While we wait for the real Super Mario theme park to open in the US, we’ll have to make do with watching YouTube videos of LEGO Mario Kart roller coaster rides like the one below. If the rides and other theme park attractions coming to the real-life version are even half as cool as what Beyond the Brick put together, visitors are in for a good time. There’s Bowser’s castle, complete with a lava moat, and a LEGO version of his airship as well. And like with any true Mario Kart track, Lakitu sits on a cloud with a traffic light to start the race. The Mario Kart roller coaster build is full of tiny details to delight Mario fans of all ages.
The roller coaster itself looks amazing but the other theme park details are what really make this design remarkable. Lots of LEGO minifigs queue for the ride, with parts of the line hidden from view inside the castle. There’s also lines for the photo ops with characters like Mario and Toadette, plus LEGO gift shops selling swag. Shade in the shape of Mario Kart‘s famous colored shells sit above the picnic area. That’s definitely something we’d love to see in the real-life theme park—along with huge Piranha Plants, Chain Chomps, and flying Goombas, of course.
The Beyond the Brick YouTube channel often highlights amazing LEGO builds at conventions around the world. But this video about their own creation shows off a real feat of design and engineering. There’s a time lapse, but it also takes a deep dive that shows off everything that went into the build. It explains all the motors and programming involved to run the roller coaster and to get the airship cannons and propellers to move. It even includes some Technic and DUPLO pieces to get everything just right.
If you want to make your own Mario-themed LEGO set, there’s plenty of options, like a massive Bowser and a Nintendo 64 anniversary Question Mark Cube.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She always plays Princess Peach in Mario Kart. Or Yoshi. Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
