Local Hype: Universal Studio's Getting Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Space Shuttle Home Groundbreaking & Cinespia 4th of July

 

 

Looks like they're playing it safe and we're getting Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge for the main ride for the Super Nintendo World section opening early next year 2023. We were kind of hoping for a different ride based on Nintendo's many games and characters and having a little bit of difference from the Japanese park. But, Universal and Nintendo seem to be copying the park from Japan that already has the same ride.

The ride itself does seem like fun and a few more details were passed along with the press release we're sharing below. 

 

We just wanted to see some Kirby, Smash Bros or Metroid love, Pokemon or Link might have been nice too.

From the press release:

Universal City, California, June 2, 2022 – When “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” opens in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ at Universal Studios Hollywood in early 2023, guests and fans will find themselves immersed in one of the world’s largest, most interactive rides they have ever experienced. It seamlessly fuses augmented reality with projection mapping technology and actual set pieces along a moving ride track to debut a ride that’s unparalleled anywhere within the theme park industry.

The highly-anticipated opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood represents the first SUPER NINTENDO WORLD to debut in the United States, designed to transport theme park guests and Nintendo® fans into the world of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach to be part of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Guests will access SUPER NINTENDO WORLD via the iconic Warp Pipe to enter the land where they will find the “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” ride located within Bowser’s Castle.

This innovative achievement will propel guests into a multi-dimensional experience that recreates iconic environments from the Mario Kart games and where no two races are alike. “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” is also one of the most complex rides ever built within the entertainment industry.

The sophisticated ride is a multi-sensory cornucopia of color, sound and movement that invites guests to navigate familiar environs through the creative use and integration of head mounted augmented reality (AR) goggles—a key point of differentiation that distinguishes this ride from other theme park attractions.

From the depths of the dungeon within Bowser’s Castle, guests will climb aboard stadium-style, four-seat Mario Kart vehicles inspired by the video game, put on their AR goggles …and then with a 3-2-1 GO! signal from Lakitu, they will be off to the races.

The premise is simple but equally inspiring and challenging and will appeal to guests of all ages regardless of gaming experience. As part of Team Mario, guests will steer through courses underwater and in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting coins to defeat Team Bowser and win. “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” raises the stakes for guests as an intriguing and repeatable ride with a variety of outcomes.

California Science Center’s groundbreaking for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center happened yesterday. After so many years it's great to hear the project physically getting started. Can't find info on when they think they'll be done building it, but let's hope 2023-24. Remember, all the images here are what it's supposed to look like when done.

All Project Renderings are “Courtesy of ZGF”

From press release:

The new 200,000-square-foot addition to the California Science Center broke ground, Tuesday June 2nd. The new educational Center will feature 150 interactive exhibits spanning three major multi-level galleries – themed “Air” “Space” and “Shuttle” – and become the permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of only three remaining flown space shuttle orbiters and the only one located on the west coast. In the new Center, Endeavour will be installed vertically, in ready-for-launch configuration, towering 200 feet tall, complete with solid rocket boosters and an external tank, in what will be the world’s only display of an authentic space shuttle system. 

Cinespia announced their 4th of July weekend lineup that, for the first time, will feature three nights of firework spectaculars under the stars to accompany screenings of The Fast and the Furious (7/2), Purple Rain (7/3), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (7/4). 

It's almost like living near Disneyland. You best get tickets early as these will probably sell out and the main competition will be Anime Expo.