A friend of ours recently invited us to join them and their kids on an outing to Six Flags Great America. Apparently, the secret hasn’t gotten out that the park isn’t terribly crowded on the Fourth of July and that the lines are pretty short of most of the rides. Until now.
I’ve never really been what you would call an amusement park enthusiast. In fact, I’m quite a wimp. Dating back to my childhood I would always see the danger or risk involved in situations; I’d stand by while others put their life on the lines by riding attractions such as Gravitron at Aurora Farmer’s Fair. And I certainly wasn’t all about the idea of being harnessed into a fast moving contraption that’s barely affixed to its track.
Liz, however, loves roller coasters. So it’s something that I’ve been trying to make a little more effort at. Living dangerously, if you will. I didn’t want to go with our friends, though, and let their girls (ages 8 and 11) see me wuss out. That’d be almost as embarrassing as the time that I cried so loud at the doctor’s office when I was getting a shot that you could hear me in the waiting room. Oh, I was also 18.
I’ve always wanted to go to Cedar Point, and thought that it would be a great weekend trip for the two of us. It’s not a horrible drive, and it’d feel like a mini-vacation. I skimmed through their website, looking at what they had to offer. I typically like to read about the specific rides (checking up on safety and construction, of course) and I came across the following policies regarding guests of exceptional size.
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, men who exceed 6’2”, or 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 not possible to list exact size and weight.
Seriously? I am fat. I definitely fall into the category “of exceptional size.” But 6′2 and/or 230 pounds. That’s hardly of exceptional size. My brother-in-law Steve is probably 6′2, and he might wear a size medium. Not so exceptional. My brother Ryan has to be close to 225 pounds, again, not so exceptional.
While I’m not trying to be an advocate for obesity or preach for fat acceptance in America, I do feel that the restrictions of Cedar Park’s policies are a bit exceptional. I–for one–am not amused.
I didn’t rule out a trip to Cedar Point altogether. Shortly after I read up on the size policies, I stumbled across a section of their website titled, “Adventures in Food.”
So you can be 225 pounds but only if you’re male. And apparently if you’re over 6′2″ but female, it’s totally ok as long as you don’t exceed 200 pounds.
*glare*
Left by keli on August 14th, 2008