Your Guide to Super Nintendo World
Hello Gorgeous,
You can now visit Super Nintendo World without going to Japan, in California’s Universal Studios Hollywood. If you’re in the East Coast, don’t worries, it is also coming to Universal Orlando in 2025.
I have gathered some vital tips for you to be prepared for maximum enjoyment, you can also watch my Vlog for Universal Studio experience as whole including the Super Nintendo World.
What are Power-Up Bands
These Power-Up bands include RFID technology, which allows you to interact with the boxes and bricks in the Super Nintendo World. It links to your Universal App to keep track of your gaming records of keys, coins, and stamps. You have other ways to earn coins, including riding the Mario Kart ride and taking photos with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach Characters. You can also play select Super Mario Bro—games at home with it.
Power-Up Band has 6 designs with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi. You’ll join the team base on the design you choose.
While the band comes with a $40 price tag and tax, it is re-useable for future visits to any Universal Studios.
How to use and link Power-Up Band
Download and open the Universal Studios Hollywood app, select Super Nintendo World, and then scan the QR code from the back of your band. Once you are linked, name yourself, and you will be on the same team as the people of the same power-up band. Inside options, you have additional features to link multiple Power-Up Bands, follow other players and make edits to your account.
Pro Tip: The bands are actually quite easy to fall off. User a rubber band to keep the band from falling off. Or remove it when you know you will be using your hand and arm aggressively for gaming.
Do I need the Power-Up Band?
Like the Harry Potter World, you can still enjoy the space without buying wands, but you have a reduced interactive experience. Without Power-Up Band, you won’t collect coins or hear the coin sounds when you punch. Since you can’t collect any keys, you won’t be able to enter Bowser Jr’s Dungeon.
The bands are reusable and do not need to be charged, so if you are a Mario fan and plan to return to Universal, it could be worth buying it. It will work between all Universals Studios, Hollywood, Japan, and Orlando (Opening 2025). You can also use Power-Up Band for select Mario games (not for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS). At $40 plus tax, it can be pretty pricy. If you happen to be visiting Universal in Japan first, buy the band there for a lower price.
Pro Tip: Share the band with someone else if you or your friends don’t mind sharing. Each Power-Up Band user can bring 3 other none Power-Up band users into Bowser Jr’s Dungeon.
Secret Points
There are hidden tap points that reveal pictures on the wall. They are more in disguise and blend into the surroundings. Different activities help you earn coins and stickers to advance your game.
Interactive Punch Boxes and Bricks
You can earn coins by punching boxes and bricks; as long there is a coin sound, you can keep earning. The outdoor ones are in plain sight, while you can find some indoor locations inside the Princess Peach’s castle, upstairs to the left of Mario Kart, and left of Toadstool Cafe.
Collect Stamps
There are three stamp books: Super Mario Land, Mario Kart, and Super Nintendo Land. As you play, you will collect stamps; some can be collected more than once, making your next return to the land enjoyable.
Pro Tip: To make the most effective use of your time, tap on the unearned stamps to see what they are, so you can plan how to collect them.
Collect Keys to get to Bowser Jr
There are 4 different challenges you can do in the land. Tap your Power-Up Band to the key before and after playing to keep your score. You can play most games as a team or solo. You need 3 keys to access Bowser Jr Shadow Showdown. Don’t try to test the guard without 3 keys; I know I tried, but the band won’t lie! The app also shows how many keys you have earned.
Pro Tip: Again, share the band with someone else if you or your friends don’t mind sharing. Each Power-Up Band user can bring 3 other none Power-Up band users into Bowser Jr’s Dungeon.
Piranha Plant Nap Mishap: 1 to 4 players
A bunch of red alarm clocks for you to turn off in time. You can find this on the left upon entering the World. It’s pretty easy with multiple players but it could be tricky solo. Generally, they pair you up with other players if you only have 1-2 people in your group.
Goomba Crazy Crank: 1 player
This is a solo game, but it’s pretty easy. Simply spin as fast as you can to knock off Goomba. This game is across from Piranha Plant Nap Mishap, next to the Princess Peach’s gazebo.
Koopa Troopa Power Punch: 1 player
You want to hit the Pow box before the turtle goes up through the vertical pipe. Looks relatively easy, but I was not able to do it. Was the Pow Box reaction delayed? You only get three tries, so I don’t recommend this game to get the key because the instruction was unclear.
Thwomp Panel Panic: 1 to 3 players
There are two color blocks; decide which color you want to target, and tap to change all those color boxes to complete the challenge. Some of the boxes with arrows also change the color of a nearby box. This game can be challenging if you play solo, but it should be easy with 2 or more players. The entrance is right below the Thrwomp that crashes down between Mario Kart and Toadstool Cafe.
Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown: up to 12 players
It’s a super fun full-body game for you to help Princess Peach regain her golden mushroom. You must have 3 keys before you can enter this challenge. Of course, you also earn coins here for your game. Here are the gestures for the game:
Duck - Hiding from bullets that will shrink you
Jump - To reach boxes for power up, or resize you to normal if a bullet hits you.
Swap - You can swap bombs away with your arms
Swing - Swing your arm to attack with fireballs when you get a fire flower.
Level Up your Mario Kart
To collect coins and stamps are Mario Kart, remember to touch your band to the M on the steering wheel to link your band to the ride. How you do on your ride can level up your score, so aim to shoot where you look to hit your targets efficiently. I recommend getting to Mario Kart ride early before the line gets long.
Toadstool Cafe
You’re in a treat if you love Super Mario and theme cafes, I have tried 6 different dishes, and while you can watch here for all the ratings, I can tell you right now to skip the chicken salad because it was not good enough for me to even finish it. Watch all the food reviews at 11:00 timestamp.
Pro Tip: Ensure you get into the “waitlist” at the Toadstool cafe when you first enter the Super Nintendo World; otherwise, the timeslot may sell out.
Pro Tip 2: If you miss the waitlist, book another slot to re-enter the World later when most people have already experienced the World and leave, vacating some slots at the Toadstool Cafe.
Tickets & Reservations
You can buy your tickets here, where you can choose the different levels of experience at Universal. You do not need the extra Early Access to Super Nintendo World ticket to enter the World. However, you must use the Universal App to reserve a time to join the lot. You must show the QR code with your entrance time before the Super Nintendo World enters. Additionally, you must be physically at Universal to make the reservation on the app, so it’s still a somewhat first come, first serve entrance policy.
Pro Tip: Get the $20 early access to Super Nintendo World if you have never been to Universal studios and want to maximize your time and experience everything Universal offers.
I hope you enjoyed this guide, and watch my Universal Vlog for more.
xo Christine
