A Big Woman vs Big Rides

[Sabre2th]

I'm a big woman; 5'9" and 270lbs. Twice I've stood in a l-o-n-g line, waiting to get on a super-coaster only to have the teenage attendant tell me that they can't strap my in properly.
I wasn't aware there was such a thing as extenders on either occasion; and no one bothered to tell me about them.
I have two boys going with us to US/IOA and both will certainly need a parent by their side if they wish to ride on the super rides. Are the rollercoasters suited for a big person, or at least will I be able to get an extender if needed?

 

[yaytezIOA]

Extender? Not sure I know what youre talking about. However, Hulk, and Dueling Dragons have modified seating. I think they're in rows 3 and 6 on hulk, row 6 on Fire, and rows 3 and 6 on Ice.
Other rides like the mummy, they have test seats out front.

 

[Metro West]

I'm a big woman; 5'9" and 270lbs. Twice I've stood in a l-o-n-g line, waiting to get on a super-coaster only to have the teenage attendant tell me that they can't strap my in properly.
I wasn't aware there was such a thing as extenders on either occasion; and no one bothered to tell me about them.
I have two boys going with us to US/IOA and both will certainly need a parent by their side if they wish to ride on the super rides. Are the rollercoasters suited for a big person, or at least will I be able to get an extender if needed?

As yaytezIOA said, both Hulk and Dueling Dragons have seats that have a double seat belt that will accomodate larger folks. They are located in rows 3 and 6 on all trains on both coasters. For ROTM, if you can't pull the lap bar down past a certain point, they will direct you to the back row which as extended leg room. But, test out the seats out front before making the trek into the queue.

 

[micksterlee]

We were at Universal in June and I couldn't ride Hulk,DD, or Dr. Doom do to size. I am a male 5'11 300 lbs, I fit in the Mummy but the attendant had to slam the bar to get it to click. Even though I would have liked to ride these attractions I found plenty of other great stuff to keep me well entertained for 7 full days at the parks.

 

[MIB999999]

BTW it is one seat in each of the rows listed above that has the "duel seat belt". There is a test seat outside of the regular and the extra size.

I have been on hulk and seen two attendents try to push the shoulder restraint down far enough for the person to ride and it was not a pretty sight. Try the seats out front of each coaster first to avoid that awkward situation.

 

[Sabre2th]

We were at Universal in June and I couldn't ride Hulk,DD, or Dr. Doom do to size. I am a male 5'11 300 lbs, I fit in the Mummy but the attendant had to slam the bar to get it to click. Even though I would have liked to ride these attractions I found plenty of other great stuff to keep me well entertained for 7 full days at the parks.

It's good to know that there will be plenty to keep me entertained while I'm there. I really am getting out of the age of enjoying coasters. It used to be fun getting tipped upside, sideways, and falling to the ground at the speed of light ...but now its just kinda annoying.
I do have two kids however who have only been on one coaster, a baby one at that, but they loved it. So, I was hoping to go on with them so they wouldn't be scared. Buy deep down, I'm hoping both my boys take a look at a the BIG ones and say "No WAY!"

 

[Timmy Boy]

I'm a big woman; 5'9" and 270lbs. Twice I've stood in a l-o-n-g line, waiting to get on a super-coaster only to have the teenage attendant tell me that they can't strap my in properly.
I wasn't aware there was such a thing as extenders on either occasion; and no one bothered to tell me about them.
I have two boys going with us to US/IOA and both will certainly need a parent by their side if they wish to ride on the super rides. Are the rollercoasters suited for a big person, or at least will I be able to get an extender if needed?

Why does it matter that it's a teenager? Is it their fault that he/she was doing her job?

 

[Spidey7]

You actually don 't sound that big at 270 and 5'9 is pretty tall.

As for most of the rides like Spiderman, Jaws, Twister (which is not a ride) Earthquake, Terminator, Shrek (not rides), probably MIB and ET as well you shouldn't have much of a problem either, and maybe JP. Actually JP can be a little cramped even for me 6' 200lbs, so that one may be questionable. They made the seating on that one too cramped IMO. And avoid the front on this one, the front is more cramped than the other sections, the back may be the best for room. I can't even fit into the front, I do have fairly long legs, but I feel for anyone above 6ft on this ride.

The 3 coasters would be the only likely issues and it looks like they got you covered on that above.

 

[Sabre2th]

Why does it matter that it's a teenager? Is it their fault that he/she was doing her job?

Well, it would have been their job to tell me of any options that were available to me; or at the very least be polite. But that would have required some thinking on their part.
It also happened to be their fault that they had the "Eh, I'm not going to do any more than I absolutely have to" attitude.
I already made up my mind not to return to either of those theme parks and I'm really looking to forward to checking out US/IOA to see if they know want customer service is all about.
Your defensive response only reafirms my ideas that the average teenager really doesn't have a clue how to deal with the general public. From how most teenagers act when they're, "Just doing their jobs," in their eyes, its still all about them. Just them.

 

[tink242424]

I just got back from US/IOA and I had a problem with Dueling Dragons and the Hulk. I had to sit in the bigger seat which meant that my sister and I couldn't sit next to each other. I have to say that I was surprised that I was unable to fit in the regular seats as I have been to SF Great Adventure, Busch Gardens Williamsburg & Disney and have had no problem on any of the rides.

I think Universal made a big mistake with the seat size as most Americans are overweight. I am also 5'9" and 270 pounds. I know I am not small by any means but considering other theme parks have bigger seats I am really surprised by Universal.

That being said, I had no problem on the Mummy or Jurassic Park so you should be fine. I also had a really good time at both parks but think Universal should change the seat size or have the double strap seats as a whole row not just one seat in the row.

 

[MrDroopy]

I think Universal made a big mistake with the seat size as most Americans are overweight. I am also 5'9" and 270 pounds. I know I am not small by any means but considering other theme parks have bigger seats I am really surprised by Universal.

It's hard for a theme park to accomodate for all of its visitors. Not everyone is going to be happy. Personally, I think such as arguement is as valid as saying "Why didn't Universal make their parks smaller? Too much walking is involved! Don't they realize that the majority of Americans are overweight?"

 

[Timmy Boy]

Well, Universal's coasters seat sizes aren't Universal's fault. It's the coaster company. The coaster company is actually being nice giving them accomodating seats. They could have said "nope, no bigger seats."

 

[Metro West]

Well, Universal's coasters seat sizes aren't Universal's fault. It's the coaster company. The coaster company is actually being nice giving them accomodating seats. They could have said "nope, no bigger seats."

That's true and because of the design, B & M and other coaster companies want to make them as thrilling as possible. If they only made coaster seats smaller, I would imagine a lot of people couldn't ride.

 

[micksterlee]

My question is if I fit in all the seats at other parks why can't Universal or the coaster companies build seats that accomadate more riders.I know they build these things with the majority of people in mind but the week we were there I stood around and watched alot of people that tried and wouldn't fit in the test seats.Like I said earlier I am not knocking Universal because there was still plenty there to keep me busy for the whole week.

 

[Sabre2th]

My question is if I fit in all the seats at other parks why can't Universal or the coaster companies build seats that accomadate more riders.I know they build these things with the majority of people in mind but the week we were there I stood around and watched alot of people that tried and wouldn't fit in the test seats.Like I said earlier I am not knocking Universal because there was still plenty there to keep me busy for the whole week.

I'm just guessing but I wonder if its because the thrill rides throw the human body around more and if you weigh more then you require even stronger restraints.
Not that they couldn't make more of the seats to accomidate larger people, but I would guess this would up the cost in making the coaster, and let's face it, it's always about the bottom line.
Now, in defense of the coaster makers, they may be reasonably concerned with an extremely over weight person getting on the coaster, and going into heart failure. Grant it, it should be ride at your own risk, but let's face it; in today's society of "sue one, sue all", I can't say I entirely blame the parks and coaster makers for making sure that someone who is at risk of possibily dying on their ride keeps from getting on. I'm just hoping that I can still fit in; even if its just for my kids sake.
One of the reasons that I look forward to going to US/IOA is a couple of years ago they ran a comerical with a larger woman riding with her two younger children on the Jurassic Ride. I figured if she could fit into it, then so could I!
Luckily my husband is a slim 170 and if I can't ride, then he can. (Whether he wants to or not.

 

[ky07]

I am 6ft 1 and am 283 and was able to ride rides like the hulk fine but 2 years ago when i went to ioa and i was about 300 pound still fit but they did have to push down on the restraint and lol that wasn't fun for me or them

 

[tink242424]

You will definitely be fine on Jurassic Park. The only two rides you will need the bigger seat for will be Dueling Dragons and Hulk.

And I do think they should take into account that the majority of people are larger these days. The average size is 14 now. I don't buy that it is the roller coaster builders that make all the decisions. Universal has a choice of who to buy from and how their coasters look and feel.

I am a bigger girl but if every other theme park can accomodate my size then why couldn't Universal. It is just not correct. And IMHO two seats on a whole train just doesn't cut it. Nothing like being embarrassed when two people need the bigger seats and get separated. Big people have it hard enough as is and then to add this to mix.

This is all about customer experience and satisfaction and if every other theme park can accomodate my size I would expect Universal to as well.

 

[micksterlee]

I am 6ft 1 and am 283 and was able to ride rides like the hulk fine but 2 years ago when i went to ioa and i was about 300 pound still fit but they did have to push down on the restraint and lol that wasn't fun for me or them

I know when I rode the Mummy the guy had to jam the bar down and all I could think about during the ride was about how much pain I was in.

Being fat did have its funny side as well though, when we rode Rip Saw Falls as we were getting out of the logs I got stuck it was more due to the wet floor than anything else.I couldn't get traction to stand up.The poor little girl that was working at the dock got a look of fear on her face like she didn 't know what to do.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Universal and the coaster designers have a grander scale than the US population. If all the seats were made larger, then those who are not of large size might be at a safety risk.

There are over 1.6 billion overweight people in the world, and the world's population is over 6.5 billion. That translates to around 25% of the world's population.

Universal is very accommodating. Safety is safety.

 

[MrDroopy]

Universal and the coaster designers have a grander scale than the US population. If all the seats were made larger, then those who are not of large size might be at a safety risk.

There are over 1.6 billion overweight people in the world, and the world's population is over 6.5 billion. That translates to around 25% of the world's population.

Universal is very accommodating. Safety is safety.

Well said! Next thing you know, you'll have all of the skinny people getting rejected because of the risk of falling out of these big seats!