Getting to Know Universal – Minion Land at Universal Studios Florida

Everyone loves the Minions, from young kids to grandparents sharing memes on Facebook. Now our favorite giant, yellow Tic-Tacs are getting their own mini-land in Universal Studios Florida. In today’s article, I will cover all you need to know about Minion Land – from the rides all the way to the desserts.

What is Minion Land?

Minion Land is a new mini-land opening inside Universal Studios Florida featuring the characters from the Despicable Me franchise of films. Previously known as Plaza of the Stars in Production Central, the land annexes Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and adds the new VillainCon: Minion Blast attraction, Minion Cafe restaurant, souvenir shops, and meet and greet locations. This is a cute and fun land but not an immersive one like Diagon Alley.

Which Attractions Are in Minion Land?

There are two attractions in Minion Land – Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and VillainCon: Minion Blast.

Minion Mayhem is the same attraction that opened in 2012, minus the 3D glasses. Guests walk into Gru’s house and through the secret entrance to his workshop. Here we learn Gru plans to turn us into a minion for a very important mission but his adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnus have other plans. You see today just so happens to be the anniversary of the day Gru adopted them but worry Gru’s too involved with his new “turn humans into minions” plot.

Once inside Gru’s lab guests board a four-person vehicle for a motion simulator ride in front of a large screen. The vehicles buck and pitch, but the ride intensity is much lower than that of Transformers or The Simpsons Ride. Guests who do not meet the height requirement or who do not want to be jostled around can sit in stationary seating at the front of the theater. The ride takes us through a minion training facility as we work together to not only save the gorls but also help Gru throw the best Adoption Anniversary party ever. We rate it four stars out of five and a must-see.

NEW for the summer of 2023 is Villain-Con: Minion Blast, an attraction so fun it’s a crime. Villain-Con is the world’s largest convention for supervillains and evil henchmen, and this year it’s at Universal Orlando. Show the criminals you deserve a spot among the Vicious 6 by causing as much chaos as you can with your E-liminator X blaster. The blaster is actually a high-tech game controller that wireless connections to the attraction. Guests blast targets and cause general mayhem for points and the blaster synchs to the Universal Orlando app to track your high scores.

On rides like Men in Black or Toy Story Midway Mania guests sit and are restrained in a ride vehicle, but not on Minion Blast. Since VillainCon is a convention guests will instead glide past show scenes while standing on a moving walkway. Yes, this means any child who can stand or is in a wheelchair can ride. Huzzah! At the end of the ride, guests tally their scores and drop off their blasters for re-assignment.

Villain-Con: Minion Blast opens this summer, but Universal has not provided an opening date. We are expecting the attraction to open in July.

Does Minion Land Have a Restaurant?

The new Minion Cafe serves up a heaping of unique food options inspired by the Minions movies. Boys and gorls can choose from fun melts with minion-shaped tater tots to Minion-themed noodle bowls. Adults have the options of soups, bowls, and sandwiches, including the Steak & Cheese Ray Sandwich served with banana chips (get it?). Once your food is ordered pick if you want to sit in the Minion’s breakroom or the more formal (for a Minion) Dining Room.

Desserts, snacks, and frozen drinks are found attached to Minion Cafe at three new small shops:

• Bake My Day – Retail bakery featuring cupcakes and other over-the-top baked items
• Freeze Ray Pops – Popscycles and drinks
• Pop-A-Nana – Popcorn shop with wild flavor options and fancy popcorn buckets

Fun Fact: Did you know Universal is offering a five-day ticket for the price of two-days? This new deal runs through this summer only, request a quote for tickets or a complete vacation through Touring Plans Travel.

Where Can I Get Some Minion Merch?

Looking for a Stuart mug or an IT’S SO FLUFFY! plush? You’ll find them at the two Minions shops in the land:

• Super Silly Stuff – Despicable Me themed shop attached to Minion Mayhem. Fluffly plush and cute items the gorls would love.
• Evil Stuff – Evil stuff, ya know. Located next to Minion Blast this shop focuses on the evil side of the Minions. Features gadgets like a toy version of the blaster from the attraction.

Can I Meet A Minion?

Yes! Minions are found in the exit to Minion Mayhem and next to Bake My Day at the Illumination Theater.

Touring Plans Tips

Minions Land is the first thing guests see when entering the park so many gravitate to it first, similar to Spaceship Earth at Epcot. We expect both attractions will have long lines from the park opening till the early afternoon. To reduce your waiting, ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Villain-Con Minion Blast between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm, or during the last half hour the park is open.