Ride Experiences with Neck Problems

[melmlantz]

Hi folks! I've read some of the threads about this that already exist, but I don't feel like I've gotten a great sense from those answers. I have herniated discs in my neck/cervical spine; it has been this way for a long time, so I've been to WDW since I was diagnosed. I had been advised against any true rollercoasters; and in my earlier trips I was extremely cautious. I can, however, ride bumpy rides just fine (I think Dinosaur was fine; Star Tours was fine in terms of my neck, even if I got super motion sick!). I've read that people have had issues with the Safari at DAK, but that's never been an issue for me. Toy Story Mania, on the other hand - nope. I was in so much worse pain for days after. There's no way I'd chance Space Mountain.

In that context, I'm wondering if anyone can give me their sense of these rides?

• Tower of Terror: I've avoided this ever since, but given the smoothness of the ride, could this be fine?
• 7 Dwarves Mine Train: I've never been on. This is a true rollercoaster, is it a no-go?
• TRON: Same question as Mine Train
• Cosmic Rewind: Same question
• Remy's Ratatouille: I've never been on; is it too much like Toy Story Mania?
• Test Track: Too much like a real rollercoaster?
• Runaway Railway: Too much like a real rollercoaster?
• Smuggler's Run: Does this jostle/jerk a lot?

Thanks so much for any feedback!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

What about Mania gave you problems?

I guess I don’t really understand the difference between a bumpy ride and a jerky one. What motions are ok and what do you need to avoid?

 

[melmlantz]

What about Mania gave you problems?

I guess I don’t really understand the difference between a bumpy ride and a jerky one. What motions are ok and what do you need to avoid?

That's a great question, sorry (and I can edit the original post too). By bumpy, I mean things that bounce like I vaguely remember Dinosaur doing; it has been a long time, but I recall Toy Story Mania having some kind of fast-moving whipping motion? (Or maybe I'm misremembering and thinking of another ride!). It's the fast-paced jerking of my neck from side-to-side that seems to be the problem.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Take this with a grain of salt because I find star tours and dinosaur to be very jerky so I would have definitely put that on the avoid list if you can’t handle mania. I guess the real question is how much can your neck move around.

Honestly if it were me I’d skip all of these, but here is my perception.

• Tower of Terror: goes up and down. It’s smooth-ish but you will change directions quickly.
• 7 Dwarves Mine Train: super smooth coaster but you do sway and go up and down. It’s the smoothest kiddie coaster out there.
• TRON: it’s very fast. Smooth but there are definitely drops
• Cosmic Rewind: if haunted mansion and space mountain had an awesome baby that would be cosmic rewind. Smooth ride but there’s a lot of motion
• Remy's Ratatouille: if mania bothers you probably best to avoid because there are sudden movements.
• Test Track: there are a few jerks
• Runaway Railway: it isn’t like a coaster at all but it does move around. If mania bothers you this may too.
• Smuggler's Run: avoid if you can’t handle jerks.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Tron and cosmic rewind are very smooth, but you do feel a lot of force (esp Tron if you are straddling the light cycle.) so if amount of force/pressure on your neck is an issue, I wouldn't recommend them.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You don't mention Kilimanjaro Safari, but I know that if you have neck or back problems, you'll find the first rows make a big difference. I tell them I need the first couple rows now, and it's never a problem.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Some people actually videotape themselves as they go through rides and I found watching the videos to be a big help in selecting what I thought I could safely manage and skipping what I thought would be too rough. Everyone is different but what I can tolerate often has a lot to do with the position the ride will put me in and how demanding I was on myself in a given day. My strategy has been resting a lot as I move around, like I sat at every seat I saw for a few minutes as I walked slowly through the parks so I wouldn't cause too much compression stress on my vertebrae and I spaced things out so I could give my body time to tell me if I tweaked anything. Personally, I found the newer rides to be gentle, good luck