Big Thunder Refurb

[Amelia :)]

"The wildest ride in the wilderness" shouldn't have tight restraints! It's meant to be a bumpy ride

 

[Klayfish]

I won't buck (see what I did there?) the trend in this thread, but I'll sort of straddle the fence. I do see where the OP is coming from. I'm not a big guy, I'm average height/weight or even less, and I find I have to hold on a bit tighter in spots so I don't wind up sliding into my DD next to me. Yet, at the same time it's pretty funny and both my daughter and I laugh hysterically at it. So I'm ultimately OK with it being the way it is.

 

[Hopefully]

Overwhelming no I'd say

 

[ElsieAstronaut]

Oh gosh no, that would be so disappointing! It's one of our favorite rides BECAUSE we slide around and bump into each other all over the place. We crack up the whole time and it's an inside joke between the two of us now.

 

[cosmicmommy]

My concern isn't squishing into him... I just want to make sure he doesn't go flying out... like I said, I would be happiest with the three boys riding together in the seat in front of me...

 

[BrianL]

My concern isn't squishing into him... I just want to make sure he doesn't go flying out... like I said, I would be happiest with the three boys riding together in the seat in front of me...

If he meets the height requirement, as long as he doesn't actively try to climb out of the car he'll be just fine. Kids won't just randomly fly out of the ride and if it was unsafe the way it currently is then they wouldn't operate it that way.

 

[maxiesmom]

My concern isn't squishing into him... I just want to make sure he doesn't go flying out... like I said, I would be happiest with the three boys riding together in the seat in front of me...

He won't fly out. The lap bar is plenty to keep him in, unless he is trying to climb out.

 

[cosmicmommy]

Okay, so I feel a little better doing research and it seems lots of people have had these concerns over the (MANY) years that Big Thunder has been in operation. Please realize it has been 18 years since I've been and don't remember all the nuances of the ride. From my research though, it seems to be suggested to put the bigger person to the left since the roughest action seems to be in the big helix that pushes you left. Is this accurate?

 

[cosmicmommy]

Here is a picture from Wednesday night of my little and I on the Ferris Wheel at the fair, so as to see the size difference.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

You are worrying WAYYYY too much about this. He will be 100% fine whoever he rides with. It doesn't matter, he will be safe. I am not small and have been riding with my 12 year old since she was a tiny 5 year old who barely made the height requirement. No issues.

 

[maxiesmom]

Okay, so I feel a little better doing research and it seems lots of people have had these concerns over the (MANY) years that Big Thunder has been in operation. Please realize it has been 18 years since I've been and don't remember all the nuances of the ride. From my research though, it seems to be suggested to put the bigger person to the left since the roughest action seems to be in the big helix that pushes you left. Is this accurate?

Ok, I have been on BTMR more times than I can remember, and just watched a video of the ride. I have no idea what big helix you are talking about. It looks to me like the ride banks both ways almost evenly. You seem to be overthinking it. Remember to relax and enjoy the ride. You will all be fine!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

My concern isn't squishing into him... I just want to make sure he doesn't go flying out... like I said, I would be happiest with the three boys riding together in the seat in front of me...

And the last time this happened was...?

 

[ErinsMommy]

Ok, I have been on BTMR more times than I can remember, and just watched a video of the ride. I have no idea what big helix you are talking about. It looks to me like the ride banks both ways almost evenly. You seem to be overthinking it. Remember to relax and enjoy the ride. You will all be fine!

I do recall there be a couple of big helix's but one is to the left and one is to the right because I tried to switch seats one go around and both times we still squished each other. Both me and my daughter still say that's the best part of the ride.

 

[DizBelle]

Not with seatbelts... those can be stretched across two people... especially little ones... I'm thinking keep the seatwide lap bar, but add in individual seatbelts... they could even add in three and people use what they need...

One seat belt for multiple people is a bad, bad, bad idea.

 

[serenitynow]

Here is a picture from Wednesday night of my little and I on the Ferris Wheel at the fair, so as to see the size difference.

What a cutie! OH and you look very nice too!

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Am I the only one hoping that inside this refurb, we get individual restraints? Not looking forward to holding onto my 4 year old for dear life since he is tiny and I am... not. Or maybe like the fair we just went to? Seatbelts and lap bars?

I agree with the OP. The restraints would be a wise move on Disney's part. Although seatbelts may not be necessary for some, I feel they would hold you in a lot better vs the lap bar. They could even have them there as an option so that people had that extra comfort of being secured. It cracks me up that Heimlich's chew chew at DCA has a seatbelt but not Big Thunder.

 

[xipotec]

My concern isn't squishing into him... I just want to make sure he doesn't go flying out... like I said, I would be happiest with the three boys riding together in the seat in front of me...

NOT going to happen......

 

[tizzant]

Looking at that picture, I understand the concern. However, if you're definitely that worried about it just wrap your arm around his shoulders and enjoy the ride that way.