The first park dedicated to Super Mario is born in the U.S.
Who has never played, at least once in his life, Super Mario? That little man dressed as a plumber, with the long mustache [...]
United States of America
Who hasn't played, at least once in their life, the Super Mario? That little man dressed as a plumber, with his long mustache and amused expression, is a gaming icon. Today, immersing yourself in his world is possible. No, we are not talking about the virtual world of video games. We are talking about a park dedicated to Super Mario, opened in the United States a few weeks ago.
Everything you need to know about the first park dedicated to Super Mario
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Actually, the park dedicated to Super Mario is not a park by itself. Instead, it is an expansion of the Universal Studios Hollywood, in California.
The work, which lasted nearly a decade, translated the partnership between Universal Studios and the video game company into work Nintendo. The result? An entire area dedicated to Super Mario, set behind the Jurassic World and Transformers areas. In the first park dedicated to Super Mario, you can take a ride on the legendary Mario Kart, made even more impressive by the augmented reality. You can eat in the restaurant inspired by Toad (the anthropomorphic and intelligent mushrooms from the video game), buy the rich merchandise, and also meet Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.
The land on which it stands is not large, to tell the truth, but that is probably the secret of the involvement it gives. By taking advantage of the space available, the designers have managed to create an intimate and fun environment: visitors really have the impression of being inside the game, as they see nothing but the attractions of Super Mario World.
The attractions
The main attraction of the park dedicated to Super Mario is the carousel Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
To reach it, visitors must pass through Bowser's Castle. The queue winds through several corridors full of trophies and memorabilia, where they learn Bowser's loaves to defeat Mario's team. Because the attraction is exactly that: a Team Mario vs. Team Bowser competition, aboard a Racing roller coaster enhanced by augmented reality, from which to shoot at obstacles and rivals. Brief pre-race training teaches how to use the special visor.
If a slight pang then comes, the Toadstool Cafe With its giant mushroom entrance is the solution. Its menu is a riot of burgers and salads, meatballs and noodles. The walls are full of screens overlooking the Mushroom Kingdom, and while in the diner, you can see Toads, Koopa Troopas, Goombas, Yoshis and Boos passing by.
The club's signature drink is the Super Star Lemon Squash, made with lemon and honey soda with mango stars on the surface. For dessert, you can choose from a Mario block-shaped tiramisu, Mr. Beanpole cake (with Italian flavor) and Princess Peach cupcake.
However, the U.S. is not the first park dedicated to Super Mario. On March 18, 2021, it opened its doors in Osaka, in Japan, the Super Nintendo World. There, too, you can speed around in augmented reality karts, take a spin riding a big Yoshi on the toy train designed for young children, and refresh yourself with calzones shaped like Koopa shells, vegetarian dishes that resemble the piranha plant, and popcorn that tastes like mushrooms.
