Minions invade Universal Studios Hollywood themepark

Michella Mousaed

The grand opening of the new Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride invites Minion movie lovers everywhere to rejoice in a little land of their own, among them was senior Harry Fanthorpe.

Photo from universalstudioshollywood.com
Minion Mayhem replicates the neighborhood as seen in “Despicable Me.” Photo from universalstudioshollywood.com

“The best aspect of the ride is that it takes you on an adventure into the minion world,” Fanthorpe said. “It tells a story while exploring Gru’s laboratory.”

The new ride features a dance party and an adventure through Gru’s Laboratory where he is testing new minion recruits to see if they have potential to become apart of the minion phenomenon. The riders are the minion recruits.

The ride can fit 192 people in the screening room and individual vehicles can fit four people. Minion Mayhem is a 3-D animation ride where the vehicle moves up and down while the screen stays in place but the 3-D glasses riders wear make movements more lively.

After a year of construction at its end, the ride officially opened on April 12. The grand opening featured a yellow carpet event featuring “Despicable Me” voice actors, Miranda Cosgrove who voices Margo and Steve Carell who voices Gru.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “the minion ride is part of Universal’s $1.6-billion, 25-year expansion, including construction of a highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction.” In order to expand, Minion Mayhem replaced Terminator 2: 3-D: Battle Across Time.

Photo from universalstudioshollywood.com
Photo from universalstudioshollywood.com

Not only is this ride bigger than the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride in Orlando, Florida but it also was modeled after it. Now that Los Angeles has its own, guests pack the Despicable Me themed area due to the water attraction called Super Silly Fun Land which is modeled after the theme-park in the movie. It also includes Gru’s Cafe alongside a cart where you can win a fluffy unicorn.

The press release from Universal Studios Hollywood Publicity stated, “Together, ‘Despicable Me Minion Mayhem’ and ‘Super Silly Fun Land’ represent a distinct, immersive environment within the theme park – reimagined to fully engage guests in the world of Gru, his girls and the Minions, – joining Universal Studios Hollywood’s dynamic roster of award-winning themed attractions.”