SANTA ANA, Calif. — Critics are blasting the new Super Nintendo attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood as “blatantly fatphobic” because the augmented reality dark ride has a size restriction that will leave many Americans with larger waistlines on the sidelines.
The new Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride, which debuted in mid-February in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, warns riders with a waistline measuring 40 inches or more that they may not be allowed to ride.
The average American waist circumference measures 40.5 inches for men and 38.7 inches for women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Universal Studios officials told Gizmodo the 40-inch waistline guideline is not absolute and that some larger visitors may still be able to ride Bowser’s Challenge depending on individual circumstances.
“This guideline is not a specific restriction, but is instead meant to encourage guests to try a test seat or to speak with one of our team members before riding so they may comfortably and safely board the ride,” Universal officials told Gizmodo.
Several attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood carry waistline advisories that make it tougher for plus-size visitors to ride.
“Still mad about that 40-inch waistline requirement for the Mario Kart ride,” wrote video game fan David, a fat-positive Twitter user from Redmond, Washington. “It’s just blatantly fatphobic, there’s nothing about it that can’t accommodate a bigger human.”
Theme parks and ride-makers are in a constant battle to balance accessibility with safety, according to industry experts.
“If you size every seat for the largest possible person, you’re guaranteeing that a smaller child cannot ride,” Jim Shull, a theme park consultant and former Walt Disney Imagineer, told the Wall Street Journal.
Tighter restraints are designed to prevent small children from slipping out of the seat and to keep any visitor from exiting during the middle of the ride — either intentionally or unintentionally.
Some attractions like the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster at Disney’s Epcot in Florida are designed with select seats for larger-sized riders.
Universal Studios is looking at ways to update rides to fit more guests, NBCUniversal told the Wall Street Journal.
Riders on the new Mario Kart attraction wear augmented reality visors that allow them to see digital race cars and video game bounty on the track. The goal of the game is simple: Collect as many gold coins as possible by tossing shells at AR targets throughout the ride.
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