Retired Imagineer Jim Shull has taken to Twitter as he often does to criticize Universal following continued social media dialogue about the size-restrictive seating on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Shull’s full thread was posted on Twitter and reads as follows:

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. I designed ride vehicles with safe containment.

Safety is first always but companies must consider the customer or in this case park guest. If people can’t ride then companies lose money and they don’t want that. The solution is simple and cheaper than the alternative.

Rock n Roller Coaster, Crush’s Coaster, Casey Jr., Mater’s Junkyard are three examples. All were designed so anyone (with standard exceptions) could ride. This is not rocket science. Some string, a blue pencil and a roll of trace paper does the job. Digitize next step.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is listed as being unavailable to guests whose waistline exceeds 40 inches, although a test seat is available and many guests with waists larger than 40in have made it aboard the attraction according to social media reports. Universal press representatives have reached out many times to media outlets to clarify that guests with larger waistlines may be able to ride on a case-by-case basis. They told one outlet “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 has repeatedly come under fire in recent years for its “restrictive” restraints on slower-moving rides which can often leave guests of larger sizes out. Criticism has aimed particularly at The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, also at Universal Studios Hollywood. Although these complaints date back as far as the opening of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey thirteen years ago when the seats which enclose guests on three size were not wide enough to accommodate many guests of size.

How do you feel about these restrictions? Let us know in the comments below!

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The post Former Imagineer Criticizes Universal for ‘Inconsiderate’ Waistline Limit Design on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge Vehicles appeared first on WDW News Today.