Will I Fit On Universal Studios Orlando Rides?

My Experience With Universal Studio Rides

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is one of our favorite parks and was our first experience with the Florida Theme Park Scene. The trip planning process was also one of the most stressful times of my life. We had planned the trips months in advance and had saved a ton of money to be able to go. 

I was so anal about the details of the trip, I had every single financial detail of the trip budgeted right down to the tee. I was truly amazed at how accurate I was when the trip was over, but I will most definitely share some of the sheets and calculations I used to plan for the trip in a future post. 

Along with the planning of the trip, the anxiety of if I was going to fit on the rides was pretty bad at the time. I was nowhere near the weight I am now at that time of my life, but even so, the stress was too much at times. I was about to lay down all this money at a time, more than I had ever saved, and put into a vacation of any kind throughout my entire lifetime. 

Thankfully I did my research and looked for sites like us and videos of people like me. They were able to ease my stress and turned it from a possible nightmare into something that was so excited it was hard to keep me from jumping off the walls. 

Once I discovered the rides I would or would not have problems with, the whole planning process and anxiety of the deal, just went away.  It truly made the whole process so much easier and more enjoyable. 

The moment we walked into the park on the first day. I had some jitters about if the people were right and if I would be able to fit on Universal Studios Orlando Rides. I came into the park with the mindset that I didn’t care what people thought of me. I didn’t care if they looked or made comments, which I really didn’t experience. Actually, the people in the park were amazingly nice. We have several experiences where we interacted with many people, everyone was so friendly.  People are genuinely kind. The whole trip we experienced nothing but kindness.

On the rides factor, the first ride of the day calmed my fears. I had no issue. Easy peasy. From that point forward my fear of not fitting was nonexistent. I’ve heard stories that Universal wasn’t “Fat friendly” but from what I experienced, genuinely, I had few issues with ride experiences due to my weight.  

The Verdict, Did I Fit On Any Rides And Will You?

The answer to that question is yes, I fit on most of the rides in Universal Studios and had little to no issues. Again keep in mind that at the time I was about 320 lbs at a height of 5’11” with most of my weight carried in my midsection, stomach area. Everyone carries their weight differently. So your experience could vary. 

Below are the rides and my experience with them. I’ll give my experience with these ride carts, but I will have a future post of the actual ride reviews in the future. Also, note that I will be updating these with actual cart pics in the future upon our next visit. This is also just the Universal Studios Park, the Islands of Adventure park update will be a future article.

The Simpsons Ride – I had no issues with this ride even with my belly. The ride does have a lap bar and you will ride with a variety of people in your party, but I was able to get the bar far enough so it wouldn’t scare my family who rode with me.  The ride is a simulator ride so shakes and moves, but I’m not necessarily sure if it goes anywhere. 

E.T. The Ride – You should have zero issues on this ride. You essential get on a train of bikes. The seat is pretty decently large as there are four individual seats in each aisle of the train. there is a latch bar that comes down across your stomach, but had zero issues and was one of the more comfortable rides. I don’t see much issue for plus-size individuals on this one. You should be good to go.

Men In Black – Another ride I had no issues with. There are six seats to a cart, I sat in front and in the back with no issue. This one does have a lap bar, but as long as it clicks down it is fine and adjusted to your body type. I will say though, in a few spots of spinning, I did feel a little uncomfortable once like was I was going to slide out the side, but there wasn’t a way for me to do so, the way the bar on the side armbar was but rode it several times after with no issues and no worries, felt comfortable and safe.

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon  –  This one scared me a bit because of the seat belt factor. The ride was not at the park the first time we visited, but last I got to ride it last July 2018. When you get to the ride cart it is a rather larger theater-type seating. The seats were a little bit tight. If you have wide hips you may have a little issue with this one, but do not skip it without trying, you never know. My issue was the seat belt, the seat belt wasn’t long enough. I thought I was about to be removed from the ride because the seatbelt wouldn’t fit. I got up and the attendant quickly came to me and asked me to sit back down. I told them the belt would not fit. They said that was fine they had a seat belt extender. They provided me with the extender and boom I was good to go. So yet again, another ride I was okay with, although it had a little hiccup. 

Shrek 4D  –  This is theater seating, which pretty much resembles most theaters. There are no belts or lap bars. I had zero problems with this setting. I was comfortable.

Transformers  –  This was the ride I was most excited to ride my first time at Universal and I was hoping that I would not have any issues. Thankfully, no issues. It is a cart that has a front and back part, I didn’t feel a difference in the front or back. I have ridden this many times, including in July when I was much larger than I was the first time.  The cart does have a lap bar and it will only go to the largest person, so if you are like me with a bigger gut, it did create a gap for the other people in the cart but it wasn’t too bad.  Other than that no issues. 

Terminator –  Theater Seating, no issues. The bummer part of it is that the ride is no longer available.

Disaster Transport –  No Issues, in the cart, there were no bars or seatbelts. Another bummer, Ioved this ride, but it is no longer at Universal Orlando. So it is retired.

TWISTER –  No Issues – Standing Ride, however, the ride does not exist at Universal Studios anymore. Bummer another little experience that I loved to see. 

Fast And Furious Ride  –  One of the newest rides at Universal Studios Orlando. I am happy to say that you can join the crew and ride this one with no issues. I don’t remember any restraints as you hope on a bus-type ride cart that has a bench seat. This one is what you call “fat-friendly” for sure.  

Rides I could not fit on or didn’t get the opportunity to try…

Fear Factor Show – No issues just bench seating. This show is supposedly going away, so not sure how much longer it will be there. It might get replaced with another, unsure at the moment. 

Horror Make-Up Show – No issues with theater seating. You should be comfortable in these seats, just beware there are monsters roaming free in the theater. 

Hogwarts Express – The train experience comes with zero issues. The bench seating is good for two to three guests per side. no restraints. You must have a park-to-park pass to ride this one just as a note. 

Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket – I didn’t even attempt this one. I know for a fact I would not fit on this one or would I try to. The bar is presumably tight, to begin with, and from coaster fanatics, the major complaint has been the fit for the riders, due to safety, this isn’t a good ride for plus-size individuals. Again there is a test seat, so if you want to give it a try, so be it. It’s just not for me, unfortunately. 

Revenge Of The Mummy  – I have not tried this Yet. I think I may have a problem with it but haven’t tried the test seats or the ride yet. So next visit my goal is to give it a shot. Stay tuned. 

Harry Potter Escape From Gringotts  – I’ve heard this one is a tight fight for people with height and weight. There is a test cart, I plan on testing the cart out on my next trip.

I did not Ride the Kid rides Or Test them – I have not rid any of the kid rides, nor do I plan on testing those. Something tells me I would have an issue.