Being Large Frame at Universal Orlando

disney4life2008 · Mar 24, 2011

I am taking my nephews to Disneyworld in August. I have not been to Universal Orlando in years but they are more interested in Harry Potter than Disney. However, I am worried that I will not be able to fit on many of the rides at Islands of Adventure and Universal Orlando. I do not want to be embarrassed - can anyone help me. What would my restrictions be?

I am male; 5'7, 320lbs, very round in the stomach.

Pumbas Nakasak · Mar 24, 2011

Rows 3 and 5 of most coasters have seats that should accommodate you. All other attractions will be fine except Potter.

SleepingMonk · Mar 25, 2011

Just throwing this out there...in five months you could be well under 300 lbs.

Use this as the motivation to make a positive change in your life?

EvanAnderson · Mar 26, 2011

All the roller coasters have test seats out front. They are out in public, but honestly, no one is really looking at them unless they are using it. The guests are normally walking past them, looking at the wait time, talking to people, putting bags away etc. Usually if you need to use the test seat, just have your family stand with you, it's not too big of a deal.

For Hulk and Dragon's Challenge, they have modified seats on rows 3 and 6. The seats are not necessarily larger, they just have longer seat belts for the harnesses to attach to. They are the seats with 2 seat belts. Both the regular seats and modified seats are outside available for testing.

Doctor Doom's Fearfall also has a seatbelt, but they don't have any modified seating. The one outside the attraction is the only size they have.

Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw Falls gives EVERYONE problems. They seats are small to begin with (5 people in a row behind one another) in a log, but then they added lapbars, so even I at 6 foot, 200 lbs. have problems with them. I can still ride, but it takes some wiggling to get down into the those seats.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey recently got modified seats after a long while of people complaining about it. The two end seats on every vehicle are the modified ones. The seats are not physically different, they just let all the seats to be ok with less "clicks" in the harness than the other seats. The test seat outside has 3 lights on it (only you can see the lights when you're sitting, it's not like it's a big display) and they are green yellow and red. Green light means you're good with any seat, yellow light means you need the modified seat, and red means unfortunately you can't ride.

DarrenLevesley · Mar 26, 2011

SleepingMonk said:
Just throwing this out there...in five months you could be well under 300 lbs.

Use this as the motivation to make a positive change in your life?

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disney4life2008 Hope you have fun!

SleepingMonk · Apr 4, 2011

DarrenLevesley said:
I’m sorry but I dont think this a very relevent response to the question raised. It is quite easy to sit there and say maybe make a positive change in your life. However, I am guesing you do not know this gentleman’s circumstances and for all you know he could of recently lost 100lbs.

disney4life2008 Hope you have fun!

People find motivation in any number of ways. For some this might be the "final straw" that pushes them to make that change.

If he recently lost 100 lbs I would give him a huge congrats and encourage him to keep up the great work.

I wish the OP only the best.

daikonjam · Apr 13, 2011

Me and my mom are big people, My mom weighs around 340 5'9 and i'm about 300 5'11, so since i'm taller I can Squeeeeeeze into the modified seats, but my mom just misses by not even half an inch. I always feel bad because even though the "modified seats" are supposed to fit everyone, they don't and i end up either riding by myself or not at all. So i'm not sure how your weight is proportioned, because that's what it all comes down to.
The hips are the worst problem, and then the belly, so honestly, coming from someone who knows your situation, I don't think you'd fit into the most popular rides.

The only popular ones my mom fits into are
Spiderman
Jurrassic Park
Popeye (with extension seat belt)
Dudley do right (handicapped seat)
Mummy
simpsons
MIB

and most rides that dont have a 'set' point which the seat has to go down to.

Hope this helps, and don't forget there's always single riders lines which your nephews can go through with you and you just wait at the end for them. I know it sucks, and people need to bring up this issue with universal, but there's not all that much we can do about it.

Don't let it ruin your time or discourage you to go though! There are so many great attractions, not including rides, that you can do and are fantastic!

disney4life2008 · Apr 13, 2011

Thank you all for the responses. I am not going to let my size stop me from having fun. Disney always accomodates but Universal gives me the nerves. But I am excited.

daikonjam · Apr 14, 2011

Agreed, the only thing at disney i don't fit in is the sum of all thrills at innoventions, and that's not even that fun, so it doesn't upset me. Disney KNOWS how america is, honestly.
People say universal makes it's seats for the average sized person, but over 60% of americans are big people. Just the same with clothing lines, they'd make more money if more attractions fit bigger people, but that's just my opinion, and i'm obviously bias

but anywhoo, have a great time at both places!

britdaw · Apr 14, 2011

I can't offer any knowledge of the rides there, but I do hope you're able to go and enjoy all the different rides with your nephews!

jonnyc · Apr 14, 2011

daikonjam said:
So i'm not sure how your weight is proportioned, because that's what it all comes down to.

This is quite true and it will always differ person to person, definately give the test seats a go outside the attraction.

SleepingMonk · Apr 14, 2011

daikonjam said:
Agreed, the only thing at disney i don't fit in is the sum of all thrills at innoventions, and that's not even that fun, so it doesn't upset me. Disney KNOWS how america is, honestly.
People say universal makes it's seats for the average sized person, but over 60% of americans are big people. Just the same with clothing lines, they'd make more money if more attractions fit bigger people, but that's just my opinion, and i'm obviously bias
but anywhoo, have a great time at both places!

I think it might be a better idea to promote health and fitness rather than offer larger clothes/chairs/cars etc...

BigThunderMatt · Apr 14, 2011

daikonjam said:
People say universal makes it's seats for the average sized person, but over 60% of americans are big people. Just the same with clothing lines, they'd make more money if more attractions fit bigger people!

For the record, most of Universal's major attractions that ARE restrictive, were done by outside vendors. Hulk and Dueling Dragons were both designed and built by B&M, and considering the majority of B&M coasters out there without modified seating, the fact that Universal even offers it is mighty generous. Forbidden Journey uses KUKA arms, but I don't know if the seats were designed-in house.

Point being that they're not trying to single people out. But if you want to increase the thrills, you've got to increase the safety and usually that means more restrictive restraints to ensure that.

Disneydreamer23 · Apr 14, 2011

disney4life2008 said:
Thank you all for the responses. I am not going to let my size stop me from having fun. Disney always accomodates but Universal gives me the nerves. But I am excited.

The hulk you will not fit on
the dr suess ride you will not fit on
ET im thinking probably not its a tight squeze for me at 100 pounds less than you and 5 6
Harry potter nope
revenge of the mummy my fiance is 6'4 and 320 pounds and he just fits so you will have to see in the test seat.
HOPE THIS HELPS!

daikonjam · Apr 14, 2011

Disneydreamer23 said:
The hulk you will not fit on
the dr suess ride you will not fit on
ET im thinking probably not its a tight squeze for me at 100 pounds less than you and 5 6
Harry potter nope
revenge of the mummy my fiance is 6'4 and 320 pounds and he just fits so you will have to see in the test seat.
HOPE THIS HELPS!

It's not necessarily true that he WON'T fit on them. You gotta give em' a try you never know. There's always a chance, i didn't think i would fit onto half of the things i do, so don't count things out until you try them.

And i'm pretty sure he can fit on ET and Dr. Seuss, there's no restriction on where the lap bar has to go.

Disneydreamer23 · Apr 16, 2011

daikonjam said:
It's not necessarily true that he WON'T fit on them. You gotta give em' a try you never know. There's always a chance, i didn't think i would fit onto half of the things i do, so don't count things out until you try them.

And i'm pretty sure he can fit on ET and Dr. Seuss, there's no restriction on where the lap bar has to go.

yes but after 3 minutes of sitting on a bike for et by butt was KILLING ME bc i didnt fit so good, same with seuss i ws squished!

daikonjam · Apr 22, 2011

Disneydreamer23 said:
yes but after 3 minutes of sitting on a bike for et by butt was KILLING ME bc i didnt fit so good, same with seuss i ws squished!

I agree, but i still enjoy the rides because they're fun

Walt Disney1955 · Apr 23, 2011

This is Universal Studios, not a Six Flags theme park. No offense, but I myself have failed to fit into a couple rollercoasters at Cedar Point, Ohio. They have "testers" at the front and I just couldn't ride them simply put.

If it helps you at all, I am 6'2" 280lbs. I'm broad shouldered and am big all over but carry a good portion in the belly. I fit on every ride at Universal.

The Hulk? Check
Mummy? Check
Simpsons? Check
ET? Check
Dr. Seuss rides? Check
Spiderman? Check
Ripsaw Falls? Heck, I sat in the front
Jurassic Park? Check
Doomsday Free Fall? Check

I don't like the coasters where your feet dangle so I can't tell you about Dueling Dragons and I last went before Potter opened. There is no reason a professional park like Universal can't accomodate a bigger person. It isn't a carnival.

Even at Disney, the only ride that is a tight fit on me is Space Mountain. The bar clicks once or twice for me but the main reason is my legs. My knees are usually rammed against the seat in front of me, but you forget about the discomfort in a hurry.

Splash Mountain coincidentally I have never had a problem fitting in or even being snug and I sit with my wife (average size girl).

So I hope that helps

cmatt · Apr 23, 2011

Big Phil said:
This is Universal Studios, not a Six Flags theme park. No offense, but I myself have failed to fit into a couple rollercoasters at Cedar Point, Ohio. They have "testers" at the front and I just couldn't ride them simply put.

If it helps you at all, I am 6'2" 280lbs. I'm broad shouldered and am big all over but carry a good portion in the belly. I fit on every ride at Universal.

The Hulk? Check
Mummy? Check
Simpsons? Check
ET? Check
Dr. Seuss rides? Check
Spiderman? Check
Ripsaw Falls? Heck, I sat in the front
Jurassic Park? Check
Doomsday Free Fall? Check

I don't like the coasters where your feet dangle so I can't tell you about Dueling Dragons and I last went before Potter opened. There is no reason a professional park like Universal can't accomodate a bigger person. It isn't a carnival.

Even at Disney, the only ride that is a tight fit on me is Space Mountain. The bar clicks once or twice for me but the main reason is my legs. My knees are usually rammed against the seat in front of me, but you forget about the discomfort in a hurry.

Splash Mountain coincidentally I have never had a problem fitting in or even being snug and I sit with my wife (average size girl).

So I hope that helps

being of similar build - i fit into all rides (not been since potter invasion so can't comment) and found duelling dragons snug but ridable.

do aim to be < 250 lbs however next time mind.

kstella · Apr 25, 2011

I carry most of my weight in my hips and wasn't able to fit on most of the rides at Islands of Adventure.

Being Large Frame at Universal Orlando

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