Super Nintendo World at EPIC Universe: Your Ultimate Guide

KristyB | June 5, 2025 | EPIC Universe | 12 Comments

Everything You Need to Know About Super Nintendo World in Florida

Super Nintendo World is a Nintendo-themed land being added to Epic Universe, the new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort. It’s a vibrant, interactive experience based on iconic franchises like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi’s Island. First opened in Japan, then in Hollywood, this immersive experience is now making its biggest and most elaborate debut yet in Florida.

If you’re a fan of Mario, Donkey Kong, and all things Nintendo, you’re going to love what Universal Studios Orlando has in store. Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe is bringing a whole new level of immersive theme park fun to Florida. While there, we felt like we were INSIDE the video game. It was so nostalgic for me – the green pipes, the ? boxes, the Mario music, and the beep-beep-beeping of coins being won. Here’s everything we learned on our visit.

Getting to Super Nintendo World

We were able to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, and we had a wonderful time!

We had early admission because we were staying at a Universal Hotel (Endless Summer Dockside). I know everyone makes a beeline for the Ministry of Magic (we did too). I wish we had gone to Super Nintendo World first. For some reason, this land is so HOT! I recommend visiting early morning or late afternoon/night when it is cooler.

If you are entering the park from the entrance, stay to the left of the park to find Super Nintendo World. If you are entering from the Helios Hotel, this world will be on your right.

The portal to this land is my favorite. It’s the only one with an escalator – AKA the Warp Pipe. You can take the elevator up to Peaches Castle or take the door to the right to take a tunnel to the elevators.

How To Get the Most Out of Super Nintendo World at EPIC Universe

What is Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe?

Super Nintendo World: An Immersive Land

After taking a short ride up an escalator and walking through Peach’s Castle, we found ourselves fully immersed in Mushroom Kingdom. You really do feel like you are inside a Mario Bros. video game. Super Nintendo World is colorful, vibrant, and full of character!

Goombas, ?‑Blocks, and Piranha Plants…OH MY!!

Peaches Castle

Donkey Kong Country

Attractions & Rides at Super Nintendo World

There are currently 3 rides at Super Nintendo World:

Mine-Cart Madness: Inspired by the Donkey Kong games, this roller coaster takes you through a jungle-themed landscape as you try to protect the Golden Banana.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge: An interactive attraction using AR projection mapping and interactive vehicles.
Yoshi’s Adventure: A gentle ride for families, taking you on a whimsical journey through the Mushroom Kingdom.

Mine Cart Madness

This is a new “Boom Coaster” style roller coaster that uses some cutting-edge technology. At times, it seemed like our mine cart was jumping over broken track! I think this is one of the best rides at Epic Universe!

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an AR dark ride. Teams race through Bowser’s Castle, full of driving courses with AR-infused steering wheels and power-ups.

After entering Bowser’s Castle, you make your way to your race car. This ride lets you “drive” and steer through Mario Kart courses. You can collect coins and fight Team Bowser. It feels like you are inside a video game.

For this ride, you get a Mario Hat (it’s adjustable based on your head size). After getting into your Mario car, you put on a clear visor (attach it to your hat). You will find yourself driving through different courses. Your goal is to defeat Bowser’s team by getting 100 coins. You have a steering wheel to drive. There are buttons on the steering wheel to shoot colored shells at Bowser’s team. You shoot the shells by aiming your visor at your target and hitting the button on the steering wheel, getting coins.

If you have purchased a Nintendo Band, you can connect it to the game through the steering wheel horn once the game has started.

This ride features a few twists and turns, as well as numerous visual effects. There is wind and mist. It’s like a 4D ride/experience.

Yoshi’s Adventure

Yoshi’s Adventure is a gentle ride and it perfect for little ones (think People Mover at Magic Kingdom). We were able to “hop on Yoshi’s back” and take a scenic tour of the Mushroom Kingdom. This ride gives you a wonderful, panoramic view of Nintendo World. There are lots of characters and glowing eggs also to entertain you along the way.

There are three buttons on the bar that sits across your lap. The buttons glow when you are near an egg. You push the buttons when you see the egg with the corresponding color. It is a fun little game that kids will like. You do get a sticker in the App if you find all three and push the correct button.

Armbands and Points

The Power-Up bands are silicone slap bracelets that use RFID technology to link your activity to the Universal APP. It keeps your score as you collect coins in Super Nintendo World.

Interactive Areas

The interactive areas and attractions inside Super Nintendo World combine physical and digital worlds to deliver one of the most interactive theme park experiences anywhere. To get the most out of this park, you’ll need a Power-Up Band, and you will need to link it to the Universal APP.

You can buy Power‑Up Bands at Super Nintendo World (just about any gift/merch shop carries them) or Helios Hotel. If you’re going to Helios, take a shuttle. Parking at Helios is $125!!! (We took a shuttle from our hotel to City Walk, and then hopped on a shuttle to Helios, then returned the same way.) Power-up Bands are available in Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, or Diddy styles and cost about $45.

Power‑Up Bands, wristbands synced to your app, let you:

Punch ?‑blocks
Tap hidden “M” or “DK” points
Collect digital coins and stamps
Join team leaderboards
Unlock secret challenges
Battle bosses
Track your high scores on Mario Kart using the Universal app

From what I understand, you can use Power-up bands purchased from Universal Hollywood here at Epic!

Use your Power-Up Band to complete challenges throughout Super Nintendo World. You can collect keys by winning challenges. There are 5 Challenges where you can win a key. You must win at least 3 keys to play Bowser Jr.’s Challenge (read more below).

Pictured above: This game resembles a slot machine. Try to hit the box at the perfect time so that all of the Nintendo characters/symbols match. This game doesn’t get you a key, but you do get coins.

Above Photo: Time a Pow Block Chain to hit a Koopa Shell up a pipe – at just the right time. Then get a key.

Pictured Above: Turn the crank and try to Make the Goomba Fall in time. Then, you get a key.

Photo Above: The Bomb Room – Check out the HUGE ? box in the bomb room!

Video from the Bomb Room! Solve the Puzzle before the Bomb goes off!

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Above Instagram Video: The Bomb Room – put the digital puzzle together before the bomb explodes to get a key. Get at least 3/5 keys to play Bowser Jr.’s Challenge.

The Bowser Jr. Challenge

Throughout Super Nintendo World, there are 5 challenges. You have to Win the challenge in order to get a key. When you collect 3 keys, you are allowed in the queue for Bowser Jr.’s Challeng.

Throughout Super Nintendo World, there are 5 challenges. You must win the challenge to receive a key. When you collect 3 keys, you are allowed in the queue for Bowser Jr.’s Challenge.

On one challenge, you have to turn a crank in order to make a Goomba fall off of a platform. Another challenge involves putting a digital puzzle together before the big bomb explodes.

After collecting at least 3 keys, you can enter the indoor queue to play Bowser Jr. Challenge. When it is your turn, you/your group will enter a room and choose a number on the floor. Once the room is full of players, you will watch a short video with instructions on how to beat the game. You are then led to another room where you will stand on your same number (also on the floor), and you will play the game.

Where to Eat at Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World has one quick-service restaurant and 3 quick-service snack stands.

Toadstool Cafe – Chef Toad makes burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and spaghetti.
Yoshi’s Snack Island – Since Yoshi loves fruit, his snack stand serves juices and other special fruit drinks
Turbo Boost Treats – Quick service snacks – located between Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and the Elevators
The Bubbly Barrel – After entering Donkey Kong Country, look for the huge thatched roof barrel. Here you’ll find the souvenir Donkey Kong Barrel cup (filled with Fanta and a Dole Whip-type ice cream on top)

Toadstool Cafe

We ate lunch at Toadstool Cafe, and we honestly enjoyed it! They offered gluten-free buns for their burgers and sandwiches – I was so happy! The menu includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza pot pie, spaghetti, etc. Mobile ordering is used here. Just scan the bar code on your table, create your order, and pay with the card on file with your Universal App. You will pay and put in your table number. Your drinks and food are brought to you!

The cafe uses Coke Freestyle, and you receive a cup for refills. The cups are only to be used while you are inside the restaurant. You can fill your water cup or bottle for free here. I was also able to get ice for free. Don’t forget to fill your water bottle before leaving the restaurant!

This is Chef Toad’s restaurant, and you can watch him cook through the windows. You can also see fun scenes of the Mushroom Kingdom. But, watch out when the lights dim, Bowser will come through on his pirate ship and throw stuff!

Photo Above: Garlic Cheese Bread

Pictured Above: Bacon Cheeseburger with Gluten-Free Bun and French Fries

Yoshi’s Snack Island

Yoshi loves fruit, and you can find fruity drinks and slushes here. You can also find the turtle shell-shaped calzones here.

The Bubbly Barrel

The Bubbly Barrel serves a Donkey Kong-themed float. You can order this float with or without a souvenir DK barrel mug.

Meeting Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Peaches, and Toad

You can meet lots of characters at Super Nintendo World:

At the time of our visit, there was no set schedule for the Meet-and-Greets with Donkey Kong.
Mario and Luigi do have a schedule for meeting guests and photos. They seem to meet with people every hour (on the hour) and the Universal App lets you set an alert to remind you of the event (at the time you choose).
Peaches meets guests in her gazeba next to her castle every hour (on the 1/2 hour). You can also set alerts in the Universal App to remind you to head her way.
The same as Donkey Kong, there wasn’t a set schedule to meet Toad. It seems to be a lucky surprise when he shows up!

Universal’s Disclaimer: The Universal APP says that the chararacters are not guaranteed to appear at the same time and they don’t neccessarily appear every day.

Shopping

Above Photo: Mario Motors

There are two indoor souvenir shops and one outdoor market where you can shop and find all things Nintendo!

1-Up Factory – Character hats, plushies, clothing, and lots of merch!
Mario Motors -Tons of souvenirs and merch. This is where you can see the Golden Cup. This store is located next to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. You will also find yourself in this shop as you exit Mario Kart.
Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy – This is an open-air market surrounding Funky Kong’s airplane. Here you can find all kinds of merch – souvenirs and clothes.

There is also a Super Nintendo shop outside the land (Nintendo Super Star Store) – it’s actually located in Celestial Park, next to Pizza Moon (which is really good by the way!). As you leave Super Nintendo World, go left and look for the Mario Water Fountain.

Super Nintendo World at Night

Super Nintendo World is so cool at night! And, the temp is definitelly cool! Night is one of the best times to visit this land in my opinion.

Is Super Nintendo World Worth Visiting in Orlando?

Absolutely! This area is so much fun, especially for gamers! Lots to see, do, and eat here in this land.

If you have sensory issues…

It can feel a little overwhelming if you have sensory issues. This land is very hot, especially midday. Because of the way it is built, there are no breezes and little to NO SHADE. The beepy-beep Nintendo Music is playing, and the dingy-ding of coins being won is LOUD. It can be A LOT! My kids were in heaven, but I left to get a coffee at Starbucks in Celestial Park. It was a nice break from the sensory overload.

That being said, it still is a lot of fun! Just want you know that it’s okay to take breaks. You can always leave and come back to this world.

Have you been to Epic Universe yet? What did you think of Super Nintendo World?

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