Mischievous fun awaits by the pier! Universal Studios Beijing’s Minion Land, the biggest in the world, offers an mega-sized adventure in the Despicable Me universe.
Minion Land World Tour with DEJIKI
With Minion Land opening soon at Universal Studios Singapore, let’s take a grand tour of the biggest Minion-themed area on the planet: Universal Studios Beijing’s Minion Land! Check out the first stop at Universal Studios Japan’s Minion Park here!
Minion Land at Universal Studios Beijing: The Largest of them all!
This Minion Land is the world’s largest, and it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. With no need to redevelop existing attractions, the all-new waterfront zone features the first indoor Super Silly Fun Land, plus new areas that draw inspiration from Despicable Me locations like Paradise Mall and Pier 12.
At Universal Beijing Resort, the Minions are given the superstar treatment – from themed hotel rooms, character dining experiences, to even specialty shops at the Universal CityWalk outside the park. Minion Land is also prominent in the park, being the second themed zone right after Hollywood, and it is typically open during Early Park Entry hours.
As you’re greeted by the towering Minions at the Minion Land sign, make sure to swing by Bake My Day. This isn’t just any cupcake store; it’s the very same shop where Gru and Lucy went undercover in Despicable Me 2 to unmask a villain!
Step inside and you’ll find a delectable array of sweet treats and plenty of Fluffy the Unicorn merchandise. It’s a similar vibe to the ‘Sweet Surrender’ shops at other Universal parks, but with its own unique Beijing twist.
Minion Land’s Pier 12 and Downtown areas serve as a sort of ‘New York’ zone for Universal Studios Beijing, filling a gap since the park doesn’t have a dedicated New York area. These buildings, inspired by various locations from the movies, give the area a distinctive charm.
Stashed beside the suspicious Billy Bob’s Bait Shop, The Lair restaurant offers a truly unique dining experience inside a supervillain hideout! Dine amongst the Despicable Me baddies before exploring the rest of the Pier area, where Minion touches subtly give way to the suburban feel of Gru’s Neighborhood.
Gru’s Neighbourhood at Minion Land
Gru’s Neighborhood, just like its counterparts around the world, showcases the contrast between Gru’s imposing house and the ordinary cookie-cutter suburban homes surrounding it.
In Beijing, the neighborhood feels surprisingly expansive, with lawns and lush gardens. And, of course, there are more Minions to discover, hidden amongst the greenery and adding their own brand of chaotic charm to the suburban landscape.
Adding a touch of whimsy and green to Minion Land are these character topiaries. From Gru’s family and the Super Silly Fun Land monsters to mischievous Minions, these sculpted greenery creations are scattered throughout the land, so keep an eye out for them.
From this vantage point, you can see how seamlessly the three areas of Minion Land blend together: Gru’s Neighborhood and Super Silly Fun Land in the foreground, while Pier 12 stretches out in the background, creating a dynamic landscape straight out of the animation. And did you spot those monster topiaries again, at the Fun Land park’s entrance?
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
One of the attractions at Beijing’s Minion Land is Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, a motion simulator theatre attraction. It’s a visit to Gru’s home, and the top secret lab that offers you the opportunity to become a Minion!
This version of the attraction shares similar elements from existing Minion Mayhem rides.
Designed with high capacity in mind, there are two theatres here that can run concurrently. And just like other attractions in Universal Beijing – there is a mind-boggling maze of queue lines to ensure the most efficient operations.
The pre-shows unfold in a long corridor with two distinct rooms. Guests move onto the next room by just walking forward when doors open, creating a streamlined experience before the final doors open to reveal the main theatre. A necessity for a park that needs to manage immense crowds.
Unlike the version in Japan, Beijing’s Minion Mayhem allows you to see other ride vehicles within the same theater, which can be quite entertaining to witness.
After the ride ends, you can enjoy a dance party at Minion Mart, which combines elements of Fun Store and Pop Store from Minion Park.
The store’s distinctive circular design, complete with a disco ball, makes it a truly eye-catching sight, especially at night
Super Silly Fun Land by The Pier
And now, we’re heading to Super Silly Fun Land!
There are two ride attractions here – the first is Super Swirly, a spinner ride where you can fly on these bug monsters.
One of my favorite surprises in Beijing’s Minion Land was the Loop-Dee Doop-Dee, an indoor junior roller coaster that brought back memories of Gru’s wild ride with the girls in the first movie.
The indoor setting of this fun fair was a godsend during the unexpected snowfall I experienced – a perfect place to warm up and stay dry amid sporadic snowfall. And as an added bonus, it’s a quick way to get to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The indoor Super Silly Fun Land is a clever idea, especially for escaping the weather. However, it’s undeniable that the space feels compact, and it can get congested with all the activities and attractions packed inside. The ceiling design also isn’t the most subtle.
That said, the vibrant décor and artwork do a lot to create a fun and energetic atmosphere, and there are lots of “hidden minions” to find around the area.
You can take a break and grab a quick bite at Silly Snax and watch the chaotic fun of the roller coaster as it flies by.
Some snacks from Silly Snax: Tater Tots, Chorizo with Mustard Cheddar Chese Sauce and Fries, and a Minion tart.
Minion Land at night is a visual treat. The colorful lights reflecting off the lagoon create a stunning landscape.
Most of the Minions can be found around the Super Silly Fun Land building by the pier – in all sorts of places!
Despicable Fun at Universal Studios Beijing’s Park Parade
Minions are a big part of the Universal on Parade show at Universal Studios Beijing!
With several vibrant floats forming the Despicable Me segment, you can find Gru and the Minions enjoying the rides, and Gru’s Girls having fun at Super Silly Fun Land.
The Parade’s Opening Unit, a giant golden lantern, also features Minions on its design.
Of course, one of the best spots to watch the parade is right along the streets of Minion Land!
Paradise Mall and Downtown area at Minion Land
Minion Land’s Downtown area, beside the transition area towards The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World, is a delightful recreation of the Paradise Mall from Despicable Me 2.
In this Paradise Mall, you can step inside the Salsa & Salsa restaurant and Eagle Hair Club, among many others. In reality, the mall facade is a clever design combining dining areas for a quick service restaurant.
You can also find some minions enjoying their free time here, or grab your own box of banana popcorn from the iconic Pop-A-Nana cart.
Lastly, one of the unique attractions at Universal Studios Beijing is the mandarin version of Sing On Tour show at the Illumination Theater.
It’s a concert combining live performance with cutting-edge animatronics, bringing the beloved characters from Illumination’s Sing film to life. For now, this show is exclusive to Beijing and Osaka – I hope to watch the show in English somewhere, sometime in the future.
And for the next stop of the Minion Land World Tour, you’ll get to see Minion Land in Singapore, which combines some of the best elements around the world. It also marks a milestone for the park’s major expansion plans, just in time for Universal Studios Singapore’s 15th Anniversary this year.
Get your tickets to Universal Studios Beijing
| Universal Studios Beijing Park Ticket | Starting Price* (SGD) (Adult) |
|---|---|
| 1-Day Admission Valid for admission when the park is open |
$56 Book via Klook » |
| 1.5-Day Admission Valid for admission from 2:00PM for the first day, and when the park is open for the next day |
$91 Book via Klook » |
| 2-Day Flex Admission Valid for any two days within a 7 day period (i.e. second visit within the next 6 days after initial visit) |
$102 Book via Klook » |
*To enjoy lower prices, bookings must be made at least 7-10 days in advance. Prices have been rounded up, and may vary due to currency exchange or ongoing promotions.
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