BobbyAxelrod
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2019
- Messages
- 3
Hi folks. I know there has been a plethora of posts on this subject and there's a lot of great advice out there for all shapes and sizes. Having just returned from my 3rd trip to these parks I thought I would add my two cents as it was something that I was moderately stressed about before going and I imagine others are too. This might be of absolutely no use to anyone as of course everyone is different, but I'll try and do it in such a way that it covers what I was looking for when researching. I plan on doing a short review of each of the rides I did (won't spoil anything) so it may get quite lengthy and I'll try and focus on the restraints and not the story of the ride. I'll be covering what I did at Universal Studios and IOA, Volcano Bay and Aquatica, Seaworld and Busch Gardens so apologies if this should be in a more relevant forum.
I'll start with a bit about me, I'm male, pretty much bang on 6ft tall and weigh around 285-290lbs. My weight is fairly evenly distributed between chest/stomach/hips/thighs, basically I'm big everywhere and no one part of me stands out, except maybe the love handles. When it comes to rides, the biggest worry I had was my thighs, they are huge from left to right and front to back, about 28 inches around, which I thought would give me some issues. As for clothes sizes I mostly wear 42" jeans with a 'regular fit', dress shorts and cargo shorts tend to be 44". Dress shirts are 18.5" collar and pretty much all of my other shirts, t shirts etc are XXL. Hopefully that gives you a decent enough idea, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Universal Studios
I'll start with the bad news story and that is Rip Ride Rockit. Unfortunately my fears about my thighs were confirmed on this and I was unable to ride. On my previous 2 trips (first in 2013, then 2016) I was able to but it was always pretty tight, so I was perhaps naive not to try the test seat they have outside beforehand. The restraint itself is a large yellow bar which pulls across your stomach, but my thighs got in the way and it just wouldn't quite shut. The attendants did what they could, including having me try a 'modified seat' in row 1 (I'm not sure what the difference is) but in the end they had to pull me off. The one thing about this ride is that it's on an ever-moving conveyor belt, so the attendants can't spend time trying to get you to fit. This was the first ride I went on on this trip, bad start to say the least although I was given 6 express passes for myself and the rest of my group (all much smaller than me) which is a very nice gesture but on reflection I feel bad for taking, it's not like this is a fault of the ride. Anyway I was slightly disappointed especially given this is one of only two 'proper' rollercoasters currently operating at universal but in the end I just wanted out of there and didn't go back.
The Mummy - I was concerned about this big time after RRR but I was ok on this one. This is a lap bar which pushes down over your legs and stomach and while it was moderately tight for me, I wasn't in any great discomfort. One tip I have for this is that the outside seats apparently are bigger than the inside two, there was a guy who sat in the row behind me in the middle and couldn't quite get it to click, the attendant mentioned he would have likely been fine in the outside seats. Again there are test seats outside. On the restraint itself, on the right hand side there is a black square, for it to be secure you must be able to see some yellow on that square. My wife was beside me and hers was almost fully yellow, mine had a pretty thin strip of yellow.
Jimmy Fallon: Race Through New York is a fun little simulator ride which should be accessible to anyone around my measurements and above. It has a seat belt from right to left, I'm not sure exactly how far it stretches but no problems here. There are test seats outside.
Transformers has become one of my favourite rides here, it's a simulator and a very very good one. You're in a carriage with 4 in each row and communal lap bar, I didn't feel tight at all and even though I was the largest in the row I didn't feel like I was causing the bar to be too high for anyone else. Highly recommend.
Minions is another simulator ride, quite fun. Similar deal where you've got a communal lap bar covering 4 people, again I was fine on this.
Fast & Furious Supercharged was fine, there are no restraints involved, accessible to pretty much anyone. You're in a carriage with about 6 rows of 5 or 6 people, no belts or anything and plenty leg room.
Simpsons, another simulator with a communal lap bar. This does throw you around a bit more than the others and if you have kids in your row the lap bar might be too high for comfort for them but again I didn't have any trouble getting on.
Men In Black is something a bit different in terms of the ride but the restraint is similar to the mummy in that it comes down over your legs/midsection. No trouble for me on this one.
Hogwarts Express - 6 in a cabin, no restraints and comfortable.
One high-profile absentee from this list is Escape From Gringotts and the reason is that I tried the test seats and couldn't get them to click. I believe if I had actually gone on the ride an attendant might have been able to force it (I've been on this a couple of times before) but after the experience on rockit I wasn't taking the chance, I let the rest go on and I stood with the bags. So sadly I can't offer any real advice for this one.
Universal's Islands of Adventure
There's only one place to start and that is The Hulk. The only rollercoaster currently on the go at islands of adventure is as great as ever. The restraint system is common around other parks, it comes down over your shoulders, chest and stomach with a seat belt linking it to the seat. The standard seat has one seat belt which comes over a sizable hump in the middle of the restraint, the modified seat has two seat belts which go around this hump and surprisingly does give you a decent amount more room. Modified seats are in rows 3, 4, 5 and 8 I believe. I'm able to get in the standard seat with a little push from the attendant and am comfortable in the modified seat. Although on my last ride I was waiting on row 8 and was placed deliberately by an attendant in the spot for the modified seat. If this happens please don't be offended or embarrassed, it just makes it easier for all involved.
Spiderman is almost identical to Transformers, no problems.
Kong: Skull Island is the same as Fast & Furious (but much better) in that there are no restraints and plenty room. Recommended.
Jurassic Park is a water ride, you're in a row of 5 (I think) with a communal lap bar. Leg room isn't great but no problems otherwise.
Cat in the Hat was fine too, small carriage of 2, communal lap bar.
Harry Potter: Forbidden Journey - I'd heard horror stories about this but I've never had issues. The restraint comes down over your shoulders, chest and stomach and there is no seatbelt. Test seats are outside. I believe the seats on the end of each row of 4 are bigger than the middle 2 and the restraint needs to click twice before it's secure.
I'll add in a bit about Poseidon too as it wasn't what I expected. I thought it was a ride but it's just a kind of walk-through show. Pretty good too.
Unfortunately Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls was closed for maintenance while I was there but I've always been fine on that too on my previous visits. I remember it being awkward to get into, you have to really slide down into the seat and I imagine taller people have more trouble with this.
I also rode Flight of the Hippogriff on my last visit but not this time, communal lap bar between two. Was fine.
I think that's all I did there but if you have any questions just ask and I'll do my best.
Seaworld
There are of course three biggies at Seaworld and I'll start with the most comfortable Manta. Probably my favourite rollercoaster in Orlando. The restraint again comes down over your shoulders and while that's happening your ankles get locked into their own restraint. It's padded and I felt like I had plenty room to spare. All good for me but again there are test seats outside.
Kraken is pretty much the same as the hulk in terms of restraints, the seat itself feels very slightly bigger. I'm not sure if they have modified seats though. I was fine in the standard seat with a little push from the attendant.
I only just barely, and I mean BARELY, got on Mako. This one is all thighs and took a shimmy from me and a heavy push from the attendant to get it to click. It's a great ride but I could only put my legs through the trauma once.
The rest of the seaworld rides are fine for me. Journey to Atlantis might cause issues for taller people, I seen one tall guy who looked about 6'5"-6'6" (certainly not overweight, just tall) have to get off but was ok for me. Wild Arctic is a simulator with seatbelt, no issues. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will be fine, communal lap bar with plenty room. Their new ride Infinity Falls was closed for maintenance.
Busch Gardens
Some great rides here, I'll begin with Cheetah Hunt. The restraint here is a wider one than the likes of the hulk and kraken but the idea is similar. I was able to click into place no problem on this one.
Montu again has a similar restraint to the hulk and kraken although I felt this was more roomy than those two.
The newest one Sheikra is the same, never had any problems on any of them.
Cobra's Curse was a little tight for me and I had to wiggle a bit to get the restraint to click, again the thighs were the trouble as the restraint is a single lap bar. I did ride in the end though.
Didn't have any problems on either of the water rides, Stanley Falls is a two seater boat (1 in front, 1 in back) with plenty leg room. Congo River Rapids holds 10 people I think in a circle with individual seat belts, lots of room.
There's also a Skyride which gives you great views of the park, this can fit up to 4 people up to a limit of 680lbs, thankfully it was just my wife and I so no issues there. There's no seat belts or restraints.
Sadly Kumba was out of action so I didn't get to ride this.
Volcano Bay + Aquatica
I'll keep it short for the water parks as basically if you're under 300lbs you'll be fine on almost everything with the possible exception of some of the 2-4 person rides, depending on the weight of the people with you. The only single rider one I could see with a smaller limit was the Ko'okiri Plunge at Volcano bay which had a limit of 275lbs and I didn't go on that. Was fine on the trap door slides at Aquatica though. Also for those who, like me, prefer to wear a t shirt at these things the only ride I had to take my shirt off for was the Dolphin Plunge at Aquatica.
I think that covers everything I did, as before if you have any questions please ask and if anything else comes to me I'll add it here.
I'll start with a bit about me, I'm male, pretty much bang on 6ft tall and weigh around 285-290lbs. My weight is fairly evenly distributed between chest/stomach/hips/thighs, basically I'm big everywhere and no one part of me stands out, except maybe the love handles. When it comes to rides, the biggest worry I had was my thighs, they are huge from left to right and front to back, about 28 inches around, which I thought would give me some issues. As for clothes sizes I mostly wear 42" jeans with a 'regular fit', dress shorts and cargo shorts tend to be 44". Dress shirts are 18.5" collar and pretty much all of my other shirts, t shirts etc are XXL. Hopefully that gives you a decent enough idea, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Universal Studios
I'll start with the bad news story and that is Rip Ride Rockit. Unfortunately my fears about my thighs were confirmed on this and I was unable to ride. On my previous 2 trips (first in 2013, then 2016) I was able to but it was always pretty tight, so I was perhaps naive not to try the test seat they have outside beforehand. The restraint itself is a large yellow bar which pulls across your stomach, but my thighs got in the way and it just wouldn't quite shut. The attendants did what they could, including having me try a 'modified seat' in row 1 (I'm not sure what the difference is) but in the end they had to pull me off. The one thing about this ride is that it's on an ever-moving conveyor belt, so the attendants can't spend time trying to get you to fit. This was the first ride I went on on this trip, bad start to say the least although I was given 6 express passes for myself and the rest of my group (all much smaller than me) which is a very nice gesture but on reflection I feel bad for taking, it's not like this is a fault of the ride. Anyway I was slightly disappointed especially given this is one of only two 'proper' rollercoasters currently operating at universal but in the end I just wanted out of there and didn't go back.
The Mummy - I was concerned about this big time after RRR but I was ok on this one. This is a lap bar which pushes down over your legs and stomach and while it was moderately tight for me, I wasn't in any great discomfort. One tip I have for this is that the outside seats apparently are bigger than the inside two, there was a guy who sat in the row behind me in the middle and couldn't quite get it to click, the attendant mentioned he would have likely been fine in the outside seats. Again there are test seats outside. On the restraint itself, on the right hand side there is a black square, for it to be secure you must be able to see some yellow on that square. My wife was beside me and hers was almost fully yellow, mine had a pretty thin strip of yellow.
Jimmy Fallon: Race Through New York is a fun little simulator ride which should be accessible to anyone around my measurements and above. It has a seat belt from right to left, I'm not sure exactly how far it stretches but no problems here. There are test seats outside.
Transformers has become one of my favourite rides here, it's a simulator and a very very good one. You're in a carriage with 4 in each row and communal lap bar, I didn't feel tight at all and even though I was the largest in the row I didn't feel like I was causing the bar to be too high for anyone else. Highly recommend.
Minions is another simulator ride, quite fun. Similar deal where you've got a communal lap bar covering 4 people, again I was fine on this.
Fast & Furious Supercharged was fine, there are no restraints involved, accessible to pretty much anyone. You're in a carriage with about 6 rows of 5 or 6 people, no belts or anything and plenty leg room.
Simpsons, another simulator with a communal lap bar. This does throw you around a bit more than the others and if you have kids in your row the lap bar might be too high for comfort for them but again I didn't have any trouble getting on.
Men In Black is something a bit different in terms of the ride but the restraint is similar to the mummy in that it comes down over your legs/midsection. No trouble for me on this one.
Hogwarts Express - 6 in a cabin, no restraints and comfortable.
One high-profile absentee from this list is Escape From Gringotts and the reason is that I tried the test seats and couldn't get them to click. I believe if I had actually gone on the ride an attendant might have been able to force it (I've been on this a couple of times before) but after the experience on rockit I wasn't taking the chance, I let the rest go on and I stood with the bags. So sadly I can't offer any real advice for this one.
Universal's Islands of Adventure
There's only one place to start and that is The Hulk. The only rollercoaster currently on the go at islands of adventure is as great as ever. The restraint system is common around other parks, it comes down over your shoulders, chest and stomach with a seat belt linking it to the seat. The standard seat has one seat belt which comes over a sizable hump in the middle of the restraint, the modified seat has two seat belts which go around this hump and surprisingly does give you a decent amount more room. Modified seats are in rows 3, 4, 5 and 8 I believe. I'm able to get in the standard seat with a little push from the attendant and am comfortable in the modified seat. Although on my last ride I was waiting on row 8 and was placed deliberately by an attendant in the spot for the modified seat. If this happens please don't be offended or embarrassed, it just makes it easier for all involved.
Spiderman is almost identical to Transformers, no problems.
Kong: Skull Island is the same as Fast & Furious (but much better) in that there are no restraints and plenty room. Recommended.
Jurassic Park is a water ride, you're in a row of 5 (I think) with a communal lap bar. Leg room isn't great but no problems otherwise.
Cat in the Hat was fine too, small carriage of 2, communal lap bar.
Harry Potter: Forbidden Journey - I'd heard horror stories about this but I've never had issues. The restraint comes down over your shoulders, chest and stomach and there is no seatbelt. Test seats are outside. I believe the seats on the end of each row of 4 are bigger than the middle 2 and the restraint needs to click twice before it's secure.
I'll add in a bit about Poseidon too as it wasn't what I expected. I thought it was a ride but it's just a kind of walk-through show. Pretty good too.
Unfortunately Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls was closed for maintenance while I was there but I've always been fine on that too on my previous visits. I remember it being awkward to get into, you have to really slide down into the seat and I imagine taller people have more trouble with this.
I also rode Flight of the Hippogriff on my last visit but not this time, communal lap bar between two. Was fine.
I think that's all I did there but if you have any questions just ask and I'll do my best.
Seaworld
There are of course three biggies at Seaworld and I'll start with the most comfortable Manta. Probably my favourite rollercoaster in Orlando. The restraint again comes down over your shoulders and while that's happening your ankles get locked into their own restraint. It's padded and I felt like I had plenty room to spare. All good for me but again there are test seats outside.
Kraken is pretty much the same as the hulk in terms of restraints, the seat itself feels very slightly bigger. I'm not sure if they have modified seats though. I was fine in the standard seat with a little push from the attendant.
I only just barely, and I mean BARELY, got on Mako. This one is all thighs and took a shimmy from me and a heavy push from the attendant to get it to click. It's a great ride but I could only put my legs through the trauma once.
The rest of the seaworld rides are fine for me. Journey to Atlantis might cause issues for taller people, I seen one tall guy who looked about 6'5"-6'6" (certainly not overweight, just tall) have to get off but was ok for me. Wild Arctic is a simulator with seatbelt, no issues. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will be fine, communal lap bar with plenty room. Their new ride Infinity Falls was closed for maintenance.
Busch Gardens
Some great rides here, I'll begin with Cheetah Hunt. The restraint here is a wider one than the likes of the hulk and kraken but the idea is similar. I was able to click into place no problem on this one.
Montu again has a similar restraint to the hulk and kraken although I felt this was more roomy than those two.
The newest one Sheikra is the same, never had any problems on any of them.
Cobra's Curse was a little tight for me and I had to wiggle a bit to get the restraint to click, again the thighs were the trouble as the restraint is a single lap bar. I did ride in the end though.
Didn't have any problems on either of the water rides, Stanley Falls is a two seater boat (1 in front, 1 in back) with plenty leg room. Congo River Rapids holds 10 people I think in a circle with individual seat belts, lots of room.
There's also a Skyride which gives you great views of the park, this can fit up to 4 people up to a limit of 680lbs, thankfully it was just my wife and I so no issues there. There's no seat belts or restraints.
Sadly Kumba was out of action so I didn't get to ride this.
Volcano Bay + Aquatica
I'll keep it short for the water parks as basically if you're under 300lbs you'll be fine on almost everything with the possible exception of some of the 2-4 person rides, depending on the weight of the people with you. The only single rider one I could see with a smaller limit was the Ko'okiri Plunge at Volcano bay which had a limit of 275lbs and I didn't go on that. Was fine on the trap door slides at Aquatica though. Also for those who, like me, prefer to wear a t shirt at these things the only ride I had to take my shirt off for was the Dolphin Plunge at Aquatica.
I think that covers everything I did, as before if you have any questions please ask and if anything else comes to me I'll add it here.
