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Assemble the Minions!
Gru and his minions are working on a super-secret project and he needs some extra help from the park guests. Margo, Edith and Agnes take you through “Minion Training” to prepare you to become a minion.
After undergoing “Minion training,” things go awry and you’re taken on a journey throughout Gru’s laboratory on a wild 3-D experience. Will Gru succeed in carrying out his secret plan? Find out in this action-packed motion simulator based off the successful franchise Despicable Me!
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Checklist
Duration
The actual ride is 4 minutes long, while the two preshows add up to ten minutes.
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes, ask for assistance. You will need to transfer from wheelchair to the ride vehicle. Stationary seats are available.
Flash Photography and Video Taping Policy
Photography (no flash) is permitted in queues only. No photography or videotaping permitted during the ride.
Height Restrictions
You must be 40” to ride. Children between 40” and 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Gate A Entrance
The Gate A – or Front of Line – entrance can be found underneath Gru’s house alongside the normal guest entrance. Simply show your pass to a team member, and you’ll be directed to a separate queue for priority access.
Child Switch
Yes. Child Switch provides the opportunity for your party to experience Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem while you wait behind with your child. When your party is finished, you’ll reverse roles – you ride, while your party waits. You’ll be handed a Child Switch Pass (that’s valid for up to two guests) to guarantee your place in line. Be sure to read our Child Switch guide for more information on Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and other attractions at Universal.
Child Friendly?
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is child friendly, with fun animation and a family-oriented theme that should be fun for all ages. With that in mind, there are loud noises and dark environments that most would equate to an average movie theater. Refer to the intensity meter below for a detailed explanation.
Intensity Meter
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is child friendly. With that in mind, this attraction does contain simulated heights and jarring movements that may be too intense for young children. Do keep in mind that a 40 inch height requirement is required to ride, and children under 48 inches will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Tips
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem Seating
Despicable Me: Minion is a motion simulator attraction housed in a theater-style setting.
As you enter the main boarding room, follow the delineated path that is in line with your row. Some guests stray away from the path which can lead to confusion. Once you enter the ride vehicle with four per row, you’ll be instructed to pull down the lap bar when it is appropriate to do so.
Seating tends to be tricky to handle when loading into this ride. Keep in mind that each vehicle has four seats and your family may be separated. If you have a party greater than 4, be sure to decide on who will sit with who before entering the boarding room to expedite the process.
Have the number of people in your party ready!
As we outlined above, each ride vehicle houses a total of four people per row with two rows. As you approach the first preshow room, a team member will request the number of people in your party. Have your number ready to expedite the queueing process.
Personal belongings may be kept between your feet
Personal items can be placed between your feet on the floor of the ride vehicle.
Our Take: From our Editors
With the addition of yet another 3D motion simulator ride, does Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem meet the expectations of what Universal Studios Hollywood is capable of?
Kaley Cyrino – Inside Universal Editor
With Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem brings another 3D motion simulator ride experience. Much like The Simpsons Ride and Shrek 4D, guests are put into a fictional world where we are made to feel like we are a part of the story. In my opinion, I think the overall story and experience is well done.
First, the outdoor facades of Gru’s house and Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls are very well done and very interactive. This area provides great photo opportunities for the Despicable Me fan. They also have a meet and greet area set up where you can meet the different characters of the movie including Gru, Agnes, Margo, and Edith.
For those of you who experienced Terminator 2:3D, you will notice that the outdoor queue is no different in terms of set up. Throughout the queue you have video screens with Minion Training videos to prepare you to become a minion. The outdoor queue is not very exciting but that all changes once you enter the first room. Set up like Gru’s living room, the walls are decorated with family pictures, embarrassing baby pictures of Gru, drawings from the girls, and much more. This is probably my favorite room in the entire experience.
As you move into the pre-show room, you are transported to Gru’s laboratory. This is where Gru interacts with the guests and prepares you to become a minion. It’s pretty humorous and incorporates practical effects such as the fart gun.
“In the simplest of terms, this ride is a 3D show experienced in a seat that dips and tilts
After the preshow, you are loaded into the ride where you undergo your minion transformation. The story itself is very well done and the ride is as interactive as it can be considering its lack of practical effects. Once the ride is complete, you are taken through the Minion Dance Party that features songs from the soundtrack as well as video screens to watch yourself dance. This room lets out into the Despicable Me store, which then lets out into Super Silly Fun Land.
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of 3D motion simulator rides; I prefer practical sets and effects. One thing I really enjoyed about Transformers: The Ride 3D was their integration of practical effects and 3D technology. When I first rode Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, I was surprised to see what I would consider a lack of effort in comparison to Transformers. In the simplest of terms, this ride is a 3D show experienced in a seat that dips and tilts. The most interactive parts of the experience are the pre-show and the dance party at the end.
Overall, I would say the ride is mediocre in comparison to what I expected it to be. With that said, I think this ride is perfect for children. The content is very PG, the ride is fairly mellow, and the total experience is kid-friendly and fun. This ride is definitely geared towards children, so those expecting a thrilling, high-impact experience will be less than satisfied. However, as a child-focused experience, I think this ride fits its target audience perfectly.
Jon Fu – Inside Universal Editor
I love minions.
Personally speaking, Despicable Me is the first Universal film I’ve seen in theaters in practically five years. To say that Universal hasn’t released a worldwide hit on the scale of Avatar, Batman or Harry Potter would be an understatement – hence the recent trend of non-Universal attractions opening at Universal parks worldwide.
Fast-forward to 2010, and you could imagine my surprise at Universal’s box-office hit, Despicable Me. Having almost ignored Universal’s recent releases for the better half of the decade (with the exception of King Kong), I was intrigued.
Not only did I find Despicable Me beautifully animated and (best of all!) original, it was also a genuinely delightful film. It wasn’t Pixar, mind you – but it didn’t need to be. In fact, emulating Pixar would be to the film’s disadvantage. Instead, Despicable Me was uniquely Universal.
What is Universal – specifically, a Universal animated film like Despicable Me? For me, it’s sharp and edgy comedy that still manages to retain its heart and humanity. It lacks the pure innocence of Pixar and Disney, but it still leaves you in a state of child-like admiration and affection for the characters on screen. It’s an adult comedy – on paper – that manages to transcend age and gender. It pushes boundaries of family-friendly comedy without being hurtful, and it captivates audiences with a sense of realism. It’s both crude and smart, and in short, it’s uniquely Universal.
With that in mind, how’s the ride? Well, Despicable Me is a genuinely good attraction and it continues to expand the wildly imaginative Despicable Me franchise to new and exciting heights. The attraction’s plot and consistently high wit and humor will allow it to become one of Universal’s most popular family attractions.
And though Despicable Me represents yet another 3D attraction for some fans, Despicable Me’s fast-pace, comedy and genuine feel-good warmth make it one of Universal’s greatest additions in recent years. It’s a must see for families.
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