Next-Level Role Play: Buying a Nintendo Power-Up Band or Harry Potter Wands at Epic Universe? Here's What to Know

You can battle the infamous Bowser with general park admission, but you'll need a $40 NFC-infused slap bracelet to fight his son. Universal's Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida uses tech to create extra levels of immersion in theme parks. Guests feel like they're the main character in different lands. But going deeper in a story can cost more, as with the Power-Up Bands of Super Nintendo World. They keep score and unlock new levels, but they aren't included in the price of entry. Over at a new Harry Potter land, set in 1920s Paris, wands starting at $65 can perform new tricks and cause a stir with improvisational actors walking around. More advanced wands can track your progress on an app and reveal new secrets in alleyways. I visited Epic Universe during its grand opening in May to learn more about how the tech works and talk to the teams behind the design of this next evolution in theme park design, which you can watch in the video embedded above. I was on a quest to fin ... Read full article.