Can my XL son do rides at Universal?

[Tallis]

We are Florida residents and regulars at WDW. My youngest son (adult) is about 5' 10" and around 300 lbs. I wonder if it would be worth it to go to Universal. He loves thrill rides and is able to ride everything at WDW, including Rock and Roller Coaster, Tower of Tower, Mine Train, and even Flights of Passage. Mine Train is a very tight squeeze for him, so he only rode it once. He said it squeezed the family jewels too tightly.

Any advice would be appreciated. We have a family vacation at WDW coming in December and I would like to schedule a couple days after at Universal, but not if he's going to be embarrassed and not able to ride things. Thanks in advance.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

He will definitely be able to do the majority of rides. There may be several rides that are tight squeezes or no-gos. A good thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/pooh-sized-universal-visitor.3599230/

 

[Tallis]

@CAPSLOCK , thank you!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Pammie Plus Parks on youtube has a vlog about plus size riders at the Orlando parks. You might check her out.

 

[bumbershoot]

300 stands a chance.

My ex is 5’10” and a bit more than that, and couldn’t ride any of the big rides he wanted to ride.

 

[imprint]

We are Florida residents and regulars at WDW. My youngest son (adult) is about 5' 10" and around 300 lbs. I wonder if it would be worth it to go to Universal. He loves thrill rides and is able to ride everything at WDW, including Rock and Roller Coaster, Tower of Tower, Mine Train, and even Flights of Passage. Mine Train is a very tight squeeze for him, so he only rode it once. He said it squeezed the family jewels too tightly.

Any advice would be appreciated. We have a family vacation at WDW coming in December and I would like to schedule a couple days after at Universal, but not if he's going to be embarrassed and not able to ride things. Thanks in advance.

Here's some info from another site about this topic.

My experience:

On Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, ask for a modified seat (the outside seats on the bench).
On The Hulk, as the TM for a modified seat (There is a specific seat in a few different rows. It's the seat with 2 belts.).
On The Mummy and Escape from Gringott's, ask the TM for the modified last row (They have just a little more room for taller and bigger riders.). The Mummy is easier to fit. Gringott's is more difficult due to the shin guard.
On Flight of the Hippogryph, you might find it more roomy if you cross your legs before lowering the bar.

I want to add that if he is not able to get on one ride, it does not necessarily mean he will not be able to get on other rides. Try the test seats outside the rides that offer them. If he gets the green light, then great! However, if he gets a red light but a slight push gets a green light, then it's still possible he can ride, and I suggest going through the queue to try. I really want to stress this point: There is no reason to feel embarrassed to try the test seats, as no one is really watching, and who cares anyway? Also, if he goes through the queue and is not able to ride, then that is also no reason to be embarrassed, since he's never going to see these people again anyway. I've personally be able to ride all these rides, and I've also sometimes been not able to ride Gringott's (even during the same trip!). Of course it is disappointing to not ride, but it should not ruin a vacation.

 

[RAPstar]

I'm around 6'/6'1" and 250/260. I carry basically all of my weight in my stomach. The only ride that's uncomfortable is Rockit. FJ I have to ride in an outside seat, Gringotts and Mummy I just have to sit in rows 3 or 6 (sameish with Hulk).

 

[Disxuni]

He'll definitely have to try the seats for Gringotts, Mummy, FJ, RRR, and Hulk. I'm at 5' 3" and was 260 at one point when going on the rides and the TMs always had to give me a little nudge to get in. He might be bigger than me, but he's also taller than me so that'll change things. I was only turned away once and it was on FJ when a TM refused to touch, or assist with my bar.

 

[CPanther95]

I'm around 6'/6'1" and 250/260. I carry basically all of my weight in my stomach. The only ride that's uncomfortable is Rockit. FJ I have to ride in an outside seat, Gringotts and Mummy I just have to sit in rows 3 or 6 (sameish with Hulk).

Just don't ever let you butt catch up to your stomach. If it does, the Mummy is going to press your jewels into that shark fin between your legs like some medieval wine press/torture device.

 

[LandoBlanco]

The team members are usually pretty good about putting larger folks in the modified rows. I'm close the height of your son, and I was there a couple years ago when I was somewhere in the 280s and got put in a "normal" row on Gringott's by mistake. It's not fun being asked to get off the ride so they can seat you in the modified rows. I'm mentioning this in case your son has any depression issues related to weight or is just super self-conscious about it. An experience like that isn't something you forget. They do have test seats outside the rides so you can hopefully figure it out before getting in line. Maybe this can be an incentive to lose a few before the trip?

 

[jeni1072]

My husband was 340/ 5'10 on our last trip. He squeezed in as much as he could lol Several had what they called "bigger" seats and would put us in those. He rode The Munny many times, and he was a big boy. He didn't even make the line of RRR, and didn't try the hulk. Everything else he managed to squeeze in to. It was a big of a defining moment for him; he was really down the whole trip and kept saying "we're gonna come back and I'm going to ride everything". We return this fall 130 lbs lighter and we are so excited to get to ride everything with him.

 

[bumbershoot]

Mine Train is a very tight squeeze for him

Just noticed this part. The lap bar is small on that ride, and FYI it’s about the same on Mummy. Even worse on gringotts because of the shin pads. Request the back row for those and hopefully he’ll make it. The bars are just so narrow; if he has both belly and solid thighs, it makes it very difficult.

 

[skylock]

 

[imprint]

That's a great video. The guy said he is 5'5" and 303 lbs, and he shows how he couldn't quite fit in the sidecar, but he was able to fit on the motorbike (with tips to help get the green light). Thanks for linking that video!

 

[YawningDodo]

That video was exactly the info I was hoping to find! Wish he would have given his hip measurements since that's usually my issue...ah well. Seems reasonable to hope I'll fit on the motorbike side at least, and I'm working on losing weight before my January trip precisely because I want to ride roller coasters more comfortably.

Also wish the video didn't have a spoilery on-ride opening, though. I ended up just looking away from my screen until the narration got to the part with the test seats.