The soft opening for Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood took place on Thursday, January 12, 2023.
The new land at Universal opened for ‘technical rehearsals’, with the official opening date as February 17, 2023.
The attraction, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge was up and running, as well as the Toadstool Cafe.
The Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride fuses together augmented reality with projection mapping technology and actual set pieces along a moving ride track in a four-seat vehicle.
It takes guests through underwater courses, as well as in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting coins to defeat Team Bowser and win.
Toadstool Cafe is the signature restaurant inside Super Nintendo World, with a menu perfected by Chef Toad.
The menu includes Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger, Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger, Block Tiramisu and Princess Peach Cupcake.
The 1-Up Factory is the retail shop within the land, with an extension collection of merchandise included specific to characters, including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Bowser.
Characters including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach within the Mushroom Kingdom were on hand to welcome guests.
You can purchase a Power-Up Band, which is a wearable, interactive wristbands to deepen your interaction across the land. The state-of-the-art wristband syncs with the Universal Studios Hollywood’s free downloadable app.
The band keeps scores for the individual and teams, collect digital coins and obtain keys after winning the challenges throughout the land.
There are six different design options with character themes. It can be purchased inside Super Nintendo World, retail shops inside Universal Studios Hollywood and on CityWalk.
The Super Nintendo Snack Stand opened Monday, December 12 with the Super Star Popcorn Bucket, the Super Mushroom Sipper and the 1-Up Sipper available for purchase. They are still available to purchase.
The land includes interactive gameplay, including interactive binoculars employing augmented reality inside the land. Guests can beat the four Key Challenges and collect keys from Koopa Troopa, Piranha Plant, Thwomp and Goomba.
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood marks the arrival of the themed land in the US. Super Nintendo World is also inside Universal Studios Japan.
Super Nintendo World in Japan opened on March 18, 2001 and they are currently building a Donkey Kong Lane. They are also in the works to build it in Epic Universe in Universal Orlando.
