We were so excited to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday. The new world opened in February and between the weather and our busy schedules, we had not had a chance to visit. We were finally ready to get our game on and enjoy the new world on Friday. Let me show you everything you can't miss and share with you some helpful information to navigate this land. Watch our video here of our entire day.
From the moment you pass through the iconic green pipe, a journey filled with exploration, discovery and play awaits that is unlike anything we have ever experienced. Your journey begins as you enter Peach’s Castle before venturing further into the colorful Mushroom Kingdom. This highly immersive and interactive land is amazing. If you are a fan of Super Mario Bros. this world is for you. The four of us could not stop smiling, running around playing games, shopping, and taking a million photos and videos of this new world.
Also, a helpful piece of information for those with young children - strollers are not allowed in Super Nintendo World.
Entry to Super Nintendo World is included with your regular admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. On busy days you may need to make a virtual line reservation to enter the land. I highly suggest being at the park right when it opens and heading straight to Super Nintendo World. The day we went, the park was scheduled to open at 8am, but arrived a little before 8am and they were already letting people into the park. We went straight to Super Nintendo World. If the land is at capacity during your visit, a virtual line system will be in place. After you enter the park you can check the Universal Studios app to find out if you need a spot in the virtual line to enter the land. If a virtual line is in place you will need to choose a time to return to the land and you can enjoy the rest of the park until it is your turn to enter Super Nintendo World.
Ticketholders and annual pass holders with Universal Express skip the line access as well as guests on a VIP tour can use their Universal Express tickets to enter Super Nintendo World once per day if the land is using the reservation system. I highly suggest the Universal Express tickets! If the land is not at capacity you can enter the land without a reservation and enjoy your day!
You can also buy your way into Super Nintendo World an hour before it opens to other guests by purchasing Super Nintendo World early access tickets to your regular admission. The prices vary by day but are between $20 and $25 and allow entry to the land 1 hour before the park opens. I do not think you need the early access ticket as long as you are there right when the park opens.
To earn coins and stamps, complete in key challenges and keep score within the land, you will need to purchase a Power Up Band. These are available at kiosks inside the land at Super Nintendo World. There are 6 characters to choose from and the band costs $40. You can choose from Daisy, Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Yoshi. You don't need a Power Up Band to enjoy the land, but if you want the full experience I highly suggest purchasing a band. If you have a Nintendo Switch you can tap your Power Up Band to your switch to unlock exclusive content.
The only ride at Super Nintendo World is Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. To get to the ride you walk through an awesome queue. It winds through Bowser's castle, showing you Mario Kart trophies, memorabilia and more. This interactive ride puts you behind the wheel in a high stakes Mario Kart race. Just like the Mario Kart game you play at home, you can race through familiar courses, throw turtle shells and fight to beat team Bowser.
Mount Beanpole: This towering landmark sits at the heart of the land and also serves as the entry queue for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. We loved all the colors and seeing different Yoshis.
Bowser’s Castle: Adorned with a breathtaking sculpture of a large and powerful Bowser, this structure serves as a key centerpiece of the land. As guests navigate the corridors and pass through the hall of medallions and trophies of the ominous castle towards the ride, they learn more about Bowser’s calculated plans to defeat Team Mario for the coveted Golden Cup.
Each car holds 4 riders, and everyone in your car needs to work together to earn enough coins to beat team Bower. You earn coins by steering your car in the right direction and throwing turtle shells at the bad guys. You must be 40 inches to ride and 48 inches to ride without an adult. You have to wear an adjustable visor around your head during the ride and once you get in your cart you attach glasses to the visor that allow you to see things in VR throughout the ride. Make sure you tap your Power Up Band on the steering wheel to sync up the points you score on the ride with your daily total so you can see how you rank against friends and family.
With your Power Up Band you can participate in mini games throughout the land where you will have to face various enemies like Goomba, Koopa Troopa, Piranha Plant and Thwomp. Some can be done on your own and others are easier with a team. Completing these key challenges is not the only way to interact with the world. You can explore and play all around the land and earn stamps and boost your score. Meet Mario and Luigi - earn a stamp, punch a pow block - earn a stamp, earn a top score on Mario Kart - earn a stamp... you get the point!
This is Goomba Crazy Crank
Thwomp Panel Panic
Piranha Plant Nap Mishap. This game would be easier to complete with multiple people. But you can do it on your own and have fun!
We loved that in the world there is a mission to retrieve the golden mushroom that Bowser Jr. has stolen from Princess Peach's castle. To complete your mission you will need to collect 3 keys from around the land, which you can earn by playing the series of 4 interactive games. You need to beat 3 of them in order to enter Bowser Jr.'s lair for the final boss battle. If you can beat Bowser Jr the golden mushroom will be restored to it's rightful owner and you will emerge from his lair victorious!
Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Toadstool Café in Super Nintendo World is a signature restaurant. Menu items prepared fresh daily include Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger, Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger, ? Block Tiramisu, Princess Peach Cupcake and more. There is even a kids menu.
You have to eat inside the restaurant. There is no outdoor dining, no mobile ordering and no option for take out. I highly suggest if you want to eat at Toadstool Café being in Super Nintendo World right when it opens and scanning the QR code with your phone and making a reservation. We were in the world before 8am and our reservation was not until 3:30pm! Shortly after there was already a sign out front saying there were no more reservations for the rest of the day.
I would also like to add there is only 1 cart in the land that sells bags of potato chips, bottled soda and bottled water, so bring snacks! Because if you don't get a reservation into Toadstool Café and you don't plan on leaving Super Nintendo World you are going to be hungry.
In my opinion, they really need to add some more carts to this world. I think they could easily add a pretzel cart, popcorn cart, ice-cream cart, hotdog cart, etc. A couple carts really need to be added to this land so people can eat or purchase a snack without having to leave and hope they can get back in.
You can find Super Nintendo World merchandise at the 1-Up Factory inside the land, at the Super Nintendo World store on CityWalk, or inside the park at the Character Shop. You will find plush toys, apparel, mugs, home décor and more.
The highlight was meeting Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. They come out like clock work all day long every 30 minutes. You can start lining up 30 minutes before they are scheduled to come out. So I lined up at 10am to meet Mario and Luigi at 10:30 am. They stay out for 30 minutes. I was the first in line to get our photo with Mario and Luigi. The Princess Peach line opened at 10:30am, so immediately after meeting Mario and Luigi I got in line and for Peach we met her at 11am. It worked out really well for us.
There are 4 "M" symbols on walls throughout the land. Tap your Power Up Band over the symbols to discover hidden 8-bit characters from original Super Mario Bros.
If you follow the staircase to the left of the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge you will find binoculars that look out over the land. They show a real time feed of the land with a few surprises.
We even spotted some Pikmin!
We easily spent 4-5 hours in Super Nintendo World and we were there right at 8am in the world when the park opened. I wanted to share that helpful information with you in case you are trying to do the entire park in 1 day. I think if you purchase the Universal Express tickets you should be able to do most of the park in one full day, as long as you are there when it opens and plan to stay until the park closes. With the Universal Express tickets you don't have to wait in the regular line for the rides or shows. The only exception is that the Universal Express tickets do not work for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
I loved all the shrubs that were shaped as question blocks, stars, mushrooms or flowers.
Don't miss this cute photo backdrop right when you enter Universal Studios Hollywood.
Thank you Universal Studios for hosting us. We had the best day. We LOVE Universal Studios. Here are list of other highlights and attractions you can't miss:
Jurassic World The Ride
Raptor Encounter
The Secret Life Of Pets: Off The Leash
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem / Super Silly Fun Land
Kung Fu Panda Adventure
Fast & Furious Supercharged
King Kong 3D
Revenge Of The Mummy The Ride
Springfield The Simpsons Ride
StarWay
Studio Tour Behind The Scenes Tram Ride
Transformers The Ride 3D
WaterWorld A live sea war spectacular
We always visit Sheraton Universal when we go to Universal Studios or if we are going to an event or premiere in Hollywood. It is so convenient and we love this hotel. Also the room service menu is amazing!!! Thank you Sheraton Universal for always taking such good care of us. Click here for a blog post about this hotel.
If you are heading to Universal Studios Hollywood this summer purchase tickets through Undercover Tourist. They have the best discounted ticket prices for Universal Studios and other theme parks. Click here to visit their site. This is not an affiliate link. I just really like Undercover Tourist.