If you were born 1978 or after, Mario is pretty much equal to Mickey Mouse if not higher.
When I got to Halloween parties even with 20 somethings, there's always Mario/Luigi costumes, even women like to rock them, but Mickey ... no way.
I see more young kids wearing Mario/Luigi hats or t-shirts too versus Mickey Mouse.
Disney really hasn't used Mickey Mouse a lot in the last 30-40 years, there's been no "big" Mickey Mouse movie in a long, long time, Mickey's ears are more synonmous as a symbol for their theme parks now.
If it's for people born before the mid-1970s then yes (people 41 years-80 years old), Mickey Mouse is more recoginized with that group, but people born after the late 70s (people age 7-40)? Mario more than matches up with Mickey.
