Flight of Passage: People of size be warned

[iubigman]

I just posted about this on the main thread for the ride, sorry I didn't see this one earlier. I am accused of being a Disney apologist and overly optimistic about Disney Parks, but this will be the first time that I will really be truly disappointed and angry at Disney. This is the SINGULAR issue that has always set Disney apart from Universal and the Cedar Point/Six Flags type parks. Every ride Disney has ever built, even simulators, waterslides, etc, I've been able to ride, no problem, even if I had to cram myself in. Even Primeval Whirl, which has a ride car that when used at other parks does not allow me to fit into, I can fit into at Disney because of how they work it. If I can't fit on this ride when I travel in December, my son (and I) will be crushed. If this is a pre-cursor to Star Wars lands attractions, I don't even know......

 

[Incomudro]

That's what irks me the most about it, is that it's unnecessary. The whole apparatus is absolutely unnecessary. Is it futuristic looking? Yep. But at the end of the day, they seemingly drew it up, said "this looks good" and put it into production without properly researching the heights needed to comfortably fit people of a little above average height?!

A couple more inches on the size of the seat and a couple inches more height on the leg openings and the ride fits literally EVERYONE. But I suppose they were so excited to be designing Soarin in Pandora that they forget to actually test these things out.

The seat design is necessary because it is intrinsic in the ride experience.
You are supposed to feel like you are riding atop a living breathing creature, as depicted in the film.
The very posture you are in is a part of the sensation.
If you sat on a bench you'd be missing a large element of what the ride is all about.
As far as the range of physiques the ride system accommodates:
Don't you think Disney tried to accommodate the widest range possible?
There has to come a point in design elements, where some people will not fit some things.
Some people can no longer fit airline seats, train and bus seats for instance.

 

[iubigman]

The seat design is necessary because it is intrinsic in the ride experience.
You are supposed to feel like you are riding atop a living breathing creature, as depicted in the film.
The very posture you are in is a part of the sensation.
If you sat on a bench you'd be missing a large element of what the ride is all about.
As far as the range of physiques the ride system accommodates:
Don't you think Disney tried to accommodate the widest range possible?
There has to come a point in design elements, where some people will not fit some things.
Some people can no longer fit airline seats, train and bus seats for instance.

There is a huge difference to the very minimal number of people who can't fit into an airline seat, and the kind of numbers being thrown around (20-25%) that are having issues. Disney DOES go out of their way to accommodate extended sizes, but this obviously has not happened to that degree here. WDI could have figured this out without losing 1 out of every 4 or 5 guests.

 

[Master Yoda]

Due to the uniqueness of the ride vehicle, I’m surprised they don’t have a tester out front. Maybe that will change by opening day?

I am a little surprised too. I kind of hope they will add it soon. I hear the queue is cool, but I don't need to spend hours in it if this one is out for me

Rumor is that it is on it's way, but was not ready for the previews.

There is a huge difference to the very minimal number of people who can't fit into an airline seat, and the kind of numbers being thrown around (20-25%) that are having issues. Disney DOES go out of their way to accommodate extended sizes, but this obviously has not happened to that degree here. WDI could have figured this out without losing 1 out of every 4 or 5 guests.

If you are getting the 20%-25% number where I think you are, it was based on some pretty faulty math. I have read a number of articles basing a percentage turned away on a survey between 16 and 32 people. With sample sizes that small, all it takes is a few people one way or the other to drastically skew the results. The cast and the guests are also new at this and are dealing with a very unconventional restraint system. I have a feeling that the nubers will go down once the cast has a few weeks under their belt and learns what they can and can't do.

 

[iubigman]

Rumor is that it is on it's way, but was not ready for the previews.


If you are getting the 20%-25% number where I think you are, it was based on some pretty faulty math. I have read a number of articles basing a percentage turned away on a survey between 16 and 32 people. With sample sizes that small, all it takes is a few people one way or the other to drastically skew the results. The cast and the guests are also new at this and are dealing with a very unconventional restraint system. I have a feeling that the nubers will go down once the cast has a few weeks under their belt and learns what they can and can't do.

That's probably true, but comparing it to the TINY TINY number of people who can't fit into an airline seat is still not right. (Math-wise, not morally)

 

[Incomudro]

There is a huge difference to the very minimal number of people who can't fit into an airline seat, and the kind of numbers being thrown around (20-25%) that are having issues. Disney DOES go out of their way to accommodate extended sizes, but this obviously has not happened to that degree here. WDI could have figured this out without losing 1 out of every 4 or 5 guests.

I used an airline seat as an example to indicate areas where deign requirements and passenger size are reaching limits even in commonplace modes of transportation.
This is a ride.
A ride where one is supposed to feel like they are straddling the back of a living, flying creature.
I'm certain Disney did their best to accommodate as wide an age and size range possible, and still deliver the ride experience they intended to deliver.
The style of the seating of this ride obviously restricts more larger seized riders than does the seating of most other rides.
Perhaps Americans could pay more attention to the things that they themselves have control over - their mass.
The average American woman of today weighs more than the average American man did when I was a youngster in the 60's.

 

[iubigman]

I used an airline seat as an example to indicate areas where deign requirements and passenger size are reaching limits even in commonplace modes of transportation.
This is a ride.
A ride where one is supposed to feel like they are straddling the back of a living, flying creature.
I'm certain Disney did their best to accommodate as wide an age and size range possible, and still deliver the ride experience they intended to deliver.
The style of the seating of this ride obviously restricts more larger seized riders than does the seating of most other rides.
Perhaps Americans could pay more attention to the things that they themselves have control over - their mass.
The average American woman of today weighs more than the average American man did when I was a youngster in the 60's.

Sigh, that didn't take long.

 

[Master Yoda]

That's probably true, but comparing it to the TINY TINY number of people who can't fit into an airline seat is still not right. (Math-wise, not morally)

You are correct. That analogy might not be the best one, but it is one most people can relate to.

 

[iubigman]

You are correct. That analogy might not be the best one, but it is one most people can relate to.

By the way, I'm retracting the "not morally", since Incomudro fat-shamed me for bringing this up.

 

[Master Yoda]

By the way, I'm retracting the "not morally", since Incomudro fat-shamed me for bringing this up.

No worries.

I am an engineer so I tend to focus on just the numbers.

 

[correcaminos]

That's probably true, but comparing it to the TINY TINY number of people who can't fit into an airline seat is still not right. (Math-wise, not morally)

Define "fit into a seat" because I can tell you my husband who is a power lifter wouldn't fit easily by himself in a lot of them if he didn't have small people next to him to compensate. I've had enough larger people squish into my seat when I've flown. Maybe because I am a pocket sized person, people think they can take over my seat, but it happens often. I just want to get there and don't make a fuss if someone is in my way. To clarify, I'm not just speaking of a weight, but just dimensions. The seats really do not fit many adults comfortable and if you happen to be bigger (as my son I am sure will be - 6'4" is a projection) you can easily hang over into the next seat without even realizing.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

There is a huge difference to the very minimal number of people who can't fit into an airline seat, and the kind of numbers being thrown around (20-25%) that are having issues. Disney DOES go out of their way to accommodate extended sizes, but this obviously has not happened to that degree here. WDI could have figured this out without losing 1 out of every 4 or 5 guests.

So a friend who is 5'10" and 260 rode and said he had no problems fitting, and wasn't even squished. I seriously doubt that 20-25% of the people that go there will not fit on it.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Hearing some "adjustments" have already been made since the early previews to allow some of the people who couldn't ride before to be able to ride... not sure how true that is, so take the info with a grain of salt...

 

[Rodan75]

So a friend who is 5'10" and 260 rode and said he had no problems fitting, and wasn't even squished. I seriously doubt that 20-25% of the people that go there will not fit on it.

Over the weekend it was stated that they had adjusted the restraints to allow a wider array of body types, I wonder if that hasn't occurred on all of the theaters and all of the platforms yet?

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Hearing some "adjustments" have already been made since the early previews to allow some of the people who couldn't ride before to be able to ride... not sure how true that is, so take the info with a grain of salt...

Over the weekend it was stated that they had adjusted the restraints to allow a wider array of body types, I wonder if that hasn't occurred on all of the theaters and all of the platforms yet?

And this is one of the reasons why they do previews. So certain things can be tweaked as needed. I am willing to bet that once it is all said and done, that less than 1% of guests will not be able to ride. Heck, there are a lot of people that don't fit into 7DMT either.

 

[Master Yoda]

And this is one of the reasons why they do previews. So certain things can be tweaked as needed. I am willing to bet that once it is all said and done, that less than 1% of guests will not be able to ride. Heck, there are a lot of people that don't fit into 7DMT either.

That has been brought up elsewhere as WDI showing a systematic pattern of fat shaming.

 

[iubigman]

So a friend who is 5'10" and 260 rode and said he had no problems fitting, and wasn't even squished. I seriously doubt that 20-25% of the people that go there will not fit on it.

The two accounts I read that had numbers put it in that range. I'm just relaying what I read. I do think what others have said is true, it's likely many (most)? of these folks could have probably fit if they had a better feel for how the restraint/seat works, same for CMs working.

In the low tech analogy, it's like Barnstormer. I know that on that ride I need to cros my legs at the ankles to fit, so I do it.

 

[iubigman]

That has been brought up elsewhere as WDI showing a systematic pattern of fat shaming.

That's NONSENSE. WDI goes above and beyond to NOT fat shame. Just look at the water parks, with slides built into the earth or other structures to allow all weights to ride. I am a big guy, and I fit on 7DMT by, again, figuring out what I needed to do. That's what is so surprising about this situation, but it seems from post like they are already addressing it.

 

[OvertheHorizon]

If my preview was any indication, the percentage is really high. Myself and two others were kicked off due to the size of our shins in the same ride group. A quick conversation with a cast member then yielded that they're tossing an average of 2 people every ride because of this issue.

So basically it's not really a midsection thing, I'm heavier and fit fine with the back restraint, it's getting your knees under the unnecessarily short bars in front of you which is causing issues for most anything north of 6' tall. Both the other men that were tossed were totally fit, btw.

If Disney doesn't do something quick, it'll be another PR nightmare opening day without a doubt.

I had a similar experience. I'm 6' tall and 255 lbs. But the leg restraint would not lock into place. I had my size 11 shoe all the way forward, didn't try curling my toes up. I could feel the restraint on my calves after they came up behind my leg, but the staff said that they weren't locking. I was one of two in a group of 8 who were unable to ride.

I didn't even know that I had a problem. They kept fussing with the other guy first, engagin and re-engaging the restraints a couple times. Once they asked him to leave they turned their attention to me.

Based on a video I saw, I don't think standing in the back would be an option, since once the ride starts those seats move up and down (part of the simulation experience) and there would be gaps between the platform behind and the vehicle that would not pass safety muster.

 

[Master Yoda]

That's NONSENSE. WDI goes above and beyond to NOT fat shame. Just look at the water parks, with slides built into the earth or other structures to allow all weights to ride. I am a big guy, and I fit on 7DMT by, again, figuring out what I needed to do. That's what is so surprising about this situation, but it seems from post like they are already addressing it.

There does seem to be an ever growing population that don't let things like logic and facts get in the way of a good online rant or conspiracy theory.