Universal Orlando Opens New “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” Ride

Universal Orlando Resort on July 2 celebrated the grand opening of the “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” ride at Universal Studios. Based on the blockbuster Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment film “Despicable Me,” the ride was created by Universal Orlando in partnership with Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, and his filmmaking colleagues.

The ride places guests in the midst of an original adventure that combines a new storyline, new animation, the latest 3-D technology -- and the characters of the film. Guests meet their favorite characters from the film -- all voiced by the original cast: Gru (Steve Carell), the world’s greatest super-villain, and his daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).

They enter the ride through the towering façade of Gru’s house, pick up 3-D “minion goggles” in his living room and be scanned for “human germs” in the Minionization Prep Room. Gru is working on something “really big” and recruits guests for the job, transforms them into minions and sends them off for minion training. From there, guests go on a wild ride where they evade water sprayers, giant flyswatters, anti-gravity rooms and more.

The attraction’s grand opening caps Universal Orlando’s “Year to be Here” – during which Universal debuted more new entertainment experiences across its entire destination than any other year in its history. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem follows the introduction of an enhanced Blue Man Group Show at Universal CityWalk, the re-launch of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and the spring openings of Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular-100 Years of Movie Memories at Universal Studios Florida.