Kilimanjaro Safaris While Pregnant?

[jaw55]

We leave for WDW in less than three weeks, and I recently learned that I am pregnant. I'm super-excited, but definitely working on a major overhaul of our touring plans. I've eliminated the obvious: Everest, all Mountains, Dinosaur, ToT, etc. But one of my absolute favorite experiences is Kilimanjaro Safaris at AK. Does anyone know whether it is okay to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris while pregnant? I will be 12 weeks when we go.

Thanks!

 

[MJAJmom]

Congrats on your preggo news! Caution is always good here! Not sure how they rate the ride, but I didn't think it was too bad. It is a jeep ride going over bumpy roads, but I didn't feel it was too jarring. I'd be comfortable riding it if I was PG. However, if there is any high risk or concerns from your OB, then WDW can always wait until you can see it with new baby.

 

[Neesy228]

I would echo what the PP said about erring on the side of caution - especially if you're in a high risk category. However, that being said, I went on the Safari three times (my son loved the ride!) when I was 5 months along and I felt perfectly fine. It did not seem too rough for me.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can look at the park maps for the attractions with warnings - they are marked with a red triangle on the map and also on a sign at the entrance to the queue.
For Epcot here are the attractions with warnings:

• Mission Space
• Test Track

For Magic Kingdom:

• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
• Space Mountain

For Disney Studio

• Star Tours
• Rock N Roller Coaster
• Tower of Terror

For Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Kali River Rapids
• Expedition Everest
• Primeval Whirl
• Dinosaur

Kilimanjaro Safari is one of the rides with warnings, probably because it can be awfully bumpy. I have seen people post to ask if you can ride in the 'handicapped' safari tram because it is less bumpy. We've ridden multiple times on both the 'regular' tram when we were not with DD and on the handicapped accessible tram when we were with her and her wheelchair.
Both are equally bumpy. The only difference is the accessible tram leaves from and comes back to the same station so that people can park their wheelchairs/ECVs/walkers at the same place they will return to. There is also a ramp so someone who can't get out of their wheelchair can go right on the tram.

I have a DD with cerebral palsy and my advice would be to skip everything with a warning. Chances are nothing would happen, but if your child is born with any type of birth defect/problem, I can guarantee you will spend the rest of your life wondering if there was anything you could have done to avoid it. It's easier to not go than to worry about it.

 

[JillPTFLA]

It is always best to check with your doctor because your individual circumstance can be different from everyone else. With that being said, I went on the safari when I was about 11 weeks pg with my second child and was fine. If you are up front it is less bumpy (it is really no more bumpy than a bus ride). Also, when the baby is that small, they are still sheltered by your pelvic bones and well cushioned. BUT, if I had any risk factors I would not have chanced it (plus it was my second pregnancy so I kind of knew the ropes).

My hubby wouldn't let me go on the racecars at MK, though! LOL...he was afraid I would get bumped!

Congrats and have fun!
Jill

 

[eventamy]

I don't think it will be a problem. It really is no more bumpy then a bus ride or driving on a dirt road.
Do check with your doctor first though, although that's always subjective too. I had one Dr. who was thrilled that I rode horses and was totally ok with me riding as long as I was comfortable, another midwife was not happy with me. I rode my horses through 12-14 weeks with both of my babies, the PP is right, at that stage they're still very protected.

 

[Stinkerbell317]

Unless you have any special circumstances with your pregnancy in which you would need to be overly cautious, Safaris is totally safe. I rode it pregnant.

 

[carcam51]

My mom rode Space Mountain while she was four months pregnant with me. So of course, it is now a long standing family joke.

Please note, I am in now way saying anyone should do such a ridiculous thing. Either they didn't have the restrictions then, or she simply disregarded the warning, which wouldn't surprise me.

 

[kim_d]

I rode it both times I was pregnant. No problems. If you have a history of miscarriages or other pregnancy complications I might skip it but otherwise it should be fine.

 

[linzbear]

I'm going to WDW in less than a month and I'll be 17wks. I'm planning on asking for the front row on the Safaris. It is in no way worse than airplane turbulence, and I know I've already driven through much bigger potholes! I wouldn't sit in the back though, it has the "back of the school bus" bumpiness to it.

 

[JessicaFaye508]

My aunt went on when she was pregnant, and she was due a month later! She was fine. Just make your own judgement and see what you can handle.

 

[farynaed]

As everyone one has already said, you need to make the best decision for your own situation, but I'll share what I did. We were at WDW when I was 6 months pregnant. KS was the only ride with a pregnancy warning that I chose to ride in any of the parks. I figured if my 2 year old was allowed to ride it (as none of the other rides with a preggo warning would allow her to) it couldn't be too violent. After riding, I had no concerns that I had made the wrong decision-it wasn't any worse than driving down the back roads to get to my parent's farmhouse that I had done my entire pregnancy.

Congratulations by the way!!!

 

[LilGMom]

If you are in doubt speak with your OB first and then make an informed decision.

Having said that I rode KS when I was in all three trimesters and the latest I rode KS was when I was around 7 months pregnant. KS wasn't really that much bumpier than rodes that I traveled daily back and forth to work with all of the construction that was going on. If you sit in the front it tends to be less bumpy.

 

[Mouseskis]

I rode KS 3 years ago while being 5 months pregnant. I remember thinking it was way bumpier that I remembered (and have always thought that since). That being said I still never felt like it was a problem. As others have said I wouldn't go on it if you have any indication of any sensitivities with your pregnancy -otherwise you should be fine. Have fun!

 

[amarberry]

I talked to my OB before riding it, but I rode it when I was 8-9 weeks pregnant. Honestly, the "takeoff" and "landing" for It's a Small World was bumpier than the Safari was. I planned to ride the Safari again when I was around 20 weeks, but I ended up giving my fastpass to my dad instead. I would have been very comfortable riding it still at 20 weeks.

Talk to your OB. My OB told me before my trip at 8-9 weeks that I could really ride just about anything. She said that after 16 weeks or so, it is more of an issue because the placenta could seperate or something? (Don't quote me though...it's been a couple of years and I definitely have foggy mommy brain).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I was prg when this ride first opened. (27 wks.)
The sign said you shouldn't ride if you're pg so I didn't. When dh got off with ds then 3 he said it was no worse than riding in his p/u truck on a bumpy road. I was a bit sad to miss it esp since it was new.
I would say it's a personal decision and discuss it with your MD.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Does anyone know whether it is okay to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris while pregnant? I will be 12 weeks when we go.

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

From the Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari webpage:

WARNING! For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.

...my advice would be to skip everything with a warning. Chances are nothing would happen, but if your child is born with any type of birth defect/problem, I can guarantee you will spend the rest of your life wondering if there was anything you could have done to avoid it. It's easier to not go than to worry about it.

I agree wholeheartedly. No attraction at WDW is worth the peace of mind you'll have later.

 

[bless7ings]

Like everyone else talk to your doctor.

That being said I talked to my doctor. She said I am not as familar with AK rides.(we were talking about the safari) I said everyone has said its like riding on a dirt road with pot holes. She said oh, no problem!

This is what she said in general:

She said at 12 weeks you can ride more.

At 16 weeks she said you can do more than 24 weeks.

16 weeks:
She wasn't too familar w/AK so I told her about the safari -ok, KRR -?, use your judgement, Everest -NO! I didn't care for the rest at AK.

Epcot -Disneys warning rides were sliced quickly!

DHS -TT and RRC sliced quickly! She wasn't too familar w/ star wars ride, I said it didn't matter.

MK -Indy and sm were sliced quickly! She debated on splash mtn. She said I don't remember it being that bad. I mentioned the drop and she was kinda shaking her body like it's not that bad. And thunder mtn rr she said I don't remember as much, but I dont think its that bad? I couldn't remember either what was the problem?(esp at 16 wks) She said use my judgement for those two rides.

She said at 24 weeks you couldn't ride as many. I didn't ask but I guess I would guess the ones we were questioning would have been knocked out.

I had printed the sheet of what the moderater had posted and the reasons why they weren't good and she said, yes that is exactly the concern! I said what are you concerned with? Don't quote me on this but I believe she said the jerking back and forth(backwards and forward) and the real quick continuous obvious stops? I didn't persue this question much because I felt I had my answers. Def. every case is dif if there are cases that differ from the normal. And every Dr. is different. I trust my Dr and I know she trusts me to make wise decisions on the few she left me with.

 

[SueM in MN]

MK -Indy and sm were sliced quickly! She debated on splash mtn. She said I don't remember it being that bad. I mentioned the drop and she was kinda shaking her body like it's not that bad. And thunder mtn rr she said I don't remember as much, but I dont think its that bad? I couldn't remember either what was the problem?(esp at 16 wks) She said use my judgement for those two rides.

She said at 24 weeks you couldn't ride as many. I didn't ask but I guess I would guess the ones we were questioning would have been knocked out.

I had printed the sheet of what the moderater had posted and the reasons why they weren't good and she said, yes that is exactly the concern! I said what are you concerned with? Don't quote me on this but I believe she said the jerking back and forth(backwards and forward) and the real quick continuous obvious stops? I didn't persue this question much because I felt I had my answers. Def. every case is dif if there are cases that differ from the normal. And every Dr. is different. I trust my Dr and I know she trusts me to make wise decisions on the few she left me with.

Here's what I posted in July that I think you saw:
Soarin' doesn't have any warnings that would affect pregnancy; just heights and possibly motion sickness.

The Safari and Kali River Rapids are listed because you can get unexpected hard bumps and drops during the course of the ride. As someone mentioned, the Safari is less bumpy closer to the front, but it is still bumpy. We sit in the front seat because youngest DD needs to stay in her wheelchair; we still get bounced around a lot. It all depends on which ruts your ride car hits.

G forces are the reason for not riding Splash Mountain and that is correct. The big drop takes you down at a very extreme angle at a high rate of speed (I think you get to 40 mph). At the bottom, your ride car stops abruptly. That sort of combination of fast speed drop at an extreme angle and then abrupt stop can theoretically cause placental abruption - where the placenta actually peels away from the wall of the uterus. That's the main reason for warnings at Splash Mountain.

In addition, for rides like Dinosaur, Star Tours, Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain you are not moving that fast, but can experience sudden changes of direction that jerk you around a lot.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

In 1999 I was 7 months when we went to Disney World. My ob told me not to ride anything with a warning on it. So I didn't.

I think you should talk with your ob and then use your best judgement.