Weight Issues at theme parks??

[Stitchfans]

That is terrible. I sure hope you reported those two ignorant punks. I am a heavy woman and I assure you I would of made such a stink and would of embarrased them big time. I know I am very heavy and I accept that so I wouldn't be embarrased to make a scene and draw more attention to myself. I big and beautiful and others have to get over it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

What an awful thing for them to have said! I'm glad that you reported them--it would have been easy and understandable for you to have pushed the incident under the rug and not mentioned to anyone. Hopefully they got a good talking to. Even if they denied it, they knew what they did and hopefully will not do it again.

 

[Aidensmom]

I am really sorry that happened to you.

I have a feeling that "code" was something used only by those particular employees operating the ride at that time. We go to Busch Gardens quite often (like monthly) and have NEVER heard that kind of thing. I am glad you reported them, and I am sure they took the report seriously. My DH used to work there, I know they do follow up on complaints.

 

[CookieGVB]

How nasty.

I'm embarrassed enough when I have problems with snapping on the seatbelts and such - to hear some punk say "blubber alert" would send me over the edge.

Glad you reported it - I hope it sunk in exactly how rude and nasty it was for them to do that, but sadly...for some people, it never does.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

What an awful thing to say! I certainly hope they were fired.

 

[lindalinda]

I would have been mortified! I love riding coasters, but I always have trouble with the restraints. I always tell my son he has to help me and make sure I can get buckled in. I think its nerves mostly! I'm glad you had the gumption to report it to management.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm so glad that you reported those punks. Busch Gardens would NEVER allow such a thing to go on in one of their parks.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. It's so wrong and mean.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

No, I haven't had that happen to me, nor have I seen anything like that happen to anyone. How horrible!

I went to Cedar Point a few years ago and there was a tall, Pooh-sized gentleman trying to board the Mantis, a stand-up rollercoaster with some significant restraints. There was an employee trying to help him get safely locked in, but there was no use. He was just too big for the ride's design. It didn't look like anyone was out to embarrass him, they were just trying to fit him in. I'm sure it was humiliating for the poor guy that he didn't fit, but at CP they do have ride seats at the entrances of coasters that people can try before getting in line.

This is the reason I have not returned to Cedar Point or amusement parks other than Disney for many years. Lori, I'm glad to hear that you reported the appalling way you were treated. I'm a little nervous about Expedition Everest. At least I'll be able to test the fit in advance.

 

[lunchmomd]

Thanks so much for posting this. We are heading to Busch Gardens on Tuesday and I am more than pooh sized. I appreciate the warning, and am sorry you had to deal with that. They better hope that I don't have to deal with that. It will get ugly!!

 

[Marseeya]

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[Slacking]

Thats ridiculous that that happened. Recently, I have had no complaints about BGT staff, so its sad to ehar a story like this. I usually won't ride Gwazi because of the belt straps being so needlessly short. Its ridiculous and unnecessary/

As for a previous poster mentioning Cedar Point, In the last couple seasons I'm pretty sure they have implemented a new procedure. If you can't buckle the restraint yourself, an employee isn't allowed to help and you won't be allowed to ride. Not sure how accurate this is, but this is what I've heard.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Thats ridiculous that that happened. Recently, I have had no complaints about BGT staff, so its sad to ehar a story like this. I usually won't ride Gwazi because of the belt straps being so needlessly short. Its ridiculous and unnecessary/

As for a previous poster mentioning Cedar Point, In the last couple seasons I'm pretty sure they have implemented a new procedure. If you can't buckle the restraint yourself, an employee isn't allowed to help and you won't be allowed to ride. Not sure how accurate this is, but this is what I've heard.

Cedar Point has seats outside the ride for people to try out. That way, people can avoid waiting in a line and finding out they can't fit into the seat. I don't know about helping people put on their belts.

I have, on more than one occasion, helped an overweight person put on a belt at WDW, too. Test Track, Dinosaur, Tower of Terror, and Soarin' leap to mind.

I think I saw a seat outside the Hulk at Universal, too.

While what happened here was horrid, I can't believe this is standard practice at BG. They own Sea World, too, and I never had a single person say anything rude to me in about 1,000 visits.

 

[doxdogy]

I am so very sorry this happened. I sincerely hope that the employees were reprimanded and/or fired for their behavior. I don't think I would have handled it so clamly at the time. I would have been yelling for managment right then and there.

 

[phamton]

I would call management again and request a letter stating exactly what the consequences were of the actions of those two idiots!!

None of the themeparks are allowed to tell you how they handled the discipline of employees. That is all handled internally.

I am sorry this happened to you and is definitely unacceptable. I'm glad you reported it to Guest Relations. I am sure they will take it seriously.

 

[MelindaKiah]

I am SO sorry you had to go thru that. Those two should have their butts fired, with management saying "jerk alert" as they walk out of the park.

I am most definitely pooh-size and never endured anything like that. In fact, I was impressed with the professionalism at Universal when we were there. We were going on the Popeye ride, and the belt was going to be a bit short for me...the ride operator (a teenager), noticed, came over, pulled out the larger belt available and quietly said to me "ma'am, you may be a little more comfortable with this belt". Didn't say anything about the one not fitting me, just that I might be a bit more comfortable.

I wouldn't let this go...but that is just my personality. I would be writing and requesting to know what came of this.

 

[justhat]

Sorry that this happened to you.

My cousin was extremely overweight and went to Six Flags in NJ and got stuck in a ride with her son (who was 6 at the time). Well the son got out fine, but she was stuck I mean. The ride operators came over and laughed at her, made fat jokes while talking about how to get her out, etc. The 6yo started crying and yelling at the workers to stop making fun of his mom, the mom was crying from humiliation, it was terrible. The son wanted to leave the park and go home right then he was so upset. For her though that was the turning point and she has since lost over 175 pounds. She said it was a horrible situation but she has made it into one of the best in her life by causing her to become a much healthier person for the sake of her kids.

 

[KristaTX]

You are absolutely sure that is what they said? I don't doubt you, but didn't anyone else hear it? I don't have a weight problem, but if I ever heard an employee anywhere say something like that to another customer/guest, I would immediately go over to the employee myself and say "What did you say ???" and ask for a show of hands of any other guests who might be witnesses. Surely others heard it if you did. Did any other guests say anything to each other, you, or the employees?

I wonder if they also say "cripple alert" .

 

[Marseeya]

You are absolutely sure that is what they said? I don't doubt you, but didn't anyone else hear it? I don't have a weight problem, but if I ever heard an employee anywhere say something like that to another customer/guest, I would immediately go over to the employee myself and say "What did you say ???" and ask for a show of hands of any other guests who might be witnesses. Surely others heard it if you did. Did any other guests say anything to each other, you, or the employees?

I wonder if they also say "cripple alert" .

I wondered if anyone else reacted to it as well. I can guarantee that I wouldn't care what they said about me (because I'm fat too), I'd be right next to the humiliated person standing up for them.

We, as a society, need to let bigots know that their behavior is NOT okay.

 

[Snowysmom]

I am so glad you reported them. I too am pooh sized and would have been embarassed too. I do know not to try to get on some of the rides at Universal, not that they make fun of heavy people but just that the rides are not made for the pooh sized. I have never had a problem on Disney rides and that is just one of the many reasons it is my Theme Park of choice.

 

[slyjly]

I am so sorry you were treadted so badly by those rude punks. I am a (short) pooh-size woman. I have arthritis and had a total knee replacement, so I have some difficulty getting up and down. I have also have worried about this. There aren't too many rides I want to go on, but I don't want to embarress myself either.