Ever since Despicable Me came out in 2010, the Minions from that film have become something of a cultural phenomenon. While the movie itself spawned its own sequels, the Minions got their own spinoff franchise, including two movies that focus solely on these lovable yellow characters.
So, it makes sense that the Minions and the world of Despicable Me would be turned into a theme park attraction. Now, when you visit Universal Studios Orlando, you can stop at Minion Land. This brand-new section of the park has quite a bit to offer, so let’s take a closer look at what these mischievous gremlins are up to.
A Brief Overview of Minion Land
Minion Land officially opened at Universal Orlando on August 11th, 2023. So, it hasn’t even been a year since its grand opening (as of this writing, at least), but it’s already making waves. Part of the reason why Minion Land has generated so much buzz is that it’s one of the first things you see when coming into the park.
Although it’s called Minion Land, everyone from the Despicable Me universe is here to help you and your family have a great time. You can get photos with Gru, Margo, Jean Clawed, and plenty more villains. Because of the exaggerated nature of the films’ design, Minion Land has a funky, otherworldly feel to it. You almost feel like you’ve stepped into a cartoon, and it’s hard to tell where reality ends, and Despicable Me begins.
Another reason why this attraction is so entertaining is that it allows you to indulge in your more villainous side. While you don’t necessarily commit crimes or perform nefarious deeds, you get to train to become a villain and let some of your inhibitions down.
Most Popular Attractions
While there aren’t enough attractions to fill an entire day, you can spend most of your time at Universal Orlando in Minion Land and not get bored. There are two rides, one photo-op location, one restaurant, one bakery, and two walk-up treat stands. Plus, you can buy all kinds of Despicable Me-themed gear and souvenirs from one of two shops within the district.
Here’s a breakdown of each attraction.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
This ride was already at Universal Orlando before they created Minion Land, so if you’ve been to the park in the past few years, you’ve likely ridden it. However, “ride” is a bit misleading, as it is a virtual motion-simulated attraction that makes you feel like you’re traveling the world, even though you don’t move anywhere.
The story of this ride is that Gru is trying to enact his latest villainous scheme, and you (and everyone else) turn into minions to help him achieve his goal of world domination. For those who experience motion sickness, you can opt for stationary seats that don’t move with the action.
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
This is a new attraction for Minion Land, and it’s both a physical ride and a motion-simulated animated experience. You stand on a moving walkway, holding a blaster in your hand. The goal of this ride is to cause as much mayhem as possible, blasting virtually everything in sight. If you cause enough damage, you may make it into the Villainous 6, a group created for the latest Minion movie, The Rise of Gru.
This ride has a unique feature where you can link your blaster to the Universal app. The app will track your score and unlock secret missions. So, the more you ride Minion Blast, the better you can get, and you may even make it to the Top Ten Villain List for the day.
Minion’s Café
Helping Gru and causing mayhem can make you work up an appetite, and the Minion’s Cafe is there to help you replenish your energy reserves. The entire menu is Despicable Me-themed, from the Minion-shaped tater tots to the banana-flavored drink “The Antidote.” However, unlike other themed restaurants, this café has something of a gourmet streak.
For example, you can order Lucy’s Top Secret Salmon, which is a salmon filet coupled with coconut blue rice, Thai cucumbers, and edamame. Similarly, you can indulge in Agnes’ Honeymoon Soup, which is green tomato soup and crispy pork belly served with a pimento cheddar grilled cheese sandwich.
For dessert, we highly recommend the Fluffy Unicorn Cupcake or the Minion Swiss Roll.
Bake My Day
While you can get dessert at Minion’s Café, you can also walk around the building and enter Bake My Day. This bakery serves all kinds of sweet treats and confections to indulge your sweet tooth. After all, you’re walking on the wild side when you’re in Minion Land, so why not partake in cookies, cupcakes, and pastries? Plus, you can get some of the same options (like the Minion Swiss Roll) as you could at the café, so it’s a win-win situation.
Pop-A-Nana Popcorn and Freeze Ray Pops
This popcorn stand is walk-up only, and you can buy banana-flavored (or regular) popcorn to munch on as you walk through the rest of the park. Or, if you’re a bit hot and want something to cool off, you can go to Freeze Ray Pops and buy a deliciously sweet popsicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get to Minion Land without going into Universal Studios?
No, Minion Land is part of the Universal Studios experience, just like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Springfield from The Simpsons. So, you have to buy a ticket to the entire park to enjoy this district.
Is there more than one Minion Land?
No, this attraction is only available at Universal Studios Orlando. So, if you’re visiting the theme park in California, you won’t be able to enjoy the Minions. However, Universal Hollywood does have Super Mario World instead.
What are the hours of operation?
Minion Land is open at the same time as the park, which can vary from day to day. Usually, the hours are either 9 am to 6, 7, or 8 pm.
Book Tickets to Minion Land and Universal Studios as a Boardwalk Travel Agent
If you love all things Minions, you may be eager to book a trip to Universal Studios Orlando. Fortunately, if you sign up as a travel agent with Boardwalk Travel Agency, you can make those dreams a reality! As a travel agent, you get access to special deals and discounts unavailable to the general public. Best of all, you can book trips with these deals for yourself, your family members, or your friends.
If you want to learn more about Universal, check out our article about how to become a Universal Studios travel agent.
In addition to Universal Studios, Boardwalk connects you with other theme parks like Disney, so you can experience all the thrills and excitement Orlando has to offer. Join Boardwalk Travel Agency today!
