Heading to Universal, scared I won't fit.

[spartankid34]

Hi all,

Ive been ok with the thought of not fitting into rides, but now that my trip is almost here I'm stressing big time!

I have been working hard on losing weight, and have lost 14 by now, but still have some work to do.

My challenge area is my hips and butt, but my waist has slimmed down. I wear a US womens 24/26 pant and 2x tshirt.

Please let me know where I might have trouble! ANY info is appreciated!

 

[damo]

Make sure you try the test seats outside the rides. Anything that is an issue will have them.

 

[jacinda824]

I used to have the same issues as you (the same exact size) so I know how you feel. I go to the parks all the time and have a very good knowledge base for this. Here is the bad news (aka the rides you will more than have issues): RipRideRockit, Forbidden Journey, Gringotts (50/50 chance), Dragon Challenge (2 rows have larger seats), Mummy (again 50/50), Hulk (again some rows have larger seats). Most of them are the blockbuster rides, sadly they were just not designed for larger people. Definitely try the seats outside before you go in. If you cannot fit Forbidden Journey, ask to do what they call the castle tour where you can still go in and see everything but not ride. Please do not blame Universal (as most do), it is the actual ride manufacturers who set the guidelines.

 

[L&Lfan]

I am barrel chested so that's the area I had trouble with the most, especially on Forbidden Journey and Hulk but the CMs were very patient and helped me manage the three clicks but I couldn't expand my lungs enough to take anything but shallow breaths. However, once the rides started moving I guess things shifted because I was able to breathe better. It was worth the discomfort though!

 

[jacinda824]

Please do not risk your health or breathing to ride an attraction. Seriously, what if you pass out? There goes the rest of your day and possibly vacation. I get the wanting part (I really do as I have BEEN in this situation) but you kinda need to breathe.

 

[dashofsunshine]

Forbidden Journey 3 years ago was the worst experience of my life. I was a 22/24 and I waited in line for an hour and a half with my husband. Got near the end and some cast members (or whatever we call them at Universal) called me over and tried to force me into a test seat in front of the entire line of people. He said "it won't go down, I'm sorry" and I had to take the walk of shame out the side door in front of 100 people. He even asked my husband "do you still want to ride?" It was the first time in my life I had ever not fit. In anything. I cried and cried and cried. So humiliating. I've lost 100 lbs since then, and one day I will return and ride that ride just to stick it to the man!

 

[jacinda824]

There are test seats BEFORE you even enter the queue. Literally right to the side of the entrance of the attraction. I wish you would have seen those and not waited the 90 minutes. The Team Member did exactly what they are supposed to do. They apologized and asked if the rest of your party wanted to ride. That is the protocol. Would it have been better if he didn't ask? Then both of you would have waited and not ridden. They have to test anyone that may not fit since the way the ride loads is a conveyer belt which is almost not stoppable. You have to fit because of all the movement in the vehicles, the latch has to go down. There is NO possibility of not letting you fit and still go on. Congrats on the weight loss.

 

[damo]

There are test seats BEFORE you even enter the queue. Literally right to the side of the entrance of the attraction. I wish you would have seen those and not waited the 90 minutes. The Team Member did exactly what they are supposed to do. They apologized and asked if the rest of your party wanted to ride. That is the protocol. Would it have been better if he didn't ask? Then both of you would have waited and not ridden. They have to test anyone that may not fit since the way the ride loads is a conveyer belt which is almost not stoppable. You have to fit because of all the movement in the vehicles, the latch has to go down. There is NO possibility of not letting you fit and still go on. Congrats on the weight loss.

Exactly. The test seats are there before you even enter the queue for a reason. I understand that some people may be embarrassed trying them but all kinds of people are trying them all the time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Please let me know where I might have trouble!

The rides with more movement. And Gringott's. (rolling my eyes SO hard at the nonsensical leg things on the lap bar)


I was wearing a 20W pant but should have been in 22 at least. 2x shirt. 5'3". I was able to ride everything I tried, but I was in the more generous seat on FJ (didn't try Hulk when I was that size but I'm sure I would have been in the bigger seat).

You might or might not have troubles. Prepare for it. Use the test seats and be matter of fact with the Team Members. They've seen it all and should be polite about it, while also being realistic. No one is watching you try the seats, and if they do watch and have a thought about it, they aren't worthy of being called human so who cares about them?

Wear *loose* and slippery clothing, like soft exercise gear. That allows you to mold to the seats and restraints. There's an urge to bind yourself up so you're smaller (tight jeans, etc), but you might be binding where you don't need it and unbound where you need to be bound if that makes sense.

Don't let your feelings get hurt by a ride restraint IF it happens. I know it will be sad, but it's just a ride restraint. Don't let it derail you from your ultimate goals or from the fun you were having the moment before. Hugs and the BEST of weight loss mojo to you.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Forbidden Journey 3 years ago was the worst experience of my life. I was a 22/24 and I waited in line for an hour and a half with my husband. Got near the end and some cast members (or whatever we call them at Universal) called me over and tried to force me into a test seat in front of the entire line of people. He said "it won't go down, I'm sorry" and I had to take the walk of shame out the side door in front of 100 people. He even asked my husband "do you still want to ride?" It was the first time in my life I had ever not fit. In anything. I cried and cried and cried. So humiliating. I've lost 100 lbs since then, and one day I will return and ride that ride just to stick it to the man!

I just want to give you a big CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss!!! That is so hard to do! And I also want to say how sorry I am that you had to go through that. Yes, the cast member/whatever you call him/her was doing their job but it doesn't take away how you felt. I sincerely hope you get to "stick it to the man" (as you say) soon!

 

[dashofsunshine]

I just want to give you a big CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss!!! That is so hard to do! And I also want to say how sorry I am that you had to go through that. Yes, the cast member/whatever you call him/her was doing their job but it doesn't take away how you felt. I sincerely hope you get to "stick it to the man" (as you say) soon!

Thank you SO much!!! I don't blame the cast member, I realize he was just following protocol, but it was still embarrassing and a terrible experience. It's alright, though, because it really kicked my butt into gear and made me realize that I had to change my life I have about 70 more lbs to goal weight, and then I'm headed down to Universal to fit in that ride!!! Thanks again for the kind words!!

 

[nkereina]

Not sure if anyone else had this experience, but I'm a size 14 and wear a small cross-body bag and I was uncomfortable on Despicable Me. No place for my bag (usually it sits in the seat next to me while still cross-body) and my hips were at max capacity in the seat.

 

[schumigirl]

Not sure if anyone else had this experience, but I'm a size 14 and wear a small cross-body bag and I was uncomfortable on Despicable Me. No place for my bag (usually it sits in the seat next to me while still cross-body) and my hips were at max capacity in the seat.

I wear a Kipling Multiple and I was ok on those seats.....I'm bigger than you .......I turned it to sit on my side when the lap bar came down.

 

[schumigirl]

Forgot to say on FJ I fitted normal seat on the outside test seat......however the TM asked me to try on the one inside and on the inside test seat I didn't get green light for normal seat I had to go on the outside seat........not an issue at all, and it was done very nicely by the TM. But there is a chance the TM's may ask you to try the inside one

I agree with Bumbershoot don't worry about people looking at you on test seats.......people like that are not worth bothering about.

Thank you SO much!!! I don't blame the cast member, I realize he was just following protocol, but it was still embarrassing and a terrible experience. It's alright, though, because it really kicked my butt into gear and made me realize that I had to change my life I have about 70 more lbs to goal weight, and then I'm headed down to Universal to fit in that ride!!! Thanks again for the kind words!!

Congratulations on the weight loss......it must feel amazing for you.......

 

[johde]

You might or might not have troubles. Prepare for it. Use the test seats and be matter of fact with the Team Members. They've seen it all and should be polite about it, while also being realistic. No one is watching you try the seats, and if they do watch and have a thought about it, they aren't worthy of being called human so who cares about them?

Wear *loose* and slippery clothing, like soft exercise gear. That allows you to mold to the seats and restraints. There's an urge to bind yourself up so you're smaller (tight jeans, etc), but you might be binding where you don't need it and unbound where you need to be bound if that makes sense.

The one thing I would add, potentially take some take at the test seats. A lesson I didn't learn until my 4th trip on FJ. As other have said, not only do you need to fit in FJ's seats but you need to be able to get them restrained before the car reaches a certain point on the conveyor belt or they will need to pull you. Like I mentioned above I'd ridden 4 times but I took the "walk of shame" 2 of those times because a smaller female student was trying to check restraints. On my 4th ride, me and a Team Member spent a good 3-4 minutes at the test seat working on a "pattern" for quickly getting the restraint locked. I'm big and tall and in my case, the shoulders were was worst part. So, the plan is to sit in the seat, get 2 clicks myself, rearrange and slide down a little bit in the seat to give my shoulders a little more room. The ride op walked by, quickly got the 3rd click and we were off. When 5 minutes early I was taking the Walk of Shame.

 

[bumbershoot]

Terrific info, johde.

 

[CPanther95]

I've never been big enough to not be able to ride a ride, but at my peak weight, there were 2 rides that I think I got close on - so I assume they might be the worst. The first was the Dudley flume - don't know if it was my width, or a combination of width & height, but my legs were wedged in like a pretzel and I spent the whole ride wondering how hard it was going to be to get out.

The second ride was Rip Ride Rocket. The way the harness on that ride swings around from the side really put a squeeze on my gut. I got it to click and it wasn't too bad, but the attendant came by and gave it an extra click and that really put the pressure on. Spent that ride taking pretty shallow breaths.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I agree with the above poster about Dudley flume ride. I have a bigger chest and waist and thought the flume ride was very painful with the lap bar so tight. It was comfy when I started, but then after a hill it clicked down more and it was awful.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd forgotten about Dudley. A TM told my husband to ask for the ADA log; took 5-10 minutes for the log to come back around, and it had just a little bit extra room in it so DH could experience the ride. The incredibly uncomfortable (but fun) ride that we thought we would never get out of. (DS and I went on separately from DH because he had left the area, thinking he couldn't ride, when a TM approached him)


And yes, RRR has a weird restraint that isn't friendly to those with bellies (or like DH, a belly and big sumo thighs).

 

[spartankid34]

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I just arrived tonight, and am very much looking forward to my weekend here! I am still anxious, and probably will be until I try that first test seat, but feel better about not worrying over whether people will be watching or not!