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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think amusement parks should publish weight limits?

78 replies

oovetolove · 30/03/2022 21:26

I'm so sad and sickened by the death of Tyree Samson. Such a sad tragedy.

What I am shocked about is that I have visited many, many attractions and never have a seen a weight limit except at a local trampoline park.

It never even occurred to me that if over a certain weight it means the ride could fail you.

They have analysed the manufacturers manual for this ride and it states if the person doesn't fit the contours do not let them ride - the weight limits was 287 pounds and tyre was 350.

People have criticised the attendants and said they should have turned him away, but it would be difficult to know who is too overweight for the ride in every case just by looking. People carry weight differently.
. It's unfair to criticise the staff for this I feel. There should be a black and white way to tell if someone is overweight - not make it grey/subjective.

To solve this - why not just put weight limits in big bold letters and then it's up to the person to know if they're too heavy to ride? Individuals themselves know their weight better than park attendants.

It's ridiculous that I have never seen weight limits??worrying is this because of the taboo society we have become when weight is involved? It could have saved that boy.

AIBU to think we should be much more explicit about weight limits on rides or any other situation where someone could die as a result?

OP posts:
Cameliah · 30/03/2022 21:31

YANBU. If the harness is only safe for a certain maximum height, weight or girth, then those limits need to be announced and adhered to. Otherwise the result is a tragedy like this one.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 30/03/2022 21:32

I've seen a lot of (UK) attractions with posted weight and height limitations - the vortex ride at Centerparcs even has scales you can stand on to confirm if you are within the limits.

I'd expect some safety margin too. 350 pounds is large even by US standards, but I wouldn't have thought totally exceptional.

SuperheroBirds · 30/03/2022 21:35

As someone who is fairly fat, I would love it if theme parks published weight and chest measurement limits on their websites. That way I could make an informed decision before I go. It would probably mean that I went on more rides as I’d have the confidence that I would fit, and it would eliminate any embarrassment from any I couldn’t/shouldn’t fit on. A lot do it for height, so why not include other measurements.

Toponeniceone · 30/03/2022 21:35

When skydiving they write your weight in black marker on your hand.

XenoBitch · 30/03/2022 21:36

A lot of the rides at Alton towers have a test seat/harness you can try out before queuing for the actual ride.

HollowedOut · 30/03/2022 21:38

At the Alton Towers water park you have to stand on a particular bit of the floor and the light turns red if you’re too heavy. It’s clearly signposted with another weighing point before you get in the queue but there are still people who are outraged when they’re told they’re too heavy.

Wagsandclaws · 30/03/2022 21:39

That's true Alton towers does do that.

I was six stone heavier than I am now and due to my chest size ( 52 inches ) struggled to fit on some rides. Not now obvs as I'm much lighter but I agree there should be weight limits as surely the ride couldn't operate safely with say 5 people who are very heavy?

I love rollercoasters and the extreme ones keep you very much harnessed in, if that fails like the drop ride did for poor Tyre I'm not sure how you get the attention of the ride operators if you are already on the ride ( this is one of my biggest fears ).

Gizacluethen · 30/03/2022 21:42

Awful that he knew it was going to fail.

I think if he'd known he was about e the weight limit he wouldn't have gotten on.

Original poster
oovetolove · 30/03/2022 21:44

@Gizacluethen agree. And from the perspective of the park and the rider isn't it best for everyone that the individual takes responsibility for their weight than someone doing it by visually looking at them?

And have scales that if attendants aren't sure they make it mandatory to get on. That way it's not subjective

It's beyond ridiculous.

OP posts:
TrashPanda · 30/03/2022 21:47

I watch an Orlando Youtuber and he went on this rude and was told there was no weight limit. Since the incident they announced there actually should have been. The waterparks in Orlando have the red/green scales like Alton Towers. Universal Studios publishes really detailed info about access for each ride/experience. I'm sure I've seen it for some UK rides and I've also seen the test seats.

Nothappyatwork · 30/03/2022 21:49

Somebody nearly killed me as a young child because they were so heavy I went down the waterslide first and then the attendant obviously thought there was enough time between the two of us but due to their sheer weight they shot down the waterslide at an alarming speed and then landed on me under the water having kicked me in the back of the head. Thank goodness they now have scales on some of the rides but these hazards it seems arent always obvious.

Original poster
oovetolove · 30/03/2022 21:52

I've honestly never seen scales anywhere but I don't understand why it isn't mandatory to have them or why a park wouldn't invest in them on every ride. Absolutely disgraceful.

I honestly never even thought about weight being sick a risk factor until this incident and cannot believe the park/manufacturers do not do more to prevent overweight people riding.

OP posts:
BuanoKubiamVej · 30/03/2022 21:56

Before I lost a few stone I was turned away from a ride once. It was really humiliating and upsetting. Once I had lost weight it was really special to go back and ride knowing that I was now well with the safe weight range. I do notice restriction signs but I guess I am more aware of them because of that experience. I wouldn't be surprised if sometimes the staff would rather let a 14 year old through rather than subjecting them to ridicule and humiliation by turning them away.

TrashPanda · 30/03/2022 22:04

Every ride I've ever seen with a height restriction of any kind has some sort of measuring device, either a board or a pole type thing BUT height is a much less emotive subject for most people than weight. Yes being super short or tall can get you some minor piss taking but being overweight is a different thing all together. The traffic light scales are good butI assume expensive to install and possibly difficult to now fit in the spaces available on rides that are already in place. Who is going to want to stand on a standard set of scales in front of a queue of people.

Original poster
oovetolove · 30/03/2022 22:07

@TrashPanda it shouldn't be voluntary though. If there's ANY doubt in the attendees mind - so if someone is clearly even fairly overweight they should be made to stand the scales or rejected from the ride.

I suspect the training the attendants are given doesn't stress people will die if this isn't adhered to. I honestly didn't think death could be the result of being too heavy for a ride.

I'm just saying subjective ness should be removed completely from the situation.

OP posts:
ChoiceMummy · 30/03/2022 22:14

@oovetolove

I'm so sad and sickened by the death of Tyree Samson. Such a sad tragedy.

What I am shocked about is that I have visited many, many attractions and never have a seen a weight limit except at a local trampoline park.

It never even occurred to me that if over a certain weight it means the ride could fail you.

They have analysed the manufacturers manual for this ride and it states if the person doesn't fit the contours do not let them ride - the weight limits was 287 pounds and tyre was 350.

People have criticised the attendants and said they should have turned him away, but it would be difficult to know who is too overweight for the ride in every case just by looking. People carry weight differently.
. It's unfair to criticise the staff for this I feel. There should be a black and white way to tell if someone is overweight - not make it grey/subjective.

To solve this - why not just put weight limits in big bold letters and then it's up to the person to know if they're too heavy to ride? Individuals themselves know their weight better than park attendants.

It's ridiculous that I have never seen weight limits??worrying is this because of the taboo society we have become when weight is involved? It could have saved that boy.

AIBU to think we should be much more explicit about weight limits on rides or any other situation where someone could die as a result?

This incident has passed me by. But everywhere I have ever gone except traveling funfairs, have weight and height limits, often on websites too.

Tbh, if you weigh 20 stones the onus surely has to be on you replenishing the necking beforehand? In the same way that as a parent, I always double check and risk assess that my child is height appropriate.

OnTheBoardwalk · 30/03/2022 22:15

Years ago I was on a two seater ride that spins round and up and down with a friend with a belly. I have one myself but not as big

They attempted to fasten the bar but couldn’t and walked off. We tried to get their attention but they ignored us and set the ride off.

It was only 20 foot off the ground but still terrifying trying to hold on with no bar. Again we were ignored by the operators trying to get their attention going round

All rides should have failsafes that mean the ride can’t start without all bars/harnesses locked

BogRollBOGOF · 30/03/2022 22:15

How many people around the max weight capacity of rides know what they weigh? Domestic scales often don't go particularly high and lots of people don't weigh for various reasons anyway. Normally it's physically sitting in a ride that's a practical restriction, but depending on height, build and body composition that can be highly variable on actual weight.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 30/03/2022 22:32

I’m quite overweight, last year we went to Thorpe Park. One of the rides I just about fitted on, another they said I was too large and as they couldn’t safely put the harness on I was asked to get off. It was a bit embarrassing but obviously I realised it was for safety reasons. Didn’t give it much thought though, as in I could have died. I think this should be made clearer. Teenagers particularly are less likely to pay attention to these things. I feel so terrible for this boy and his family.

Original poster
oovetolove · 30/03/2022 22:34

@MagnoliatheMagnificent

I’m quite overweight, last year we went to Thorpe Park. One of the rides I just about fitted on, another they said I was too large and as they couldn’t safely put the harness on I was asked to get off. It was a bit embarrassing but obviously I realised it was for safety reasons. Didn’t give it much thought though, as in I could have died. I think this should be made clearer. Teenagers particularly are less likely to pay attention to these things. I feel so terrible for this boy and his family.
Exactly this. It should be made clearer death is the outcome potentially I completely agree, because until this incident I wouldn't have assumed that's the case.
OP posts:
TrashPanda · 30/03/2022 22:34

I agree @oovetolove it shouldn't be voluntary. I think it should be the same as the height measures. I do however think getting to that point would be a difficult ask. The restraint on this particular ride is a over the shoulder one I think which is much more about chest size than actual weight.

YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 30/03/2022 22:35

I read today that two other rides there had turned him away because of his weight/size. I just wish this ride had also done that. That poor boy

XenoBitch · 30/03/2022 23:49

It is a safety thing for sure, but I can already see the headlines... "fat shamed and refused to be let on rollercoaster ride".

Lemons1571 · 30/03/2022 23:58

@MagnoliatheMagnificent

I’m quite overweight, last year we went to Thorpe Park. One of the rides I just about fitted on, another they said I was too large and as they couldn’t safely put the harness on I was asked to get off. It was a bit embarrassing but obviously I realised it was for safety reasons. Didn’t give it much thought though, as in I could have died. I think this should be made clearer. Teenagers particularly are less likely to pay attention to these things. I feel so terrible for this boy and his family.
Was it Colossus? The white coaster. I was turned away from that one as the harness wouldn’t click and the light remained red. I was annoyed because I had queued for nearly 3 hours to get on and didn’t even get a fast pass to go on a different ride.

I’ve now lost shed loads of weight but would never go back.

sweetkitty · 31/03/2022 00:01

Last time at Alton Towers I saw at least 4 people being told to come off rides as the attendants couldn’t fit the safety harnesses around them. Done of them rides have a trial chair outside for you to check (probably too avoid embarrassment). The safety harnesses are so tight and constricting and they always do a final check before you set off. Most rides have a height limit as well as a weight limit.

Poor boy and his family though.