AK--Can't do Safari while pregnant?

[ginadc]

Hello all--brand new to the forums and happy to be here!

We are going to WDW next week with our two kids, ages 4 and 2, plus my in-laws. I will be 31 weeks pregnant. Coincidentally, the last time we went to WDW was a little more than two years ago, when I was almost exactly as pregnant with my son.

On that visit, I went on the safari at Animal Kingdom with no problems. I don't recall if there was a sign indicating that pregnant women should not ride, but if there was, we didn't see it and no one said anything.

This time around, I was surfing around the Disney Web sites today doing my planning, and I found a big ol' note that says pregnant women shouldn't do the safari. Is this new? Is it a hard-and-fast rule? I really don't want to miss it, and I know my son (the 2yo) would love it but would be very ill at ease doing it without Mommy.

Thoughts?

 

[watkinsme]

It's up to you - I was 16 weeks pregnant and rode both it and barnstormer...

safari (to me) was no worse than driving on our country roads (that are full of potholes. JMHO though

 

[ginadc]

Oh yeah, I had no problem with it at all when I went last time. I was just worried that there was some new rule that they were enforcing more strictly!

 

[DoubleDown7]

My wife rode it 2 1/2 years ago at 29 weeks. She did just fine. At that time there was the whole pregnancy warning. No problems and no strange "what in the world are you doing" looks either!

 

[stitch34]

I wouldn't ride it if pregnant. We rode it in November and had the back row... seriously, my insides hurt afterwards for a good 10 minutes! It was actually painful bouncing around back there.... and I am not pregnant. Even my young daughter was uncomfortable back there. Our butts were literally going off the seats with the bumps!
I wouldn't do it pregnant, and if so, would be sitting wayyyy up front if did do it.

 

[ccgirl]

Not new...been there forever. I think it is posted more of a liablility thing. I went on it pregnant and was just fine. From your post, you did too. I would say go and enjoy! You will find a lot of rides suggest pregnant woman don't ride. I bypassed most of those signs and still rode (after consulting my midwife of course). Enjoy!

 

[HdnOut2WDW]

Not sure how much they enforce the rules. But when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter we went on vacation to Colorado to go "jeepin" as my husband calls it, and that ride does not even come close to the bumps that I saw on that vacation. I was somewhat uncomfortable but it did not really bother me. On August 7th my daughter came along happy and healthy and probably saying WHAT A RIDE!!!!

Really it is whatever you are comfortable with. What ever your decision just have fun.

Sydney Samantha

 

[DebbieB]

I wouldn't ride it if pregnant. We rode it in November and had the back row... seriously, my insides hurt afterwards for a good 10 minutes! It was actually painful bouncing around back there.... and I am not pregnant. Even my young daughter was uncomfortable back there. Our butts were literally going off the seats with the bumps!
I wouldn't do it pregnant, and if so, would be sitting wayyyy up front if did do it.

The back is definitely bumpier. Request the front.

 

[HolliePoppins]

I have seen this question asked many times. I am always surprised by the women who say they have ridden pregnant. Not judging anyone but I would never ride this pregnant. There is a chance something could happen. It is only a ride. Why would you risk it. Yes I know many have ridden it pregnant and they are fine but every pregnancy is different. The warning is there for a reason. OP good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Robo]

I thought it said...



Oh, NEVERMIND!

 

[Kelrykengab]

I rode it when I was 7 months pregnant with no problems....the "bus" ride from the hotel to my airport was way worse!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I went and sat closer towards the front of the car. It was a little less bouncy.

Cleared everything with my DR, he said stay off Mission Space and RnR.

 

[curemyreed]

Chiming in with "the back is bumpier so be careful!" crew....

I've ridden this countless times without incident. Once, however, we were seated in the second row from the back. The ride was remarkably jerky and we were tossed around hard. I brought my hand upward to grab onto the seatback in front of me just as we hit another large hole and I jammed my ring finger! Ouchie-wa-wa! It hurt! I instinctively grabbed it and popped it back into place. This is something I would have NEVER envisioned happening on the Safari as every other ride had been fine. Based on previous experience I certainly would have ridden this pregnant. But after unexpectedly jamming my finger and being slammed around on that one ride I would not take a chance.

 

[mejkjj97]

I also rode when I was 21 weeks pregnant. We sat towards the front and had no issues. It's bumpy but the 2 hours of turbulance on my plane ride home was worst than this ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is a warning and it has always been there as far as I know ( and we were at AK at a soft opening for DVC member, so have been many times).

It can be very bumpy; it all depends on which ruts your driver hits. We have been on multiple times in the very front row because DD needs to sit there in her wheelchair. I have also ridden quite a few times without DD. We did not find it to be any bumpy in front unless you are comparing to the last few rows. People also sometimes suggest riding the 'handicapped' car, but it is the same car on the same path. The only difference is where you get on and off.

Some pregnant women have posted they felt like the baby was using their bladder for a trampoline during the ride and others found that the lenghth of the ride was a problem for them. You can't be sire if an animal or bird will interior your ride by straying onto the path. If an evacuation is needed, those trams are pretty far off the ground to get out.

 

[Hannathy]

Truthfully I have seen bigger potholes in Northeast Pennsylvania than on the Safari

I didn't find it any rougher than driving in the above area of the country or in Western PA over the brick streets.

It will not surprise me if you see pregnancy warnings on every single ride soon considering this sue happy country and the over abundance of lawyers willing to take any case no matter how frivolous.

 

[JennMouse32]

i would think they say pregnant women shouldnt ride it for a reason​

 

[tjknitz]

I am due in November, we might be going to WDW in Sept. I had planned on riding it based on my last experiance (I didn't find it to be that bumpy).
That being said, I also plan on having an easy pregnancy based on how I was with my first. If things arent going to go as smoothly this time around, then I would probably use caution and not ride.

 

[brandylouwho]

I have seen this question asked many times. I am always surprised by the women who say they have ridden pregnant. Not judging anyone but I would never ride this pregnant. There is a chance something could happen. It is only a ride. Why would you risk it. Yes I know many have ridden it pregnant and they are fine but every pregnancy is different. The warning is there for a reason. OP good luck whatever you decide.

I think it has to do a lot with the philosophy of the mother to be & the doctor she puts her trust in...some people stress over everything pregnant women are told not to do (which is an awful lot when you start reading those pregnancy books) and others are go with the flow, earth mother types who see pregnancy as a natural part of life, not an scary medical condition.

The "right" answer is different for each individual and probably lies somewhere in the middle of all the hype.

 

[kikiq]

My daughter was 7 months pregnant last August when we went to WDW. She checked with her OB before she left about flying and gave her a list of rides. She was cleared for everything except for the drop rides, Mission Space and Test Track. We took the Back Stage Safari tour and the tour guide made sure my DD was seated in front plus I'm thinking the driver took some of those corners and bumps a little easy with my daughter seated behind her. I say if you feel good, then go and ask to sit up front.