Riding My First Loop Roller Coaster as an Adult

It’s never too late to overcome an old fear

“Today’s the day,” I said with conviction. “I’m finally going to do it.”

The fear grew in my chest. While I may have sounded confident, I wasn’t so convinced by my own words.

I was on vacation in Orlando, Florida visiting Disney World for the first time in years. I had been to the beloved theme park before as a child but never as a fully-grown adult.

As my friends and I continued to walk, we came to the entrance of the familiar-looking ride: the enclosed, launched loop rollercoaster that I had been too scared to ride in my youth.

The memories came flooding back. I remembered my mom and dad bending down to my level in an attempt to coax me on, encouraging me to be brave.

“You can do it, sweetie. It’s just a ride,” they said. “It will be fun.”

At the time, I had crossed my arms and shaken my head stubbornly. There was no way they could convince me.

“One day when I’m older, I’ll ride it,” I reasoned.

They had let the conversation slide, and we continued exploring the park that day. I recall the temporary sense of relief I had felt — knowing I was back to safety, back to familiarity, back to my comfort zone.

But once the trip ended, I felt the curiosity weigh on me. What if I had said “yes” to the experience? What if I hadn’t let fear get the best of me?

The problem was, it wasn’t just this one rollercoaster. I had spent much of my childhood life avoiding taking risks. I never pushed the limits. I performed well in school, avoided getting into trouble, and did as my parents said. Spontaneity wasn’t a trait I knew well.

And because of that, my cautiousness permeated aspects of my adult life, too. Up until that point, I had never been on a rollercoaster with a loop before. Not once.

It wasn’t because I had gone through a bad experience, or someone told me I shouldn’t ride one. It had always been my self-imposed doubts. Each time, I had found an excuse not to.

Here I was, a fully-matured twenty-something, and I hadn’t even experienced one of the most exhilarating childhood rites of passage. I was always the girl holding the bags. Waiting on the sidelines. Saying “you go, and I’ll stay behind.”

But that would change today. It was time to take action — time to prove to myself that I could ride a rollercoaster with a loop. I wasn’t going to be a scaredy-cat anymore.

As my friends and I stepped in line, I noticed kids half the size of me gleefully run up the ramp to get in line behind us. If they could do it, then why had I waited so long?

We continued down a darkened hall leading to the entrance. My heart rate picked up, and I could feel the panic set in. The flashing lights, the screams in the distance, the music pulsing in the background. The doubts began filling my brain with fog.

It wasn’t too late to turn back. I could just push past the crowd and make my exit before I got too uncomfortable. I could quit while I was ahead. But I wasn’t letting myself off the hook this time.

Without giving myself time to overthink, I walked forward and stepped inside of the first car of the rollercoaster. I pulled the restraint over my head, shut my eyes, and tipped my head back. There was no escaping now.

As I prepared for launch, strapped into my seat and unable to move, I thought about the root of where my fears. Why was I so worked up in the first place?

The worst-case scenarios played in my head: What if I felt nauseous? What if I started to see spots? What if I got a throbbing headache afterward? My brain was going into catastrophe mode.

But then I remembered — fear, like many emotions in life, is a temporary and fleeting feeling. Sure, it’s natural to feel nervous in an unknown situation, especially one as daunting as a twisty, high-speed ride.

But this rollercoaster, like other obstacles in my life, would pass eventually. So what if I felt slight discomfort for a couple of minutes? What if I realized roller coaster loops weren’t for me?

Regardless, at least I wouldn’t have any regrets. And the sense of accomplishment afterward could be much greater — the feeling of triumph and victory could outweigh my current hesitation.

Over the speaker, I heard the countdown begin. I clutched my friend’s hand for support as the air left my lungs. Time to meet my doom.

“Three…two…one…”

Before I knew it, I felt the momentum pick up. The rollercoaster moved faster and faster, picking up speed as I clung tightly to my seat. I could feel the G-force pulling me as the loop came into sight.

Finally, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the point of no return. We barreled forward climbing the loop, and before I knew it…I was hanging upside down. And then…I was right-side-up again. The loop happened so fast that by the time I could process the sensation, it was already over.

All I knew was that I was screaming. The wind whipped through my hair, and I could feel the blood pumping through my veins. Tears streamed out of my eyes, and I began to laugh hysterically. I felt like I was flying. I didn’t want the feeling to end.

Through every twist and turn, I grew more confident, lifting my arms in the air and yelling along with the rest of the riders. I continued to laugh and holler along all of the hills and dips until we reached the station again. Everyone was cheering.

My friend turned toward me. “See, it wasn’t that bad, right? You did it!”

“Not bad” was an understatement. It was empowering and thrilling. I had come out on the other side braver and stronger than before. If I could overcome that obstacle, what else could I accomplish?

To this day, I still keep the picture of myself standing outside of that rollercoaster. It reminds me that fear isn’t simply a negative emotion meant to hold you back. Facing fear head-on is necessary for growth and can lead to some of life’s greatest adventures.

For much of my life, I believed that playing on the safe side was the way to go. I was afraid that taking risks or stepping out of my comfort zone would lead to failure, so I wouldn’t even try. I often envisioned myself in one career path, staying in the same city, or sticking to certain types of relationships.

But life isn’t just a straight, fixed line. It’s twisty and full of turns just like a rollercoaster, and you need to be prepared for the unexpected ups and downs.

Now, I’ve taken more risks in my personal life. I’ve left a job to pursue a new industry. I’ve submitted to publications that I wouldn’t normally and grown as a writer. I’ve opened up romantically and begun to share my feelings more.

And it’s made me realize that I don’t need to let fear dictate me or hold me back. Sure, overcoming fears can feel scary and overwhelming at first. And yes, not every chance you take will lead to the desired outcome.

But taking calculated risks and stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to some of the greatest rewards. And you never know if you don’t try.

“Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” ~Babe Ruth

I rode my first roller coaster loop as an adult, and I’m proud. What will I conquer next?