Rides while pregnant

[El&Asmom]

So dh and I were originally going to take a parents only trip to Vero Beach, but it was killing us to be so close to Disney and not going, so we will be staying at the BWV for three nights in Sept.
I will be 6 months pregnant at that time. I normally don't do many fast rides anyway since I have a balance problem, but I do have a few favorites that I'm not sure about. Does anyone think any of these would be unsafe?

Splash mountain. My all time favorite ride, and the only one I'd really miss at MK.
Soarin
Kilamanjaro safari
Kali river rapis


Thanks for any opinions.

 

[tadamom]

I was 4 months pregnant w/DD when we took our DS for the first time and the only ride that I did from your list was Kali River Rapids -- rode it three times.

I've never ridden Soarin' or Kilamanjaro Safari's so don't know about those but Splash Mountain would be "iffy". When you hit the water after the big drop isn't it a little whiplashy?

 

[all4fun]

I was only 8 wks pg with ds when I went while pregnant. I skipped all rides except Kilimanjaro Safari which to me, is just a bumpy jeep ride and at only 8 wks I did not think I was taking that big of a risk. Honestly though, I would not do Splash Mtn at 6mos preg - to big of a risk IMO. I know there are women who have done it and were fine but if for some reason your pregnancy took a turn for the worse shortly after doing a ride that is restricted to pregnant women then you would be forever questioning whether or not you could have changed something. My ds was a 28-wkr preemie (due to Pre-e & HELLP syndrome - nothing to do with our trip to WDW) so I have personally lived thru that experience and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I say better to play it safe than sorry. Save it up for your next trip to WDW when you have your newest addition in tow. Congrats on the pregnancy and lots of good health and sticky vibes!

 

[o2bacelt]

I went to Disney 7 months preggo. I did ride the safari, I'd sit as close to behind the driver as you can, it's less bumpy but even in the back it wasn't that bumpy. I've had worse rides on my commute into work with potholes.

I don't know about Soarin' I haven't ridden it yet, but my DH hubby says it only latches with a lap belt so it wouldn't be a rough ride. DH says you should be fine on that one and that you might even find it a relaxing ride.

I've never ridden Kali because I hate the idea of being wet while trying to walk around the park. I have no idea how rough that one is.

The one I would skip off your list is Splash Mountain. I might put Kali on the list but then again, but the previous poster makes it seem okay.

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

I went at about 4 months and only did the Safari.

The reason that Splash Mtn isn't good is because of the angle of the seat -- your bum is a bit lower than your lap, and your legs push up onto your baby bump.

I think I may have gone on Soarin' but I can't remember...it was a year and a half ago, and with my baby brain, I don't remember what I did yesterday even! I don't think I can use that excuse much longer, since my "baby" is a year old on Wednesday!

 

[vcgirl925]

My friend went when she was pregnant and her doctor told her that any ride her 4 year old could go on was safe for her. I'm not so sure about that, but i think Splash mountian would be fine...it's not bumpy, i think kali river would be fine, and i think that soarin is MORE than fine (very smooth sailing...but it could induce motion sickness). The only one id be concern with is the safari, it could get bumpy. But like someone suggested i think if you sit behind the driver than i think you're fine.

 

[imthatgirl]

i have been pregnant there. the last time i was pregnant there i was 7 months. i went on akli river rapids and soarin. neith ride did i think there was any reason not to go on. you just sit and watch tv on soarin, so i dont think that would hurt the baby.
i didnt do the safari, but thats more because it bores me.
i would say splash mountain is a no-go. and i think mainly because of the "air time" coming down that hill you are going quite fast and the gforce is quite strong, which is why you dont fall out of it. now do i really think you would damage your baby, no i dont, but i dont think its worth the chance either.

 

[disneybridetobe]

You should be fine on Soarin'. You just sit there and relax, it's great. Nice and air conditioned, and your feet just dangle there.

It'll be a few minutes of heaven

 

[adell557]

So I went six months pregnant with our son. Here is a website on All Ears that gives tips for expectant moms. If you scroll down you will see the recomendations for rides to skip for expectant mothers as well as other tips.

I may be too cautious, but I wouldn't go on anything on your list except maybe Soarin'. WDW is always there, and will be there at a later time, I just wouldn't put my baby in any jepoardy if Disney deems it unsafe in any way. JMO.

http://allears.net/pl/pregnant.htm

 

[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 listed on the park maps 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

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 were mentioned as 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.

 

[El&Asmom]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will definitely skip SM. We will be there again in May and then Jan '10. That's why I love DVC, we don't feel like we have to cram everything in on a once in a lifetime trip.
We may skip AK all together. I love the safari ride, but so do my kids so we go on it frequently when we go as a family. Since we have only two park days, we may focus on the places we don't spend as much time at with the kids.
I agree that Soarin should be fine. Nothing bumpy about it, and it didn't cause me any motion sickness last time.

Thanks again for all the tips.

 

[jjhardy]

I was 4 months pregnant when I went to Disney in 2006. I rode the safari but sit upfront right behind the driver. They have the shocks there and it's not as bumpy. I also did soarin. As for everything else I didn't ride it if it had a pregnancy warning.

Make sure you drink LOTS of water and take a break in the afternoon for a nap.

 

[Malela9]

When I went to WDW last Jan. I talked to the CM at Big Thunder and he told me that Nicole Richie went on that ride 9 month preggo! I asked him why they let her go on and his response was, " We are not allowed to stop guests from riding, even if it is not advisable." I was shocked!
I live near Disneyland and have gone there multiple times ( like over 50 because I have a sickness and 3 kids ) preggo and I say, you will still be able to have fun when you go. No, I wouldn't go on the safari, Kali or Splash. But Soarin will be great. If it is bumpy , I would stay away from it-that was my rule. Have a great time and stay cool!

Ps. I went to Disneyland 2 days before my last dd was born because I had to see Small World Holiday, everyone in line thought I was crazy! ( Yup, but it was worth it! )

 

[Jenvenza]

I went to DL when I was 3 months pregnant and rode a lot of rides. The reason they told me the have warnings on certain rides id because of the seats and lapbars that go across your stomach. If the bar might be touching your stomach - or the baby - I dont think I would do it. I wasnt showing at all and rode Big Thunder and Space Mountain. I didnt do Indiana Jones - which is kind of like Dinosaur and is really jerky and also skipped ToT because of the drop.

 

[Wendybird55]

I went when I was 8 -9 weeks pregnant and was very cautious with the rides I went on - I'd been on them all before and knew I would be back and go on them again, so why take any chances...

Of the rides you listed I didn't go on any.
Kalahali Rapids and Safari were specifically because I was pregnant. I thought both would be too rough and jerky. At first I wasn't sure about the safari and after speaking to a CM and she reminded my how bumpy it was, I decided not to go.

I didn't go on Soarn' because I had some monring sickness and felt the attration would make it worse. If I wasn't nauseus I would go on it because it's pretty benign with actual movement and such.

I would say the most adventurous ride I went on was POTC - that first drop I figured was small enough.

That being said, there's so many shows and attractions that you can enjoy. I would ask your Dr. what he/she thinks, but if it was me, I'd go on the side of caution and skip the ride.

Plus Disney clearly lists any cautions for rides.