Concerned about how well you’ll fit into certain attractions during your next Disney vacation? Not sure where to turn to for advice? It can be an uncomfortable subject, but addressing these concerns before your trip can save you a lot of stress when you arrive at the parks.
Lap-bars
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Most Disney attractions that use lap-bars can accommodate a variety of body types, particularly the rides that allow for individual use of lap-bars (as in Expedition Everest as opposed to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). Rides like Expedition Everest have separate lap-bars for each guest, meaning that your size will have no impact on the person sitting next to you. If you are still concerned about fitting safely into Expedition Everest, do not be ashamed to try out the test car outside the attraction, located next to the single rider line. Do not worry about other guests judging you if you decide to try out the test seat, everyone is too busy enjoying their vacation to be concerned with what you are doing before you ride.
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While rides like Expedition Everest can be helpful for guests riding with a smaller person as the lap-bar is not shared, it is worth noting that the individual lap-bars can be more problematic for guests who carry their weight in their hips and thighs. When trying to decipher which attractions may pose issues, guests tend to compare their weight to the weights of other guests who have successfully ridden. Weight is not really the most important factor here though. A larger person who carries their weight above their waist would have an easier time getting into Expedition Everest than a smaller person who carries their weight in their thighs.
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Expedition Everest is still quite accommodating even for guests with extra weight on their hips and thighs. One less accommodating (but still mostly doable) ride with this kind of restraint system is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The style of the seats on this attraction are hollowed out slightly, and the width of the lower part of the lap-bar that goes on the outside of the guests’ thighs is a bit narrow. Generally speaking guests of all shapes and sizes are still able to fit in the seats, but depending on how you carry your weight it may not be comfortable.
In other instances, like at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one guest carrying extra weight in his or her stomach or thighs can make it difficult to push the lap-bar down as far as their differently shaped riding companion may want it to go. (Don’t worry though, if it isn’t safe for you to ride together cast members will let you know. And in any case this is highly unlikely as plenty of adults are able to ride with children).
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Splash Mountain comes with lap-bars as well, though they are very forgiving. These lap-bars are actually not necessary for the attraction to function properly, as they were installed solely to stop guests from exiting the ride before it was over. As long as the bar is able to go down one click and lock, which it most likely will without a problem, you’ll be good to go.
Overhead restraints
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Attractions that use overhead restraints are where guests often run into issues involving their size. Restraints are situated at certain heights in attractions in ways that are engineered to accommodate as many guests of varying sizes as possible. This usually means meeting in the middle of an older child and an at least somewhat tall adult. Unfortunately this design means that some guests may not be able to ride (due to their heights or body proportions) the same way a child who does not meet the height requirement may not be able to ride.
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As Disney is generally very size-inclusive, the level or comfort or ability to ride will always go back to where one’s weight is distributed. Overhead restraints do not tend to cause problems for guests who carry extra weight on their lower halves, but a guest who is more top-heavy may have a more difficult time. One rollercoaster at Walt Disney World with an overhead restraint is Rock n’ Roller Coaster, and there is a lot of give in how little or far the restraints go down on each guest and plenty of legroom. Rock n’ Rollercoaster does not have a test seat, but it is very accommodating to many body types and worth giving a try despite your apprehensions about it.
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The other overhead restraint coaster you may choose to ride while in Walt Disney World is Primeval Whirl. This attraction can accommodate guests with various body types, however guests with larger hips or thighs may find the seats a bit tight, and guests who are heavier on top may find the restraints tight. More than likely, you will not have a problem physically fitting into the ride, but if you fall into either of those categories it may be a big uncomfortable. Although the restraints do keep you “separate” from the other guests, if you feel uncomfortable about being right up against someone given the tight seats, do not feel embarrassed to ask the cast member seating you to leave the seat next to you empty. Cast members hear all kinds of requests throughout the day, and they will not think twice about you preferring to spread out.
Benches
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Rides with bench seating may not initially come to mind when thinking about which rides will fit or be comfortable, but it is something to consider. Guests who are tall may find bench seating (on rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Frozen Ever After, etc..) to be uncomfortable if most of their height comes from long legs. (If you are tall but your height is due to a long torso this will not be as much of an issue). Additionally guests who are larger on their lower half may find bench seating to be uncomfortable depending on how close they are to the guests next to them.
If you don’t feel comfortable being really close to other guests, or think you’ll need to take up more leg room by sitting at a slight angle, do not hesitate to ask a cast member for your own row. You may feel strange making such a request, but it happens and cast members will not think anything of it.
Theatres
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Theatres are primarily difficult for guests who carry their weight in their hips. While the majority of guests do not have problems fitting into the seats, attractions like the Hall of Presidents, the American Adventure, or the Carousel of Progress may be awkward or uncomfortable to get into. If you have concerns about fitting into a theater seat, try sitting on the edge of the seat and scooting back, so that your hips slide under the arm rests. You may find that sliding into the seat will be a bit more comfortable than simply trying to push your body into the right position between the arms of the chair.
Low seating positions
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There are a couple of rides in Walt Disney World that require guests to be able to lift themselves up and down from seated positions in the vehicles the same way they would lift themselves up from sitting on the ground. Space Mountain and the Astro Orbiter immediately come to mind, where fitting into the ride may not be an issue (though they can be uncomfortable for taller guests) but you do need to be able to lift yourself up.
On the Astro Orbiter, the easiest way to get up and out of the rocket is to hold onto the sides of the vehicle to lift yourself up. Space Mountain can be trickier as the sides are rather low, so you may find the best solution here with grabbing the back of the seat in front of you or if you are able to, reach your arms near the back of your seat to help get yourself up.
Small seats
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Walt Disney World overwhelmingly offers more size-inclusive ride experiences for guests compared to other theme parks (due in part to the tamer thrill rides, but still a safe general observation). There are however a couple of instances where the ride vehicles are on the small side and there is no real technique to making the experience any easier.
The Barnstormer, which as a kiddie rollercoaster is understandably small, can be a difficult fit for adults. Of course it depends on each individual, but even two smaller to “average” (assuming as many will often state that “average” for American women is a size 14/16) guests may have a difficult time fitting comfortably. Other seats that you may not think of as being smaller due to the ride experience offered are rides like Dinosaur and Star Tours. 9/10 times all guests likely have no issues at all, but once again if you are concerned about your hips and thighs, these kinds of rides could be a tight squeeze.
But will I fit?
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Trying to determine if you will fit into a theme park ride is no doubt an uncomfortable subject, and one that is usually never discussed at all or discussed with misinformation. When trying to decipher whether or not you will fit into an attraction, remember not to compare your weight to that of others. Two guests with the exact same weight may have entirely different experiences if they carry most of their weight in different areas, so there is no one number that determines whether or not you will fit.
It is also important to go into the parks with an open mind, and for a disregard for what others may think. It isn’t worth the stress of missing out on attractions because you are worried that you will not fit. In the best-case scenario, there will be a test car to sit in before you get to the line, like with Test Track or Expedition Everest. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll wait in line and then need to leave without riding. This is highly unlikely however, as most Disney rides can accommodate all body types. A more realistic worst-case scenario would be getting on the ride and having to put up with being uncomfortable for a couple of minutes.
