Let’s revisit the original Minion madness: Universal Studios Japan’s Minion Park as we look forward to the opening of Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore!
Minion Land World Tour with DEJIKI
With Minion Land opening soon at Universal Studios Singapore, come along for a whirlwind tour of the first over-the-top Minion experience on the planet: Universal Studios Japan’s Minion Park. This vibrant and chaotic land offers a glimpse of what’s in store for Singapore!
A brief history of Minions at Universal Studios Parks around the world
2012: First Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem attraction opened in Universal Studios Florida, taking over Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast as a retrofit for the motion simulator theatre attraction.
2013: The first Minions arrived at Universal Studios Singapore, sparking rumours that the Minion Mayhem ride will be built.
2014: A similar Minion Mayhem ride opened in Universal Studios Hollywood, replacing the T2-3D: Battle Across Time attraction. With more space for redevelopment, this version has double the capacity with two theatres, and also another play area outside called Super Silly Fun Land. This recreation of the funfair from the film offers carnival games and rides, plus dry and wet playgrounds.
Also in 2014: Minion Mart opened at Universal Studios Singapore.
2015: Minions arrived at Universal Studios Japan, as part of “Minion Plaza” in the San Francisco area.
2016: The last location of the Back to the Future attraction in the world, in USJ’s San Francisco area, finally closed. As part of USJ’s 15th anniversary celebrations (and its crazy REBORN era), the park officially announced the world’s largest Minion themed area, Minion Park, will open in 2017 and it will be like no other.
2017: Minion Park opened at Universal Studios Japan, paving the way for more immersive and elaborate Minion-themed zones around the world. In 2018, the park added a flat ride, Freeze Ray Sliders.
2019: Resorts World Sentosa announced expansion plans for Universal Studios Singapore. The artwork of Japan’s Minion Park was used for promotional purposes, hinting a probable design of Singapore’s Minion Land.
2021: Universal Beijing Resort opened, with the largest Minion Land in the world.
2023: Universal Studios Florida revamped the area around Minion Mayhem, creating a new Minion Land on Illumination Ave. It included new themed spaces, shops, restaurants, and an all-new attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast.
2025: Singapore’s Minion Land will finally open. With three distinct areas, its design was unveiled back in December 2024. Many elements of Japan’s Minion Park will be replicated in Singapore’s Minion Land, such as in the Minion Marketplace section!
Minion Park at Universal Studios Japan: The First of Its Kind
Universal Studios Japan’s Minion Park was the largest of its kind when it opened. As it was developed during the park’s 15th Anniversary “Reborn era”, the area brought a kaleidoscopic explosion of Minion mayhem, with Minions appearing all over the new building facades, that were also designed to extend the rows of buildings from New York and San Francisco areas, but with a Minion twist.
Welcome to Minion Park: Prepare for a banana-fueled frenzy!
Your first stop: Sweet Surrender! Check out its crazy ‘gumball machine’, bursting with Minions that have taken over this candy store.
The madness is linked to the POP Store and FUN Store, each with its own themes.
This row of shops forming the Minion Marketplace is actually a mega store split into three distinct areas, the building facades outside offer a lot more hilarious details from the Minions and Despicable Me universe.
On the right side of Minion Park, other amazing shopping experiences (for Minions only) include:
Where else can you find a Bank of Evil, with a not-so-secret ATM for supervillains?
Step inside Puppy Love for your pets’ grooming and couture needs.
The only five-banana-rated Hotel Ba-na-na!
Right beside it is a building taken over by aspiring street artists.
Report to the Villains HQ where you can find Goods for the No-Good, including wacky weapons and gadgets.
Shopping isn’t the only thing to do. Minion Park also offers delightful food carts and carnival games straight from the films:
While the Super Silly Space Killer is just iconic – get your own Fluffy unicorn here, or try your luck at the Banana Cabana!
Grab some popcorn from Pop-A-Nana as you explore the park.
On the other side, there are a handful of Minion-exclusive stores:
Grab a caffeine fix at Mugshots – arrestingly fine coffee, indeed!
One size fits all at Overalls, an essential for every Minion!
Another must-have for Minions, from safety goggles and X-Ray glasses, all available at Eye-Spy.
The last buildings on this side, which blends into the New York zone, is actually a cookie factory now run by Minions. Step up to Delicious Me! where you can grab some tasty cookie sandwiches!
The Minions seem to have invented new ways of using gadgets and baking cookies, creating this amazing photo spot.
Another highlight for Japan’s Minion Park are a handful of parade shows happening at the original ‘Minion Plaza’ area, on the street of San Francisco.
Now let’s head back to the Neighbourhood area of Minion Park.
You can also pay a visit to Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls, the home of Margo, Edith and Agnes before they left with Gru.
Standing tall among a row of non-descript generic home, Gru’s House is the gateway to the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem attraction!
Universal Studios Japan has a unique version of the ride, as it was built on the bones of the old Back to the Future attraction. It inherited the original IMAX domes and ride systems, offering a much more immersive experience. You don’t see other ride vehicles during the show, due to the way the system was designed.
With the Minions’ enduring popularity (and the lengthy pre-show experience), waiting time for the ride can get very long at times. Some parts of Minion Land were kept as queue areas for the ride.
Once you step inside Gru’s House, you’ll be delighted to see all sorts of props and paintings alluding to his life as a supervillain, plus the Minions.
Minion Mayhem is essentially a tour of Gru’s secret lab, run (or rather, overrun) by the Minions, with a chance to become a Minion yourself!
After winding your way through the industrious (and formerly Back to the Future) lab queue, you’ll find yourself back in Gru’s House.
You’ll experience heartwarming touches around Gru’s House as you explore further
Due to the way the ride is designed, the pre-show experience at Japan’s Minion Mayhem funnels you from room to room, where you will hear from Gru’s Girls, Gru, and the minions.
This version of the ride includes a third preshow that happens right before you board the ride vehicles.
After leaving the ride, you’ll end up at Gru’s Neighbourhood and the edge of the Marketplace again. Minion Park also has a large circular lawn right in front of Gru’s Home, perfect for park guests to rest and enjoy the creative design of the park.
And finally, don’t miss the fountain in the middle of Minion Park’s main thoroughfare. The Minions seem to think it’s a swimming pool. Who is going to argue with them?
And that wraps up our tour of Minion Park at Universal Studios Japan! It was the first Minion Land of its kind. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of what’s to come at Universal Studios Singapore.
Stay tuned for the next installment as we visit Minion Land in Beijing, the largest of them all!
Get your tickets to Universal Studios Japan and visit Minion Park!
| Park Admission Ticket | Starting Price* (SGD) (Child/ Adult) |
|---|---|
| Universal Studios Japan 1-Day Studio Pass | from $55/ $88 |
| Universal Studios Japan 1.5-Day Studio Pass Valid for admission from 3:00PM for the first day, and when the park is open for the next day |
from $75/ $115 |
| Universal Studios Japan 2-Day Studio Pass | from $93/ $142 |
*Actual price varies by date as USJ uses 5-tier price calendar structure. Select your visit date on Klook for availability and actual prices. Prices displayed here are rounded up, and may vary due to currency exchange or ongoing promotions.
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