
My first trip to Universal Studios Orlando had me feeling excited and anxious. I suffer from motion sickness. When I visit Disney World, I wear an over-the-counter patch to prevent symptoms. I grew up with chronic sinus infections, and I have Eustachian tubes that don’t drain well, so pressure builds up in my ears and throws off my equilibrium. Long, winding car rides through the mountains can make me queasy, and a simple twirl in a dress will make me dizzy.
Amusement park rides have always been a struggle for me, but the over-the-counter patch has made most Disney rides fun – except Guardians of the Galaxy.Â
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.
What is motion sickness?
Motion sickness occurs when there is conflicting messages being delivered to your brain from your balance-sensing system. Your inner ears may detect motion but your eyes do not, such as when you are reading a book in a moving vehicle. Your eyes are not seeing motion, but the rest of your body can feel motion. This confusion can cause:
- a general feeling of illness.
- nausea.
- headache.
- sweating.
- dizziness.
- vomiting.
There are over-the-counter options to help minimize or avoid motion sickness, such as Dramamine and Bonine. These options didn’t work for me and made me feel fuzzy or groggy, which is not what you want when you spent hundreds of dollars to go to a theme park.
What is a Scopolamine Patch?
A scopolamine patch is a prescription medication worn behind the ear to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. A friend recommended that I give it a try. The active ingredient, scopolomine, is absorbed through the skin and blocks signals in the brain that trigger nausea and dizziness. A single patch can be worn for up to three days.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical professional. The information in this post is based on my personal experience with motion sickness and the Scopolamine patch. What worked for my body may not work for yours. Please consult with your physician or a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new medication or treatment for your trip.
Are there side effects of the scopolamine patch?
Yes, the patch can cause some dizziness or nausea when it is first placed. My doctor recommended I put the patch on the night before I go to the parks so that I sleep through any initial side effects. After that, it is common to experience dry mouth and blurred vision. I was advised to remove the patch if I experienced blurred vision and drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
My motion sickness symptoms
Triggers of motion sickness and the accompanying symptoms can vary widely from person to person. In order to rate the rides based on how I experienced them, I am first establishing what it commonly looks like for me.
Dizziness is common for me when there is spinning or fast changes in direction, mixed with screens. This is one reason Guardians of the Galaxy was a struggle, but I also experienced it on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Generally, spinning rides are a no-go for me, so I avoid the teacups, Flight of Passage, and Soarin. Knowing that a majority of rides at Universal use screens, I expected this to be an issue for me.
Nausea or a clenched stomach feeling is another common issue I have with rides. Anything with a drop or intense G-forces is going to make me feel sick and very wobbly when I get off the ride. Roller coasters are tough for me, and I get that stomach drop feeling on Barnstormer and Slinky Dog Dash. Because of that, I have avoided Everest, Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror.
Rating system for Universal rides
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.
Are there rides I avoided?
There are some rides I knew would be problematic, and I avoided them (Escape from New York with Jimmy Fallon, The Simpsons Ride). And I will fully admit that Velocicoaster and Hulk were too intimidating, and I skipped them. There are also some rides we just didn’t get time to do. The list below is every ride I got on, my impression of the ride, and how I would rate it on the scale.Â
Ready for the Ratings? Choose your park below for the full details.
Universal Studios Florida: Screens. Screens, everywhere!
If your motion sickness is triggered by screens and simulators, this is your “danger zone” park. It has the highest concentration of 3D and 4D screen-heavy rides, which can be a nightmare for your equilibrium.
- The Good News: You can often request stationary seating on rides like Despicable Me to skip the movement entirely.
- The Big Warning: The Simpsons Ride is the undisputed king of nausea here — even for people who don’t usually get sick.
- Read my full Universal Studios ratings for more details.
| Ride name | Rating |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the escape from Gringottsâ„¢ | 0 |
| Revenge of the Mummyâ„¢ | 0 |
| Transformersâ„¢ The Ride-3D | 0 |
| E.T. Adventureâ„¢ | 0 |
| Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast | 1 |
Summary: With the scopolamine patch, I didn’t have any motion sickness symptoms on the attractions I rode. I am certain that Transformersâ„¢ The Ride – 3D would have been the worst for me without the patch.
Islands of Adventure: The worst ride and best ride
This park is a mix of high-speed outdoor coasters and intense “flying” simulators. It is home to what many consider the most nauseating ride in all of Orlando.
- The Big Hurdle: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journeyâ„¢ uses a robotic arm and dome screens that are notorious for “breaking” the vestibular system.
- The Surprise: While Jurassic Park River Adventureâ„¢ has a massive drop, the lap bars and fresh air actually make it quite manageable for many.
- The Best Ride: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventureâ„¢ (say that five times fast) is the best ride in all the parks – including Disney.
- Read my Islands of Adventure ratings for full details.
| Ride name | Rating |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journeyâ„¢ | 2 |
| Flight of the Hippogriffâ„¢ | 1 |
| Jurassic Park River Adventureâ„¢ | 0 |
| Skull Island: Reign of Kong | 1 |
| Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventureâ„¢ | 1 |
| Hogwarts Expressâ„¢ – Hogsmeadeâ„¢ Station | 0 |
Summary: I need a t-shirt that says “I survived Forbidden Journey.” While I did experience some disorientation that I was able to manage by looking away from the screens, I didn’t walk off the ride ready to regurgitate my Butterbeer.
Epic Universe: New thrills, new tech
Universal’s newest park uses cutting-edge tech that feels much “smoother” than older simulators, but it introduces new challenges like Augmented Reality (AR) goggles.
- What to Watch For: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministryâ„¢ is a high-tech elevator-style ride that can be very “jostling”.
- The Spin Factor: Curse of the Werewolf is a free-spinning coaster, so your experience depends entirely on the weight of the people in your car.
- Read my Epic Universe ratings for a full break down.
| Ride name | Rating |
|---|---|
| Mario Kartâ„¢: Bowser’s Challenge | 1 |
| Yoshi’s Adventureâ„¢ | 0 |
| Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiement | 0 |
| Hiccup’s Wing Gliders | 2 |
| Constellation Carousel | 0 |
| Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministryâ„¢ | 1 |
Summary: While I wasn’t able to experience all of the rides here, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders did have more speed and airtime than I was expecting. I walked off feeling a bit shaky and needed a short break.
Tips for dealing with motion sickness on a ride
There are some survival tips you can use if you find yourself starting to feel symptoms of motion sickness when you are on a ride.
- Find a “fixed point”. I tend to close my eyes, but that doesn’t fix the disconnect in your brain because your eyes don’t see motion while your body feels it. Instead, focus on a fixed point to help your brain adjust. This can be the back of the seat in front of you or your hand on the lap bar.
- Look straight ahead. Look for a horizon point if you are on an outdoor ride, or aim your gaze at the center of the screen for visual rides. Avoid peripherals and edges of the screen.
- Deep breaths. Take slow, deep breaths. In through the nose and out through the mouth. This will help lower your body temperature.
- Stabilize the body. Motion sickness triggers can be worse when your head or body is being tossed around. I use this on Smuggler’s Run by pressing my body back against the chair and trying to keep myself stable. I also used this on Monsters Unchained where I kept my head pressed back against the headrest.
- Ground your feet. Help your nervous system feel secure by pressing your feet firmly onto the floor of the ride vehicle.
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.Â
