Since this Leaky correspondent is not a video game player, I confess to being completely ignorant of everything in and about Super Nintendo World. But, just as I love seeing the Harry Potter world brought to life so I can immerse myself inside of it — an emotional experience, especially inside the British Ministry of Magic, which truly feels like you are in the real Ministry — I can imagine how much fans of the Nintendo video game world delight in seeing it brought out of the screen and into a tactile world they can enter and touch.
I cannot offer much useful commentary on this world. In fact, an employee of the merch store had to explain to me that the “L” and “M” stood for Luigi and Mario, the main characters in the game Super Mario Bros. Instead of a written review, which would not be fair given my lack of expertise on the subject, I will offer a photo essay, which fans of the game will understand and be able to interpret for themselves.
One of the Celestian residents of Celestial Park welcomed the media to the opening of the Super Nintendo World Portal. The umbrellas were for shelter from the Florida midday sun. The opening celebration included colourful confetti that landed everywhere.…including on the sound equipment.Was there any plan to clean it up?You bet there was. A waiting battalion of sweepers immediately went into action.Including this happy fellow with his giant vacuum cleaner. I think I need one of those for the cat litter in my house…“Here We Go!” is the inscription on the Super Nintendo World portal. A quick Internet search tells me this is a line uttered frequently by Mario in his game. It makes for a cute welcome for children entering the portal.Inside the portal to another world, this one full of toadstools, a gorilla, a turtle, and brothers called Mario and Luigi.First look inside Super Mario World.Looks like a cross between Legos and a Dr. Seuss book, but I’m not sure where the Venus Fly Trap with the markings of a toadstool comes in…??? I echo the question marks. What’s in here? A gamescape come to life to delight its fans.Fake flowers next to real ones is an odd concept, but I guess they fit with the blend of fantasy and reality. The mini roses around the park are a nice touch.There’s a castle here too! Hogwarts it ain’t.Through the inner mini portal to Donkey Kong CountryThe featured drink in Super Mario World is a tropical float with banana and pineapple flavoured soft serve ice cream, pineapple soda, a waffle bowl (sorta like a boat in the ice cream float), sprinkles, toffee pieces, and, for some reason, caramel popcorn on top. I nearly fell into a sugar coma just looking at it.They were generously giving out full-size samples of the DK Crush Float, in souvenir mugs, but I could not bring myself to try it. I did manage to photograph one that another media rep was holding. He is also failing to look enthusiastic about trying it.But the queue was lengthy. Apparently, some people thought diabetes-in-a-cup sounded tasty. In fairness, if it were something that not quite that sickly sweet but chocolate, I might have joined them.More food and beverages were available in the ominously named Toadstool Cafe, where, according to Chef Toad, “Everything on the menu either has mushrooms, looks like a mushroom, has the flavour profile of a mushroom or is a nod to the Mushroom Kingdom”.Inside of the Toadstool Cafe.This is an official Universal photo, not mine, but I am adding it to showcase the Piranha Plant Caprese Salad, which is a fun example of the theming of each menu item.The roller coaster in Super Nintendo World is Mine Cart Madness. Some people criticised it as a little rough and bumpy. Happily, I did not find that to be the case and I enjoyed the ride. The illusion of the track disappearing and the water features are particularly thrilling, although it is a small family coaster, not a big, scary one.
The description of the Mine Cart Madness ride says that you are entering the Golden Temple to help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong protect the Golden Banana. Um, what? I thought the disappearing track illusions walked a fun line between alarming and amusing.
Mine Cart Madness has a tropical theme with a water feature.As usual, Universal has their merch game on strong in Super Mario World.These little vampire dots are actually sort of cute in a weird way.Yoshi is what, a turtle? He is clearly important because he gets an entire merch section.There are duelling Luigi and Mario sections, so you can take your pick or choose something from each.Are these little mushroom-headed babies cousins of Mandrakes? Would Professor Sprout have these growing in one of the Hogwarts greenhouses?Character plushies.And puppets too.Looks like the WAGs are getting their merch moment as well.
Thus concludes our photo tour of Super Nintendo World. There is another ride, Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge, and more snack options. If you are a fan of the game, you will get a lot more out of this world than I was able to do. There is a power-up wrist band that enables you to get additional points as you play interactive games, and for the wee ones, a very slow (appropriate for a turtle) ride called Yoshi’s Adventure, where you search through the Mushroom Kingdom for glowing, coloured eggs. I did not ride this one, but it suddenly occurs to me that there might be dragon eggs hidden there by Hagrid for safekeeping, so perhaps I should give it a go next time…
The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.
