Universal Orlando has set the Grand Opening Date for Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem which is set to open July 2nd
The attraction is now in technical rehearsal, meaning park guests may have the opportunity to experience the ride as a work in progress while Universal puts the finishing touches on the experience. Leading up to the grand opening, the attraction will run select days and times.
The building has been used for two other Attractions in the past. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera which opened with the pack back on June 7, 1990 was the very first ride film to be done entirely using CGI, until it closed on October 20th 2002, and Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast which opened April 11th 2003 and closed August 18th 2011, both of which were a simulator ride.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem will be a motion simulator as well and it will employ the use of High-definition 3-D Infitec projection systems which is the same type used for the Spider-man attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
On May 1, 2012, the ride’s gift shop, Super Silly Stuff was opened replacing the Nickstuff store, the store sells Despicable Me-related merchandise. The store is themed to the carnival Gru and the Girls visit in the original film.
Official Press Release
Orlando, Fla. (June 13, 2012) – Minion recruits: mark your calendars! Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, one of the most anticipated theme park attractions of 2012, will officially open at Universal Orlando Resort on July 2.
This brand-new ride combines the outrageous humor and memorable characters of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s blockbuster film Despicable Me, with an all-new storyline, incredible new animation and the latest 3-D technology to create a wildly hysterical theme park experience.
Families will watch in amazement as they are transformed into minions, laugh together as they train to join Gru’s minion army and boogie down during the world’s-first minion-inspired dance party. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is hilarious and heartwarming fun for the entire family.
The ride begins when guests enter Gru, Margo, Edith and Agnes’ home and learn they are being recruited to become minions. After picking up 3-D “minion goggles” in the living room and being scanned for “human germs” in the Minionization Prep Room, guests board Minion Transformation Pods to begin their training. Things don’t go as planned and guests find themselves on an unforgettable adventure through Gru’s lab that’s filled with laughter, chaos and tons of minions.
The ride experience is capped off with an exciting dance party where guests can show off their best moves with the minions. With a sparkling disco ball hanging overhead, the interactive celebration features large projection screens so that guests can see themselves partying with the minions to the legendary disco tune “Boogie Fever.”
Although Despicable Me Minion Mayhem officially opens on July 2, the attraction is now in technical rehearsal, meaning park guests may have the opportunity to experience the ride as a work in progress while Universal puts the finishing touches on the experience. Leading up to the grand opening, the attraction will run select days and times.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is located in Universal Studios Florida. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.
Sources:
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera Wiki