Universal Announces Details For Minion Land

Things are about to get silly- Universal Orlando has announced details for Minion Land!

Universal Orlando is gearing up to unveil the highly anticipated grand opening of Minion Land this summer, and this is going to be a Minion mania like no other! I've always loved the Despicable Me ride at Universal, so I'm very excited that there's more to come!

According to a press release, as you step foot onto Illumination Ave., your eyes will be drawn to a larger-than-life, photo-worthy marquee announcing your arrival at "Minion Land." Behold, a spectacular sight featuring a whopping 22 Minions! Once inside, you'll find the exhilarating adventure known as Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, an interactive gaming experience that's "so much fun, it’s a crime."

After you've worked up an appetite it's time to head the Minion Cafe. There's three areas designed after Minions Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto. Enjoy tasty treats like Otto’s Noodle Bowl, Agnes’s Honeymoon Soup and Carl’s Crispy Cauliflower and the Steak & “Cheese Ray” Sandwich. And for dessert, Bob’s Teddy Bear Chocolate Cream Puff.

You'll also have to make a stop at Illumination Theatre for a chance to meet and interact with characters like the Minions, Gru, Margo, Edith and Agnes. And don't forget about Bake My Day, a bakery filled with delicious minion-themed treats.

There will be so much to explore and mischief to be made, I can't wait for Minion Land to open!

Some amusement parks are built for thrill seekers, some are more family oriented. But one thing most everyone can agree on - the best ones are here in Florida. Orlando, actually. So how do you choose? Family vacations experts at Family Destinations Guide analyzed TripAdvisor data on the 20 most visited amusement parks in North America. They calculated the percentage of “excellent” reviews for each to find the most popular.

Taking the top spot is one of our faves. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. The one in Florida, boasting 52,180 total reviews on TripAdvisor.  38,582 (73.9%) of those reviews marked “excellent”. The park is renowned for its six themed islands: Marvel Super Hero Island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, Toon Lagoon, and Skull Island.

Cedar Point is the only amusement park on this list that’s neither in Florida nor California. It’s in Sandusky, Ohio. And Cedar Point was my favorite summer vacation as a kid in Ohio. I loved the "Corkscrew" so much I had to have the souvenir shirt. CP ranked at fourth place with 9,186 total TripAdvisor reviews.  5,930 (64.6%) of those reviews were “excellent”. The park, which is  one of the biggest amusement parks worldwide, is home to over 70 attractions, including 17 roller coasters.

This Top 10 ranking is based on Trip Advisor reviews. One interesting thing to note, the Florida parks tend to rank higher than what should be identical parks in California. Universal Orlando ranks higher than Universal in California. Disney World > Disneyland. Finally, let's get to the rankings based on Total Percentage of "Excellent" Reviews.

There's not a bad one on this list. Each park has it's strengths. Some have more and bigger coasters. Some are better if you have small children. Do your research and I'm sure you'll have a great time.