Universal Orlando has officially confirmed that Donkey Kong will be available for a meet and greet at Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe, adding the beloved video game character to its lineup of in-park experiences. The upcoming Epic Universe land at Universal Orlando will be divided into two distinct sections, each bringing beloved Nintendo franchises to life.
Super Mario Land will feature two attractions: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, an interactive dark ride, and Yoshi’s Adventure, a family-friendly ride that offers scenic views of the land. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong Country will transport guests into the jungle with its headlining attraction, Mine-Cart Madness, a groundbreaking roller coaster inspired by the iconic mine-cart levels from the Donkey Kong series. This announcement follows the December 2024 opening of Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios Japan, a major expansion to Super Nintendo World, which originally debuted in 2021.
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Epic Universe at Universal Orlando will introduce a historic first for Universal theme parks in the US: a Donkey Kong meet and greet. This exclusive character encounter will allow fans to interact with the legendary Nintendo icon like never before, further enhancing the magic of Super Nintendo World. The official Universal website teased the experience with the following description, “You’ll Go Bananas Over Meeting Donkey Kong. Meet Donkey Kong Country’s most famous resident at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Say hello and pose for photos with Donkey Kong himself!” With Super Nintendo World bringing interactive gameplay, thrilling attractions, and beloved characters to life, the addition of Donkey Kong’s meet and greet gives Nintendo fans yet another reason to get excited about Epic Universe’s grand debut on May 22.
Donkey Kong’s Arrival At Epic Universe
Guests visiting Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe will enter the vibrant world of Mario and Donkey Kong through an iconic green warp pipe portal, topped with classic power-ups like Super Stars. Emerging from the portal, visitors will step into Peach’s Castle, setting the stage for an immersive Nintendo adventure. Once inside, park-goers will be able to explore Super Mario Land, where they can visit Bowser’s Castle, dine at Toadstool Cafe, and shop for exclusive Nintendo merchandise at the 1-Up Factory. The land is designed to bring the Mushroom Kingdom to life, filled with interactive elements and beloved characters.
A secondary portal will lead guests into the lush Donkey Kong Country, where fans will immediately spot the iconic Funky’s Flights plane. Visitors can also hang out with Rambi the Rhino and take in the massive Golden Kong Temple facade, a striking centerpiece of the land. Super Nintendo World has already proven to be a massive success for both Nintendo and Universal Destinations & Experiences, drawing in countless fans eager to step into the world of their favorite games. Adding to the excitement, rumors are swirling about a potential Legend of Zelda expansion, sparking speculation that Nintendo’s presence in Universal theme parks could continue to grow in the future.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is both the name of a video game character and franchise originally created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. The franchise is primarily made up of platforming style games, but there have been a number of offshoots and the character has appeared in other video games ranging from Mario Party, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, and much more.