Early pregnancy. . .Slinky Ride and Avatar Flight of Passage?

[Shanti]

Hi - I will be traveling to Disney when I am 12w pregnant. Disney advises against pregnant women riding the Slinky Ride and Avatar Flight of Passage, but the height requirements for those rides are pretty low, so they seem like fairly tame rides. Disney also advises pregnant women against riding The Barnstormer, which seems a little extreme to me since 2-year-olds can ride it and it is not jerky at all. I rode the Barnstormer last time I was pregnant (also 12 weeks). Are these two rides really that dangerous for pregnant women, or is Disney being overly cautious and it would probably be fine in earlier pregnancy? I can normally judge for myself since I've been on most of the rides already, but I haven't been on Slinky or Avatar FOP before. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable riding Space Mountain when pregnant because I think it's pretty jerky, but I would feel comfortable with 7 Dwarves Mine Train in early pregnancy because that ride is pretty smooth and geared towards smaller kids. Thanks!

Stay off the coasters & keep your baby safe. Early in my pregnancy I was a passenger in a minor car accident. I didn't get hurt & our airbags didn't even deploy, but the seat belt did restrain me a bit during impact- probably no more than a belt or lap bar does during an intense coaster. The next day I had some spotting (for the first and only time in my pregnancy) and I was frightened. Fortunately it didn't lead to miscarriage, but no roller coaster ride is worth the anxiety that I experienced, or worse, an actual miscarriage.

 

[Iowajes]

I'd ask your doctor.

My reproductive endrocrinlogist and MFM specialists have told me I have no restrictions except horseback riding or something like bungee jumping. Moderate Roller Coasters are fine. (I don't know about major ones because my neck keeps me off those.)

However they said "emotionally" don't do things that give you reason to blame yourself. Likely a miscarriage was going to happen if it happens, but will you think it was slinky dog?

Ask your doctor about a "moderate" roller coaster that children can ride.
Try the test seats and make sure you can sit comfortably. Baby belly should be a non issue that morning. Disney is covering all their bases, I'd go with what your doctor says.

(I also have a serious neck injury...Disney way over warns on those too.)

 

[ElenaRN]

I rode FOP at about 9 weeks, but I had no nausea whatsoever. If you do it might not be the ride for you. The seat restraint may be uncomforable if you have a belly already. I didn't at that time.

SDD wasn't opened yet at the time but I did avoid all the roller coasters. I did do the safari though and have during all my pregnancies at various stages.

 

[siestakeys04]

I think if you are questioning it yourself you already know the answer. Just avoid it and enjoy everything else you can. Like someone previously said use that as a way to go back and enjoy it later!!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I personally wouldn’t ride either of those while pregnant. Not worth the risk. But as others have said, I would seek advice from your doctor and do whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Slinky was pretty fast and with surprisingly big drops, not tame at all! It's more intense then Mine Train and Barnstormer.

I read your comment as saying Slinky is more intense than Big Thunder Mountain and composed a long rant questioning many aspects of your life. Fortunately I figured out you were talking about Seven Dwarfs Mine train moments before I clicked "Post Reply". Now my shame is forever hidden an no one will ever know. *whew*. That was close.

 

[leahgoogle]

I actually thought that Mine Train was more intense than Slinky Dog. Slinky Dog was so smooth. They are close in intensity though. Either way, for me personally, I am a worry-wort so I would avoid the coasters and FOP if I were pregnant.

 

[Cherrychip]

I personally wouldn't ride any of the coasters while pregnant-while I think it would probably be fine in early pregnancy, there is no way to know for sure, and having had a couple of miscarriages, I wouldn't want the question hanging in the back of my mind of "what if was the coaster that caused it?" if I had a loss afterward-for me it would cause me more stress and worry and I would just rather not chance it. I haven't ridden FOP, so I'm not sure about that one, but if it squishes your stomach, that sounds very uncomfortable for 12 weeks pregnant, I could never stand anything pressing on my stomach from very early on in every pregnancy.

 

[Sagginit]

I went to DL while 5 months pregnant so I followed their guide and even felt odd going on Pirates b/c of the drop lol. One thing you need to consider is how pregnancy affects your body.

My first pregnancy my blood pressure got wonky a lot the first trimester into second as I normally have low BP and it was adjusting to the sudden increase in blood volume. That alone would keep me off some rides because the G forces on really intense roller coasters are enough to make me feel off. I also get bad morning sickness so I would not be able to handle the motion of a lot of rides at 12 weeks (was fine at 5 months). I know women who have been in minor car accidents while pregnant and it affected them, others more major accidents and nothing happened. Its honestly case by case so you need to think about how you feel taking the risk so to say.

My doctor always erred on the side of caution and we even went to DL b/c the Zika outbreak got bad in FL around that time and WDW started spraying, so she just said it was not worth the risk, WDW isn't going anywhere lol. I felt the same way about missing out on rides, the rides would be there later. To be honest I enjoyed having a reason to take it slow and skipping the "big popular" rides we got more done anyways. We had the extra hour from staying at PPH and I rode the carousel at my leisure while my husband scrambled to get on California Screamin (now Incredicoaster) as many times as he could in 20 minutes.

 

[Retroecho]

I cannot even believe the amount of shaming on this thread. “Is it worth it”???? Really?

Miscarriage in early pregnancy is usually not caused by anything a mom did or didn’t do. And even if she rode flipping tower of terror and lost the pregnancy there would be no way of knowing if that caused it or not.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I cannot even believe the amount of shaming on this thread. “Is it worth it”???? Really?

Miscarriage in early pregnancy is usually not caused by anything a mom did or didn’t do. And even if she rode flipping tower of terror and lost the pregnancy there would be no way of knowing if that caused it or not.

I don’t think anyone is shaming. OP asked for opinions so people are giving them. Personally if I lost a baby after riding one of those rides I would always have in the back of my mind that maybe I should have done something different...even if I knew in my head it was nothing I did to cause it. That guilt would be natural and hard to overcome. That’s where the “not worth it” comes into play.

 

[Retroecho]

I don’t think anyone is shaming. OP asked for opinions so people are giving them. Personally if I lost a baby after riding one of those rides I would always have in the back of my mind that maybe I should have done something different...even if I knew in my head it was nothing I did to cause it. That guilt would be natural and hard to overcome. That’s where the “not worth it” comes into play.

I guess because I’m a birth professional and have had shame because of a miscarriage I am extra careful not to victim shame or blame. Unless a mom is specifically doing something that would absolutely harm her baby, I just don’t feel it’s necessary to say it.

 

[lolomarie]

Yes, I would be fine with it. Because the odds are likely that there was some kind of genetic issue causing the miscarriage, and not because I rode on the Barnstormer with my 2yo daughter. I do high intensity spin classes while pregnant and I'm bopping all over the bike. . .I think that causes more shaking around than a kiddie roller coaster.

I've had miscarriages in the past and did everything 100% correctly. I've had successful pregnancies in the past where I rode on some unadvised rides at Disney and ate cold cuts and sushi.

I like your style. I'm the same. I had a miscarriage with one pregnancy to no fault of my own. My eldest, healthy son was born after a 1/2 marathon trip to Disney land where I rode EVERYTHING including Indiana jones, space and California screaming. Do what your comfortable with! Have fun!