Need truthful advice about Disney World with back/neck issues.?

Question

I apologize for the amount of detail needed but I hope my years of YA karma will give me a great result. The situation: I have had fifteen, yeah, fifteen, spinal surgeries. I have steel rods in my back and a pump that delivers meds continuously for pain. I bought Disney tickets back when I was in better mobility and we are going to use them come hell or high water. I know conventional wisdom tells me to run for the hills when it comes to amusement parks but I have been informed I am terminal and this is the only wish I have...to go to Disney with my sixteen year old daughter so I am going no matter what. What I need to know is what rides are the most rough. I went to an amusement park called Holiday World and rode a traditional coaster with horrible results but it was because there was no neck support...it was an open cart wooden coaster and not the kind with any upper body support. I rode several other ones with good results. I have all the guide books with the ratings on rough but don't know if I can trust them. I need to know what rides have hard jolts such as boats/carts/etc. bumping into other carts...we went to Sea World prior to my surgeries and I remember the Escape to Atlantis being fine until our boat hit the boat below us at the end. That kind of jolt is what kills me. I can handle speed, etc, just not hard jolts or especially bumpy rides. Can anyone help me with what to avoid at all costs at Disney World?

Update:

Thanks for pointing this ending out...that's a thing I need to know...if there are rides that may be smooth but end with hitting the car/pod in front creating that hard jolt.

MS · Accepted Answer

Here are the things you'd definitely want to avoid:

Magic Kingdom: Avoid Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean (one small drop, sometimes bumps the other boats at the, but not hard at all), Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  I think you'd be okay on Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, People Mover, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, It's a Small World, maybe the Teacups and Jungle Cruise.

EPCOT: Avoid Mission Space.  I think you'd be okay on the rest.  Test Track is fast, but not too jerky really...  Soarin should be fine.  The others are slow moving rides.

Hollywood Studios: Avoid Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster.  I think you'd be okay on Toy Story Mania, but it spins you suddenly and quickly.  The Great Movie Ride should be okay.  There are a lot of shows and experiences there.

Animal Kingdom: Avoid Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur.  The safari has a really bumpy part toward the end of it.

Rick · Answer

Any ride with a health warning sign of any kind should probably be avoided. If you're not sure, ask one of the Disney employees. They're extremely friendly and helpful.

drip · Answer

there are many things to do in Disney that are not thrill rides. I would not go on any of them.  Most have signs posted and you can ask the cast member at the entrance.  
Rockin Roller coaster in Hollywood Studios takes off like a shot and ends abruptly.  
Many rides at Disney can bump the car in front of them at the end of the ride.

There is so much to do in Disney that you can avoid many rides and still have plenty to do.

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Need truthful advice about Disney World with back/neck issues.?

3 Answers