By: Lynn Barker
All we see is a sea of yellow! Your Kidzworld reporter in standing with a bunch of fans and reporters wearing yellow construction “hard hats” with crazy Minion goggles on them, watching voice actors Miranda Cosgrove (voice of Margo), Dana Gaier (Edith) and Elsie Fisher (Agnes) joined by TV’s Mario Lopez, Eric Garcetti, Mayor of L.A., park executives and Gru himself, cut a red ribbon to open two new fun attractions at the Universal Studios Tour in Hollywood.
Miranda Cosgrove (Margo), Dana Gaier (Edith) and Elsie Fisher (Agnes)Courtesy of Universal Studios
Crowd watches Mario Lopez announce ride openingCourtesy of Universal Studios
“Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” in 3D, is a fun simulator ride that will turn YOU into one of Gru’s yellow minions! We also checked out a carnival-like play area attraction called “Super Silly Fun Land” based on the amusement park in the first “Despicable Me” film where we won a cute, plush minion “doll” by tossing a ball into just the right slot!
Front of the new ride with red ribbon to be cutCourtesy of Universal Studios
The Ride Deets
After watching a group of talented dancers from a local high school and viewing the ribbon cutting ceremony, we were off on the Minion Mayhem ride.
Lively high school dancers during openingCourtesy of Universal Studios
Voiced by the original actors (including Steve Carell as Gru), the ride offers original pre-show videos on screens as you wait. Gru and his daughters tell us how we’ll be turned into minions and the qualifications we must meet in a fun multiple choice quiz. Are we worthy?
Inside Gru’s living room beside portraits and a map of the Gru Family Tree, the villain/dad tells us we will be minions soon. We are given our “minion goggles” (3-D glasses) and “Lab Assistants” guide until into the lab where Gru warns us that sometimes the “minionization” process doesn’t work so well. We see humans turned into very warped minions and one “mistake” that looks like a minion elephant!
Silly Swirly rideCourtesy of Universal Studios
Top of Fun Land slide areaCourtesy of Universal Studios
We are scanned before being transformed and are shot with a “fart gun” that puts out fog and smells like bananas; the minions’ fave food. We are guided into “transformation pods” where the lab assistants seat us with four or more other people. We are then off on a 3-D simulator ride through a wild bunch of machinery meant to turn us into little yellow guys.. of course something goes wrong as we glide through machinery, down roller coaster-like drops and emerge at a surprise one-year family anniversary party that Gru is throwing for his girls.
Minions ask Are we supposed to clean up now?Courtesy of Universal Studios
On the way out of the ride, there is a big party room with music and dancing. You can see yourself on a big screen as you boogie to “Boogie Fever”.
Super Silly Fun Land
When you exit the dance party you come out in “Super Silly Fun Land” where you can ride a few rides, including the cute “Silly Swirly”, get wet in a fun water play area, climb and slide munch a snack and also play several carnival style games in order to win cute Despicable Me-style animals, minions and Grus. I won a small plush minion by tossing a ball into the correct circle.
Super Silly Fun Land AnimalsCourtesy of Universal Studios
Overall, we had a blast in this colorful, whimsical new Universal attraction. We found our “inner minion” and, if you and your family come to the L.A. area, you will too! The world of Gru and his daughters is open for enjoyment.
Water splashing area in Super Silly Fun LandCourtesy of Universal Studios
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem New Ride is now open!!
