Epic Universe may be Universal Orlando Resort’s shiny new bragging right, but let’s be real — it’s not running without a few speed bumps. Since opening earlier this year, the park has given fans jaw-dropping lands and groundbreaking rides, but it’s also served up a fair share of opening-year headaches.
One of those headaches became a particularly troubling moment with Donkey Kong.
A World-Building Showcase
Epic Universe feels more like its own resort than just another park. Themed lands are packed with big-budget attractions, all meticulously designed to pull you inside a blockbuster movie or game.
In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, riders board Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a trackless dark ride that throws you into a magical showdown. The Floo Network Transit is also a transport-style attraction that whisks you “magically” from one location to another.
Over in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, guests take flight on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders or spin through Dragon Racer’s Rally. A live stunt show, The Untrainable Dragon, keeps the Viking energy going.
Universal even gave its monsters a playground with Dark Universe. You can face Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment or hop on Curse of the Werewolf for something a little lighter.
And smack in the middle is Celestial Park, home to Starfall Racers, competing coasters with 5,000 feet of track, and the Constellation Carousel, which trades horses for glowing cosmic creatures.
The Nintendo Centerpiece
Still, it’s SUPER NINTENDO WORLD that’s making the most noise. It’s designed like a real-life game level, complete with moving Goombas, coin blocks, and an earworm soundtrack.
You can race through Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge with AR visors, take a gentle spin on Yoshi’s Adventure, or tackle the high-energy Mine-Cart Madness, the Donkey Kong coaster that “jumps” broken tracks using a hidden rail system.
Of course, that same high-tech system has already caused a few… let’s say, memorable moments.
The TikTok That Says It All
A viral TikTok from @dlovegocrazy recently caught one of those moments in action. The video shows Mine-Cart Madness finishing its run — but one guest can’t get out. Their lap bar refuses to release, leaving them stranded in the seat while multiple Universal team members try to figure out how to free them.
They push, pull, and check mechanisms — all while the guest sits there, phone in hand, waiting for the magic to happen. It’s not exactly the immersive experience Universal had in mind.
How long were they stuck? Long enough to make a TikTok about it. And that says plenty.
A Pattern Emerging
This isn’t some earth-shattering safety failure, but it’s also not nothing. Universal’s newest crown jewel is still finding its footing, and for every wow-worthy ride moment, there’s a little glitch lurking in the background. In this case, it was a stubborn lap bar. Next time? Who knows.
Why Fans Keep Coming Back
Even with these hiccups, Mine-Cart Madness is at the top of must-do lists. It’s fun for Donkey Kong fans and thrill-seekers alike, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD delivers many “wow” moments.
But for a park hyped as the next level in theme park design, Epic Universe has a few more coins to collect before it’s truly running like clockwork.
