I could just cry

[lilallybean]

I am just so very upset right now. We are to leave for WDW two weeks from today. My neck has been stiff and hurting for about a month now. I just got the results of my MRI and have been referred to a neurosurgeon. My doctor has told me that there are many rides I won't be able to do because I may cause more damage. I have planned and planned for this trip for over a year now! I was the one who got everything together and ordered the tickets, set the reservations, bought all the lil goodies for the kids, EVERYTHING! I can't believe that I am going to be stuck sitting on the sidelines! What rides will I have to miss out on? It has been 18 years since I have been to WDW. Epcot was the "new" place back then. This just stinks...I was so looking forward to doing everything with DH and the kids. PLEASE somebody tell me all the wonderfull things that I will still be able to do without risking hurting myself more. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[B'rer Karen]

Oh man, I really feel for you. I know how upset you must be right now. But please remember that your health has to come first. That being said, here are some of my most favorite things to do at WDW that you will most definitely be able to take part in:

Haunted Mansion--Love this ride
The magic of Spectromagic, Fantasmic, Illuminations (my favorite) and Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks.
Eating a Dole Whip while walking down Main Street.
It's Tough to be a Bug.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire--Play it!
Buzz Lightyear
Touring all the countries at Epcot
Walking the trails in AK, spotting all the animals and birds
Taking the train for a trip around the MK
Get your picture taken with as many characters as possible
Pirates of the Carribbean

Gosh, I know there are hundreds more things, and I'm sure others will come to your aid. Just remember you'll be at the most magical place in the world and you don't have to get tossed about to feel the magic

 

[mmounsey]

I would think you'd still be able to everything but the thrill type rides (splash, space, barnstormer, TOT, RNR, etc). I don't know how old your kids are, but anything a small child can ride, you can probably get away with. You may be able to do Safari at AK, but TT at Epcot I'd leave out. (Of course, I am not a doctor, so please don't take my word for it).

I will be 32 weeks pregnant when I go, so there is a lot I can't ride, but there is still is a lot that I can ride. Please try to enjoy yourself (I know it must be so hard when you're in pain) and pray for a little healing so that you can enjoy your trip to the most magical place on earth!

 

[GoofieRuthie]

There is still SO much you can see and do. Most of the rides are very obese, elderly, handicap, and child friendly. You won't be able to do the really big rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, RNR, TOT, and just a few others. I'm sure there is a list of them all on WDWIG.com. You will find PLENTY to do though. Have a great trip!!!

 

[iwannabeminnie]

If you can do IASW, then what else do you need? There is plenty of magic around. I know you are upset, but try to focus on the "can do's". Best of luck to you and wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[KristaTX]

Don't worry - you'll still have a great time and you'll be able to enjoy, what, at least 95% of everything there? Maybe you should ask your doctor exactly what kinds of rides besides rollercoasters you need to avoid. RNR and Space Mountain will definitely be out. Maybe your doctor has been to Disney and could tell you if it's safe in your particular situation for drop rides (i.e. TOT, Splash). I think the safari and dinosaur are much rougher than those.

 

[CarolA]

Actually I "think" they can help you on Safari. I have heard that if you tell the CM you have a back injury they can put you up front where it is less bumpy and tell the driver and some precautions can be made. I would recommend you ask or you might try the disablities board on the Dis for advice.

 

[AZKathy]

Think positively that you are doing the very best for your problem. My girlfriend herniated a cervical disc while at WDW in 1997 and she was absolutely miserable half of the trip with pain (we were with her on the trip, believe me, she was miserable!); she ended up having surgery two months later. Take care of yourself and avoid those wild rides and enjoy the magic of Disney everywhere else. There is more that you can do than you can't do!

 

[Shells9]

I am in a somewhat similar situation. I had major knee surgery on 03/20, knowing I was going to WDW the first weekend of May. The Dr said all should be good for the trip -- I'd still have the brace, but I'd be walking. Well, 14 days later he had to repeat/enhance the procedure, and guess what? Last weekend, my daughter's first trip to MK, I was in wheelchair! I wanted to do crutches, but the Dr said no. It was a good trip, but of course, things could have been better.

I'm sure you will have a good trip, too. The sidelines will not be so bad. Healing and taking care of yourself for the long term is what is more important now (or at least that is what everyone is telling me!).

Keep your chin up. Throwing some pixie dust your way!

 

[rrunnels]

You will have a great time anyway! I love the thrill rides, but the magic of Disney is in the whole atmosphere, not any individual ride. It's even fun watching your loved ones ride the rides. I think everything at Epcot except TT will be okay. Avoid the mountains, ToT, Rock and Roller Coaster, safari, Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl and Kali River Rapids, but enjoy all the sights, sounds, smells, shows and other rides. Meet the characters, take pictures, see the parades and fireworks, ride Buzz, explore the shops, and watch the smiles on everybody's faces. Have a fantastic vacation!

 

[jcemom]

Walking up Main Street to Cinderella's Castle is what I'm most looking forward to. When I was a little girl that was my favorite thing in the MK! I wished I could live there!

And meeting Mickey is nice, too!

 

[Horizons16]

I dont know much about this but could you possibly get a neck brace or something that could help prevent for from moving your neck? I mean i wouldnt expect it to help on a roller coaster but maybe on something a little less tame say splash mountain or a sim. ride?

 

[TDM516]

Lilallybean, I feel badly for you, but I am in a similar situation, except I never get to ride the wild rides because I get so motion sick. I have never been able to equalize pressure or had good equilibrium and I ruined more upholestery in my dad's new cars when I was a child than I care to remember. We've been to WDW four times and I can honestly tell you I really don't ever feel cheated. I guess because I don't want to ride them because I know how bad it would make me feel, I don't really miss them. Now if you love wild rides, you probably will feel a little cheated. I just enjoy seeing my children enjoy it so much that's good enough for me, and I know you will feel the same way. Besides, they get their Dad on most of them and they have so much fun watching him!

But as a veteran of "the sidelines" for many years, both at WDW and at Opryland (when we still had it), here are my favorite ways to cope and my favorite things left to do at Disney:
1) Bring a good paperback to read while you're waiting on your family to finish a ride.
2) If you like to cross-stitch, bring a project.
3) If you have nationwide long distance on your cell phone and there's some relatives like sweet old Aunt Ethel that you've been neglecting, it would be a good time to call her.
4) Enjoy: Muppet 3-D, It's Tough to be a Bug, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, The Little Mermaid, all of the "countries" in Epcot, the marine life at The Living Seas, The Country Bear Jamboree (for the air conditioning if nothing else!), Spaceship Earth at Epcot, and Festival of the Lion King. I think with a neck brace, you might could even do the Kali River Rapids.

My husband is going with bad knees, so we'll see how it goes, and my youngest daughter got diagnosed with a stress fracture in her right foot last week (second time in 18 months in the same spot), so she is in a walking boot and probably still will be when we're in Orlando. She's not happy, but we'll make the best of it. Good luck and take care of yourself!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Feel so bad for you!!
What did the MRI show?
I am not suppose to ride those rides either. Not saying you should go against your doc's orders by any means.
I have a herniated neck disk and I do baby my neck. I wish more rides had neck rests.
The first time we went to WDW I was wishing I could wear a neck brace, because I knew the neck support would be perfect. But of course with a neck brace, you can't go on rides.
I was very careful and when in doubt sent DH on the ride first.
I admit I have ridden them all.
Depending on what your problem is, I would think ToT would be okay, since you are just going straight up and down.
Safari ride and Dino ride would be the worse.
You could also just take the chicken routes out. You get some effect that way.
Start pin trading. That way you can trade while others are riding. You will still have fun.

 

[laceemouse]

I too have severe motion sickness and have never done any of the bumpy, fast or spinning rides. That is why I love Disney sooooo much, there is still so much for me to do!! The new parades at AK, MK, and MGM are awesome!!!

 

[Piper]

I am a veteran of cervical spine surgery--3 levels with plate and 8 screws I also have major lumbar problems (degenerative disc disease) and arthritis in other parts of my body. I am in pain 24-7. I must use a crutch to keep my balance and rent an ecv to get around in the parks. I cannot do any of the "jerky" rides......but there is so much that I can do! There are many fun rides that are "neck friendly" and there are so many shows, shops, parades, paths to explore, and people to watch. I used to "do it all" (or so I thought) but now I really savor the whole experience!

How much fun you have is up to you. If you go with a "poor me" attitude--then you will not enjoy yourself. If you relax and focus on what you can do--and keep a happy spirit--you will have a blast!

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually I "think" they can help you on Safari. I have heard that if
you tell the CM you have a back injury they can put you up front
where it is less bumpy and tell the driver and some precautions
can be made.

The front seat isn't that much less bumpy. The ride is still on a tram that doesn't have much in terms of shock absorbing on bumpy, simulated mud roads. And don't believe anyone who tells you that the wheelchair accessible tram is less bumpy - it's not. You still have the smae tram on the same road. It's just that you go to a different boarding area where they can load a wheelchair for people who need to ride in their wheelchair and can store the wheelchairs/ecvs of people who can get out of their to ride.

 

[kessieann]

lilallybean I can only imagine how disappointed you must feel. When planning something as long as you have it is only natural that you would feel let down. So take a little time and rant and rave and cry and mourn the trip that you visualized in your head. Then hold up your chin and begin to think about what fun you can have and not what you can't do.

I have been planning for awhile now and it struck me like a ton of bricks one night that while I said I wanted this trip to be for my 5 year old in reality I was getting caught up in how perfect "I" wanted it to be. I have thrown out the daily schedules and now I have become more relaxed.I have decided if my dd wants to spend an hour or more finding characters then so be it. As others have said your trip will be as good as you make it. I hope you have a terrific time and I will be looking for your wonderful trip report when you get back.

 

[skuttle]

There's still lots you can do and have a wonderful trip!!

DH and I went to WDW in March and I was 19 weeks pregnant at the time, so I couldn't go on any of the "thrill" rides...I stayed away from any ride w/ a warning. I still had a blast! W/ fast pass, I usually didn't have to wait long at all for DH to ride some of the thrill rides. I usually enjoyed being able to just sit and people watch, or walk through shops, etc. It was wonderful. And there is SO much more you WILL be able to do...the stuff you can't do will be in the minority by far!

 

[CarolA]

Actually as I think about it about all they can do on Safari is not do the bridge trick (which they can skip, I have had them do it!) That said, I would talk to your MD and get EXACT details on what you need to know. My friend has a herniated disk in her neck and Safari would not be a problem for her, but Rock N Roll would. Make sure you know your restrictions. They vary by injury!