Our entire frog squad enjoys visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, and our tadpoles absolutely love it! It's about a year and a half from when the land opened Feb. 17, 2023, and it is still drawing fans to the park. Since the Super Nintendo World is still fairly new, the park has been very busy this past year with other Super Mario fans (just as excited as Tad). If you're looking to visit Super Nintendo World during this hoppin' time at the park, there are multiple ways to gain access to the land. That being said, the land no longer operate with a Vitual Line, which means you can just walk in whenever you like!
Overview of Getting Into Super Nintendo World Hollywood
As we previously mentioned, there are many ways to gain access to Super Nintendo World inside Universal Studios Hollywood. These days, you can just walk right in. On busy Saturdays or peak periods, such as holidays, the land might get crowded. For those days, you'll need a plan of action.
We'll also go over which ticket you should purchase if you want to visit Super Nintendo World during Halloween Horror Nights. (Yet another way to get in with very low capacity during that season!)
Below, we will explain the difference between each of these entry and ticket options. You can use this guide to decide which suits you and your frog family best! We'll even throw in some tips for maximizing your frogtastic visit.
Walk Right In
You can just walk right in all day long. The exception is during Halloween Horror Nights, when Super Nintendo World is not included in general admission. But a few tickets grant you access. We'll go over those later.
Buy An Early Access Ticket for Super Nintendo World
Our favorite way to access and enjoy Super Nintendo World is by purchasing an Early Access ticket. That allows a guest to enter the land one hour before the park's opening. The Early Access ticket is sold in limited quantities. It can only be used for a preselected date set in advance. Ranging from $20 to $30, this add-on ticket is a frogtastic, and still affordable, option for those who like to avoid long lines and heavy crowds. Don't froget — you will still need a general admission ticket (or valid annual pass) to enter the park! This addition can be added to a Universal Studios Hollywood ticket purchased through Undercover Tourist. (Don't froget that we can save you some green on your general admission!)
If you get Early Access, plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before Early Access starts. We have used Early Access and were able to complete all the challenges, compete in Bowser Jr.'s Shadow Showdown and ride Mario Kart before the park opened. Once the park opens all the lines can get very long.
If Early Access is still out of your budget, avoid morning time. Check wait times in the afternoon and especially in the evening for the last hour or two of park opening for the shortest waits.
What can I do with the Early Access ticket?
Utilizing an Early Access ticket is definitely useful if you are determined to explore the land in its entirety during your visit. The ticket allows you access to everything in the land during the early access hour, such as meeting the characters in the land, playing the interactive key games, walking in the Toadstool Cafe without reservations and even experiencing Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge! (We've got a list of our favorite details in the land here.) There is no limit to how long you can remain in the land after the ticketed hour is over. We recommend getting all of your priority experiences in the land out of the way during the early access hour since the land floods with people once the park officially opens.
If you purchase the Early Access ticket for Super Nintendo World, one big perk is getting one-time Express use for the Studio Tour. (Valid if used before 11 a.m.)
How do I use my Early Access Ticket?
If you purchase an Early Access ticket, enter the park through the main entrance. You'll enter on the left. Don't froget to have both your general admission ticket and Early Access ticket ready! Once you pass the security check at the entrance, line up to the left of the red carpet. You'll show your Early Access and your general admission ticket will be scanned for entry.
Once you are inside the park, an employee will ask you to scan your Early Access ticket (probably at the top of the escalators), then allow you to walk toward the escalators leading to the Lower Lot of the park. From there, you can walk over to the warp pipe to enter the land.
Get a Universal Express Pass
Both the Universal Express Pass and the Universal Unlimited Express Pass are more expensive, yet more convenient alternatives to general admission tickets. Although purchasing these can bump up your grand total significantly (especially if you're buying passes for the whole frog family), you can reap the benefits of these tickets throughout your entire day at the park. We recommend Universal Express for busy periods. Not so much for less busy times or if it's out of your budget.
What does the Express Pass include?
The Universal Express Pass includes general admission to the park, as well as one-time (per day) front-of-the-line line access to each ride (now including Mario Kart), attraction and show.
What does the Unlimited Express Pass include?
If you want even more perks, you can upgrade your Express Pass to an Unlimited Express Pass while in the park, which provides unlimited front-of-the-line privileges for all attractions and shows.
Make a Toadstool Cafe Reservation
For those of you looking to enjoy some fine cuisine in the Mushroom Kingdom while in Super Nintendo World, you can secure dining at the one restaurant in the land with a dining reservation.
You will see signage with QR codes linking to the restaurant's reservation system immediately outside the land's main entrance. You may see another QR code in front of the cafe. However, you don't have to wait until you're in the park to try and get a spot at the cafe if it's very important to you. Here's the link to reserve! You don't even have to be inside the park to reserve! Aim to make your reservations before park opening (although the time the reservations open changes each day) for the same day only. The link usually starts working when Early Access starts but it can be earlier or later. The restaurant is usually fully booked shortly after the park opens, on busy days. More times drop about 1-2 p.m., so definitely keep checking!
It's tricky because we've seen reservations open before 7 a.m. one day and not until 9 a.m. another day. So we recommend getting on the reservations page at 7 a.m. and periodically refreshing until you see it open. We recommend reserving a dining time in the afternoon or evening because mid-morning is the busiest in the land. Go enjoy the short lines elsewhere in the park in the morning. That being said, the later in the day you eat, the more likely it is you will have a line to order, and possibly a long wait for food. The restaurant may even run out of certain items as the day goes on. So if you want to eat mid-morning, go for it! Service is faster in the morning.
Book the VIP Experience
The VIP Experience is the priciest ticket option for Universal guests. Nonetheless, it has grown in popularity amongst Universal guests recently due to the toadally awesome benefits it offers to Super Nintendo World fans. It comes with unlimited access to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge!
What is the VIP Experience?
The VIP Experience consists of an exclusive tour of the theme park and studio backlot, guided by a Universal Studios Hollywood tour guide. Up to 18 guests can participate in a single tour and children must be at least 5 years old to attend (and at least 17 years old to attend without an accompanying adult). The package starts at $357.99 per ticket, and you can even save some green with us frogs. This may be worthwhile if you want to enjoy the park in an unlimited capacity for your whole stay.
What is included in the VIP Experience?
The ticket includes general 1-day park admission, a VIP gourmet meal, complimentary valet parking, light snacks and refreshments throughout the day and unlimited (per day) Express access to each ride, attraction and show. For those who want complete access to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. It does not let you skip the line for challenges through.
Book the VIP Theme Park Experience (if available)
There is a cheaper alternative to the VIP Experience. This secret tour is something that you may be able to upgrade to at the VIP entrance. You cannot purchase this in advance (only at the front gate). It does not include the trolley backlot tour. But it does include the Studio Tour, lunch at either Krusty Burger or The Three Broomsticks, and Unlimited Express for all attractions, including Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
Access to this package is limited, so price and availability can vary per day. You should arrive with a valid ticket, regardless. If you are interested, ask if an upgrade is available at the VIP entrance. The day we visited during spring break, it would have cost $110 per person to upgrade our Universal Express ticket to the VIP Theme Park Experience.
Access to Super Nintendo World During Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event that takes place on select nights in September and October. Super Nintendo World is only available to select ticket holders from 7 to 10 p.m. during Halloween Horror Nights events. Super Nintendo World is closed to all other ticket types during the event. These tickets grant access to Super Nintendo World:
- Halloween Horror Nights After 2 p.m. Day/Night - Includes admission to Super Nintendo World only from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. It may be subject to the Virtual Line. (Also includes Early Event Access to select houses at 5:30 p.m.)
- Halloween Horror Nights After 2 p.m. Day/Night Universal Express - Includes admission to Super Nintendo World only from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Also includes Early Event Access to select houses at 5:30 p.m.)
- Universal Express
- Unlimited Universal Express
We visited with a 2 p.m. Day/Night ticket and enjoyed a relatively empty Super Nintendo World at night! We walked right onto Mario Kart and up to each challenge! Toadally fun! And it's not at all scary in there if you need a mental break from the scares!
Frequently Asked Questions About Super Nintendo World
Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions on how to access Super Nintendo World:
Can I Use the Attraction Assistance Pass (AAP) in Super Nintendo World?
An Attraction Assistance Pass allows you to access the Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge ride. You may be given a return time to come back and experience the ride at a later time during the day. Or you might get sent into the Express line if the line is short. You cannot use the AAP for the challenges.
Can I return to the warp pipe entrance of the land once I'm inside Super Nintendo World?
This depends on the crowd levels and team members present in the park that day. During our several visits to the land, we have had different experiences with entering and exiting it. Sometimes they let you exit the same way you came in. During crowded times, you must exit through a different route. As of our most recent visit, we were allowed to exit through the main warp pipe entrance (and stop to take photos). However, this is subject to change. On Halloween Horror Nights, you'll need to use the exit pipe to exit the land.
Can I buy my general admission ticket separately from an Early Access ticket?
Yes! Although the Early Access ticket is only available for purchase directly through Universal, you can still buy a discount general admission ticket or a Universal Express ticket from us (and save up to $111)! After you purchase your ticket, take your savings to the Universal Studios site to purchase your Early Access ticket for the day. You'll still have some savings left over for lunch at Toadstool Cafe!
Tips for Maximizing Your Time in Super Nintendo World
Here's our hop tips:
- Complete all the challenges and games during Early Access if you can and then go on the ride.
- Experience the ride, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, immediately when you enter the land at park opening. It is the first thing that becomes crowded, even during the early access hour.
- We highly suggest the single-rider line if you want to ride again.
- Use Child Switch if you have a small child who's too short to ride.
- If someone in your group has a disability, they can qualify for an Attraction Assistance Pass (AAP).
- If you are a major foodie and must try the dishes at Toadstool Cafe, reserve your same-day dining time in advance (even from your home). Use the link we included in this post. This way, you can experience other parts of the park and still return to the land for your reservation with guaranteed dining. Expect a line to order your food when you arrive.
- If you buy an Early Access ticket, visit the cafe early with a same-day reservation. The cafe is usually fully booked for the day by mid-morning. But keep checking as reservations may drop later in the day.
- Some interactive games take longer than others, therefore creating longer wait times to play. Aim to play the quicker games if you're in a rush, such as those hosted by Thwomp and Goomba. It is evident which key challenges have faster lines than others.
- Look at the times posted at character meet and greet queues, and hop in line early before the characters come out. They often come out during Early Access as well!
Please note that things are always subject to change, especially access through the Virtual Line, which operates based on demand. What are you most excited about in Super Nintendo World? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: Our Guide to Super Nintendo World Hollywood
Keep hopping!
