Ride Seat Question

[Valgoof]

Disney vet, Universal newbie. Will either be going to US/IOA for 2 days in mid-December along with Disney trip or will be doing a 3-4 day all US/IOA trip in May. Either way--my question is about fitting onto the rides. I am fat (see no reason to pretend I am not), mainly chest and belly. I can ride everything at Disney with no problem. At Seaworld, I rode Manta but could not ride Kraken. I know I will not fit on FJ, but how many other rides should I be concerned about? How many have the over the shoulder restraint since I know that is usually my issue???

 

[JessicaR]

You may have a problem with Hulk, Dragon Challenge and Rip Ride Rockit. They have test seats out front.

 

[DCTooTall]

There may also be issues with Dudley Do-right (Log flume ride...with lap bars that make it a pain to get in/out of the ride even if you are skinny but on the taller side).

Dr Doom may be troublesome as well.


Again though, All rides where there may be issues with people fitting into the ride safely, the always have test seats available outside the ride which you can use to check before wasting time in line.

Some of the coasters also have a few seats/rows with "modified seating" which larger guests can use if they can't fit in the regular seats.

 

[Valgoof]

Thanks for the info. I am fine with trying the test seats, just wanted to know how many rides I might be missing. If it were half the park, I wouldn't go.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

The biggest problem people have with Dudley Do-Right is sitting improperly. If you try to just "sit down" you're going to hurt your knees. This applies to people of all shapes and sizes. If you're taller than 5'8", you want to AVOID the front and back at all costs. Sitting in the middle three seats is best. The best technique (and this works) is to treat it like a slide. Legs go straight out in front of you and then slide in. Bent knees = BAD. I've seen many larger people use the slide method and have no problems. The lapbar is the least of your concerns. There is a test log at the ride entrance.

Dudley also does have a modified seat in one of the logs. You can request that log, but you may have to wait an extra 5 mins.

The modified seating is in rows 3 and 6 of Hulk and Dragons, row 3 at Rockit. Those also have test seats out front for regular and modified. Doctor Doom's seats are all the same, and there is a test seat out front. Mummy has a test seat out front, and the back rows are more accommodating than the front.

 

[Kristine316]

You know I never even thought about this and now I am sort of concerned!!

We have been to Disney a couple times and I rode everything no problems at all but, I am wondering if I need to be worried about fitting on rides at Universal?

I am 5'8 and wear a size 18 jeans. I carry my weight in my lower half.. my stomach and waist are smaller.

Is it true that I may not be able to ride a bunch of rides at Universal like HPFJ?

My teenage sons would be mortified if I was called out in front of everyone as being too fat to ride.

I had a very bad experience several years ago at a small local amusement park when I couldn't get the seat belt to fasten on a small wooden rollercoaster. There were bigger people than me riding so, I couldn't figure out why that belt wouldn't fit across me. I had to get off the ride in front of everyone and it was very humiliating. The employee working the ride didn't even try to help me, he just told me I was.."too big to ride". Then a guy got in my same seat right after me and had jerked really hard on the seatbelt and at least half of it was jammed up under the seat... that is why I couldn't fit!
I have never forgotten the humiliation of that.. even though it was more I didn't realize half of the seatbelt was stuck.

I would rather not even try to ride a ride than to go through a humiliating experience like that again!

 

[Metro West]

You know I never even thought about this and now I am sort of concerned!!

We have been to Disney a couple times and I rode everything no problems at all but, I am wondering if I need to be worried about fitting on rides at Universal?

I am 5'8 and wear a size 18 jeans. I carry my weight in my lower half.. my stomach and waist are smaller.

Is it true that I may not be able to ride a bunch of rides at Universal like HPFJ?

My teenage sons would be mortified if I was called out in front of everyone as being too fat to ride.

I had a very bad experience several years ago at a small local amusement park when I couldn't get the seat belt to fasten on a small wooden rollercoaster. There were bigger people than me riding so, I couldn't figure out why that belt wouldn't fit across me. I had to get off the ride in front of everyone and it was very humiliating. The employee working the ride didn't even try to help me, he just told me I was.."too big to ride". Then a guy got in my same seat right after me and had jerked really hard on the seatbelt and at least half of it was jammed up under the seat... that is why I couldn't fit!
I have never forgotten the humiliation of that.. even though it was more I didn't realize half of the seatbelt was stuck.

I would rather not even try to ride a ride than to go through a humiliating experience like that again!

If you are doubting your abililty to ride certain rides, make sure you try out the test seats before getting in the queue...that's why the test seats are there. You won't have an embarrassing experience. It's too bad you had that experience at your local park but there is no comparison between a small local amusement park and a world class theme park.

Just make sure you try out the test seats on the rides that offer them if you are concerned you won't be able to ride.

 

[Planogirl]

You know I never even thought about this and now I am sort of concerned!!

We have been to Disney a couple times and I rode everything no problems at all but, I am wondering if I need to be worried about fitting on rides at Universal?

I am 5'8 and wear a size 18 jeans. I carry my weight in my lower half.. my stomach and waist are smaller.

Is it true that I may not be able to ride a bunch of rides at Universal like HPFJ?

My teenage sons would be mortified if I was called out in front of everyone as being too fat to ride.

I had a very bad experience several years ago at a small local amusement park when I couldn't get the seat belt to fasten on a small wooden rollercoaster. There were bigger people than me riding so, I couldn't figure out why that belt wouldn't fit across me. I had to get off the ride in front of everyone and it was very humiliating. The employee working the ride didn't even try to help me, he just told me I was.."too big to ride". Then a guy got in my same seat right after me and had jerked really hard on the seatbelt and at least half of it was jammed up under the seat... that is why I couldn't fit!
I have never forgotten the humiliation of that.. even though it was more I didn't realize half of the seatbelt was stuck.

I would rather not even try to ride a ride than to go through a humiliating experience like that again!

I keep seeing people say that the Universal TM's are very discrete about this type of thing particularly at Forbidden Journey. I'm sorry that you were humiliated at that other place.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

If you are doubting your abililty to ride certain rides, make sure you try out the test seats before getting in the queue...that's why the test seats are there. You won't have an embarrassing experience. It's too bad you had that experience at your local park but there is no comparison between a small local amusement park and a world class theme park.

Just make sure you try out the test seats on the rides that offer them if you are concerned you won't be able to ride.

This, so much, especially the part in bold. Sadly, many people just pass by the test seats without even giving them a second thought. It would save a lot of people the embarrassment of getting to the loading platform only to find out they can't fit.

And believe it or not, there are people who have said "you should have a sign/test seat out front" on rides where there IS a test seat. They just didn't look.