If you are a The Legend Of Zelda fan and have been wishing for a themed park attraction in one of Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo World parks, then we have some fun stuff to share with you!
According to leaked concept art from multiple sources, the ride attraction might just become a reality. Ever since Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan was announced in early 2017, and got an official release date in February 2021 fans were very excited. Adding to that excitement, enthusiasts recently got a sneak peak of what was inside Super Nintendo World with a special tour from Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. However, fans soon realized that the new theme park was only focused on Super Mario characters, while other Nintendo IPs were absent. Well, that might no longer be the case.
New rumors have surfaced that a possible ride based on Nintendo’s hit video game franchise Legend Of Zelda, might be getting its own attraction. The location of this rumored attraction is said to be potentially located in Orlando’s Universal Studios theme park.
The Legend of Zelda at Super Nintendo World Report
After the announcement of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, Nintendo and Universal announced that they would be making multiple Super Nintendo Worlds in other Universal parks. These other confirmed parks would include Universal Studios Hollywood, Orlando, and Singapore.
When Universal and Nintendo were in discussions in developing a Super Nintendo World in their Orlando theme park, there were rumors of other themed Nintendo lands, besides the Mushroom Kingdom. These rumored Nintendo lands were based on Pokemon, Donkey Kong Country, and The Legend Of Zelda. These Nintendo lands were originally going to be a project in part of Universal Studios Orlando’s Kidzone area. However it was rumored that they got scrapped and instead put more focus into building a Mushroom Kingdom, similar to Universal Studio’s Japan’s Super Nintendo World.
The rumored original KidZone area concept of a Super Nintendo World featured a large indoor Super Mario Attraction (possibly Mario Kart), an outdoor Donkey Kong rollercoaster, multiple play areas, and family rides that included Kirby, a Pokemon Training Academy, and The Legend Of Zelda ride, featuring Hyrule Castle. However the Nintendo property that has gained the most interest from fans is the rumored proposal for The Legend Of Zelda themed attractions.
More The Legend of Zelda Attraction Details
Besides the Kidzone, a The Legend of Zelda themed land could have potentially replace a well-known land in Universal Orlando. This proposed themed land is the Lost Continent and Universal’s Islands Of Adventure Park. According to reports, a concept for The Legend Of Zelda themed land was going to replace Lost Continent. This pitch concept would not have been surprising due to half of the land already being replaced with The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter’s Hogsmade Village.
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The Legend Of Zelda land would include a boat ride based on the video games of the same name. We can assume this boat ride concept might be based on the The Wind Waker game. While concept art for this themed land and boat ride has yet to surface, there are two illustrations of other Legend Of Zelda potential attractions.
Hyrule Castle Theme Ride
One of early The Legend Of Zelda ride concepts featured a family friendly vibe. This ride was reported to include Hyrule Castle as the main attraction. Early concept art showed that guests would be taken inside Hyrule Castle and would feature a theatrical patent called a “Moving Puzzle Theatre”. This strange but unique patent would have let guests in seating maneuvering system similar to the seating system used in the Haunted Mansion attraction in the Disneyland parks.
The Legend of Zelda ride system was reported to include special effects and would involve video images and clips similar to other Universal attraction rides. However each seating arrangements would be different for a particular scene with the main focus on the stationary center in the middle of the showroom. To summarize all of this, the proposed attraction would be a hybrid of a maneuvering ride and a theatre experience. An innovative ride similar to other attractions such as Shrek 4d, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Star Tours, The Simpsons: Ride, Soaring Over California, and Michael Jackson’s Captain EO.
Soaring Over The Kingdom Of Hyrule Ride
There is however another The Legend Of Zelda ride concept and it’s a proposed dark ride. This proposed ride was called “Hybrid Ride Vehicle Systems and Methods”.
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According to sources, this ride would be split into two parts. The first part will have guest enter a boat like system similar to Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s A Small World. Then the second part of the ride would have a unique track system that would lift up the boats, and “fly” guests over the land of Hyrule. The ride system is described as “a ride vehicle configured to move along a path, an aquatic portion of the path defined by a water flow path, and an aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support a bogie. The ride vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the water flow path in response to currents of the water flow path.
The Legend Of Zelda ride vehicle is configured to be carried along the track by the bogie.” Some of the art illustrations show the boat ride about to fall a waterfall until the overhead track system pulls the boat in the last moment. The illustrations also show that the loading area could utilize a conveyor system similar to the ones used in the Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey and Haunted Mansion attractions.
The illustrations then shows how this ride will end with the boat back in the water, by locking it back on the main track. This proposed ride concept is one of the most ambitious pitches that we have ever heard of. But it could also be unique and exciting. Mainly because this would be the first attraction that could have two track systems, aerial and water, both in sync together. The ride system is described “a ride vehicle configured to move along a path, an aquatic portion of the path defined by a water flow path, and an aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support a bogie. The ride vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the water flow path in response to currents of the water flow path. The ride vehicle is configured to be carried along the track by the bogie.” If Universal and Nintendo does make a Zelda themed attraction hopefully this one can become reality. But only time will tell.
The Legend of Zelda Lives On
The Legend Of Zelda franchise will always be a beloved staple in video game history. The franchise created and put out highly successful games such as the first Legend Of Zelda Game, Ocarina Of Time, Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, The Wind Waker, Link Between Worlds, Phantom Hour Glass, and the critical acclaimed Breath Of The Wild.
With Super Nintendo World opening soon at Universal Studios Japan, and other Universal parks in the future, enthusiasts have reason to hope that The Legend Of Zelda themed rides are coming in the future as well. But for now, theme park fans will have to explore the wonderful world of Super Mario and friends in the Mushroom Kingdom. But who knows, if the concept art becomes a reality, The Legend Of Zelda fans can finally explore the magical kingdom of Hyrule in real life.
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Source: /Film, ThemeParkStop
