Visiting the Parks when Pregnant?

[topsy]

Hi all,

I have a hypothetical question which I hope doesn't cause to much of an argument!

My DH and I are planning to start a family and begin trying to get pregnant in July/August. We are looking into booking a trip to WDW in September/October.

I am keen to do as much as possible whilst there but am worried about potentially being pregnant and being limited from going on any rides. If we were pregnant it would likely be less than 12 weeks when we visit (providing it all goes smoothly and we get pregnant right away, which of course may not happen!).

My question is, has anyone had experience of being in the parks during the early stages of pregnancy and did you go on any rides?

Whilst I would never want to cause harm to an unborn child, I am curious to know how much of an impact a trip like this would have on both me and them. I am also aware that the ride signs always state not to ride if pregnant but is this more for heavily pregnant women?

Any advice or information would be very welcome.

Thank you!

 

[worm761]

Hi all,

I have a hypothetical question which I hope doesn't cause to much of an argument!

My DH and I are planning to start a family and begin trying to get pregnant in July/August. We are looking into booking a trip to WDW in September/October.

I am keen to do as much as possible whilst there but am worried about potentially being pregnant and being limited from going on any rides. If we were pregnant it would likely be less than 12 weeks when we visit (providing it all goes smoothly and we get pregnant right away, which of course may not happen!).

My question is, has anyone had experience of being in the parks during the early stages of pregnancy and did you go on any rides?

Whilst I would never want to cause harm to an unborn child, I am curious to know how much of an impact a trip like this would have on both me and them. I am also aware that the ride signs always state not to ride if pregnant but is this more for heavily pregnant women?

Any advice or information would be very welcome.

Thank you!

Not all rides say not to ride if you're pregnant. Just those that could harm the baby/pregnancy. Some will tell you they rode roller coasters and everything was good. Others will tell you to ride nothing and/or wait until you aren't pregnant to go. In my opinion, it depends on your body.

I went to Disney at right around 12 weeks pregnant with DD. I rode anything that a baby could ride since I was carrying a baby inside of me. I'm a high risk pregnancy. I took it easy. We walked a lot. I rested while DH and DS rode rides I couldn't/wouldn't. I avoided the Safari (lots of bouncing) because I knew that upon coming home I was being ordered to bed rest. And I was a week after we got home.

Being pregnant at Disney is very doable but you do need to give up things like Mission Space, TOT, BTMRR, Splash, etc. No thrill rides. If you think you can do that happily, go for it.

 

[Momof3WDW]

I didn't go to Disney pregnant, but with both my daughters I was very sick the first trimester. I wasn't so sick with my first (my son) but I would not have wanted to be walking around the heat of Florida while dealing with all day sickness. I didn't just have morning sickness it lasted all day for 12+ weeks. Kinda like having a mild stomach bug constantly.

That being said, I would plan the trip but realize you may have to take it very slow and relaxed. I would ride anything that an infant could ride, nothing with a height restriction basically. Even if you don't know completely if you are pregnant, but think you could be I would only ride those rides just to be safe.
Have fun!

 

[TOBS2010]

I would still plan your trip---especially if you aren't pregnant. You never know how long it will take or how quick to get pregnant. I will be just going into my second trimester when we are down there. Every person and pregnancy is different. You could be tired or nauseous---but with my first pregnancy I found sucking on hard candies and eating snacks instead of big meals helped with that. I agree with the previous poster that just plan on taking it easier some days if need be, but I think you would still have a great time. You could also check with your OB on what you can and cannot ride---but you can go on pretty much everything. Rides that warn pregnant people from riding, I personally would avoid.

 

[ronnie2hotty]

My wife and I went late-Oct/early-Nov last year when she was 30 weeks pregnant with our son. Our plan was to take it easy and avoid any ride that may seem too bumpy (Safari, Star Tours) or anything with a height limit (Kali, Big Thunder). She doesn't ride many coasters anyway, so that was never really an issue. She always jokes her favorite ride of the trip was "the nearest bench".

It was actually one of our most relaxing trips we've ever had. We didn't get up early every day for RD. If we woke up on our own in time to make it, we went. If we woke up and didn't feel like doing anything other than laying around, we did that.

During her first trimester she was always tired. So you may want to take that into consideration also. Just try to plan some long afternoon breaks.

Also, drink plenty of water!!!

Good luck on your mission to start a family!!!

Disney has been pretty good to my wife and I when it comes to the starting a family kind of thing. I'm really trying to find the best words to describe this, and not to get too graphic on here, but lets just say our first pregnancy originated from our 2013 fall Disney trip. After an early miscarriage, we then found out that we were pregnant again during our May 2014 trip. So needless to say, some pixie dust may just be what the storks are needing for you!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Pregnancy I feel like is like a Russian Roulette. Every woman has different experiences and so it's hard to pin point how you'll do. For example, with DD I had horrendous exhaustion and nausea in my first trimester but this time, I haven't had any of that.

I like the best bit of advice that I've read on these boards is to just go with the flow. Drink plenty of water and slow down. Other than that, you can have a magical vacation!

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

Hi all,

I have a hypothetical question which I hope doesn't cause to much of an argument!

My DH and I are planning to start a family and begin trying to get pregnant in July/August. We are looking into booking a trip to WDW in September/October.

I am keen to do as much as possible whilst there but am worried about potentially being pregnant and being limited from going on any rides. If we were pregnant it would likely be less than 12 weeks when we visit (providing it all goes smoothly and we get pregnant right away, which of course may not happen!).

My question is, has anyone had experience of being in the parks during the early stages of pregnancy and did you go on any rides?

Whilst I would never want to cause harm to an unborn child, I am curious to know how much of an impact a trip like this would have on both me and them. I am also aware that the ride signs always state not to ride if pregnant but is this more for heavily pregnant women?

Any advice or information would be very welcome.

Thank you!

I was pregnant on our first trip to WDW, which was in an October, around 10 wks I think.
I am not a thrill ride person so it was no big deal that I couldn't ride Space Mountain. I didn't feel like I missed out on much...would have done Splash Mtn but other than that I could ride anything I wanted to ride.

I had some morning sickness.

Regarding the signs on rides---You could ask your doctor. We had lost a full-term baby several months before our trip and it was (still is) hugely devastating. Of course his death had nothing to do with riding rides, but still, I followed pregnancy "rules" with absolute diligence.

 

[Raenstoirm]

We did our babymoon at Disney- 6 days in the world and a 4 day Dream. I was 16/17 weeks with twins. I rode everything without a height requirement. And I rode the aquaduck on the dream even though it says no pregnant ladies. I just pretended I was fat.
I was just starting to feel better when we went. I could not have imagined going even a week earlier though. I was so sick and just exhausted. I personally would book your trip, but buy trip insurance (that allows pregnancy as an excuse, many don't) and if you get pregnant before the trip, use the insurance to push the trip back to the second trimester.

 

[Zarapipe]

I went when I was 16w and had a blast. I'm not a big roller coaster rider or anything like that so I just went on rides with my 4yo and we had a great time.

 

[SweetMissy]

Hubby and I went in February and I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time and it was a great trip. You can ride most everything except for the bigger rides. We even rode the safari ride at AK, I didn't know it was off limits to pregnant moms until we were about ready to get on the jeep and I saw the sign. I didn't think it would be an issue since I've been on it not pregnant and I know it's not that bad. We had booked our trip before I was pregnant and had every intention of finally enjoying the bigger rides together....but we still had a good time just the 2 of us.

 

[PrinceOfPeace]

I didn't go to Disney pregnant, but with both my daughters I was very sick the first trimester. I wasn't so sick with my first (my son) but I would not have wanted to be walking around the heat of Florida while dealing with all day sickness. I didn't just have morning sickness it lasted all day for 12+ weeks. Kinda like having a mild stomach bug constantly.

That being said, I would plan the trip but realize you may have to take it very slow and relaxed. I would ride anything that an infant could ride, nothing with a height restriction basically. Even if you don't know completely if you are pregnant, but think you could be I would only ride those rides just to be safe.
Have fun!

That must have been tough. I'm preggers too and the nausea never ends! I'll be visiting in Sept so hopefully it will be gone by then.

 

[sullyfam]

Every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. You could certainly plan your trip since you aren't pregnant yet but make the provisions you need to just in case you're not up to it when the time comes! If you are feeling OK, the pregnancy is going well and you decide to go, I would talk with your doctor about rides and any other precautions you should take. Although Disney does have warnings on some of the rides, I wouldn't consider them the "expert" on pregnancy by any means ... I would talk directly with your doctor about it!

I am currently pregnant with my 3rd and with all 3 of my kids, I had bad nausea and really tough 1st trimesters. I'm OK once I'm in the 2nd trimester but in general, I don't think I would want to visit while pregnant. It's just such a large expense and "go, go, go" type of vacation that I'd rather wait until I was able to fully enjoy it (I'm a big ride person) and not have to worry about anything. Disney will always be there and there will always be another time to visit is the way I look at it. To each their own! Good luck in whatever you decide!