Super Nintendo World officially opened one year ago today at Universal Studios Hollywood! Here’s your guide to everything you need to know about Super Nintendo World, plus, we’ll share how the park is celebrating the the first anniversary of the colorful interactive land.
We’ll also take a look at what’s in store for Orlando’s biggest version yet at Universal Epic Universe park, which is set to open in 2025.
So, Let’s-a Go to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Super Nintendo World 1st Anniversary
To mark the 1-year anniversary of Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Hollywood recently opened the brand new Power Up Cafe, an exclusive golden anniversary Power-Up Band, and a special birthday button.
Power Up Cafe
The all-new quick-service dining location on New York Street in the park’s upper lot gives guests a taste of the mushroom kingdom before they even get there.
The menu of drinks and snacks is fairly limited, but Nintendo fans will appreciate that items are themed to Power-Ups from the video games.
Specialty Drinks (Mobile Food Ordering Available):
- Super Mushroom Fizz ($13) – Lemon-lime soda with strawberry popping pearls and a strawberry Super Mushroom Power Up (dropping the Power-Up into the drink changes the color and flavor).
- 1-Up Mushroom Fizz ($13) – Lemon-lime soda with green apple popping pearls and a lime 1-Up Mushroom Power Up (dropping the Power-Up into the drink changes the color and flavor).
- Fire Flower Fizz ($13) – Lemon-lime soda with orange popping pearls and a mango habanero Fire Flower Power Up (dropping the Power-Up into the drink changes the color and flavor).
- Super Star Fizz ($13) – Lemon-lime soda with lemon popping pearls and a mango pineapple Super Star Power Up (dropping the Power-Up into the drink changes the color and flavor).
Snacks (Mobile Food Ordering Available):
- Super Star Popcorn ($7) – Buttered popcorn topped with edible glitter.
- Super Mushroom Calzone ($13) – Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce.
- 1-Up Mushroom Calzone ($13) – Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with spinach, green pepper, mushroom, mozzarella chesse, and basil pesto.
- Fire Flower Pretzel ($13) – Fire Flower-shaped pretzel served with chipotle cheese, mustard, and white queso dipping sauces.
Golden Power Up Band & Anniversary Button
To celebrate the first anniversary of Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Hollywood is selling a special-release Golden Power-Up Band for $52 (while supplies last).
Complimentary limited-quantity 1st anniversary buttons are also available for guests visiting Universal Studios Hollywood (one per guest; while supplies last).
Super Nintendo World Grand Opening
Now, let’s take the way-back machine to the evening of Feb.15, 2023, when Universal held a grand opening ceremony for Super Nintendo World, complete with stars walking a red carpet, including Chris Pratt and Keegan-Michael Key from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
But, the special guest of the night was the creator of Mario and his pals, Shigeru Miyamoto!
During the official grand opening ceremony, Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury described the land as “rich with interactivity, distinctive merchandise, inventive culinary treats, and first-of-its-kind AR technology [featured on the lant’s signature attraction, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge].” He also “announced” that Super Nintendo World would be coming to Orlando – “the worst-kept secret in history,” he joked.
Since then, we learned that Super Nintendo World at Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park will be much bigger than Hollywood’s land, and with three attractions: Yoshi’s Adventure, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge (both of which are already in the land at Universal Studios Japan) and the “track-jumping” Donkey Kong Mine Cart Coaster (opening this year in Japan).
What is Super Nintendo World?
If you haven’t made it to Univiersal Studios Hollywood this year, you may not know that Super Nintendo World is a themed land inspired by the iconic Mario games.
Like any good Nintendo game, the land has a story. As guests enter through the Warp Pipe into Princess Peach’s Castle, they’ll learn that Bowser Jr has stolen her prized Golden Mushroom. They can play games inside the land to earn points and keys to unlock a final competition to get the Golden Mushroom back.
Of course, there’s much more to the land than that. There’s a themed eatery, a shop filled with Mario everything, and the afore-mentioned ground-breaking attraction.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge Attraction
The highlight of the land for many guests is “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge,” the land’s signature attraction, which combines a race car ride with projection mapping and augmented reality that blends real-world set pieces with a world of digital fantasy.
The ride’s queue takes guests into Bowser’s Castle.
The queue leads to the preshow area where riders learn how to drive and wear the AR goggles.
The racing-type ride took 6 years to develop, largely because of the Augmented Reality (AR) technology used. In fact, this ride was the first use of AR in a major theme park attraction.
AR vs. 3D: In 3D attractions, guests are are handed glasses to wear, but here guests are given a visor that will snap into an AR lens integrated into the vehicle itself.
The four-seat Mario Kart vehicles are inspired by the video game.
“Guests will race through courses underwater and in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting coins to defeat Team Bowser and win.”
“Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” is a complex ride with a wide variety of race outcomes. Since it takes a bit to learn how to aim and shoot, guests will want to ride more than once.
TIP: You aim by moving your head and looking straight at the target. You shoot by pushing the buttons on the top of the steering wheel.
Guests who purchase a Power-Up band, can tap it on the center of the steering wheel to track their score.
The AR images are projected in the lens of your visor with sets as the background, which creates an incredible illusion.
Super Nintendo World Interactivity
Throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, moving animatronics featuring video game characters, like Yoshi and goombas that move just like their in-game counterparts do.
Like the interactive wands in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests can interact with Super Nintendo World via Power-Up Bands, which can be tapped on various surfaces for interactive moments and to track how many coins are accrued.
NOTE: Power-Up Bands also work like an Amiibo (interactive figures for the Nintendo Switch), so there’s opportunities for continued usage outside the park.
Tapping the Power-Up Band causes certain elements to turn on and make sounds (it’s what makes you feel like you’re in a Mario game) and points are displayed on screens in the land. By playing the land’s mini-games you can earn keys; when you earn three keys, you can face-off against Bowser Jr (a boss for the land).
The special first anniversary Golden Power-Up Bands work the same way as the original collection of character bands.
NOTE: Guests don’t need a band to enjoy the land as most games allow you to play even without a band.
There is even a maze-like attraction that is filled with mini games and power-up Band opportunities.
Super Nintendo World Store: 1UP Factory
The Super Nintendo World 1-Up Factory gift offers a wide selection of Super Nintendo World merchandise (some not available elsewhere in the park).
Super Nintendo World Restaurant
The land’s restaurant is called the Toadstool Cafe, which offers several mushroom-themed dishes, but if you’re not a mushroom fan, don’t worry. There are a couple of mushroom-free options as well.
We have a full review of the delightful Toadstool Cafe:
Checking Out Toadstool Cafe at Universal Studios Hollywood Super Nintendo World
Visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood does not require park reservations; however, reservations for Super Nintendo World may be required to manage crowds in the compact land on busy days.
To make a reservation through the Universal Studios Hollywood app, you need to be on property and select a Virtual Line reservation time for the same day. This virtual queue is only for entry into the land; the Mario Kart attraction does not have a Virtual Line reservation system.
Guests with Universal Express (an upcharge expedited entry option that can be added to a ticket or pass) will have reservation-free entry into Super Nintendo World once per day even when reservations are required. After 3pm, Platinum Pass members will be able to enter the land (once per day) without a reservation.
Guests can also purchase an Early Access ticket that gives them a head start into the land one hour prior to the scheduled park opening. It also includes a one-time express access to the Studio Tour (valid until 11am). This ticket add-on is valid for the selected date only and does not include admission into the theme park (which must be purchased separately).
For more happenings at Universal Studios Hollywood, check out our latest park update:
Universal Studios Hollywood News: Fast & Furious Coaster and Fall Guy!
Discount Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!!! 
Check out the latest offers for Universal Studios, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Knott’s Berry Farm:
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals and we may make a small commission on any sales made through our links)
Let’s Hear From You
We think Universal created something very special with Super Nintendo World, and even one year later, the level of detail, immersion, and joy continues to resonate with gamers and non-gamers alike.
Have you been to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood? What’s your favorite part of the land (or what are you looking forward to experience when you do get a chance to visit?) We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
If you would like to be emailed when there’s new theme park news and information, be sure to join the MiceChat newsletter HERE!