GrapesLie Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 So I'm going to be honest here. Earlier this year my worst fear came true! I went to ride PowderKeg at Silver Dollar City and was turned away! I was too fat to ride! Now I didn't get angry or throw a fit. Instead I calmly left the ride of course feeling very embarrassed! I hear a lot of enthusiasts throw fits about how they don't build ride seats big enough, that designers aren't being realistic with our new bigger population! They moan and groan instead of realizing the problem isn't with the park or designers but with themselves! I was so embarrassed by what had happened that I was forced to take a long hard look at myself and was again embarrassed by what I had allowed myself to become. A fat lazy person! I realized I had a choice to make! Was I going to let my being lazy take from me my hobbies? HELL NO! So I made a choice and I chose Roller Coasters! I chose what made me happy! I started eating better and working out 5 days a week! So far I have lost 30 lbs and should be in fine riding form by next season! What I am basically saying is thank God for normal size seats! I think having to go through that embarrassing situation has forced me to make better choices in my life! I'm healthier, happier, and hopefully looking better too! I wouldn't change what happened for the world! Being Too FAT To Ride was actually a great and very positive thing for me in the end! That said, I was wondering if anyone else here has had or knows of other peoples experience with this situation?
SharkTums Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 We've had people in this situation before, and I think getting denied is actually a really good thing as it forces you in one of two directions; 1. You yell and scream and make it someone elses' problem or 2. You suck it up, get that realization that you need and do something about it which will only benefit your health and more! Even on some of our private trip boards we have Weight Loss threads and 'Walk of Shame' threads to help everyone keep motivated during the 'offseason' and workout and lose weight together.
Wes Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 We have a few threads on this subject...this being one of them: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62956 Another: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59429
ernierocker Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Looks like you are taking the right attitude and steps towards fixing your dilemma. Keep it up and you will be fine!
CPmillenia94 Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 I sure wish there were more people like you! The more they accommodate to a larger population the less comfortable the rides get for those of us who are staying in shape. Major props for taking the initiative and pursuing that goal! Very impressed! Keep it up!
eltororider Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 This never happened to me personally but i took a trip to cedar point this year and brought my friend who is overweight with me. He went to ride dragster and had absolutely no shot at getting on this ride. Dragster is a very tough ride to get on and he didn't even come close to making it. The second instance was blue streak. I barely got in the seat being a not so skinny guy myself but my friend refused to sit in that seat because it was too small (in his defense it really was small) and not that roomy. The third instance was millennium force. This was a weird case because sometimes they let him ride and sometimes he was too big. I believe out of 6 times he rode it he got kicked out 2 or 3 of them. Off the record, 1 of the ride attendants told me some trains and some seats are bigger than others. He said the red train near the back was our best bet so we aimed for that and it worked a few times but he still got kicked out once. Point is cedar point is not meant for big people and i don't see that changing and it probably shouldn't change because taking the walk of shame is embarassing. I'm just hoping i dont take that walk next year although i've never been in danger on el toro and that's a small seat too.
Chittlins Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I sure wish there were more people like you! The more they accommodate to a larger population the less comfortable the rides get for those of us who are staying in shape. Major props for taking the initiative and pursuing that goal! Very impressed! Keep it up! Hmmm.... When I was a kid, it was very tough to find size thirteen shoes, now it's not an issue. We are taller and our frames are larger as well. It's not just a weight thing. My chesct makes it very difficult to ride a B&M like Wildfire with it's OTSR with latchbelts.
simon8899 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Over the years I saw most poeple got turned away for beeing too round on Intamin coasters - specially those with seatbelts. The most forgiving coasters are IMO still the Schwarzkopf coasters and flats as they mostly have lapbars which just have to fit over your legs - but on these I saw women get turned away but also once saw a very big man at Hansa-Park who was allowed to ride with one lapbar over each leg... I mostly have problems with my height. Gladly I was so far never turned away even from the max. 1,95m coasters - I'm 1,96m plus shoes. But on many flats, specially those by Technical Park the headrest pokes into my shoulders...
bert425 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 at Fiesta, Tx, I've discovered that several of the coasters have "big boy" seats. I guess maybe because San Antonio does seem to have a disproportionate amount of heavy folks? I've never had to use them (tho I have to REALLY suck in to get the harness to click down on Goliath), but I have seen them re-arrange folks to put some of the heavier guests into different seats . . which is part of the reason, at least I believe so, that Fiesta is so slow loading trains sometimes.
SmokiesFriend Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Was I going to let my being lazy take from me my hobbies? HELL NO! So I made a choice and I chose Roller Coasters! I chose what made me happy! I started eating better and working out 5 days a week! So far I have lost 30 lbs and should be in fine riding form by next season! What I am basically saying is thank God for normal size seats! I think having to go through that embarrassing situation has forced me to make better choices in my life! I'm healthier, happier, and hopefully looking better too! Congrats to you for sticking to your diet/exercising and losing the weight, keep it up. (Being a new person with the club, I hope there is a time in the future I can ride with you....)
CPmillenia94 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I sure wish there were more people like you! The more they accommodate to a larger population the less comfortable the rides get for those of us who are staying in shape. Major props for taking the initiative and pursuing that goal! Very impressed! Keep it up! Hmmm.... When I was a kid, it was very tough to find size thirteen shoes, now it's not an issue. We are taller and our frames are larger as well. It's not just a weight thing. My chesct makes it very difficult to ride a B&M like Wildfire with it's OTSR with latchbelts. I meant more with lap bars.. *cough* bizarro sfne *cough*
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