Help for a Rider of Exceptional Size...

Hi guys. I hope some of you can help a Cedar Point noob out...

For several years I've been planning to take my daughter up to CP once she was big enough to ride the "cool" rides. She's finally there, so we've been planning to go up for a couple of months now.

However, in the process of making final preparations I uncovered a rather dreaded section of the CP website - the "Riders of Exceptional Size" disclaimer. According to their website, men who are 6' 2" or taller, or weigh more than 225 lbs, or have a 40" waist or larger may have problems on "some" rides. They then go on to list ones that may cause problems - half the rides in the danged park!

I recognize that I'm somewhat unusual - at 6' 4.5" and 255 lbs (with a 40" waist) I'm definitely on the large side of things. But living in Cincinnati, I've done every ride at Kings Island a million times over without a problem. (Except Son of Beast - I've given it up as it kills my knees when I wedge my legs in)

After waiting for years for my daughter to be big enough to ride, the irony will be overwhelming if we find that I'm too big. I don't want to drive 4 hours each way and spend several hundred bucks on hotels, etc. if I can't ride anything, but I don't want to cancel the trip if this is just Cedar Fair trying to cover their butts.

Is there anyone out there approaching my size that can tell me if I'll really have an issue??

Thanks for your help,

Over-sized in Cincinnati (Rob)

Welcome to Pointbuzz.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=search+pointbuzz.com%3A+exceptional+size&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=search+pointbuzz.com%3A+fitting&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=search+pointbuzz.com%3A+quest+to+ride&btnG=Search

Try those 3 links, they're full of insight, and the many, many threads we have had on pointbuzz in the last few months.

Just a word of advice - before starting a new topic, check to make sure that it hasn't been covered. Other than that, hope this helps.

*** Edited 7/25/2006 1:23:42 AM UTC by e x i t english***

Thanks for the links. By the way, I **did** try to search for the term "height" and also the term "weight" using the site's search function before posting - no results returned. I just didn't think to do the "google" thing...

In general it sounds like it'll be a bit of a crap shoot for me, but I guess we'll go ahead with it.

Thanks again,

Rob.

The search function has been turned off. You must use Google, and type: "site:www.pointbuzz.com" without the quotes followed by your search terms.

You are 4.5" taller than I am, but my waist is about 44". I can squeeze into wicked twister, I can just barely fit on Dragster, and I can just barely fit on Mine Ride. I cannot ride MF, I can just barely buckle the seat belt, but I cannot get any slack.

IMO, I think that you will not be able to ride Raptor or Wicked Twister. you will be close for Mantis. I do not think that you will have a problem with any other ride. Although, of course I could be wrong and way off on my educated guess.

The rides that do not have OTSR's (Over the Shoulder harness') should not be a problem for you because your waist is just above average for us men. The only thing I can think of with the lapbar rides would be leg room, you will have to cross your feet. Because I can imagine you have long legs.

I hope this helped and I also hope that you will enjoy your visit to the park.

Mikey

My dad had trouble with Mantis. He's fairly big-chested, but with some help from the ride-ops, he fit.

I'm 6'3 270 with something around 40 inches for a waist. Its been a little close the last couple times on Millennium, but I have yet to not ride anything. The only ride I won't ride is Mine Ride because of the one size fits smallest person on the train restraints and there just isn't any leg room. I would recommend riding it at least once with your daughter.

The Streaks (Blue and Mean) are a little tight, but that's because PTC puts that stupid middle divider in their trains.

Go and have fun. You'll have a great time.

Hey I am 6'2 235lbs and I have always been able to ride everything. The ride that will give you the most trouble is Millennium Force. The thing to remember when trying to get the belt buckled is to relax, and wear the thinnest shorts possible. Every millimeter really helps when you are on the bubble. Check out this topic as I posted towards the end, some of the information should help you out http://www.pointbuzz.com/cpplace.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=14481.

Rob, I'm about 6'4" and about 265lbs and 40in waist, i fit on everything. My advice about MF is get there early before the line is long, bypass the test seat and just risk not getting the belt fastened, with my experience on my last visit there was no way i was gonna get the belt fastened with having to twist myself while pulling to get the belt fastened, especially with the position of the female end of the belt.

Both times i rode, very front and very back seats, the ops fastened my belt for me, just wiggle the belt back and forth while pulling hard and you should get your 1/2 in slack, even though they didnt even ask me to pull it. On Dragster, i could do everything myself.

I think you should be able to ride everything, but then again, you could be built totally different than i. I have a bigger upper body, tight on Mantis and WT, not too bad on Raptor, on MS and BS the seats are tight because of the divider but you should have no problem with the seat belts, just position them before sitting down in the seat.

Don't know if this will help or not. My husband is 6'4.5" (same as you) and at 260 lbs was able to ride everything a couple of years ago, including Mf, although I recall WickedTwister was really tight. He hasn't been back to CP since they made the seatbelt change on MF.

I suspect you'll do fine on Raptor, TTD and Mantis. Magnum, Gemini, Blue Streak, Mean Streak, CCMR (you'll have to cross your legs on CCMR) will be no brainers.

UGH CCMR.

They really need to do something with those trains. I'm only 6' and it seems like I'm too tall for the damn thing.

Let's not even talk about the back seats on Wildcat. My knees jam straight into the seat in front of me.

When they replaced the padding on CCMR a few years ago they replaced it with what amounts to a solid piece of rubber that just happens to be in just the right place that your butt slides back and under the padding on the seat back.

For me it's both uncomfortable and painful with the unnecessary strain on my lower back just from sitting still.

Yeah, add not being able to move your legs at all and you've got yourself a party.

I also have trouble with the wildcat, I have to sit in the front and cross my legs.

Another thing to think about is seat 3 in each car of magnum can be a little uncomfortable because of a raised metal plate on the floor, but it is not that bad.

I've not had problems with Magnum in the 3rd row, but I have to sit in the first row of the corkscrew cars. The extra room is much appreciated by my knees.

Mantis has never been a problem, nor have Raptor or Wicked Twister (although the belt location requires me to wait for a host).
The Streaks are a little tight left to right, but just make sure you pull the belts out before sitting and you'll be fine.
Iron Dragon I think I usually get the front row because they are arrow trains, so there is more room.
Millennium is a little tight with the belt, but I've yet to be denied. TTD isn't a problem yet.
Gemini is fine in any seat. And I won't ride CCMR anymore (but you should ride it at least once).

Thanks for all of the wonderful advice. We've decided to go for it, and we'll see how it goes. I'll let everyone know if we have any problems.

The biggest problem may be a last-minute change of heart for my daughter - who knows. She started riding the Beastie at King's Island before she was 3, did the Racer at 4, and last year at 7 she was big enough to do them all. Now at 8 she's ridden every ride in the place dozens of times, so she **thinks** she's up for Cedar Point... Who knows whether she'll be up for MF when we're actually face-to-face with it... ;-)

Thanks again,

Rob G.