Summary
Tad here! Prepare to race against Team Bowser in Universal Studios Hollywood's latest ride, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Located in the Lower Lot inside Super Nintendo World, the new attraction transports riders into the legendary Mario Kart video game series. Getting on Mario Kart: Bowser's challenge was a toadally fun time, especially for Tad (who is the biggest Super Mario fan we know). This interactive ride is said to be one of the most complex ever made! In this guide, we will take you through the entire ride experience on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and provide tips and important frogbits of information you'll want to know about in advance. To learn more about the rest of the land, hop over to our full guide on navigating Super Nintendo World.
Overview of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Let's-a-go! Bowser's Castle awaits. Based on the popular video game series, Mario Kart, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an interactive, moving track ride that combines augmented reality with projection mapping technology and set pieces. This ride is truly one of a kind! It immerses you (and your party) in the world of Mario Kart, featuring various tracks found in the Mario Kart games. Speeding down the Rainbow Road track, alongside the rest of Team Mario, was one of our favorite parts of the ride!
Because it is the only attraction in Super Nintendo World, this ride tends to have the longest line in the park. Keep in mind though, guests who purchase an Early Access ticket directly through Universal can experience the ride an hour before the park officially opens. Guests who purchase the Universal Express or Unlimited Express Passes can enjoy guaranteed one-time access to Super Nintendo World but do not get guaranteed expedited access to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Buying a VIP Experience ticket allows unlimited access to both the land and the ride.
Safety Requirements for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Overall, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is a family-friendly ride.
The ride has a height requirement of 40 inches (102 cm) to ride. Riders who are 40-48 inches (122 cm) tall must be accompanied by a supervising companion aged 14 or older.
Near the Single Riders entrance, you can find a test seat identical to the actual ride vehicle's seats. Take a seat and pull the lap band down to see if it turns green (meaning the safety belt fits fine).
Keep in mind that the back seat of the ride has larger legroom and is more likely to fit larger people than the front seat. The test seat is equivalent, in size, to the front seat. If the test seat is tight, try sitting in the back seat of the ride once you are about to board.
The ride's queue and track exits on the left-hand side have a lot of steps. If you cannot walk on stairs, or if you use a wheelchair, go straight through the doors to the elevator. You may want to talk to a team member at Guest Relations when you first enter the park to get an Attraction Assistance Pass if you walk but cannot walk on stairs. Try sticking to the ride exit on the right-hand side, which does not have any stairs.
Ride Queue for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Wahoo! Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is not only one of the most elaborate rides ever made, but has one of the most detailed queues! Consisting of multiple large areas and rooms, the queue takes guests through the entirety of Boswer's enormous castle (and even provides a view). In each, there are vibrant designs, characters, set pieces and easter eggs from different Super Mario games throughout the decades. The first room of the queue mimics the video game subseries, Yoshi's Island. It is filled with beanstalks, gem-filled caves and Yoshi coins.
From there, guests enter the second part of the queue, which mainly consists of the interior of Bowser's Castle. His castle has multiple rooms, including a study, which features many books and photos referring to various Super Mario games, and an assembly room, where Bob-ombs and Bullet Bills are manufactured right in front of you!
On-Ride Experience on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Filled with groundbreaking technology, extreme attention to detail and lots of mushrooms, this ride will really make you feel as though you are inside a Mario Kart game! The intricacy of the ride doesn't end with the queue, but barely begins! Keep in mind that this ride is not fast or speedy like the Mario Kart video games though! It is much slower than you might expect it to be, but there is a lot of theming and designs to enjoy.
As the queue comes to an end and you're close to getting on the ride, attendants will hand you visors resembling Mario's hat. Using a knob on the visor, you can adjust the visor to fit your head. Once you are seated on the ride, you will find goggles to attach to your visor. (You will need the visor and goggles to see the projected graphics during the ride.)
Climb aboard a four-person (two in the front and two in the back) life-size Mario Kart vehicle and tap your Power-Up Band to the "M" on your personal steering wheel. Once Lakitu gives the 3-2-1 signal, it's time to go! Race through courses of all kinds, from the underwater to the clouds, and help Team Mario win the prized Golden Cup! Stunning graphics will allow you to see Bowser and his Koopa Troop, as well as other friends and foes from the game along the way!
The ride has a variety of frogtastic outcomes, which means you can have a unique experience each time you ride! I know once will not be enough for most.
If it gets to be too much for you though, or you feel motion sick, simply remove the goggles. Here is a look at what the ride looks like in two different scenes both with and without the goggles:
Without the goggles:
With the goggles:
Without the goggles:
With the goggles:
Check out my Full POV on-ride video of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge (without the goggles):
Interactive Play on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
In addition to its visual appeal, this ride offers a fun way to get interactive! Just like in the Mario Kart games, you can aim with your visor to toss shells at Team Bowser's vehicles and collect coins throughout the ride. To throw and collect, push the buttons on the top of the steering wheel. Avoid hitting anyone on Team Mario (or you'll lose points)!
Don't froget — keep track of your progress by tapping your Power-Up Band to the "M" on the steering wheel in front of you before the ride begins.
Although the interactive play on this ride has a bit of a learning curve, specifically with aiming to shoot and collect, it's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. The simple controls make this ride enjoyable for frogs of all ages!
Tips to Maximize Your Turn On Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Here are some hopful tips and tricks you can use to enjoy the ride to the fullest:
- If traveling with tadpoles, use the Child Switch option, where one supervising companion (aged 14 or older) waits with the child, while the other supervising companion enjoys the ride. The two then swap responsibility for the child. This way, both supervising companions get to ride. My parents used Child Switch to take turns watching Lily!
- Take advantage of the Single Riders line as much as you possibly can. This attraction usually has a wait of over two hours, so splitting up your party and using the Single Rider may work in your favor. (Keep in mind that Single Rider is subject to availability and can have restrictions.)
- When on the ride, turn or move your head to look at your targets. No matter which way the vehicle faces, you'll shoot in the same direction you look towards.
- Be sure to tighten your visor well using the knob on the back. This is important especially after you add the shield onto the visor, which adds weight to the front.
- If you are tall or need extra space, choose the back row. It has more legroom than the front row. Shorter riders should sit in the front for the best view of the ride.
- Pay attention while in the queue! In the details of the queue, you'll find hidden tips and clues on how to play your best during the ride.
- The ride's seat can create suction when fully seated. It can make exiting the ride challenging. Mommy Frog says to straighten your legs to break the seal so you can get out if that hoppens.
Are you planning on experiencing Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge during your trip to Super Nintendo World? Let us know in the comments!
Related: Our Guide to Super Nintendo World Hollywood
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