Is Minion Land Worth The Hype? We Woke Up At 6AM To Try Every Ride & Game To Find Out
In case you haven't heard, it's time to rise and shine like a BA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, because the new Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore has officially opened its gates to the public as of today, 14 February! This highly anticipated zone has been in the works for nearly two years — those who have visited USS back then may remember that this used to be the old Madagascar area — and now houses carnival-themed attractions filled with the infamous yellow critters.
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Since we simply could not wait a second longer to explore the space, our team headed down to Gru's hood early in the morning (yes, right as the gates opened for the first time) to try every single ride and game available.
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Want to know if Minion Land is indeed worth the hype? Read on to find out!
Silly Swirly
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You can't miss Silly Swirly: this eye-catching ride is likely the very first thing you'll spot once you enter Minion Land. Why? The colourful 'hot air balloons' attached to the ride are shaped like giant bugs (but cute ones, we promise!) with googly eyes and wide-open mouths carrying baskets. Oh, did we mention that they fly up and down and go round and round?
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Each car sits up to four people, and it is a very mild and gentle ride with some slight tilting and rather slow spinning motions. We were a little disappointed that there's no way to control the speed and up-down motion of the individual cars, but overall it offers a good view of the whole zone and is great for pictures.
Buggie Boogie
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Once you've had your head spun right round, right round, go forth to the Buggie Boogie carousel, located near the Silly Swirly. This spot amassed a terrifyingly long queue almost immediately and it's not hard to see why. The decor is top-notch, with more adorable bugs in place of typical carousel horses, a couple of minions, and party lighting that matches the beat of popular music played by a live DJ.
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This ride is ideal for families with kids and provides wholesome fun for all ages. We especially love the remixed, nostalgic party hits — think toe-tapping bops like Party Rock Anthem!
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
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PSA: This is the one we'd recommend heading to the moment you get into the park, especially if you're planning to arrive in the morning. The lines here can get really long, since every session only admits a set number of riders and lasts a few minutes each time.
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Housed in Gru's pointy purple home, the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride is a motion simulator where passengers enjoy a mini show, venturing through Gru’s supervillain lab and getting transformed into a Minion. The experience is pretty immersive with wind and water effects, but don't expect much actual action as the seats mainly vibrate and move around in a fixed position (no 3D glasses, no moving car on tracks à la the Transformers ride).
Space Killer
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Do you have a killer aim? Blow the competition out of the water at the Space Killer game booth, modelled after the 'Super Silly Space Killer' arcade game in Despicable Me. Simply aim your space gun at the pyramid of cans stacked on the counter. If you manage to knock all of them off the ledge in one go, you'll win a Minion-inspired prize.
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While this game is frankly much easier to play than Ba-Na-Na CaBaNa (more on that later), it may take you a couple of tries to land those plushies, no thanks to the surprisingly heavy cans.
Ba-Na-Na CaBaNa
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Ba-Na-Na CaBaNa is one tricky game: hand-eye coordination, good timing, and a strong arm that's experienced at games like whack-a-mole will serve you well. The banana is placed on a lever, which will catapult it (hopefully) into one of the rotating coconuts on the platform when you smack your hammer onto a button.
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Of course, you only get one try. Hit it too lightly and your banana faceplants onto the ground. Too hard, and it will fly right off the platform. But when you hit it just right? That blasted yellow fruit bounces out the coconut holes or falls right between the gaps. It's so difficult that it's frustrating... and well, we found it strangely addictive!
Bonus: Feast at the Super Hungry Food Stand & shop for goodies at the Minion Marketplace
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Do not, I repeat, do not miss out on grabbing a meal or some snacks at the Super Hungry Food Stand! While amusement park food spots are often a hit-or-miss situation, rest assured that the offerings at this Minion-themed diner are both adorable and tasty.
On the menu, you'll find savoury dishes like the Super Silly Veggie Burger ($20), Unlucky Ducky Creamy Chicken Stew ($19), and our new fave — Stuart's Japanese Curry Karaage ($19).
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There are also great sides up for grabs, like Minion Tots ($12), Chili Crab Mantous ($12), and sweet treats such as the extravagant Fluffy's Rainbow Cheesecake ($15) and Minion Lychee Roll ($12). They're so cute, you might end up ordering them all!
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Also, don't leave Minion Land without shopping at the three themed stores: the Fun Store for toys and accessories, Pop Store for Minion-inspired fashion items, and the Sweet Surrender for plushies, apparel, fun souvenirs and more.
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There are also myriad photo spots to be found in and around these stores, so we'd say they're worth braving the crowd to check out.
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Verdict: Perfect for families, little ones, and lovers of mild rides and minions
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It's true, Minion Land isn't the place for thrills and squeals. If you're seeking out a heart-thumping adventure, we say: add Ancient Egypt's Revenge of the Mummy and the Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon coasters at Sci-Fi City to your post-Minion Land itinerary.
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But if you're here for the cute pill-shaped minions and wholesome fun for the whole family — or if you're just not a fan of fast-and-furious rides and want to snap some photos, do some shopping and take things easy, Minion Land is your best bet.
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Universal Studios Singapore tickets (which include entry to Illumination's Minion Land) retail from $76 per adult and $59 per child. Get them here.
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