In this guide, you will learn about:
- What is Super Nintendo World?
- Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission
- The Universal Studios Hollywood App & Virtual Lines
- Rides, stores and restaurants
- The Power-Up Bands
- Meet & Greets
- A quick-itinerary for Nintendo World
Here is what you can find in Super Nintendo World:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (a major new ride)
- Power-up Bands & several mini-games
- Toadstool Cafe (restaurant)
- 1-UP Factory store (store)
When I first heard about Nintendo Land being introduced at Universal, I’m pretty sure I started messaging my friends and sharing all kinds of crazy ride ideas we could find there.
I am an avid gamer, after all, and I’ve been playing Nintendo titles for more than thirty years. I played through Super Mario World on the SNES, then Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii and both Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Wonder on the Switch. I’ve taken a picture next to Shigeru Miyamoto during E3 2013 and also snapped a photo with Eiji Aonuma, mostly known as the director and producer of The Legend of Zelda series.
So, yeah, I was really happy with the simple idea of Super Nintendo World.
Actually, it’s not only me who got super excited about it. Super Nintendo World injected new energy into Universal Studios Hollywood, bringing millions of new guests to the theme park. To this day, the area can get incredibly crowded, and there might even be a virtual line on busy days, so you have to enter the virtual queue using the app to access Super Nintendo World.
Sure, it’s packed, but it’s a very fun, charming land. You have the main ride, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, the Toadstool Cafe, stores like the 1-UP Factory where you can buy Nintendo merchandise, and even a special band called the Power-Up band that allows you to play minigames with your family. The good news is that the land will only improve with time.
What is Super Nintendo World?
Super Nintendo World is a land inside Universal Studios Hollywood, much like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World. You just need a standard theme park ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood to enjoy it.
However, it is the most crowded land in the theme park, but you can buy an add-on to your ticket called "Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission," which allows you to enter this specific land one hour before anyone else.
Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission
Attention, friends: you have the chance to buy an addon to your standard ticket which lets you enter Super Nintendo World before anyone else.
This add-on has a starting price of $20 and can go all the way to $100 during Summer and (very) crowded days. It gives you early access only to Super Nintendo World, not other areas of the park. It’s an amazing option that basically everyone should consider. Entering one hour before the general public is a great perk. All attractions are open, including Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and the 1UP Store.
That is the only way to get early access to the theme park, by the way. Universal Hollywood hotels do not offer any perks related to early entry or Super Nintendo World.
Here is an overview of the Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission:
- It is an add-on to your ticket that costs from $20 all the way to $100. Since it’s an add-on, you still need a standard ticket to enter Universal Studios Hollywood.
- You can’t get early access to Super Nintendo World by staying in a specific hotel
- Universal Studios Hollywood usually opens at 9 a.m., which means that Early Access to Super Nintendo World is at 8am. Make sure to arrive by 7:00am.
- Head straight to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Lines should be around 20 minutes, depending on the time of arrival. That’s great news since this ride can easily have a 2-hour wait time in the afternoon.
The Universal Studios Hollywood App & Virtual Lines
Make sure to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app before visiting Universal Studios Hollywood and Super Nintendo World! This app provides real-time wait times for rides, informs you if a ride is down, shows meet-and-greet schedules, and much more.
The app is especially important for Super Nintendo World. If the land is too crowded, Universal will limit the number of guests inside. In this case, you’ll need to click the Super Nintendo World tab in the app and apply for the Virtual Line. Gather your party and wait to be called so you can finally explore the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Virtual Line is the only way to enter Super Nintendo World if access is restricted due to crowds.
Super Nintendo World rides, stores and restaurants
Super Nintendo World mimics the Mushroom Kingdom, and the most common parallel we can draw is with the 2023 movie. You can see a bunch of characters and creatures from the games, such as Goombas, Thwomps, Koopas, Shy Guys, and of course, Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Bowser. The land is colorful and incredibly charming. You even enter through a pipe while listening to the epic Super Mario soundtrack. Now they just need some of the songs from Super Mario Galaxy there.
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood offers one major ride, which is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. It also introduces the concept of Power-Up Bands, which you link to your cellphone/app to play a variety of minigames as you walk around. As expected, you can also find a Nintendo-themed restaurant and a store where you can buy any Yoshi plush toy you desire.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
What it is: a major ride located in Super Nintendo World for the whole family that uses AR technology to simulate a real Mario Kart game!
Height requirement: 40 inches (102cm).
Wait times: from 30 minutes in the morning all the way to 2 hours in the afternoon.
This is a very interesting ride unlike anything else you’ve experienced before. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge lets you and three other guests compete against Mario characters in a thrilling race through classic tracks from the games, including Rainbow Road.
Bowser’s Challenge is especially fun because it offers a unique experience you can't find in any other ride I can think of. Each guest wears a helmet with Augmented Reality (AR) glasses, allowing you to see virtual racers alongside you as your vehicle moves. The vehicle itself doesn’t move very fast, but you can use the steering wheel to change directions and throw shells at enemies. Since you’re sharing the vehicle with three other people, everyone needs to coordinate and move the wheel together to spin the vehicle left and right.
This is the most popular ride in the entire park, so make sure to head here as soon as you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood. There is also a Single Rider line for Bowser’s Challenge, which can significantly reduce wait times if you don’t mind riding alone. Additionally, the Universal Studios Express Pass is valid for Bowser’s Challenge if you plan on purchasing one.
Power-up Bands & Mini-games
What it is: an optional accessory that costs $42. It lets you play mini-games around Super Nintendo World and keeps track of your score at Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
Have you ever played Mario Party? It’s a collection of simple minigames starring Mario and friends that debuted on the Nintendo 64 and continues to this day.
I think Universal was inspired by Mario Party when they decided to create the Power-Up Bands. These optional accessories resemble the MagicBands you find at Disney. You wrap them around your wrist, and they are used to keep track of your score as you discover secrets scattered around Super Nintendo World, ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and play six different mini-games in Super Nintendo World.
The Power-Up Bands are completely optional and cost $42 plus tax. Each Power-Up Band features the face of a Mario character, like Yoshi, Toad, Daisy, Peach, and so on, and they even function as an Amiibo for that character if you own a Nintendo Switch. You can link your band to your Universal Hollywood App by clicking on the Super Nintendo World icon inside the app and scanning the QR code on your band. That’s how you will be able to track your score, check for missions inside the land, gather special stamps for your profile and uncover tons of secrets.
So, what kinds of mini-games and Easter eggs can you find with your Power-Up Bands? Occasionally, you can spot hidden “M” icons scattered throughout the land. Touching them with your Power-Up Band will reveal something fun, like a drawing of Mario or Luigi appearing on the wall. You can also use your Power-Up Band to “punch” under certain blocks to earn coins and hear the classic “ting” sound from the Mario games. It’s very nostalgic!
The Main Mini Games
The main reason to own a Power-Up Band is to play the mini-games at Super Nintendo World. There are five mini-games with separate queues designed specifically for the Power-Up Bands. These mini-games feel like they’re straight out of Mario Party! You can play most of them solo or in a group of up to four players. The best part is that only one guest needs the Power-Up Band to participate.
Completing each mini-game awards you a key. If you have at least three keys, you can participate in an exclusive final mini-game.
Let’s check the mini-games!
Piranha Plant Nap Mishap
Good for: 1-4 players
The idea is simple: you have to “punch” alarm clocks in front of you to make sure the piranha plants don’t wake up. Once an alarm clock turns red, give it a good slap. There are many alarm clocks scattered around, and it’s fun to watch guests running around like headless chickens.
Koopa Troopa POWer Punch
Good for: 1 player
This mini-game is simple in theory. You need to hit a block to make a turtle shell, which is running around in front of you, enter a pipe and hit a POW block. Hint: Hit the block just before the shell enters the pipe. Not my favorite mini-game, but also awards you a key.
Goomba Crazy Crank
Good for: 1 player
Another very simple mini-game: just spin the wheel in front of you to knock down a Goomba and win another golden key.
Thwomp Panel Panic
Good for: 1 to 3 players
This is a fun puzzle mini-game that takes place in an indoor area. You and up to two friends stand in front of a large panel with various icons and colors. The objective is simple: click on an icon to change its color. You need to make every block match the same color, which is golden with a “!” symbol. Watch out - some icons will also change the color of nearby blocks.
Frosted Glacier
Good for: 1 to 4 players
This is the most recent mini-game introduced at Universal Studios Hollywood and takes place in front of a large screen, similar to Thwomp Panel Panic. The cool thing about this mini-game is that it’s random, chosen from a list of three options. Most of the time, it’s all about quick reflexes - you need to slap anything that appears on the screen, whether it’s a Koopa Troopa, a Goomba, or just random blocks.
Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Good for: up to 12 players!
Yes, this is a mini-game that allows many guests to participate at the same time! It’s a full-body game that takes place in three stages: you’ll need to slap Goombas, duck Bullet Bills, and finally come face to face with Bowser Jr. It’s a chaotic mini-game with lots of players, which makes it even more fun. Only one guest needs a Power-up band with three golden keys to allow everyone else to play it.
Toadstool Cafe
What it is: a sit-down restaurant in Super Nintendo World.
Of course, Super Nintendo World has its own restaurant, serving food straight from the Mushroom Kingdom. This means you can enjoy burgers featuring Mario’s mustache (it’s actually bacon guys, don’t worry), a Princess Peach Cupcake, and much more.
Keep in mind that you’ll almost always need a reservation to dine at Toadstool Cafe. To reserve a spot, scan the cafe’s QR code on the day of your visit and book through the link provided. The QR code is located next to the entrance, and you’ll often see a sign that says “Join the Waitlist” there. Early Access to Super Nintendo World is especially useful here: you can scan the QR code an hour before other guests and basically guarantee a spot at Toadstool Cafe.
Just a heads up: making a reservation doesn't guarantee that you will immediately be seated. It means that you will be called to wait in line and then be directed to a table by a staff member. The whole process can still take some time - around 45 minutes on busy days - so keep that in mind.
The food is okay - nothing exceptional, but you’re mainly visiting for the atmosphere and the creatively presented dishes. You can enjoy Mario & Luigi burgers, question mark blocks made of chocolate, a Mount Beanpole cake, and more. There’s also a 1-Up Mushroom collectible drinks bottle ($20) and a collectible plateware set available for purchase ($20).
For the full menu, be sure to check out this link.
1-UP Factory store
What it is: the main store located in Super Nintendo World.
Do you want to buy every piece of Nintendo merchandise imaginable? The 1-Up Store is just the place for you. It’s the perfect spot to find t-shirts, plush toys, backpacks, mugs, action figures, and more. Most of the items are based on Super Mario, but I hope to see other franchises featured in the future, like Zelda, Donkey Kong, and even Metroid (a person can dream).
Meet & Greets
Now is your chance to meet Super Mario characters at Universal Hollywood and take pictures with them! Super Nintendo World offers meet-and-greets with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad. I hope to see more characters in the future, like Yoshi, Bowser, and maybe even the Wiggler - now that would be fun. No reservations are required for this experience.
Mario and Luigi typically greet guests together right in the center of Nintendo World. Princess Peach welcomes visitors at her gazebo near her castle, while Toad can be found at a dedicated area between Princess Peach’s castle and her gazebo. The characters often appear several times a day, and signs with their schedules are posted near their meeting spots.
One fun detail is that the characters actually speak pre-determined catchphrases and sometimes move their eyes and mouths, too! So, get ready to hear Mario say “Here we go” and Toad scream “WAHOO”… hmm, wait, I don’t actually think Toad screams that. I can hardly understand the little guy most of the time.
Is the Donkey Kong land available at Universal Hollywood?
Unfortunately, no. The Donkey Kong-themed area is exclusive to Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe in Universal Orlando. That said, there’s a chance we’ll see an expansion added to Universal Hollywood in the future, so let’s cross our fingers!
Quick-Itinerary for Super Nintendo World
Now that we have learned a lot about Super Nintendo World, how about we share a really good itinerary idea so you can enjoy the Mushroom Kingdom the the fullest?
Here is what you should do:
- Buy your ticket months in advance. Make sure to buy the Super Nintendo World Early Access Addon that costs between $20 and $30! With that add-on, you can enter Super Nintendo World one hour before everyone else.
- Wake up early and get to the theme park half an hour before the Early Access starts. You should even get there one hour before Early Access starts during peak seasons. So, if the official opening time for Universal Studios Hollywood is 9am, that means Early Access to Super Nintendo World starts at 8am. Get to the theme park at 7:30am, or at 7am if you are visiting during a busy season like Summer.
- Once there, head straight to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
- After Bowser’s Challenge, make sure to scan the QR code in front of Toadstool Cafe to book a spot there for later. Remember, you will still need to wait in line after being called to be directed to a table.
Now just enjoy the store, mini-games and have fun!
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