Come on people, dress in your best blues and yellows! You guessed it, the Minions have taken over, making home right by Hollywood Boulevard and NYC in Universal Studios Singapore. The newly opened Illumination’s Minion Land is filled with everyone’s favourite overall-wearing yellow creatures and they are inviting you to take a stroll through their vibrant locale. Fans and visitors alike have waited long since the official announcement of Minion Land’s opening and now, it’s finally here!
Watch out as this area brings spaces and aspects from the Despicable Me! franchise to life through attractions, food, and various mementoes. From food to photo ops to rides, there’s so much to do and see! And, of course, there are Easter eggs scattered all around this park. Well, what shall we start with first?
Gru’s Neighborhood
Right past the billboards and cleanly cut hedge sculptures of Gru and his daughters, visitors will notice the row of colourful roofs off to the left of the path, surrounding an adorable statue of the Minions playing lifeguard in a water fountain. Welcome to Gru’s Neighbourhood!
Step into the district that houses the stars of the franchise: Gru, Lucy and their girls – and the Minions of course! Perfect for photos, go wild around the neighbourhood and decorate your feed with these charming structures. Keep an eye out, and maybe you’ll spot the Bank Of Evil ATM as well!
Ever wanted to be a Minion? Well here’s your chance! Once you’re done filling up your phone storage, be sure to hop on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. The minute you’re past the doors, get ready for a hilariously entertaining journey through Gru’s laboratory and experience the day in a life of being a minion – well, sort of.
Hold on to the bars in front of you and get ready to tumble left and right through chaos signature to Gru’s lab and the Minions! If you’re tight on time and can only afford to take one ride here, this is the one that you cannot miss.
That’s not all, if you’re lucky, you might even spot the Minions gallivanting down the streets during the Minute of Minion Mayhem show! Happening throughout the day, watch as these mischievous yellow creatures bound down the streets all while meeting your favourite characters from the franchise.
Super Silly Fun Land
Let’s amp up the fun! Directly opposite Gru’s Neighbourhood, you’ll spot a familiar seaside carnival. Step into Super Silly Fun Land and gear up for non-stop thrills that will leave you smiling long after the ride is over. From carnival games to soaring through the sky to even a carousel, grab your friends and go from one ride to the next – after all, the sun is shining and there’s no better time to let loose!
First up: the Buggie Boogie carousel. Hop on this vibrant carousel filled with endearing creatures and go for a whirl! Backed by the fire tracks remixed by DJ Carl, whether you’re waiting in line or on the carousel, you’ll definitely be bopping your head to the tunes.
Too tame for you? Then check out the Silly Swirly. Sail through the sky in the baskets attached to multi-coloured bugs and get a bird’s eye view of the whole area! Feel the wind in your hair and snap a picture of you and your friends with the sprawling park of Universal Studios Singapore behind you.
If you prefer to stay on your feet, then you should pop by the game booths as well. Whether you are flipping bananas at Ba-Na-Na CaBaNa for a reward from the Minions or following in Agnes’s footsteps and taking a shot at the Space Killer booth, there are all kinds of ways to have fun here. Best of luck in getting a prize!
In the mood for a snack? Pop by the Ice-Cream Stand for an icy cool treat like the exclusive Super Silly Swirly Slushie or the Minion Land Raspberry Ice Cream. Drop by Pop-A-Nana if popcorn’s more your style! There are all kinds of Minion-inspired flavours that’ll have you spoilt for choice.
Super Hungry Food Stand
Oh, is your stomach growling? Take a pit stop and chow down on mouthwatering dishes themed after the films! The doors of Super Hungry Food Stand swing open and a giant statue with Minions causing mischief greets you as you enter their air-conditioned interior, a welcome relief from the heat of the outside. Located on the edge of Super Silly Fun Land, drop by and have a bite!
With adorable mains and sides presented on the menu, how could anyone choose? I ended up with Stuart’s Japanese Curry Karaage, alongside the Minion Tots and Chili Crab Minion Mantous, alongside a couple of their sweets to take home!
At this point, my stomach was undoubtedly growling and all I wanted to do was tuck in. First, the Minions Tots. Perfectly crispy and adorably cut, its texture was reminiscent of the little smiling potato sides I would get as a kid. Dipping this into the chilli crab sauce was next level – the outer crisp and inner smooth potato mixed with the tangy sauce was the chef’s kiss.
The mantou, a little yellow bun with a Minion’s face stamped on it, was denser than I thought it would be. A little weird for a mantou perhaps, but it was no less delicious when soaked in the chilli crab sauce!
And finally, our main: Stuart’s Japanese Curry Karaage! A little Minion head worth of yellow rice, a pile of chicken karaage and half a plate of Japanese curry – if this doesn’t kickstart your appetite, I don’t know what will.
I’ll be frank, dishes with chicken karaage are not often my first choice. But here? Wow, the karaage was crispy on the outside while soft and oozing juice as soon as you sink your teeth into it. Try it with a generous dip of the Japanese curry – you won’t be disappointed. The thick sauce coats the fried outer of the chicken pieces, adding a complementary layer of savour to its overall flavour.
Eating the curry with the rice creates a simple mellow flavour that blooms on your tastebuds, cutting through the stronger flavours of the chicken karaage, creating a harmonious medley of flavours that will heave you polishing off your plate!
Minion Marketplace
After a full day of fun, why not bring home something tangible to remember it by? Whether you’re a plushie person, a clothing maniac or a blind box enjoyer, there’s something for you in the three zones of the Minion Marketplace!
Drop by Sweet Surrender, a candy pink-and-white wonderland filled with adorable mugs, headbands, as well as Agnes’s iconic pink and white fluffy unicorn! Want something a bit more trendy and fashionable – and with a dash of Minion-ness? Then Pop Store is gonna be the place to pop by! This zone is filled with street-art-inspired styles and trends, all with a Minion twist.
And finally, Fun Store is for the collectors. Filled with toys and accessories, grab something to commemorate your experience in Minion Land – especially the exclusive Zodiac Minions blind boxes! Featuring palm-sized Minions dressed as the different Chinese zodiacs, it almost doesn’t matter which you get – they are all blindingly adorable!
Visit Illumination’s Minion Land at Univeral Studios Singapore
Minion Land is everything it’s advertised as – fun, bright and bound to be fun for every visitor involved! While there aren’t any crazy rides that will leave your legs feeling like jelly afterwards, Minion Land is definitely still worth a visit. Perfect for logging memories with your friends, this is the place to snap photos to your heart’s content. So be sure to come on down and join in all the chaos and mayhem!
Well, if this convinces you to head down for a round around the Universal Studios Singapore theme park, I can guarantee it’ll be worth your time. Be sure to grab your tickets and say hi to the Minions at Minion Land!
📍Location: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway 098269 at Resorts World Sentosa
💲Price: Starting from S$59
⏰Opening Hours: 10am to 7pm
Photos by Grace Lee of the DANAMIC Team
*Article amended with updated info
