As we reported earlier, Universal Orlando Resort Team Members are testing Villain-Con Minion Blast at Universal Studios Florida today. Thanks to descriptions and first impressions from some Team Members, we now have spoiler-free details about the new attraction.
Villain-Con Minion Blast Basics
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is a moving walkway stand-through shooting attraction that uses screen technology, gaming interactivity, and physical sets. Guests put their villainous skills to the test in immersive environments to become the next member of the Vicious 6. Guests will be able to keep track of their scores and compete against each other.
The warnings sign we saw the attraction’s exit describes it as a “handheld blaster challenge along a moving walkway that includes loud noises and low-lighting conditions.” People with the following conditions should not ride:
- Medical sensitivity to strobe effects
- Motion sickness or dizziness
- Recent surgery or other conditions that may be aggravated by this attraction
Though there is no height requirement, children under 48″ must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Hand-held infants are not allowed.
Guests must remain standing at all times or in a standard wheelchair throughout. The attraction doesn’t accommodate motorized wheelchairs or electric convenience vehicles. Guests with service animals or in need of an assistive listening device should see an attendant.
Universal also advises guests to secure all loose articles or leave them with a non-rider.
Villain-Con Minion Blast Details
The queue of Villain-Con Minion Blast is mostly outside. Inside, guests move through a Villain-Con vendor room. They then pick up their blasters from a conveyor belt that also charges the blasters. If a blaster’s light is red, it’s still charging, and you shouldn’t take it. There is one size blaster and it weighs about three pounds. It features screens that display your name and an icon.
Signs in the blaster pick-up room tell guests how to pair the attraction with the Universal Orlando Resort app on their phone, so they can keep track of their points. If you don’t sync your blaster with your phone, you will be given a random evil name and icon. You’ll notice the icon show up when you point at the screen in the first room.
Team Members direct guests to stand on specific round yellow dots on the moving walkway, which never stops. The dots aren’t in a line, so guests aren’t necessarily standing next to each other. But if you’re wearing a backpack, that might bump into someone when you’re turning around to face different things.
The moving walkway takes guests through nine rooms total, and its railings are about hip height for adults, as well as transparent so children can see through them. This walkway also curves. The first room is more or less a training space, so you can get used to the blaster, which has two triggers. One is for standard shooting, and the other is for power-ups that you can collect throughout the attraction.
There are both physical props and on-screen items to shoot. Most of the rooms feature one villain.
The rooms are pretty small, loud, and curved, making aiming difficult sometimes. The blasters can also get hot from charging. There is a family room for child swapping.
Additionally, the points system is apparently arbitrary. Shooting the same item multiple times results in different amounts of points and sometimes shooting nothing at all still gives you points. Ammo appears to be unlimited, as the riders we spoke to never ran out.
A Team Member will collect your blaster at the end. At this time, we still don’t have an opening date for Illuminations’ Villain-Con Minion Blast, though it’s likely to occur soon.
Are you interested in this new experience? Let us know in the comments.
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