Overweight and need advice About This Page:

[homeschoolmom]

I am a very large woman (360 pounds, 5'10"). I have ridden successfully on KRRR in AK, BTMRR and SplM in MK, ToT and Star Wars in MGM, and Body Wars and Test Track in Epcot. I am nervous about trying Dinosaur and Primevil Whirl in AK as well as RnRC in MGM. Can anyone give me some insight to those rides? I have read WDW at Large on Deb Wills' website. It's great, but no report from anyone in my size area.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Thanks also for this great board!! I am so grateful you folks have taken on this responsibility. Very informative and helpful.

[Prestidigitator]

I'm sending you a private message about this.

You should be FINE on both! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[RocklandRVers]

We just got back from WDW. I am 6'3" and have a few pounds on you and during our trip I had no problem on rides. Dinosaur was a little problem since the seat belt connection is way down in the seat. I had to stand up, pull the belt all the way out (it was very long so no problem) and sort of sat sideways to buckle it in. The CM told me the secret and was very nice about it.

My big problem was leg room. My knees took a beating on Dinosaur. Come to speak of it, so did my neck. It whips you around pretty good. Hey but I survived.

The funny thing is that I think my DW (skinny minnie) is still mad at me about Dinosaur. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] While we were in the queue she asked, "this is not a roller coaster is it? You know I hate roller coasters." I said of course not honey. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] We get into a time rover and go back in search of dinosaurs. Its dark and scary. Boy was she shocked at the G forces as we were whipped around. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[stonewall]

A word of advice- please make sure that you alert the CM at the rides(Test Track comes to mind)that you may need extra time to securely fasten your seat belt. It can be disconcerting,to say the least, if you are grappling with the buckle and the ride takes off, and I have seen this happen.

[homeschoolmom]

Thanks for your advice [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I now look forward to an even better time.

[buzzNwoodyfan]

Hey, Sue!
I'm a big girl too, and none of the rides at Disney World have been a problem for me. Rockin' Rollercoaster is fine; the over-the-shoulder harness comes down about boob level, and only comes as far down as you see fit. The seats are a little narrow, and scoop up, so they can be a pain. Just ride it once, and try it out as far as the seat goes.

On Dinosaur, Ditto RocklandRVer, just pull the seatbelt all the way BEFORE you sit, then sit, turnside ways in your seat and lock it. No big deal at all, and it takes a long time for the Dinosaur car thingy to move from the loading dock to the start of the ride. You'll be fine! Have a wonderful time! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[RocklandRVers]

Personally I found the CMs to be very kind and helpful. They want everyone to have a good time and try and limit drawing lots of attention to our size. I saw lots of large size folks in all the parks we visited (we didn't hit MK this trip) and on all the rides. I bet they are used to it.

To tell the truth I don't let much bother me anyway and I am not afraid to speak up. On Dinosaur I said WHOA when I had problems buckling. Who cares if it took an extra 15 seconds for me to get the hang of it! Onlookers who make a big deal about it just need to get over it! Bottom line, have fun!

[Leah's Dad]

I have PM'd you with something that has helped me.

Leah's Dad [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[LilMarcieMouse]

I had no problems buckling up and i think I'm around the same wieght if not larger then you. go on it and enjoy. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[coffeechef]

Space Mountain is roomy enough. I find pulling the seatbelt out as far is can go , rather than jsut trying to pull it around you works better. I think that front cars have abit more leg room.
The only ride that is somewhat uncomfortable is the new Primevil WHirl. Its made to seat 4 small people. There is no way 4 adults could ride together.So when you are seated you overlap into the " second seat" takes a bit of getting used to, butt wise. Once the ride gets going I usually focus on the ride, not the seat.

[tebright]

All of your responses were great on here. I'm also quite nervous. I am 5'6" and 306lbs. I wear a size 28 in clothes. I feel much better about the rides after reading this thread. I also wanted to ride Space Mountain and Kali River Rapids and heard that both might be a problem for me. Any thoughts on these rides?
Thanks.

[coffeechef]

I know what you mean about "other" Parks. I find it a tight fit at 6 Flags for many of the rides.I am your size, inch shorter. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
Again at Disney last January I went with a friend who is similar size. Difference is I have the Apple shape(focus to chest & Stomach Area) Her weight is Pearshape (focused on stomach,hips,legs.) We were able to ride all rides together that seated two people together(SPlash Mt, Thunder Mt, RnR,Pooh,Peterpan,Snowwhite,Etc.) We pretended not to know each other, so we could have our own Dumbo(that ride is one adult,one small kid)
Many other rides are Bench seats, so you should be all set.
My only warning are some of the turnstiles letting you in & out are tight, [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] I have to do the sideways thing to get thru, but most have Wheelchair access these days... use them like you own them.I did all( well most)of the Water slides & raft rides at the Water Parks.
And one more thing you will find at Disney is People on Vacation come in all shapes & sizes, You will see Folks wearing clothing styles of every variety, some will make you feel more comfortable about yourself. Relax... the tall & the small, the thin & the not so thin are all there to enjoy Vacation, have fun & experience the attractions. sorry for the long post, I hope this "reduces" [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] some concerns.

[LilMarcieMouse]

Homeschoolmom here is a great site for us Large Mousekatters. http://wdwig.com/ridsiz.htm

[mrsmaup]

WOW!! You are all so kind in your responses!!!

I am 5ft 9(and 1/2!LOL!!) and weigh 236. I have 5 months yet until we leave and I NEED to lose that 36lbs for health reasons(I take a seizure medication based on weight, so I have no choice but to take more than is probably normal because of my weight). I wear a size 20, but hope to be down to a size 16 or 14, heck, even an 18 would feel like LIBERATION!LOL!!

Ever since we first starting planning this trip, I have had this recurrent nightmare that my behind gets stuck in the seats of one of the rides, they have to close it down and get me out of the seat im wedged into w/crisco!!! It has been a serious worry, that I would not be able to fit in some seats, but wouldnt find out until I was already half way in the seat that I wasnt goinna be able to get all the way in, or get teh seat belt done, etc.

This all came about because the last time we were in CA visiting family, we went to Knotts Berry Farm and I had a hard time getting into and getting buckled into hmmm; ghostrider I think it was. I managed to do it, but not w/o some serious prayer first.

I feel much better now and know that I shouldnt have any trouble regardless of whether or not I lose any weight!!

Are there any rides in any of the parks, that are a tight squeeze, that I should watch out for? Most of my weight is on the bottom, literally!LOL!! So, sometimes its a little bit of a "tightsqueeze" if you know what I mean!!


homeschoolmom: I applaud you for being brave enough to ask this question, as I was not!!! Also, your "handle" says homeschoolmom. You homeschool? I homeschool our 2 children too!!

Well, thanks again for providing a "safe" place to ask these kind of questions!!!!

Kristie in ND

FIRST WDW TRIP EVER 12/03!!!!

[goofy4goofy]

I am a pear shape as well..and have quite the big hips/butt. While I had no problems at Disney, IOA was a nightmare. I didn't fit on Dueling Dragons, Hulk or the drop ride. My hips/butt were just to big to sqeeze into the seat. It was a rather humiliating experience and I even broke down into tears. This is the first time I haven't fit in a seat. I will NEVER pay $50 a day to go to this park, even if I lose weight. 12 attractions isn't enough, esp. when you don't even fit in 3 of them. I wrote a letter to Universal; perhaps if they had more attractions that accomodated everyone, more people would frequent their park. I'll never go back. They have a seat on each of those rides that accomodate people with larger upper bodies..which didn't help in my case. I saw much larger people than me go on, but not with big butts. It's a shame. It's not like I'm the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man or something!!!!

Now, the Disney attractions were a-ok and I had no problems whatsoever. Rest assured that you will be fine! Just be sure to pull the seat belts all the way out before sitting down on attractions like Dinosaur! CM's at Disney are very understanding and accomodating! You'll have a blast!
Kelly [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]