", "Theme parks are seasonal businesses. Dollywood Express Train Ride is a crowd favorite where size does not matter. While we were there, Julie and I decided to ride separately to make the lap bar and the seat belt fit us better. A roomy Intamin OTSR. Dollywood is a world-renowned theme park in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. #Not a Dollywood Fan. Any suggestions for clothing, actually riding coasters, etc that we might not have considered would be helpful. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Heavier riders can put stress on the ride, which can cause it to break down. The idea is to have the ability to lock the restraint so that you can ride on it. I am 2 months out from surgery and weight in at 280lbs and I am 5'5". Some attractions may not be suitable for people weighing more than 270 pounds, 6 feet tall, or 4 inches in height. Fans are even allowed to hop aboard Dollys actual tour bus for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity. This coaster mimics the flight of a Smoky Mountain dragonfly as it speeds through the terrain in a twisting, unpredictable path. Dollywood is NOT friendly to fluffy folks. If You Can Only Ride One Ride at Dollywood, Itinerary for Visiting Dollywood with a Toddler, Top 5 Fastest Roller Coasters At Dollywood. The staff is pleasant and the waiting areas are well-marked outside of most major attractions. I really appreciate the feedback guys, definitely learning a ton right now! Some of the parks' websites have weight restriction info but I wanted to hear from actual people too. Like most of the coasters in Dollywood, it has a test seat at the entrance. You can see in my video how awesome the host was about helping me ride. Thunderhead is a wooden roller coaster that has been among the best rides at Dollywood since it opened in 2004. 3. The test seat out front has a red light and a green light for you to make sure that you fit before hopping in line. Big Bear Mountain to Be Longest Coaster in Dollywood The roller coaster will feature three separate launches, multiple air-time hills, high-speed carousel turns, and a top speed of 48 miles. The theme is a tornado that has torn through the town and picked up all kinds of crazy things. According to the Dollywood accessibility guide, some attractions may not be suitable for people who weigh more than 270 pounds or are 5 feet, 6 inches tall. While there is no test seat for this attraction, we both agreed that this one accommodates people of most shapes. Obviously, I like high speed and high G-force coasters, Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. I am 61 and weigh 250lbs. Dollywood's first foray into real g-force roller coastering, the Tornado opened in 1999 to rave reviews. Dollywood Question. The issue isnt necessarily the weight of a guest, but their torso circumference or barrel. Theme park ride restrictions can be a stressful topic for the plus-size community. Those that went before you and were courageous enough to write about the experience can attest! And some are less daring than others looking at you Blazing Fury. Read Also: Dollywood vs Disney: How do the two theme parks compare? Named the #1 Theme Park in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2022, Dollywood Parks & Resorts features rip-roaring rides, delectable fare, and stellar entertainmentall surrounded by breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request. Fat at a Theme Park - Dia & Co But beyond just Cedar Fair parks, height, weight, and size restrictions abound. Thankfully, the plus-size people who came before us have given the internet some incredible tips for making the most out of your trip to a theme park. These are standard B&M OTSRs with two center straps instead of one. 4. It may also be important to note that most Dollywood rides have a 6 feet, 6 inch height maximum. Dollywood, recognized as one of the world's best theme parks, is known for its award-winning shows, rides and special events. This is a weekly look at the theme parks that matter to us. The ride changed significantly before the 2021 season when a vertical U-turn was removed. Lightning Rod utilizes a lap bar and seat belt system. Thunderhead Dollywood Roller coaster and drop tower manufacturer Utah's S&S Worldwide sets a maximum weight restriction of 300 pounds and includes a sensor on each ride to detect over-sized riders. Its well-designed, fun and fresh. Thank you so much for the responses guys! Its no wonder, with each ride having specific height and size requirements, that theme parks are an exclusive place made with the able-bodied in mind. Some rides have weight limits to ensure the safety of the riders. The staff does work hard at accommodating all riders of all sizes. Booking through Tripster can usually save you a couple of dollars off the price of regular admission. The nice thing is there is a sample seat out in front of every ride so you can test if you fit before spending time in line. We're sharing tips for plus-size thrill seekers so you can enjoy your summer (and those loop-de-loops) no matter your size. (& Other Need-to-Know Terminology). A lot of the bigger rides require guests to be 48" tall in order to ride, so you seem to be ruling them out up-front. Theyare a bit more restricting than most amusement parks. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. The lap bar comes down very easily and caused us zero problems. That being said, you should be ok. The coaster will riders on a journey to find Big Bear with Ned Oakley, who has suspected that Big Bear has been hiding around Wildwood Grove. Fat people on roller coasters? : r/rollercoasters - reddit Ranked: The Roller Coasters of Dollywood - LaughingPlace.com Read Also: Dollywood eagle cams offer a peaceful, easy feeling. Another family coaster that offers an amusing ride for all. Test seats are available at the entrances to the following rides. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Your Complete Guide, Will Ghost Town in the Sky Reopen? Now if you wanted to purchase a ticket, you got a reservation. I had a guy sit next to me on 7DMT last weekend, who must have been pushing the 300lb mark, so there are a few out there, even though they are family type coasters. I struggled with where to rank the Whistle Punk Chaser, a kids coaster located in the literal shadow of larger coasters in Timber Canyon. Not the kinds of roller coasters that draw visitors from three states over. Not only that, if you want to try a test seat enjoy having an audience! Ive been to many parks and some of the top rides are extremely intense. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. and our That said, Lightning Rod, Wild Eagle, Thunderhead, Firechaser Express will all allow for larger sized rider. Each ride is a little different & most if not all have test seats out front. The most authoritative source for restaurants, attractions . Thanks a ton in advance! Of the three of us there, Dolly, the ride and I, only two were working. Blazing Fury is a dark ride that is housed in a track and can be ridden indoors. Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is home to a wide variety of attractions, including nine thrilling roller coasters. Blazing Fury uses a lap bar system and has no divider in between the seats to separate the two passengers in each train. Spanning 160 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood theme park offers more than 50 world-class rides, high-energy entertainment, award-winning dining and the friendliest theme park atmosphere in the world! I thought I was going to come out of it ! It can be somewhat nerve wracking to wait in line for a ride that you are super excited about, only to find out once in the seat that the lap bar wont close or that the seat belt wont connect. These facts are enough to make most plus-size people nervous about stepping foot in a theme park. Get 40% off on your first Shop order when you sign up. The person who wrote this also mentioned he was 300lb. You May be Mid-Size, What to Stream When Youre Looking for Plus-Size Representation In 2022, Im Daydreaming Of When I Can Have a Vacation Fling Again, What Is Plus Size? How can you find out if a theme park can accommodate you?From our research (from the many of the links included within this article), it seems that Universal Studios in Orlando is notorious for turning away plus-size riders, while many have found success on most rides at Disneyland and Disney World. The staff and I do mean all of Dollys staff are so friendly and caring people they go above and beyond to see that you have a wonderful time. A Plus-Sized Rider's Guide to Dollywood - Dollywood Insiders Ill give it a shot after the next trip, because I saw some larger people overcome the issue. Six Flags Over Texas is one of the largest and most popular amusement park chains in the United States. As another person noted, I wriggled around and got it to work. He was a good 300lbs+ & wider than I am tall (comon Southern thang, nbd). And last but not least, theres always the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Its a dark ride taking you leisurely through a town set ablaze. Park Location. Dollywoods plus size friendly rides include the Adventure River, a gentle float ride that is perfect for those who want to take it easy; the Tennessee Tornado, a high-speed roller coaster that is sure to get your heart racing; and the Thunderhead, a wooden coaster that is one of the most popular rides in the park. The best coaster, in my opinion, was the Mystery Mine coaster, but they all were pretty good. Dolly is such a blessing to her home town and all who meet her. The minimum height requirement for Big Bear Mountain will be 39 inches tall, making it perfect for the whole family. What are some cool theme parks and attractions in one day? Yeah man! When in doubt, always use the test seats when available. Maggie Valley's Ghost Town in the Sky has been closed since the late 2000s (photo submitted to TheSmokies.com with permission by Gary and Carol Cox, circa 2007), Find out which popular steakhouse prepared each of these delicious bites of steak below (photos by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com), We are/were season pass holders. Dollywood is an excellent place to bring a cup of tea. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. 5 years ago. These amusement parks were the roller coaster meccas of my youth. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.". Find test seats at Thunderhead, Drop Line, Mystery Mine, Dragonflier, FireChaser Express, Wild Eagle, Barnstormer and Lightning Rod. Mako thanks for the tip on Busch Gardens, I've never been and have been wanting to go! Dollywood is a world-renowned theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Also be sure to check the Dollywood website for current deals and promotions. Because when its working, its a fantastic ride, rated the fifth-best coaster in the United State by USA Today in August of 2021 and the second-best wooden coaster in the United States by TripSavvy in November of 2020. Getting back to that main character lifestyle. It has been surpassed over the years by newer editions, but it serves as a significant milestone in Dollywood history. It's been at least 5 years since the last time Ihave been to Dollywood, so I don't really remember the weight limits on rides. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. One of the most popular attractions at Dollywood is the Lightning Rod, a wooden roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 73 miles per hour. Dragonflier has an overhead lap bar and a seat belt system. Dollywood Roller Coasters Ranked - Discover the Great Smokies Despite its challenges, the Dollywood Theme Park welcomes all visitors. Timber Canyon. Overweight & Dollywood - Gatlinburg Message Board - Tripadvisor Mar 2, 2023 - The ultimate guide to Dollywood Rides. Nobody looks forward to Thanksgiving dreaming of corn giblets. over a year ago. Will I fit in any of these rides? Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN - Dollywood Theme Park Rides & Shows And it still packs a heckuva punch. These are the rides in Country Fair with no height requirement, but these children must be able to sit up on their own: Lemon Twist (must be accompanied by someone who is 16 years old or older) Amazing Flying Elephants (must be accompanied by someone who is 16 years old or older) Piggy Parade Busy Bees Lucky Ducky Many will accommodate larger people, for instance, on Wild Eagle, the 4th row is engineered to seat slightly larger people than the other rows. It was designed to make the parks more comfortable for visitors and to make it easier to enter. The Mystery Mine restraints may prove to be difficult for some plus-size riders (photo by Daniel Munson/TheSmokies.com). Premier coaster trains are also pretty accessible even to larger guests unless you have unusually large legs, preventing the belt from latching to the lap bar. This is intended to assist you in making the best decision in the best interests of your health and safety while riding. Seat dividers will make things more difficult. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. LOCATION: Wildwood Grove Your 7 Options, What Kind of Snakes Are in the Smoky Mountains? However, the heart-pumping 100-foot drop is what makes Thunderhead rank among the top 10 best rides at Dollywood. Guests weighing more than this are not permitted to board the boats due to safety concerns. Do better, Dollywood. The resort includes one theme park and one water park, Dollywood's Splash Country. He was not heavy - but thearm would not close - he was just too tall for thatride. Ireceived free tickets to Dollywood for this weekend. The ride features a pair of vertical lifts, a 95-degree drop and a turnover loop. I didn't have any trouble except for the chest area on the Wild Eagle. The Big Boys Guide To Rollercoaster Restraints, Not Sure Where You Fit? Riding as a single rider worked perfectly and we were able to enjoy Thunderhead together from our individual seats. However, their newer OTSRs, like those found on Maverick, Kingda Ka, and Intimidator, are extremely accommodating (probably best in the industry). 8 Snow Tips in the Smokies, Will Ghost Town in the Sky Reopen? Thankfully, you wont be the first or the last plus-size individual to attempt to ride. Dollywoods Accessibility Guide states that certain attractions may not accommodate individuals approaching 270 lbs. Amy A. on 10/18/10 1:17 am - Riceville, TN. Can anyone that has been recently tell me if Iwill be able to fit in the rides? They provide rides for everyone, regardless of fitness level or age. I spent my formative roller coaster years as a child of the Midwest. As a plus-sized person who is also an adrenaline junkie, one of my biggest fears in visiting any theme park is my ability to fit on the rides and attractions. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. I live in Kentucky and am interested in any theme parks across the United States that I might be able to visit and actually ride the rides! The Whistle Punk Chaser has a 36-inch height requirement and guests under 42 inches must be accompanied by those 16 or older. Gatlinburg Bathrooms: Where Can You Use the Restroom? Located in Timber Canyon, Mystery Mine is set inside a haunted mining operation from the 19th century. Daredevil Falls uses no restraint system and easily fits any size rider. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Hi all. Have fun ! 4. The Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is the nations largest presentation, spanning over 30,000 square feet, of non-releasable bald eagles. Dolly Parton was there on a make-shift stage ready to announce the parks massive new attraction, the first coaster on the Jukebox Junction Country Fair side of the park. During the summer, the best time to visit Dollywoods Splash Country is on cloudy, rainy days, when there is a chance of rain. Privacy Policy. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific ride and the size of the individual. If you're busty, you might encounter the same issue. Everything To Know About Dollywood Coasters - Veravise.com For those who either cant or dont want to partake in the rides at Dollywood, theres still plenty of fun to be had elsewhere in the park. Mystery Mine Love themed rides? Thunderhead was a little snug with my daughter.I think we rode side by side. The park is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and its wide array of rides and attractions. Editors Note: This blog was originally posted Nov. 29, 2021. . 2. The Halloween spectacular is amazing and Christmas is something you dont want to miss. 9 years ago. Read Also: I got to walk along the tracks of Blazing Fury at Dollywood; 8 things I learned. I have a 22 pants size and a 3x/3x blouse size. Can I fit into a Dollywood ride? Delivered right to your inbox. It is something you will always cherish as I do. The swirling loops of the Tornado include a 128-foot drop through a mountain at speeds approaching 70 mph. It's like you said Mike, at least I have some control over it! The park is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and its wide array of rides and attractions. Their phone number is 800.343.7946. Dollywood Roller Coasters For The Whole Family - Family Focus Blog Also, while parks with newer B&Ms don't actively advertise the "big boy seats", if you can't fit in a normal seat, ride ops are trained to know where the special seats are on each train, and will guide you on the platform (sometimes you might need to wait a cycle or two though). Kings Island. Honey Boo Boo: Bad Influence On Young Girls? The portions at most of the restaurants are huge. Sign up for P.S. Before the trip, if you are planning to eat out at the different restaurants, you might want to check out their menu's. There are a variety of ways to refill these cups, including using soda or hot or frozen drinks. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The ride will be a multi-launching roller coaster. The ride is relatively smooth and offers some of the best views in the park when you can take the time to look. Maybe in a park full of the best rides in the country, the wildest ride has been the one from the 1960s to today. Her favorite thing to do at Dollywood is to snack on a loaf of cinnamon bread after braving the dark depths of Blazing Fury. There is a test seat out front for you to see if this ride will accommodate you. No modified seats. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Riders under 48 inches must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. If the lap bar doesnt make its three clicks or the seat belt doesnt stretch across your body and click in place, the ride operator will (hopefully, politely) ask you to get out. In addition to these rides, Dollywood also has a number of shows and attractions that are perfect for plus size guests. However, some plus-size riders report that the tester chair has steered them in the wrong direction before, either having seatbelts that are shorter or longer than what the ride actually has. Overall, you will be happy to know that Dollywood wasnt named the Friendliest Theme Park in America for nothin. Anyone with 40+" waists are probably going to be a tight fit if they can get the belt to latch at all. How big is too big? Some theme park riders fear small seats and 'the If I were to say one park that has the most number of accessible roller coasters/attractions, I would probably say Six Flags Great Adventure. They open it, it runs two cars and closes with 1000 people in line but they dont tell anyone. Located in the Wildwood Grove area of the park, it gives families a chance to feel the exhilaration of riding a big coaster that wont terrify the timid. Six Flags. Some rides at Walt Disney World may have a height limit on them. Jana decided to try the ride inside of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry but was turned away due to the safety bar not being able to click down over her bust. It may also be important to note that most Dollywood rides have a 6 feet, 6 inch height maximum. Smoky Mountain River Rampage has a very large Velcro seat belt restraint that will accommodate almost any sized rider. Hosts at Dollywood always go the extra mile to accommodate guests. (These seats are also available on Kraken at Seaworld)". embarrassing to try the test seats that many people use as waiting area , Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. We even received an award for being so friendly! One thing that sets Dollywood apart from other theme parks is its commitment to inclusivity. Shows. But if not, you wont be allowed to ride the ride you stood in line for and waited for. The drawback of these is that you have to make sure you're queued in the right row, and those seats are rarely in the best locations on the train. 409K views 1 year ago All roller coasters, thrill rides & on-ride POV's at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee USA with musical samples from the world famous Knoebels Grand. There are a variety of shows and theaters on site, with genres including bluegrass, southern gospel, contemporary, 50s tunes, Christmas shows and animal shows (bald eagles). Sure there is a good ride or two, but its more about the theme. But strictly as a roller coaster? 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd.Pigeon Forge, TN 378631-800-DOLLYWOOD, 2525 DreamMore WayPigeon Forge, TN 37863Reservations: 1-800-DOLLYWOOD (Option 2)Resort Front Desk: 865-365-1900, Make Dining Reservations at Song & Hearth. According to WebMD the percent of Americans who are obese has now reached 26%. All Disney rides are open to all riders regardless of weight. The 1,811-foot track takes riders through the abandoned, haunted coal mine. The test seats are used by Dollywood employees to make sure that the rides are safe and comfortable for guests. Though she was nervous about her body crushing her girlfriends smaller frame, about the lap bar not being able to go down far enough to accommodate their differing sizes, about her body weight causing the arm of the Dumbo ride off to snap off completelynothing bad happened at all. #6 Dragon Flyer Dollywood Questions & Answers 18,438 Reviews Ranked #7 of 314 Attractions in Pigeon Forge 765shanna. At the time of this writing, test seats are available at the entrances of the following rides: The general Dollywood policy on ride size limits can be found in their accessibility guide.