Epic Universe watchers got a wee peek at one of the future theme park’s rides thanks to a preview video made in Osaka.
Universal Studios Japan announced the grand opening day for its Donkey Kong Country area within its Super Nintendo World and shared a first look at elements of its Mine-Cart Madness ride. The attraction will be available to park guests Dec. 11.
When Universal Orlando opens Epic on May 22, that park will also have Mine-Cart Madness as part of its Super Nintendo World. The coaster has pre-opening buzz for its ride system that was developed by Universal Creative. It includes an in-car leap over what appears to be a dramatic gap in the tracks.
Shigeru Miyamoto, representative director and fellow of Nintendo Co. as well as the creator of the Donkey Kong videogame, led the video tour of the area inside Universal Studios Japan. He literally dashed from location to location.
What we saw
The exterior of the Golden Temple (very yellow) and murals in the queue (even more yellow), one of which harkens to the barrels, crooked girders and ladders of the original arcade game, which debuted in 1981.
There are large, Kong-like footprints leading the way to the loading station, plus encounters with animatronics of the Cranky Kong and Squawks characters.
“Please board the mine carts up ahead. Chase the Tiki Tak Tribe away from the Golden Temple and protect the Golden Banana,” Cranky explains. “Whether or not the Golden Banana can be protected depends on all of you.”
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“The Tiki Tak Tribe has invaded the temple, and things are getting intense,” Miyamoto says in the video, which was originally shown on Nintendo Direct.
There’s a brief scene of the ride vehicle, inspired by mine cars, naturally. They are slow-moving in the video and without passengers moving away from the loading station (again, more yellow). The cars are brown with stone trim and black seats. Each car holds four people.
The presentation includes a video of the car leaving the station, turning a curve with Dixie Kong on the side, and then an open-air lift hill. The images fade once the hill is crested. That’s about 20 seconds within the 11-minute Universal Studios Japan video.
Universal Orlando lists a 36-inch height requirement on its website for Mine-Cart Madness.
“I’d even recommend it for people who aren’t particularly fond of roller coasters,” Miyamoto says.
Universal had previously said Mine-Cart Madness would open in spring 2024, but the park announced a delay in April.
Prior to the virtual walk-through of the temple and ride loading station, the video shows Miyamoto encountering Donkey Kong’s tree house, a game demonstration that prompts the appearance of Rambi, a meet-and-greet area and a food stop featuring the DK Wild Hot Dog and the DK Crush Sundae, a “banana-flavored delicacy,” Miyamoto explained.
Other elements at Orlando’s Super Nintendo World include Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride, Yoshi’s Adventure, Toadstool Cafe restaurant, interactive challenges such as Thwomp Panel Panie and the Bob-Omb Kaboom Room and the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.
Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Japan in early 2021, followed by a location at Universal Studios Hollywood in California in 2023. Another is scheduled to open at Universal Studios Singapore next year.
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