WDW with a Pacemaker/Defibrillator: Any Limitations?

Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
My 70-year-old Dad, who has an implanted pacemaker/defbrillator, will be with us at WDW. This will be his first visit since they were implanted some 5 years ago, and I'm wondering what his realistic" limitations might be. (He'll be asking his doctor as well, but I thought some folks here could add their firsthand experience.)

I know that many attractions carry a warning about those with "heart problems," but so many attractions have it that it seems kind of meaningless. Dad exercises vigorously every day and is in excellent health other than being in the early stages of Parkinson's, with no blood pressure problems or anxiety issues, and would really like to ride things like Space Mountain (which he has done many times before, prior to getting the pacemaker) and the Tower of Terror. Besides attractions that pose a danger of a direct blow to the chest (and are there really any?), are there some that are known to emit electrical frequencies that could interfere with a pacemaker?

Sidenote: In looking around online, the most dangerous thing it seems Dad will encounter at WDW is our MagicBands, because WDW has apparently designed and given to every guest a device that could interfere with pacemakers if it gets within 9" of the guest's chest!?!?!?! (Seriously, Disney!??!) https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/frequency-technology/ I guess poor Dad will just have to go without hugs of pats on the back from any of us until after we get home from WDW! (Sarcasm - I'm sure if the MagicBands were that dangerous, we'd already be hearing about herds of pacemaker-implanted guests having cardiac problems... still, it's unnerving.) But in the meantime, I hope he won't have to forgo too many attractions!
 
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ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
We'll he certainly shouldn't go on Mission Space. Beyond that, I assume Disney places the warnings for a reason. I guess it is up to your dad whether he is a "why risk it?" type or a "you only live once" type.
 
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Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
ISTCNavigator57 said:
We'll he certainly shouldn't go on Mission Space. Beyond that, I assume Disney places the warnings for a reason. I guess it is up to your dad whether he is a "why risk it?" type or a "you only live once" type.
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I hadn't read anything about Mission:Space posing a problem. We always do the green (non-spinning) version. Does that pose the same issue (is it a magnetic problem or a centrifugal force problem)?
 
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Ariel Savage

Ariel Savage

Active Member
Weather_Lady said:
My 70-year-old Dad, who has an implanted pacemaker/defbrillator, will be with us at WDW. This will be his first visit since they were implanted some 5 years ago, and I'm wondering what his realistic" limitations might be. (He'll be asking his doctor as well, but I thought some folks here could add their firsthand experience.)

I know that many attractions carry a warning about those with "heart problems," but so many attractions have it that it seems kind of meaningless. Dad exercises vigorously every day and is in excellent health other than being in the early stages of Parkinson's, with no blood pressure problems or anxiety issues, and would really like to ride things like Space Mountain (which he has done many times before, prior to getting the pacemaker) and the Tower of Terror. Besides attractions that pose a danger of a direct blow to the chest (and are there really any?), are there some that are known to emit electrical frequencies that could interfere with a pacemaker?

Sidenote: In looking around online, the most dangerous thing it seems Dad will encounter at WDW is our MagicBands, because WDW has apparently designed and given to every guest a device that could interfere with pacemakers if it gets within 9" of the guest's chest!?!?!?! (Seriously, Disney!??!) https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/frequency-technology/ I guess poor Dad will just have to go without hugs of pats on the back from any of us until after we get home from WDW! (Sarcasm - I'm sure if the MagicBands were that dangerous, we'd already be hearing about herds of pacemaker-implanted guests having cardiac problems... still, it's unnerving.) But in the meantime, I hope he won't have to forgo too many attractions!
Click to expand...

I've visited the world with someone with a pacemaker. She only really avoided the thrill rides, but I think she would have done that before the pacemaker anyway lolz.
 
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Michael9374

Michael9374

New Member
Weather_Lady said:
My 70-year-old Dad, who has an implanted pacemaker/defbrillator, will be with us at WDW. This will be his first visit since they were implanted some 5 years ago, and I'm wondering what his realistic" limitations might be. (He'll be asking his doctor as well, but I thought some folks here could add their firsthand experience.)

I know that many attractions carry a warning about those with "heart problems," but so many attractions have it that it seems kind of meaningless. Dad exercises vigorously every day and is in excellent health other than being in the early stages of Parkinson's, with no blood pressure problems or anxiety issues, and would really like to ride things like Space Mountain (which he has done many times before, prior to getting the pacemaker) and the Tower of Terror. Besides attractions that pose a danger of a direct blow to the chest (and are there really any?), are there some that are known to emit electrical frequencies that could interfere with a pacemaker?

Sidenote: In looking around online, the most dangerous thing it seems Dad will encounter at WDW is our MagicBands, because WDW has apparently designed and given to every guest a device that could interfere with pacemakers if it gets within 9" of the guest's chest!?!?!?! (Seriously, Disney!??!) https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/frequency-technology/ I guess poor Dad will just have to go without hugs of pats on the back from any of us until after we get home from WDW! (Sarcasm - I'm sure if the MagicBands were that dangerous, we'd already be hearing about herds of pacemaker-implanted guests having cardiac problems... still, it's unnerving.) But in the meantime, I hope he won't have to forgo too many attractions!
Click to expand...



1-18-2017 * I contacted Medtronic because I have a pacemaker and will be at Disney in June 2017. I am 42 years old, had my device 5 years now. They said the magic band is fine, just stay at least 6"+ from the actual band reader/scanner. I was worried about the same issues. I talked with my doctor and they do not want me on any thrill rides, slow only like It's a Small World etc. I am fine with that. I am not a thrill seeker anyway. Looking for to the good walking exercise and all the relaxing shows and slow rides ...

Did your dad ride the monorail over ? He have any issues with any rides ?
 
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Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Michael9374 said:
1-18-2017 * I contacted Medtronic because I have a pacemaker and will be at Disney in June 2017. I am 42 years old, had my device 5 years now. They said the magic band is fine, just stay at least 6"+ from the actual band reader/scanner. I was worried about the same issues. I talked with my doctor and they do not want me on any thrill rides, slow only like It's a Small World etc. I am fine with that. I am not a thrill seeker anyway. Looking for to the good walking exercise and all the relaxing shows and slow rides ...

Did your dad ride the monorail over ? He have any issues with any rides ?
Click to expand...

Dad has never been a fan of really rough coasters, so he opted out of Expedition Everest and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. He did do everything else (Big Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, etc.) and had no problems. He found Space Mountain too rough for his liking and didn't go on it again - but that was a matter of personal preference rather than concern about any health issues.

He also had no trouble with all of the walking (we did take the monorail to a couple of meals, back and forth), although we did take a nap break after lunch every afternoon, and as I said, despite his 70+-year age, he is in terrific physical shape. There were no issues with his MagicBand or any scanners whatsoever and he felt great throughout the trip.

Even if you avoid those few rides at the rougher end of the spectrum, you'll find no shortage of things to do! Good luck - have a safe and fun trip!
 
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AndrewsJ

AndrewsJ

Well-Known Member
Michael9374 said:
1-18-2017 * I contacted Medtronic because I have a pacemaker and will be at Disney in June 2017. I am 42 years old, had my device 5 years now. They said the magic band is fine, just stay at least 6"+ from the actual band reader/scanner. I was worried about the same issues. I talked with my doctor and they do not want me on any thrill rides, slow only like It's a Small World etc. I am fine with that. I am not a thrill seeker anyway. Looking for to the good walking exercise and all the relaxing shows and slow rides ...

Did your dad ride the monorail over ? He have any issues with any rides ?
Click to expand...
Very interesting. Thanks for the update! Welcome aboard!
 
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Michael9374

Michael9374

New Member
Weather_Lady said:
My 70-year-old Dad, who has an implanted pacemaker/defbrillator, will be with us at WDW. This will be his first visit since they were implanted some 5 years ago, and I'm wondering what his realistic" limitations might be. (He'll be asking his doctor as well, but I thought some folks here could add their firsthand experience.)

I know that many attractions carry a warning about those with "heart problems," but so many attractions have it that it seems kind of meaningless. Dad exercises vigorously every day and is in excellent health other than being in the early stages of Parkinson's, with no blood pressure problems or anxiety issues, and would really like to ride things like Space Mountain (which he has done many times before, prior to getting the pacemaker) and the Tower of Terror. Besides attractions that pose a danger of a direct blow to the chest (and are there really any?), are there some that are known to emit electrical frequencies that could interfere with a pacemaker?

Sidenote: In looking around online, the most dangerous thing it seems Dad will encounter at WDW is our MagicBands, because WDW has apparently designed and given to every guest a device that could interfere with pacemakers if it gets within 9" of the guest's chest!?!?!?! (Seriously, Disney!??!) https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/frequency-technology/ I guess poor Dad will just have to go without hugs of pats on the back from any of us until after we get home from WDW! (Sarcasm - I'm sure if the MagicBands were that dangerous, we'd already be hearing about herds of pacemaker-implanted guests having cardiac problems... still, it's unnerving.) But in the meantime, I hope he won't have to forgo too many attractions!
Click to expand...


Contact the manufactor. I have Medtronic and they said the magic band will do NO harm to the pacemaker it's the "reader" that reads the magic bands and just stay 6"+ from those, everything else should be fine. There are thousands of pacemaker visitors at Disney each day and they would never harm a visitor. Make sure you just contact the manufactor for instructions. Good Luck ....
 
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Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Michael9374 said:
Contact the manufactor. I have Medtronic and they said the magic band will do NO harm to the pacemaker it's the "reader" that reads the magic bands and just stay 6"+ from those, everything else should be fine. There are thousands of pacemaker visitors at Disney each day and they would never harm a visitor. Make sure you just contact the manufactor for instructions. Good Luck ....
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NO worries -- this is an old thread, relating to a trip we took in 2012. Dad did check with his doctor (and my BIL, who happens to be a PA with Medtronic!), and took their advice... wait for it... to heart. ;) (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
 
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Michael9374

Michael9374

New Member
Weather_Lady said:
NO worries -- this is an old thread, relating to a trip we took in 2012. Dad did check with his doctor (and my BIL, who happens to be a PA with Medtronic!), and took their advice... wait for it... to heart. ;) (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Click to expand...

*** Sounds good. I am 42 and very active. I don't plan on riding "thrill" rides, I am more laid back relaxing lol :)
I "heart" Disney ;)
 
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I

ICDMan

New Member
Hello all, I realize this is an old post, but thought I'd chime in for others wondering about this same thing. I am 56 years old and have had an ICD to treat an arrhythmia for four years. In that time, I've been to WDW three times and am going back in two weeks. Every visit I've worn a magic band and experienced absolutely zero issues. I've also ridden every ride, fast and slow, and have not had any problems in any way. I am active and otherwise healthy, though, and have enjoyed thrill rides my entire life. So, my two cents- but worth at least double that!
 
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