Our no good very bad day

[Planogirl]

Did your Mom try to sit in one of the new larger seats? Those are supposed to help a lot with this problem.

Universal is said to be accommodating people as best they can on that ride. After all there is more involved than just what the arm can hold. Besides if all seats are made large enough to hold very large people then how do they continue to be safe for kids and other small people? You have to logically have a middle ground somewhere.

I'm sorry that this happened to your Mom but if you go to other themeparks you will find such restrictions on many, many rides.

 

[EAW]

I have been to Universal about 5 times and this past January was the first time I had ever fit into the roller coaster seats. I still did not fit into the HP ride. It is no ones fault but mine. The least little bit of research of the Universal forum on this site would have shown that Potter is a tough fit.

When it opened it had no plus sized seats but they have added some since then. Blaming Universal is just plain silly.

I have never had to research whether or not I could participate in any of Disney's amenities. So naturally Universal's business model was unusual in my opinion. Now your attitude in accepting hardships and challenges is admirable and responsible. Before you miss the bus on my main point is not about one's challenges with weight, disabilities, the point is that my family should not have to wonder if the trip they paid for will actually have accommodations. This again supports my assertion that because Universal does not make accommodations, or at least is slow to make them, they will never beat Disney.

When I leave a park of Universal or Disney's caliber, Disney has yet to disappoint.

Just to give you an example:
If one goes horseback riding there are clear weight restrictions. The difference between horseback riding and Universal are that horses are live animals and can't be adapted and also the owners of such a business will at least tell customers before they purchase.

 

[phamton]

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that it wasn't her arms that caused a problem. The restraints can't be quite uncomfortable for people who are well-endowed. I am quite sure that the restraints fit but her larger chest was being squished which made the restraint painful.

I do not know if my source is accurate, but after doing research (and after quoting this information to Universal which was neither confirmed nor denied), I found that the arms at the Harry Potter ride can hold up to 2000 pounds. With four seats on each arm, that means the seats could technically hold 4 500 pound individuals.

We have stated on this board many times that it is all about the body dimensions not the weight. The restraints work well for people who carry their weight in their hips or thighs but not for those who carry their weight in their upper body or tummy.

 

[EAW]

Did your Mom try to sit in one of the new larger seats? Those are supposed to help a lot with this problem.

Universal is said to be accommodating people as best they can on that ride. After all there is more involved than just what the arm can hold. Besides if all seats are made large enough to hold very large people then how do they continue to be safe for kids and other small people? You have to logically have a middle ground somewhere.

I'm sorry that this happened to your Mom but if you go to other themeparks you will find such restrictions on many, many rides.

No we have not tried them, granted we haven't been back to Universal in almost two years. What I don't understand in your question is why would Universal replace all their seats with unsafe seats? My thought was how hard would it have been to include a few larger seats before opening the Harry Potter ride.

 

[Planogirl]

No we have not tried them, granted we haven't been back to Universal in almost two years. What I don't understand in your question is why would Universal replace all their seats with unsafe seats? My thought was how hard would it have been to include a few larger seats before opening the Harry Potter ride.

This was almost two years ago? It must have been just after they opened the ride?

I initially misread your post as saying that all seats should be much larger than they are. They did try to accommodate which is good but I agree that it's a shame that they didn't have that in place to start with.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Perhaps you are right, we try to accommodate too many people. People should just deal with it right? You've had cancer before? Sucks for you. You have a thyroid problem? Sucks for you. You've had a knee surgery? Oh well.

Then we should also say, you have disability? You don't have a right to be here. You aren't perfect, you don't get to enjoy life. Suck it up, move on.

Our technology and machines allow us to accommodate you, but we don't feel like making the design. This means you do not want those customers. This is not about them creating a brand new machine that has never existed. This is not about putting hand rails in national parks. This is about making a seat more accommodating, not even changing weight restrictions.

See the problem isn't that Universal has to accommodate all these gosh darn fat people who have no right to enjoy life until they loose weight, this is about them designing a seat.

By this argument, then ALL theme/amusement parks should redo their rides to accommodate ALL shapes and sizes. Nobody will ever be too short, too tall, too big or too small. It's not about excluding certain groups of people, it's about safety. There is no way to make an attraction such as this (i.e thrill ride) accommodating for all types. And ok, so they make some seats available for bigger folks, and some for smaller folks...are they going to take measurements before each person gets on, and have them stand in the appropriate queue for their body type? And what if Dad is a bigger guy, but little Johnny needs tighter restraints? Are they supposed to have multiple ride vehicles with all different variations of restraints/sizes? From a logistical standpoint, that just makes no sense.

 

[EAW]

By this argument, then ALL theme/amusement parks should redo their rides to accommodate ALL shapes and sizes. Nobody will ever be too short, too tall, too big or too small. It's not about excluding certain groups of people, it's about safety. There is no way to make an attraction such as this (i.e thrill ride) accommodating for all types. And ok, so they make some seats available for bigger folks, and some for smaller folks...are they going to take measurements before each person gets on, and have them stand in the appropriate queue for their body type? And what if Dad is a bigger guy, but little Johnny needs tighter restraints? Are they supposed to have multiple ride vehicles with all different variations of restraints/sizes? From a logistical standpoint, that just makes no sense.

Logically and logistically speaking, the answer to all your questions is yes. I hate to use this comparison, but disney does have adjustable restraints, alternate vehicles, variable chair and seat sizes, preposted height measurements, etc. If you went to a park without any of these options available, they would not fulfill legal requirements for accessibility and there is a good chance they would never compete on such a large scale. Even hotels are now required by the federal government to own and operate pool chair lifts for every pool and hot tub. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't figure out how to design adjustable rides? Universal does not have to reinvent the wheel, meaning they don't have to invent some new technology. This is already logistically possible.

Admittedly, in my first post I spoke mostly of our emotional heartache, and in my second post I speak much more about logistics. I did speak much more about my belief that this is already available, simply not selected by Universal.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

No we have not tried them, granted we haven't been back to Universal in almost two years. What I don't understand in your question is why would Universal replace all their seats with unsafe seats? My thought was how hard would it have been to include a few larger seats before opening the Harry Potter ride.

Are you seriously complaining about something that happened two years ago?

All the comparisons you are making is such a stretch.

 

[EAW]

Are you seriously complaining about something that happened two years ago?

All the comparisons you are making is such a stretch.

The question posed was how was your experience at Universal, and I told my story. Attacking me personally doesn't prove anything.

 

[macraven]

The question posed was how was your experience at Universal, and I told my story. Attacking me personally doesn't prove anything.

if there was an attack, i missed it.


the trip report forum isn't a debate board.

this is the one forum i love coming to for reading and looking at the pictures of those that want to share their vacations with others.
i enjoy all the details that are put into them.


op, if you want to talk about your experience and ask about others experiences, you could get more responses on the community boards or main board at the darkside.

 

[Granny square]

Perhaps you are right, we try to accommodate too many people. People should just deal with it right? You've had cancer before? Sucks for you. You have a thyroid problem? Sucks for you. You've had a knee surgery? Oh well. Then we should also say, you have disability? You don't have a right to be here. You aren't perfect, you don't get to enjoy life. Suck it up, move on. Our technology and machines allow us to accommodate you, but we don't feel like making the design. This means you do not want those customers. This is not about them creating a brand new machine that has never existed. This is not about putting hand rails in national parks. This is about making a seat more accommodating, not even changing weight restrictions. See the problem isn't that Universal has to accommodate all these gosh darn fat people who have no right to enjoy life until they loose weight, this is about them designing a seat.

My aunt couldn't ride the create your roller coaster at Disneyquest. And Everest has the same warnings.

There has to be a limit. Everyone is not going to be able to do everything.

 

[EAW]

I am truly sorry your mum was upset, that couldn`t have been nice to see for anyone.

But, to say Universal needs to take responsibility for her not fitting on the ride is unfair.

They do have test seats outside in plain view for people who are on the larger side.....I include myself in that phrase too. The rides at Universal are more extreme therefore some body dimensions will not fit into the types of seats these rides have. They do have signs up at certain rides saying this.

There is loads of information online, this website and on other websites from people who have ridden or not ridden due to body dimensions, to say you had seen nothing suggests you had not read some information boards before you left. If I was going anywhere for the first time I would be reading every bit of information possible. Not Universals fault at all.

As for telling people not to go to Universal because you had such a dreadful time......well that is entirely up to you of course. But maybe you could impart the information you have discovered to help others in their planning, it may help someone else who doesn`t know about ride limitation sizes. I know that is what I would do....I would rather help someone if I can rather than dissuade them from going somewhere just because I had a miserable time.

As for cost.......there is no way that Universal is the most expensive theme park in the world......that is quite a claim....and not a correct one.

My family has never had this experience at Disney. So I'm not certain how my family's at fault for having the same expectations for the second most expensive amusement park on planet earth.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Logically and logistically speaking, the answer to all your questions is yes. I hate to use this comparison, but disney does have adjustable restraints, alternate vehicles, variable chair and seat sizes, preposted height measurements, etc. If you went to a park without any of these options available, they would not fulfill legal requirements for accessibility and there is a good chance they would never compete on such a large scale. Even hotels are now required by the federal government to own and operate pool chair lifts for every pool and hot tub. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't figure out how to design adjustable rides? Universal does not have to reinvent the wheel, meaning they don't have to invent some new technology. This is already logistically possible.

Admittedly, in my first post I spoke mostly of our emotional heartache, and in my second post I speak much more about logistics. I did speak much more about my belief that this is already available, simply not selected by Universal.

Would you please care to show me some examples of Disney's "adjustable" restraints? I can name one that doesn't...Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When my dd was younger, we rode together. She cleared the height requirement by a couple of inches. But, with just one lap bar for the 2 of us, me being a grown woman, it rested against my lap, but not hers. She, therefore, slid all around the seat with me holding on to her with my arm around her waist.

By your theory, shouldn't Disney have a sign out front stating that smaller guests riding with bigger guests may not fit the restraints properly? I didn't complain, we just didn't ride for a couple more years, until she was bigger and the restraints fit properly.

 

[EAW]

Would you please care to show me some examples of Disney's "adjustable" restraints? I can name one that doesn't...Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When my dd was younger, we rode together. She cleared the height requirement by a couple of inches. But, with just one lap bar for the 2 of us, me being a grown woman, it rested against my lap, but not hers. She, therefore, slid all around the seat with me holding on to her with my arm around her waist.

By your theory, shouldn't Disney have a sign out front stating that smaller guests riding with bigger guests may not fit the restraints properly? I didn't complain, we just didn't ride for a couple more years, until she was bigger and the restraints fit properly.

If you could address any points that I made I would be happy to answer any new assertions.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

If you could address any points that I made I would be happy to answer any new assertions.

Excuse me?? I quoted your previous post where you stated "I hate to use this comparison, but disney does have adjustable restraints, alternate vehicles, variable chair and seat sizes, preposted height measurements, etc. "

I then asked you to provide examples of their "adjustable restraints", as I had one example of where they do not. I thought I was pretty clear.

 

[aaarcher86]

There's no possible way to accommodate all the different possible body PROPORTIONS. Not possible at all.

Sorry your time (which was apparently 2 years ago?) wasn't what you hoped for.

 

[phamton]

Oh, of course, you missed how obtuse you were being my mistake. Please lecture me some more. When I share an intimate story of my family experiencing a truly embarrassing moment after spending hundreds of dollars primarily to see the Harry Potter ride I LOVE getting snarky replies about how ridiculous it is that I had the audacity to share it. Thank you for your "kind" words.

I don't see any snarky replies except yours to Macraven. Just because others don't agree with you, doesn't make their answers as snarky. Macraven suggested making a thread on the main board about the size requirements rather than having a debate on the trip report board. She is correct as trip reports are usually not debate threads. There have been several threads addressing this issue already but here is one: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3060633 Feel free to start another one on the main Universal/Islands of Adventure forum if this one doesn't address your issues.

 

[EAW]

Excuse me?? I quoted your previous post where you stated "I hate to use this comparison, but disney does have adjustable restraints, alternate vehicles, variable chair and seat sizes, preposted height measurements, etc. "

I then asked you to provide examples of their "adjustable restraints", as I had one example of where they do not. I thought I was pretty clear.

Pardon me, but it's hard to take your latest response seriously when I am being asked a question like I'm on a Perry Mason episode that a cursory internet could satisfy.

So let me redefine my belief. I believe that universal can accommodate people who are larger. If Universal uses Harry Potter as a key marketing area for a target market of people who may be bigger, then they should accommodate them. The technology currently exists. This is simply Universal choosing to not make changes they could make. This is obviously a real issue which is suggested just be the number people on this thread alone who either have had the same problem or known someone else who has. The fundamental issue is that Universal advertises a family park, but refuses to make a change. Universal has come up numerous times on the Dis in the last few weeks, but the fundamental difference still exists between disney and universal. Universal will never compete with disney if they don't listen to the customer.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Clearly you are not willing to site examples for me, and instead suggest I google search. However, I was merely asking for clarification because I don't understand what you are implying that Disney has that Universal doesn't.

But, as others have stated, this is a trip report board, not a debate board, so I will bow out gracefully. I hope you enjoy your next trip more than you did your last one.

 

[EAW]

I don't see any snarky replies except yours to Macraven. Just because others don't agree with you, doesn't make their answers as snarky. Macraven suggested making a thread on the main board about the size requirements rather than having a debate on the trip report board. She is correct as trip reports are usually not debate threads. There have been several threads addressing this issue already but here is one: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3060633 Feel free to start another one on the main Universal/Islands of Adventure forum if this one doesn't address your issues.

You probably missed his first reply.