Disney World/Universal Studios while pregnant?

lauren5228 · September 2012

Hello!

My husband and I have to go to a wedding in Tampa this November, so we decided to make a trip out of it and go to Disney & Universal for a few days. The trip has been booked for months.

But - surprise! - we're pregnant. I'll be 12 weeks while we're on the trip.

We're thinking Universal is probably out of the question, because its mostly rides. I'm totally bummed because we're big Harry Potter fans and I wanted to check that out.

Has anyone been to Disney or Universal while pregnant? Obviously there are a lot of rides I won't be able to go on, but I'm wondering if it is worth even going at all. I feel like there is more to do at Disney than just rides though. We haven't bought our tickets, so are thinking of just going to a beach resort for a few days.

Thanks in advance!

digregorioe · September 2012

I unfortunately don't have advice, but I am in the same boat. We just booked a trip to Disney for February almost 2 weeks ago now. Not even a week later we found out that we were pregnant. By the time the trip comes i'll be about 6 months. Trip is paid for. So, i'm going and obviously not doing rides, but there are attractions that you could do. All the disney parks are just amazing to walk through and re-live your child hood. Not to mention all the amazing restaurants and entertainment.

Maryland Baby · September 2012

We booked a family trip for November I will be approx 16 weeks. There are ALOT of the smaller boat rides and such we can go on and shows and such. Looking on the site I think there's plenty to do. We aren't going to Universal there's so much more at Disney. Disney have free dining on select days during November and Dec so maybe you could stay on the resort a few days and get the dining plan? the dinners are great depending on what restaurants you choose. I mean a beach resort I wouldn't say no to either! lol

RussianMommy · September 2012

how come rides are a no-no??

quiggels219 · September 2012

I think you are fine at Disney World. There are so many shows and smaller rides for little kids that are still fun. You can't ride the three mountains, but I think otherwise you can get on basically everything. I agree Universal may be difficult because there are so many faster rides and roller coasters. There is also Downtown Disney and City Walk which are fun to walk around.

leeshab1982 · September 2012

We just went to Disney World at the end of August when I was about 4-5 weeks pregnant. I had a blast! There were tons of things I could ride and lots of shows and movies to keep me busy. I just didn't ride the big thrill roller coaster type rides. They will have a sign right at the entrance if it's not a ride for expectant moms and you can even look the rides up online ahead of time to know what you can and can't ride. Have you been to Disney World before?

LiebeMama · September 2012

I'm a big Cedar Point person. The only year I did not go since I was 5 years old was while I was pregnant.

Allycat11 · September 2012

I would definitely still go to Disney World. This LO was actually conceived there DH's first trip was in April and I think he agreed to go just to make me happy but he had a blast even though he does not do rides. There is plenty to do even if you are pregnant. I would say Epcot is probably best if you are looking for entertainment but no rides. Every park will have things to do though even if you are pregnant and downtown Disney would still be fun.

I am not much help when it comes to Universal Studios because I haven't been there since I was a child.

jkoulton · September 2012

you can still go to Islands of Adventure (where harry potter is) but Universal would be a big waste of time. The harry potter part has it's own city type thing... and the butter beer is AMAZING! Also, they have the city walk after the parks close that you could obviously do. I can't say anything for disney because it's been years since i've been there and i dont remember. Also, stay on International Dr. in orlando if you go to universal/islands.

RNMama86 · September 2012

I just returned from an 8 day trip to Walt Disney World. It was my 10th week of pregnancy. We had a magical time. The roller coasters are not recommended for pregnant women.

I was able to ride all the rides my daughter wanted teacups, dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, haunted mansion, pirates of the Caribbean, etc. at Magic Kingdom. We had breakfasts with characters and watched the parades and fireworks.

At Epcot, we toured the countries in World Showcase, I went on Soarin, Maelstrom, and the Nemo ride. We saw all the fish and dolphins in the big aquarium in the Nemo "Seas" part.

At Hollywood studios we watched Indiana Jones, car Stunt show, Beauty and the Beast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, saw Muppets in 4D, rode Toy Story ride, and saw Fantasmic.

At Animal Kingdom we saw Bug's Life show and Lion King show. I also rode the safari not recommended for pregnant women but it was just a mildly bumpy truck ride.

There are only 1 or 2 things in each park that you can't do, and you might not even have wanted to if you weren't pregnant. There are a lot of shows and things and all are amazing. I think you'll have a great time.

sunnygyrl · September 2012

Thank you SO much for posting this question! I will be 22 weeks pregnant when we go in January and I keep meaning to look up the list of rides and you know pregnancy/mommy brain...

eyris · October 2012

I was just at Disney and Universal Studios a couple of months ago.

Most of the rides at Disney are really calm, so I don't think it's a problem to go on them pregnant. Probably not Space Mountain, but It's a Small World or Pirates of the Carribean are just boat rides.

First off, Harry Potter world is at Universal Island's of Adventure, which is a separate park from the regular Universal Studios and it is awesome. They have two good coasters I wouldn't recommend riding but I can't off the top of my head think of anything else that's a crazier ride that jostles you around a lot. It's actually really cool just to look around at the different themed "lands."

If you are big Harry Potter fans I would still ABSOLUTELY go to Islands of Adventure at Universal. You wouldn't want to go on the roller coaters, but even the Harry Potter ride has a really cool line (takes you through a bunch of rooms in Hogwarts) and the ride itself I don't think is anything crazier than a bumpy car ride. You're in a row of seats that has a large mechanical "arm" behind it that takes you through a bunch of different scenes. You can look it up on YouTube.

Even if you didn't ride, I'd still go through the line and let your husband go on (you can leave at the end). The theming of the whole area is just amazing and you can buy lots of stuff from the HP series and try butter beer (non-alcoholic!) and other food/drinks from HP.

Universal also has a really cool "City Walk" area that connects the two parks with shops, restaurants, entertainment and a movie theatre. It's pretty cool.

Go to the website for either the Disney parks or Islands of Adventure, look up the rides. I personally wouldn't have a problem riding any of the "family rides," and just see how many more intense rides there are to skip. It's really not like Six Flags or somewhere where there wouldn't be anything for you to do.

andyyougoonie · October 2012

I'm glad you posted this too. We'll be at Disney when I'm 9 weeks pregnant. I'll just be sticking to the rides that my 2 year old can also ride. I can't wait!

ironmom5 · October 2012

Honestly, Universal Studios has become a waste of money, regardless of being pregnant or not.

I've been to both Disney and Islands of Adventure while pregnant, and while it was disappointing not to be able to ride the large coasters, I still had a very fun vacation. Not every ride is "dangerous." (Using quotes because no ride is actually dangerous at those parks - they're all designed with the legal team in mind LOL.) There are many rides that you can still go on. In all of the Disney parks, I can count the no-no rides on one hand. No reason you can't ride Dumbo, but I'd stay away from the teacups. Not so much because of baby, but because being KU, you WILL vom. I am unfortnately speaking from experience.

I go to Disney several times per year, and I think I actually had one of my best trips ever while pregnant. Not waiting on line three hours for the coasters gave me time to look in all the little shops, explore all the walking trails at Animal Kingdom, and take time for some paid tours. I would DEFINITELY suggest Keys to the Kingdom.

Congrats on your pregnancy, and I hope that helps!

Expectopatronum13 · October 2012

I went at 78 weeks and went on pretty much everything. The baby is so tiny and well coushioned. My doctor said not to over think it. I'm going again at 12 weeks. I'll still go on most things. I'll skip something if the restraint seems to tight or the movements are super jerky. Like dinosaur or test track.

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