ORLANDO, Fla. — Super Nintendo World is coming to Universal Orlando Resort as a part of a new park, featuring a new Donkey Kong-themed attraction for the U.S.
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite Nintendo video games in the vibrant attractions with rides, restaurants, interactive games and meet and greets with their favorite characters, according to a news release.
It will feature attractions based on iconic characters such as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad. Donkey Kong will also be featured in Donkey Kong Country, which will be the first of its kind in the U.S.
"We really wanted to create iconic worlds that deeply connect with fans," said Eric Parr, senior vice president at Universal Creative.
The attractions
Enter through the green pipe
To enter Nintendo World, guests will go through the iconic green warp pipe — a staple in the Mario franchise. Shouting "let's-a-go" while entering is optional.
When guests get through the pipe, they will be greeted with scenery such as Peach’s castle, spinning coins, blocks and other characteristics that players usually see on TV from their gaming consoles.
Super Mario Land
There will be multiple different attractions in Super Mario Land that bring classic games to life. Guests will be able to go on a ride in their own "Mario Kart" and steer through courses to collect coins and toss shells at Bowser and his turtle-like Koopas.
On the ride, guests will have glasses on using augmented reality technology to bring the characters to life.
"It melds that game world into that real world," said Andrew Padua, the creative director of Universal Creative.
"Yoshi's Adventure" will also make its U.S. debut with the family-friendly ride taking guests to see views of Super Mario Land as they search for glowing eggs in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Some dining experiences include the Toadstool Cafe, Yoshi's Snack Island and Turbo Boost Treats which will have themed food.
- Donkey Kong Country
This section of the park will have features such as The Golden Temple, trees, waterfalls and other iconic landmarks. A rollercoaster called "Mine-Cart Madness" will allow riders to experience maneuvers they've experienced in games, such as getting blasted out of the barrel and jumping over gaps.
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan was the first to get this themed area.
- Power-up Bands
Guests can purchase these bands allowing them to carry digital coins by punching blocks and playing interactive games. There will also be a leaderboard connected to the bands so participants can see where they stack up.
Universal Epic Adventure
Super Nintendo World will be part of the Universal Epic Adventure, which is set to open in 2025.
The fourth park will be a few miles from Universal Orlando’s current parks and have five themed worlds with their dining, shopping and entertainment experiences.
The other worlds include Celestial Park, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.