.

[onewishupon]

.

 

[ellbell]

There is a warning at the beginning of the ride that people with various conditions including back issues should not ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

People often say the very front row is less rough, but it really isn’t much less rough.

My DD rides in her wheelchair in the very front seat - that’s the only wheelchair accessible spot. The wheelchair is securely fastened down, so it’s not going anywhere when we hit bumps. She’s also s’est belted. It’s still a very bumpy ride; some times are bumpier than others. It all depends on which bumps the vehicle hits.
I’ve ridden in other spots when I’ve been on without DD. Except for the very back few rows, I didn’t find much difference compared to riding in the first row.

 

[Scalemaster34]

It's a bus..... riding in the back of the bus was always the most fun on dirt roads when I was a kid.

I remember the ride being a lot more bumpy... back when you had to go and save little red and go over that bridge that was about to collapse.

 

[k5xs]

From the WDW website Kilimanjaro Safari page:

Guest Policies​

• Supervise children at all times.
  Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
• The unpaved roads of Harambe Wildlife Reserve pass through rough and rugged terrain. You may experience bumps and sudden jolts on your safari adventure.
• WARNING! For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.

 

[reddog21]

I really also depends on the driver, I have had drivers gun it over the bumps and others take it easy so every ride is really a different adventure.

 

[scrappinginontario]

For all considering riding, KS has great potential to be an extremely bumpy ride. Please read the warnings carefully.

 

[brockash]

There is a warning at the beginning of the ride that people with various conditions including back issues should not ride.

Sure...just like there is for most rides. Thx OP for the info. of personal experience that actually means something as oppose to those "warnings" on close to everything to protect against a lawsuit.

 

[loves to dive]

I think I might depend on the driver, the conditions that day and your size. I'm a smallish over 60 woman and I've been in the back seat more than once and didn't find it any worse. I do get tossed around a bit in all the seats so I've learned how to brace myself (sort of like standing on a fast moving boat) so I don't get tossed as much.

 

[BarbLynnM]

Sorry to hear OPS KS experience left the family with the wrong kind of memento

I'm 73 with a bad back (for context, diagnosed spinal arthritis, not severe, gets me maybe 2 or 3 days in 6 weeks, just tweeked once in my life enough to bring me to my knees but achy if I stand for more than 30 minutes +/- ) Caveat: I don't recall ever riding the caboose of the bus .

I've personally been on KS probably 5+ times. While some rides were bumpy, it never rose to the level of causing pain or bruising. Everyone's different, and every ride is going to be unique. It's an actual bus, driving over actual rutted roads, and there's no guarantee of absolute safety for people whose backs or bones might be compromised.

These warnings might be ubiquitous--familiarity can breed contempt, or in this case a lackadaisical attitude--but the legal eagles put it there for a reason. If it can be imagined, there's the possibility it could happen. It's hard to judge on the fly so to speak, but OPS post can serve as a helpful warning to do advance research for families with health compromised members.

Along that theme, my neck is the worst part of my spine, and last time I rode the Rocken Roller Coaster I darn near broke my neck at takeoff. So heads up there for anyone with a neck issue.

 

[DCLMP]

Ride dinosaur first then it will feel smooth.

 

[lions1995]

Ride dinosaur first then it will feel smooth.

Exactly. That ride just punishes the body. But I do agree that the safari feels bumper in the back. Almost lost my camera one time.

 

[DVCjj]

Exactly. That ride just punishes the body. But I do agree that the safari feels bumper in the back. Almost lost my camera one time.

Hate it and no longer go on it.
It’s insanely jerky.

 

[Gabby01]

Thanks for the warning! I think this would bother me so I’m adding it to my “do not ride” list.

 

[DCLMP]

Exactly. That ride just punishes the body. But I do agree that the safari feels bumper in the back. Almost lost my camera one time.

Nothing is worse than the Matterhorn at Disneyland.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Nothing is worse than the Matterhorn at Disneyland.

No kidding.
And Space Mountain and Indy are *very* close seconds.

For the first time ever (dozens of visits), I rode in the back row of the IJ Jeep last October. I honestly thought I was going to get shaken right out of the vehicle. And I swear, the seats back there are only half as deep as any other row— I mean, probably not… but it really felt like I was perched on the extreme edge of a shallow little shelf. My whole butt kept sliding forward almost completely off the shelf er, seat. I had to brace with my legs/feet & keep pushing myself back. I can’t ever remember it feeling like that before. By the time I got off, my legs were trembling, and they were so sore & tired. And my back felt like I’d *really* been in a crappy Jeep careening thru the jungle.

Space Mountain is just a rough ride. It was nice for a year or so after it’s last track realignment… 2015, if I remember right. But now it’s back to being as bumpy as ever.

Matterhorn is definitely worse though.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the warning! I think this would bother me so I’m adding it to my “do not ride” list.

Same. Thanks OP for the warning. Hope your mom and husband are ok.
I have eye issues and so am trying to figure out what rides are ok and which ones I should skip. From OP's post, will be skipping Kilmanjaro Safari.

 

[abbyandangel]

How interesting. I always request the back row. Back with FP+ we did the back row 8 times in a row just as quick as we could walk back to the entrance. My DH said enough after 8 because he thought it was too bumpy but I could have stayed on all day. If we didn’t start at AK we would hop over just for safari. My biggest gripe with the genie is I won’t be able to get my safari fix. DH is probably relieved.

 

[Dug720]

My biggest gripe with the genie is I won’t be able to get my safari fix.

You can still ride it more than once - you may have to wait a bit, but if you watch wait times there's no reason you can't ride it more than once.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

It's a ride I've done in every seat on the bus.
The difference in the bumpy-ness from front to back is negligible. It's EXTREME. I wouldn't even ride too soon following knee surgery for fear it would jar the joint loose, LOL
Though now that it's been several months I ride without worry. First trip after was just 2 weeks post op