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Are you ready to step into a world where gaming comes alive? Imagine unlocking hidden levels, racing with Mario, mastering tricky boss fights, and uncovering rare power-ups. Welcome to Super Nintendo World!
Kelly and I spent some time at the new Super Nintendo World at Universal Studio Hollywood in California. We love this new section of Universal Studios. We are excited to share tips and tricks that we learned during our time at Super Nintendo World.
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TIPS for Super Nintendo World
Arrive Early
As you can imagine, Super Nintendo World is SUPER popular. This area of Universal Studios Hollywood is also small and can get crowded quickly. We recommend arriving to Universal Studios Hollywood at least 30 minutes before park opening. This will help you beat some of the crowds.
Buy a VIP Tour
One of our favorite tip is buy a VIP Tour for your day at Universal. A VIP Tour is a group tour that takes you throughout Universal Studios Hollywood. You get front of the line access on rides and shows throughout this park. This includes Super Nintendo World.
The reason why we love a VIP Tour is because you get front of the line access on the new ride at Super Nintendo World called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. During our VIP Tour, the wait was 200 minutes. With our VIP Tour, we rode it 8 times in a row (without a wait). We love the VIP Tour! It is worth it for a visit to Super Nintendo World.
Book a Reservation for Toadstool Cafe
The only restaurant in Super Nintendo World is called Toadstool Cafe. This restaurant is a quick service location. However, you do need a reservation. We loved the food at Toadstool Cafe. It was creative and delicious. Click here to learn more about the food at Toadstool Cafe.
Once you arrive to Super Nintendo World, you can scan the QR code to make a reservation. These reservations book up quickly. I tested it out and found that you do not need to be at Universal Hollywood to make a reservation.
I got up around 8:00 AM on the day we were visiting Universal Hollywood and book a reservation from the hotel room. There was plenty of availability, so I picked a time best for us. Keep in mind that you can only book same day reservations. Click here to get access to this link to book your reservation.
Buy Power Up Bands
There is so much more to Super Nintendo World besides dining and the ride. Unlocking hidden levels is the key to unlocking a whole new level of excitement and challenge. To take advantage of these challenges, you need to buy a Power Up Band. You can buy these at Super Nintendo World or the Super Nintendo World merchandise shop at Universal CityWalk. We actually bought ours at this gift shop, before our day at Universal Studios Hollywood.
You will add your Power Up Band to the Universal Studios Hollywood app. This is how you track your Nintendo character and points. Throughout Super Nintendo World, keep your eyes peels for question mark blocks (yellow blocks with a ? on them).
You will tap the question mark blocks (with the Power Up Band) facing up to get points. These points are added to your team character like Mario, Luigi, or Peach. Your goal is to help your team get in the lead. You can track your team and individual scores at kiosks throughout Super Nintendo World or on your Universal app.
Universal Hollywood App
As I mentioned earlier, be sure you download the Universal Hollywood app to your phone. Add this app to your phone before you leave home or your hotel. You will use this app a lot during your day at Universal Studios Hollywood.
You can track wait times on rides, virtual queue for Super Nintendo World (if they have a wait), dining reservations, and tracking your Power Up Band progress.
Get Keys at Super Nintendo World
One of the secrets of Super Nintendo World is the virtual keys. Throughout Super Nintendo World there are four challenges. Every time you complete a challenge, a virtual key is added to your Super Up Band. If you complete (3) challenges, you will get (3) virtual keys. This allows you the opportunity to shadow box Bowser Jr.
This is a secret entrance that is actually guarded by a team member. Once you arrive to the entrance, you have to scan your Power Up Band. If you have all three keys, you are granted entrance into this tunnel and secret entrance.
Once you get inside, you get to shadow box against Bowser Jr. and it is really cool. We did it both days we were at Super Nintendo World. It was a lot of fun!
I am sure you are wondering, what are the challenges?
Thwomp Panel Panic
The first one is Thwomp Panel Panic. This one is usually the least crowded and is a fun one for the whole family. You have a certain amount of time to turn all of the boxes to the same color. Turn them all yellow or all of them blue. You can do this activity as a team which makes it more fun and easier.
You must have a Power Up Band to participate in this activity. After you complete the challenge, everyone will scan their Power Up Band. This will grant you one virtual key.
Koopa Troopa POWer Punch
This next challenge was a bit harder. I saw many people miss this challenge. This one also has a long line, because it looks really cool. For this challenge you hit the POW block right when a turtle shell knocks over a Koopa Troopa.
While you wait in line for this ride, you can watch for the timing. Hopefully, you will get it by the time you get to your turn. For this challenge, everyone does it individually. A Power Up Band is also required for this challenge. Once you complete it, you will tap your Power Up Band for another virtual key.
Goomba Crazy Crank
This next challenge is an easier one, so perfect for younger children. There is a crank that you just spin. I saw a lot of younger kids and older adults rock this one. It is much easier than the other challenges. As you spin the crank, the goal is to knock Goomba off the spinning wheel. The key to this one is just keep spinning until they tell you to stop. A Power Up Band is required for this challenge. Once you complete this challenge, you scan your band for a virtual key.
Piranha Plant Nap Mishap
This challenge was Kelly’s favorite, because of the HUGE Piranha Plant. This thing is massive! This is another group challenge, so perfect for families. You and your party tap the clocks to keep them from waking up the Piranha Plant. This challenge will have you running around and laughing! This one is a bit easier, since you are doing it as a group.
Once you have (3) of the four challenges complete, you can take on the Bowser Jr. challenge.
Super Nintendo World is one of our favorite theme parks around the world. We spent most of our time at Universal Hollywood in this section. We love the dining, ride, and challenges. It was so much fun for the whole family. We hope these tips help you on your next visit to Super Nintendo World.
