Super Nintendo World is open for technical rehearsals at Universal Studios Hollywood and will have its grand opening on February 17, 2023. Let’s take a full tour of this new themed land and see what awaits us through the Warp Pipe entrance.
Entrance
The entrance to Super Nintendo World is located on the Lower Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood, next to Transformers: The Ride 3D.
You’ll enter through the Warp Pipe, surrounded by bright colors and the pipe sound effect from the video games.
As you walk out of the pipe, you’ll be in Princess Peach’s castle, which then opens up into the land.
You can see the lights from the warp pipe through the doorway in the photo above.
Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom!
Meet and Greets
General Land
As you enter the land, Princess Peach’s gazebo will be to your right. This is where you can meet her and take photos.
Next to the gazebo, you’ll find a Power-Up Band Key Challenge — Goomba Crazy Crank. This is one of the interactive games you can play when you have a Power-Up Band.
There are 2 different patches of mushrooms around the land that are perfect for sitting. One area of mushroom seats are near the Goomba Crazy Crank and the others are closer to the entrance for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
This is where you’ll be able to meet Mario and Luigi. There’s a queue area and a sign that shows the next meeting time. The area is decorated with a pipe, blocks, and a giant Piranha Plant and Goomba.
The meet and greet sign is a star and the stanchions are adorable little mushrooms! There are so many great little details around the land.
There’s a small entrance to the right side of Princess Peach’s castle that has different ? Blocks for you to earn coins. Just use your Power-Up Band to hit the blocks.
When you enter the land coming from Princess Peach’s castle, there’s another Power-Up Band challenge — Piranha Plant Nap Mishap — on the left. If you want to purchase a Power-Up Band, there are dispensers on the wall. Just step right up and order them from the kiosk.
Just around the corner, you’ll find the Koopa Troopa POWer Punch game.
The various climates depicted in Super Mario games are visible throughout, from plains to tundra.
Bowser Jr.’s fortress is to the left of the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Within you’ll find the land’s boss, so to speak — Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. To enter, you’ll need to have 3 keys from playing the Power-Up Band challenges. When you tap your band on the lock, it will only allow you to enter if you have the 3 keys. Once you enter, you can participate in the game.
Near the entrance to Bowser Jr.’s fortress, you may spot an opening with a question block above it. Inside, an arrow points up the stairs. This is a great spot to grab some extra coins, an aerial view of the land, and check out the amazing AR binoculars.
The view from up here is amazing!
There are some AR binoculars up here that allow you to see the land with some added characters. This effect really helps put you right into the video game world.
To the right of the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge you’ll find the entrance for Thwomp Power Panel Panic. Just walk under the giant Thwomp and you’ll be in the queue. This is another game you can play with your Power-Up Band.
Toadstool Cafe
Toadstool Cafe is tucked away in the corner of the land and worth a visit. Chef Toad is a wonderful cook. Everything on the menu is amazing. Take a closer look at the restaurant here and read our menu review here.
The restrooms are also in the corner of the land, next to Toadstool Cafe. The entire land is so well-themed, even the bathrooms have an underwater mural and play the underwater music from the games! The bubbles line up with the faucets of the sinks, too. It’s all the little details that make this a fully immersive experience.
Between the restrooms and the 1-Up Factory, you’ll find the score boards where you can see the rankings and scan your Power-Up Band to check your own stats.
From every angle, you feel truly immersed in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Even the light poles are in theme, with light blue paint and Super Stars attached.
Coins spin, enemies march around, it all adds to the incredible atmosphere.
Bowser’s Castle sure makes for an imposing sight.
At the land’s center-back is Mount Beanpole, one of the weenies for the land. Characters and enemies from the game walk around and atop, such as Yoshi, Goombas, Piranha Plants, and Thwomps. Clouds move left to right to obscure the way to the goal flag on the very top.
Scattered throughout the land are these ? Blocks, which award coins for hitting them on the bottom as Mario does in the classic platformer games.
Just slightly visible from the ground level are these Mario Kart tarps designed to provide some cover for the outdoor portions of the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge queue.
As the land descends into darkness every night, it still looks strikingly beautiful!
It seems to largely be a straight line from the entrance of the land to the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge entrance.
1-Up Factory
1-Up Factory is the gift shop for the land, and also function as the exit of Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
There’s tons of merchandise available themed to the land.
True to its name, 1-Up Factory is themed to… a factory! A rather cartoonish one, at least.
Gears, pipes, and faux gauges and switches are strewn throughout the shop.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
The headliner of the land is the ride — Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. But we have an entirely separate tour of that attraction right here on our site.
Are you excited to visit Super Nintendo World? Let us know in the comments below!
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