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View Full Version : Harry Potter Fans Deemed Too Heavy for 'Wizarding World' Ride


TheQueen
06-25-2010, 05:41 PM
Most people remember the feeling of not being tall enough to ride an amusement park ride, but some would-be riders of the signature attraction at Universal Studios' new "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme park in Orlando are being turned away because of their girth. The ride, "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," employs individual restraints to keep each guest tucked in to his or her seat, but the restraints aren't large enough to accommodate heavier riders.

Universal seems to have anticipated this issue, stationing staff "wizards" and test-seats along the line and at the entrance to Forbidden Journey. Riders test their ability to fit in the seats, as well as the restraint (which must click three times to be deemed safe and for the potential rider to be allowed into the attraction).

One Harry Potter fan, Jeff Guillaume of Lansing, Michigan, expressed disappointment on his "Harry Potter" fan site after he failed the test. Guillaume is 5'8" and weighs 265 pounds, and says the restraint wouldn't fit over his torso, though he reports that other rides at the park have special cars reserved for bigger riders.

Universal, which doesn't have "specific weight limits (just the test seats and a requirement that riders be at least 48 inches tall), says the "body dimension" restrictions are "to ensure the safety of our guests. It's #1."

That's all fine and good, but considering the average weight of an American man is 191 pounds (and rising: in 1960 it was 166 pounds), "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" could be turning away quite a few potential revelers.

CONTINUE READING (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-harry-potter-fans-deemed-too-heavy-for-wizarding-world-ride.html)

And this section is taken from Jeff Guillaume's blog where he describes what happened.


Follow-up: 'Forbidden' fatties at 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' Popular (8928)
JUNE 19, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA

My post yesterday and accompanying info in a Reuters article declaring to the world I am a fatso who can't fit into a theme park ride has prompted vigorous discussionopens in new window and debateopens in new window around the internet, especially on popular LiveJournal community ONTD (Oh No They Didn't!). I wanted to clarify and respond to some of the comments and questions I've been reading.

But first, quite mysteriously the entire section in that Reuters article comparing my size and dimensions to that of basketball player Dwight Howard's is now completely missing. So I've pasted it below as it was originally published.

CONTINUE READING (http://www.hpana.com/news.21133.html)
Doug11
06-25-2010, 08:17 PM
ouch!

C'mon, Universal! let the big people play!
figmentmom
06-25-2010, 09:10 PM
ouch!

C'mon, Universal! let the big people play!

Seriously - way to alienate a significant number of fans, Universal.
TheQueen
06-25-2010, 10:00 PM
What is it that larger Disney fans ask? "Is this ride 'Pooh friendly?'"

I guess for the HOP ride it should be , "Is this ride 'Hagrid friendly?'"
Christy
06-26-2010, 08:26 AM
Well, but where is the line drawn? :dunno Obviously they cant accomodate every person everywhere.
Lindz
06-26-2010, 09:54 AM
Great. So now I'm thinking I won't be able to ride this ride (after I have the baby, of course) for a long time. I was heavy before I got pregnant :(
Doug11
06-26-2010, 11:13 AM
Well, but where is the line drawn? :dunno Obviously they cant accomodate every person everywhere.

to the little bit of understanding I have about this ride, you sit on a bench, with x number of riders per bench. It would seem to my amateur engineering mind that they could have one bench with one less seat with the remaining seats a bit larger to accomodate this issue, perhaps? who knows? :shrug
ogryn
06-26-2010, 12:59 PM
to the little bit of understanding I have about this ride, you sit on a bench, with x number of riders per bench. It would seem to my amateur engineering mind that they could have one bench with one less seat with the remaining seats a bit larger to accomodate this issue, perhaps? who knows? :shrug

That would obviously reduce capacity on a ride that needs high throughput, for bigboi seats that aren't needed for everyone. :)
Garyhoov
06-26-2010, 02:45 PM
Does anyone else have trouble fitting in the Thunder Mountain Railroad cars? My legs are pretty short, but I always feel crammed into those seats. I can't imagine someone over 6 feet fitting in there . . . and that's not even a 'kid's ride' as far as I know.
Christy
06-26-2010, 04:01 PM
i'm ok there, but Space Mountain is awful :lol
Doug11
06-26-2010, 04:43 PM
That would obviously reduce capacity on a ride that needs high throughput, for bigboi seats that aren't needed for everyone. :)

No, I was just suggesting giving up on seat on one row per pod or per adventure ... Just so such people can squeeze in. Not per row.

But I am sure there are technical reasons this wasn't done.
TheQueen
06-26-2010, 05:51 PM
I believe that there are other Uni coasters that have seats for larger folks. I guess some are asking why the same wasn't done for the Potter ride.
pinkrose
06-26-2010, 06:15 PM
i'm ok there, but Space Mountain is awful :lol

It is! There must be a hidden camera somewhere, filming people as they try and get out of that very low, tiny seat :lol It's very hard to get out of gracefully.
Computer Magic
06-26-2010, 06:24 PM
It is! There must be a hidden camera somewhere, filming people as they try and get out of that very low, tiny seat :lol It's very hard to get out of gracefully.Don't try the Astro Orbiter either...
Christy
06-27-2010, 12:23 PM
People with bad knees would be screwed on there, I think.
xfkirsten
06-27-2010, 03:42 PM
I'm skinny as all get-out, but because I have long legs I really have trouble getting into the cars on Space Mountain. It's just an awkward position to get into quickly.
Christy
06-27-2010, 05:06 PM
Oh those skinny girls with the long legs :tongue :lol

No, it's bad, I'm not quite 5'4" and I was very uncomfortable in there. I won't be doing that one again.
erika
06-28-2010, 01:59 AM
Oh those skinny girls with the long legs :tongue :lol

No, it's bad, I'm not quite 5'4" and I was very uncomfortable in there. I won't be doing that one again.

Score one, DL ;)

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/disneyland/photos/space-250.jpg
Christy
06-28-2010, 07:24 AM
:lol :bow

But does it, too, leave you with a crazy case of whiplash afterwards? :blink

I rode that after being hit in the head during warmups with a volleyball... ouch! I was living on Motrin for the rest of the week. (well, I do that anyway, for my legs and feet, while at WDW :lol )
erika
06-28-2010, 09:01 AM
:lol :bow

But does it, too, leave you with a crazy case of whiplash afterwards? :blink

I rode that after being hit in the head during warmups with a volleyball... ouch! I was living on Motrin for the rest of the week. (well, I do that anyway, for my legs and feet, while at WDW :lol )

It does not! And remember, I have neck and shoulder issues. I came off it feeling fine. :-D