What do Mario and Universal Studios Orlando have in common? Not much..yet! Current sources and filed permits point to a Mario World being added to Universal Studios Orlando in the near future. With a recent acquisition of 500 acres of land off Universal Boulevard and permits cited with the city of Orlando that include a 8.8-acre area slotted out for Super Mario Land (slated to include both a Donkey Kong and Mario Kart section) this is gearing up for a possible opportunity for Universal to increase its IP branding just in time as it loses more film IP properties to Disney.
Following Disney’s acquisition of the 20th Century Fox properties which includes a few of the key area franchises Universal is currently using, Universal will need to look hard for more IPs to attract future visitors. Pushing the Nintendo World and Gaming areas is key as it pulls in a demographic outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter fandom that Universal Studios Orlando has yet to truly tap into. Will it be enough to attract visitors to the area of the Orlando park that has seen a serious dwindle in attendance as more and more play areas are closed down? That will depend on if sources are correct and how fast Universal Studios Orlando can copy its overseas counterparts and get this are implemented.
Time will tell if the sources close to this prove to be accurate and what Universal Studios Orlando will do as their next big thing to compete with the Mouse juggernaught just around the corner.
Here is the trailer for the Japan Park below:
As always we will keep you update as we hear more about this interesting expansion at Universal Studios orlando and other locations.