Pooh size problems...rudeness

[quigs3]

Congratulations on your weight loss! You worked hard to lose the weight, and I'm so glad you were able to enjoy the rides! That's all that matters! Period! Pay no mind to those rude, self-centered, obnoxious people!

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree with this! I was reading your post and thinking to myself that it is understandable to want to sit next to your loved one (I'm going with my 9 year old son in November and a major part of the fun for me is trying to watch his expressions and hear him whooping and hollering next to me on the rides), and would probably have at least asked why you were not moving over. (Of course, after reading this thread, I'll know why and not have to ask! LOL) However, once you had explained it to me I would have been like, "Oh, ok!" and simply taken whatever seat was available. We have several coasters here at our local theme park where you can't sit side-by-side simply due to the nature of the ride, and it doesn't diminish the fun of the ride at all. There is no need to be rude and snotty to someone once you know the reason for their actions. Congratulations on your weight loss! I just lost 25 pounds myself and am working on the last 10 - I know what an emotional "roller coaster" (no pun intended! ) it can be!

FWIW, on Hulk, Dragon Challenge, FJ...you really can't look over and see anyone's face. Same on Rip Ride Rockit. Those harnesses are pretty big!

I acknowledge that you've heard the explanation and now don't have to ask...but you also say you would ask. It's a one-time thing for you. But for the OP it's every time s/he goes to ride these rides. Definitely not one-time.


Like phamton I would have assumed that the extended seat is on the side, too! It is for FJ! How odd.

 

[BlueIvy]

I didn't think about writing guest services but I believe I should. Just because my experience really ruined a good portion of my day and I'm already depressed and embarassed and to have to constantly explain that I'm bigger and need that seat was very hard on me . I'm going to suggest they use those rows for single riders or they can atleast put a big sticker on the seat indicating its the modified seat so when it does come up someone can simply point to the sticker because it really was embarassing explaining to people why I needed the seat than having them stare at me like I had three heads. They didn't even say "oh okay" just ignored my explanation . I didn't even know which one was the modified seat the first couple of times because there was nothing indicating this was the bigger seat . I had to ask the cm to point me to the seat the first two times.

Sent from my SPH-M930BST using DISBoards

 

[knewton64]

Just finished the final day of my vacation at Universal/Seaworld . I just want to say a few things about my experience. I've been overweight my entire life and last year I was so uncomfortable on rides . I took my kids to the state fair and I couldn't fit anything. Not even one ride. My kids cried when they couldn't go on certain rides because I was too big to ride with them. I got serious about weightloss and I've lost 107 pounds in a little over a year and a few months.

This trip I was finally brave enough to attempt the major coasters . I've always been deathly terrified of the huge coasters. The last time I got up enough nerve to face my fear I went to the test seat at The Hulk and it was so embarassing. I could not even sit down in the seat my hips were too big.

This trip I was a ball of nerves ...and I walked up to the test seat...and I fit. I was overjoyed ...I was a big ball of nerves as I walked onto the ride for the first time . I was pointed to the modified seat which is the third seat in the third row. I sat down..the people behind me told me no move down to the last seat . I told them no this is the modified seat . They we're confused and clearly annoyed I was breaking up their party. The cm told them I was to sit where I was and they had to sit at the end .

I rode the ride...it was fantastic. I didn't die . I wanted to ride again so I did . Again...same encounter . People telling me to move over upset they can't sit directly next to their loved one. My triumph quickly turned back into embarassment. People can't just take a seat and ride . Each and every time I rode I had to tell people why I'm sitting in that particular spot.

My final time riding was the worst experience. I was leaving the park and decided to ride one last time ( I also rode dueling dragons. I fit in the manta and kraken test seats...but I got chicken and decided i'd rather lose more weight before I attempt those eventhough I fit comfortably)

So I'm boarding the hulk for the final time and a woman with her two kids tell me to move over. I was so tired of explaining myself at this point but I smiled and told them this is the modified seat and buckled up. The mom would not take no for an answer. She got angry...stormed up to the cm pointed at me and said she's not moving! She won't move down so I can sit next to my son! Why can't she move over so I can sit next to my kid?!

Her son meanwhile is sitting next to me asking me why won't I move over. I told him this is the modified seat and he said what's that? I said its for the bigger people. The mom returned but she was clearly angry she didn't get her way and it made my final ride very awkward and embarassing.

I also had a rude experience on jurassic park. The cm was putting people in rows. She placed me at the end next to a woman and the woman told the cm I would not fit next to her in a snotty tone . I guess she felt I would be smushing up against her. The cm was really nice and told me to sit there anyway . I sat in the seat and did not smush into her at all.

I bit my tongue a lot. I was really embarassed and people are very rude.

....exactly what you are posting about. WHen I experienced my 104 pound natural weight loss (July 24th - Dec 2013), I went from a size 51 men's pants down to a size 40 and I tell you what - YES - along the way and even to NOW, I am noticing that society is waayyy to judgemental on a person's weight.

Nontheless, the weight loss was the best thing that has ever happened to me as you will see my weight loss journal noted starting on posting #77 on page 6 of my "adventures n SAn Fran, Rose Bowl" trip report you see listed below in my signature....complete even with before and after pictures.

The end result?? I am now approx 200 more days away from celebrating my weight loss with a ZIP LINING adventures n 2 Catalina Island AND Disneyland -
and.......
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! = YYEEAAA!!!! (Jan 2 I will b @ Universal Studios Hollywood).


P.S. and the most funny but embarrassing thing I experienced when I flew from DFW to LAX for my December 2013 Rose Bowl adventure??
Was having to explain to the lady seated next to me on the plane WHY I was taking pictures of my "section between my hips"........

** SEE POSTING #144 page 10 of my "Adventures n SAn Fran, ROse Bowl...." trip report to see the picture I am referencing to **



....she thought it was jjuussttt a weeeee bit creepy until I explained that before??? ** I HAD ABSOUTELY NO SEAT LAP BELT LEFT OVER AND THAT MY LAP BELT WAS BUCKLED LITERALLY AROUND MY THIGHS AND NOT AROUND MY WAIST **

Now??

=
(I now have lots left over & can click the seatbelt now around my waist)

even my Dog is getting into the act as she too has lost weight! Gone from 34.2 pounds down to 24.8



and yes, you even still see me talk about my weight - starting on page 2 of my below listed "My adventures n England & Scotland" blog -


congrats on your weight loss - keep up the good work - and please....don't let anyone spoil your fun. I bet they don't even know it feels.

ANYWHO -
HUGS FROM DALLAS, TEXAS

 

[damo]

I didn't think about writing guest services but I believe I should. Just because my experience really ruined a good portion of my day and I'm already depressed and embarassed and to have to constantly explain that I'm bigger and need that seat was very hard on me . I'm going to suggest they use those rows for single riders or they can atleast put a big sticker on the seat indicating its the modified seat so when it does come up someone can simply point to the sticker because it really was embarassing explaining to people why I needed the seat than having them stare at me like I had three heads. They didn't even say "oh okay" just ignored my explanation . I didn't even know which one was the modified seat the first couple of times because there was nothing indicating this was the bigger seat . I had to ask the cm to point me to the seat the first two times.

Sent from my SPH-M930BST using DISBoards

Guest Services is excellent and they will take your recommendations seriously.

 

[rowan555]

Guest Services is excellent and they will take your recommendations seriously.

I definitely think you should write them as well - a small change in protocol on that ride could make a HUGE difference for many guests.

 

[hbisch]

I have to use the modified seats as well, and generally travel on my own - however, I'm also a die hard scrapbooker and my first thoughts when reading this thread were as a scrapbooker... I'd want my family/group together in 'The Picture' from each of the rides - lol - so I can understand a group or family wanting to sit next to each other for the picture 'cuz that's how I think...

I know the rides load very fast, but I don't think it's unreasonable for the cast members to take into consideration seating families/groups together and filling the odd seats with single riders when there is a person that specifically needs to use the modified seats as so many other pp's have suggested.

 

[slickpoetry]

I totally understand families wanting to ride together (especially with younger/nervous children), but couldn't they just ask the CM to put them on the next train? Would that have caused a major issue? Its certainly better than making a fellow human being feel miserable.

 

[rowan555]

I totally understand families wanting to ride together (especially with younger/nervous children), but couldn't they just ask the CM to put them on the next train? Would that have caused a major issue? Its certainly better than making a fellow human being feel miserable.

It's not really their fault, though, it's the CM's fault for not communicating the situation. If my daughter and I were boarding a ride and someone in front of me took the middle seat rather than going to the end, I'd be a little miffed and assume they were being rude. It's just a bad situation for EVERYONE. I'm not in any way excusing the rudeness of ANYONE, but I can understand why a person would be taken aback by having someone who seems to not be following the accepted ride-boarding protocol of sitting in the open seat farthest down the row.

 

[kmermaid]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I greatly appreciate you posting your experiences because now I am aware of what is going on because I would be a little miffed too. It seems UO handles the seating differently than Disney. Disney doesn't put strangers next to each other. Two years ago I was in line with my 2 kids for the Hippogriffs ride. When we got to the front I wasn't thinking and they were putting my one kid with a odd looking women and she wasn't comfortable with that, I quickly changed positions. I thought like disney the rider would be by themselves.

 

[jsh1975]

Best idea I have read is using the modified seat rows as the single rider rows. All problems solved unless each row has a modified seat then it will require the cm to think.

 

[hermionesnape]

Guest services doesn't even have to do much. If you are not a single rider and need the mod seat then your other party members will fill in the seats around you. If you are single rider you go through the single rider line and the team member just needs to send another single rider to fill up the far seat. Leaving two seat open for a party of two or more single riders of there are no parties of two in line.

This would keep everyone happy.

I can understand requesting someone to move down to the end, I wouldn't because I know what the mod seats look like and why someone is in them but not everyone knows what a mad seat is.

 

[mbrou24]

Best idea I have read is using the modified seat rows as the single rider rows. All problems solved unless each row has a modified seat then it will require the cm to think.

I believe they are in rows 3 and 6 respectively.

 

[macraven]

I believe they are in rows 3 and 6 respectively.

that's right.

i go solo and many times the TM will ask me to move to another seat so a guest can use the seat that will accomodate them.

it's never a problem for me.
i'll sit anywhere, i just want to do the ride.
i can't see what's going on during the ride most of the time no matter where i sit.

 

[johde]

The placement of "big boy" seats are fairly consistent amongst B&M coasters that support them. As previous mention on Hulk and Dragon Challenge it is Rows 3 and 6. I'm fairly sure it's also rows 3 and 6 on Montu, Kunba and Kraken at Busch Gardens/Sea World. Shiekra has "big boy" seats in all 3 rows. In every case though they are towards the middle of the train and not on the ends.

One rumor I heard on one of the other themepark website I frequent is the designers of the coaster trains chose those seats specifically as the safest seats for larger riders where the restraints aren't down as far as normally required but given the addition of an extra seat belt. The rumor goes that the forces are enough different on the outside of the trains as well as the front and the back that they didn't feel as safe putting the modified seats there. I'm not sure if there is any truth to it.

Another similar rumor I've heard is those are the safest seats not necessarily for the large rider, but for the small rider who may also be sitting in that seat. By putting the modified restraints in the middle of the trains, if the restraints would fail and open to the side of where the seat belts length is, a smaller rider is less likely to fall out of the side because of the other seats on either side. On the ends, there's more room than with a normal seat belt and a slightly larger possibility of a small person falling out if the restrains fail. I don't know if either rumor is true. But every B&M "big boy" seat I've ridden has been in nearly the same location on the train.

Congratulation on the weight loss.

 

[buzz2400]

I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR LOSING WEIGHT. I am very overweight and have tried and tried to lose weight so kudos for you for doing it.

My problem with universal is that I get to the front of the line and tell the cm that I need the big seat and they look at me like i'm talking a foreign language.

I can see where visitors would think you are being rude not moving all the way down but to be rude about it, there is no excuse. I was being put on a disney ride and they wanted to squeeze my son and myself in this little tiny area (it the movie ride at hollywood studios). I flatly told the cm no, I will wait for the next ride because there was no way I was going to be uncomfortable (this ride is kind a long). I betcha the people who were sitting there breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't get in. People do treat overweight people different, like we have the plague.

But anyway, next time you go and you experience something like this, just say yo hablo espaniola, no hablo englisia. Don't know the spelling but you probably got the gist of what I am trying to say.

 

[bumbershoot]

My problem with universal is that I get to the front of the line and tell the cm that I need the big seat and they look at me like i'm talking a foreign language.

I can see where visitors would think you are being rude not moving all the way down but to be rude about it, there is no excuse. I was being put on a disney ride and they wanted to squeeze my son and myself in this little tiny area (it the movie ride at hollywood studios). I flatly told the cm no, I will wait for the next ride because there was no way I was going to be uncomfortable (this ride is kind a long). I betcha the people who were sitting there breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't get in. People do treat overweight people different, like we have the plague.

This is interesting. Our experience has been that the TMs (and CMs at WDW) automatically can tell where to put people of size. And they almost never squeeze people in (except for on small world where they jammed 4 extra-size adults into one row and left the entire ride go out with only that ONE row filled...and it was two separate couples, not traveling together! ridiculous). They are very good at determining who needs the extra room.

So...is it possible that maybe you're not in as much need of losing weight than you think you are? If they aren't automatically sending you to the bigger seat, maybe they think you can fit in the regular seat? On FJ when I was 220 at 5'3", they just automatically sent me to the end, no questions asked no need for me to ask about it.

And both TMs and CMs (except for the small world guy) have sent our family to the correct sized rows where we would fit.

I wonder if your eyes are seeing yourself as bigger than TMs are. Eyes are deceiptful sometimes! They saw me one way when I was bigger, and it took me over a year to stop turning sideways to get through turnstiles once I got smaller. Or maybe it's just my eyeballs that are liars when I look at myself.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

As I've read through this thread, I agree with other posters that this really is more Universal's problem. You should not have been responsible for explaining their poor planning.

It's perfectly reasonable for you to have been sitting in a designated seat, and for you to not have to interact with other guests at all about the reason. It's nobody's business, and unfair for you to have to explain the reason. I can also understand why it's also perfectly reasonable for family members to want to sit together, especially if they specifically waited in a long line instead of a shorter single rider line so they could do so.

I'm sorry that people were rude to you. You didn't deserve that. Hopefully most were just confused and disappointed in a very hurried moment where they didn't get what they had a right to expect, and blurted out their frustration. But they certainly should have directed it toward Universal, and not toward you.

I hope you do write to Universal. They certainly need to fix this issue. If I were in that situation I would definitely want you to be treated with respect, and I would also want to be able to ride with my grandson.