Obesity and IOA's Rollercoasters

[dogg2727]

Hello,
I wrote to IOA online about the recent problem I have had with the rollercoasters. I am not a skinny twig like many of you are, I am indeed overweight which makes me sad, but at the mean time that is out of my control. I wrote to them because I had a serious problem with the sizes and length's of the belts on the rollercoasters. If you are like me, then you will have noticed that when you go to the roller coaster and sit in the seat, you are either pushing for dear life to fit in it or you can't fit on it leaving you no choice, but to pass on the ride. They wrote back saying:


"Thank you for visiting Universal Orlando Online.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. As our
guest, your comments are very important.

We sincerely regret that you have not enjoyed your visits to Islands of
Adventure. Please be assured that is not our intention to exclude or
inconvenience any of our guests. Although the attractions at our theme
parks have no weight requirements, many of the attractions utilize lap bars
and over-the-shoulder restraint systems which may be restrictive to guests
of larger stature. The design of the rollercoasters at our parks is very
different from rollercoasters in other theme parks such as the Rockin'
RollerCoaster at Disney. For the safety of our guests there are certain
restrictions for our attractions. Please be assured that your comments
regarding larger seats will be shared with proper management for their
review. We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Once again, thank you for sharing your concerns. It is through comments
such as yours that we are able to monitor and, therefore, improve the
quality of our guests' experience.

Please keep watching us here at http://www.universalorlando.com, as we will
have many exciting and new developments in the next few months.

Best Regards,

Guest Services"

Now the last time I checked, I don't believe they said anything about a weight requirement to go on the ride. Now I live in Florida and go often, but what if you live far away from here. Do you really feel like coming all the way down here unaware of the fact that you might not be able to go on the coasters. I can fit in Rockin Rollercoasrer like I was 100 lbs., but on the IOA coasters, I end up bruised around the thighs due to the problem. The seats are so tight, my body is begging to get out. On another note, I find it upsetting that they only put the "big seats with the double seat belts" only on the third and sixth row. How unfair is that. The "fatter" people can't even go on the first row if they wanted to. This is a pretty serious issue. I always turn down the chance to go on the coasters because I rather not be embarassed and I rather not hurt so much getting off the coaster.

 

[pnelson]

I guess I don't understand your complaint, exactly. I don't know much about engineering, but it seems like a design of a rollercoaster would use a standard seat measurement that would ensure the safety of others. I guess if I was that overweight, I would assume that I would not be able to ride all the rides. What exactly is your complaint against Universal? That the ride doesn't fit you? You wasted your money?

 

[dogg2727]

That the seats are too small. For fatter people, these seats are to cramped up. If they have double seat belts for larger people yet they can't fit in the seat, doesn't that seem pointless. Read my post over again and see if you understand it

 

[pnelson]

I guess "understanding" is the wrong word-I just don't agree with your complaint. It's not about what's "fair" as you've stated in your post. It's about how the roller coaster can be designed for thrills and accomodate the greatest amount of people. RRC at Disney World is very different. If you don't fit, then don't ride. Why is Universal to blame for that?

 

[dogg2727]

ok first of all there is only 2 seats that have the double seat belt. Third and sixth row. Now that is wrong. So your post saying that they want to accomadate the most people, 2 seats isn't killing them. Secondly, this is suppose to be a family fun park and that it is for everybody. Say an overweight family goes to the park from say England. Do you think they are happy to travel all the way to here to find out they can't go in the coaster let alone go in the same row and get their picture taken together. YOu telling me they can't make at least 1 row that has bigger seats. I still think they could make the seats bigger and it will fit everyone. You know Dr. Doom. I fit in that just fine, what is wrong with those seats. Nothing. Why can't they put those in.

 

[rocketman23]

Something got to give one way or another. If they make the seats too big, then smaller kids couldn't ride because it would be unsafe for them. It's a double standard in that effect. So there has to be certain restrictions as on any coaster.

It works the same with height as it does with weight. Kids that aren't tall enough can't ride, it may not be their fault, but with any ride there has to be restrictions beyond Universal's control. Everyone can't be accomadated unfortunately, however you can still ride so all is not lost.

 

[pnelson]

Exactly my point. Roller Coasters were not meant to fit everyone. And like I said, I don't know about engineering, but maybe possibly making the seats bigger would change the ride and make it unsafe for people who are not overweight. I believe your'e complaining out of an "entitlement" attitude. You're obese, so you are going to be restricted in the things you can do and enjoy. That is your choice. But don't complain because US has not built everything in the world to accomodate you. If you don't think it's fair, then don't spend your money there. Again, it's entirely your choice.

 

[palmbeachguy]

Ok It's been said before, but rollercoasters are not going to fit every body type. IOA does a hell of a lot more than most parks to accomodate fat people. They have 4 fat boy seats on hulk and dragons. (Yes I can say fat people because I am one) If i were at another park I wouldn't be able to ride at all! At least at IOA I can get in the fat boy seats and get to ride, granted that it isn't in the back where i want to, but I still get to ride!!!!

 

[YenSid1222]

Your complaint should not be with Universal. These trains are standard with B&M. The belts are actually there to insure that the shoulder harness is locked in the correct position. The two "big boy" seats are specially designed and also cost considerably more...also, B&M feels that they are only safe in certain areas of the train. You will see this design on most B&M coasters around the world. At Rockn'Rollercoaster, a Vekoma designed ride, the harness can lock at different positions, but also the coaster train is designed to allow such.

Anyway, If you truly want the problem solved, you must contact B&M. They are the only ones who can change the design.

 

[dogg2727]

Ok I see what you are saying. Are they any alternatives? Those seats are the same except two of them have a double seat belt. The seat is the same size. Why can't they just put the on each row or all the seats have double seatbelts.

 

[BobRob]

It's an engineering and percentage thing. B&M is responsible for the design of the trains, not Universal, as previously posted. Actually, there is a difference in the seats, it's in the mechaical latch requirements, thus the need for two seat belts to back up the latch, instead of one. B&M is not likely to install any more of those seats than they need to.

If I'm not mistaken, the B&M ocasters prior to Hulk and Dragons didn't have any belts or heavy rider seats. I'm fairly certain that that was something that Universal paid them to develop. In that case, Universal got you the seats that wouldn't have been there at all.

 

[BarryHom]

I think Kumba has a seat or two for larger sized people. They have the only restraints with two belts on it. Kumba's restraints have no belts.

 

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by dogg2727
That the seats are too small. For fatter people, these seats are to cramped up. If they have double seat belts for larger people yet they can't fit in the seat, doesn't that seem pointless. Read my post over again and see if you understand it

The double seat belt seats are for those with large upper bodies, male and FEMALE. they are not specifically for OVERWEIGHT people.

wake up, IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU

 

[TigerLaw]

As a big guy who is coming down in september, I am dying to ride the IOA coasters but am concerned about my size. I am embarrassed to admit that I am starving myself and exercising just for this one purpose. As to the above, I personally think that the atkin's comment was a cheap shot and folks, until you have felt the shame and embarassment of testing out the big seat outside the ride and seeing you can't go on it, you simply don't know how others feel. All we hear is how great these rides are, yet we never get to experience them.

Sure, I wish there were more than 2 big seats, but I can accept it. One point that has not been made is, if vekoma and arrow can design restraints that big people AND little people can both use (i.e., I can ride rock n roller at MGM w. no problem) why can't B&M?

I really didn't want this to sound like I'm on a soapbox, so I apologize if it does!

 

[dogg2727]

I think yvettej and drakmaulder are very rude because if you wrote that as a joke, then you honestly should be ashamed. I can't see you, but I sure like all humans in this world, no one is perfect. If i started blasting you about a physical or mental problem with you you most likely wouldn't enjoy that. If I took your post wrong, then I am sorry. As for Tigerlaw, he couldn't have explained it any better. That is what I have been trying to get across. So what if "fat" people are the "minority" for these rides. That doesn't cut it in my book. If I can go on rockin rollercoaster just fine, then what should be different about this. That also brought up my other point. Us people down here in sunny Florida are grateful enough to live so close. But what about so many people who come down to get rejected by the coasters. You think because some are "fat" that they don't have feelings. It isn't that nice to go there and see that you can't fit in the seat and that you have to let others go on while you wait on the sidelines. I think there is an alternative then the seats they have there. If I have to, I can except there are only 2 big seats, but that is what they need. Read Tigerlaw's post. It explains exactly what I feel. Any comments?

 

[MsDisney]

I think the issue then is with B&M. They make some of the finest coasters going and I'm sure that certain designs have different restraints for a reason. Hulk is not Rockin' Rollercoaster...they don't have the same height, speeds, inversions or anything. I don't know enough about the industry to say why they can't make Hulk with the same restraints, but I'm sure there are reasons. I've been on many coasters and many, many of them state that unfortunately, their attraction might not be able to be enjoyed by persons of certain size. It's not just weight, either. Sometimes exceptionally tall people have issues. I know MIB9's isn't obese, but there are attractions that are either uncomfortable or painful for him to ride because of his height (6'4") and I know there are some attractions that cen't be enjoyed by those over a certain height because of the way the restraints are.

I have been on plenty of wooden coasters where I have come off beaten and bruised (and in fact, BTTF is alot like that!) and while I'm not small, nor am I obese, I felt cramped (on the wooden coasters) and uncomfortable.

I sympathize for those who are too large (either chested or just in general) who can't ride, or ride comfortably, but I believe they do the best they can to accomodate the greatest number of people safely and comfortably. I'm certain they don't want to keep people from enjoying their vacations.

I don't believe anyone should be making fun. I also believe that IOA did the best they could to accomodate the majority of shapes and sizes and didn't deliberately set out to descriminate. Let's face it, how many airlines or theaters have seats that are all designed to hold Pooh sized folks? It's a disability in that some things are just not as accessible. Some attractions aren't accessible to folks in wheelchairs either. But they try their best, I think to keep them to a minimum.

Karen

 

[sunni d]

well said MsDis

 

[SpideyHulk24]

 

[damo]

B&M designed coasters have four seats in a row, whether the coaster is inverted, above track or stand up. Their seats are designed for maximum comfort for the majority of people where Vekoma (who makes Rock 'n Roller Coaster) makes their seats in a more bucket style so that just about anyone can ride them but they give up a lot of comfort. This is why B&M is a more popular coaster manufacturer.

 

[dogg2727]

where is the discomfort in the vekoma seats. I thought they are great. Nothing wrong with them.