Kilimanjaro Safari

[SueM in MN]

Hello all I'm new to the board. We are going to Disney World for the first time as a family. My wife is pregnant and we saw some lists of rides she can still do. My question is is the Kilimanjaro Safari safe for her? It shows up as safe and not safe on a couple of lists. Thanks for any advice. She will be bummed if she can't do it.

The reason it shows up as safe and not safe is that the attraction has changed.
Disney used to have a warning for it and they no longer do.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/kilimanjaro-safaris/

I believe it's a lot less bumpy than it used to be.

The old version, where your Safari tram got involved in a chase to help catch some poachers, had a high speed, very bumpy portion across a very bumpy area. That was where people came off their seats from bumps.

The attraction was re-themed a few years ago and the 'poacher chase' was removed. That removed a lot of the bumpiness, but it is still bumpy - it is themed to be a trip on rough paths and unpaved roads. The theming includes tire ruts and other bumps.
Each safari will be a bit different bumpiness, depending on which bumps your tram hits and how fast. So, it may still be too bumpy for some people. Guests also need to be aware that the trip may be longer than anticipated due to animals being in way of the trams, which could happen when your tram is in full sunlight. Our longest Safari was delayed almost 1/2 hour.
Also, if the tram needs to be evacuated for any reason, it's a very far way down.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Ask her OB. We asked before our trips (we went during both of my wife's pregnancies). With the first she was 7 months and rode everything. When she rode KS, we asked for the front row. The only problems that my wife had on either trip were in dealing with the heat while carrying all of that extra weight (my wife is tiny).

If you wife is healthy and active, and has no problems associated with her pregnancy, her doctor will probably tell her what my wife's told us - a woman's body has been "engineered" to handle a lot worse than WDW rides during pregnancy.

 

[Tomh]

The ride is hit and miss as far as the bumps go. I think it may depend some on the driver. Some have learned how to avoid most of the bumps, and others just truck through them. I have a bad disc in my back, which I've never had operated on. I go on the safari every summer with no problem, except for ONE year, sitting in the second row from the front, and when the ride was over that year, I could barely get out of the seat I was in so much pain.

I would say ultimately, it is probably best to speak with her doctor, and see what he has to say about it.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I was 20 weeks pregnant at Disney last August. My OB said it would be fine to ride Safari and based on my past experiences on the ride, I figured I would be OK.

Yes, I was fine, but honestly, the bumpiness led to some cramping afterwards that worried me. I don't think the worry was worth the ride and I wouldn't recommend the ride for pregnant women in the future.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

The reason it shows up as safe and not safe is that the attraction has changed.
Disney used to have a warning for it and they no longer do.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/kilimanjaro-safaris/
The old version, where your Safari tram got involved in a chase to help catch some poachers, had a high speed, very bumpy portion across a very bumpy area. That was where people came off their seats from bumps.

The attraction was re-themed a few years ago and the 'poacher chase' was removed. That removed a lot of the bumpiness, but it is still bumpy - it is themed to be a trip on rough paths and unpaved roads. The theming includes tire ruts and other bumps.
Each safari will be a bit different bumpiness, depending on which bumps your tram hits and how fast. So, it may still be too bumpy for some people. Guests also need to be aware that the trip may be longer than anticipated due to animals being in way of the trams, which could happen when your tram is in full sunlight. Our longest Safari was delayed almost 1/2 hour.
Also, if the tram needs to be evacuated for any reason, it's a very far way down.

Now that makes sense. I wondered about that certain bridge that sometimes has issues as well. I've never been pregnant so I can't comment on whether it would be too much or not. I just know I have memories of very rough rides and very smooth rides, with a few variations in between. Your explanation about the change in the story line makes complete sense now.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I grew up in farm country. There are country roads that are more bumpy than KS, and the biggest bumps on KS are few and far between. If your wife rides in a car when pregnant, KS shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Princess Mulan]

The reason it shows up as safe and not safe is that the attraction has changed.
Disney used to have a warning for it and they no longer do.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/kilimanjaro-safaris/
The old version, where your Safari tram got involved in a chase to help catch some poachers, had a high speed, very bumpy portion across a very bumpy area. That was where people came off their seats from bumps.

The attraction was re-themed a few years ago and the 'poacher chase' was removed. That removed a lot of the bumpiness, but it is still bumpy - it is themed to be a trip on rough paths and unpaved roads. The theming includes tire ruts and other bumps.
Each safari will be a bit different bumpiness, depending on which bumps your tram hits and how fast. So, it may still be too bumpy for some people. Guests also need to be aware that the trip may be longer than anticipated due to animals being in way of the trams, which could happen when your tram is in full sunlight. Our longest Safari was delayed almost 1/2 hour.
Also, if the tram needs to be evacuated for any reason, it's a very far way down.

I just checked the link you provided, and under accessibility and limitations, it still says expectant mothers should not ride. Personally, I would not ride KS if I were pregnant because of the possibility of a bumpy ride, sudden stops and quick acceleration. On my last visit I was seated next to a doctor, and she said she would advise pregnant women not to ride.

Of course, what others choose to do is their own business. I'm simply saying I would heed Disney's warnings and not take the risk myself.

 

[SueM in MN]

I just checked the link you provided, and under accessibility and limitations, it still says expectant mothers should not ride. Personally, I would not ride KS if I were pregnant because of the possibility of a bumpy ride, sudden stops and quick acceleration. On my last visit I was seated next to a doctor, and she said she would advise pregnant women not to ride.

Of course, what others choose to do is their own business. I'm simply saying I would heed Disney's warnings and not take the risk myself.

That is strange because I specifically checked under that area because that is where the warning had been and it was not there.
It is opening in a different place on my phone with that link than it opened on my computer.
It also says under thrills - Slow Ride - which is not consistent with their rides with warnings. So, there is something weird

 

[Princess Mulan]

That is strange because I specifically checked under that area because that is where the warning had been and it was not there.
It is opening in a different place on my phone with that link than it opened on my computer.
It also says under thrills - Slow Ride - which is not consistent with their rides with warnings. So, there is something weird

I just checked again, and the warning is showing up on my laptop and iPad. The "warning" list is not readily apparent, though, so it's no wonder that guests are confused about the advisory for expectant mothers. You have to scroll down the list of accessibility, expectations, etc., and read the "fine print." The advisory, if Disney means it, perhaps should be more visible.

 

[Crystal824]

I rode it 30 weeks pregnant with no issues. I did sit in the front. I had a very normal pregnancy. However, I had ridden KS numerous times before pregnancy so I knew exactly what I was getting into. I'm not sure I would have done it otherwise.