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Amusement park in the south discriminating obese? How can they be more fair?
Replies
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Solution = losing weight
I am a HUGE Disney fan, I can fit on all their rides, but there have been times where it has been uncomfortable (especially when riding with my husband who is broad shouldered). From what I understand the new Flight of Passage ride at Animal Kingdom has a seat at the entrance (with a cast member to assist) to help you decide whether you should ride or not due to size restrictions.
The seat on this particular ride can be an issue for people that are overweight OR people who are taller than average. So, it is not always just about the weight. Height is a huge factor in the safety of most rides I have been on. However, I also think Disney is the most friendly with their ride designs for people from all walks of life (children, obese, height, disability, etc.).
So, does that mean that a person should also receive a discount for height (too tall or too short)?
I guess in my mind, I would rather theme parks err on the side of caution and safety. If that means a particular ride or attraction is off limits to me, then it is my choice whether I want to give my money to the company. Also, weight is a fairly controllable factor for most people, so I don't really consider that to be a disability unless there is an underlying medical condition that causes obesity.
Also, FWIW, when I was growing up I lived close to Kings Island in Mason, OH. We got season passes every year. In all those years my mom only rode the train, slow moving rides and watched shows. She was not a big "thrill" rides person. Yet, she always paid full price and only enjoyed about 20% of what the park offered.
I think once you start an "a la carte" approach to theme parks, it creates a slippery slope. How do you monitor a person's admittance fee to what they actually do in the park? Parks would have to add extra staff just to check people's park ticket at the entrance to each attraction and I am sure most of the companies are not looking to add to their direct labor costs.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Would specific rides for obese only be reverse discrimination. I could see that in the future since obesity is due to double in the next 20 years at its current pace.
Why would a park limit rides to only the obese? Are you envisioning a future where obesity is so normal that everything is engineered for bigger bodies and safety cannot be established for smaller people on the rides?
Anyone else read this and picture the interior of the B&L ship from Wall-E?
That is EXACTLY what I was seeing in my head.6 -
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Maybe in the future people will have a chip implanted (by choice), and those with medical conditions and disabilities such as obesity could get a reduced rate at park entrance. Each ride entrance would have a chip reader.How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
This technology could also be used to determine how much to charge people pay buffets. I would be willing to pay extra compared to a 100 lb person. I see nothing wrong with this.
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
Maybe in the future people will have a chip implanted (by choice), and those with medical conditions and disabilities such as obesity could get a reduced rate at park entrance. Each ride entrance would have a chip reader.How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
This technology could also be used to determine how much to charge people pay buffets. I would be willing to pay extra compared to a 100 lb person. I see nothing wrong with this.
Start an amusement park. Make sure to inform your investors about your idea.
Let me know how that turns out.13 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
Maybe in the future people will have a chip implanted (by choice), and those with medical conditions and disabilities such as obesity could get a reduced rate at park entrance. Each ride entrance would have a chip reader.How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
This technology could also be used to determine how much to charge people pay buffets. I would be willing to pay extra compared to a 100 lb person. I see nothing wrong with this.
except obesity is not a disability,18 -
Obesity in the US can be a disability. You can collect benefits and not work if there are related medical conditions such as: heart disease, joint disorders, diabetes, etc. http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/obesity-and-social-security-disability3
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Obesity in the US can be a disability. You can collect benefits and not work if there are related medical conditions such as: heart disease, joint disorders, diabetes, etc. http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/obesity-and-social-security-disability
obesity can cause those issues which are a disability but obesity itself is not.
and calling it that removes the onus of the individual to do something about it.
you can have heart disease, collect benefit and not be obese.18 -
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Obesity in the US can be a disability. You can collect benefits and not work if there are related medical conditions such as: heart disease, joint disorders, diabetes, etc. http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/obesity-and-social-security-disability
obesity can cause those issues which are a disability but obesity itself is not.
and calling it that removes the onus of the individual to do something about it.
you can have heart disease, collect benefit and not be obese.
Tbh it's an easy way out for some to not work a day in their lives.
not sure I would call obesity easy.8 -
When I worked at cedar point in 2002 and 2003 (I worked at the blacksmith shop, hardly got any business. I don't think it's open anymore) we had discounted tickets for people who were not going on the big rides or were in wheelchairs (which most super obese people are) at that point I was able to ride every ride, but a few years ago when I went and weighed 220, I found that they have shortened the length on most of the lap belts. It didn't really matter though, my son my mom and I just rode the iron Dragon together over and over again and the water rides multiple times and walked around the park all day. It was a great day.1
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Lgcoulter33 wrote: »When I worked at cedar point in 2002 and 2003 (I worked at the blacksmith shop, hardly got any business. I don't think it's open anymore) we had discounted tickets for people who were not going on the big rides or were in wheelchairs (which most super obese people are) at that point I was able to ride every ride, but a few years ago when I went and weighed 220, I found that they have shortened the length on most of the lap belts. It didn't really matter though, my son my mom and I just rode the iron Dragon together over and over again and the water rides multiple times and walked around the park all day. It was a great day.
not all obese are in wheelchairs so obese people are not discounted...people in wheelchairs are.
and what do you mean they shortened the lap belt length? seems a bit odd.0 -
My thoughts
It makes sense for a park to let people know up from what limitations there are on the rides, so customers can decide whether or not they want to spend their money there. It saves complaints and nasty reviews when people pay to get in and find out later they can't go on half the rides.
Whoever wrote the weight/size explanation for that park (and whoever approved it) should be fired. The message is important, and so is the delivery, and unless the park's secret agenda was to discourage overweight people from spending their money there, it was a monumentally stupid way to approach it. They most likely wouldn't have gotten any flak at all if they had just listed men's weight and size limitations and women's weight and size limitations and left out the clothing size reference (which really doesn't add anything to the information).
No it's not discrimination for parks to have rides with size limits. The limits are there for safety reasons and are designed to accommodate the largest number of people possible, because customers equals revenue. If someone were to open a park with rides specifically designed for larger people, and if that park were to make a substantial profit, you can bet there's be plenty of copy-cat rides in all the other parks.13 -
justkeeprunning91 wrote: »I imagine that some rides would not work for small people if they were designed for the obese. People would be falling out.
Do any parks have a big and tall section where a few seats are designed to fit larger people? I wonder if that would work?
There used to be a theme park in South Carolina where at least one of the coasters had a row with larger harnesses. It used to be the hard rock theme park, then it was something else for a season, then it closed, I believe.
So some have done it then. It makes sense for North America. I know I already feel squished in some rides and I'm a fine weight for my size. Where I live, probably a third of people are bigger than me, or have bigger backsides anyways.2 -
I work at a park and several of our rides have restrictions. There are height minimums, and weight minimums and maximums on our water slide for safety reasons. Our rock climbing wall has minimum and maximum weight limits due to the automatic belay system. Our Segway park has a minimum height, and Merlins mystical mansion won't allow anyone in with any type of seizure disorder due to flashing lights. I have to weigh and measure people all the time and never had an issue.5
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Lgcoulter33 wrote: »When I worked at cedar point in 2002 and 2003 (I worked at the blacksmith shop, hardly got any business. I don't think it's open anymore) we had discounted tickets for people who were not going on the big rides or were in wheelchairs (which most super obese people are) at that point I was able to ride every ride, but a few years ago when I went and weighed 220, I found that they have shortened the length on most of the lap belts. It didn't really matter though, my son my mom and I just rode the iron Dragon together over and over again and the water rides multiple times and walked around the park all day. It was a great day.
not all obese are in wheelchairs so obese people are not discounted...people in wheelchairs are.
and what do you mean they shortened the lap belt length? seems a bit odd.
I didn't SAY all obese people are in wheelchairs, I said a lot of SUPER OBESE (i.e 600+ pounds) people are.
And yes, lap belts were shortened. They were new and shorter. Meaning that at some point they were replaced either due to wear and tear or for some other reason.
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I think that size restrictions for rides are completely understandable, but I don't agree with their method.
That said, I think setting a cut off weight is silly. I'm a 6' woman. The upper end of healthy weight tops out at 183. If I were 200 lbs I would be under 20 lbs into overweight. I think having a tester seat is a better solution to fit the variety of bodies that would come and could fit safely.5 -
How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
Sounds like an 8 hour wait just to get in while waiting to see my friend puke because I know she gets severe motion sickness. Would make the TSA look efficient.10 -
problem solved
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justkeeprunning91 wrote: »I imagine that some rides would not work for small people if they were designed for the obese. People would be falling out.
Do any parks have a big and tall section where a few seats are designed to fit larger people? I wonder if that would work?
There used to be a theme park in South Carolina where at least one of the coasters had a row with larger harnesses. It used to be the hard rock theme park, then it was something else for a season, then it closed, I believe.
So some have done it then. It makes sense for North America. I know I already feel squished in some rides and I'm a fine weight for my size. Where I live, probably a third of people are bigger than me, or have bigger backsides anyways.
I found that when I was fat, the most uncomfortable rides for me, were the older wooden track coasters. Then I thought about it: those were designed and built in the 60s and 70s, when the population was notably less wide.3 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Obesity in the US can be a disability. You can collect benefits and not work if there are related medical conditions such as: heart disease, joint disorders, diabetes, etc. http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/obesity-and-social-security-disability
obesity can cause those issues which are a disability but obesity itself is not.
and calling it that removes the onus of the individual to do something about it.
you can have heart disease, collect benefit and not be obese.
Tbh it's an easy way out for some to not work a day in their lives.
not sure I would call obesity easy.
It's not; it's *kitten* miserable. Anyone who says otherwise has never been at both ends of the spectrum. What IS easy, is staying that way and accepting a crappier life. Unfortunately, our brains really suck about fighting us when we try to shed the weight. You basically have to force the system for a while, which does take conscious effort.12 -
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From the linked news story...Specifically, the park stated that guests who exceeded 6 feet, 2 inches in height and weighed over 225 pounds and had a 40-inch waistline or a 52-inch chest, could face restrictions.
As everyone's mentioned, ABSOLUTELY FINE.
All rides etc have design parameters, and presumably these are the maximum dimensions for safety on their rides.
Helpful to publish in advance.The restrictions went further by singling out women who weigh 200 pounds or those who wear a size 18 or larger.
Less fine.
I bet they were just trying to translate the overall maximums down to average women's height, or link the waist and chest measurements to a clothing size, but the way it comes across is, um, poor.
By all means, fire the PR and communications people responsible, but that's it.5 -
VeronicaA76 wrote: »How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
Sounds like an 8 hour wait just to get in while waiting to see my friend puke because I know she gets severe motion sickness. Would make the TSA look efficient.
Exactly. I took my kids to Six Flags a few weeks ago and we had to wait quite a while to get through security and then get our ticket scanned.0 -
lalepepper wrote: »I think that size restrictions for rides are completely understandable, but I don't agree with their method.
That said, I think setting a cut off weight is silly. I'm a 6' woman. The upper end of healthy weight tops out at 183. If I were 200 lbs I would be under 20 lbs into overweight. I think having a tester seat is a better solution to fit the variety of bodies that would come and could fit safely.
Except the weight restrictions apply to the maximum weight the ride is designed to take, not whether or not the person riding is obese. A tall, muscular, fit person exceeding the weight limits would be at the same risk riding as a smaller obese person.7 -
Going to an amusement park is completely voluntary, so no, limiting what rides you can get on based upon your size is not discrimination. Most amusement parks limit riders based on their height as well so children or "little people" may not be allowed due to safety restrictions. We recently went to a resort with a zip line and you had to weigh at least 100 pounds because anyone lighter than that wouldn't create enough momentum to make it to the end of the zip line. I'm a non-meat eater, so should I expect a 20% discount if I go to a steak house buffet for dinner? should I get in free to a lecture done in Spanish because I only speak English? Reality is that not every human being is going to be able to partake 100% of every food/ride/amusement at every venue in the world.10
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Iamnotasenior wrote: »Going to an amusement park is completely voluntary, so no, limiting what rides you can get on based upon your size is not discrimination. Most amusement parks limit riders based on their height as well so children or "little people" may not be allowed due to safety restrictions. We recently went to a resort with a zip line and you had to weigh at least 100 pounds because anyone lighter than that wouldn't create enough momentum to make it to the end of the zip line. I'm a non-meat eater, so should I expect a 20% discount if I go to a steak house buffet for dinner? should I get in free to a lecture done in Spanish because I only speak English? Reality is that not every human being is going to be able to partake 100% of every food/ride/amusement at every venue in the world.
Yeah, I have celiac disease and feel like I should get a discount every time we stay at a hotel with breakfast included, since I'm limited to yogurt and fruit.
I'd love to see a manager's face if I suggested that... 10 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
I think a discount for entry is a really good idea. Some parks like Marine Land offer discounts for people with disabilities and obesity is a disability. http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/10/10/39-theme-parks-with-access-passes-for-special-needs/TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/too_fat_to_ride_at_owa_alabama.html
A new park opened a month ago, and it's having problems. How, does a park built in 2017, forget to acknowledge the average population?
Another news article relating to the states obesity problems. http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/amusement_park_flap_highlights.html
The park's original restrictions singled out women, saying that riding certain rides might be prohibited if females weigh 200 pounds or more or those who wear a size 18 or larger.
I think allowing a 20% discount would be a fair solution if they can't ride 2 out of the 10 rides. But one comment said that would be discrimination. They would have to have a scale at the entrance.
What is the solution?
it's a shame that the average population is overweight leaning toward obese.
as for singling out woman I suspect it has more to do with average height of woman vs weight where as an average man who is 200lbs is not as big around as a woman who is 200lbs...
as for entrance fee reduction cause you are overweight...hell no.
Another benefit for being overweight are you kidding me?
The HELL it is. Obesity is NOT a disability, stop being an enabler.22 -
How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?
How about no? How about you go to a place and pay the listed admission or you go somewhere else. It's an absolutely absurd and ridiculous notion that these places should have all of these degrees of pricing to ultimately cater to the ever growing ridiculousness of the common man.8 -
I did get a discount for staying at a motel that had two options: B&B or full-meal plan and not entering the dining hall once. (I'm strictly kosher. We brought our own non-perishable food for three days.) Thing is, it was the motel's offer, not my request. We understood the terms when we booked the room and just figured the getaway was worth it, even if it included paying for something we weren't going to use.8
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