Human rights violations!
No doubt if they hadn't chubbed up the ride capacity, some tubbies would be marching (in their mobility scooters) to Congress in protest.
We're here, we're king-size, we do want extra french fries..
Harry Potter theme park magically swallows big visitors
The operators at the Harry Potter Theme Park are busily enlarging the attraction's key ride after finding that it is a little too snug for many visitors. Universal Orlando announced on Monday it was "adjusting" the harnesses on its Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, in which robotic arms whirl carloads of punters …
-
-
-
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 14:49 GMT Anonymous Coward
Not always
Depends how they enlarge the seat. if it's just a secondary restraint (that seat belt bit) that's lengthened it's no big deal unless they make it too long (ie it comes up too much if the primary restraint fails and allows an minimum size occupant to fall out). They can also reshape the harness bars so that a larger guest will fit again at no loss of safety to a smaller guest.
Colossus at Thorpe Park had a "fat seat" as does Nemesis which basically was a longer belt and slightly less padding on the bars IIRC.
Also it's not always fat, broad shoulders people will struggle with some rides as they won't fit in the gap and so the bars can't come down far enough with out crushing their shoulders, also I remember a friend telling Jordan to get off as her breasts were to big and the bar wouldn't lock closed.
That said I have dealt with "larger" parents taking kids on lap bar type rides, who got a s**t on when I suggested that over a foot of free air between the kid and the bar wasn't safe so I wanted them to move to separate bars.
-
-
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 16:02 GMT Anonymous Coward
on the subject of countries
I'd like to point out that Britain's "The Biggest Loser" first aired within a few months of its American version. I don't watch much OTT TV here, and my only exposure to TBL is the Brit version on in-flight entertainment, along with other gems like "How Clean is Your House."
I can't speak to the availability of mobility scooters as I haven't been to a Disney or Six Flags park in over 15 years. (I did however ride The Anaconda at Gold Reef City not too long ago and I think I nearly collapsed a few vertebrae pulling the retaining bar down. I'm 6' tall -- I pity taller people on these sorts of rides.)
I've seen plenty of plus-size Brits on my travels -- so pot, kettle; black.
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 16:05 GMT Anonymous Coward
Yep...
Was there in February, the Harry Potter development was looking very impressive.
Witnessed a guy being turned away from The Mummy ride because they couldn't close the restraint enough... and yes, there were mobility scooters available, although I only saw a couple of kids racing around in them - probably sat their mum on a bench and left her there...
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 23:45 GMT Joe Zeff
@Andrew Moore
And what makes you think that the mobility scooters are only (or even mostly) for the overweight? I have a pair of friends who'd be unable to visit that park without them, because they're both in their 80s and couldn't walk long or far enough without one. I suppose it makes you feel good, somehow, to know that you're preventing my friends from visiting the park with their grandchildren. Personally, I'd suggest that you be a little less judgmental, lest you too be judged.
There's an old saying that you might give a little thought to: Mene mene teckel uparshin!
-
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 14:26 GMT Anonymous Coward
Have Cake, Will Travel.
I always have my cake and eat it, as far as I'm concerned it's the only way. Just try eating cake that you don't have.
Now, if I was able to eat my cake and still have it, now that would have been something.
Anon, because I'm probably the only person sad enough to find the bloody expression annoying enough to post about it :(.
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 14:47 GMT Anonymous Coward
Chill
If it makes you feel any better, you're annoyed for all the wrong reasons. That's exactly what the expression means: you would have your cake and eaten it. Ordinarily the two things are mutually exclusive - the expression means you wish have it in your hands and have eaten it simultaneously.
It's been bastardised over recent years admittedly.
-
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 16:02 GMT Montybank
After trip to Mousewitz...
I don't consider myself to be skinny in any way, (former loose head prop) but I was at disney this summer and holy carp did I feel thin and willowy. There were fleets of the little scooters wherever you looked. My mate refers to the riders as being "rascal fat" after the name of a popular brand of scooter.
On one ride, it was snug for me, while they had to disallow a 15 yr old girl because they couldn't get the safety bar down. And I'm in my "built for comfort, not for speed" years...
They'd best get those killbots on line as the military won't be able to see their own "boots on the gound".
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 16:05 GMT Henry Wertz 1
Bumper cars
"We are talking about a country where.....where theme parks like this provide mobility scooters to its patrons, lest the fat f*cks actually get some exercise."
Probably someone claimed under ADA (Americans w/ Disabilities Act) that they were required. I don't know when "really fat" became a disability, and why someone that big couldn't bring their OWN scooter. But yeah. That said, my grandma is pretty out of shape and old, last time we went to a theme park she used a scooter. The park is very hilly, very spread out so there was a LOT of walking, and she has bad ankles.
"They could make the riding of mobility scooters an attraction in and of itself"
Well they do have bumper cars 8-).
-
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 22:22 GMT Shane Orahilly
re: Parks I've been to
It's a solution, but once you've paid your entrance fee to a park, it's going to be gut-wrenching (ha) to find out you can't get on anything, whether you queue or not. A better solution would be either the "Every body's Happy" option that has been adopted of adjusting seats to suit the larger frame, or the more harsh (but twistedly amusing and not necessarily business-wise) option of making sure all media advertising the theme parks states "Most rides unsuitable for chubbers, but we have plenty of restaurants and fairground food for you to console yourself with".
Prepare for boarding? I think not, Lardbucket.
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 17:41 GMT Jason DePriest
I'm a little big large
but even I understand that rides that hoist you up into the air and fly you around have to have weight limits.
There are engineering and cost concerns and, at some point, you have to say, "this is the cut off."
I've a gimpy eye which means I can't see all the fancy new 3D movies in 3D. I don't expect the studios to spend millions coming up with a magic way for me to see their fancy attractions. Just like I don't expect rides to accommodate my rolling gut.
-
Tuesday 14th September 2010 23:38 GMT Anonymous Coward
300 pounds = 21.4285714 stone
F@@k me, 300 pounds is 21 stone .. is this "kid" American? If he is, surely even British kids were calling him a lard a$$ while queuing up? 21 Stone is surely an arm-chair football supporter by our standards not a "kid".
Where's that farmer who wanted to use a big catapult to send $hit flying on trespassers when you need him? He can wave his magic wand as he goes ............. FLYING THRU THE AIR ...... weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
-
Wednesday 15th September 2010 08:57 GMT gimbal
Seriously?
That man's motivation to loose weight - starting at 300+ pounds - his motivation is: So that he can fit himself into an amusement park ride, but - more special than that - it's a Harry Potter amusement park ride.
o m g.
To each their own... I hope it works out for him. Besides that I'm sure it would make for quite the touchy-feely "human interest" piece, on local news, I just hope it works out for that man's health. Geez.
-
-
This post has been deleted by its author
-
This topic is closed for new posts.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
