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Minion Mayhem in Soft Opening!!!

Universal Orlando: No bananas were harmed in the soft opening of the ride. I hope...

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Yesterday evening around 4:30, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem went into technical rehearsal to the public. Team Member previews are taking place daily from 2-4 PM, so public rehearsals won't be taking place then. The ride had a posted wait of 90 minutes when it opened with the entire building full. Soon it jumped up to 2 hours with an extended queue in use. The ride is getting very positive reviews from guests, getting positive reviews with not just the ride itself, but with it's 2 , 4K HD 3D, and indoor queue. People are saying it feels like The Simpsons Ride but without the IMAX screen. The ride is shorter then Jimmy Neutron, but I'm not sure by how many seconds. If you're going to USF soon, check by the ride periodically to see if it's open, just not between 2-4. The wait was inaccurate except the 90 minutes portion. I won't get to try the ride until this freaking weather cools down a little, but in the mean time I can't wait to ride! Here's what the queue, preshows ( doesn't give too much away) , and post-show looks like:


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Rob Pastor
Posted June 10, 2012 at 12:44 PM
OrlandoInformer.com has a review of the ride from the soft opening, spoilers included. Sounds pretty good.

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 1:17 PM
I read OIs review, and it sounds good. I didn't read the ride portion though, I want to be spoiler free in terms of ride.

SPOILER ALERT FOR PRE-SHOW 2:

I really hope the fart gun doesn't smell THAT bad.

SPOILER ENDS.

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 1:50 PM
The ride opened at 2:15 today and is expected to stay open the rest of park hours. Also, people from different discussion boards are hoping that the dance party can be turned into a Meet and Greet considering a select few like it.

From Tony Duda
Posted June 10, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Is the "ride" part the same as the rocking bench seats of Jimmy Neutron?

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Same vehicles, but with a new design and new motions. I hear it's not just straightforward motion like the past 2, but you'll also turn.

From Rob Pastor
Posted June 10, 2012 at 2:52 PM
The reviewer from Orlando Informer said the ride was smooth, not rough like Neutron.

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Am I the only one who thought JN wasnt rough?

From Andy Milito
Posted June 10, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Neutron was rather jerky, nothing like the other simulators (i.e. Simpsons)

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 4:01 PM
Simpsons was more intense then JN IMO.

From James Trexen
Posted June 10, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Rumor (according to Team Memebers) is that the attraction will open officially on July 2.

From Andy Milito
Posted June 10, 2012 at 5:03 PM
I didn't say Neutron was intense. I said it was much jerkier than Simpsons, which is rather smooth

From Dominick D
Posted June 10, 2012 at 5:37 PM
In terms of jerkiness, I would definitely go with JN.

From N B
Posted June 11, 2012 at 3:43 AM
Ask any well endowed female how much they liked the Chicken Dance part of JN......

Did anyone notice if DM has an Express queue? There is no mention of it on the Universal website.

From Dominick D
Posted June 11, 2012 at 7:04 AM
Despicable Me won't be offering Express pass once it opens. Express usually comes out a month after the ride officially opens.

From Dominick D
Posted June 11, 2012 at 9:09 AM
The ride is rumored to grand open July 2. Until then, soft openings will remain.

From N B
Posted June 11, 2012 at 12:30 PM
Thanks for the info Dom.

From Dominick D
Posted June 11, 2012 at 1:27 PM
For you west coasters, inside sources are confirming the ride is coming next year in the space of T2.

From Jason Vervlied
Posted June 12, 2012 at 2:31 PM
I rode it on Sunday, it's a great ride. The outdoor extended queue has good themeing and the video that plays is decent and fun. The indoor queue rooms are amazing, and the ride itself is whimsical and fun. It's still the same cars that JN was in. They re-engineered the motion so it's easier on those who are well-endowed (but my wife said it's still not terribly comfortable).

The post show dance party room is a blast that the kids love.

From Amy Smith
Posted June 12, 2012 at 4:39 PM
I rode it yesterday. It was soooo cute! It's Jimmy Neutron's (aka Hannah Barbara's) ride vehicles with Spiderman 3D - all around amazing. The best part about this? NO CHICKEN DANCE! (As one of those females, that part was always horrible).

The store at the exit was great too. They actually sell the lab coats the team members wear! Universal seems to have found a new source of revenue in halloween costumes - first robes and house scarves, now lab coats and Gru scarves. No, the coats don't cost $100, I think $40? Can't remember exactly.

In all, the new ride and store are great new family entertainment and something to take the heat off of figuring out what to do with Shrek 4D which is on its last legs.

From Dominick D
Posted June 12, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Don't you ladies ever learn to wear a sports bra to theme parks?

From Amy Smith
Posted June 12, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Wow Dom...well do you wear a jock strap to theme parks then?

From Dominick D
Posted June 12, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Why the heck would I need one of them in a theme park?

From Manny Rodriguez
Posted June 12, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Perhaps When You Ride RipRide Rockit?

From Dominick D
Posted June 12, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Manny, it would take ALOT of guts for me to get on RRR.

From Dominick D
Posted June 13, 2012 at 9:58 AM
BREAKING NEWS: The ride officially opens on July 2. Annual Passholder previews begin June 18.

From Jorge Arnoldson
Posted June 13, 2012 at 10:21 AM
I rode it on Sunday. It was a fun replacement for Jimmy Neutron, yet I thought it was not worth an hour wait. My brother loved the "dance party" at the end of the ride.

From Dominick D
Posted June 13, 2012 at 12:11 PM
What's the better simulator in USF, this or The Simpsons?

From Amy Smith
Posted June 13, 2012 at 12:14 PM
The 3d is way better on Minions but the movement is better on Simpsons. Minions is better if you don't want to get sick. :)

From Sylvain Comeau
Posted June 13, 2012 at 1:07 PM
I certainly hope the 3D is better...considering that The Simpsons is in 2D.

From Dominick D
Posted June 13, 2012 at 1:23 PM
+1 to Slyvain

From Amy Smith
Posted June 14, 2012 at 6:51 AM
haha sorry! I meant the 3d is better than the Shrek and the rest was in comparison to Simpsons but my mind went faster than my fingers and the words never made it to the screen.

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