Universal Orlando Resort is facing some serious heat after one guest took to Reddit to accuse the theme park of fat-shaming, specifically in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The gripe? The park’s restrictive weight limits on several rides, including Forbidden Journey, the Motorbike Ride, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts—attractions that the guest claims “don’t cater to larger people.”
The Reddit user, who identified themselves as a 5’10″, 300-pound man, vented about his frustrating experience at the parks: “I’m trying to lose weight, but it’s beyond frustrating that I can’t experience 80% of Universal’s rides just because the ones in the Potter section aren’t made for larger people. I feel like my progress doesn’t matter when I can’t fit in the test seats,” they wrote. “It’s like the engineers at Universal have something against bigger folks.”
This isn’t the first time Universal has faced criticism for size-related ride limitations. As theme parks continue to evolve, more and more attention is being paid to accessibility, but it seems like Universal is still missing the mark on making the Wizarding World fully inclusive for all visitors.
Not Everyone’s on the Bandwagon
Not everyone in the Reddit thread agrees with the angry guest. Another user, who identified as a larger individual himself, came to Universal’s defense. He made it clear that the issue isn’t about discrimination—it’s just physics. “As a fat guy, I’m gonna ask you to slow your roll on the ‘engineering designed it against larger people,’” he replied. “Physics are what physics are, whether our dietary choices like it or not. Adding even an inch to the seat size changes the entire dynamics of the ride.”
He continued, “Parks like Universal and Disney spend billions designing rides down to the millimeters, so there’s no room for error when it comes to safety. No one is trying to exclude heavy folks from rides. These parks are working hard to make rides fit bigger people, but at a certain point, the body shapes just don’t fit the seats.”
While that might be a tough pill to swallow for some, it’s a reality that these parks have to face. As frustrating as it is for larger riders, it’s important to remember that safety is paramount. Many of Universal’s thrill rides, especially in the Wizarding World, are designed with strict physical specifications to ensure that riders remain securely in their seats. Any modifications to those designs—whether it’s adding an inch to a seat or expanding restraints—could compromise that safety.
Safety vs. Size: A Complex Issue
So, what’s the solution? Could Universal or any other theme park ever accommodate larger guests on thrill rides like Forbidden Journey or Gringotts without compromising safety? It’s a complex issue, especially given the millions of dollars invested in ride design and engineering.
For now, it looks like the best option for larger guests is to take advantage of test seats outside the attractions to see if they’re able to comfortably fit. And as Universal continues to grow its park with new attractions, it’s likely that the conversation around inclusivity and ride accessibility will only intensify.
One thing’s for sure: this debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
