What is Pooh Size?

[trodrigue]

I ask, because my brother in law is a big fellow. We are planning a trip with my sisters and the kiddos with Gram. My hubby will go or stay home, either way is okay because he does other disney trips. My BIL has not been to Disneyland but says he is too big. If I had to guess, I would put him at 6 foot or so and probably 300 to 350 pounds. Would he fit on most of the rides?

 

[bumbershoot]

My hubby is 5'10" and during our October '05 trip he was about 340. On that trip he fit into everything he tried, but he wasn't always comfortable. On this recent trip he is now below 300, and although he didn't try some of the rides that were less comfy (he doesn't like Astro Orbiter at all b/c it's hard to get out of, when you have a kid in it with you, even for a smaller person, and he doesn't enjoy riding with DS on Dumbo, but will go on it alone while I sit with DS, for instance), the only ride he did try that he still can't get on is Maliboomer (he didn't try that in '05, but tried it at about 225 back in Sept '07). BUT he's built like a sumo wrestler, with a very broad and thick back, and it's his back that is keeping him from that ride. There's a shoulder harness that has to be clipped with a tether to the seat, and the tether is just too short still. Another person same height and weight but different body type would likely be able to go on it.

Disney is very size-friendly, and that's really the only thing he can't yet go on, and it's just b/c of his particular body.

California Screamin' has a warning like that, actually, saying that the restraints might cause people of a certain size or shape to not go on it, and although his arms weren't comfy on Screamin', he did fit and it's his new favorite ride.

Tell your BIL to go, b/c he will have a lot of fun, and he will very likely fit into most, if not all, rides just fine!

 

[trodrigue]

Thanks Molly! I thought that was probably the case, so I will pass that along and hopefully he will buck up!

 

[audrabolster]

Disney is very, very generous. On some rides my wife and I have to ride seperate (pinocchio, snow white, peter pan) but have never had any issues. There are some rides I haven't gone on for fear of not fitting (I am very, very pooh sized) So I haven't been on screamin, mulholland madness, the river ride, space mountain and astro orbitors (although that is more from motion sickness!)

 

[bumbershoot]

You're welcome!

The other thing I wanted to say is that the cast members will not embarrass him if, by chance, he doesn't fit. The CMs have been very kind, and have tried very hard to help Robert get buckled into Maliboomer, and although he was embarrassed in his heart, it was NOT due to the CMs. They have been nothing but kind and sweet, and encouraging for the next time (sort of like they are for children who aren't quite tall enough) since he has told them that he is working to lose weight.

The other tips we have for your BIL:

Don't sit in the front of Splash. If you do you will get the people right behind you drenched.

Don't sit in the very front of Pirates, or the same will likely happen.

When going on the Pooh ride, it's easier for a bigger person (and/or a person with mobility issues b/c of their knees and/or legs) to NOT sit in the very front of the beehive vehicle. DS and I sit in the front, and hubby sits behind us, and it's much better than when hubby tries to sit in the front...for some reason the front is just a bit smaller.

On Screamin', don't put your arms way up to pull down the restraints. Robert got his arm stuck that way, and the CM quickly let up everyone's restraints so he could start over. But again, that's just b/c of hubby's big back and big muscular arms, and might not affect someone whose weight is all in their belly, etc.

Now that we've been there a few times and know the ins and outs of what to do differently when you have a bit extra size to ya, Robert's trips are getting better and better. It seems weird to talk about, but knowing these things ahead of time makes hubby's trip better, and if his experiences can help someone else, then it makes him feel good.

 

[sweetascanbee]

I was around 350 at my heaviest...the only thing I remember not being able to ride was the Orange stinger. The sign says the weight limit is 200 lbs. There are also a couple other rides near there...I think its called Jumping Jelly fish that are meant for children, so I didnt ride them either.


Becky

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I was around 350 at my heaviest...the only thing I remember not being able to ride was the Orange stinger. The sign says the weight limit is 200 lbs. There are also a couple other rides near there...I think its called Jumping Jelly fish that are meant for children, so I didnt ride them either.


Becky

On the Orange Stinger it says that? I've never noticed. DBF is over 200 pounds (about 250?) and he's gone on it several times. He doesn't really look 250 since he's more broad looking than large. But the CMs never told him anything. I'll look next time..

 

[bumbershoot]

I've read that the Orange Stinger used to have a weight limit, but they refurbed it and now it doesn't.

Becky, hubby was worried about going on Jumpin' Jellyfish too. So I went with DS. I think it's probably totally fine, but it feels like a "small" ride until you're actually on it.

Audra, do you mean Grizzly? If so, omg GO! It's only a lap belt; hubby can get it around his tummy, and he has had to ask for seatbelt extenders on flights before (he's about an inch from being able to fit the regular belt on airplanes). If you're worried, maybe you could ask the CM at the front if they have extenders? It is such a good ride, and it makes me sad that you're avoiding it!

And if you ever want to try for Screamin', just go for the single rider line, so if it doesn't work you haven't invested an hour in line.

 

[sweetascanbee]

On the Orange Stinger it says that? I've never noticed. DBF is over 200 pounds (about 250?) and he's gone on it several times. He doesn't really look 250 since he's more broad looking than large. But the CMs never told him anything. I'll look next time..

To be honest I read this sign the first time we were in DCA, which was soon after it opened. Havent attempted to ride since. So dont know if the sign is still there???

I was leary so I was looking for a sign when walking up the stairs.

Now that my weight is in the 170's Im going for sure the next time...LOL

Becky

 

[audrabolster]

Bumber- I'll try it next time! I've actually only been to DCA once, so maybe we'll hit it up again this weekend!

Also with pirates, I've heard that if you pooh sized it is best not to sit in the last row. Let me just say that once my wife and I were in the last row, and we totally almost got stuck at the top of the second drop! YIKES is all i have to say . Most of the time the CM's know how to evenly distibute the weight in the boats, but I've had a couple attempts to sit us in the front, and we always just ask if we can sit in the middle. They are fine with that.

The CM's are always fabulous and I've never had an issue, they always seem very helpful!

 

[bumbershoot]

Audra, I was unpacking and my mind was going, and I remembered one thing to think about with Grizzly. You will probably want to get in first and go to the seats "opposite" the little entry to the raft, or get in last making sure one of the seats right next to the entry is available for you. The seating (for 8, I think) is in a circle, and unless I were slim and/or really close to the people I was scooting by, I wouldn't want to scoot by them. I made people move on my second to the last ride on it, b/c it was a slim family that I was put with, and they didn't know anyone was riding with them...it would have just been a pain to scoot by them. So that's the ONE caveat I have for Grizzly.

That and wear a poncho with the hood ON, unless you really want the possibility of being drenched.

 

[Queenbillabong]

I second the poncho - don't care how warm it is!! The first time around, not so bad, only a little sprinkle. I can handle that. The second time, COMPLETELY soaked - to the skin, head to toe, dripping wet! AND we had reservations at Goofy's Kitchen in about an hour and our hotel was "down the road" (Crowne Plaza), so not exactly convenient to go change. My son thought it was hilarious! I ended up buying a complete outfit from the World of Disney on the way to dinner

 

[bumbershoot]

Queenbillabong, you poor thing!

On one of my rides this trip I was with a family with older kids and their dad. They were dressed fairly nicely; not fancy, but not schlubby either. And they were pristine, not grungy or sweaty or anything. They acted as though they hadn't been on the ride (but I don't think that's actually true), and they kind of laughed at my poncho. But I was wearing all cotton, including a skirt, and I did not want to be see-through or wearing cling-form clothes, LOL.

By the end, most were very wet, but the daughter was DRENCHED. Since you turn around a bit on the ride, never knowing who will get it, and since there's that geyser possibility at the end, she just kept getting the wet end of the stick, and just when she couldn't get wetter, she was hit by the geyser that started while we were going over it. She laughed and laughed...

And they had plans about an hour later, but were talking about going again as we were all getting off the ride!

 

[dhlovesbelle]

Can I say I loved this thread. I know I have friends who are hesitant about going because of what I assume is their weight, but this thread has shown me that I can assure them that they can still have a really great time. You all are so nice on these boards!!

 

[trodrigue]

I second that. Love this thread!