This weekend, I went to Cedar Point with a bunch of friends.
For the non-midwesterners, Cedar Point is
the amusement park with the greatest roller coasters around. I love roller coasters, and Cedar Point is a roller coaster-phile's dream come true.
Although I've been to the park a few times, I always went at night, and usually went on just a few rides. Saturday was my first all day weekend trip -- and I was shocked by what I experienced.
On every single ride we went on --
every single one, without exception -- I watched as a fat person was made to leave the ride after discovering that he or she couldn't fit into the seat. One by one, I watched these people do the Fat Walk of Shame, away from the ride and toward the waiting area.
I was petrified that I would not fit into a ride, or that my boyfriend might not fit into a ride. Every single line was nerve-wracking, waiting to see if I waited in line for 75 minutes just to find that I was too fat to ride.
Fortunately for both of us, we squeezed onto each ride we went on -- though in some cases just barely. It was a huge blow to my self-esteem, as you can imagine -- to say nothing of the many, many people I saw leaving the rides, unable to fit, and the many more fat people I saw at the park who didn't even attempt to get on the rides.
When I got home, I read this on Cedar Point's web site:
Guests of Exceptional Size
All passenger restraint systems, including lap bars, shoulder harnesses and seatbelts, must be positioned, fastened and tightened to allow guests to ride.
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, males who exceed 6'2", and those who exceed 225 pounds, have a 40" waistline or 52" chest or females who exceed 200 pounds or wear size 18 or larger. Each person has different body proportions, so it is impossible to determine exact size and weight.
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,Wave Swinger, Wicked Twister and Top Thrill Dragster.
Maximum recommended weight limits are posted on Camp Snoopy rides, Chaos, Monster, Scrambler, Super Himalaya, Troika, Wave Swinger, RipCord and most Soak City attractions.
You may enter the ride via the exit to ensure the restraints function properly prior to waiting in line. We have test seats at Maverick, maXair, Millennium Force, Raptor, Skyhawk, Top Thrill Dragster and Wicked Twister.
As you can probably tell, almost all the rides -- and all of the big roller coasters -- cannot accommodate "guests of exceptional size."
On a basic business level, this is fucked. An adult pass into Cedar Point costs $41. How is it fair to ask all your guests to pay $41 when they cannot enjoy everything the park has to offer? There are reduced rates for children for precisely this reason -- since children can't go on most of the "big rides," their tickets are less expensive. If Cedar Point is going to continue to build rides that exclude a large segment of their customers, they cannot charge those customers the same amount of money that they charge customers who will be able to enjoy every attraction.
On a larger (*snicker*) level, this is plain discrimination. There is no reason why these rides -- especially the new ones -- cannot be engineered to safely support larger people. There is no reason why the restraint systems cannot be altered to fit a wider range of guests. Cedar Point is in the business of leisure, entertainment and fun. You would think that the amusement park would be interested in making as many guests as possible as comfortable and happy as possible.
The older rides, moreover, could use a face-lift -- and if that's a longer seat belt or stronger supports, well then, so much the better for everyone's safety. :|
Whether it's evolution or a sign of the apocalypse, people
are getting larger -- taller, broader, fatter. Why amusement parks are content to feed us corn dogs and cotton candy and cheese fries but will not accommodate fat people on their rides is beyond me. And I'm furious.
Anyway, being all pro-active and shit, part of me really wants to inititate a class-action lawsuit against Cedar Point on behalf of fat people. Part of me thinks a Strongly Worded Letter might be enough to make me feel better. :lol:
I can think of a few reasons why Cedar Point might say that fat people should not be riding roller coasters, but none of them seem completely compelling to me. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this topic, and any ideas or arguments you have one way or the other, so I can think it through a little more before I begin the barrage of Strongly Worded Letters.

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