My family and I recently visited Universal Studios Hollywood on a long weekend. After strolling through the park’s upper level, down the escalators, and past the attractions on the lower level, my family finally arrived at the reason we flew to LA: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. My kids were sure this would be the highlight of our trip and they were not disappointed.
We walked through the cool shade of the green pipe, which opened into the interior of Peach’s Castle. It was like we entered another world. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD instantly blew my family away — there was so much to see! Everywhere we looked, spectacular colors were punctuated by the exact video game sounds I remember from childhood.
We saw raised platforms floating above our heads, next to spinning coins and brightly-lit ? Blocks. There were Thwomps you’ll remember from the Mushroom Kingdom near the seating area. The brown Goombas were walking around, and Piranha Plants were snapping open and closed. So much is packed into the compact, 360-degree, immersive theme park. Something was moving, making sounds, or lighting up in every direction my teenagers and I looked within SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. This word gets overused, but SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is genuinely remarkable — check out the complete Discover Universal guide here.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is the first area in Universal Studios Hollywood based on a video game. The land is bursting with unique and interactive features: a family-friendly ride, an excellent, delicious restaurant, character appearances, interactive activities to attempt, and so much more. Everything looks just like it does in the Super Mario games. It was familiar and instantly recognizable, even though we had never been there before.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD With The Family: What to Know
You’re going to want a Power-Up Band
This colorful, snap-on wristband is the best way to get the whole SUPER NINTENDO WORLD experience. You can purchase them at the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD STORE at CityWalk; the Feature Presentation Store and the Universal Studio Store on the Upper Lot; the Character Shop on the Lower Lot; and at the 1-UP Factory and the Power-Up Band Kiosk, both in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
Power-Up Bands are the best way for you and your family to connect with all the interactive activities in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. They also let you track player statistics and achievements — just sync your Power Up Bands to the Universal Studios Hollywood app by scanning the QR code on the back of the band. If your family members do the same with their bands, you can compete against each other in various activities throughout the land. This last part was super exciting to my uber-competitive crew. The brightly colored bracelet is also an excellent souvenir. In fact, it’s not just a fashion accessory — it’s also an amiibo that works with your Nintendo Switch.
While you’re here, check out Discover Universal’s Everything You Need to Know About Power-Up Bands at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD for a complete guide to these awesome interactive wristbands.
Guests can choose one of six characters for their Power-Up Band: Mario, Luigi, Toad, Yoshi, Princess Peach, or Princess Daisy. My family’s favorite activity with the bands was to hit the bright yellow ? Blocks throughout SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. It was like we had landed in the middle of a video game when the sound effect chimed and the digital coins loaded into our account on the official Universal Studios Hollywood app.
Play to win with the interactive attractions
Whatever you do, don’t try to rush your family through SUPER NINTENDO WORLD! There’s just too much to see and do, like the interactive activities. There are four activities, called Key Challenges, that allow guests to earn keys with their Power-Up Bands: Goomba Crazy Crank, Koopa Troopa POWer Punch, Piranha Plant Nap Mishap, and Thwomp Panel Panic. They’re located throughout the land. Once you collect three keys, you can enter Bowser Jr.’s Shadow Showdown for the ultimate shadow challenge.
Each activity requires some skill but is still accessible for most kids. Be prepared to do some handholding and utilize teamwork to make these activities winnable, especially if you have various ages and abilities in your group. With a little effort, patience, and time, most guests can obtain enough keys to participate in the epic showdown.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is totally worth the wait
Everyone expects Universal Studios Hollywood to incorporate innovative technology into its attractions, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is no exception. The headline attraction, Mario Kart: Bower’s Challenge, is a state-of-the-art ride. It uses new technology to create an immersive experience for all ages.
The premise of the ride is to help Team Mario defeat Team Bowser. Guests collect digital coins and throw shells using special goggles attached to a Mario visor while winding through the attraction. The queueing area is packed with colorful designs, characters, and set pieces that make the wait fly by. My kids saw on TikTok that “Easter eggs” from the Super Mario video games were in the queue, so we kept our eyes peeled the whole time. Guests of all ages will love it. Check out the Discover Universal attraction guide here.
To ride Bowser’s Challenge, guests must be 48″ or taller (40” or taller with a supervising adult). My kids are tall enough now, but I remember when my younger two wanted to ride the same rides as the older two but were too short. Knowing the limitations ahead of time will curb any disappointment younger ones might experience.
Mom and Dad should be aware of restrictions for themselves too. If you are unsure if you or anyone in your party will fit comfortably in the ride or are tall enough, try out the test seat at the front of the attraction.
Come for the fun. Stay for the food.
While theme parks often offer themed food and beverages, Toadstool Cafe takes it to a new level. (Pun intended.) This Super Mario-inspired restaurant is a feast for your eyes and taste buds — your family will love it.
Toadstool Cafe is a counter service restaurant with plenty of space to sit and enjoy your meal with your family. It is stunningly bright and colorful! And many of the menu items even include mushrooms! The straightforward, affordable menu includes two appetizers, two soups, two salads, four main dishes, and three desserts. It also has a kid’s menu with two items.
Between everyone in my family, we tried almost everything on the themed menu and left as stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey. Every single dish was delicious. I was grateful for the plant-based options for my vegetarian daughter as well as the generous portion of spicy spaghetti and meatballs for one of my growing carnivorous sons. I had the Luigi Burger, a wonderfully grilled chicken sandwich with pesto and Swiss cheese served with ample hot, crisp fries. The Super Star Lemon Squash beverage was a massive hit with my crew. This drink contains honey lemon soda mixed with mango stars and tropical bobas, making it a really unique drink.
The real star of our lunch, though, was dessert. We shared one of each of the three sweet treats on the menu, and I wished I had them all for myself. My mouth is still watering over the memory of the decadent Princess Peach cupcake with its tower of rich buttercream frosting. In addition to the tasty food, Toadstool Cafe is just a lovely respite from the business of a day in the theme park and a chance to recharge some. For the full scoop, read the Discover Universal guide here.
Four Tips For Families Visiting SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
- Not surprisingly, Toadstool Cafe is extremely popular. Be aware that reservations are required to join the queue, and are only available inside the park on the same day. You can make them on the app as soon as you hit the front gate.
- Come early. The lines will only get longer throughout the day. On jam-packed days, you may need reservations to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Check the Universal Studios Hollywood Mobile App for up-to-date information about wait times.
- There is limited covered seating for families within this area. If it is hot, like the day we visited, find shade in the castle, upstairs at Frosted Glacier or the 1-Up Factory store.
- The area might be a sensory overload for kids with processing disorders, so parents of differently-abled children should prepare accordingly.
Bottom Line: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is a can’t-miss experience for the whole family. It brings the iconic characters from the cherished video game franchise to life and is an excellent destination for families with toddlers through teens seeking a fun and engaging non-screen-based experience. You’ll be glad you visited!
What part of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD are you most excited to explore with your family? Let us know in the comments below.
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