How rough is AK's Safari ride?

[wallytosa]

My DW can't go on anything that is jerky or rough or drops or takes fast turns...basically everything except the shows at WDW. We are going to AK for the first time ever later this week. I thought she would be able to handle a nice safari and to see the animals in the wild. She was looking forward to it too. Then she read in Birnbaums Official Guide about how bumpy it is with all the potholes and it's really a rough ride. Well, now she doesn't want to go on it. How bad is it really? She has had back problems and can throw it out even if I break too hard in the car. Should she avoid this ride? What do other people avoid with bad backs? I know Disney has to post all those warnings for liability reasons, but how bad is it really? Thanks.

 

[Fooboy]

For the most part, the ride is pretty tame. The driver sometimes gasses the vehicle a little hard and there's a mild jerk. Bumpy wise, it gets a little rough. I didn't really notice anything out of control. Definitely not like a rollercoaster or the Dinosaur ride. But if your DW is really sensitive to motion sickness, then i would consider bypassing the ride. However, if she is willing and able to take a minimal amount of rocking and maybe a VERY mild jerk or two, then definitely go on the Safari! It's great! But be sure to go EARLY in the morning -> 1) shorter lines 2) more of the animals are out because of the cool air. G'luck! and HAVE FUN!!!!!

foobs

 

[Fooboy]

in addition, I would like to advise that her health and physical condition be top priority. The ride is great but it's not worth anyone getting hurt or whatever. I do not know anything about her back condition so i don't want to send you two off on to an excursion of excruciating (sp?) pain. Consult a CM and a doctor. just for safety's sake.

foobs

 

[zumbergc]

A solution to the problem might be for you to ride the safari ride first. Do the fast pass. Hang out in the pagoni forest exploration trail. There are garillas, and lots of other animals there. Then get another fast pass, so you can ride together. If you get there first thing, and there isn't a wait you could get fast passes, then still wait in the regular line while she does pangoni exploration trail.

You probably can guage if the ride is too much for her.

I myself suspect the ride is too much if she has problems with you breaking hard. There are tons of pot holes, where you pretty much bounce up and down. I get motion sickness slightly on the ride, but love the animals, so I endure it. Also, i have had neck, and back issues. I don't do the rollar coasters, and spinning rides, because I don't want to mess up my neck again. However, I do the safari ride.

When my neck is acting up, and is tired, I can't stand my husbands drving because he tends to break a little hard. It strains at my neck. SO I definitely understand your wifes concern. I might be able to go on a rollar coaster, or more vibrant ride, but I"m not willing to take the risk if my neck isn't really going to do well. I don't really have pains anymore, but I
know how easy it is to re-injure the neck because I battled it during the first time I had problems.
Connie

 

[PandyPaws]

Originally posted by wallytosa
She has had back problems and can throw it out even if I break too hard in the car. .

This sentence right here tells me that she probably shouldnt ride. There can be sudden jolts, and it is/can be a very bumpy ride. Of course, there are always different factors affecting one's experience, not excluding each driver's performance ie: some drivers are a bit more/less aggressive on the gas pedal than others, animal activity such as standing in/crossing the road slowing traffic down, and where you sit in the vehicle...the further back you are, the bumpier it can be.

The announcement in the cue does state: "...heart, neck or back disorders could be aggrivated by this adventure". The simplest description I can think of is, it's rather akin to riding in a school bus on an old dirt road.

I think riding it yourself first is a great suggestion, as we cannot tell someone not to ride, but judging it for yourself would be the best way to know

 

[goofyernmost]

That is really to bad because safari is one of the calmest rides at Disney. To me it is like a school bus ride over a dirt road. A couple of jolts here and there but it is a basically slow moving vehicle driven by a driver. It is not on a track or controlled by anything other than the driver and the story line.

The view of the animals is outstanding.

 

[my3princes]

Motion sickness it definately not a problem on this ride. We have brought a 6 mth old on it and he had no problems as far as it being rough. The road does have a definate washboard effect with some pot holes. All and all it is much like drive any road here in Vermont this time of year.