NEWS: A Popular Universal Ride Announces Major Opening DELAY

Universal has delayed the opening of a new ride… and it COULD impact Epic Universe!

The last few years have been a time of serious excitement amongst Universal fans, as the company has announced numerous major projects, including Super Nintendo World in Japan and Hollywood, with another land coming to Epic Universe next year. However, the company has just announced a major delay that could have far-reaching ramifications. 

In September of 2021, just six months after the first Super Nintendo World land opened at Universal Studios Japan, Universal announced that a Donkey Kong-themed expansion was coming to the park.

After two years of speculation and rumor, they confirmed that the land’s expansion would be called Donkey Kong Country, and it would be headlined by the Mine-Cart Madness coaster, with an opening date of spring 2024. 

However, on April 19th, 2024, Universal Studios Japan announced that the coaster’s opening date was pushed back to “late 2024.” The post on Twitter/X translates to, “Donkey Kong Country, which was previously scheduled to open in spring 2024, has been changed to late 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to those who have been waiting. We will announce the opening date and other details as soon as they are decided.”

【お知らせ】

「2024年春開業」と
お知らせしておりました
「ドンキーコング・カントリー」は
オープン時期を「2024年後半」に
変更します。

お待ちいただいております皆さまには
ご迷惑をおかけしますことを
お詫びいたします。

なお、開業日等詳細が決まり次第
お知らせします。

— ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン公式 (@USJ_Official) April 19, 2024

This delay is possibly due to the ride’s new technology, which will see the coaster cars connected to a hidden track.

In turn, this will give the illusion that the coaster’s cars are jumping over gaps in the track, similar to the Donkey Kong video games.

So, how could this ride delay in Japan affect Epic Universe?

Well, the same Donkey Kong coaster is under construction at the upcoming Florida park, which is scheduled to open in 2025. So, if there is a problem with the ride system in Japan that delays the ride’s opening further than “late 2024” and the Epic Universe version faces the same issues, it could mean the ride isn’t ready for the latter park’s 2025 opening. 

Universal Japan’s Donkey Kong coaster delays could cause much larger problems for Universal than a simple late ride opening on the other side of the world. Stay tuned to AllEars for more updates on the attraction and Super Nintendo World. 

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Are you excited about the Donkey Kong coaster? Let us know in the comments below.