Please Help = too big for the rides ??? - Page 17 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'm 5'4 and weigh 330 with all my weight under my breast and from my thighs up. I actually have small legs (calfs). We leave for our trip in 4 days and my anxiety is getting the best of me. I will ask for a seatbelt extender when I get to the airport. We are flying with Airtran. I haven't flown since 1995 (150 lbs. ago)
I went to allears.net and read the WDW at Large reviews, however, no one puts dates down when they went and I understand changes have been made. I think I read somewhere that lap bars were added to Splash Mountain back in February of this year. How do I know if any of the reviews I read have been written since then? I even have a plus size friend who went to Disney back in October 2010 and she tells me I won't have any problems but I told her about the changes I read and now she can't tell me for sure. Also, the enterence to the parks and some rides you have to go through a turn thing-a-ma-jig?
I'm so afraid of standing in line with my daughter and not being able to ride with her. She's alsmost 6 years old and love thrill rides. Lucky her, she's 49" tall and can ride pretty much everything at Disney.
Anyways, I found this thread but I see it began in 2005. I only read a few reviews from 2010. Has anyone gone this year that is plus size? I would love to hear feadback especially with roller coasters / thrill rides.
Thanks
Hi there! Please don't worry about your size at Disney! Pax is right... it's a very Pooh-Friendly place. My sister is/was a 4x when she went in 2010, and there wasn't a single ride she couldn't go on.
Also, AirTran should be fine for you too. I'm a 2x, and had about 6-8" of seatbelt leftover without jamming myself into the seat! My 4x sister didn't need an extender either, but if you find that you need one, just ask... they are so discreet about giving them out (a gentlemen next to me got one, and I didn't even know the flight attendant gave him one until he got up to leave and I saw it on the seat).
I worried about this stuff too (you can probably see a few posts from me on here about it). As it turned out, all the worry was unnecessary.
Just take a deep breath, relax and ENJOY the magic... it will be ok!!! Don't let anything come between you and building some wonderful memories.
Oh, and if the turnstyles look like a problem, they will let you go through the handicap entrance and then rejoin the regular line. A Cast Member is usually always there to help - just ask!
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Thanks eveyone. Knowing me, I'll continue being nervous until I get there.
None of us will blame you. I was apprehensive of how well I'd fit things, until I was actually there myself, and began to see just how readily I fit into the ride seats and such. Occasionally I had to squeeze a bit, or suck in my gut to get a seatbelt buckled - but not often, and not to the point of diffculty fitting. (Mostly, I had to suck my gut in now and then, just to see the buckle ...otherwise I'd've been fine.)
AirTran does have seat extenders on each plane, by the by. They're who we flew with. It pays to mention your need for them during check-in, and again at the gate during boarding - that way, if there's a BUNCH of us fatties on the plane, they won't run out before leaving the gate.
I'm with you, Chandra, I was really worried even though i had read all of these things about not worrying. But you really will fit, no worries and I just went a year ago. Just make sure when you sit down into rides with seatbelts, pull the seatbelt all the way out before you sit down, and then sit and buckle - it helps because then you have lots of slack to work with and don't have to worry about pulling enough out. Additionally, if there are seats to sit in with sides that are snug, instead of sitting down like normal, kind of start at the front of the seat and slide back into it. I think I am probably the same size as you - I'm 5'6 and I weigh around 330 with most of it in my belly area and lower belly area.
As for Airtran, they are who I usually fly. I like them better because there seats are about 1-2 inches wider than Delta or Frontier. You will need a seatbelt extender. What I usually do is as I'm getting on the plane there is normally a flight attendant standing at the door greeting people. I just say hi and then ask them for an extender, and they hand me one. No big deal, and then you don't have to have them bring you one to your seat. So you can just get to your seat, get buckled in, and voila!
I am currently experiencing some major fear over fitting onto the Forbidden Journey at Harry Potter, even though I have read everything there is to read about the modified seating. There just isn't the same information or support out there for Universal as there is for Disney. I'll be heading down there in 12 days, and I'll be at Disney most of the time. I just really hope my day at IoA isn't ruined because those jerks don't have any realization that no matter how big a person is, they still deserve to be able to enjoy ALL of the attractions they are paying for.
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Last edited by Missa5980; 08-19-2011 at 06:11 PM..
I'm a very BIG girl... I admit it...I'm working on losing weight and prepping for the walking at Disney but you know how the battle of the bulge goes.
I've not had absolutely any problems. It was a slightly tight squeeze in the seat at Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Dinosaur...but not uncomfortable.
I don't think you will have that many problems. My DSIL had problems on Haunted Mansion last year...but not really her size...more her mobility. She couldn't move herself into the seat and get out of the way of the bar closing.
The only thing I don't like...is trying to move my big cheeks aside to do seatbelts on things like Dinosaur and Star Tours. I can do it...but I'm always slightly embarrassed if I'm sitting by someone I don't know.
My DH is aware of it and always tries to make sure I'm next to one of my kids so that I'm not in that situation. But sometimes it just can't be helped.
DH isn't little either and we ride next to each other on things like Splash Mountain and Pooh. We've even done DS between us on Pooh. Just scope it out before you get on and usually the CMs will not try to squeesh you into anything if you ask.
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The trick with the seat belts on some of the rides is to pull it out all the way while you are still standing up, keep it fully extended while you sit down and then buckle it. This works for me.
I am currently experiencing some major fear over fitting onto the Forbidden Journey at Harry Potter, even though I have read everything there is to read about the modified seating. There just isn't the same information or support out there for Universal as there is for Disney. I'll be heading down there in 12 days, and I'll be at Disney most of the time. I just really hope my day at IoA isn't ruined because those jerks don't have any realization that no matter how big a person is, they still deserve to be able to enjoy ALL of the attractions they are paying for.
As an update to the above post I made on 8/19/11, I have returned from my trip and wanted to make you guys aware of the following: I did NOT fit on Forbidden Journey nor Dragon Challenge in Harry Potter at Universal IOA. The staff were all very nice and they did not embarrass me at all. However, I was incredibly disappointed, because all I could do was walk around and look at the shops. I don't even really want to talk about it much, as I am still reeling from the disappointment, however, I will say that I rode EVERY SINGLE THING at ALL FOUR of Disney's parks while I was there. Universal needs to take some notes from Disney.
As an update to the above post I made on 8/19/11, I have returned from my trip and wanted to make you guys aware of the following: I did NOT fit on Forbidden Journey nor Dragon Challenge in Harry Potter at Universal IOA. The staff were all very nice and they did not embarrass me at all. However, I was incredibly disappointed, because all I could do was walk around and look at the shops. I don't even really want to talk about it much, as I am still reeling from the disappointment, however, I will say that I rode EVERY SINGLE THING at ALL FOUR of Disney's parks while I was there. Universal needs to take some notes from Disney.
Aww... So sorry you were disappointed. I did hear that FJ was a tight fit and at first they just turned larger people away. Eventually (as people complained), they installed some larger seats. Perhaps they didn't give you that option.
I am VERY happy to hear that Disney did not disappoint!!! That's the one thing I love about it... they make sure nearly EVERYONE is accommodated and feels happy and included. No awkward moments there!
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Oh, and one more thing, Missa --- I cannot BELIEVE that you had any problems fitting in anything. You look about average sized to me! (As a side-note, you're a cutie - you remind me of my daughter with that bubbly look on your face!)
Now I have concern on whether or not my sister is going to be able to ride in February. She's not a small girl... with most of her weight in her hips and legs.
I am a quite large girl, and I think the problem was that most of my weight is in my belly, so the bar wouldn't lock. I kind of feel like even if I lost the weight, I wouldn't give them my money.
As an update to the above post I made on 8/19/11, I have returned from my trip and wanted to make you guys aware of the following: I did NOT fit on Forbidden Journey nor Dragon Challenge in Harry Potter at Universal IOA. The staff were all very nice and they did not embarrass me at all. However, I was incredibly disappointed, because all I could do was walk around and look at the shops. I don't even really want to talk about it much, as I am still reeling from the disappointment, however, I will say that I rode EVERY SINGLE THING at ALL FOUR of Disney's parks while I was there. Universal needs to take some notes from Disney.
I am so sorry you had that experience. I have had that happen to me at another theme park before. Not fun.
I noticed you said you road every single ride at WDW. Do you mind telling specifically about the new lap bars on Splash Mountain. I have heard conflicting things. Also, I have heard that the Haunted Mansion lap bars now have to be pushed down tighter. Did you notice that to be true? If so, was it uncomfortable?
Thanks so much!
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I am so sorry you had that experience. I have had that happen to me at another theme park before. Not fun.
I noticed you said you road every single ride at WDW. Do you mind telling specifically about the new lap bars on Splash Mountain. I have heard conflicting things. Also, I have heard that the Haunted Mansion lap bars now have to be pushed down tighter. Did you notice that to be true? If so, was it uncomfortable?
Thanks so much!
The Haunted Mansion lap bars did not feel tight or constricting at all. Splash Mountain was closed when I passed by it, so i did not get to experience that one.
I didn't get to go on many of the thrill rides I wanted to during my last visit to WDW due to chasing nephews around, lol. I'm returning there with a few girls from work at the end of April & I've been VERY apprehensive about fitting on the rides (i'm also about 5'6" & 320) . I couldn't imagine not fitting on a ride with my co-workers next to me!!! I feel so much better after reading all your posts & can't thank you enough for taking the time to post your experiances
OH... I also LOVED the reference to being Pooh friendly! I thought that was awesome, LOL.
I'm a large (pooh sized) woman and the only problems I've had is finding the belt buckle on TT and Soaring. It's that they are in a big rush and the buckle is very low near the hip. For those of us with a bigger mid-section, it can be difficult. DH had to unbuckle me a couple of times.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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aside to do seatbelts on things like Dinosaur and Star Tours. I can do it...but I'm always slightly embarrassed if I'm sitting by someone I don't know.
She's not a small girl... with most of her weight in her hips and legs.
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