Rides while pregnant?

[t_catt11]

First and foremost - please refrain from posting judgmental and/or sanctimonious rants. I am well aware that the safety of mother and unborn child trumps any ride experience.

Now, with that out of the way...

We will be at WDW from November 16th through the 24th. My wife will be six months pregnant at the time (due date: February 11th).

She's very excited, but also a little bummed, as she was looking forward to riding with our four year old on some of his first "big" rides (i.e. Big Thunder, Test Track, etc).

By and large, we figure that any ride with a height requirement is out. Anything that has a lap bar that could come into contact with her stomach is obviously out. Big drops/sudden acceleration (looking at you, Tower of Terror) are out.

Please understand that yes, we have already spoken to her OB, and he has given advice. For instance, he would be fine with her riding Splash Mountain if not for the lap bars.

She's curious about Dinosaur. Yes, it's bumpy, but we seem to recall it not being measurably worse than, say, Kilimanjaro Safari. I don't recall it having a restraint that would impact her belly. What do you think? Has anyone similarly pregnant had any such experience?

What about Star Tours? I felt like it is even milder than Dinosaur, but my wife seems to think that it is too jerky.

Again, I'm not looking for judgement or insults. I'm looking for experiences of others. Thanks!

 

[dawnhaze]

Dinosaur and Star Tours have lap belts, as far as I remember. No bars. They are both more jerky than the Safari, IMO, with Dinosaur being worse than Star Tours (again IMO).

 

[minnie mum]

No sanctimony or rants. Here's the list: http://www.wdwinfo.com/pregnancy.htm

Here's the list of attractions that pregnant women shouldn't ride:

Magic Kingdom:
•Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
•Space Mountain
•Splash Mountain
•Tomorrowland Indy Speedway

Epcot:
•Body Wars
•Mission: SPACE
•Test Track

Disney's Hollywood Studios:
•Star Tours
•Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom:
•DINOSAUR
•Expedition Everest
•Kali River Rapids
•Kilimanjaro Safari
•Primeval Whirl

 

[t_catt11]

No sanctimony or rants. Here's the list: http://www.wdwinfo.com/pregnancy.htm

Which basically comes back down to "anything with a height requirement".

 

[bgirl29]

I think that dinosaur is a very jerky ride and it has a lap belt, I believe. Star tours I dont think is that jerky especially if you ride towards the front so your feet touch the ground. Although it too has a lap belt. Would it help you to look on youtube at some of the ride videos? Maybe that could help you remember how bumpy the rides are.

 

[khertz]

Word of warning on the Safari, have your wife ask to sit in the front if she chooses to ride. I rode in the very back seat once and it can be intensely bumpy back there! I came completely off my seat on one rather huge bump.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I'm going in December when I'll also be 6 months along.

My doctor said to follow the signs in general, but she also said the safari would be fine. I asked her about this ride specifically because I have to ride a school bus about twice a week to go to away games (I coach a high school sport), and I have recently noticed just how bumpy these rides are. Since I know the safari has a warning, I asked her why it was okay for me to ride this bus, but not a jeep ride at Disney (because I was really wondering if it was okay for me to ride the bus!) She said legally Disney has to post warnings for EVERYTHING because everyone's pregnancy is different, but as long as my pregnancy remains normal, there is no reason to avoid the safari ride (or my bumpy bus rides!).

I didn't ask about Dinosaur because I just assumed I would skip that - it is pretty jerky. I actually think Test Track would be better than Dinosaur, but I'm skipping that one too - last time I was on the ride I noticed that there are two or three hardcore jerks forward.

Have a great trip!

 

[t_catt11]

Yeah, her doc basically said the same thing - the signs have to be posted that way for liability. He pointed out that the safari was fine, and that Splash would be fine if not for the lap bars.

 

[sweetnjmom]

I went in May 2009 when I was 6 months pregnant.

I avoided all rides that had a warning for when you are pregnant--so no safari, no roller coasters, no Star Tours (though it was closed for refurb when we were there), etc.

I rode Pirates of the Caribbean, all the smaller rides, Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion. I had a great time, despite no thrill rides.

 

[CanadaJulie]

OK, curious about why a lap bar would be an issue. In theory, it fits on your lap, under your pregnant belly. At 6 months, you aren't THAT big that it would interfere with anything (of course, some bellies are bigger than others so I'm just comparing to my size at 6 months). Now, anything that fits across your belly like the overhead restraint of RnR would be out but I'm not getting the lap bar issue ?

Test Track is a seat belt, same as a car ?

Of course, this is coming from someone who had friends ride horses well into the last few months and another one who took her aerobics instructors course while very pregnant... They were told "continue doing what you've always done" as long as it's a normal pregnancy.

Not suggesting she circumvent any Disney rules or recommendations, just curious about the lap bar thing

 

[t_catt11]

OK, curious about why a lap bar would be an issue. In theory, it fits on your lap, under your pregnant belly. At 6 months, you aren't THAT big that it would interfere with anything (of course, some bellies are bigger than others so I'm just comparing to my size at 6 months). Now, anything that fits across your belly like the overhead restraint of RnR would be out but I'm not getting the lap bar issue ?

Test Track is a seat belt, same as a car ?

Of course, this is coming from someone who had friends ride horses well into the last few months and another one who took her aerobics instructors course while very pregnant... They were told "continue doing what you've always done" as long as it's a normal pregnancy.

Not suggesting she circumvent any Disney rules or recommendations, just curious about the lap bar thing

Lap bar is a decent risk to impact the belly with force, which is obviously bad. At six months - on her sixth baby - there's plenty of belly to contend with.

 

[CanadaJulie]

Lap bar is a decent risk to impact the belly with force, which is obviously bad. At six months - on her sixth baby - there's plenty of belly to contend with.

6th baby ! Wow ! Ok, I can definitely see the belly issue ! Congrats on having enough energy to even do WDW !!

 

[t_catt11]

6th baby ! Wow ! Ok, I can definitely see the belly issue ! Congrats on having enough energy to even do WDW !!

thanks!

Oldest (DD17) is not coming on this trip. I failed as a parent with her, as she just doesn't love Disney like the rest of us.

DS15 is still all about it, though. DS6 and DS4 can't wait to go. DS2 has no idea what's in store... I love seeing the magic on the face of a two year old.

Baby #6 will be our first girl after four boys... prepare for her to be completely rotten.

 

[PrettyFlower2]

I would also add to the list the Barnstormer for no riding.

 

[PrettyFlower2]

I don't think Safari would be bad. Dinosaur is very jerky.

 

[Magpie]

Oldest (DD17) is not coming on this trip. I failed as a parent with her, as she just doesn't love Disney like the rest of us.

I got you beat there! BOTH of my children told my husband and me that they were bowing out of future Disney trips last year. They were 14 and 16 at the time, and they were quite insistent that they didn't want to go.

At least the 16yo had enough grace to sound a little wistful about it. The 14yo just kept flapping his hands at us and saying, "Go! Have fun! You guys deserve some time along together! Really!"

I think the older one didn't want to take time off school and volunteer commitments, while the younger one just doesn't want to vacation with the parental units any more. Neither of them particularly loves Disney, and it seems to amuse them that their father and I do.

I can't wait until we've got grandkids, so we can take them to Disney. Maybe the Disney-love will skip a generation!

 

[t_catt11]

I got you beat there! BOTH of my children told my husband and me that they were bowing out of future Disney trips last year. They were 14 and 16 at the time, and they were quite insistent that they didn't want to go.

At least the 16yo had enough grace to sound a little wistful about it. The 14yo just kept flapping his hands at us and saying, "Go! Have fun! You guys deserve some time along together! Really!"

I think the older one didn't want to take time off school and volunteer commitments, while the younger one just doesn't want to vacation with the parental units any more. Neither of them particularly loves Disney, and it seems to amuse them that their father and I do.

I can't wait until we've got grandkids, so we can take them to Disney. Maybe the Disney-love will skip a generation!

I feel you. I have already established that we'll take grandkids, and that at some point, there will be a mandatory family reunion trip to WDW.

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't think Safari would be bad. Dinosaur is very jerky.

My wife did the Safari at 7 months. It's bumpy but it wasn't too bad.

I read an article about height requirements that would also probably apply to this situation. Basically the article said most rides are safe for anyone under optimal conditions. It's when something goes wrong and the rides stop or have to be evacuated that the restrictions come into play.

 

[spritna]

So your asking what rides you can safely "get away with?" same question just worded different. The time you realize that a certain ride was not a good idea...damage is done. Every preg. Is different so making your decision on someone elses experience is a gamble that im not willing to take. Take your time, sit, walk, people watch and celebrate the new life.

 

[ShayBells]

I went four wheeling when I was about 6 or 7 months. And I mean on an ATV over rocks and hills and up a mountain. I was fine but everyone is different. Dinosaur has a seat belt and I didn't think it was that bad so I don't know. Probably better than my four wheeler ride but it's totally up to you to decide if the risk is worth it. I've never been on star tours And I agree. Anything without a height requirement is probably fine. Most rides move so slow. Slower than a car moves on the road and pregnant ppl areNT banned from driving. I don't want to tell you of course go than something goes wrong. You have to finally decide for yourself but if it was me I'd go on most things but skip the mountains and ToT. Most everything else I personally would ride. I do recommend an extra Dr. Check up if you can get one the day or two before you go to make sure everything is good. Than have fun!!! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards