Big & Tall at BGW

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chickenking

chickenking

Sep 10, 2012
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When I first came to this area, Busch Gardens was high on my list of things to do. Because I am a big guy, I went online looking for information about what I might have problems with as far as rides (mainly coasters). The little bit of information I came across was mostly outdated or inapplicable to me because of the way I am built. I am a 6'5" tall male, very broad-shouldered, and yes overweight. I carry my weight much differently than shorter overweight folks. Some are top heavy, bottom heavy, all around, etc. And I have realized that there are some rides that are more forgiving to one type of big & tall person, as opposed to many other types for different rides. I am hoping to help the park-goer that is BIG & TALL.

Now listen, you know of whom I speak, this thread is a place to HELP people. So please keep the "You need to lose weight" comments to yourself. I know I need to lose weight, but I am always going to be big. Believe it or not, most of the problems I encounter are due to my height, long legs, and broad shoulders. I want to share what I can ride, what I can't, and what I can't ride yet, as well as tips with where the best spots are, etc. I also hope to track the changes as I slim down or become more bold. No one should HAVE to take the walk of shame. Stay informed. You are not alone.

I will be adding soon a list of my experiences thus far at BGW. Feel free to share your experiences, tips, accomplishments (weight loss & rides), goals, etc. Think of this as an online support group. :cool:



Here is some information for the major thrill rides thus far:

  • Loch Ness Monster
  • TEST SEAT: NA
  • BIG SEATS: NO
  • LOCATION: NA
  • RESTRAINT: OTS

  • Alpengeist
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Middle two rows - one seat each
  • RESTRAINT: OTS (red, double buckle)

  • Apollo's Chariot
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Each row - outside seats
  • RESTRAINT: Lap Bar

  • Griffon
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Front & Back Row - one seat each
  • LOCATION: Middle Rows - two seats each (4, 7)
  • RESTRAINT: OTS (red, double buckle)

  • Verbolten
  • TEST SEAT: Regular
  • BIG SEATS: No
  • LOCATION: NA
  • RESTRAINT: Lap Bar

  • Mach Tower
  • TEST SEAT: Regular
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Blue section - 25, 26, 27, 28?
  • LOCATION: Blue Section - last three seats
  • RESTRAINT: OTS

*If any of this changes (or turns out to be incorrect due to personal bias or mistakes) I'll be sure to correct it. :cool:
 
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Alright, look tubby...Just kidding! Support group, huh?My name is Cody and I am a fat guy...I have documented my weight loss on here before, but last April I weighed 320 lbs, now I weigh 254. I could not fit on Griffon until HOS last year and was unable to fit on AG and AC until opening day this year! Now, I am far from tall, as Scott can attest, but I took my first BGW walk of shame as a challenge. It was not only shameful for me, but for my son who wanted to ride with his dad! It was such a great feeling to ride AC with him opening day! I still have to sit in the "fat seat" on Griffon, but that's just another goal to achieve! If I can give any advice, set goals!! Set them in short periods and the further you get, the easier they seem to achieve! I have reached all but one of mine, and that was a weigh in that I was 3 lbs over the goal. I did my first 5K last weekend and walked it in under and hour. I am willing to help anyone who wants it as well! Good luck!

P.S. Scott, thanks for the thread!! I hope we can help the big and short too!!!
 
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There are some things I have not tried for fear of the walk of shame. You are a braver man than me at this point. I have read of the so-called "big seats" in multiple places with incomplete information. Something about looking for a "Diamond" on the floor or something. Where are these seats and are they really bigger, or just with longer belts? Please share what you can so they are easy to find without having to be moved by an attendant.
 
The only 2 rides I know with what they call "retro fitted" seats for sure are Griffon and Mach Tower. Griffon's are located on the second row, seats 4 and 7 I believe. On MT they are the first seats you see, blue section. I never noticed a diamond on the floor, but I will look.
 
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The big seats vary in location on each of the rides. For instance on Alpie they are one seat in the middle two rows (it has been a while since I have been able to ride it so forgive me if my memory is wrong) and are red Double buckle seats. On Griffon they are also double red belted seats and are located in each row ( I believe there is one seat in the first and last rows and two in the middle two rows. On Apollo the big seat should be the outside seats on each row.On some of the big seats on Apollo you will see the red clear line more then others. Nessie and Boltie don't have big seats that I am aware of, but Boltie is pretty forgiving on what the sensor in the seats claim as clearing. On Mach Tower the large seats are 26, 27, 28 ( or it could be 25, 26, 27) basically the last three seats of the blue section.
 
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I am compiling a list of the information you guys are sharing. Let's keep the focus on the roller coasters first, as these will probably be the most talked about here. Hopefully others will chime in and confirm or add more details.

I will add that Nessie has been no problem for me, either sitting in the front or the back. The only thing is because of my height & shoulders, I may look funny riding this thing because the OTS restraint is noticeably sticking up. This has nothing to do with being overweight.
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Don't worry though, I am completely locked in. :)

cotnoutlaw said:
...My name is Cody and I am a fat guy...I have documented my weight loss on here before, but last April I weighed 320 lbs, now I weigh 254.

P.S. Scott, thanks for the thread!! I hope we can help the big and short too!!!
Click to expand...
Guess I didn't start this off right. "HI. MY NAME IS SCOTT AND I AM OVERWEIGHT." OK. That is out of the way now. I am unwilling to share my weight at this time, not so much for shame, but because I do not look like what I weigh and can win many a bet on the topic. Suffice to say, I need to lose a lot.

You are right, of course. Don't want to leave anyone out; short or whatever.

Spending time with the kids is a huge motivator. I don't want to miss out on any experiences with my daughter and she is growing fast. I have been contemplating starting a thread like this for some time. Wasn't sure how it would go over with some people. But I am crediting meeting you and hearing your story that encouraged me to finally go through with it. So... THANKS TO YOU!! :cool:
 
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I was actually going to post a thread about this exact topic...and ask if there was anyway to know ahead of time. I want to ride them all! are there tester seats by any chance? I rode my local wooden coaster last summer with no trouble, some lack of comfort from when i was smaller, but was able to ride, i just hate to wait in line or do the tour if id have trouble.
 
apollo's chariot has a tester seat outside the entrance that has a red mark on it, that you have to see if you are going to fit on the ride.
 
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IF i have to use a big seat, then hey at least im on the train! ill still try because id like to get one ride in front row :)
 
You can find the "test seats" at Griffon, Alpengeist, Verbolten, Mach Tower, and Apollo's Chariot. I don't know if they are for the larger seats, but the signs at the seats typically say something along the lines of "For larger guests . . ." or "Try me on for size, larger guests . . ."

Hope this helps!
 
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Typically you can locate the larger seats by signs hanging from the ceiling that say the row number and also they point to the row(s) that have them.

I'm pretty sure that the test seats are for the regular seats and not the larger seats. This really should be stated or they should have both seats out there. This should be an option because I know quiete a bit of people who sit in the seats to see how secure they are instead of the main for purpose seeing if they don't fit in the ride.
 
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Evan said:
Typically you can locate the larger seats by signs hanging from the ceiling that say the row number and also they point to the row(s) that have them.

I'm pretty sure that the test seats are for the regular seats and not the larger seats. This really should be stated or they should have both seats out there. This should be an option because I know quiete a bit of people who sit in the seats to see how secure they are instead of the main for purpose seeing if they don't fit in the ride.
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I think some of the tester seats represent the bigger seats but not all. I think the ones at Griffon, Apollo, and Alpengeist are representitive of the biggger seats on their respective coaster. The one at Verbolten is not (I believe) as the sensors on that ride are pretty forgiving.
I know for a fact that the one at Mach Tower is repesentitive of one of the smaller (normal) seats as I was not able to fit in it last year ( it was still red) but I was able to fit once I got on the larger seat on the actual ride.

Personally, I didn't even get in line for Apollo if I was unable to not only able to fully see the red/orange line but also get the test seat to click and lock into place.
 
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One thing about test seats; using them can be its own anxiety-inducing experience for some folks. They are right out there in full view and I have seen many kids, teens and some adults point and stare and make the experience very uncomfortable for the person who needs to check it out.
 
This is all good knowledge, and personally i could care less, everyone could be pointed at and laughed at at some point in their life, i may never see these people ever again, and you only live once, so why not make sure before wasting time in line. im currently trying to slim down, both to feel better and to make sure i can ride. Went to Disney last year, and had no trouble on Everest, or on Big Thunder Mountain, but Over the heads tend to be a bit different, its been so long since ive worn one.
 
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Here is the information so far (added Mach Tower):

  • Loch Ness Monster
  • TEST SEAT: NA
  • BIG SEATS: NO
  • LOCATION: NA
  • RESTRAINT: OTS

  • Alpengeist
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Middle two rows - one seat each
  • RESTRAINT: OTS (red, double buckle)

  • Apollo's Chariot
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Each row - outside seats
  • RESTRAINT: Lap Bar

  • Griffon
  • TEST SEAT: Big
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: 2nd row - seats 4, 7
  • LOCATION: 1st & last row - one seat each
  • LOCATION: Middle 2 rows - two seats each
  • RESTRAINT: OTS (red, double buckle)

  • Verbolten
  • TEST SEAT: Regular
  • BIG SEATS: No
  • LOCATION: NA
  • RESTRAINT: Lap Bar

  • Mach Tower
  • TEST SEAT: Regular
  • BIG SEATS: Yes
  • LOCATION: Blue section - 25, 26, 27, 28?
  • LOCATION: Blue Section - last three seats
  • RESTRAINT: OTS

Are these right? Confirm or correct please (some of the rides LOCATIONS have multiple entries due to needing confirmation). :cool:
 
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I may be wrong but I don't think that AP has a big seat. Because My mom isn't able to fit on AP, and one time we asked the person standing by the test seat if they had seats for X-L people, and he said no. He also, said any Hypercoaster that B&M makes will not have an X-L seat, but all the other coasters they make do. Does anyone have confirmation on this?
 
JuniorBGWfan28 said:
I may be wrong but I don't think that AP has a big seat. Because My mom isn't able to fit on AP, and one time we asked the person standing by the test seat if they had seats for X-L people, and he said no. He also, said any Hypercoaster that B&M makes will not have an X-L seat, but all the other coasters they make do. Does anyone have confirmation on this?
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To my knowledge the outside seats on Apollo's are set up for larger guests.
 
Zachary said:
Looks about right. You may want to add all that information to the first post as well though for people who come looking for info through Google. Thanks for putting all the info in one place!
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Done. Will update as new information comes this way.
 
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