Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Review

This might be Gru’s most evil act yet: transforming you into a Minion

We all know that Universal Studios is a haven for motion simulators and screen-based rides. From Transformers 3D to the recent Minion Blast, there is something for every age range in this charming theme park. It isn’t surprising that Minion Land features rides mostly targeted at a younger audience, and that’s exactly what Minion Mayhem aims to prove. This motion simulator is very similar to The Simpsons Ride, where you are transformed into a Minion and go through several set pieces until it’s all said and done.

In theory, Minion Mayhem is a very simple motion simulator: you sit down in a vehicle and enjoy the ride. Your vehicle remains stationary throughout the ride, similar to The Simpsons Ride, but with slightly crisper visual effects and a larger screen, with multiple vehicles next to yours. Since this attraction is more recent, it makes sense that some aspects are a bit better.

The Good

Minion Mayhem lasts about 4 minutes, but there's an additional 4 minutes of pre-show fun featuring Gru and other characters from the Despicable Me franchise. It's another great reason to visit, as you also get to enjoy a special short film, which is always a hit with the kids. Plus, you get to visit Gru’s house and his lab, offering a great chance to take fun pictures with your family. I also love that all the original actors from the movies reprise their roles, including Steve Carell and Miranda Cosgrove.

As for the ride itself, it's quite tame. The main storyline involves guests being shrunk to the size of Minions and getting into the kind of mischief those yellow guys are known for. There are no sudden movements, and everything is very gentle. It is, after all, a motion simulator designed for the little ones, making it a great first option if your kids are between 3-6 years old. It isn’t more intense than, say, The Simpsons Ride or Star Tours in Hollywood Studios.

There isn’t anything spectacular about the setpieces, but remember that they are made for children. You do get to see dozens (hundreds?) of Minions running next to you in what resembles a testing ground for the yellow guys, full of slides, lasers and traps. Everything is very colorful and cute, and a treat for fans of the franchise.

The Bad

The worst thing about Minion Mayhem is just how average it is. I wouldn't say it does anything wrong, but it doesn't try anything new. The movements are similar to what you'd expect from something like Star Tours, the set pieces are pretty basic, and there are no practical effects. I understand that this ride is primarily for children, but I wish they had taken some risks to make it stand out from everything else Universal Studios has to offer.

Minion Mayhem isn’t even 3D anymore, making it even less unique than before. I understand that it can be hard to get kids to wear 3D glasses, so this isn't a major issue for me. In fact, getting rid of the 3D glasses makes the visuals more colorful and crisp, which might actually be a good thing after all.

Another downside is the long wait times. Given the popularity of the IP, especially with kids, wait times often soar to 50 minutes during peak hours. This might be too much, especially considering that you're waiting in line for a very average ride.

Will Kids enjoy it?

Well, this is a ride targeted at kids, so there is a good chance they will love it. Small children who grew up with the Minions and Gru will probably have an amazing time on this ride, so you should definitely bring them here. It also helps that the movements aren’t too aggressive and there is nothing particularly scary about the ride. Everything looks colorful and cute, keeping in line with the movies.

Teenagers might find this ride a little boring. There's nothing particularly impressive about it, and the queue times might be too much for them as well. I bet that teens will have a better time on rides like Transformers 3D and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.