Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast Opens at Universal Studios Orlando Resort

“Minions” fans, there is a new attraction at Universal Studios Orlando Resort you won’t want to miss.

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast had a soft opening this week for technical rehearsals where guests were allowed to get a sneak peek at this highly-anticipated interactive attraction.

My family and I were lucky enough to experience it during the few hours it was open — let’s take a look at what the experience is like.

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast

Taking over the space of the former Shrek 4-D attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is the new centerpiece of Minion Land, sitting directly across the street from Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

The premise of the interactive ride is that you are attending Villain-Con (a convention in Orlando, Florida, for villains) and you need to prove that you have what it takes to join the supervillain group, Vicious 6, featured in the film “Minions: Rise of Gru.”

The Queue

In the queue, guests pass through the tradeshow floor of the convention that features information about Villain-Con and its keynote speakers.

There are also plenty of vendors stocked with gadgets, fashion, and even Corrupt Companions for wannabe villains.

This is also where you will get your first look at the E-Liminator X blaster that will be used on the ride.

The Ride

Once you pass through the tradeshow floor, you’ll be handed a fully charged E-Liminator X and instructed to stand on a colored marker on a moving conveyor belt that’s very similar to what you would see in an airport luggage carousel.

This is where the fun starts. Your only mission is to cause as much chaos and damage as possible as you wind your way through multiple rooms ending in Orlando, Florida.

Each room has a theme with both physical objects and massive interactive screens where you can prove your worth to the Vicious 6.

The attraction is open to all guests who can stand on their own, though guests under 48” (122 cm) require a supervising companion.

E-Liminator X

Guests will be blasting away on the E-Liminator X, a blaster with haptic feedback that tracks your shooting and will display your score throughout the attraction.

Each blaster has a username, score, and color that will appear on the screen as you are shooting, and your final score will be presented in the final room.

The blaster has 2 triggers: 1 main trigger with unlimited blasts, and a secondary trigger in the front that fires special blasts like Freeze Rays and Banana Bombs.

The E-Liminator X is a solid device, meaning it’s rather heavy. My 4-year-old son had a difficult time properly holding it — but he still had a good time.

When the ride is busy, it’s hard to keep track of exactly who is shooting and causing mayhem. This could be frustrating to those players trying to boost their score, but it also allows younger players to shoot freely without leaving the game with a 0 score.

Minion Land

The entrance to Universal Studios Orlando Resort is now officially dominated by the banana-loving Minions on Illumination Ave.

With the additions of Illumination’s Minions Cafe, Bake My Day, Freeze Ray Pops, Pop-A-Nana, and, of course, plenty of souvenir-shopping opportunities, “Minions” fans can immerse themselves in the film like never before.

The completion of Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast makes the area, as they say: “So much fun, it’s a crime!”

Final Thoughts

Minion Land officially opens August 11, 2023, and Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is already a great addition to Universal Studios Orlando Resort.

Personally, I was never a fan of the Shrek 4-D experience (despite loving the films), so I am happy to see it replaced with something more interactive — and fun!

With a steadily moving walkway that constantly transports guests through the attraction, lines should move quickly on busy park days.

My wife often gets motion sickness, but she really enjoyed the attraction and felt fine after — that’s always a good sign. And both of my kids had a blast, despite the heavy blaster.