First of all, let me say that I'm not complaining or flaming Cedar Point. I'm just sharing my experience for some of my fellow CBers that may be in a similair situation. We just returned from a great weekend riding the 'coasters and we had a great time. Loved the Wicked Twister!
It has been a couple of years since my last visit to the Point and so I don't know when this policy was put in place. Their policy now is that the guest must secure their own setbelts and tighten them; the employee is not supposed to touch it. It becomes an issue with (this is their term, not mine) "guests of exceptional size". This is from their website: "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, males who exceed 6'2", and those who exceed 225 pounds, have a 40" waistline or 52" chest or females who exceed 200 pounds or wear size 18 or larger." My DH and I are closer to those sizes than we would like to admit but are definitely not over. While those descriptions are large, they can also encompass some healthy individuals. I had a bad outcome from carpel tunnel surgery and my grip is very weak. Tightening my own belt is not easy and I would prefer that someone else so it for safety reasons.
When we boarded the Top Thrill Dragster, I had a seat belt that was stuck. The ride attendent insisted that I had to make it tighter...... I repeatedly showed him that it would not move and that I could put both fists under the sagging belt...... and he told me that he was not allowed to touch it. I had to tighten it myself or get off. I explained that I had a very weak grip and did not have the strength to get it unstuck. He kept telling me that I had to do it and he could not touch it. After 2-3 minutes, I got off to prevent holding up the ride. It was very hot, so I was wearing loose clothes which made me look larger than I really am and I was really embarrassed.
During the rest of the day, we saw ride attendents asking plus-sized guests to try the test seat at the entrance to the queue. If the guest did not fit, the attendent quickly sent them on their way. On Top Thrill, they were sending guests off on t least 50% of the trains.
Most ride attendents were great, though. The only ones that seemed to be strict were Top Thrill and Millenium Force. AT the MF, we saw guest smaller than us being turned away and so we didn't even try it, even though DH had ridden it many times before. Near the end of the day, our 12 yr old DS wanted to ride Top Thrill one more time so I waited in line with him. I planned to exit when he was seated but the ride attendant started up a conversation with us. When I told him why I was not riding (I was not going to be embarrassed again!), he told me to sit on his side. I boarded the ride and the belt was fine. He gave a quick tug to check it and all was well. Had a great ride, too!
Soooooooooo........ for those of you that know all about Cedar Point........ has there been a change? Was there a lawsuit or something that caused a change? Have the seat restraints changed on some rides or is it our imagination? Is my experience unusual or typical? Whats the deal with "I cannot not tighten it; you must do it yourself"? Again, let me state that I am not complaining!!!!! I will never complain about safety issues. It just seemed like things were different. Some attendants would automatically help and others would not touch it until the final check. They also did not allow us to wear camera bags on a shoulder strap, even with the strap was secured to a belt loop. Glasses were prevented, too, on some rides.
We did have a great weekend, though! Stayed at the new section in the Breakers in a Family Suite (loved the screened-in balcony); did every coaster except the MF and Blue Streak (without any trouble, I might add!); loved the early entry, too, from the resort.
Editted to add:
The phrase "guests of exceptional size" reminds me of "rodents of unusual size"! Just gotta laugh sometimes!
It has been a couple of years since my last visit to the Point and so I don't know when this policy was put in place. Their policy now is that the guest must secure their own setbelts and tighten them; the employee is not supposed to touch it. It becomes an issue with (this is their term, not mine) "guests of exceptional size". This is from their website: "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, males who exceed 6'2", and those who exceed 225 pounds, have a 40" waistline or 52" chest or females who exceed 200 pounds or wear size 18 or larger." My DH and I are closer to those sizes than we would like to admit but are definitely not over. While those descriptions are large, they can also encompass some healthy individuals. I had a bad outcome from carpel tunnel surgery and my grip is very weak. Tightening my own belt is not easy and I would prefer that someone else so it for safety reasons.
When we boarded the Top Thrill Dragster, I had a seat belt that was stuck. The ride attendent insisted that I had to make it tighter...... I repeatedly showed him that it would not move and that I could put both fists under the sagging belt...... and he told me that he was not allowed to touch it. I had to tighten it myself or get off. I explained that I had a very weak grip and did not have the strength to get it unstuck. He kept telling me that I had to do it and he could not touch it. After 2-3 minutes, I got off to prevent holding up the ride. It was very hot, so I was wearing loose clothes which made me look larger than I really am and I was really embarrassed.
During the rest of the day, we saw ride attendents asking plus-sized guests to try the test seat at the entrance to the queue. If the guest did not fit, the attendent quickly sent them on their way. On Top Thrill, they were sending guests off on t least 50% of the trains.
Most ride attendents were great, though. The only ones that seemed to be strict were Top Thrill and Millenium Force. AT the MF, we saw guest smaller than us being turned away and so we didn't even try it, even though DH had ridden it many times before. Near the end of the day, our 12 yr old DS wanted to ride Top Thrill one more time so I waited in line with him. I planned to exit when he was seated but the ride attendant started up a conversation with us. When I told him why I was not riding (I was not going to be embarrassed again!), he told me to sit on his side. I boarded the ride and the belt was fine. He gave a quick tug to check it and all was well. Had a great ride, too!
Soooooooooo........ for those of you that know all about Cedar Point........ has there been a change? Was there a lawsuit or something that caused a change? Have the seat restraints changed on some rides or is it our imagination? Is my experience unusual or typical? Whats the deal with "I cannot not tighten it; you must do it yourself"? Again, let me state that I am not complaining!!!!! I will never complain about safety issues. It just seemed like things were different. Some attendants would automatically help and others would not touch it until the final check. They also did not allow us to wear camera bags on a shoulder strap, even with the strap was secured to a belt loop. Glasses were prevented, too, on some rides.
We did have a great weekend, though! Stayed at the new section in the Breakers in a Family Suite (loved the screened-in balcony); did every coaster except the MF and Blue Streak (without any trouble, I might add!); loved the early entry, too, from the resort.
Editted to add:
The phrase "guests of exceptional size" reminds me of "rodents of unusual size"! Just gotta laugh sometimes!
At least someone thinks I am exceptional!!! 
