4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Riding Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge at Epic Universe

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is one of the most hyped attractions at Epic Universe, and I totally get why.

It’s fast, it’s interactive, and it pulls you right into the world of Mario in a way that’s genuinely impressive. But after riding it for the first time, I walked off with a solid list of things I really wish I had known going in—and now I’m here to help you avoid the same confusion I had. Here are the biggest things I wish I knew before jumping on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.

Don’t Do Single Rider Your First Time (Even If the Line is Long)

I did single rider. I waited maybe 20 minutes while the standby line was pushing two hours. Sounds like a win, right? It was… kind of. The catch? You skip pretty much the entire queue experience—including what I now assume is some sort of pre-show that actually explains how the ride works.

Instead, I was basically tossed into a kart, handed a visor, and the next thing I knew we were off and racing. There’s a LOT going on in this ride—steering, aiming, collecting coins, shooting shells—and if you don’t get the walkthrough ahead of time, it’s honestly overwhelming. Fun, yes. But also like getting thrown into the middle of a video game with no tutorial.

If it’s your first time riding, I recommend sticking with the regular line at least once so you’re not totally lost like I was.

The Visor Isn’t Always Your Friend (Especially If You Have Braids)

Let’s talk about the ride gear. To experience the AR (augmented reality) part of the attraction, you wear a visor that locks into a headband thing they put on you before you board. Sounds easy enough, but if your hair isn’t styled just right? Pain.

I had my hair up in dragon braids—think multiple tight sections held with several hair ties—and that did not play well with the visor. The way the headgear presses against your scalp made it super uncomfortable, and by the end of the ride I had a full-blown headache.

If you’re planning to ride this one, consider your hairstyle ahead of time. Anything bulky or pulled tight might make your experience way less enjoyable.

It’s AR, But It’s Also Real (So Where Are You Supposed to Look?)

This was something I didn’t realize until halfway through the ride: there’s a full mix of physical sets AND virtual overlays happening at the same time. The visor adds characters, coins, enemies, and effects, but the sets around you are totally real and really detailed.

As a longtime Mario Kart fan, I wanted to take it all in—but the game happening in your visor kind of demands your attention. It’s not like other theme park rides where you sit back and enjoy the visuals. You’re playing an actual game while moving through a full-blown set, and honestly, it was a little hard to balance both. I kept catching myself trying to admire the surroundings but also not wanting to lose the match.

If you’re a fan of the game and want to soak in the atmosphere, you may not care much about your “score.” But if you’re competitive like me, you’ll be too focused on aiming and steering to really enjoy the physical world around you.

The Sound in the Queue is LOUD

This one caught me off guard. The queue is massive, and it’s built with a lot of open space and hard surfaces—which means sound bounces. Even though I skipped most of it with single rider, I still noticed how noisy the space is. Voices echo, effects blare, and the whole thing can feel a little overstimulating, especially if you’re someone who’s sensitive to sound.

If you’re waiting in standby or traveling with kids who get overwhelmed by sensory input, just be aware that the noise level here is higher than most other indoor queues.

There you have it—my top lessons from riding Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. It’s a seriously cool experience and unlike anything else at Epic Universe right now, but going in blind definitely made my first time more confusing than it needed to be. Hopefully this helps you feel a little more ready than I was.

Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Universal’s newest park.