Nintendo first introduced Mario Bros. video games in 1983, and now 40 years later, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom gang have scored some prime real estate at Universal Studios Hollywood at the highly-themed Super Nintendo World, which opened on Feb. 17, 2023. And while the land is geared towards all ages, I’ve compiled a guide to what’s available to kids in the new land.
Here’s a kid-friendly guide to Universal Studios Hollywood’s Super Nintendo World:
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About Super Nintendo World
Created by Shigeru Miyamoto – considered one of the most influential video game designers in history – the iconic games feature Mario and his brother Luigi, who are often called upon to rescue Princess Peach from their arch nemesis Bowser. The games are so popular that even non-gamers recognize Mario and Luigi, but with the first U.S. Super Nintendo World now open in Hollywood, a whole new generation can experience the Mushroom Kingdom.
“We are now in a momentous occasion for Nintendo and Universal as we open the very first Super Nintendo World in the U.S.,” Miyamoto said at the land’s grand opening event. “From the moment we began working on this project, our goal has been to bring the Mushroom Kingdom to reality for all fans of all ages around the world, and with the introduction of this land in Universal Studios Hollywood, even more people will be able to experience the world of Mario is a truly interactive and very immersive way.”
The new Nintendo-themed land is a smaller version of the first Super Nintendo World that opened in 2021 at Universal Studios Japan – which makes it a perfect “kid-sized” land – but it still offers plenty of interactive fun, from earning digital coins in challenges to racing alongside Mario on a ride that transports kids into the Mario Kart video game.
But have no fear, adults. Like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Marvel-themed Avengers Campus at Disney Parks and Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, previous super fandom is not required, so even non-gamers will love the engaging, colorful, and dynamic land.
Let’s-a Go find out why kids will love Super Nintendo World!
Power-Up Bands Are Kid Friendly
Right away, it’s essential to know that kids can (and will probably want to) “power up” their Super Nintendo World experience by purchasing Power-Up Band wearables ($40 plus tax).
Like the interactive wands in the Harry Potter-themed lands, the bands trigger elements in the land that allows guests to earn digital coins (or points) by reaching milestones and completing challenges; however, the bands are not required, and even the littlest kids can still participate in the challenges (as long as they’re not concerned about the score).
If you do opt to purchase Power-Up Bands, there are six designs themed to Nintendo characters – Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Toad, and Princess Daisy – but choosing which character you want is more important than you might think because your character determines which “team” you’ll be on and teams compete to achieve the highest daily score by collecting the most digital coins. Kids can check their personal and team scores by linking their Power-Up Bands to the Universal Studios Hollywood app or at Checkpoint Screens inside the land.
The bands can also be used to win four Key Challenges: Goomba Crazy Crank, Koopa Troopa POWer Punch, Piranha Plant Nap Mishap, and Thwomp Panel Panic. Completing at least three challenges grants access to the final boss battle with Bowser Jr.
Insider Tip: The challenges vary in difficulty, but you can complete the same challenge three times to qualify to battle with Bowser Jr. Players can also help each other to complete challenges.
But wait, there’s more! When riding Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, guests can tap their Power-Up Band on the ride vehicle’s steering wheel to track the digital coins they collected during the race.
Last but not least, Power-Up Bands work with an Amiibo (interactive figures for the Nintendo Switch), so there’s a bit more bang for your 40 bucks if your kids can use it at home too – and if not, it’s still a fun souvenir.
Mario Kart Ride For Kids 40 Inches and Up
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood has only one attraction, but it’s a really good one. Part dark ride, part racing ride, part video game, this attraction is sure to please everyone – and with a relatively low 40-inch height requirement (the average height for a four-year-old), most kids will be tall enough to ride. If there are shorter members of your party, the ride does offer Child Switch (click here to learn more about Universal Hollywood’s Child Switch policies). There’s also a single-rider option.
“Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge features the first-of-its-kind augmented reality technology, which enables us to translate what generations of people have experienced with Nintendo games and bring it into an immersive ride experience for the whole family that’s unlike anything else in the world,” said Chairman & CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts Mark Woodbury.
The queue takes riders inside Bowser’s Castle. Now, I admit, many of the “Easter eggs” (aka nods to Nintendo characters and games) went over my non-gaming head, but the five-year-old boy in line behind me recognized every piece of furniture, prop, and wall décor. But even if your child doesn’t know the Mario games, they’ll likely love being in a castle filled with whimsical things.
Note: If you’ve been inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort, you’ll understand the level of detail the team from Universal Creative has put into their newest queue experience.
Mario Kart; Bowser’s Challenge is the first major theme park attraction to integrate Augmented Reality (AR) technology, which means you’ll be dealing with a bit more than the usual plastic 3D glasses. When it’s your turn to ride, you’re given an adjustable visor-like headset (a perfect selfie op), then when you board the ride vehicle, you’ll snap an AR lens (attached to the steering wheel) into the visor. There’s a pre-show tutorial that explains what to do (and also how to score points during the race), but don’t worry, team members are also available to help.
During the ride, the four-passenger race cars speed along a physical track past massive set pieces and projections. In addition, the AR visor shows the other Nintendo character racers and targets you need to hit to score points. Every rider in the vehicle must score over 100 points to beat Bowser in the race for the Universal Cup – and there’s definitely a learning curve – but if I (again, a non-gamer) could score over 100 both times I rode, most riders should be able to do it.
Insider Tip: If younger kids are worried about the visor/AR lens situation, the ride is still very cool without it. The attraction has fully built-out sets and props that are visible even without the AR visor.
Kid-Friendly Food at Toadstool Café
The only dining location inside the land is Toadstool Café, a super cute establishment run by the equally-cute Chef Toad.
One unique aspect of this restaurant is that it uses a quick service/table service hybrid system. Once you place your order at the counter, you’ll be given an electronic locator and seated in the dining room. Then, when your order is ready, servers will bring it to you.
The highly-themed menu definitely leans heavily into the mushroom element of the Mushroom Kingdom, with Super Mushroom Soup, creamy mushroom truffle dressing on the Super Star Chicken Salad, mushrooms as a topping on the Mario Burger (along with bacon and cheese), and a mushroom marinara sauce on the (spicy) Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs. Even the fries are truffle fries, and the Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots are (of course) mushroom-shaped.
But there are also kid-friendly, non-mushroom menu items, including two fun kids meals: the Mario Mini Burger Adventure Set (a burger served with truffle fries, corn on the cob, broccoli, and a coin cookie) and the Power-Up Spaghetti Marinara served with parmesan crisps, a toadstool cheesy garlic knot, and a coin cookie.
For braver eaters, I can recommend the Luigi Burger (which is actually a grilled chicken sandwich with house-made basil pesto, Swiss cheese, green peppers, and spinach) and the cute Piranha Plant Caprese salad with apple vinaigrette.
: Luigi Burger
“Everything on the menu has been created by Chef Toad alongside Nintendo and us here at Universal Studios Hollywood,” said the park’s VP & Executive Chef Julia Thrash. “It’s a collaboration to make sure everything Chef Toad is creating truly fits with what we’re trying to do theme-wise. It has to look cute, and we want people to look at it and be able to see that’s Piranha Plant, but it also has to taste good.”
Chef Thrash also pointed out that the broccoli on the Mario Mini Burger Adventure set is supposed to look like the bushes around the bottom of the pole atop Mt. Bean Pole.
After all, she says, “if you make food fun and interactive, that will encourage children to eat it.”
Fun Foodie Fact: The mustaches on the buns for the Mario and Luigi burgers are printed fresh in the Toadstool Café kitchen.
Make sure to save room for dessert because the café serves three themed sweet treats: the Mt. Beanpole Cake (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry layered cake topped with matcha mousse), the Princess Peach Cupcake (raspberry-filled Funfetti cupcake with buttercream frosting and a chocolate crown), and a ? Block Tiramisu with coffee-soaked lady fingers, cocoa powder, and a chocolate power-up.
Universal Studios Hollywood annual passholder discounts can be applied in Toadstool Café.
Kids Guide to Super Nintendo World: Characters
Super Nintendo World may be small, but the characters are larger than life. All guests have the opportunity to meet Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, but Power-Up Bands enable enhanced experiences with all three of them.
Mario and Luigi meet guests across from the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Princess Peach meets guests in her gazebo just outside her castle.
Shopping for Kid Stuff in Super Nintendo World
Most Super Nintendo World merchandise is available in stores throughout the theme park and Universal CityWalk; however, a few exclusive items can only be purchased at the 1-UP Factory inside the land, most notably the colorful Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge tees.
Also in high demand are the Mario Kart Popcorn Bucket ($42.99) and Nintendo Star Popcorn Bucket ($39.99), which both include free popcorn refills on the day of purchase.
Unfortunately, Annual Passholder discounts cannot be applied to Super Nintendo World merchandise, including Power-Up Bands.
How to Get Into Super Nintendo World
Guests can enter Super Nintendo World at any time during the day if the land is not at capacity, but if it is, there are several options:
- A complimentary Virtual Line reservation available through the official Universal Studios Hollywood app (or at kiosks by the land entrance) may be required to enter the land, but Virtual Line Pass times are not available for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Guests must be on-property to select a Virtual Line Pass time.
- Single-day ticket holders or Annual Passholders with Universal Express (and guests on VIP tours) can use their skip-the-line access to enter Super Nintendo World once per day if the land requires reservations at the time of their visit. Universal Express does not include Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Universal Express can be purchased online in advance.
- Guests who add the Super Nintendo World Early Access Ticket to their regular admission can enter the land one hour before it opens (the ticket also includes access to the World Famous Universal Studio Tour before 11 a.m.). The prices for this early access will vary, but it’s expected to cost $20 to $25 per person. Super Nintendo World Early Access tickets can be purchased online in advance.
NOTE: With any of these options, there is no re-entry (meaning you can only enter the land once), so if you have your heart set on lunch at Toadstool Café (or your kids are not morning people), the Early Entry Ticket may not be the best choice; however, if you want to be guaranteed entry into the land, it’s a good way to go.
Kids Guide to Super Nintendo World: Final Score
The saying good things come in small packages certainly applies to Super Nintendo World, and Universal packed a lot of punch into a limited space.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge offers the perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and real-life scenes (with an incredibly detailed and immersive queue experience), the food at Toadstool Café is as delicious as it is charming, and the interactive elements throughout the land are fun for everyone, whether they’re experienced Nintendo gamers or newcomers.
All that said, the land is highly-kinetic, with constant sounds and movement, so if you or your kids have sensory sensitivity concerns, you may want to check out a few videos online to determine if the experience is right for your family – especially if you’re considering investing in the Early Access Ticket or Universal Express.
Also, while this may be the first Super Nintendo World in the U.S., Woodbury (finally) officially confirmed that it won’t be the last.
“It’s been a terrific journey with Nintendo that culminated in the first Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in 2021,” Woodbury said during the land’s grand opening event. “Now we’re opening Super Nintendo World here at Universal Studios Hollywood, but there’s more to come. Soon, we’re going to add another Super Nintendo World to Universal Orlando Resort – the worst kept secret in history.”
The not-so-secret Florida location for Super Nintendo World is at Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park – Epic Universe – which is scheduled to open in summer 2025.
“Our universal brand is built on bringing the world’s most compelling stories to life in unique and captivating ways,” Woodbury said. “With Super Nintendo World, we’re taking immersive storytelling to a whole new level with an entirely new genre of themed entertainment based on the Nintendo games and characters that people around the world have grown to love.”
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Let’s Hear From You!
Are there kids in your life who are Nintendo fans? What are they most excited about in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood? And even if you’re not a gaming family, do you think you’ll still have fun at the new interactive and immersive land? Let us know in the comments!
Still have questions? Check out our complete guide to visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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