No rides for dad

After waiting for close to three years for the opportunity to take my family to Cedar Point Sandusky, you can image my surprise in finding out that I could not buckle the seat belts (all other restraints fit fine) around my 42" waist in ANY of the test seats for the park's roller coasters.

A handbook I was given at the "handicapped access" (yeah) office stated that there would be issues for riders having larger than a 40" waist, however the lap belt on Top Thrill was 8-10" from buckling on me, Millenium was 4" short, and I could go on. There seems to be no set standard for this, and based on my findings anyone having a 40" waist would be out of luck as well on most of the coasters.

Guest Services was of little help, stating that I could "ride the park's steam train" if I wanted, and Park OPS said they'd give me a handicapped pass (a cut in line pass; I am not handicapped) to get on Power Tower, assuming I wanted to ride that thing all day.

I've ridden all the coasters at Six Flags Gurnee with my 42" waist numerous times, no issues, belts/restraints worked and fit fine, but the equipment at Cedar Point apparently is not up to par with this, limiting rider size (payload) to under 200#(?)

And you have to wonder about these limits, and the decision making process that went into implementing them, whereby they have not only eliminated a fairly wide demographic of adult riders from enjoying the main attraction of the park, but their friends and families who would have attended with them as well. The parking lot on the day we visited--great weather, middle of July--was 2/3 empty. Hope these seat belt adjustments work out for them as we will not be returning. (And the coasters are even safer when there are NO passengers riding them--)

I was also denied a refund for my single-day pass, and there seems to be no mechanism for calling a human to complain, only a mail-in feedback form. I'm sure the President of CP gets these and reads them all personally.

You're going to think I'm a jerk, but from one overweight man to another... Drop some weight, or plan on not riding all the coasters. The manufacturers set the dimensions that fit their restraints and the park just has to follow.

I've just accepted there's some rides I don't fit on and will be taking strides to make sure I fit next visit.

The Park should have issued me a refund as I was unable to use ANY of the facilities that I made the trip for.

bholcomb said:
You're going to think I'm a jerk, but from one overweight man to another... Drop some weight, or plan on not riding all the coasters. The manufacturers set the dimensions that fit their restraints and the park just has to follow.

I've just accepted there's some rides I don't fit on and will be taking strides to make sure I fit next visit.

You a jerk Ben? Never!! ;)

But I do have to agree with you 100%. With ALL the other things to do at CP I dont see where 1 person would think they were justified a refund.

Sort of like the guest who thinks they should get a refund because it rained.

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2231 :)

1) It is not the "handicapped access" office. It is Guest Services.

2) A special access pass is not a "cut in line" pass.

Take a chill pill.

As a fellow overwieght person, I was denied a ride on Revolution in Dorney Park. I went out and lost the wieght needed to ride. But I still have a 40 inch waist and I rode every coaster in Cedar Point this past June. You may wear 42 inch pants, but that doesn't mean your waist is 42. AS far as the refund, I'm sure they gave you the BS line about the shows. Which is total BS, They should offer a non rider pass for Grandparents, Pregnant ladies, and others who just come with their family anddo not ride.

plw said:
The Park should have issued me a refund as I was unable to use ANY of the facilities that I made the trip for.

-Absolutely not the park would issue a refund. Every ride that does have a test seat are the ones what are showing you that if you have a unique body shape, try out the seat or get a test pass before riding.

-They gave you a pass to test the seat on Power Tower not to ride. That being said, you could have ridden Magnum XL 200, Iron Dragon, Blue Streak, Mean Streak, Gemini, etc.

-The seat belts are cut according to the manufactures preference.

-The Handicap Office is actually called Guest Relations. And if you read the parks policy there are no rainchecks or refunds. They are not making any special privilege for a policy regarding guests of unique body shapes.

-I am not overweight but the park has these regulations and policies in place to keep the patron safe.

I have a 38 inch waist and could ride everything in the park back in May, BUT Wicked Twister and Millennium Force were almost a no-go. I had to pull the belt hard to get it locked. I was embarrassed (at myself). Top Thrill is oddly never a problem, I always have slack. I've lost about 8-10 lbs since then so I'm hoping my next trip here in a couple weeks wont be as scary. Everyone is built differently. I think the advice of losing weight is the best you can get. I'm going to work my butt off for the next two weeks!

Why should the park issue you a refund? Their rides were working. The fact they may not accommodate larger guests is clearly stated on their website, in their brochures and probably elsewhere.

There is a lot to enjoy besides the rides at the park.

I don't think Cedar point should offer a non rider "for Grandparents, Pregnant ladies, and others who just come with their family and do not ride". Do you realize how many people would abuse that? In order for that to work you would have to issue tickets for each ride or have people wear a wrist band.

I am in the 38 inch waist line area, but my wieght is distrubted so I have no Issue ridding yet. I work out and eat healthy, but genetics are fighting agains me. I know at some point I may not be able to ride some of the rides, but in the meantime I am being proactive, not only to ride the rides, but also to hopefully ward off type 2 diabetes and live a healthy lifestyle. Yes I get lazy and then I realize that I have to put down the remote and get off my butt or there will be health issues that could arrise.

I am not trying to be a jerk to anyone that is overwieght, I do have genetics to contest with like some people do, but honestly we here in america are overweight and lazy when it comes to exercise. You have to motivate yourself to do what's right for you but having a healthy lifestyle will improve your likelyhood of being able to do some of the things you would like to do. It's not 100% failsafe method, but if you put in an honest effort, things will improve in your life.

Sorry, they owe me a refund. The weight/waist size restrictions listed in the manual are way too vague and not apparent until one has paid to enter the park and actually TRIED out the test seats. There's no way a 38in waist rider is going on the Dragster, Millenium, or many other of the Parks premium coasters.

The office I went into (Park OPS), next to the arcade, had a big blue sign on the door stating "handicapped access services", or something similar, indicating information and passes were available inside for those who were "handicapped". I was just there on 7/21 and read the signage, so let's not confuse the issue here.

The pass I was offered (for the Tower) was a go-around pass so that I did not have to wait in line. I questioned the attendant twice about what it was and subsequently turned it down.

As far as people scamming the park for refunds, I'm sure it happens. I am not asking for refunds for my other four (4) family members, only myself as I spent the day sitting on benches in the heat. If CP wants to exercise a no-refund policy then so be it--if you feel this is fair, then perhaps they should station test seats at the entrance to the park so one can try them before paying for admission.

Thanks for the comments.

I am a 38 inch waist and can ride everything...everyone's weight is proportioned differently.

Agreed--put the test seats at the entrance to the park.

Yep, I wear a 36/38 and I ride everything with no problems. Try again.

plw said:
Agreed--put the test seats at the entrance to the park.

There are signs clearly showing height restrictions in the front of the park, but that doesnt stop the parents from pitching a fit and demanding a refund when they're told their kid is too short for a certain ride.

People of "exceptional size" are not the majority, there are far more people who can easily fit in all the rides at CP then ones who cant.

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2231 :)

Sorry after reading this page right here I would say.... NO REFUNDhttp://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/ride_policy.cfm

I too wear a size 38/40, and I've never not been able to ride anything in the park.

When life throws us a knuckle ball, we can choose how to react.

I am not trying to suggest anything specific, but for some people this could have been the "event" that provided the momentum to change themselves for the better.

plw said:
Sorry, they owe me a refund. The weight/waist size restrictions listed in the manual are way too vague and not apparent until one has paid to enter the park and actually TRIED out the test seats. There's no way a 38in waist rider is going on the Dragster, Millenium, or many other of the Parks premium coasters.

The office I went into (Park OPS), next to the arcade, had a big blue sign on the door stating "handicapped access services", or something similar, indicating information and passes were available inside for those who were "handicapped". I was just there on 7/21 and read the signage, so let's not confuse the issue here.

Cedar Point CLEARLY states that they know people have unique body shapes and MAY have problems fitting on specific rides. This came out of the Ex. size booklet.

Cedar Point Exceptional Size section said:
Due to rider restraint system requirements, guests
of exceptional size may not be accommodated on
some of our rides. This may apply, but not be limited
to, guests who exceed 6'2" or those who exceed 225
pounds, have a 40" waistline or 52" chest or females
who exceed 200 pounds or wear a size 18 or larger.
Our larger guests may experience difficulty on Blue
Streak, Chaos, Corkscrew, Disaster Transport, Mantis,
Maverick, maXair, Mean Streak, Millennium Force,
Mine Ride, Power Tower, Raptor, Skyhawk, Top
Thrill Dragster, Wave Swinger, Shoot the Rapids and
Wicked Twister.

They have test seats on most of the rides that people are shown to have problems with. If you can't fit, to bad. Cedar Fair does a great job with enforcing policy and putting test seats among rides. You would have the same problem if you went to Busch Gardens or Six Flags, they are not going to issue you a refund.

I have ridden everything at Sixflags Gurnee without incident.

The seatbelt sizes were changed, apparently several times, because a rider was thrown off a ride at a Sixflags out on the east coast back in 2004.

I fit in all of the CP seats fine--the BELT length, which is a secondary restraint, is the only thing that has been changed.

My point here is that a patron shouldn't have to pay $45 to go inside the park and check out each test seat--obviously a size 40 waist varies per person.

Put a bank of test seats outside the gates.

As far as the passage quoted from the "exceptional size" booklet, what you have added was only from the PDF, the roller coaster names (which is pretty much all of them) are not listed in the on-line (on the web page) version of the notice.

Thanks again for the comments.