Rides for big people

[msustarsic]

Are any of the rides difficult for bigger people to fit into. I can fit into most attractions at a Six Flags-type park, but a few newer ones have restraint that do not allow me to ride the attraction. Would like to know so I can avoid them in the planning phase.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

My hubby is a big guy...6'1 300 pounds. He had no problems with any rides. For a few rides we had to ride separately, he and son and then myself alone in front or behind them or vice versa. We didn't mind one bit and it all worked out fine. I know in AK on Kali River Rapids, the belt extends for bigger people and hubby sat in a seat by himself at the suggestion of CM. It was very politely done.

 

[msustarsic]

Thanks for that, I feel much better about planning the trip now that everything is available!

 

[Bearybear]

All Ears has an entire section called WDW at Large about rides for larger people. http://allears.net/tp/ridsiz.htm

 

[minnie mum]

Further down the main forums page you will find the Tips forum. On it is a very long running thread called 'Everything Pooh..." which talks about people's concerns about visiting WDW when they or their family members are Pooh sized. I think you might find it quite helpful.

If I remember correctly, quite a few people have found the Sum of All Thrills to be quite a tight fit. But Disney seems to have taken their larger guests into consideration when constructing their ride vehicles.

Take a look at the other thread for more suggesstions.

 

[kerplop]

I won't go into my exact size details, but I can tell you now that you're probably smaller than me and will be fine on probably everything. Being tall (I'm almost 6 foot) was actually more of a pain than being overweight, to be honest. Are there any rides in particular that you're worried about? I think the only thing I didn't ride was Space Mountain, due to DP's bad back and Mission Space. Everything else was comfortable-ish, and like I said mostly the height was the problem not the weight.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I only have a little trouble getting on the "Journey Into Imagination" ride.

The ride vehicles are "like" the vehicles at Spaceship Earth...BUT...for whatever reason the vehicles aren't embedded in the track SOOOO...the doors on the vehicle that SHOULD come up mid-thigh ...comes up to your lower gut.

The KEY To Walt Disney World for the overweight is being in good shape for the WALKING. The most in shape people can walk 12 MILES PER DAY!!!

That's right...someone could walk 60 miles at Walt Disney World in 5 days!!! That is not counting STANDING for 20-30 minutes at a time, and sometimes longer.

Realistically, if you are worried that you won't fit on rides, and are thus NOT a PERSONAL TRAINER...you can expect to walk 4-8 miles PER DAY. All of these miles DAY AFTER DAY adds up. Your muscles don't get a chance to fully repair themselves and rebuild because you are on them 12+ hours/day EVERYDAY.

Aspercreme on the feet, calves, thighs, and lower back comes in very handy.

 

[ShhhQ]

I really love Disney... but the main reason I prefer Disney World over the much closer, much cheaper theme parks like Six Flags or Kings Island is that I am a Pooh-Size person and while I don't always fit into the safety harnesses or the way too small seats at those parks, I have yet to find a ride at Disney World that I can't ride!

I had the same concerns before my 1st trip in 2007... but I don't think you need to worry. Read the boards that someone else suggested (I was going to but saw someone beat me) and enjoy.

 

[seashoreCM]

Regardless of what any CM says however loudly,

1. It is okay to "overflow" into an adjacent empty seating position.

2. It is not okay to squeeze in next to strangers. Instead hold back for the next row or the next ride vehicle.

 

[Tink0513]

Went to Disney several times with "Pooh sized" pals. My ex father in law was 400 pounds, and one of my friends is 325. Neither of them had ANY issues riding any of the rides at the Disney parks. Universal on the other hand was a different story!!!!

 

[maui13]

I won't go into my exact size details, but I can tell you now that you're probably smaller than me and will be fine on probably everything. Being tall (I'm almost 6 foot) was actually more of a pain than being overweight, to be honest. Are there any rides in particular that you're worried about? I think the only thing I didn't ride was Space Mountain, due to DP's bad back and Mission Space. Everything else was comfortable-ish, and like I said mostly the height was the problem not the weight.

This has me slightly worried. My husband (though slim) is just over 6'4" are there rides he needs to be wary of? Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[kerplop]

This has me slightly worried. My husband (though slim) is just over 6'4" are there rides he needs to be wary of? Thanks in advance for any input!

There will probably be a few rides where his knees will get jammed into the backs of the seats in front of him, but if he's flexible he can move his legs around in the foot wells to get more comfortable. I found that front seats where the cars are tapered in the front (especially on Test Track!) were the worst for me because there wasn't enough room to put my feet flat with the other two people sitting next to me. I can't think of anything off the top of my head that will be a big enough problem that he won't be able to go on them! I saw a man at least 6'5" squeezing into the teacups just fine

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Went to Disney several times with "Pooh sized" pals. My ex father in law was 400 pounds, and one of my friends is 325. Neither of them had ANY issues riding any of the rides at the Disney parks. Universal on the other hand was a different story!!!!

That's just the nature of thrill rides with individual seats and safety restraints, rather than the more common bench-type ride found at Disney. The only way to accommodate obese people on these rides would be to sacrifice safety.

As for the topic at hand, I'm 6'3" and while my knees may touch the seat in front of me on some rides, I'd never had a major problem boarding or experiencing any attraction.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

That's just the nature of thrill rides with individual seats and safety restraints, rather than the more common bench-type ride found at Disney. The only way to accommodate obese people on these rides would be to sacrifice safety.

As for the topic at hand, I'm 6'3" and while my knees may touch the seat in front of me on some rides, I'd never had a major problem boarding or experiencing any attraction.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

This has me slightly worried. My husband (though slim) is just over 6'4" are there rides he needs to be wary of? Thanks in advance for any input!

He might have a bit of trouble with space mountain or astro orbitor. Trying to get in and out of the rockets with long legs isn't easy.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Thanks for that, I feel much better about planning the trip now that everything is available!

 

[maui13]

Thanks so much for the replies!

 

[furb & dez]

He might have a bit of trouble with space mountain or astro orbitor. Trying to get in and out of the rockets with long legs isn't easy.

I would totally agree. I'm not even exceptionally tall (6'1"), and Space Mountain is much more difficult to get in/out of than most rides.

 

[Taja]

This has me slightly worried. My husband (though slim) is just over 6'4" are there rides he needs to be wary of? Thanks in advance for any input!

Somewhere--possibly in the TIPS forum or on AllEars--some attractions have specific seats/areas of the ride vehicle that might be more comfortable for those with longer legs.

Short-stuff here doesn't have to worry about that! *LOL*

 

[Eeyore98]

If I remember correctly, quite a few people have found the Sum of All Thrills to be quite a tight fit.

Yes. This attraction in Innoventions uses the same Japanese-made ride vehicle (Kuka) as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey over at Universal. Universal had to go back and add a few rows of wider seats after turning so many larger people away in the first months after opening, including people who were able to ride everything else at IOA without difficulty and had never imagined they wouldn't fit on FJ as well.

I am about 210 and bottom heavy, hubby is about 240...Sum of All Thrills was quite a squeeze for both of us. There are free lockers there just before you board...I recommend stashing *anything* that might be in your pockets!

There is also a test seat off to the left side before you enter the line, so you can check your fit.