Super Nintendo World’s Mario Kart Ride only accepts thin people

Super Nintendo World, the latest addition to Universal Hollywood’s theme park, is slated to open in just a few weeks Mario Fans the chance to immerse themselves in a living recreation of the Mushroom Kingdom, packed with the sights and sounds they know and love. However, not all of them will be able to experience the featured attraction Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, as it has a very specific requirement: their waist cannot be 40 inches or larger.

An elaborate “3D and 4D ride” according to the official site for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challengethe single-user ride takes participants through a variety of Mario– Themed settings brought to life with “cutting edge technology”. Along the way, you’ll team up, individually or collectively, to thwart Team Bowser’s plans to snatch the golden trophy before Mario and his friends do. But The Wall Street Journal observed in an article highlighting the weight restrictions (which can be found on the official Park Navigation and Line Management app), “guests with a waist of at least 40″ or larger may not be accommodated on the ride.” The copy of the app states indicates that a test site is available to assess whether or not a participant meets these requirements. Given that the average waist measurement in the US is only about 40 inches, that certainly seems to rule out a good number of people.

“Nothing but wonderful things to say about Super Nintendo World other than this one,” begins a tweet from YouTuber and “Food Influencer” Rocco Botte, “the height restrictions on the Mario Kart ride are absolutely ridiculous.

Another popular tweet evokes the absurdity of such a strict waist limit. “A 40″ waistline is approximately a [women’s] Size 20.”

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Accordingly CDC statistics cited by health line, the average clothing size for adults assigned a female at birth is between 18 and 20. As many replies to the above tweet point out, a 40-inch waist is a “very normal and common size for many body types.” And Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge isn’t the only ride with such strict restrictions. At least four other Universal Studios rides, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride also mention the same 40-inch limit, with suggestions that participants should use the test seat to determine whether the trip is suitable for them .

As The Wall Street Journal found out, such test seats are hardly accurate and not particularly private. “Visitors say the tryouts can be uncomfortable [and] less forgiving than the actual seats on the ride,” reports the paper.

When reached for comment, a spokesman for Universal Parks & Resorts volunteered kotaku with the following statement:

“We always listen to our guests and try to balance their needs with our strong focus on the safety of our attractions. We have a company-wide task force that is actively working with this community to make changes that can help them safely expand access to our experiences.”

The company also said it is emphasizing accessibility and will reconfigure some existing rides, starting with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando.

The waist requirements are particularly tough as Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is the only ride featured in Super Nintendo World, but it is not designed to accommodate the physical dimensions of participants of average or plus size.

Update 2/2/23 2:30 p.m.: Story updated to include commentary from Universal Parks & Resorts.