RSS Feed
Email
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Kindle
According to WebMD the percent of Americans who are obese has now reached 26%. And, the percent who are either obese or overweight is now at an alarming 63%. This trend means that more and more guests will be too large to be safely seated on some theme park attractions. If restraints like lap bars and over-the-shoulder harnesses do not fit correctly, riders could be in danger. Last month, guests were turned away just as they were about to ride the new Forbidden Journey ride at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
… according to some Harry Potter lovers, pudgy muggles — those who weigh about 265 pounds or more — are getting tossed from line at the most-hyped ride in Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter amusement park. – AOL News
Both roller coaster enthusiasts and average theme park-goers could find themselves in a similar situation. Thankfully, The Fat Girl’s Guide to Living has written a number of theme park tips for larger guests. The writer recounts an early memory of riding Cedar Point’s Magnum in it’s second season. Then she gets into tips like educating yourself on amusement park ride policies and size and weight restrictions.
For example see Cedar Point’s “Guests with Exceptional Size” section of their Rider Safety Guide:
“Due to rider restraint system requirements, guests of exceptional size may not be accommodated on some of our rides. This may apply, but not be limited to, guests who exceed 6′2″ or those who exceed 225
pounds, have a 40″ waistline or 52″ chest or females who exceed 200 pounds or wear a size 18 or larger.
Our larger guests may experience difficulty on Blue Streak, Chaos, Corkscrew, Disaster Transport, Mantis, Maverick, maXair, Mean Streak, Millennium Force, Mine Ride, Power Tower, Raptor, Skyhawk, Top Thrill Dragster, Wave Swinger and Wicked Twister.”
She also mentions the test seats placed in front of the queues of many roller coasters these days. I never really thought about them, but test seats (like this one in front of Intimidator) could definitely prove useful. This particular test seat had a light that needed to turn green before you knew that you could fit safely. The article’s author continues the article by mention non-ride things to do at amusement parks like shows and possibly less restrictive rides like bumpers cars.
What’s Your Take?
Are you an overweight or obese theme park fan? Do you have tips for overweight guests visiting theme parks? Leave a comment below.
Related Posts:
The Coaster Critic's Blog is your source for opinionated
I was at Hershey Park recently, and on Great Bar, there was a sign saying that the seats in one of the rows was larger, so larger guests would be able to ride it.
Good point Andrew. B&M has a few larger seats on several of their inverted coasters. I’ve seen those larger seats on Alpengeist at Busch Gardens too.
They also have these seats on The Griffon also. You can find these seats by looking for the red straps instead of the black straps. My father had to use these seats on our trip earlier this year. I tried to get him to try the Apollo’s Chariot test seat but he was too embarrassed to do it. I know Intimidator 305 has a test seat outside of the que also at KD.
People who care too much about food, and not at all about diet and excercise, waste the time of those who are of a more proper size. Last summer, I had to wait an extra 25 minutes for our park’s ride: Extreme Swing because someone was too big for the restraints and I heard him/her whine and scream until they were properly secured.
I had a similar situation while waiting in line for Bizarro at Six Flags New England. Considering someone died on that ride because they were too large to be restrained, I think they would have walked off as soon as they were told that.
“People who care too much about food, and not at all about diet and excercise”
Be careful how you word things, Prof. I travel with a young lady with autism who, because of her medications, occasionally does not fit into rides. It has nothing to do with diet and exercies.
Guest Relations personnel in Cedar Fair parks have been very helpful in giving us information regarding rides she may have trouble fitting into. We just stop in the Guest Relations office upon entering the park. It’s worth asking each year as sometimes restraints are changed (e.g., Millenium Force).
Ya know prof, I’m not in the greatest shape, nor am I overweight, but I’d be willing to bet there’s some big fellas and ladies out there who care plenty enough about diet and exercise to effectively stick a foot in your skinny @$$ for a comment like that. Tell a 6’4″ 265 lb. NFL defensive end that can’t pull an OTSR over his massive upper body that he “cares too much about food, and not at all about diet and exercise.” Better yet, bump into Brock Lesnar at a park and opine about how he is a “waste of time” to you because you are “of a more proper size.” haha if you do, tell me how it feels to swallow your teeth
You’re coming off pretty judgmental Prof.BAM. I’m sure that there’s something in your life that you can improve. Like, let’s say for example that you had a problem with tact
. Would you want to be bashed for it? Would you be comfortable telling the overweight/obese people that you know that they ‘care too much about food, and not at all about diet and exercise’?
I’d be upset too if I had to wait longer in that scenario, but I wouldn’t summarize and simplify the issue of the person’s weight that way. It’s a more complicated issue than you think.
At the risk of sounding insulting (that is not my intention): big people should be aware of their choice. Most big people are big by choice. They choose to eat unhealthy or they choose not to act when they become bigger. By doing so they limit what they can do at amusement parks, and shouldn’t feel that it’s unfair that most of these rides will only fit people of “normal” size.
I mostly agree with your comment, Surya. It may be a ‘choice’ for most at its core, but it’s by no means a simple feat to lose weight especially a lot of weight.
Also, I would imagine that many obese/overweight people don’t think it’s unfair that they don’t fit. like the woman in Prof. BAM’s case. They’re just trying to have a good time at an amusement park, just like you.
But at the same time, there are warning signs. Obviously, woman who are pregnant, or people with back issues don’t go on rides, and those same warning signs are there to alert people who ARE overweight that they may not fit. If people skip the test seat, and DO go on the ride, that is just blatant ignorance. Most current rides do have test seats, and most people do know their limits. Whether or not they want to test them, for the dis-satisfaction of others, is up to them.
Andrew, you have to notice that most people don’t read the signs, or just pretend that they actually can fit in the restraints, no sir, i’m prettey sure i heard three clicks.
That is true, sadly. At least now, with more modern rides like Bizarro having computer displays to show that the restraints are being held properly, there is now better proof. hydraulics are just the better way to go.
I agree 100% with what you said about the choice thing. Its so true. I also agree on your whole statement.
First…..Americans are just larger people(too many steriods in the food;eat organic)Second, ride manaufactures are building thrill rides based on small Europeans, Asians, and little kids; forget the average size person. Third, I notice a change in restraints back in 2003. My buddy and I used to go to SFA and ride Superman with no issues; he is 6ft5 about 285lbs and me 6ft3 /260lbs. We went to Cedar Point that year and we were about to get in line to ride Millenium Force when they asked him to sit in the test seat. We thought no problem, this Superman on steroids, but he could not fit. It wasn’t his size but the seat belt had been altered for tighter fit. Many people were turned away and were complaining saying that they were not like that a year before. The problem only seems to be on Intamin Rides….not sure if RipsSaw Falls is made by them at IOA, but since they added the new boats you pretty much have to have anorexia to ride it now. The “larger seat” is not a larger seat just a double belted harness…which is still too short. I think Theme Parks can to do better in accomodating ALL and still keep safety a top priority
Thanks for the tips. I am an overweight mom to 5 ( soon to be 6) children and we are looking forward to a fun day at Busch Gardens, so I thought I would do a little research about ride safety for “exceptional” sized riders .
For reference at the Prof, I have extreme hypothyroid disease, I was perfectly average size until something during my 2nd pregnancy caused my thyroid to completely stop functioning correctly. I eat very well, exercise for an hour a day at the Y ( I guarantee you I school you on the elliptical) and take 150 mcg of Synthroid each day, as well as 25 mgs of Cytomel. These are very high doses. Despite it all, I am definitely humongous.
But I still want to live the fullest life possible, and give my kids every opportunity too. Which means going to places like the beach, amusement parks, the zoo, etc. and putting up with ignorant comments from people who have absolutely no idea how much I do *NOT* choose this for myself. TOLERANCE, is the word of day.
If you are to heavy to ride a roller coaster then that’s just sad. And don’t blame it on “High Metabolism”
I see this alot at amusment parks. I feel bad for these people. I am not obese, but i am overweight. I don’t have problems fitting into rides, but if I keep gaining weight I might. I always say to myself when I see people leaving rides due to obesity that if that ever happens to me, I am going to run around the park 4 times and come back.
But seriously if that does happen to me, it would be a wake up call and I would go on a diet or something. I will not let weight keep me from doing my favorite hobby. (roller coasters)