Universal’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has bedeviled many big and tall riders who discover at the last moment that their journey aboard the new attraction is indeed forbidden because they don’t fit in the “enchanted benches.”The uncomfortable scene is a familiar one to anybody who has ever visited a theme park: The overweight rider becomes increasingly embarrassed as the ride attendant pushes and shoves with all his might on the over-the-shoulder restraint that stubbornly refuses to click closed. Everybody waiting in line knows what comes next: the walk of shame.“The walk of shame is an embarrassing experience,” said Mike Galvan, who penned the “I’ve been there many times.

It’s disheartening.”. Galvan likens the straight back and flat seat on Forbidden Journey to an “old wooden chair” that provides little wiggle room for larger riders.“When the over-the-shoulder restraint comes down, if part of you is hanging over, whether it be your gut, your thighs or your shoulders, you’re going to be very uncomfortable,” Galvan said.While there are no height or weight maximums for Forbidden Journey, the safety restraints must be able to close properly in order for guests to ride, Universal officials said.

Like many theme park attractions, Forbidden Journey has a tester seat near the entrance for visitors who might be worried they won’t fit on the ride. But as big and tall riders will tell you, those tester seats often can be misleading.“I do not trust the accuracy of the test seats, no matter the park,” Galvan said. “I can only suspect that the seat belts on the test seats are intentionally short to minimize the potential of riders getting the ‘walk of shame’ at the station. I’ve also had the opposite happen, where I made the test seats but was rejected from the actual ride.”Galvan, 31, is a regular contributor to, a fan site for Six Flags Great America outside Chicago.

In 2007, he was so overweight that he stopped going to theme parks because he no longer could fit on the rides. Over the next three years, he lost more than 130 pounds so he could return to his passion: roller coasters. Anybody who has ever been kicked off a ride because he or she was too big will tell you that theme park attractions are not designed for people who are heavier or taller than average.All theme parks have euphemistic names for “exceptional sized riders” or “guests of larger size” —those who are too fat or too tall to fit safely in an attraction seat.

Some ridemakers even try to make accommodations with “big boy seats.”So how big is too big?Cedar Fair, the parent company of Knott’s Berry Farm and 10 other amusement parks, offers very specific size requirements for “guests of larger size.” Cedar Fair warns that men over 6 foot 2 inches or 225 pounds with a 40-inch waistline or 52-inch chest “may not be accommodated on some of our rides.” The park operator says women over 200 pounds who wear a size 18 or larger could have trouble fitting on some rides. (Cedar Point)At Ohio’s Cedar Point, some coasters like Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster and GateKeeper have a 6-foot-6-inch height maximum.

Ohio’s Kings Island institutes height maximums for a number of rides, including Firehawk (6-foot-9), Invertigo (6-foot-6) and Delirium (6-foot-4). Tennessee’s Dollywood has 6-foot-6-inch height maximums on a number of rides, including the Wild Eagle wing coaster. The Green Lantern: First Flight at Six Flags Magic Mountain has a height maximum of 6 foot 5 inches.Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia sets aside two rows of seats on the Alpengeist and Griffon coasters for riders with “chest measurements exceeding 52 inches.”Utah’s S&S Worldwide, which makes roller coasters and drop towers, sets its restraints for a maximum weight of 300 pounds and equips its seatbelt locking mechanisms with no-go sensors that restrict over-sized riders. (Disney)Disney parks have no height or weight maximums on any attractions, according to officials. Disneyland famously replaced the 1964 boats on It’s a Small World because the increasing waistlines of Americans were causing them to run aground — an assertion reported by and vigorously denied by Disney officials.Theme park officials typically respond with prepared statements when asked about making accommodations for “riders with unique physical attributes” (such as this one from Six Flags): “We work closely with ride manufacturers to incorporate safety systems that are designed to accommodate people of average physical stature and body proportions.

From being crushed to death at the happiest place on earth to getting your head cut off by a roller coaster, we look at 10 horrifying amusement park accidents. What's the scariest thing you ever.

We require that all seatbelts, lap bars and shoulder harnesses be positioned and fastened properly. Due to the rider restraint system, guests of a larger size may not be accommodated on some rides.

As has been well documented, Americans are getting fatter. The average weight for adult men has risen from 166 pounds in 1960 to 195 pounds in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average weight for women increased from 140 to 166 pounds during the same period.Addressing the issue is complicated for ridemakers in part because every rider carries weight differently — with problem areas ranging from the hips, waist and stomach to the chest and shoulders. For big riders, coaster rideability varies from park to park.One of the biggest concerns for larger riders is what Galvan calls the “seat belt lottery.”“It’s absolutely amazing how from one row to another, the length of the seat belt will vary,” Galvan said. “The only reason I can think for this irregularity would be off-season maintenance. Some rides are more egregious than others in this department.”. Older coasters by Arrow Dynamics and Schwarzkopf tend to be the easiest to ride for larger riders, according to Galvan’s “Big Boy’s Guide to Roller Coasters.” Some Bolliger & Mabillard rides can be tight fits, while others offer rows with larger seats, Galvan said.

Vekoma, Gerstlauer and Mack Rides typically present few problems, while Premier and Intamin often prove difficult for bigger riders, he said. Intamin’s suspended launch coasters like Wicked Twister at Cedar Point and Volcano at Virginia’s Kings Dominion cause the most problems for big riders, Galvan said.“The issue with these rides is the seat belt and the lack of an audible ‘click’ when pulling the restraint down,” Galvan said.

“Not to mention that you have the seat several feet off the ground, so you have to tippy toe or jump up to get into the seat. Depending on your body dimensions, you might not be able to maneuver yourself to get into the seat properly.”There are no industry standards among ridemakers and amusement parks when it comes to accommodating bigger riders. Some parks require two locking clicks to secure a lap bar or over-the-shoulder restraint on a ride, while others insist on three clicks. Seat belt lengths can vary from ride to ride and row to row.“Most manufacturers, if not all, hoping to do business in the U.S. Are now offering optional ‘jumbo’ seats to buyers to fit larger adults,” said Bob Dean of Florida-based Leisure Labs, which represents Mack Rides, Great Coasters International and Mondial.

Parks cite safety concerns whenever a large rider is prohibited from a ride. In recent years, there have been several high-profile accidents involving larger riders being thrown from a theme park ride.A man who weighed more than 300 pounds was in 1999 when he was ejected from the Superman coaster at the former Six Flags Darien Lake. Six Flags argued that the man was for the ride’s lap bar restraint to engage.Investigators said the rider’s weight was a contributing factor in the death of a 292-pound woman who fell out of the at Knott’s Berry Farm in 2001.

Disney theme parks are meant to serve as a magical escape from our regular lives and responsibilities. For some, the magical escape quickly came to an end due to tragic accidents.

While Disney surely spends plenty of time and money in ensuring the highest levels of safety for their guests and cast members, accidents are bound to slip through the cracks. From health issues to freak accidents, we’ve gathered 10 of the most horrifying accidents and deaths in Disney theme park history.

1. A woman died after riding Space Mountain

Health issues coupled with human error caused a woman’s death in 1979. Disney

As if riding a roller coaster through the dark isn’t frightening enough, the experience a 31-year-old woman endured on Space Mountain in 1979 was truly a nightmare. At the end of the ride, she was feeling so ill that she was unable to get out of her seat. While ride operators were trying to get her the help she needed, other employees weren’t notified, so they accidentally sent her on the ride again.

The second ride put her into a coma, and she passed away within a week. Even though Disney ended up in a lawsuit, it was dismissed once the woman’s death was determined to be the result of a tumor traveling to her brain after dislodging from her heart.

2. A cast member was struck and killed during a parade

This sad incident took place in 2004. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

While parades are meant for celebration, the afternoon “Share a Dream Come True” parade in 2004 ended in tragedy. Javier Cruz, a cast member who was dressed as Pluto, was about to enter Frontierland in the parade. The foot of his costume got stuck under the Beauty and the Beast float, but the float couldn’t be stopped fast enough. Cruz was struck and killed before entering the public viewing area.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit Walt Disney World with a $6,300 fine.

3. An erratic man committed suicide in Epcot

The tragic incident sparked controversy in the fun-filled park. JimVallee/iStock/Getty Images

A scary situation involving hostages resulted in a man taking his own life at Walt Disney World. In 1992, Allan Ferris entered Epcot an hour and a half after the park had closed, apparently searching for his ex-girlfriend. When three security guards denied his demands, Ferris took out a shotgun and fired the gun into the air three times.

All three security guards fled, but after Ferris fired off the gun again, only one guard escaped and two were held hostage in the Journey Into Imagination pavilion. Ferris released the guards after 10 minutes, but shortly turned the gun to his own head and killed himself.

4. A 4-year-old drowned in the Cinderella Castle moat

The young child’s accident left many parents worried. Mariah Wild/Disney Parks via Getty Images

In 1977, 4-year-old Joel Goode climbed the fence surrounding the Cinderella Castle moat in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Goode sadly fell into the five-foot deep water to his death. His mother ended up suing Magic Kingdom, due to negligence of proper fence height.

In 1981, the case’s judge placed blame on the mother, claiming she “failed in her duty to control the child of tender years,” and the case was thrown out.

One year later, the 5th District Court of Appeals decided Walt Disney World could be sued if Goode’s mother filed for a $4 million dollar lawsuit. Goode’s mother and Walt Disney World were hit with equal blame for the incident, and she was awarded $1.5 million.

5. Two deaths were caused by the Matterhorn Bobsleds

Both bobsledding incidents were shocking. Gabczi/iStock/Getty Images

The Matterhorn Bobsleds became the location of two unfortunate fatalities, one of which was the first to happen in Disneyland’s history. In 1964, a rider unfastened the buckle of 15-year-old Mark Maples. Maples stood up during the ride and fell out of the car, becoming badly injured and passing away within a few days.

Twenty years later, Dolly Young rode the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and became the second rider to be killed. Her seat belt wasn’t fastened, causing her to be thrown from the car and struck by the next vehicle. Given the fact that she was alone on the ride, whether it was an accident or she unbuckled herself on purpose remains a mystery.

6. A monorail accidentally struck a teen sneaking into the park

Cleveland died from the horrifying accident. Central Press/Getty Images

In an attempt to sneak into a Disney park during annual Grad Nite in 1966, 19-year-old Thomas Guy Cleveland accidentally ended his own life. A security officer tried to keep him from entering the park, but Cleveland attempted to cross the monorail track by jumping beneath it into a canopy. In an untimely incident, the train was approaching, and ended up striking and killing Cleveland upon impact.

7. A man jumped to his death at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disneyland hotels are usually a place to relax and have fun. Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

Disney’s Contemporary Resort became the location of a suicide in 2016. Drug lord escapes from prison 2015. A man jumped from the inner A-frame tower at the resort to take his own life. As Walt Disney World’s monorail travels directly through the resort, services were shut down temporarily while officials handled the crime scene.

8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad derailed and killed a passenger

An accident involving Big Thunder Mountain Railroad resulted in the death of 22-year-old Marcelo Torres in 2003. The roller coaster derailed, and while 10 other riders were injured, Torres was killed in the crash from “blunt-force injuries,” according to Theme Park Insider.

The Torres family did end up receiving a settlement from Disney. The park took blame for the incident after admitting to poor maintenance and irregular safety checks of the ride.

9. A man was fatally stabbed in Tomorrowland

Unfortunately, what should have been a fun day ended in tragedy. SolarSurfer/Wikimedia Commons

In 1981, an 18-year-old man was accused of pinching another man’s girlfriend in Tomorrowland. Things turned ugly, and the angry boyfriend fatally stabbed the 18-year-old. Disney apparently did not summon outside medical help, so when the victim’s family sued for $60 million, they won $600,000.

10. An alligator attacked at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

The entire country seemed to mourn the death of Lane Graves. ABC News via YouTube

Mortal kombat trilogy n64 cheats. Mortal Kombat Trilogy – Cheats. Double Menu Code. This code will give you access to two special option menus. As the text on the demo screen scrolls by, press Block,HK,LK,Run,LP. Level Select. Play as Human Smoke. Play as Khameleon. Play as Shao Khan.

It felt like the whole world was following along when news broke about the alligator attack at Walt Disney World in 2016. 2-year-old Lane Graves was playing along the water at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, his family was standing close by, but in a split second, Matt Graves heard a splash and turned to see an alligator dragging his son into the water.

After a nearly 16-hour search, Lane’s body was found in the Seven Seas Lagoon. His body was intact, but he did drown after suffering a traumatic neck injury. The family decided not to sue, but Disney has been taking preventative measures to keep a similar incident from happening again.

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!