As feared Forbidden Journey is Not for Many

[Bunney]

Popping out of lurkerdom here.

I'm going to WWoHP in mid-July; actually I'm going to a Harry Potter conference and the park is the icing on the cake. After reading this entire thread for the last few days, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I won't be able to fit on Forbidden Journey. I'm short, only 5'1", but round with all of my weight in my b***s and belly. My friends are still confident that it'll all work out, but I'm steeling myself for the disappointment now, rather than later, if you know what I mean.

I'm actually pretty pleased to hear about all the motion sickness issues! I have wicked motion sickness so this will give me a ready-made excuse to skip even trying the ride.

So, my question is this, for those of you who have been turned away: at what point do they pull you out of line? I want to do the castle queue and then step out when we get to the ride line, but from the sounds of it, they're pulling people out before you even get into the castle! Are there two lines? One for the ride and one not?

Sorry for the dumb questions...aside from Opryland when I was 10, this is the first real theme park I've ever visited!

 

[Asm]

I'm so disappointed. 42H here and a huge HP fan. Never been turned away from a ride but it looks like this isn't even worth the embarassment of trying to ride. I'm bound to be turned away.

 

[TLinden16]

Pretty soon, they'll have a gift shop outside of Hogwarts selling ace bandages, and Spanx.

I'm a bit concerned about getting on as well, but I have 3 and a half months before I go, so hopefully I'll either lose some weight, or Universal will address this issue.

 

[hopemax]

I think they pull you out right before the loading area. You can walk through the castle, just as if you were doing a child swap or chicken exit. I've been avoiding non-technical spoilers, but it sounds like walking through the queue is an attraction in it's own right. At this point, I am planning on not being able to ride. But I will still go along for the test seat, if for no other reason than to see how far away I am from the third click. We are coming back to FL in Oct, so if I am close and a little weight loss would make a difference or not. But it is going to be terrible, watching my parents ride but not me. They haven't even watched the movies or read the books (I am bringing them when I visit) so won't have much of a clue what is even going on.

 

[Bunney]

Well, that's a relief. As long as they don't make it a hassle to walk through the castle queue, I'll be good. I'm certainly not going to criticize...it's my own fault that I'm overweight and while I'm massively disappointed, I'll just have to medicate myself with shopping And margaritas.

At any rate, it's good incentive for a trip next year, yeah?

 

[PrincessOp]

Hey, everybody - I am so sorry if my post convinced anyone that they will not be able to ride - I would encourage you to wait and see... It's hard to explain, but this ride vehicle is so much different than any other one I've experienced - I think there are three factors - maybe more - chest, stomach, butt -- and maybe even thighs. It has these weird, moulded butt-cheek things (so eloquent, I know! lol) -- so it's very possible if your butt is smaller than mine, and could go back farther, then you'd have much more room in the chest area. Lol -- Feels weird having this discussion with relative strangers - but, whatever, no Potter fan is a stranger to me! lol


As requested:

Wow, I really have a lot of toothpaste splatters on that bathroom mirror... lol

 

[PrincessOp]

That last attempt didn't seem to work, so her's one more try at posting a photo:

 

[bouncy54]

Hey, everybody - I am so sorry if my post convinced anyone that they will not be able to ride - I would encourage you to wait and see... It's hard to explain, but this ride vehicle is so much different than any other one I've experienced - I think there are three factors - maybe more - chest, stomach, butt -- and maybe even thighs. It has these weird, moulded butt-cheek things (so eloquent, I know! lol) -- so it's very possible if your butt is smaller than mine, and could go back farther, then you'd have much more room in the chest area. Lol -- Feels weird having this discussion with relative strangers - but, whatever, no Potter fan is a stranger to me! lol


As requested:

Wow, I really have a lot of toothpaste splatters on that bathroom mirror... lol

Thanks for the pic, although I couldn't see the link until I replied to you.

The problem with the molded seat for the butt makes sense. If you don't fit into it correctly, more of you would be up front and would prevent the harness from coming down far enough.

So work on those buns ladies!

 

[bouncy54]

That last attempt didn't seem to work, so her's one more try at posting a photo:

Let's try this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7247119@N02/4686544358

There ya go PrincessOp. Nice picture! Pleased to meet ya!

 

[hopemax]

I'm not sure my butt is going to help me out on this one. Do you mind sharing your pants size? I'm shorter than you, so I think I might be even more rounded in that area and less likely to fit molded butt cheeks And don't feel bad, I'd rather have the info ahead of time so I can prepare myself for the disappointment. Universal is the one that is causing all the stress.

 

[PrincessOp]

Hi, there - nice to meet you, too! Not sure why my photo link isn't working, but I'll try it via facebook as well:

We'll see if that's any better - good luck to everyone in getting on FJ!


Oh, and pants size is 18 or 20, depending on the pants. In this photo, they are 18's.

 

[damo]

Just got back today from three days of riding. We saw tons of large people riding this ride. People we didn't think would be allowed from reading this thread had no issues. Actually, we didn't see anyone who was turned away. They were testing lots of people in the test seats, in groups of two, so nobody looked like they were being singled out.

So many different ages are riding too. We saw lots of seniors and everyone (except one little girl who was wimpering a bit) seemed to love it.

Anyone with motion sickness should definitely take their meds. I had a tough time with it but managed to ride it 6 times. I never had any lingering effects but could feel it by the end of the ride.

 

[hopemax]

Well, then there is a little hope. I do seem to be a bit smaller on the bottom (16). Hopefully, it's enough to help on top! Also, is there a slant at all on restraint...more room the farther down you sit? Or is it pretty vertical?

 

[disneyismyname]

Hi, there - nice to meet you, too! Not sure why my photo link isn't working, but I'll try it via facebook as well:

We'll see if that's any better - good luck to everyone in getting on FJ!


Oh, and pants size is 18 or 20, depending on the pants. In this photo, they are 18's.

Thanks PrincessOp! You've made me feel much better! I'm 5'4" and 180lbs with a 12/14 pant size and was really freaking out about not being able to ride FJ when I go this June! This made me feel better..yet I'm still scared!!

 

[damo]

We saw people much, much larger than PrincessOp riding.

 

[JLVermillion]

We saw people much, much larger than PrincessOp riding.

I am glad to hear that! I have a different problem , I am a small person (5'2 115lbs) and I love to ride the coasters but when they but the harness down and you do any kind of loop or drop my whole body is out of my seat , I get terribly jolted around . I have suffered bruises and very sore neck and shoulders. This being said I understand the parks problems in trying to find a happy medium for us all.

 

[bcarson]

Well I can see where some may or may not fit in the seats. I had lost 50lbs before we left. Thank god because it felt like I fit just right. I am a 14-16 now. Not saying bigger can't fit. I think it definately is based on body shape.

 

[damo]

I am glad to hear that! I have a different problem , I am a small person (5'2 115lbs) and I love to ride the coasters but when they but the harness down and you do any kind of loop or drop my whole body is out of my seat , I get terribly jolted around . I have suffered bruises and very sore neck and shoulders. This being said I understand the parks problems in trying to find a happy medium for us all.

I am about your size and had no trouble at all being bounced around. The ride is not violent AT ALL. Your head is never bounced around. The action is all very smooth.

 

[bumbershoot]

I just wanted to post - I got to ride Forbidden Journey on Saturday.

I just wanted to post to THANK you for being so open about your size and even posting your picture! Not everyone would do that. So I wanted to make sure you know it's appreciated! Thank you!

Still think it would be funny to walk up to the ride wtih an ace bandage around the outside of my shirt holding everything in.

I think people should do it. If enough TMs comment about it to managers, enough managers see it...perhaps something should change. They shouldln't have even *started* to make a ride that will only accomodate a certain type of body...there are people of all sizes out there, and it seems even Universal works to accomodate many people...I just think it's ridiculous they even went forward with this idea, no matter how good it is, without having really made sure that many many could ride it.

Pretty soon, they'll have a gift shop outside of Hogwarts selling ace bandages, and Spanx.

...that bottom portion that rests on top of the leg/thigh area like FJ has.

I wonder if that part is even needed for this ride? Would it be *that* easy to slip out? If so, isn't that why they have the scary bump up on the seat? Who came up with this restraint, I ask?

And I'm really sorry you oculdn't ride. DH, no matter if he loses 50 or even 80 pounds, in the next 6 months (which he really should be able to get a good start on, as his pituitary tumor was almost gone according to his last bloodwork), his legs are going to keep him off the ride.

I find this frustrating as well. Guess we have the opposite issue than most though. Oldest son is 6'4 and evidently won't be able to ride! Can he slouch and maybe they won't notice? Middle son is currently 6'2 but very much still growing - what are the odds he'll still fit by the time of our trip next January! Youngest son is still under 6' - we'll hope he doesn't have a growth spurt in the meantime! Getting the harness closed won't be an issue though at least - even the oldest is barely over 150lbs. Just that darn height thing!

You know...you keep that picture of your boys when they were small in your sig...and then you talk about them being over 6 feet tall....it makes mothers of 6 year olds get a hitch in their breath, thinking that someday their boys are going to be men! Sniffle sniffle.... (don't change it, I'm not complaining...I just got all teary-eyed, that's all)

 

[marciemi]

You know...you keep that picture of your boys when they were small in your sig...and then you talk about them being over 6 feet tall....it makes mothers of 6 year olds get a hitch in their breath, thinking that someday their boys are going to be men! Sniffle sniffle.... (don't change it, I'm not complaining...I just got all teary-eyed, that's all)

Well, the oldest was 6 in that pic! I was just posting on another thread (when someone commented on my siggie) that it was one of those pure luck, once in a lifetime, with a disposable camera, "hey guys, jump in and I'll take a pic" shots! Never duplicated in the 12 years since then and that's why I keep it in my signature. Oh, and also so that when I'm ready to strangle one of my teens, I can remind myself that at some point they were lovable and cute and happy!



Back on topic - I find this thread interesting because to be honest, I didn't even KNOW bra sizes went that big! I'm one of those "B if I use my imagination, but probably closer to an A" types who considers the C cup huge! I was focused on the whole height thing (you can see that's an issue in our family!) but not the chest side of it. Wow - always wished I had a bit, um, "more" up there but didn't realize what a hassle it could be!