I rode Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge with a big guy with a 52-inch waistline who said he had “no problem” fitting in the new attraction that Universal Studios Hollywood warns may not be able to accommodate riders with more than a 40-inch waistline — here’s how he did it.
Media outlets have been awash with stories about the 40-inch waistline restriction on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge that officially debuts on Friday, Feb. 17 in Super Nintendo World at the Hollywood movie theme park.
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Universal employees offer four tips for riders with larger waistlines who want to ride the new Mario Kart augmented reality dark ride.
1) Use the test seat
A test seat in an out-of-the-way corner near the attraction entrance lets riders see if they’ll fit in the Bowser’s Challenge seats. A light on the pull-down lap bar shines yellow if you won’t fit and green if you will. Your ability to fit in the Bowser’s Challenge seats will vary depending on your body’s dimensions.
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2) Sit in the back row
The back row of the Mario Kart ride has more legroom than the front row. Height can matter as much as weight on the new ride. Taller riders with slimmer waists may find that their longer legs won’t fit under the Bowser’s Challenge lap bars. The test seat near the entrance replicates the leg room of the ride’s front row.
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3) Stretch out your legs
The size of your thighs plays a key role in your ability to ride Bowser’s Challenge. Stretching out your legs will help flatten your thighs and allow the lap bar to lower to the required level.
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4) Use your momentum
Use your body weight to your advantage. Pull down on the lap bar as you are sitting down in the seat. The momentum will help secure a snug fit.
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The first Mario Kart AR dark ride opened in 2021 at Universal Studios Japan.
“The new Mario Kart ride vehicle having a 40” waist limit is an example of designing first for the average Japanese guest without considering the waist dimension of the average U. S. guest,” Jim Shull, a theme park consultant and former Walt Disney Imagineer, wrote on Twitter.
