Maliboomer wasn't "size" friendly

[bumbershoot]

I just remembered this while writing up my trip report.

DH, who is 5'10" and a little over 300 lbs (he's lost 25 lbs in a bit over a year, yay for him!), really REALLY wanted to ride Maliboomer. I had my doubts, both in terms of not wanting him to be on that ride, and also if he would fit, but I didn't say anything, not wanting to bum him out or impose my will on him (I never "let" him ride the similar rides at the county fair).

He got in the walk-on line, and I figured he was on the ride, when he came out of the exit. His belly didn't fit.

Since he's been able to go on everything, even Astro Orbiter (with our 3 year old!), he didn't give much thought (as far as I know) to not fitting. He was OK with it, he's realistic about it. He knows he's got a belly on him, knows that he is working on losing it, and knows that the ride will likely be there in the future.

But I thought I'd put it out there, that this might be the one tricky ride for guests with bellies on the bigger side.



Editing to add!

I should have checked with him for the specifics first.

Along with a belly, he has a very broad back. Think of a sumo wrestler a few years into retirement, and that's a good representation.

So he just told me it wasn't really even a belly thing, but that the shoulder area of the restraint couldn't come down far enough for them to clip some belt in, and that is when they told him he couldn't ride.

So it's not just a belly thing, but a broad, thick back thing as well. Let all the sumo wrestlers out there be warned! teehee.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Sorry to hear that. I think he would have loved the ride.

Jack

 

[Mililani Mouser]

another incentive to lose more 'belly' !!

 

[Dis4Me123]

Thanks for letting us know bumbershoot! My spouse and I also find ourselves to not be "size-friendly" at parks like Six Flags, etc, which is yet another reason why we love disney - the way they set up their rides seem to be accepting of everyone! This is of course is why I am suprised to hear the ride did not work out for him, but am thankful you let others know so they can avoid that ride if they think they may not fit...

How were other rides for him at DCA? The one I am particularly worried about is California Screamin' - I really want to ride and don't want to be embarassed if I "don't fit"! Did he also take a bag of some sort with him? Ideally I want to fit AND take my small purse...I know, I know, I am asking alot...

 

[jemilah]

When i was 100 lbs heavier I could not ride the dragon swing at Knotts........that was so heart breaking never mind embarassing. Maliboomer scares me too death so I can't comment on that. But I feel his pain I can understand alot of rides would be uncomfortable for the very tall also no matter what their weight is.

 

[bumbershoot]

We barely rode anything at DCA; Maliboomer was the only one in the Paradise Pier section that he wanted to ride on that day (he was having a problem figuring out exactly WHERE CA Screamin's line started, and kept talking himself out of it b/c of that and the time it would take blah blah blah).

He had no problems anywhere else. Even Astro Orbiter, which isn't the easiest for almost anyone to get into or out of, was fine, even when he rode with our 3 year old.

I think it's the nature of that sort of ride, needing to have people strapped in in that odd way, and *possibly* even a weight balancing issue as well.

I can't help but wonder if there wasn't something they could have done...I know that other rides have belt extenders, and when he told me the "rest of the story" last night I wondered why they didn't have those...it could have been an inexperienced ride operator, or it could just be the nature of that sort of ride.

Honestly, the way people were strapped in, with that face shield thing (to reduce noise? to contain anyone's, er, sudden illness?), it was triggering some latent claustrophobia in me, and I was only watching from the ground! They get you really closely strapped in.

 

[spacemouseneer]

I am Pooh sized myself and when we went last year I just fit on the Maliboomer, I was about 260 then. The only other Disney ride I have had any other problems with is the Orange Stinger. Not my thing anyway. I have gained a little and probably won't try the Maliboomer this year. But again, I really enjoy Disney for this reason as well. I haven't felt squished in many things there. California Screaming was no problem.


Spacemouseneer

 

[TripHHH]

This is the first time I have posted on this board....had to register because I feel this thread is so important.

To the person who wants to go on California Screamin.....Go for it! I am a very large woman....size 24 pants (26 on bad days)....and busty. I fit on California Screamin' no problem. There is no seatbelt, just a harness that comes down over your shoulders and across the front of your body. My harness probably stuck out farther than everybody elses did, but it was fine. And the ride is awesome!

I went to Disneyland with my daughter last February (she was 6 at the time). We rode so very many rides and I never had a size issue with any of them. I was very worried because several years ago, when I was smaller, I also wasn't able to ride the dragon swing at Knott's Berry Farm. I was so embarrassed and my little girl (about 3 then) was disappointed.

Disneyland is very size-friendly. The only rides we didn't go on were the bumper cars in DCA....because my daughter wasn't old enough to ride alone, and I didn't think the bar would come down far enough on my lap to adequately hold her in too. And we also skipped Big Thunder Mountain in DL for the same reason.

We didn't do Mailboomer though....my daughter didn't want to....but I think I might not give it a whirl until I am a bit smaller (I'm working on it everyday!).

But everything else was great, Dumbo, carousel (yes, I rode a horse to my daughter's delight), Matterhorn, Buzz, Monsters, Inc., Soarin and lots more... Let me know if you have any specific questions on any of the rides, as far as fit, and I'll help you if I have rode it.

 

[SnoWhite]

I have always wondered about many of the "children's" rides at DL. I am about a size 18/20 with large hips, and I have never been on Dumbo, Casey Jr, Astro Orbiter, or a few of the other rides because I thought that I would be too big. I figured that I wouldn't be able to get Dumbo to "fly" because I was too heavy. This thread is great for those of us with anxiety!

The only ride I've ever been on that I had an issue with was the Orange Stinger, the bars were just too tight and my hips didn't fit. I had bruises when I got off.

Thanks again everyone for the info!

Lisa

 

[jemilah]

I was a 24/26 and never had a problem on big thunder and neither did my mom who was same size range but taller. I am down to a 12 and still won't ride orange stinger...........I guess I feel too big for it. i still won't sit in front of DH on Matterhorn , afraid I will squish him

 

[TripHHH]

I don't think "fitting" on Big Thunder would be an issue...it was more of a safety issue for my little girl. Since I have big thighs and it is a shared lap bar, I felt like there would be too much space between her and the lap bar....like she would be flailing around with no restraint.

We're going again in two weeks! This time my husband is coming along too....so we'll all ride Big Thunder. I'll ride solo and he can ride with our daughter.

Orange Stinger was closed last time we were there, but I know my daughter will love it and probably want to ride it several times. I'll sit that one out and let hubby do it! Thanks for the heads up on that.

 

[bumbershoot]

Editing!

OOOOOOOPPPPPS!

That's what I get for skimming.

I don't know about CA screamin. Sorry!

To the person who wants to go on California Screamin.....Go for it! I am a very large woman....size 24 pants (26 on bad days)....and busty. I fit on California Screamin' no problem. There is no seatbelt, just a harness that comes down over your shoulders and across the front of your body. My harness probably stuck out farther than everybody elses did, but it was fine. And the ride is awesome!

This reply is about Maliboomer, NOT the quoted message that I so obviously skimmed inaccurately.



DH said that there was a belt that clipped, not around him, but that held the shoulder thing down.

And that is what his problem was. It wouldn't clip.

I don't usually show these, but I think Robert won't mind for this thread.

This is his back on Dumbo. DS was 1, and it was me (around a 14 then), DS, and DH.

It was that broad back that was the main issue on Maliboomer.

 

[bumbershoot]

About those lap bars. Dh is built like a sumo wrestler. His legs are like tree trunks. The Weight Watchers stuff says he needs to be 180, but even his doctors, after looking at his musculature, laugh at that idea. he'd have to lose a leg and an arm, after losing the extra fat, to think about being 180.

So even at my heaviest, I am on the loose, so to speak, if sitting next to him with a shared lap bar.

But it's really not a big deal, and as soon as DS can ride things like Big Thunder, we won't worry about them going together.

 

[TripHHH]

Thanks for sharing the pic, Bumbershoot! I could probably do the Maliboomer since I tend to be more bottom- than top-heavy. Then again, I might have to think if the claustrophobia would kick in on it. Face shields!

 

[COmomof2]

Since we're on the subject, what about ToT? I'm a size 22/24, and have always been afraid of being squished (or squishing other people!) on this ride. Is there a lap bar or just a seat belt on this ride??? If it's a lap bar, and I ride with my 6 yr old, will the bar come down far enough to keep him in his seat? Thanks!

 

[bouncy54]

Since we're on the subject, what about ToT? I'm a size 22/24, and have always been afraid of being squished (or squishing other people!) on this ride. Is there a lap bar or just a seat belt on this ride??? If it's a lap bar, and I ride with my 6 yr old, will the bar come down far enough to keep him in his seat? Thanks!

It's a seat-belt.

I'm the same size as you and the only problem I encountered when on TOT was not knowing there were handles on the seats the first time we rode it.

You should see the photo of us...the look on our faces...priceless. We looked hilariously petrified as we held onto each other.