ORLANDO, Fla. – Park guests at Universal Studios Orlando are raving about their chance to get "minionized"!
Local 6 randomly interviewed guests who rode "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem", and all were impressed with the brand new high-tech 3-D simulator ride. One 8-year-old boy called it "the best ride ever!"
The core of the ride is a motion simulator that combines rows of moving seats with a huge 3-D screen, even adding water and wind as special effects. Minion Mayhem is based on the movie "Despicable Me" and highlights characters from the film.
"I've been working very hard on Despicable Me, and judging from what I've seen so far from guests I'm just-over-the-top, because they're loving it," said Mike West, executive producer of Universal Creative Studio. "And that makes me very proud."
The attraction begins with a couple of videos featuring Gru and his daughters explaining to guests that they will be transformed into the mini creatures known as Minions, which is the premise of the ride. Once the simulator is over, guests are ushered into the Dance Party Room to boogie down with the Minions, while their dancing moves are projected onto an overhead screen.
"Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" is currently in its "soft-opening," meaning it will be open certain times on certain days for testing. The official opening is July 2.
"I think it's going to put a whole new family enthusiasm into it," West said ."Because it's a great family attraction. Guests of all ages can enjoy this."
The attraction is part of the larger Universal Orlando expansion. Recently the Jaws ride at Universal Studios was bulldozed but Universal hasn't said what will take its place.
Universal has said in the past it plans to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but has not said in which park it will be located. Currently, the existing Wizarding World attraction is located at Universal's Islands of Adventure.