The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[hpyhnt 1000]

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be able to add more substance here.

BTW, something may open at WDW tomorrow. Really.

Also, after talking to friends who have ridden the Mine Train Coaster it appears that the seats were manufactured with Shanghai's guests in mind and not the larger (mostly obese) crowd that visits WDW.

I'm sorry, but if there was ever a time for this...:

...now is that time.

 

[sshindel]

Also, after talking to friends who have ridden the Mine Train Coaster it appears that the seats were manufactured with Shanghai's guests in mind and not the larger (mostly obese) crowd that visits WDW.

So, should we applaud them for this, building the ride that they wanted to build to fit the average human being (not the average american), obese lobby be damned, or should we slap our foreheads for not making the carts extra fun sized?

Personally and selfishly, I lean towards the former.

 

[Fe Maiden]

So, should we applaud them for this, building the ride that they wanted to build to fit the average human being (not the average american), obese lobby be damned, or should we slap our foreheads for not making the carts extra fun sized?

Personally and selfishly, I lean towards the former.

I thought the same thing, not sure why it deserves a facepalm.

 

[sshindel]

I thought the same thing, not sure why it deserves a facepalm.

I mean, I get it. It is going to cause a lot of complains that the front line CMs might have to handle gracefully
"I'm sorry sir/ma'am, I'm just the operator, I didn't engineer it to be too small to fit your frame".

I'm just not sure that every single ride Disney designs from here on out is going to need to be built like this:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Given the thread title I guess we are still free to discuss Disney from an ecumenical angle.

 

[bhg469]

I'm hoping spirit gets universal news soon because for the next 5+ years we are only getting rumors, closures, lackluster overlays and maybe some construction pics from wdw.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I thought the same thing, not sure why it deserves a facepalm.

Because of what it says about both Disney and Americans. On Disney's part, their failure to take in differences between the typical Asian and Western body (sorry, but how could they not have done this, especially given their own experience with boats bottoming out on Pirates and Small World) and on Americans because of the difficulty some people have in fitting in the seats due to...bodily dimensions.

The whole situation is so ridiculous.

 

[NormC]

That train will entice people to get multi park tickets, there is TRUE incentive to park hope with Uni now. That is something WDW has lost. Good point out for me to make a point on.

How did WDW guests lose the incentive to park hop?

We park hop all the time. Sometime 3 parks a day. Especially now that the kids want to play the Sorcerer's game at MK. You get a new pack of cards every day you play.

 

[LithiumBill]

So, should we applaud them for this, building the ride that they wanted to build to fit the average human being (not the average american), obese lobby be damned, or should we slap our foreheads for not making the carts extra fun sized?

Personally and selfishly, I lean towards the former.

If a ride builder was to build something that fit more people comfortably, how would that effect you? They are going to fit two to a seat no matter what...if that seat is more comfortable for all - that effects smaller people how? Just curious. Because every single ride within WDW parks has been treated this way, and no-one seems to complain that they have too much room...

{not meant to go off topic}

 

[Steel City Magic]

Because of what it says about both Disney and Americans. On Disney's part, their failure to take in differences between the typical Asian and Western body (sorry, but how could they not have done this, especially given their own experience with boats bottoming out on Pirates and Small World) and on Americans because of the difficulty some people have in fitting in the seats due to...bodily dimensions.

The whole situation is so ridiculous.

maybe TDO just made a KIDS coaster... dum dum dum!

 

[doctornick]

If a ride builder was to build something that fit more people comfortably, how would that effect you? They are going to fit two to a seat no matter what...if that seat is more comfortable for all - that effects smaller people how? Just curious. Because every single ride within WDW parks has been treated this way, and no-one seems to complain that they have too much room...

{not meant to go off topic}

Is it possible that the seats had to be the size they are in order to accommodate the lower height restriction? I think Disney really wanted the 7DMT to be accessible to kids that can't ride BTMRR/Splash. Other rides that are more accommodating for larger folks also have higher height restrictions. Meanwhile, Barnstormer is another ride noted to be cramped for adults and it has a much lower height restriction.

That said, it seems like they could use the same sized seats and vehicles, but be more accommodating to larger folks by using a T-bar restraint (which goes between the legs)

 

[sshindel]

That said, it seems like they could use the same sized seats and vehicles, but be more accommodating to larger folks by using a T-bar restraint (which goes between the legs)

I thought I read in the WDWMagic review that each seat has individual lap bars, so each person sitting in the car could have it adjusted to their own needs?
I've not seen it personally so I'm only going off what I seem to remember reading.

edit:
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...er-at-the-magic-kingdom's-new-fantasyland.htm

There is a pull-down restraint lap bar, similar to Big Thunder Mountain, which is for each individual guest. This means that if two riders are of differing sizes, the lap bar still fits properly for each guest.

 

[dadddio]

Is it possible that the seats had to be the size they are in order to accommodate the lower height restriction? I think Disney really wanted the 7DMT to be accessible to kids that can't ride BTMRR/Splash. Other rides that are more accommodating for larger folks also have higher height restrictions. Meanwhile, Barnstormer is another ride noted to be cramped for adults and it has a much lower height restriction.

That said, it seems like they could use the same sized seats and vehicles, but be more accommodating to larger folks by using a T-bar restraint (which goes between the legs)

I'm having a little bit of trouble picturing what the issue is with the safety bar. Does someone have a pic?

 

[71jason]

I thought I read in the WDWMagic review that each seat has individual lap bars, so each person sitting in the car could have it adjusted to their own needs?

Yes. However, to have it pulled back effectively, over (around?) your legs--let's just say it put a squeeze on vital parts of my anatomy. I chalked it up to being a kids coaster.

 

[71jason]

I'm having a little bit of trouble picturing what the issue is with the safety bar. Does someone have a pic?

Essentially the same as Expedition: Everest; individual pull-back bar for each seat. Just smaller cars, so a tighter fit.

 

[LithiumBill]

This time it is less about your mid section and more about the width of your thighs from knees to waist... You need to fit them between the two posts on either end of the lapbar... It puts a bit of a crunch on the boys so I have been told.

 

[NearTheEars]

I agree with you here, but to play Devil's Advocate (and cause you know someone will bring this up), you don't need a park hopper to ride the monorail, where you'll need Universal's version of the park hopper to ride the Hogwart's Express...

I still think it's a brilliant idea by Universal, brilliant business decision... Get more money out of guests who CHOOSE to pay for it.. They don't have to...

Also playing devil's advocate:
If WDW did something similar to splitting HP up to two parks with the express in the middle this board would explode with posts about them being money grabbing thieves! Not patting them on the back for a great business decision.

 

[71jason]

In the end, it doesn't matter because they serve several fruity non alcoholic drinks. Both of my boys ordered them at DLR.

The Spirit was suggesting it was irresponsible to show a child (1) sitting at the bar (2) drinking a clearly alcoholic drink. (WDW has strict rules in what cups drinks come in when you get them at a bar.) While kids will likely be allowed in the bar area--and non-alcoholic beverages will no doubt be served--I don't think WDW meant to suggest kids could sit at the bar and chug down a rum-based tiki drink. That was all I was discussing.

 

[asianway]

Also playing devil's advocate:
If WDW did something similar to splitting HP up to two parks with the express in the middle this board would explode with posts about them being money grabbing thieves! Not patting them on the back for a great business decision.

Some of us have no problem paying for a premium experience. Hell it would save me thousands a year on airfare

 

[CDavid]

So, should we applaud them for this, building the ride that they wanted to build to fit the average human being (not the average american), obese lobby be damned, or should we slap our foreheads for not making the carts extra fun sized?

Personally and selfishly, I lean towards the former.

I thought the same thing, not sure why it deserves a facepalm.

You have to design rides for whomever your audience or 'market' is; An attraction located in the United States is obviously going to be frequented by Americans. It has nothing to do with an 'obese lobby'; The carts need to suit those who will be riding them. Ever see an elementary school cafeteria with what look like 'toy' sized tables and chairs? Works well for them, to be sure, but if you invite the parents in you are going to need somewhere else for them to sit.

Regardless, you want to be able to accommodate as many people as possible and not routinely turn guests ("customers") away. So long as the safety bars/devices can work installing larger seats is never going to be a problem, but seats a bit too small always will for someone.