Going to Disney World over 300lbs...is it the happiest place on earth for everyone??

Hi I am going to Disney World this summer, and I am very nervous about the restrictions I will face because of my weight.  So I thought it might be helpful if I journalled my trials and triumphs, as we plan our trip.

We are going on a family trip: Myself, my 'previously estranged, but we are getting along' husband, my daughter, Nic (20) and her boyfriend, Hoagie (24), my daughter, Jen (18) and my son, Chris (17).  That's 6 of us. 

We are leaving for Florida from Massachusetts on May 30th to return June 12th.

I am sooo excited, we just put our deposit down.  I haven't been to Disney World in over 15 yrs.  ..and it's MY kind of place!  

However, I was not so thrilled to find out that SouthWest Airlines charges you for 2 tickets if you are overweight.  It seems the standard for what is "too fat" is arbitrary.  When you check in to board, if the airline agent thinks you are too fat, they have someone take you out of line and advise you to buy another ticket.  If you refuse, they will not allow you to board.  I told them that one of my children is 88lbs and she will be happy to sit next to me...and my hubby will sit on the other side.  I was told , no..sorry.  Policy is policy. That they have to consider the comfort of my husband and daughter, even if I don't...or they agree.  The agent advised me to book two seats for myself in advance because as she told me.. one airline agent can allow me to buy one ticket to fly, buy when I need to reboard after a stopover 'that' agent might deem me too fat and refuse to allow me to fly.  and by the way 2 fat people in one family cannot book three seats and sit next to each other.. you have to book 4 seats. Their response, they cannot guarantee that the 2 fat people will be able to sit together on the plane.

Since the skies seem downright unfriendly...we have decided to ROAD TRIP!! from Brockton to Orlando...  but as excited as I am, I am very nervous.  Last time I was in FLA I was smaller by over 100lbs and not in a wheelchair.   We are leaving home on May 30th and checking into to Caribbean Beach Resort on June 2..spending 8 days in Disney World and heading for home on June 10th.

We are renting a minivan for 2 weeks!

More adventures of the FFC (Fabulous Fat Chick) to follow!

Hugs...Cinn

lyn - I've flown continental and at my heaviest (267, 5'9") I could barely buckle the seatbelt on the plane.

I'm not sure how I feel about charging another seat for obese people... It probably has to do with weight regulations as much as anything else. Either way, its not changing.

I do hope you have fun though, wytchymama. Drink lots of water, and do ditch the kids for some alone time with hubby.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think the airlines are right for making you purchase 2 tickets.

I don't have ANYTHING against people deemed 'obese' nor would I have a problem sitting next to one, but I know that when I have extra weighted luggage or luggage that takes up extra room, I have to pay extra for it because it takes up more of my weight allowance on the airplane.

Though, I do think you have a right to complain about how unfriendly they seem about it. Perhaps maybe they should have areas of the aircraft with larger seats so people can just pay more for seats that aren't tiny without having to upgrade to first class. I'm like a size 10, and I have to admit that even I still don't find it comfortable with how tiny the leg room is, or how close I am to another passanger in coach. I ALWAYS get business class because I just find it SO uncomfortable how closely they pack people, but still sometimes (usually on the longer flights) I don't book early enough and end up having to travel coach for the day I wanted to fly. I mean you pay thousands of dollars for like a 9 hour flight and you have like 1 foot of leg room and the guy next to you fall asleep and starts drooling. Really?

Wytchymama, I'm excited for you!  EPCOT is my favorite too, I have a soft spot for Future World.  I love the feeling you get that mankind will eventually work together and solve the major problems facing our world.  It may not be true, but it gives one hope!  Spaceship Earth has always been dear to my heart.  I don't think you should have too much trouble getting around Disney-- I was there in January and saw plenty of fat folks having the time of their lives!  Disney always tries to accomodate everyone, it's their specialty!

I think it is time that airlines made a few rows with larger seats.  Like if there were three seats in a row, they should change it to two wider seats and have the price be 1 1/2 times a standard seat.  At least it would be some savings for people who couldn't fit comfortably in a seat, and could be beneficial for parents with babies or people willing to pay a little extra for more room. Driving to Florida from MA is going to kind of suck, but if people take turns driving it should be bearable!  One fun thing might be to get a book on tape or CD that everyone in the car would enjoy.  Some of the longer ones are near 20 hours long and could help pass the time.

I too was amused by the boyfriend named Hoagie.  Please tell me that it's a nickname and that he really likes sub sandwiches!  Or does it have something to do with Pete's Dragon? 

I really feel for those people who have to go through all the trouble at airports and i definatly think having a few rows of larger seats would be a good idea.

I do have to agree with thohan though, weight limits are so imortant on airlines because weight = money to them, and if everyone has to pay extra for luggage (i hate to think what 100lb of extra luggage would cost!) then i do think very large passengers should pay for their extra weight if it is extreme. In terms of the airline, if alot of large people decide to fly it could well mean that they have to kick people off because it isnt safe to fly...and IMO that just isnt fair.

Having said that i also think medically obese people who have medical certificates should get larger seats for free, just like disabled people have to be accomodated by law.

But like any other industry, those who have the power to change but dont pay more, for example insurance for smokers is higher because they pose a higher risk and its something they CAN change.

As it stands paying for two seats is extreme and i dont think anyone should have to pay that much, if the airlines acomodated larger seating for larger people at a resonable price this isue wouldnt be a problem!