Universal Studios Finally Confirmed The Worst-Kept Secret In Company History
Universal Studios Orlando is opening its own version of Super Nintendo World, just like the one at their Hollywood location.
Mama mia! The Universal Orlando Resort is getting its own version of Super Nintendo World. Deadline reports that Mark Woodbury, Universal Parks & Resorts Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, announced that Universal Studios was adding a second Super Mario attraction to their Florida theme park. Woodbury called the news “the worst-kept secret in history.”
Most people already assumed that if the recently opened Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood was successful, a twin attraction would be added to their Orlando resort. Now we know for sure. The news is bound to please Super Mario fans on the East Coast now that they won’t have to fly to the other end of the country to stomp a real-life Goomba.
The Florida version of Universal Studios’ Super Mario attraction will join the previously mentioned Super Nintendo World in California as well as a larger park that opened last year at Universal’s Japanese park. There are further plans to bring Super Nintendo World to Singapore as well. No word yet on if the new parks will be accessible via pipe or secret warp zone.
Universal Studios Hollywood just had a gala opening for their new Super Mario attraction, complete with a visit from the voice of Mario himself, Chris Pratt. Pratt voices everyone’s favorite plumber in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie from Illumination scheduled for an April 7 release. Universal is hoping, no doubt, that Super Nintendo World will create hype for the movie and vice versa.
The Orlando version of Super Nintendo World will be a part of Universal Studios’ new Epic Universe park, scheduled to open in 2025. Super Mario will be just one IP among many planned for the new park. Nothing concrete has been announced, but fans have speculated that other Illumination animated properties, such as Trolls and Secret Life Of Pets, might provide inspiration for new rides.
Tom Williams, ex-head of Universal Parks & Resorts, said that the Epic Universe park would be “the most immersive and innovative theme park we have ever created.” That’s saying a lot coming from a park that used to have a Jaws ride where an actual animatronic shark tried to eat you. Thankfully, there is no indication that Universal Studios has programmed Super Mario with a similar taste for people.
It’s not known at this time what rides the Univeral Studios Orlando park will put into their Super Mario attraction. The California Super Nintendo World features one real “ride” Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and a lot of Mario-themed dining and shopping experiences. The new park will likely have a similar make-up, hopefully featuring another ride or two.
The new Universal Studios Super Mario attraction won’t be ready to open in Florida for quite some time, given the projected 2025 opening for Epic Universe. That should give families plenty of time to save up their coins and practice their best “Let’s a go!”
Just make sure you don’t get stuck in line behind Wario. An hour and a half of listening to nothing but “Waaaaaah!” might just be enough to make you say, “Let’s go home!”
