It's a well-known fact that being short can scupper a day of fun at the theme park. Signs displaying a 'you must be this tall to ride' warning are easy to spot at the entrances of the most exhilarating rollercoasters at Alton Towers.
But what about people that may be too big to ride? BirminghamLive reporter Kirsty Bosley, who is a UK size 22, says people who may be too large to ride don't get to test it out beforehand - they have no choice but to queue up and give it a whirl.
That, however, can be mortifying if there are people waiting to ride watching on while you struggle to take your seat. And that's exactly what happened to Kirsty during a trip to the Staffordshire theme park over the summer. "Sitting my size 22 bum down into Spinball Whizzer, the barrier was pushed down to secure me... Click. And then, it didn't go any further," she said.
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"The staff member was kind as she applied a little force to click my harness once more, explaining that one wasn't enough. People started to look around to see what was holding the ride up and I felt my heart sink. Finally, another member of staff came along and tried one last time, clicking me in and letting the ride go."
Kirsty said the situation left her feeling "humiliated" and she actively avoided going on any rides that would see her strapped in for the rest of her trip. Fast forward a few weeks and Kirsty was back at Alton Towers to check out the park's annual Halloween event - and this time she was feeling brave.
She decided she was going to try and get on every single one of the park's biggest rides to see whether she could fit in the seats. While discovering that some rollercoasters were more comfortable than others, Kirsty also found out a little-known trick that gave her extra space on one ride.
Here is how she got on.
Wickerman
"Because Wickerman looks so epic, I was expecting I'd need to be really strapped in for it, but it turns out that it's just a bar that closes down over your thighs. My belly is my biggest bit and so I didn't get much major discomfort from this, but I did feel snug and I wonder if someone with chunkier thighs than me would struggle to fit.
"I wanted to feel snug, personally. I was on a ride where someone had just threatened to burn me alive in a human sacrifice. It all went by without a hitch, no burns, no loss of circulation in my legs. Winner."
Nemesis
"With Nemesis shutting at the end of this season, I really wanted to ride it for one last time. But knowing it was an old ride, I did worry that perhaps I wouldn't fit my 47-inch chest into the over-shoulder harness (your legs stay dangling).
"So I asked. A lovely assistant with colourful hair was really relaxed when I did, advising that while this ride might not be ideal for people with bigger boobs, there was a trick. If I went to row four specifically, I would find a seat with two seatbelts instead of the usual one. This wasn't marked up as a fat seat, and no one noticed as I sat in it, but it might be more comfortable, I was told.
"And I was - I felt safe and secure, not squashed or uncomfortable. It was a top tip, one to remember if you're popping up to have one last go on this legendary coaster!"
Galactica
"Of all of the coasters I went on, Galactica was the most uncomfortable. I asked about bigger seats and was told that while some are bigger than others, 'it won't make much difference'. The staff member added that they'd 'do what they could', but the idea of another squash attempt made me cringe.
"Fortunately, a brief shove clicked the almost full body harness into place, though my boobs were super squished. Factor in the force of being tipped up into a flying position, and I'd say I was uncomfortable. I was in, but I'm not sure it'd work for anyone bigger than I am. I was glad when it was over."
Th13teen
"I received excellent customer service from the guy whose job it was to secure me into the very spooky Th13teen. 'Am I going to be too fat for this?' I asked while waiting for our turn to board. The young man looked at me kindly, smiled and said: 'Of course not'. I felt much better.
"'Sorry!' he added, as he pushed my bar down tightly. I was in though. My belly was very squashed in and while it wasn't painful, it was a little uncomfortable as the ride blasted around the track.
"This one might have been a little more uncomfortable on my body, but the sweet staff member meant it was easy on my heart!"
Rita
"The Queen of Speed, Rita is that rollercoaster that blasts you from 0-60mph in seconds. As such, I remembered it being quite an uncomfortable experience on the whole, especially if you don't keep your head back and braced for action.
"I got on absolutely fine and didn't feel squashed in at all - I had space to move, even. That, I could have done without as we went razzing round the track at mental speeds. I had to have a little break after that!"
Smiler
"I had never had a go on Smiler before this very day and, looking at all the loop-de-loops and corkscrews, it looked absolutely bonkers. I desperately wanted to fit on it, so we queued.
"After the trauma of the horror mazes, Smiler couldn't do anything to ruin my day, even if I didn't fit. I asked if I was going to have any problems, and staff assured me I wouldn't. So when I clipped into place easily, I felt relieved. I didn't feel crushed, I felt comfortable and safe.
"It turned out that it was a smart idea to end the day on this one, because it was the best rollercoaster experience I've ever had. I was beaming from ear to ear the entire way round, understanding how it had earnt its name, and also smiling because I hadn't let my fear of having the 'wrong' body stand in the way of a good time. Everyone deserves one."
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