Pregnancy restrictions on rides?

[annabelle004]

I posted this on the Attractions forum, but then thought this might be a better place...Is there a comprehensive list out there, like there are for height restrictions? Also, one of the docs in my ob's practice has been to WDW many, many times and he said that I could really ride anything I want at this point in my pregnancy (20 weeks). Although, I would like to ride some things that are restricted (Safari, Pirates of the Caribbean...) I still don't feel comfortable riding more intense rides (RNR Coaster, TOT, Space Mtn...). Also, we have a 20 month old so I am perfectly fine waiting with him while dh rides those rides. So, I guess another question is - has anyone deviated from the Disney warnings?
Thanks!

 

[nucpharm29]

I did go on the Safari and Splash Mountain, and I was about 10 weeks prego at the time. I don't remember there being any restriction for Pirates of the Carribean. But the decision is ultimately yours, and whether taking the risk is okay with you. In hind sight, I probably would not do Splash Mountain again, but I didn't have a prob. with the bumpiness of the Safari. You are a lot further along than I was, so it might be more uncomfortable for you. Like you, we had a 16 month old at the time, and I sat with her while DH rode all the big thrill rides. And that was fine with me. Have a great trip and congrats on the new baby!

 

[1sttimeWDW]

O.K., I continue to see posts here sporatically regarding rides during pg. I gotta' say it really baffles & frustrates me. Why would you EVER for one second do something that could harm your baby???? I suffered three early miscarriages & it was truly a nightmare each & every time. I have three living children and two of those were born after miscarriages. I felt like I was holding my breath until I heard them crying at delivery. There are NO guarantees that just because you are pg that you will bring home a healthy full term baby. Pre-term labor, preemies, stillbirths & infant deaths do occur. Should you live in a bubble? No. Should you intentionally ride something for a few minutes enjoyment & risk your babies life? NO!

Galen

 

[fakereadhed]

It is a personal choice. I did some and I am super careful when pg. I think the Kilimanjaro Safari is real soft call on Disney's part, but they are CYAing. They do not want a lawsuit. Don't risk your baby, but if you have been on a ride before I definitely think you could use your own judgement.

 

[justhat]

I did the safari too and skipped the rest of the restricted rides when I was pregnant with my daughter (19 weeks) and with this baby (5-6 weeks). I don't think Pirates has any restrictions though either (at least none I remember and it's pretty tame so I can't see why) so you'd be fine with that. We're going back again in March when I'll be 17 weeks and I might actually skip the safari this time, we'll see. The thing is, when I rode it at 19 weeks we sat in the first row and it was hardly bumpy at all, no more so than driving in DC is, plus our driver went very slowly cause lots of animals were out. But then we rode it again later that day in the last row and it was so bumpy I was nervous the entire day that I had permanently damaged my baby. I seriously felt horrible for risking the baby's well-being like that. Since then, however, I have learned to ask for the first row, even if it means waiting for the next car, cause the difference is incredible. So I might go this time and ride in the front again, but I might just skip it altogether, we'll see.

And I completely understand your point Galen and am really sorry for your losses, but I really don't see the safari as a huge risk cause it's more or less like driving in a car on a bumpy road so I guess that's why I'm still willing to ride that one.

 

[o2bacelt]

The safari was far less bumpy than Rt. 95 South through South Carolina, I was bounced around more in the car than I ever was on the safari. I was 7 months along when we were at Disney in 2004.

PotC is fine, nice slow and easy.

I don't do rollercoasters or Splash Mountain, I'm a self-professed chicken, but I wouldn't ride those if I was preggers.

There's plenty to do while you're there especially with a 20 month old. We're heading down with our 20 mos. old DD in 23 days (!!!!) so I don't anticipate riding a lot of things she won't.

I bet you have a good time. I would just avoid anything that you would pull G's on.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[my4kids]

We were there in Oct. and I did the safari - I was not pregnant at the time but as you can see by my sig, I have alot of experience with being prego. We were put in the very back row of the safari bus at AK and the ride was sooo rough back there, I thought I would fall out. On a couple of bumps I came down on my seat so hard, I thought I would never be able to have kids again. You may be OK futher up in the front of the truck, but I really wouldn't think it would be worth the risk or worrying about it. If Disney says it's not recommended for pregnant people, I would abide by it....is it really worth it? I also think some of the drivers enjoy taking the route harder than others...Our driver kept laughing and asking on the PA if the people in the back row were still with them. I was truly in pain, and I can't even imagine if I had been pregnant.

As far as the OB who has been there many times, you don't know what his/her experience have been at WDW - some people just do MK when they are there and refer to that as WDW....MK is way milder than MGM , AK rides. I don't think any OB would reccomend rockin roller coaster for someone 20 wks. I know people who have been to WDW several times and when I talk to them I am shocked at their lack of knowledge of the parks and some of the rides...when they go they alway do the same things and never research the trip....so they don't even know some of the rides exist...your ob might be thinking of It's a small world type rides....

 

[Daydreamer64]

Ditto on the above posts- no safafi -for me at 12 weeks I rode it and worried about the ride- we had a front seat the first time and I didn't remember it being rough so I was surprised to find it was too rough this trip when I was pregers.

I rode all of the rides except the MTNS., TOT, RNR, teacups, Goofy's BS, Mission Space, Test Track. I had a great time! I did miss the MTNS but I wouldn't take a chance and ride just this time when I knew that I could ride in the future and not have to worry about hurting the baby.

One thing that worried me was the percussion from the fireworks at EPCOT- stupid me thought it was too much and it vibrated my body so hard that I thought it might have hurt the baby - stupid I know but I didn't know that you sit right behind some of the set off points until it was too late. I worried myself sick over that until Ben was born.

Anyway, he's great and healthy-no damage from the percussion point- don't take a chance on the wild rides- the baby can be hurt or lost- just ride the toddler safe rides and be happy to hold that precious baby when it's born-then you can plan a big trip to WDW with him/her and enjoy yourself to the fullest!

 

[mommyceratops]

The safarri is very bumpy. We just got back from there and it was bumpy enough to come off the seat. I would sit this one out...not worth the chance JMO.

 

[KristiKelly]

I went when I was preg. with baby #2 at 28 weeks. I don't & didn't ride roller coasters or any of the "big rides" as DD calls them. The only thing I rode that could be questionable was the safari but sat in the front, far less bumpy. Any ride without a height restriction, I rode it. There is a small drop in Pirates of the Carib. but I don't think enough to worry about. I would avoid Space Mtn, Splash Mtn, Big Thunder R/R, Mission Space, Tower of Terror, Rock & Roll, if I've missed any - you get the picture. Have a great trip!!!!!!

 

[rt2dz]

Last time we went, I was just about 6 months pg with #3. I avoided everything with a restriction (pirates has no restrictions) except the safari. My ob & I talked about first though; we had both been many times. I asked for the first row & all was fine. I wouldn't ride anything else pg no matter how far along, or not, I am. Just wouldn't want to risk it personally. Not that much is restricted & the rides will be there next time.

 

[annabelle004]

O.K., I continue to see posts here sporatically regarding rides during pg. I gotta' say it really baffles & frustrates me. Why would you EVER for one second do something that could harm your baby???? I suffered three early miscarriages & it was truly a nightmare each & every time. I have three living children and two of those were born after miscarriages. I felt like I was holding my breath until I heard them crying at delivery. There are NO guarantees that just because you are pg that you will bring home a healthy full term baby. Pre-term labor, preemies, stillbirths & infant deaths do occur. Should you live in a bubble? No. Should you intentionally ride something for a few minutes enjoyment & risk your babies life? NO!

Galen

I did not mean to offend or hurt anyone. But this was exactly my question. I didn't want to put me or the baby at risk.

I am planning our intinerary and was planning on just sitting out the rides that ds couldn't go on (in other words, I wasn't planning on needing extra time to do Parent Swap). Anyway, I mentioned the fact that we were going and the ob and I started talking about what I couldn't ride (I haven't been since Mission SPace and really hate that I can't ride it.). So we talked specific rides, not just WDW in general. The reason I posted this was because I wondered if I was being too cautious and I could in fact ride some stuff. We have an amusement park here that literally has a pregnancy warning on any ride that moves. It is totally just CYA and a bit extreme.

So, thank you all, you have answered my question.

Annabelle

 

[SueM in MN]

There isn't a specific list, but this is a link to the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, which does tell about any warnings (like pregnancy) in the description of each attraction.
There is also a sign at the entrance to the queue for each attraction and at least one more sign before boarding for those with warnings. The park maps also have an icon (a little red triangle) by each ride with warnings.

POC does not have any warnings for pregnancy (the drop is small). I've been told the reason for the warning for Splash Mountain is that the sudden accerlation as you go down the drop, plus the speed, plus the slope of the drop could theoretically cause the placenta to separate (actually peel away from) the wall of the uterus.
Sitting in the front row of the Safari will give a smooter ride than the back row, but is no guarantee that it won't be very bumpy. My youngest DD uses a wheelchair and has to sit in the front row because that is the only place a wheelchair can be tied down. Even though her wheelchair is tied down and she is seatbelted to her wheelchair, she still gets jostled around quite a bit. From what we can tell on multiple trips on the Safari, location doesn't seem to matter as much as the driver.

Having a child who is disabled, I would recommend thinking very carefully and probably not riding those attractions with a warning. People were focusing on miscarriage, but there are a lot of things besides that. Are they likely to happen because of a WDW ride? No. But, when you find out you have a child with a disability, the amount of "what might have I done to cause this" guilt is tremendous and IMHO, wouldn't be worth the little bit of fun from riding.