Going to Disneyland as a pregnant person can be confusing. Will they stop you from going on rides? Could rides hurt you or your baby? Let’s dive into the TOP rides for pregnant people and what you should keep in mind as you go to a theme park pregnant.
Hi — I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺 I have helped thousands of families be admitted to the hospital to have their baby — I would call myself an expert on this one — so, let’s jump in (feel free to join me. I’ll give you info tailored JUST to your pregnancy):
First off, I’m really glad you’re being mindful of yourself and your pregnancy for this trip. That’s smart!
Please check with your provider about you and YOUR PREGNANCY before going to Disneyland. People with pregnancy issues may need to be mindful of certain things (or possibly not go at all). Things like placental issues, high blood pressure or diabetes come to mind as special circumstances for sure. But be sure to check with your provider before you go. This article is in NO WAY medical advice, just some thoughts from an expert before you go.
Heads up! 👀 There may be affiliate links in here – I might earn a smidge with your click. No cost to you, just good vibes! Check my boring stuff for deets.
Things to Keep in Mind Pregnant at Disneyland
I am not going to do a whole article about what to do when you’re pregnant at Disneyland (that post I linked is from my sister site and has a TON of great tips). But I want to give you three tips to check in with yourself during your visit to the theme parks (honestly, this works for ANY theme park, not JUST Disneyland — I love Knotts Berry too)
Stay hydrated — water is going to be the key towards staying comfortable. Yes, you’ll see EVERY bathroom, but I can’t stress how important water is enough.
Rest — Take a break when others are on a ride that’s not great for you. Try to put your feet up. Favorite places to take a break are:
- Tropical hideaway (I think the music is fun and you can see the jungle cruises boats go by)
- Jolly Holiday — not only does it have my favorite food (grab a free glass of water while you’re there) and it’s GREAT people watching by the castle
- Hungry Bear — I just feel cooler seeing the Rivers of America
In California adventure my favorite places to rest are:
- On the Warf generally has a TON of seating available (easy to grab a chair to put your feet up)
- Wine Country Trattoria is one of my favorite spots. Often you can spot characters doing something fun on those wharf buildings too
- There is a windy path behind Grizzly River Rapids that is normally pretty open (this used to be the smoking area, but not anymore.
Be Mindful of YOUR Body I am going to share some rides that are pretty OK in general, but it really depends on YOU and how YOU carry. And frankly, how you’re feeling on that day. Plus size people might already have a harder time at Disneyland, so being pregnant only ads to that fun.
Bars may end up hitting you in a awkward way, and don’t be afraid to get out of line once you get in the vehicle if it’s not working for you. Your safety is Disney’s most important priority, for SURE. Some rides may have a test vehicle out front you can check.
And obviously, it really depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
If you’re in your first trimester, your baby is still covered by lots of muscle, fat, and uterus. It’s safely cushioned. Mother nature makes it this way since many people don’t even find out they’re pregnant this early on.
Second trimester you probably feel great and are ready to make some family memories before that belly gets too big.
Third trimester may mean that you sit out a lot. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It just means it is going to look different.
Pro Tip: Find a good hotel with GREAT beds (Howard Johnson’s is my favorite beds close by) or is close enough to walk to the parks from. I always book my trips with Get Away Today.
Call them and share what is important to you and see what ones they recommend. They are the Disney hotel experts. Then, mention coupon code CURLS10 to save $10 on your hotel/ticket package.
And, once you’re done — don’t miss my post on Disneyland rides for infants!
Top 10 Rides or Attractions at Disneyland for Pregnant Riders
While this certainly isn’t the bible for pregnant disneyland rides, I have tried to categorize them best to worst as i thought.
- Small World — while it can still be awkward to get in and out of the boat, this ride is gentle and will likely give you many happy feelings about children as you glide through.
- Disneyland Railroad — this is a FAVORITE of ours, for both young and old. Also, you can ride it as long as you’d like. Yes, I’ve done it 2, or even three times around. 🙂
- Monorail — This was actually more fun than I thought it would be, and my kids really enjoyed it a well. Great for pregnant mamas.
- Great moments with Mr Lincoln — I always enjoy this, but my kids don’t particularly. BUT if you’re looking for a cool place to rest, this is the one. We actually saw a guy fall asleep here once, and the workers did say that they’d check to make sure he’s OK but he can stay there if he’d like. Sounds lovely, right?
- Haunted Mansion — those “Doombuggies” shouldn’t come close to your abdomen. It’s a great way to enjoy your day with your kids.
- Jungle Cruise — No straps, doesn’t stop or jerk suddenly. This is a fun one!
- King Arthur Carrousel — This one has benches you can enjoy the ride with your kids — ot just stand by them. The music on this carousel is my favorite of all time.
- Tiki Room — get a Dole whip and sit on the back row (you can rest your feet on the wall behind you). This is bliss. Kids LOVE this “ride” as well!
- Pirates of the Caribbean — Similar to Small World this can be awkward to get in and out of. It does have a few “drops”, but they aren’t long or jerky. A fun one to go on with kids.
- Buzz Lightyear — similar to the Haunted Mansion Doombuggies this one doesn’t come near your abdomen — plus, you get to shoot things.
Honorable mentions (probably still OK):
- Storybook canal boats — these don’t “dock” like some of the other boats, I find them harder to get in/out of.
- Casey Jr Train — These can be tight fit, but should be fine. The monkey train always gives me claustephobia.
- Peter Pan’s Flight — I feel like this one gives you abdomen the most room
- Mark Twain Riverboat or Sailing Ship Columbia — the only reason these didn’t make the top 10 is because they don’t have much seating
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — while this doesn’t “jerk” you it does have a weird circular motion to it, bar may hit wrong too.
- Dumbo — I just find these to be sort of tight, but if you’re not too big you should be good to go.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to check times of shows at Disneyland, as those are great ones for the whole family to enjoy. I personally always enjoy them adding some adult humor for us all to enjoy in these.
You’ll notice that the majority of the “dark rides” are not on my list. Many of them are jerky, and often have a bar that comes right down on your abdomen.
Worst Rides for Pregnant Riders at Disneyland
Indiana Jones — SO jerky, and the seatbelt goes right across your belly. It is also a REALLY long walk to the ride.
Matterhorn Bobsleds — Oy. vey. SO jerky! Also REALLY hard to get in and out of. It has “slots” that you put your feet in that can be hard on your hips. Even for fit, regular, non-pregnant people. 🙂
Autopia — you never know if you’re going to get bumped into (it’s against the “rules” but it happens) and if you have a poor driver it can be VERY jerky!
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run — This often tips far forward leaving you hanging by just your belly and the seatbelt.
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin — This ride is SO jerky, and spins. My spine always feels like a mess after it.
Star Tours — Similar to Millennium Falcon this tips forward and leaves you hanging by your belly frequently.
Of course, I haven’t listed ALL the rides in the park here, but this gives you a good idea on a few of them. It clearly always depends on how far along you are, and how you carry the baby.
If you’re prepping for your trip, make sure you’re prepping for your birth too with this!
Top 5 Rides or Attractions at California Adventure for Pregnant People
{California Adventure has less rides}
Animation Academy — This is a favorite of mine. If you have small kids, just ask for a pack of crayons and a coloring page, and they can use those instead. This building actually has a lot of fun things for families and pregnant women can have a nice time to rest (I also just love sitting in their lobby with favorite animation scenes playing on the screens.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind — A very gentle ride (and I always feel very positive about life while I’m on it).
The Little Mermaid — similar to the Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies the bar doesn’t come down onto you.
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue — not too jerky, a pretty easy ride.
Top 5 Worst Rides for Pregnant People at California Adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy — The entire point of this ride is a big drop. It does just have a seatbelt, and may not be a favorite of anyone nauseated already.
Toy Story Midway Mania — This one is Really jerky and the bar does come down on your belly (and if it doesn’t come far enough down you can’t reach the shooting mechanism).
Incredicoaster — This has a shoulder harness that I think would be hard to get tight enough if you had a very big belly (and it does go upside down, so most people want the harness pretty tight).
Hopefully that gave you some idea of what to expect at Disneyland. I really DO think you can still have a VERY fun day, if only to dream about what life will be like after that little one you’re growing is ready to meet their favorite characters one day.
Options for Pregnant People
Disneyland does offer a few things that can help out.
Buddy Pass: This is for groups of 2 or 3 (depends on the ride) that can skip the line and go straight to the front. This is only offered on specific rides, and on specific days. You can learn more here.
Genie Plus: This allows you to “wait” in line without actually being in line. I offer my best genie plus tips on my sister site.
Wheelchairs or Scooters: These are available to rent both through Disney and Off-Site. But again, if standing or walking is an issue that you have it may be best to postpone this trip until you are done being pregnant for you & the baby’s safety.
Is there a Pregnancy Pass at Disneyland?
No, not a pregnancy specific one. You can try to get a DAS pass — which is for people with a disability. Not sure how likely you are to get one, as it varies. However it’s now done online. Learn more about it here. Note: If you really think you’re “disabled” from your pregnancy conditions I would re-consider going to the parks. Soon you won’t be pregnant, and go free from health concerns.
I do think that picking the right hotel can have HUGE effect for you. Being close can allow you to go back and take a nap. And having enough room for everyone can help you feel not as claustrophobic during your hotel hours. So, call Get Away Today and see what they think is a good option for you. They GUARANTEE the best prices, they also have discount tickets and trip layaway starts at just $175. Be sure to mention code CURLS10 when you purchase to save $10 off a hotel/ticket package.
I did write up a whole post on if you could get your Disneyland tickets at the gate (no, you shouldn’t plan on that) — but it shares my CHEAPEST way to get Disneyland tickets. Don’t miss it.
Hotels for Pregnant People at Disneyland
The Element — This has one of my FAVORITE breakfasts!
The Howard Johnson’s — As I said, best beds (especially for the price) — get a rennovated room with QUEEN size beds though.
Best Western Park Place — This is the closest ones. The rooms aren’t fancy, but they’re comfortable and CLOSE
Grand Californian — It’s close, and nice (and pricey) 🙂
Cambria — Rooms are big, and has a nice waterpark dad can take the kids to while you rest (Courtyard is closer, but is pricier).
Ok, I think that’s it. BUT, during your travels you could totally get prepared for your birth with this class. I’m just sayin’ nothing is scarier than birthing without the proper info. Maybe not even Guardians. 🙂
- Starts at just $35
- Takes just about 3 hours (at a minimum, has more info if you want)
- Taught by an RN with 20 years of L&D experience
Want to do a vibe check before diving into the whole thing with me? — check out my free labor pro tips. It’s your first step toward getting in the driver’s seat of your birth.
- About the Author
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A nurse since 1997, she has worked in various fields including pediatrics, geriatrics & hospice. She has 20 years of labor and delivery experience in the San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ areas.
As an evidence-based prenatal educator Hilary has delivered thousands of babies and has educated hundreds of thousands of parents from a diverse patient population to help them have a confident birth.
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