OT: Six Flags/Great Adventure

Hi from PA! My DH wants to go to Great Adventure since we haven't been there in years, but I have a concern about the coasters there and maybe someone here can help me out. I am pretty sure that now I can fit in the seats, but DH is a bigger guy...6'2 and about 270...very broad shoulders, long torso and of course he carries all his weight in his belly. He has had trouble in the past getting some coaster straps and shoulder harnesses to close (even when he was at a lower weight) and I don't want to take the trip if he's going to be disappointed and not able to ride. Does anyone know how tight the restrictions are on the coasters there or do they make accomodations like some of the parks in Florida? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Christine

5'9 260 some where tihigt but ok. and is he thinking wls. he qualifies.

dorneys a whole lot nicer

Thanks for the reply. No, he is not interested in WLS. He is doing diet and exercise with me. I really thought he'd be up for surgery after seeing my results, but nope. At least, not yet. ;) We have season passes to Dorney, but we want to ride the coasters at Great Adv. We haven't been there in 10 years (since kids) so we're up for something different without the kids with us.

I've been to GA many times. Most of the coasters have a sample size seat outside the ride for you to "try on" before getting in line. I have not been able to ever fit in any of them, and I carry all my weight in the middle, too. I am about the same size as your DH. I never tried to get any accomodation at GA nor at Disney and I have not been to Dorney. I would say he probably would not fit, especially legroom on the smaller coasters and I don't think he would fit in the harness setup they have for the larger coasters. Harnesses come over the shoulders and down to the waist, then buckle in between the legs and I think maybe around the waist as well. I've always been too embarassed to even try them, I could judge by the sample seat I could not fit in there. Good luck.

Hi Christine, nice to meet you, Im Timmy Ray : ) Well,.... I live here in Jackson , home of Great Adventure, but I have never been there (boo hisssss... timmy you nerd!). BUT... but... I just returned from Walt Disney World, and I fit okay on the coasters. I rode several of the Coasters at WDW... including.. Space Mountain (older coaster, less room, no over the shoulder harness or bar) Rockin Roller Coaster (newer, more room, over the shoulder yoke/bar) Destination Everest (newer, over the shoulder yoke/bar) Christine, I am 6 foot 2 inches, and I am still 380 pounds (having had bariatric laproscopic RNY in 12/22/04). I found that I fit okay on the newer coasters, the older ones (the ones without the over the shoulder yoke or restraining bar) I did not fit into as well. I carry almost all my weight in my torso/stomach... and I found that if I pulled the shoulder bar or yoke down very firmly, and held on to it after it was in place, that I felt very secure. The older coaster at Walt Disney World (Space Mountain) was so so, and I didnt like it, merely because it didnt have the over the shoulder restraint type system. When I rode the Space mountain coaster.... I sat very tall and straight. This lasted about 4 seconds, it whipped me left.. then right... and being so tall and all torso... I thought ..in a flash.. "wowsers... I am gonna snap OFF!. So... because there was no over the shoulder restraint system, I crouched down in my seat.. and by scrunching down and hugging my knees it made my center of gravity lower.... and less whipping the Timmy wayyyyy back and forth. Answer? I think if he rides the newer coasters, with the over the shoulder style restraint system, that he should be okay, and feel pretty secure. No offense, but 270 is not that much compared with some of the people I saw riding at Walt Disney World. There was one guy, (being a big guy myself I tend to notice other large guys in situations like theater seats, rides..etc) that had to weigh 500 pounds if he was an ounce. He rode the Rocking Roller Coaster, and the Destination Everest Coaster with no problem (each time he was near me when I rode them, coincidentally) BUT.. when I was getting onto the Rockin Roller Coaster I heard him talking about how he "didnt fit into the Space Mountain Coaster at Magic Kingdom park". Again, this is an older coaster, with no shoulder bar that comes down. I would encourage you to try, and to know that the shoulder bar thingy/restraint is made specifially to be TIGHT.. to be snug. I observed several... ummmm "buxom ladies" that must have been old hands at riding, that had to have visited Disney before. The way they did it, was to ...ummm "Gather" themselves in a huge hug, and LIFT their.... ummm Busoms... up really HIGH.... with their forearms, and then pull the shoulder bar over, down, and tight.... it made them look like something out of a burlesque show lolol... but hey.. they were enthusiastic,... it worked.. and no one paid any attention. Good Luck... I am not sure if all of this feedback answers your question, but at 6'2" tall and almost 400, I didnt have any problem with the Newer coasters at Disney world, and so I would think your DH would be okay. Godspeed : )) Timmy Ray

Thanks for your reply. DH was ok in Florida in 2004, and I figured he'd be ok there again when we go, but for some reason the seats at places like Dorney etc. aren't always as accomodating. We rode the coaster at Sea World and the restraint was similar to the one on the Talon at Dorney. Sea World he was fine, the Talon...a VERY tight fit, so tight he actually chose not to ride last time. I just know he really wants to try out 6 Flags since we haven't been in SO long. I'm glad you had such a positive experience in Disney! And great job on your weight loss! Christine