Universal Studios Japan has officially announced that the long-awaited Donkey Kong Country expansion to Super Nintendo World will have its grand opening on December 11, 2024.
Originally set to open this past Spring, the company later said it would open by the end of 2024. The new area is set behind the existing Super Nintendo World area and will add a new roller coaster attraction, food, merchandise, an interactive game, and meet & greet experience.
Originally announced all the way back in 2021 the Donkey Kong expansion will expand Super Nintendo World by 70% when it opens next month.
Screenshot from Nintendo Direct presentation featuring Shigeru Miyamoto
The opening date announcement was made during a live Nintendo Direct video presentation featuring Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s representative director and Fellow, and the creator of the original Donkey Kong arcade game over 40 years ago. You can see the full video below.
In the video we got our first official look inside of the queue for the Mine Cart Madness roller coaster attraction, as well as the reveal of the new mini-land’s interactive game, new foods, and more.
Mine Cart Madness takes us into the Golden Temple, where we are tasked to help protect the important Golden Banana.
As has been rumored previously, we will encounter talking Cranky Kong and Squawks animatronics within the queue.
The video presentation showed off a mural on one of the queue’s temple walls which resembles the original Donkey Kong video game (and also features some hidden Pikmin).
Universal says that the ride vehicles and boarding area for Mine Cart Madness feature new and innovative technologies that break away from conventional ideas. The moving platform for this roller coaster attraction was revealed for the first time during the presentation.
A small clip of the start of the ride was shown, but stopped short of showing much more of the now confirmed 2-minute ride. Carts hold 4 people in 2 rows of 2. Riders must be at least 107cm (42in) to ride. Mine Cart Madness will include an on-ride photo option.
The company’s new official description for the story of the ride says:
“Guests will hop into a mine cart and careen through the jungle to help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong protect the coveted Golden Banana from the Tiki Tak Tribe on this first-of-its-kind family coaster. Utilizing an unprecedented ride system and a unique coaster design, it will send riders on a thrilling adventure where they will experience the jaw-dropping maneuvers – including getting blasted out of a barrel, seemingly jumping over gaps as they speed along a rickety track, and so much more.”
The new interactive game for Donkey Kong Country will have guests working together to play drums in time with lights.
When guests succeed you will get to see the Rambi the rhino animatronic character.
To play the interactive game, as well as collect the hidden “K” “O” “N” “G” letters around the land, guests will need a Power-Up Band.
The new Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong Power-Up Bands, as well as all existing bands, will work with these new experiences in Donkey Kong Country.
A new Donkey Kong meet and greet character will debut with the Donkey Kong Country area. He will meet with guests in front of his tree house.
New food was showcased during the announcement, which will be served at the Jungle Beat Shakes kiosk within the area, including a DK Crush Sundae in souvenir barrel mug and DK Wild Hot Dog with avocado cheese Sauce.
New merchandise will be available at the 1-UP Factory store in Universal Studios Japan beginning Wednesday, November 13. Within Donkey Kong Country, guests will be able to shop at Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy.
While the Donkey Kong Country area is set to open December 11, Universal Prime Annual Pass Grand Royal holders are invited to a special preview. Details will be revealed later.
Special tickets for access to the area when it opens will go on sale Wednesday, November 13, 2024, starting at 12:00 pm.
For more information on ticketing and how to get access to Super Nintendo World’s new Donkey Kong Country area we suggest visiting the complete guide at TDR Explorer for the most up to date information.
A version of this area is set to also open next year at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida. The Epic Universe version of Donkey Kong Country will also include the Mine Cart Madness roller coaster ride, in addition to its own dining and shopping options.
As part of this official announcement select members of the press were given a sneak peak of part of the interior of The Golden Temple themselves. You can see video from this sneak peak below.
Stay tuned for more news and updates for Super Nintendo World areas around the world, as well as Epic Universe, as it happens!
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