Ride Suggestions for those with Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta or Ankylosing Spondylitis at Disney

We have some friends whose eldest son has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone disease).  He’s had countless surgeries and visits with doctors.  Despite all he’s been through, he is one of the most cheerful and forgiving people I know.  This family inspires me.  Their son has some very real limitations and obstacles in his life, but they are always looking for ways for him to do as much as he can.  They are the inspiration for this post because every family deserves to have magical memories.

As with Autism, there is a spectrum for those with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  Some are mildly affected and don’t ever really realize they have it.  Others are much more sensitive.  My friend’s son is somewhere in the middle.  When they went to Disney, their son was able to ride most of the rides he wanted to.  The restraints and padding were sufficient for him.  Others who are more easily prone to breaking bones or who can’t stand centrifugal forces may need to take additional cautions.

Note: I’m writing this as of September 2018.  I will update this as new rides are finished or come online at the parks.  Unfortunately several rides/attractions at both Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom which were appropriate for someone with either OI or AS are now gone in all the expansions they’ve been doing to the parks.  (Studio Backlot Tour; Lights, Motors, Action!; The Great Movie Ride; and Ellen’s Universe of Energy).

General Park Suggestions:

Disney Imagineers are all about the theming of each land and attraction.  Some of the surrounding ride areas are worth checking out for their theming.  Toy Storyland doesn’t have any rides that are smooth enough to ride for those with brittle bones, but the theming is fantastic.  If you have time I recommend walking through Toy Story Land just to admire the attention to detail.  My particular favorite was the Baby Bel cheese tables at Andy’s Lunchbox. (Which actually looks like a lunchbox).

Another alternative–You should know, it is also perfectly okay to go through the queue and decide to leave at the last moment.  Keep in mind, some rides like Test Track, Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean will require you to step through the vehicle so you can leave through the other side.  This will allow your party to stay together while in the line and then person who cannot ride can step out.  I did this while I was pregnant with our youngest daughter.  It was a family vacation, so I stayed with them and stepped through many times.  You may get some good-natured teasing, but it’s perfectly fine to leave.

Additionally Disney offers a child swap for families with children who do not meet the height requirements for different rides.  This Rider switch pass allows you to go through the fast pass lane to cut down on your wait time.  We were able to obtain a rider switch pass when the fast turning motion of Toy Story Midway Mania was too much sensory stimuli for our youngest daughter.  (Toy Story Midway Mania has no height requirement.)

Disclaimer

Finally, a bit of a disclaimer before we get into the actual ride/attraction suggestions.  I am not a medical practitioner, nor should these suggestions be taken as medical advice or a guarantee of safety.  Always follow the safety rules Disney puts into place.  The intent of this article is to help you narrow down your research on which rides may be suitable for your family.  I want you to have a good time.  I hope this article helps you develop a good plan for a magical visit.

Let’s break this down by parks.

Magic Kingdom

You Should be Good to Go:

• Disney World Railroad
• The Hall of Presidents
• Swiss Family Tree house
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Liberty Square Riverboat
• Peter Pan’s Flight (may have a small jolt when you “land”)
• Prince Charming Regal Carousel
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Mickey’s Philharmagic
• Winnie the Pooh
• Little Mermaid
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Carousel of Progress

You May be at Risk (some bumping, jarring or jostling):

• Most boat rides are smooth, but if they get crowded, they may bump together.  This includes Small World, Jungle Cruise
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Small World
  • Pirates of the Caribbean (mostly smooth, but two drops in elevation, some bumping may occur at the end)
• People Mover is not likely to be jumpy, but can jerk a little when it accelerates. face forward.
• Haunted Mansion (does abruptly decline backwards as you travel to the lower level).

• Magic Carpets of Aladdin (if sudden changes in height are too much for you).
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant (if sudden changes in height are too much for you).
• Mad Tea Party has lots of centrifugal forces at work. May be too much for some.
• Astro Orbiter-centrifugal motion and sudden changes in elevation.
• Buzz Light Year Space Ranger Sudden spins and jerks of the car may be too much.

Definitely Not:

• Seven Dwarves Mine Ride-is the smoothest of the roller-coasters, but abrupt accelerations or deceleration may be hard on those with AS in particular.
• Space Mountain–this track is a lot more jerky than the one in California.  It gives me headaches because of how much you get jostled.  Stay away.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain a fairly smooth ride, but jostling when the boat moves onto the “up” tracks, the plummet and “impact” at the bottom of the hill as it abruptly slows, and the likelihood your boat will bump into another make me say no on this one.
• Tomorrowland Speedway–You’re at risk from other drivers and it’s hard to keep the car from jerking from side-to-side
• Goofy’s Barnstormer

Epcot

You Should be Good to Go:

• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Soarin’ Around the World
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• World Showcase-
  • except Frozen Ever After
• Spaceship Earth (there is a backwards decent, but headrest to lean on as well)
• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival

You May be at Risk (some bumping):

• Living with the Land (boat)
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros (boat)
• Frozen Ever After is a boat ride and it goes backwards down a hill at one point.

Definitely Not:

• Mission Space
• Test Track

Animal Kingdom

You Should be Good to Go:

• Any Jungle/Forest Animal Walks
• Wildlife Express Train
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch
• Conservation Station
• Affection Section–petting yard
• UP! A Great Bird Adventure
• Rivers of Light (at night)

You May be at Risk (some bumping):

• Na’vi River Journey-boat ride.  The usual bumping problem with boats.
• It’s Tough to be a Bug-has lots of sensory stimuli.  If jump scares or startling moments are a problem, avoid this one.
• TriceraTop Spin

Definitely Not:

• Kali River Rapids–rotating spinning boat which routinely hits the walls and starts spinning in another direction.
• Expedition Everest
• Kilamanjaro Safaris is pretty bumpy.  The back is the bumpiest.  Given the jostling, I don’t recommend it.
• Dinosaur–
• Primeval Whirl
• Avatar Flight of Passage–enough pressure on your body

Hollywood Studios

You Should be Good to Go:

Shows

• • Indiana Jones Stunt Show
  • Muppets 3D
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Fantasmic

You May be at Risk (some bumping)

• Toy Story Midway Mania swings around A lot and you can get thrown around in the car

Definitely Not:

• Tower of Terror
• Aerosmith’s Rockin Roller Coaster
• Star Tours
• Slinky Dog coaster
• Space Aliens

*** Again this list is offered as a general guideline to help you narrow your research as to appropriate rides for these conditions and not intended to act as any guarantee for safety.  Do your research.  Follow warnings on Disney maps regarding the ride conditions.  Watch first-hand YouTube videos to preview rides you’ve never been on before.  Seek advice from medical professionals before any excursion into any amusement park.

Good luck and see you in the parks!