Too fat for Islands of Adventure?


This is two questions in one.“Hi all, I’ll be heading to Walt Disney World and Islands Adventure for New Year. I’ll be going with my girlfriend.

Around 10 years ago, I remember trying to fit into the Hulk only to be extremely embarrassed when I could not fit into the ride. I remember everyone looking at me. It was truly horrible, and I don’t want my girlfriend, who is not a beast like me, she’s thin, to have to go through that.

I’m currently 6 foot, 340. A vast majority of my weight is in my upper body, and I wear a 2XB shirts, 3XL pants or 3XL shirts. My pants are 44 inches. I’ve read that Disney rides should be fine, but my girlfriend really wants to go to Pandora ride. She wants to all the other roller coasters on Islands Adventure. Any recommendations would be extremely appreciated. Thank you.”

Here’s the second one. “I’m 6’5″, 330, 42-inch waist, long legs, long torso, very thick like a football player. I’m going to Disney World with my wife and daughter and wondering which rides I might have problems fitting on.”

Pooh-sized People

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride is not friendly for fat people at Disney World

The most uncomfortable ride for Pooh-sized people is… – Photo by Laurie Sapp

I understand what you’re talking about. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about rides and Pooh-sized people, big people. I’m a big guy, always been a big guy. I was a big guy when I was 12 years old. I grew up early, so I’ve always been a big guy.

I lost a lot of weight a few years ago, so I’m not as big as I used to be. I used to be really big, so I know what it’s like to get on the rides and be uncomfortable. I’ve even got a page all about it. It’s about Disney World and being overweight.

Dad’s Walt Disney World and Overweight page

Basically, what it boils down to is Disney is great about rides for big people. They do a great job of engineering their rides for big people. There are really not any rides that I can’t ride and I couldn’t ride when I was really big, and I mean I was 280 pounds at 5’11”. I could still ride all the rides.
 
Space Mountain entrance, the ride can be hard to get into

Space Mountain can be difficult to get into – Photo by Cliff Wang

There are some rides that are tough mobility-wise if you have mobility problems, like getting into Space Mountain if you got knee problems. That can be kind of difficult. Some of the boat rides are hard to get in and out of if you’ve got mobility problems, but there really aren’t any real problems at Disney with rides and being overweight, except there are two rides that are a little bit challenging.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

First one is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I don’t know who designed Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but they had to weigh about 120 pounds. The seats in Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are contoured, so unlike Big Thunder Mountain Railroad where you got a bench seat that goes across, in Seven Dwarves Mine Train, you’ve got this little contoured seat that contours to the hip areas.

It’s built for little bitty people. If you’re a big person, you can sit in the seat, but it’s not particularly comfortable. It’s got a lap bar that comes down so it’s not like your buckled in.

You have to be really big to not be able to get into that ride. While you can ride that ride, what I will say is the lap bar is an individual bar and you’ve got poles that come up that hold the lap bar. They’re not very wide, so if you’ve got big old legs, like me, I got big old legs, and it’s pretty uncomfortable for me to get into that ride. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is kind of uncomfortable, but it’s still doable for most people.

Dad’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train page

The Barnstormer

The other ride, and it has some problems, is the Barnstormer. The Barnstormer is pretty much a kids’ ride, but parents go on it. Barnstormer can be a little problem because it’s kind of a small space.

Flight of Passage

Flight of Passage ride vehicles are very Pooh friendly

I didn’t have any problems with Flight of Passage- Photo by Laurie Sapp

A lot of people complained about Flight of Passage when it first came out. On our last trip, I didn’t see where the was much of a problem. The restraint devices on Flight of Passage aren’t that restrictive when you get on. You get on and the restraint devices come to you. People say, “The lower leg devices are a little small.” I didn’t have that experience, and I have big old legs.

Dad’s Flight of Passage page

I think you’ll be fine on any of the rides at Walt Disney World.

Universal… a different story

Universal… if you’ve got any ideas about Universal, put them down in the comments because I don’t know nothing about Universal. I haven’t been to Universal in 20 years probably, at least, so I’m not familiar with the new stuff over there.

The last time I was at Universal, we went to Islands of Adventure, I rode the Hulk Roller Coaster right off the bat. I got sick, and I didn’t ride another roller coaster all day. I can’t really tell you about the roller coasters at Universal.

What I hear is that Universal is NOT all that friendly to Pooh-sized people. I do know that almost every ride at Universal has a test vehicle outside so you can see if you fit.

If you’ve got experience with Universal, you can tell us about what goes on about Universal. Put it down in the comments, and we’ll get information about that.

Destinations to Travel

Dad’s Bottom Line

The bottom line is Disney is great for dealing with Pooh-sized people. Universal, from what I hear, not so much.

What are your experiences with the rides at Disney World and Universal? Let us know in the comments below.

 

 

 

disney world parks

disney world parks

 

disney hotels

disney hotels

 

the fire pit at 'Ohana

restaurants

 

 

Comments for Too fat for Islands of Adventure?

Feb 25, 2018 Hope this helps


by: Bill


Maybe this will help somebody. I’m a guy 6’2″ and weigh 220. My family and I have been to all parks but Typhoon Lagoon and Volcano Bay. Most recently was both Universal parks in August 2017 and October 2016. We went to Magic Kingdom in July 2016. There has never been a time that I didn’t fit into a ride. My uncomfortableness comes with my height and long legs. Once we were with friends and he was about 6’3″ and 250. He did not fit on the Rip Ride Rocket. But Universal has seats in some rides for bigger people. You just have to pay attention and read which row to get in.


Jan 26, 2018 Too tall


by: Michael


I am 6’8″ tall and register 250 on the ol’ gravitational pull device (I lost a few lbs. recently). I have been to WDW on numerous occasions and have never had an issue that prevented me from riding an attraction. I have to admit a few can be very tight, but I learned where I can “fit” for each attraction and try to sit in that spot. If you tell the CM’s your dilemma, they are usually very accomodating.


Jan 26, 2018 Pooh Size


by: Anonymous


Agreed…Disney was great. Universal was not. I am a female 5’5″ and 275 pounds. The worst was the Harry Potter ride that simulated riding a broom. The reason this one was so bad is that the test seat is INSIDE the ride right before you get on.

So you stand in line for a long time…then in front of everyone, a person will say, “Excuse me, can you please try and sit in that chair bc I have doubts about you fitting” So you get to try and sit and fit in front of everyone and then walk the walk of shame out of the ride because you didn’t fit.


Jan 26, 2018 Universal NOT Pooh sized


by: Amy


Dad,

Im a large woman and I have a rather large chest. I was unable to ride any of the coasters, also the Harry Potter Forbidden Journey (I have not been back to do diagon alley)

The log flume ride is also very uncomfortable I had the horrible experience of the lap bar getting stuck, they had to come and undo the bolting it was the most humilating experience and the way the treated me after was well it was bad.

I also recently went to the one in LA and was able to do every attraction but Harry potter but its a lot of motion simulators and screens. Not an awesome experience.

Give me Disney any day


Jan 10, 2018 Universal Not Pooh Size Friendly


by: Anonymous


Just went to Universal back before Christmas. Most, if not all, of the roller coasters are not made for larger people. I am a 5’9″, 220lb female and I got on all of the rides, but just barely on some. Like he mentioned earlier, most have a “test” seat before you get in line. I strongly encourage you to use it. I didn’t want to embarrass my kids so I sucked it up (literally) to be able to fit in a couple and it was very uncomfortable. I have never had a problem with any rides at Disney.


Return to Ask Dad.
Disney-Wish-D2T