Rides that are OK for Pregnant Women?

[thomascaldwell1]

I need to find out about any rides that are allowed for pregnant women in their second trimester? I know this may sound pretty crazy and most of you will probably say that pregnant women shouldn't ride ANY rides, but they shouldn't miss out completely, either... Thanks very much!

 

[klmorg]

There are advisories for every ride if pg women should not ride....the list of rides you could not ride would probably be shorter. I would not go on Splash Mountain, BTMR, Space Mountain. EE, KRR or Dinosaur...Primevil Whirl or probably not the Safari in AK either...really bumpy. Would not go on RRC or Tot either. There might be some more....

Some people I am sure would disagree and really it is your decision. I lost one baby so I was extra cautious while pg.

The good news is that there are a lot of things you CAN do at WDW while pg. I went when I was 7 months pg and had a blast!

 

[lindsmom]

I heard you're not supposed to go on spinny rides, like teacups - the spinning affects the baby. (and probably gives you a head rush when you stand up, which we don't need in 2nd trimester )

 

[Luv_Disney]

I'll be 7 months pregnant when we go the end of April and I plan on still going on plenty of rides. We're taking our 2.5 year old so everything he can go on I pretty much can too. I'll just be avoiding the roller coasters, spinning rides and water rides. I still plan on having lots of fun!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There are a fair number of slow rides that pregnant moms can ride. There are also lots of shows to see, parades, fireworks.

Also, pregnant moms often don't have the stamina (or food tolerances) they normally would have. A targeted approach is wise. more time in the pool is also wise.

They also don't have the normal emotional tolerances either. You might find yourself crying at the sight of Mickey - or angry when you don't get your way. Try to keep in mind your elevated hromone levels!

Just as small kids manage to have fun, so too can pregnant moms. One ride that should be avoided - which doesn't seem like an obvious problem - is the safari ride. The bumps seem like nothign when you aren't pregnant - are not good while pregnant.

Instead of focusing on rides, and what she CAN'T do, a pregnant mom can spend a little time kid watching - knowing that's she's going to have her own soon. Maybe she can spend a little time talking to other moms, getting ideas for names.

This may sound odd, but it might also help to use a trip to WDW as a pregnant mom to take a look at some of the other families. For example, most of us don't see kids with disabilities in our daily lives all that often. While you wouldn't want to be rude, having an opportunity to see these amazing kids at WDW, and their amazing parents can be a real eye opener. Likewise, seeing say grandparents managing to keep up withteh grandkids can be a revelation. Seeing parents dealing with a meltdown - even if they are handling it poorly - can also be instructional for a mom-to-be. Try approaching this special visit with a little 'outside-the-normal-box' mentality.

One more no-no: hot tubs! Dipping your feet in is probably fine, and the pool can be GREAT - but deep dipping in the hot tub is not a good idea, as it can raise your body temps to dangerous levels for baby.

One last fun idea- try getting a message at one of the spas! It can be fun.

Mind, this is all assuming a normal pregnancy.

 

[raydurz]

Heck my mother was almost 8 months pregnant with me when she rode the Matterhorn Ofcourse that was back in 74 and most people and places didn't consider that an issue. Nowadays I go with the recommendations of most on this thread, lay off the roller coasters and spinning rides.

 

[mickeymommy3]

I was 5 months pregnant at Disney, and was able to ride quite a bit. My Doctor told me a good rule of thumb was nothing that simulated like a horse gallop, or bouncing motion. I rode Splash Mountain, all Fantasyland rides, almost everything except coasters.

I would talk to your OBGYN and see how they feel. Drink lots of water, stay hydrated, and have fun.

 

[Fairyxena]

I was 8 months pg with my first when we went to Epcot and it was great to walk around and see everything even if I couldn't do any rides.
I've always thought that Disney should offer a discounted ticket for pregnant women and new moms. Since pregnant women can't ride a lot of the rides and are basically there to be with their families, they should get a break on the ticket price. It's not like They don't like to shop or eat or drink. Disney will make up the price difference in those other items from the discounted ticket. New moms won't do much riding either with the new babies, and yes while I know there is parent swap on the rides, lots of new moms want to be with their babies for feeding time and bonding, while still being at the park with the rest of the family. It was always something that stuck with me that I was paying full price to go to a park with my family where I couldn't have the full experience, and I certainly would have done more shopping if I hadn't paid full price for my ticket.
JMHO

Orly

 

[Colleen27]

You'll get a ton of different answers. I've been to Disney twice while pregnant, and both times my doctor had a very short list of rides to avoid.

My first trip was early in the 2nd trimester, and my doc told me to stay off of ToT. I don't remember if there was anything else I avoided. I know he didn't have a problem with the mountains... This was back in '97, so it was before a lot of the more extreme rides Disney has added more recently.

My second trip, I was very newly pregnant. The only rides my OB advised my to stay away from were those with high G-forces (RnR, Mission Space). Aside from those specific warnings, she recommended listing to my body, which ended up meaning nothing that spun even a little!

 

[maxiesmom]

I was 8 months pg with my first when we went to Epcot and it was great to walk around and see everything even if I couldn't do any rides.
I've always thought that Disney should offer a discounted ticket for pregnant women and new moms. Since pregnant women can't ride a lot of the rides and are basically there to be with their families, they should get a break on the ticket price. It's not like They don't like to shop or eat or drink. Disney will make up the price difference in those other items from the discounted ticket. New moms won't do much riding either with the new babies, and yes while I know there is parent swap on the rides, lots of new moms want to be with their babies for feeding time and bonding, while still being at the park with the rest of the family. It was always something that stuck with me that I was paying full price to go to a park with my family where I couldn't have the full experience, and I certainly would have done more shopping if I hadn't paid full price for my ticket.
JMHO

Orly

Many people go to Disney and can't/don't ride all of the rides. It would pretty much be impossible for Disney to make a discount ticket to account for all the different reasons people don't ride rides. There are some rides I won't do because of clausterphobia (Mission to Mars, anyone?) But I don't think Disney owes me a discount. Some people don't like rollercoasters. Some don't like rides that spin. How could Disney be expected to account for all of those different reasons people skip rides?

So much of the magic and fun of being at Disney is in the just hanging out with your family part. Watching the kids play in the pop jets. Walking around listening to the music, just taking in the beauty of the park.

I wish my sister would post on here. She hasn't been to Disney preagnant, but she did go with a 2 month old baby. And she was breastfeeding at the time. I don't think she bonded any less with that child because she went on rides. Heck, the child went on the rides too! You can take babies on any ride that doesn't have a height restriction, and there are plenty of them. She was not a worse mom than you because she didn't sit off of a ride so she could hold her baby. And I'm sure she didn't feel slighted by Disney either.

 

[Star Wars mom]

I went to Disney during the second trimester of both of my pregnancies. I have wonderful memories of "eating my way around the world" at the World Showcase in Epcot. I highly recommend it. For rides, I basically followed the recommendations posted at the ride entrances. Some will say "not recommended for pregnant women". If I felt like the restriction might be too stringent, I'd ask a ride attendant near the entrance what part of the ride was unsafe. I actually decided to go on the safari at AK, though I wouldn't recommend it for others. VERY bumpy. Some of the rides have great waiting areas with lots of cool things to see -- like Everest. You can go through the line with you family, then ask a cast member for the exit before you actually get to the ride loading area. I hear they call this the "chicken exit". Regardless, its useful for pregnant moms who want to see as much as possible of the ride's theming.

 

[connorlevismom]

I was wondering the same thing. I will be 4.5 months pregnant on our next trip and I am REALLY looking forward to it. I am looking forward to taking things slow and seeing things that I normally don't because I don't take the time. Oh and eating, LOTS!

Kristine

 

[linzbear]

The list of what you *could* ride would be way too long to write out.

It is much easier to list the rides you cannot go on, and all of these rides are clearly labeled.

MK: Space Mt
Splash Mt
Big Thunder Mt
Barnstormer

Epcot: Test Track
Mission Space

DHS: RnRC
ToT
Star Tours

AK: Safaris (many pg women go on this though, ask your OB, and if he OK's ask to sit in the front)
Primeval Whirl
Dinosaur
Kali River Rapids

Also, all Water Slides are no nos.

 

[HollyP]

Many people go to Disney and can't/don't ride all of the rides. It would pretty much be impossible for Disney to make a discount ticket to account for all the different reasons people don't ride rides. There are some rides I won't do because of clausterphobia (Mission to Mars, anyone?) But I don't think Disney owes me a discount. Some people don't like rollercoasters. Some don't like rides that spin. How could Disney be expected to account for all of those different reasons people skip rides?

So much of the magic and fun of being at Disney is in the just hanging out with your family part. Watching the kids play in the pop jets. Walking around listening to the music, just taking in the beauty of the park.

I wish my sister would post on here. She hasn't been to Disney preagnant, but she did go with a 2 month old baby. And she was breastfeeding at the time. I don't think she bonded any less with that child because she went on rides. Heck, the child went on the rides too! You can take babies on any ride that doesn't have a height restriction, and there are plenty of them. She was not a worse mom than you because she didn't sit off of a ride so she could hold her baby. And I'm sure she didn't feel slighted by Disney either.

Very well put. My last trip to WDW my DD was 5 months old and I was breastfeeding at the time. I went on everysingle ride that I wanted and my DD went on most of them with me. The baby swap for the coasters was a breeze and half our party got to go twice.


To the OP which rides you can go on is up to you and your OB. Personally I wouldn't go on any ride with a lap restraint to avoid belly pressure in case of a sudden stop and you couldn't pay me to go on the Safari if I was pregnant. Those bumps would be torture on my bladder. However, that is assuming a "normal" pregnancy. My OB told me I could go whitewater rafting when I was 4 months along as long as I stayed on the class III's or lower....and I did.

 

[rjthkids]

I agree with others--- it's really about what you are comfortable with. I've gone to Disney pregnant once and I'll be about 12 weeks pregnant when I go in May.

Honestly, the only things I specifically avoided were Mission Space, Test Track, Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. This time I'm going with just my newly turned 5 year old, so anything the 5 year old can do I'll feel comfortable doing.

Your baby is pretty safe in there and quite cushioned. It's really about avoiding very heavy g-forces and anything that makes *YOU* as a pregnant woman physically uncomfortable. Your baby is cushioned by a human body shield and plus a giant additional safety net of being surrounded by water. You're really free to do most of the stuff at WDW to your own personal comfort level.

 

[larryz]

I need to find out about any rides that are allowed for pregnant women in their second trimester? I know this may sound pretty crazy and most of you will probably say that pregnant women shouldn't ride ANY rides, but they shouldn't miss out completely, either... Thanks very much!

The monorail... TTA (if it's open) ... Trains (NOT BTMRR!) ... PotC ...

 

[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 the sign outside the attraction says that pregnant women are advised not the ride both the more tame (green side) and the more wild (orange side)
• Test Track

For Magic Kingdom:

• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
• Space Mountain
• Goofy's Barnstormer (this doesn't have a triangle warning sign on the map, but does say that pregnant women should not ride)

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

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. Many people suggest that 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. I have also ridden it without DD, and have found the farther back seats are not that much more bumpy.

G forces are the reason for not riding Splash Mountain. 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.
For rides like Dinosaur, Star Tours, Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain you are not moving that fast, but experience sudden changes of direction that jerk you around a lot.

 

[candielips]

I am so happy I found this thread. I will be 30 wks pregnant when we go & I really wanted to be able to at least go on a couple of rides with our DD, since it is her 1st trip. At least Dumbo.
The only other time I've been to WDW I was 3 months pregnant but no one could notice.
For those of you who have opted to ride some safer rides while so visibly pregnant, did you get any dirty looks from anyone or any CM say anything to you?

 

[thomascaldwell1]

You know, DH thinks I'm not going to be able to do anything, or ride anything with our DD4- but I think you folks have come up with enough to keep me busy. Thanks everyone!!

 

[kkrull]

Glad to find this thread. Literally just found out that I am pregnant today!! Will be about 14 weeks pregnant. I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to ride the big coasters, but I think that it will be ok because my DH isn't a thrill seeker. My DS2 will be there too so the plan (until today) was that he stay with dad while my DD8 and I go on the thrill rides. My DD isn't big into scary rides anyway so hopefully, this won't be a problem for her.