Disney w/ a Concussion?? Kind of glad for FP+ right now

[4fordisneyworld]

Has anyone done Disney before traveling post-concussion? I ended up with a concussion last Saturday and still struggling with symptoms. Saw my doc Wednesday and he says I am okay to fly but cannot do any major rides if any symptoms remain at all, as the danger lies within receiving a secondary concussion at this point. Sad for my girls as they are really looking forward to the BIG rides and I am solo with them.

How do you think it would work for like TOT, RnR, ect if I stood in line with them and then let them ride? Would they let them ride alone at 11 and 9?

Glad for FP+ as I was able to switch our days all around and move things....I know we could have planned like that with the old fp as well, but this lets me know for sure what we will be doing and when. Also let us add Sea World as that will be a pretty calm day for my brain!!

Bummer of a time to take a hit to the head for sure. However still sooooo excited we are just days away from being at our home away from home!

 

[dougsmom98]

They will definitely let them ride alone at age 11 and 9. Sorry you hurt your head. I hope you have a great trip.

 

[sookie]

Hi OP,

No Tower of Terror or Rockin Roller Coster for you at Hollywood. I probably wouldn't do Spash, Space, or Big Thunder either in the MK. I definitely would not do Test Track in Epcot - that thing jerks your head like crazy. In AK - No Everest, no Dinosaur (it jerks), and no Primeval Whirl (jerky - it is just awful).

I'm assuming that with your concussion some of your symptoms include headache. You need to go several weeks without headache to be cleared for things like roller coasters, contact sports, etc.

I am just thinking about what we did in April when I was doing pretty good, and what I tried to avoid in when we went in October - and what surprised me in October when I thought it would be OK (like that stupid Whirl). I have some degenerative disc disease in my neck, and some inflammation that has been pretty bad since this summer (after our trip in April), and it has really flared some pretty bad migraines. Some of the things I thought would be OK were not OK.

I think if you stood in line with the kids and they met the height requirements, the CM's would let the kids ride without you. Please don't ride the thrill rides - second impact syndrome is a VERY real risk, and you can die very quickly from it. I'm sorry you got a concussion. That really, really stinks. At the very least, you could cause your current symptoms (like headache) to severely worsen, causing you to be hotel bound, ruining the entire vacation. It would be best for you to just be overly cautious! If a ride says not to ride because of XYZ, do not do it!

Best of luck to you OP.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Hi OP,

No Tower of Terror or Rockin Roller Coster for you at Hollywood. I probably wouldn't do Spash, Space, or Big Thunder either in the MK. I definitely would not do Test Track in Epcot - that thing jerks your head like crazy. In AK - No Everest, no Dinosaur (it jerks), and no Primeval Whirl (jerky - it is just awful).

I'm assuming that with your concussion some of your symptoms include headache. You need to go several weeks without headache to be cleared for things like roller coasters, contact sports, etc.

I am just thinking about what we did in April when I was doing pretty good, and what I tried to avoid in when we went in October - and what surprised me in October when I thought it would be OK (like that stupid Whirl). I have some degenerative disc disease in my neck, and some inflammation that has been pretty bad since this summer (after our trip in April), and it has really flared some pretty bad migraines. Some of the things I thought would be OK were not OK.

I think if you stood in line with the kids and they met the height requirements, the CM's would let the kids ride without you. Please don't ride the thrill rides - second impact syndrome is a VERY real risk, and you can die very quickly from it. I'm sorry you got a concussion. That really, really stinks. At the very least, you could cause your current symptoms (like headache) to severely worsen, causing you to be hotel bound, ruining the entire vacation. It would be best for you to just be overly cautious! If a ride says not to ride because of XYZ, do not do it!

Best of luck to you OP.

Thank you very much for your input. Better safe than sorry...especially since I am alone with my girls there. That would be awful if something went wrong. What do you think about Toy Story Mania? I remember that being kind of jerky? I already suffer really bad migraines and I seriously would rather have a migraine than the headache I am currently experiencing with this concussion. When I turn my head, I can literally feel my brain taking a few seconds to catch up. It is so weird.....
Lots of nausea and dizziness. No fun for sure.
Thank you again for your thoughts!

 

[sookie]

Thank you very much for your input. Better safe than sorry...especially since I am alone with my girls there. That would be awful if something went wrong. What do you think about Toy Story Mania? I remember that being kind of jerky? I already suffer really bad migraines and I seriously would rather have a migraine than the headache I am currently experiencing with this concussion. When I turn my head, I can literally feel my brain taking a few seconds to catch up. It is so weird.....
Lots of nausea and dizziness. No fun for sure.
Thank you again for your thoughts!

If you are having problems from just turning your head right now, then TSM might cause you some problems. I thought it was smooth enough for me and gave me enough warning that it wasn't that bad, as there was a few seconds wait once your done with your game. But what I have is not as bad is what YOU have. A concussion is more serious. Also, it does have flashing lights a bit that can trigger some people though - with a concussion I bet that could make a headache worse (but a light wouldn't trigger post-concussive / second impact syndrome).

It does kind of swirl you around a bit though. If just swinging your head sharply to talk to someone or see something is bothering you because of the concussion - then TSM is probably not a good idea because it does swing you around from station to station. I just asked my husband what he thought as a lay person about the jerking on this ride - and he is healthy - he said he thought that it might be one to avoid. So good thought there. Sorry.

The girls would be able to get on though.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We went 10 days post concussion with ds12 in October. He did Splash and BTMRR without issue. He did not do any of the other thrill rides and did not do anything too bumpy or spinny. He did say the fireworks and 3d shows hurt his head. We are 2.5 months out now and he is going to physical therapy twice a week because his balance never improved. Apparently he had damage to the sensor in the inner ear. Be careful not to cause more damage and yes your girls are old enough to ride alone.

 

[Gracie09]

You may also want to avoid the safari. It can get pretty bumpy depending on the driver, road conditions, your location etc

 

[rachellm]

I believe the official Disney rule is that kids must be 7 to ride alone. And 14 to "supervise" someone under 7. So your kids should be fine. They may ask how old your younger daughter is - but it shouldn't be a problem.

Hope you're feeling better soon and enjoy your trip!

 

[sookie]

We went 10 days post concussion with ds12 in October. He did Splash and BTMRR without issue. He did not do any of the other thrill rides and did not do anything too bumpy or spinny. He did say the fireworks and 3d shows hurt his head. We are 2.5 months out now and he is going to physical therapy twice a week because his balance never improved. Apparently he had damage to the sensor in the inner ear. Be careful not to cause more damage and yes your girls are old enough to ride alone.

Yeah, I would not put a person with that bad of a concussion on those rides. No way. Especially if they were having balance issues.

People take different periods of time to recover from a concussion. That is why your doctor will say that you have to be symptom free for XX days before you can return to sports, contact sports, and roller coasters. Mental tasks like texting, video games, driving - even taking tests (mental rest is a huge deal right now - not for second impact but for overall recovery) have a different set of criteria but they even have timetable for return.

 

[bumbershoot]

How do you think it would work for like TOT, RnR, ect if I stood in line with them and then let them ride? Would they let them ride alone at 11 and 9?

As was already mentioned, the age to ride alone is 7, so absolutely this would work. Especially with you standing in line until the "chicken" exit!

Of course, you want to talk things through with them, make sure they know to listen to the Cast Members in case of a ride stop. That's the one issue that gets me with sending my son on just any ride alone. But you've got a daughter of babysitting age, so I bet they'll do well.


I got what was absolutely a concussion in April (I can't say definitively that it was because I didn't go see anyone about it) and it took weeks to feel better. TSMM would have made me miserable, and even Splash. But I tend to get knocked around on Splash as it goes through the small downhill stuff. If I were in your shoes, as I got to each ride I would need to really think through what the ride was about and if I could handle it. Or maybe look at a map ahead of time and think about it. Gotta say that there are a LOT of rides I can't even imaging riding when in the midst of the concussion stuff.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

As was already mentioned, the age to ride alone is 7, so absolutely this would work. Especially with you standing in line until the "chicken" exit!

Of course, you want to talk things through with them, make sure they know to listen to the Cast Members in case of a ride stop. That's the one issue that gets me with sending my son on just any ride alone. But you've got a daughter of babysitting age, so I bet they'll do well.


I got what was absolutely a concussion in April (I can't say definitively that it was because I didn't go see anyone about it) and it took weeks to feel better. TSMM would have made me miserable, and even Splash. But I tend to get knocked around on Splash as it goes through the small downhill stuff. If I were in your shoes, as I got to each ride I would need to really think through what the ride was about and if I could handle it. Or maybe look at a map ahead of time and think about it. Gotta say that there are a LOT of rides I can't even imaging riding when in the midst of the concussion stuff.

We leave on Tuesday and the closer it gets the less excited I am about any ride at this moment. After everyone's input on here, I for sure won't attempt any "BIG" rides, and as of right now anything that moves me too much at all is not sounding all that appealing. I am still so darn dizzy and this headache is crazy. Getting through the flights will be step one! Just typing on here takes me way longer than it should....obviously shouldn't even be on the computer.
Still grateful to be in Disney and that there is a ton of stuff to do at Christmas time. We are DVC members so at least we get to go every year.

Hmmmmm....hadn't thought about them getting stuck on a ride! My youngest might not handle that so well. Her older sister is 11 going on 20. Grew up quite a bit after daddy passed away so really mature and trustworthy, however her sister deals with OCD and sensory issues, so being stuck on a ride could prove disastrous. Will have to give that some thought. We have yet to be stuck on a ride in over 10+ trips, but have read about on here from time to time.

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[distravel]

My daughter had a concussion and there is no way she could have handled all the stimulation at Disney for many months afterward. In addition to avoiding any bumpy rides make sure you take dark sunglasses and have those foam earplugs with you in case the noise is too much for you. Fireworks are probably a bad idea. It is probably a good idea to make it more of relaxing vacation than you have done in the past. The fact is you need more rest. I am sure the girls will understand. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hmmmmm....hadn't thought about them getting stuck on a ride! My youngest might not handle that so well. Her older sister is 11 going on 20. Grew up quite a bit after daddy passed away so really mature and trustworthy, however her sister deals with OCD and sensory issues, so being stuck on a ride could prove disastrous. Will have to give that some thought. We have yet to be stuck on a ride in over 10+ trips, but have read about on here from time to time.

Thank you for your thoughts!

I'm so sorry about their dad.

I'm also sorry if I brought up yet another complication, but I guess it's best to think about it now rather than dealing with it if it were to happen. The only rides we've had stop to where we have to exit the ride so far in our DLR and WDW trips are Monsters Inc and Roger Rabbit in Anaheim and TSMM at DHS. All three were easy exits, though we had to sit in our ride vehicles and wait for CMs to come get us. Some around us dealt with that more gracefully than others. I know that if a coaster required an evacuation they would make it as safe as possible, but I know for my son he would probably be scared, and since he would be alone (only kiddo) that makes me sad. But your younger one would have her sister with her, which might make it easier?

Anyway, best to think about ahead of time, but maybe take a day or so before you do that thinking? I remember that thinking was really difficult. The brain is a sensitive thing.

 

[lucyem]

I believe the official Disney rule is that kids must be 7 to ride alone. And 14 to "supervise" someone under 7. So your kids should be fine. They may ask how old your younger daughter is - but it shouldn't be a problem. Hope you're feeling better soon and enjoy your trip!

FYI they would not allow my 7 yr old to ride dumbo alone or with his 10 yr old brother. But they did allow him alone on barnstormer. It will come down to individual cms.

 

[bumbershoot]

FYI they would not allow my 7 yr old to ride dumbo alone or with his 10 yr old brother. But they did allow him alone on barnstormer. It will come down to individual cms.

It shouldn't. 7 is the age.

 

[rachellm]

FYI they would not allow my 7 yr old to ride dumbo alone or with his 10 yr old brother. But they did allow him alone on barnstormer. It will come down to individual cms.

I'm surprised you had that experience!

If you click on an attraction on the Disney Website - there's a link that says "Accessibility and Other Information"

On that pop-up it says "Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older."