Media slams Perth's Adventure World over ride weight restrictions

Perth amusement park Adventure World has been slammed by major media outlets in sensationalist coverage over its managing of guest weight safety requirements when accessing rides.

Media outlets including WAtoday, 7 NEWS, The West Australian and News Ltd titles such as Sydney's The Daily Telegraph, have fuelled supposed outrage over weight restrictions for the park’s rides - enforced to meet manufacturer safety requirements.

Social media users have been upset that weight stations featuring a flashing light apparently “fat-shames” users with respondents labelling the identification as “humiliating” and “degrading”.

The system requires guests to ‘self assess’ before joining ride queues, a process those quoted by mainstream media describe as consisting of “humiliating flashing red and green signs”.

As a result, Adventure World, which in 2019 was in the news for asking guests using its waterpark are to "choose appropriate swimwear when visiting", has seen Facebook users call for a boycott of the park over so-called “disgusting ride policies”.

Media, who would be quick to slam the park if there was a safety incident, found outraged people to quote.

7 NEWS quoted a mother whose daughter was apparently rejected from a ride in front of her friends as saying the measures were “shameful”, stating “the park doesn’t cater to us anymore, we went last year and I was able to go on those rides with my kids no issue, and this year, we have red lights flashing in our faces saying no you can’t do this.”

Wording on the Adventure World advises of ride weight limits state that the Inferno ride has a maximum weight limit of ‘2160kg/up to 24 riders’ and the Abyss ride a ‘max 600kg/up to 8 riders’.

In a statement, the park went on to advise “as long as a rider’s safety restraint harness achieves the fully closed position and they meet the other safety requirements, then riders above 75kg can ride.”

In a statement to The West Australian, Adventure World Chief Executive, Andrew Sharry advised “we take our direction from our various ride manufacturer’s safety specifications.

“There have been no changes to, nor introduction this season of a new rider weight safety requirements for any of our rides, slides or attractions.”

Sharry said the weight scales were for the comfort of patrons, as well as a “rider weight safety assessment scale for the operator”, adding “(this) brings us in line with almost all other water parks in the country. We are not alone in implementing such a system.”

Adventure World reopned for its 2021/22 summer season last Saturday (26th September).

Images: Adventure World has been accused of ‘body shaming’ patrons with weight measuring stations on some of its rides (top, credit: Facebook) and promotional signage for Adventure World (below).