Donkey Kong Country opened inside Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka on December 11, 2024. Its headline attraction, Mine Cart Madness, is a family coaster that appears to leap across broken tracks as riders join Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong on a mission to protect the Golden Banana. The expansion also adds a jungle-themed setting, interactive play, character encounters, food and merchandise.
What is Donkey Kong Country, and where is it?
Donkey Kong Country is an expansion of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka, Japan. USJ said the expansion increased the existing area’s size by 70% when it announced the land in 2024. That figure describes the size of the USJ expansion, not attendance or a visitor statistic. USJ’s November 2024 announcement introduced the new area and its attractions.
The name is also used for the Donkey Kong area at Super Nintendo World in Universal Epic Universe in Orlando. The information below focuses on USJ: ride specifications and entry procedures are park-specific, so they should not be assumed to apply in Orlando. Nintendo’s preview of the USJ land identifies it as the Japan expansion.
What is Mine Cart Madness like?
A jungle adventure built around the Golden Banana
Mine Cart Madness is the land’s signature coaster. Its story sends riders alongside Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they race to protect the Golden Banana from the Tiki Tak Tribe. The ride begins with a launch from a barrel cannon at the Golden Temple, then travels through a jungle setting with effects including splashing water.
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The most striking effect is the apparent jump over a collapsed section of track. The leap is part of the ride’s themed design and illusion; it is not a real gap the vehicle simply clears in an ordinary jump. In its 2024 announcement, USJ called Mine Cart Madness a “first-of-its-kind family coaster”—the operator’s promotional description. Universal Creative producer Daniel Greer said the design would make riders “seemingly jump over gaps” in the November 12, 2024 announcement. Read USJ’s announcement.
Ride time, vehicle and height requirements
USJ’s current Mine Cart Madness page describes an approximately two-minute experience in a vehicle with two rows of two seats. Current listed height requirements are at least 122 cm to ride without a supervising companion, or at least 107 cm with one. The opening announcement in 2024 gave the same thresholds in terms of a chaperone for riders from 107 to 122 cm. Check the current official ride page before visiting, since restrictions and operations can change.
Rank #2
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What else is in the land?
The coaster is only one part of the area. USJ presents Donkey Kong Country as a tropical jungle with real-world recreations of places from the games. The Golden Temple is a prominent landmark, and its interior mural builds the setting before riders board Mine Cart Madness.
- Interactive play: USJ describes a full-body play experience and lists Power-Up Band Key Challenges among the area’s activities.
- Character encounter: Visitors may have an opportunity to meet Donkey Kong. The opening-day release also described an activity where guests could meet Rambi the rhinoceros.
- Food and shopping: The current area directory lists Jungle Beat Shakes and the shop Funky’s Fly ’n’ Buy. Offerings and operations may change.
- Photos: The directory lists Donkey Kong photo opportunities.
These are operator-listed experiences, not guarantees that every activity, character appearance or item will be available on a particular visit. Consult the current USJ Donkey Kong Country page for the live directory.
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- Jump, roll, and stomp through Donkey Kong Island in this 2D platforming adventure
- Help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Nintendo Switch! Stomp enemies, blast through barrels
- Play the game as it was first designed for Wii, or reduce the difficulty for extra hearts and other goodies to make your journey a little easier. This barrel-blasting adventure is visually enhanced
- Team up with a friend and take on the whole game as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong
- Region-free compatibility: Region-free/unlocked game works on compatible systems; international version may differ in age rating, labeling or instructions
Is Donkey Kong Country open, and how do you get in?
Yes. The USJ land opened on December 11, 2024, and Mine Cart Madness is its headline attraction. However, access to the area may require an Area Timed Entry Ticket: Advance Booking or a same-day Area Timed Entry Ticket or Standby Entry Ticket, depending on conditions. USJ says that from January 5, 2026, guests need its official app to obtain same-day timed-entry and standby-entry tickets.
Check the official area page and app guidance close to your travel date. A standard park admission ticket alone should not be treated as a guarantee of entry to Donkey Kong Country or Super Nintendo World when area tickets are required. Ticket rules, availability and attraction operations can change.
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- Team up with a friend and take on the whole game as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong
- Pass a Joy-Con controller to a buddy and take on the Tiki Tak Tribe as DK and Diddy in two-player local play. Pelt foes with Diddy’s Peanut Popgun and hover using his Barrel Jet, and slam bad guys into submission with DK’s Ground Pound—or just Barrel Roll right through them. Work together to reclaim those bananas by the bunch!
How does the USJ land differ from Epic Universe?
Donkey Kong Country is also part of Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, but the available details here do not establish that the two lands have identical layouts, ride restrictions or entry procedures. USJ’s height limits and app-based same-day area-entry guidance apply to the Japan park, not automatically to Orlando. Universal Orlando’s 2024 preview said Power-Up Bands support interactive play in Donkey Kong Country at Epic Universe, but it is not a current visitor guide and does not establish cross-park compatibility. For Orlando planning, check Universal Orlando’s own current guidance rather than relying on USJ rules. Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe preview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the expansion stands out to Donkey Kong fans
The land translates familiar game imagery into a place to explore, rather than making the coaster the only attraction. Its temple, jungle scenery, interactive play and character encounters give the visit a broader Donkey Kong theme, while Mine Cart Madness turns the series’ mine-cart sequences into a family ride. At the USJ opening on December 11, 2024, Nintendo Representative Director and Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto said the land included gameplay and design from Donkey Kong and could be enjoyed by the whole family. USJ’s opening-day release.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Take control of Donkey Kong and his buddies as they try to get back their stolen bananas from invaders from the polar regions
- Travel through a variety of environments, including Jungles, Deserts and Forests spread over 7 worlds
- Play through the entire game with a buddy in local co-op
- This version adds Funky Mode and a new playable character, Funky Kong (only available in Funky Mode) these additions are aimed at making the game more accessible for inexperienced players
- Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
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