Theatres

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Theatres are primarily difficult for guests who carry their weight in their hips. While the majority of guests do not have problems fitting into the seats, attractions like the Hall of Presidents, the American Adventure, or the Carousel of Progress may be awkward or uncomfortable to get into. If you have concerns about fitting into a theater seat, try sitting on the edge of the seat and scooting back, so that your hips slide under the arm rests. You may find that sliding into the seat will be a bit more comfortable than simply trying to push your body into the right position between the arms of the chair.

Low seating positions 

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There are a couple of rides in Walt Disney World that require guests to be able to lift themselves up and down from seated positions in the vehicles the same way they would lift themselves up from sitting on the ground. Space Mountain and the Astro Orbiter immediately come to mind, where fitting into the ride may not be an issue (though they can be uncomfortable for taller guests) but you do need to be able to lift yourself up.

On the Astro Orbiter, the easiest way to get up and out of the rocket is to hold onto the sides of the vehicle to lift yourself up. Space Mountain can be trickier as the sides are rather low, so you may find the best solution here with grabbing the back of the seat in front of you or if you are able to, reach your arms near the back of your seat to help get yourself up.

Small seats

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Walt Disney World overwhelmingly offers more size-inclusive ride experiences for guests compared to other theme parks (due in part to the tamer thrill rides, but still a safe general observation). There are however a couple of instances where the ride vehicles are on the small side and there is no real technique to making the experience any easier.

The Barnstormer, which as a kiddie rollercoaster is understandably small, can be a difficult fit for adults. Of course it depends on each individual, but even two smaller to “average” (assuming as many will often state that “average” for American women is a size 14/16) guests may have a difficult time fitting comfortably. Other seats that you may not think of as being smaller due to the ride experience offered are rides like Dinosaur and Star Tours. 9/10 times all guests likely have no issues at all, but once again if you are concerned about your hips and thighs, these kinds of rides could be a tight squeeze.

But will I fit?

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Trying to determine if you will fit into a theme park ride is no doubt an uncomfortable subject, and one that is usually never discussed at all or discussed with misinformation. When trying to decipher whether or not you will fit into an attraction, remember not to compare your weight to that of others. Two guests with the exact same weight may have entirely different experiences if they carry most of their weight in different areas, so there is no one number that determines whether or not you will fit.

It is also important to go into the parks with an open mind, and for a disregard for what others may think. It isn’t worth the stress of missing out on attractions because you are worried that you will not fit. In the best-case scenario, there will be a test car to sit in before you get to the line, like with Test Track or Expedition Everest. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll wait in line and then need to leave without riding. This is highly unlikely however, as most Disney rides can accommodate all body types. A more realistic worst-case  scenario would be getting on the ride and having to put up with being uncomfortable for a couple of minutes.