Obesity and IOA's Rollercoasters

[Bevv]

Reading all of this made me realize what a challenge ride manufacturers have to get their rides available for the maximum amount of people... and how some are limited because of their conditions.

Many roller coaster or thrill rides are not accessible to people who have neck problems, heart problems, are pregnant, have motion sickness, sensitive to sounds, etc. There is no way that every ride will ever be totally accessible to everyone, since there are so many disabilities that people have.

When I go to Universal in a few weeks, I will be very limited due to my motion sickness. I plan on taking medication, but if I cannot counter it with the medication, I plan to enjoy my time anyway.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by dogg2727
where is the discomfort in the vekoma seats. I thought they are great. Nothing wrong with them.

But see that is exactly the point, while Rockin' Rollercoaster is comfortable for YOU...MIB9's and I walked right on by it today and I asked MIB9's if he wanted to hit it and he said he doesn't like Rockin' Rollercoaster because it's very uncomfortable for him. He's not overweight, but he IS 6'4" tall and has VERY long legs.

So that's the problem, you can't make anything that is going to be comfortable for everyone, it seems. As a point of reference, he has no discomfort on Hulk or Dueling Dragons and will ride them over and over. He is not comfortable on a number of rides (space mountain, Journey to Atlantis, BTTF to name a few) and it's all because he's tall...not Jolly Green Giant tall, but just a few inches above the "norm", which means sometimes he has some limitations. Not his fault, it's just something he has to deal with in life.

Karen

 

[dogg2727]

Hey I am 6'3" which is no easy task. I know how he feels. I know exactly how to deal with that. Ask for the front row, I bet you money it has a lot of leg room. I have to ask for that all the time, not to mention I love the front. That is ver spacious.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Here are some interesting facts:

Dueling Dragons has a maximum height restriction of 7' Anyone taller might have their legs hit the other coaster, the wall (ice) or whatnot.

It is recommended that larger people (in height and/or body) get the front row on BTTF. It's slightly roomier. Shaq fit, but he had to sit very diagonally.

Some people who have trouble fitting in/on Hulk or Dueling Dragons have no problem with Doctor Doom's seats.

 

[DocBosch]

People's physical conditions and traits vary widely. These mainstream attractions are mainly designed for the average fit of a person, in order to serve the largest amount of people, with accommodations made for the variables.

Every seat cannot be made to fit everybody, since there are so many different types of people in the world. Some people are too short or too tall, have a handicap, or are too big. These are all physical traits, non of them more pertinent or deserving then the other.

A person that is too big to fit in a regular seat can at least try to sit in the special seats. If they are too big for those, or feel uncomfortable in them, then it's too bad. They can't ride. If you feel that every attraction should accommodate big people perfectly, then shouldn't they all also accommodate the short, the tall, those with handicaps, pregnant women, those with heart conditions, ect?

Or better yet, what about those people who are too big to even get out of bed? Should every coaster seat be designed to accommodate them some how? Some may say this example is far too extreme, but it just shows the absurdity of wanting everything to be perfect and fair for everyone all the time.

You said it wasn't fair that all the big chairs are in the 3rd and 6th rows, because you don't get to ride the front row. But, when Ms Dis mentioned that MIB9 was uncomfortable in the Rockin' Roller Coaster seats because there was not enough room for his legs, you said that he should sit in the front, where there's plenty of room. Well, what if he doesn’t want to sit in the front? By your standards, every seat in the RnR coaster should be adjusted to fit MIB9's lanky legs.

I'm a small guy. I'm 5 foot 5 inches at 20 years old. I had to endure not being able to ride some attractions longer then most people. This is a physical trait of mine, something that I can't help. Was it fair that younger kids got to ride coasters before I was able to? No. But life’s not fair.

It's good that they at least try to make an effort to include as many types of people as possible, but you can't please everybody all the time.

-Kevin

P.S. While I love roller coasters, the water plunge rides, like JP, still manage to some what freak me out. I only feel truly comfortable when the lap bar is securely on my lap, holding me in place. But, whenever I happen to be on JP in the same row as a large person, the lap bar lowers onto them nicely, but hovers a good couple of inches over my lap. This makes my seat uncomfortable, but I also know there's nothing that can be done about. It's just the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by dogg2727
Hey I am 6'3" which is no easy task. I know how he feels. I know exactly how to deal with that. Ask for the front row, I bet you money it has a lot of leg room. I have to ask for that all the time, not to mention I love the front. That is ver spacious.

Nope, for him there is not plenty of leg room. As you might know, there are people who are taller in their upper body and some that are more legs, and MIB9's is almost all legs They are VERY long. I know people who are his height but their legs are nowhere near as long, so I guess that might be true for them. Unfortunately for him, his legs have nowhere to go in alot of these rides. Have you ever heard people requesting a certain seat at Rockin' Rollercoaster? Everyone wants either the front or the back (of course, on that one, the front is nothing but a slower ride...there's no real view). They aren't usually real accomodating with the requests, otherwise the line would get backed up.

You didn't see where the discomfort is in Rockin' Rollercoaster and you think it's fine and B&M should follow their example, and I gave you an example of how it's not true for everyone. You aren't comfortable on Hulk and/or dragons, but you CAN ride, it's your choice, just like it's MIB9's choice to ride or not ride RRC.

Karen

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by DocBosch

P.S. While I love roller coasters, the water plunge rides, like JP, still manage to some what freak me out. I only feel truly comfortable when the lap bar is securely on my lap, holding me in place. But, whenever I happen to be on JP in the same row as a large person, the lap bar lowers onto them nicely, but hovers a good couple of inches over my lap. This makes my seat uncomfortable, but I also know there's nothing that can be done about. It's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Try riding it with the lapbar all the way up, and make sure you keep it up-it likes to come down on the lift hills. Now that's a rush/scary when you go over the drop. And yes, I did do the hands-up thing as well with that.

 

[Elk34]

I wondered about a maximum height restriction on Dueling Dragons. I am as MsDis stated "Jolly Green Giant" sized at 6'10" and 245 pounds and was never asked my height and never checked. If 7' is a cut off and a safety concern it would have been nice to at least be asked since I am pretty close to 7'. As it was I tried to keep my legs pulled back a little just in case.

Also, there has never been an "adult" ride that I was not able to fit on and there are very few people walking around that are bigger than me. You just kind of learn how to fit around the obstacles. The hardest for me was Space Mtn but I learned that the back seat works fine. Tea Cups are tight too. but I managed to make it on with my 2 daughters.

I can see how being overweight can really cause problems fitting but being tall, even if you have very long legs (I have a 39" inseam) it seems like you can make it work. I guess it also helps to have a wife who is used to getting squished by me too.

 

[MsDisney]

I can see how being overweight can really cause problems fitting but being tall, even if you have very long legs (I have a 39" inseam) it seems like you can make it work. I guess it also helps to have a wife who is used to getting squished by me too.

Wow...that's a heck of an inseam! Shopping for new pants must be fun!

Kevin (MIB9's) CAN ride everything, but I was pointing out that because of his long legs, comfort is not always an option...the thing is, the OP on this thread IS able to ride, but finds it uncomfortable. I was just making that comparison. Not everything is made to fit everyone comfortably.

It was funny, at MIB yesterday, Kevin and I did single riders and we ended up in the same car, so I gave him the back row...I said, "I don't want your big head in my way" and I looked to the other two people in his row and the guy in his row was even taller than him, by a good number of inches...so I told him I didn't want HIS big head in my way either!

On DD, when you sit in the seat, the attendants can often see if someone is not tall enough by where their heads line up (and my kids used to get pulled off to remeasure ALL the time when they were just at 54". I have a feeling they are trained to notice the same thing on someone who is potentially too tall...although I can't say for sure.

Karen

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Elk34
Tea Cups are tight too. but I managed to make it on with my 2 daughters.

I can see how being overweight can really cause problems fitting but being tall, even if you have very long legs (I have a 39" inseam) it seems like you can make it work. I guess it also helps to have a wife who is used to getting squished by me too.

You'll be amazed at Storm Force Accelatron, then. Though it's basically a teacup ride, the pods are bigger than the Disney Teacups and can hold 4-5 adults or 5-6 kids. Larger guests often fit 2-3 per pod and it's very common for them to have some space. Not always a lot, but some. For the tall/long legged ones, sitting diagionally is common.

 

[Darkennon]

Originally posted by BobRob
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.

No no, tell the fatties that virtually every B&M coaster has the fatty seat. Sorry to burst the bubble but this has nothing to do with IoA or Universal in general trying to accomidate larger guests. Batmans have the fatty seat. Alpengeist has the fatty seat. Montu has the fatty seat. Raptor has the fatty seat. Wildfire has the fatty seat.

I think you get my point. B&M is very considerate of overweight park patrons. Basically, what it comes down to is if you cannot fit in a B&M coaster, you should reassess your living habbits because there may well be a problem.

 

[YenSid1222]

I think those comments are a bit uncalled for here. There are many people who need the larger guest seat who are not "fatty". But, yes, they have existed on B&M coasters long before IoA came along.

Also, there was a comment about the front of RocknRoller Coaster going slower than the back...call me crazy, but if that were true, the back would pass the front.

 

[MsDisney]

Basically, what it comes down to is if you cannot fit in a B&M coaster, you should reassess your living habbits because there may well be a problem.

I guess we better chop MIB9's legs down a bit then!

Well, he fits, just not comfortably...but it has nothing to do with...what did you call it? Being a fatty?

As a point of reference, I've seen some men on Hulk that needed such a seat, and I can tell you, they weren't fat...they were...well...um...well built!!! (think large upper body)

In case anyone cares, I think that the use of the term "fatty seats" is a bit unnecessary.

Karen

 

[Darkennon]

Originally posted by MsDisney
In case anyone cares, I think that the use of the term "fatty seats" is a bit unnecessary. :roleyes:

Karen

The problem is not in general - there are very few people who do NOT fit in those rides- and most who do not take it in stride. I just absolutely cannot stand the few that decide that since they are too fat to fit in the ride, the park is incosiderate of them, the coaster company hates them and the world is out to get them.

If you're fat you're fat. Accept it, deal with it, and if it poses you problems in life, such as not being able to fit in the front row of the Hulk Coaster, then see medical assistence in finding ways to solve your problem. Don't blame theme parks or coaster companies for your waist size. THAT is the real point here.

 

[jeannej]

On all three roller coasters at IOA, there are larger seats for those of us that are fat. I have asked and always been seated in a wider larger seat that accomodates me just fine. I have never been bruised or hurt because I asked if there were larger seats.

As a matter of fact, in front of at least one of the roller coasters are examples of seats that the ride utilizes. One is larger. I have alsways tried to make sure I fit in the seat before attempting to ride the ride. Now, I am not huge, but I am fat.

Plus, all the employees I have encountered have been very kind and accomodating.

I am sorry that you have had a bad experience. But, those of us that are fat have to realize that not all the rides will accomadate us.

Jeanne

 

[jeannej]

Originally posted by Darkennon
The problem is not in general - there are very few people who do NOT fit in those rides- and most who do not take it in stride. I just absolutely cannot stand the few that decide that since they are too fat to fit in the ride, the park is incosiderate of them, the coaster company hates them and the world is out to get them.

If you're fat you're fat. Accept it, deal with it, and if it poses you problems in life, such as not being able to fit in the front row of the Hulk Coaster, then see medical assistence in finding ways to solve your problem. Don't blame theme parks or coaster companies for your waist size. THAT is the real point here.

What a load of crap. Most people that are of large girth do tke in stride along with a lot of other crap people like you dish out.

Jeanne

 

[dogg2727]

you go girl

 

[pnelson]

Jeanne,

What points are you disagreeing with on Darkennon's statement? From what I've read, it makes sense. He/she may not be saying it in the most sensitive way, but I agree with the part about taking responsibility and not blaming the themepark for something that is the person's own fault.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Actually, statistics show that more than 50% Americans are overweight and more than 30% are considered obese.

Therefore, if the theme park engineers and the manufacturers were smart, they should build as the trend, not based on what was or what someone summizes the average size.

Also, since many rides have height requirements or restrictions, why not have a seat capacity (the seat dimensions length, height, girth and depth). So, individuals can measure themselves, prior to visiting the park, to see if they are accomodating to their size and stature. It is no different than a 7 yo who's parents want to know if the child is tall enough for the ride.

It seems that this thread creates a valid point. Theme parks have created criteria for handicapped, hearing impaired, etc. Isn't obesity a form of medical condition? Therefore, shouldn't their be a criteria for the condition? It seems to be the fair thing to do and as statistics show, it seems to be the smart thing to do.

Also, if you walk around WDW and US, you will see many sizes and shapes of people who visit. Not everyone is 12 yo and not everyone is size 8 or a 28" waist.

How I see it is; no matter what your size, the money is still green!

 

[pnelson]

Well, this is probably becoming a topic more fitting to the debate board, but I don't agree that obesity is a medical condition. I look at this problem as very simple-If you can't fit on the ride as it's designed, then don't go on. Just as you said, parents with small children can't ride all the rides. If you are overweight and know it, then you need to accept that fact that all rides are not going to be accessible to you. But to blame it on a "medical condition" is a "load of crap" to quote someone. And it's pretty pitiful and pathetic that our country has 50% of it citizens that are overweight. I think that's the biggest joke of all.