Water Park

Water Park is the second race track of the Mushroom Cup in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This course takes place in an amusement park with submarines that travel along the track and balloons that float out of pipes. Nokis, Toads, and several yachts fill the area as well. There are thirty coins located on this track.

Course layout
Water Park appears to be a flooded amusement park that is water themed. The course starts at the entrance to a ride known as the Sub Coaster. After going through the entrance building and turning right twice, the course splits into two jumps leading into a short underwater section. Soon after that, the course approaches a large anti gravity loop. On this loop, as well as before it, characters can hit the Marine Coasters and get a boost because they have Spin Boost Pillars on their bottoms. After the large loop, the track once again goes underwater leading to a curve around an Aqua Cups ride. Shortly after the turn is another one that leads to a Glide Ramp, which approaches another ride called the W Wheel as well as the finish line behind it.

When Lakitu is holding the start signal, he is shown on the left side of the player. When crossing the finish line to begin the next lap, he’s also shown on the left side of the player, holding the lap count signs.

A partially flooded hotel and the Waluigi Sea Bed rollercoaster can be seen in the background. Yachts and boats are also visible in the background. This course also appears on some of the posters for the sponsor Galaxy Air.

In 200cc, due to the gliding pad before the finish line, it is possible to touch the finish line banner, although it is not programmed to have any special interaction with the player when doing so.

The W Wheel is featured in a badge in Mario Kart Tour.

Shortcuts

 * Players can use a Mushroom to boost across the Aqua Cups ride instead of taking the turn around it.

Staff ghost
The staff ghost for this track is Baby Luigi on the Mr. Scooty, with a time of 2:02.954. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 200cc, the staff ghost is Baby Mario with a time of 1:22.799.

Posters
The map of the course is seen on some billboards around the course, likewise with Rainbow Road,, and in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Merry Mountain. Posters in the entrance for the Sub Coaster show the structure of the Sub Coaster cars, the structure of a Mecha Cheep, and the height requirement for the ride (being taller than a Goomba). The poster for "History of the Submarine" indicates that the first generation model was manufactured in 1987, the year Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race, the first racing game to feature Mario characters, was released; similarly, the most recent model is stated to have been manufactured in 2014, the year Mario Kart 8 itself was released in.

Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack liner note
"We were aiming to capture the excitement of a theme park or festival, with the bass laying down a Latin rhythm along with a lively brass section and drums. When you're underwater, the upbeat music changes just a little bit."

Trivia

 * The Aqua Cups ride has the merry-go-round music from Big Boo's Haunt in Super Mario 64.
 * The giant loop in the middle of the track can be found twice on the course icon.

Wasserpark Parco Acquatico