IOA - Harry Potter FJ ride - Dissapointing news, anyone riden?

[Marks281172]

Ive just noticed the huge amounts of comments on the net regarding the new Harry Potter ride at IOA. Seems the restrictions on size/weight/body shape are very tight and anyone that doesnt fall into a nice little pigeon hole of being about 4-6 foot, weighing less than 220lbs and not being very broad (for a man) or busty (for a lady) has no chance of fitting on the ride.

This is a bit dissapointing for me, i was really looking forward to riding this as im a big potter fan and IOA is probably my fav park.

Im a big guy, theres no getting around that, at 21 stone and 6 foot ive never needed to use the extra large seats or struggled to get on any other ride but sounds like this one is a no go. The thing is, with a bit of effort i could probably drop to around 18 stone by holiday time in November, however a lot of my bulk is muscle from being a bodybuilder in my youth and more recently a power lifter. So i am very broad and have a very thick torso (50 inch chest or so.

Has anyone riden and can tell me where the actual restriction is? If its in the tummy area ill happily hit the cardio over the next few months and take off the belly, however if its more shoulder width or chest area, theres not a lot i can do about that short of not lifting weights for 4 months which as much as i want to ride FJ im not willing to do.

Its not a holiday breaker by any means but it is going to cast a wee cloud over IOA day not being able to get the full HP experience.

Ta all

 

[fuse04]

There are certainly tight restrictions but I do not know the exact 'allowances'. I undertsnad that so many people have been unable to ride that universal are already considering a upgrade to the ride.

You could also post on the DIS unplugged board because Pete (owner of DIS) has had similar problems and has coverd this to some degree on the DIS Unplugged

 

[disney_princess_85]

Ive just noticed the huge amounts of comments on the net regarding the new Harry Potter ride at IOA. Seems the restrictions on size/weight/body shape are very tight and anyone that doesnt fall into a nice little pigeon hole of being about 4-6 foot, weighing less than 220lbs and not being very broad (for a man) or busty (for a lady) has no chance of fitting on the ride.

Just wondering, where have you obtained this information? 220lbs (15 and a half stone) isn't that heavy, especially for a man. Are you suggesting that anyone heavier than this will not be able to ride? Likewise, are you suggesting that anyone over 6' will not be able to ride? My DBF is 6'1" and weighs around 15 stone.

 

[Marks281172]

Sorry was being a little faceceous there (is that the right word? and is it spelt correct? )

It seems to vary, some reports say folks up to 300lbs are getting on ok, others saying people as light as 200lbs arent making it.

It seems to be more about body shape. Have a google for 'problems for large people on new harry potter ride'.

In particular this from atractions magazine

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog...-ride-harry-potter-and-the-forbidden-journey/

Now granted im a very large guy, but that chap in the photo doesnt look THAT big to me, carry a bit of extra cuddle padding sure but certainly not what i would call hugely overweight.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks for the link Mark.

It says there that people up to 6'7" tall will be able to ride with no problem. As for the weight thing, it's a difficult one. The article mentions that the restrictions may have been put in place for safety reasons. The thing is, these rides are built with the "average" person in mind- unfortunately, some people do fall outside of that spectrum (either way). The man pictured in the article is quite a big guy and I think it's great that he's using this as an incentive to lose weight.

 

[Dollyrar]

Sorry was being a little faceceous there (is that the right word? and is it spelt correct? )

It seems to vary, some reports say folks up to 300lbs are getting on ok, others saying people as light as 200lbs arent making it.

It seems to be more about body shape. Have a google for 'problems for large people on new harry potter ride'.

In particular this from atractions magazine

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog...-ride-harry-potter-and-the-forbidden-journey/

Now granted im a very large guy, but that chap in the photo doesnt look THAT big to me, carry a bit of extra cuddle padding sure but certainly not what i would call hugely overweight.

Without making any judgement on the guy (I've struggled with weight issues myself), I punched his height and weight into a bmi calculator, and he is very high in the obese category, just below the morbidly obese level. Whilst BMI is obviously not always a true indicator of being overweight (muscular athletes etc), I can see why someone at that level might have issues with this particular ride system.

I think the best way to go with this ride is to just make sure anyone who might be at risk of not riding in your family/group is made aware of it before-hand. As disappointing as not riding would be for me personally, at least at this stage (until a possible solution appears) the knowledge beforehand would help to soften the blow somewhat.

 

[Elise79]

There is an upper height restriction of around 6'3" becuase of the ride cars.

The weight as had been said is more to with bodyshape than actual weight.

I haven't ridden myself so this is just from what I have read - someone said the cars are similar in type to the Sum of All Thrills at Epcot - which I have been on.

 

[disney_princess_85]

There is an upper height restriction of around 6'3" becuase of the ride cars.

This is from the article posted earlier:

UPDATE: Some readers have been asking us if there is a tall height limit. In other words, can you be too tall to ride. As you can see in the ride seat photo above, a cover comes over your head when the restraint is brought down. I asked a couple of team members working the attraction and they didn’t know what the height limit would be, but I’m 6 foot 1 inches and after sitting down, I have about 6 inches of space above my head. So if you’re 6-foot 7-inches tall or shorter you should be OK.

 

[Marks281172]

I guess i should accept the fact that i chose to take part in the sport i do being fully aware that i would grow to way beyond the average build. Its a little annoying tho that with a 38 inch waist and 22% bodyfat im not going to be able to ride but ho hum. So long as i can still get on Pirates, Everest, Spiderman and Simpsons its not so bad

 

[torsie24]

I find it very hard to believe 6'3" is the 'height limit' and tend to think that's just a panic made by someone who was 6'3", who wasn't allowed to ride, but not for height reasons.

Jack is 6'4" has never ever had an issue on any rides, and he always comment how he never feels tall in America as there are so many people the same height, or taller than him, unlike in the UK where he can always see over a crowd.

I have zero worry that he'll fit onto the ride, or that anyone who weighed 220lb will. I used to weigh 200lb and even then was 100% comfortable on any rides/plane seats etc so people of 220lb really shouldn't have a problem.

It's a case of people bending the truth I think.

 

[torsie24]

I guess i should accept the fact that i chose to take part in the sport i do being fully aware that i would grow to way beyond the average build. Its a little annoying tho that with a 38 inch waist and 22% bodyfat im not going to be able to ride but ho hum. So long as i can still get on Pirates, Everest, Spiderman and Simpsons its not so bad

Don't give up yet.

There's a test seat before the ride, so give that a go.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I sympathise with you Mark. I hope you get to ride.

I find it very hard to believe 6'3" is the 'height limit' and tend to think that's just a panic made by someone who was 6'3", who wasn't allowed to ride, but not for height reasons.

Victoria, see my post further up- the height limit is 6'7", not 6'3".

 

[T16GEM]

Don't give up yet.

There's a test seat before the ride, so give that a go.

I was just going to mention the test seat, on the Universal section of the DIS there is a huge thread about FJ. A lot of people are saying that they have had to ensure that they get "3clicks" on the restraint and then they are allowed on.

I hope that you get to ride. I don't think it will be a problem for me as I'm not exactly blessed in the chest area and I'm only 5ft 2"!

 

[scojos]

i ll let you know, im a size 16-18 but have gg bust, so if i can fit in, anyone can

 

[snookhams]

I am almost dreading our visits to IOA as our eldest DS is just touching 6'7", he is gentle, shy and unassuming, I have not even told him yet that he might not be able to ride, he will be devastated. I will tell him before we go, but he will be mortified if they pull him from the line and tell him he can't ride, he is so self conscious about his height - maybe just an age thing with him at the moment, although a comment by a teacher about being a giant recentlly did not help. We have always told him to be proud of his height but I know that this is not always easy, I did email universal and asked them out right about the height restrictions and this is the reply that I got

Due to the intense nature of some of our attractions, such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, state-of-the-art safety systems have been incorporated into the ride vehicles. These systems, designed by the manufacturers of the attractions, may prevent certain individuals from being comfortably and properly secured. For the convenience of our guests, test seats are available outside of our most intense attractions. Please be assured that our primary concern is for the safety of our guests. It is our intent to entertain as many guests as our attractions can safely accommodate, and most of our rides, shows, restaurants, and shops are accessible to all of our guests.

 

[fuse04]

Here is a similar thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2478687&highlight=forbidden+journey

 

[fuse04]

i ll let you know, im a size 16-18 but have gg bust, so if i can fit in, anyone can

 

[WSussex]

Hi

I have ridden this ride in June - It appears to definately be more of a how far your chest sticks out rather than height or weight - it is an intense ride and you really have to be secured into the seat quite tightly as it is a full harness over shoulders accross lap and between legs - I personally didnt see anyone near me get turned away - and like a lot of others have said there is a test seat outside - it would be awful to not be able to go on it but I would still highly recommend going thru the castle anyway - its almost as much of a feature as the ride itself and would be a shame not to have seen it

Sx

 

[nemmie]

We just got back
My husband is a weight lifter. He is 6 foot, 235 lbs and has a 54 inch chest. His chest is huge and by far the deepest and largest part of him. He was fine, the TM did push to get the 3rd click but not hard at all. There was a guy in front of us who was at least 6'5'' and built like my husband. He also rode no prob. HTH

Butterbeer drooooooooooooool

 

[tashasmum]

we have managed to ride it 3times and have not seen anyone turned away. There is a seat on the way in and part way through the queue as well. Some people we thought would not get on have not even been made to sit in the seat. Excellent ride though for those able to ride.