Stepping into Super Nintendo World Orlando feels like jumping straight into a video game—and the Power-Up Band is your key to unlocking the full adventure. More than just a souvenir, this interactive wristband transforms your visit into an immersive, game-like experience. This guide will help you understand what the Power-Up Band is, how it works, and whether it’s worth adding to your Universal Orlando experience.
When visiting the Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe you can purchase Power-Bands that enhance your visit and make the land and rides a fully immersive interactive experience.
From collecting virtual coins to battling Bowser Jr., the Power-Up Band turns the entire land into your personal playground. Whether you’re a lifelong Mario fan or bringing your kids to meet their favorite characters, the Power-Up Band is a fun addition to your visit to the Universal Epic Universe.
My initial thought when I heard about the Power Bands was that they sound fun, but is it really worth it? I have 3 teens and I wasn’t sure if this would be a worthwhile experience for them during our time at Epic Universe.
After purchasing them I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we all had. They are very easy to use and I think will be a great addition for guests of all ages.
Let’s get into all the details and planning tips to help you decide if the Power Up Bands at Super Nintendo World are worth including in your Universal Trip.
What are Power Up Bands
Power Up Bands are wrist bands similar to Disney MagicBands or Volcano Bay Tapu Tapu. Guests choose a design, currently 8 different character options, and wear the bands throughout Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
At different spots in the land guests will find interactive bricks, animatronics, and activities to collect stamps and coins. There are stamps to collect in the queue for the 3 rides as well.
Where to Buy & How Much they Cost
You can buy Power-UP Bands at 1-Up Factory, Mario Motors, Nintendo Super Star Store. We purchased our bands at a cart outside the 1-Up Factory. This was close to the Donkey Kong Country portal.
I also expect more of the Universal stores to start selling bands in the future.
Power Up Bands cost $45.00 plus tax. They can be used at Universal Studios Hollywood and the Universal parks in Japan.
How Do Power Bands Work
Power Bands are actually really easy to use. Here are the steps:
- Download the Universal Orlando app and create a log-in. Do this before you arrive in the park. If you forget you can still do it in the park but Wi-Fi can be spotty. My kids had no issues doing it once we purchased the bands.
- Go the Universal Play in the Super Nintendo World area of the app. Scan your band. From there you can set up your profile and start collecting stamps and coins.
- Guests can see a leaderboard for the day and all the stamps collected.
- When you walk around the park you will see places to scan your band or bricks to punch. It took us less than 5 minutes from purchase to use during our visit.
Power Up Band Key Challenges and Interactive Activities
There are multiple interactive activities within the land. They are
- Goomba Crazy Crank
- Piranha Plant Nap Mishap
- Koope Troopa POWer Punch
- Bob-omb Kaboom Room
- Thwomp Panel Picnic
Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Guests complete challenge to collect at least 3 keys and you get access to confront Bowser Jr. to recover the Golden Mushroom. This was super fun to do! It is really interactive.
One of the really cool things was that my husband and I were allowed to access the challenge without bands as long as we were with our kids who had bands.
This is great for parents that may not want to purchase bands for themselves. We are a family of five and purchased 3 bands for the kids. At times I would use my daughters and we would take turns.
Rides with Power Up Band Experiences
All the rides at Super Nintendo World including Yoshi’s Adventure, Marion Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and Mine-Cart Madness have interactive elements where you can collect stamps.
Tips to Maximize Your Power Up Band Experience
One important thing to remember when using the Power Up Bands is to use your fist, not the band when punching blocks and collecting stamps.
Plan to use the bands early in the day or later in the evening. When crowds are high, expect wait times for certain key stations and the entire area to be busy.
If you have two days at Epic Universe I would save this for after you do the rides and then go at your own pace. If you have one day at Epic Universe try to purchase the Power Bands before you arrive at the park. This will allow you to get started when you are in line for rides and as you enter the portal.
If your child does not have a phone parents can add up to 10 bands onto one Universal account.
Don’t stress about what you might not get done and enjoy what you do experience. This land is so fun and immersive everyone will enjoy using the bands. We didn’t get all the stamps and coins but we had a blast trying to!
Final Thoughts: Are Power Bands Worth It?
I am going to say 100% I think the Power Bands are worth it! They were a really fun addition to our visit. It was fun to check out the leaderboard and see where our standing were amongst other park guests.
Do you need to purchase a Power Up Band to enjoy the land? Absolutely not. If you have little ones they may not even know about them you can save the money and just enjoy the land. The rides, character meet and greets, and Toadstool Cafe offer more than enough areas to explore.
For us it was totally worth it! The Power Bands work as a fun souvenir from the park as well as an engaging experience during our trip. They can also be used on consecutive visits, much like the Harry Potter wands, making it something that is useful for your next trip.
I think this is going to be a hit with families of all ages and a great addition to Universal Epic Universe.
Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
