Universal Studios Hollywood · Upper Lot
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
A cartoon motion simulator where you are turned into a Minion, with a dance party at the exit that children rate higher than the ride.
Ride facts
- Type
- Simulator
- Height
- 40in (102cm)Guests under 40 inches may ride in stationary seating instead of on the motion platform
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Motion sickness
- High motion risk
- Getting wet
- Stay dry
- Indoor / outdoor
- Indoor
- Air conditioned
- Yes
- Rider Switch
- Available
Last verified July 2026
What it is
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2014, in the building that previously held Terminator 2: 3-D. The premise is a training program in Gru's laboratory that turns the audience into Minions, which is a sensible piece of design — it gives a screen simulator a reason to throw you around.
The ride itself is a bank of motion platforms facing a large screen, with 3D glasses. The animation is genuinely funny and the timing is good, which is more than most simulators manage. The problem is the motion base, which is sharper and more abrupt than the cheerful presentation prepares anyone for.
The exit is the part parents underestimate. It opens into a dance party area with music, projections and floor effects, and small children will happily stay in there for twenty minutes. Factor that in rather than fighting it.
What riding it is actually like
The queue winds through Gru's house and laboratory, which is well built and has real detail worth looking at — the gadgets, the family photographs and the lab equipment reward a slow walk. A pre-show sets up the premise in a couple of minutes.
In the theater you are seated on a bench on a motion platform, restrained by a lap bar, wearing 3D glasses. The film runs about four minutes: a training sequence goes wrong, the Minions cause chaos, and the platform pitches, drops and jolts in sync with it. The drops are short and sharp rather than sustained.
The exit deposits you into a Minion dance party with music and projected effects. Children respond to this far more strongly than to the ride itself. If yours are in that age band, budget the extra time here.
Is Despicable Me Minion Mayhem scary?
Almost nothing here is designed to frighten — the tone is slapstick throughout. What catches children is the motion, which is jerkier than the cartoon presentation suggests, combined with a screen filling their entire field of view. Stationary seating is available and is a genuinely good option for anyone unsure.
Scores are editorial, on a 1–5 scale, judged against what frightens a typical four- to seven-year-old rather than an adult.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair
- Must transfer to the ride vehicle
- Audio description
- Not offered
- Handheld captioning
- Available
- Assistive listening
- Available
- Sign language
- Not offered
- Service animals
- Must use a kennel or wait with a companion
You must transfer out of a wheelchair or ECV onto a bench seat on a motion platform, with a lap restraint. Stationary seating is available on request and does not require the 40-inch minimum, which makes it the most flexible motion simulator in the park.
Tips that actually help
- Ask for stationary seating if anyone is unsure about the motion. It is available on request, it does not carry the 40-inch minimum, and the film is identical.
- This is one of the roughest motion bases in the park. Do not ride it back to back with The Simpsons Ride unless you have tested both before.
- The queue is part of the attraction. Gru's laboratory has more detail than anything else in this half of the park, so do not rush through it on a short wait.
- The dance party at the exit is not optional in practical terms if you have a preschooler with you. Plan an extra fifteen minutes.
- Rider switch is available, so one adult can wait with a child under 40 inches and ride afterward without queuing twice.
Timing
- Best time to ride
- First 90 minutes of the day, or after 6pm when families with young children have left.
- Typical wait
- Usually 20 to 40 minutes; can reach 60 on peak days.
- Express Pass
- Universal Express Pass
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: common questions
What is the height requirement for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem?
40 inches to ride on the motion platform. Guests under 40 inches can ride in stationary seating instead, which shows the same film without the movement. Ask at the entrance rather than at the theater door.
Is Minion Mayhem too rough for children?
The motion is sharper than the cartoon tone suggests, with abrupt jolts and short drops. Children who dislike simulators will not enjoy it. The stationary seating option solves the problem entirely and is under-advertised.
Does it cause motion sickness?
For susceptible people, yes — it is one of the worst offenders in a park full of them. The combination of a full-field 3D screen and a jerky motion base is a reliable trigger. The stationary seating removes most of the risk.
Is the dance party at the exit worth staying for?
If you have children under about eight, yes, and you may not have a choice. It is a projected dance floor with music and effects, and small children routinely rate it higher than the ride. Budget fifteen minutes for it.