Fibro Pain & Coasters / Simulators

[Leota]

This will be our first trip since the beginning of my new body issues .... I'm not too sure how jostling is going to go. At home I am sore almost all the time, not even dealing with restrictive clothing, seatbelts etc....

I'm hoping the sun, warmth & Magic of Disney will sooth this a bit & the adrenaline will kick in. But what do you do about coasters & such? Do they hurt & for how long? Or do you stay away frm them completely now & stick to the more gentle things like Soarin?

 

[I Love Pluto]

Nothing with the word "Mountain" in it
No coasters
No moving walkways (they will stop HM for you)
Nothing with stairs
etc, etc, etc

All of the CMs at the ride attractions will patiently give you time to enter your car or boat. They are very nice about it.

Disney with "smooth" rides is not difficult at all. There is still a lot to do. There are so many shows in all of the parks that it's hard to fit them all in.

Enjoy! Don't stress.

 

[katrina1122]

It just depends on the day. Play it by ear.

 

[SueM in MN]

Post 23 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a list of attractions with warnings, along with my best guesses of what about that attraction caused the warning. You can find that thread near the top of this board.

I would still be cautious about any with warnings, but with more information, you may be able to completely rule some out or figure which ones you want gather more information before deciding.

 

[mb187143]

Just one suggestion that isn't covered in the thread mentioned above - for your specific situation, be aware that on gentle boat rides, like Pirates and it's a small world, the boats can bump into one another, and cause jostling and pain when you aren't expecting it. Just something to keep in mind.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[Leota]

Thanks. I'll check that post out.

I was hoping to try the new Star Tours at least once, but on a day like today, that would be out of the question, I think. But you never know.....

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks. I'll check that post out.

I was hoping to try the new Star Tours at least once, but on a day like today, that would be out of the question, I think. But you never know.....

We have not tried the new Star Tours yet, but the old one was turbulent enough that they offered a 5 point harness on request for people with mobility disabilities.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I think a lot of it will depend on how your fibro effects you. There are people with fibro who can do any ride in the park. There are others who can't do any.

I was mis-diagnosed with fibro for years (and have chronic widespread pain, just they figured out the real cause!) and can expand on various attractions where I've had issues (or good experiences). I'm especially going to give some overview on either attractions with warnings where I have no problems or attractions without or with mild warnings that were problematic.

Space Mountain - Never again. I loved it as a kid, but went a few years ago and because it has really no head/neck support it really hurt and was problematic

Rock'n'Roller Coaster - One of my favourite rollercoasters I've ever been on. I'm 5'4" and the back rest with the speakers in it and the over the shoulder safety stuff gave me good support and while it wasn't perfectly smooth, it was pretty good and didn't cause any extra pain.

Expedition Everest - Less smooth than Rock'n'Roller Coaster, but again was fine for me.

Spaceship Earth - This has a section where you're facing backwards. I probably would have been fine, but the ride brokedown for 5 minutes at that point. I think I could also feel the clicking of the track.

Haunted Mansion - I can feel the clicking and slight jostling of the track on this one. It also has a period where you go backwards and that can be a little jarring

Kilimanjaro Safari - This is pretty rough because there are landscaped ruts and your vehicle will hit some of them. I did it sitting in a regular seat (rather than my wheelchair) and in retrospect would have been okay in the wheelchair, but in the regular seat it wasn't so good. (The seats here are also smooth plastic so there's nothing to really brace on or hold you in one place)


I'm sure there are others I'll think of where it makes sense to comment, but those are the ones that stick out for me. Star Tours was still closed when I was last there so I can't report at all on that one.

Mostly I think you need to decide on the day what you're up for or not up for since I know fibro can vary.

 

[Leota]

It does vary - I guess my real question is "If I'm having a good day pain wise & feel up to something like Star Tours or Test Track, does it seem to kick things off & if so, like a full steam ahead flare or a minor annoyance that's worth dealing with?"

I'd hate to have a really good day & then mess myself up for the rest of the trip. I'm trying to learn to pace myself.

 

[Haley Whippet]

I have Fibro, I did ride the new Star Tours twice on my recent trip to California.. It will toss you around, But I found if I plant my feet on the ground & brace my arms it did help.
I will never again go near dinosaur's (Animal Kingdom) or Indiana Jones (DL) again, they are killers! I heard that if you ride in the first few rows at Kilimanjaro Safari it is not as bad, closer to the back tires it killer..

 

[SueM in MN]

I have Fibro, I did ride the new Star Tours twice on my recent trip to California.. It will toss you around, But I found if I plant my feet on the ground & brace my arms it did help.
I will never again go near dinosaur's (Animal Kingdom) or Indiana Jones (DL) again, they are killers! I heard that if you ride in the first few rows at Kilimanjaro Safari it is not as bad, closer to the back tires it killer..

When we ride the safari with my DD, we are always in the front row because she is in her wheelchair, can't transfer and that is the only row where a wheelchair can be loaded.
I have also ridden without her, in various rows. I do not think there is much difference except for the last few rows. It really mostly depends on which bumps your driver hits. My DD can get bumped around quite a bit in her wheelchair during the Safari.

 

[DisneyMim]

I have fibro and don't do any coaster type of rides. I have always been fine with Star Tours, but was afraid to try it this past August. My husband and son went on and said that they thought I would be fine, but I hate to ruin a good day. As others have said, I play it by ear and see how I am feeling that day. I am perfectly fine with sitting and waiting for my family. I enjoy people watching and the thing that I have learned from fibro is to concentrate on what I can do, not on what I can't do. Everyone is different. I know that for me some rides are just not worth it. All I need is for my pain to be worse!! And all of you who have fibro know what I am talking about. I would take it easy and do one or two rides that you are concerned about and see how it goes.

Enjoy The Magic!! And wishing you a pain free vacation!!!

 

[Leota]

Pixie Dust & adrenaline must be kicking in already because yesterday I had the best day I've had in a long time. Yesterday was totally a Star Tours day.