Orlando, Florida - Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, the new ride replacing Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast in Soundstage 42, has now soft opened to the public, as of June 9, for “technical rehearsals” over the next few weeks while the finishing touches are put on the ride. The ride will not be open continuously, but rather sporadically as the park irons out bugs and tests ride features. The ride will then officially make its debut on July 2, 2012.

Over a year ago, Universal Orlando announced that it would be replacing its Jimmy Neutron attraction, which was closed on August 18, 2011, with something brand new for the 2012 season. On May 19, just a day before the opening of the upgraded Star Tours attraction at nearby Walt Disney World, Universal announced it would be replacing Neutron with a Despicable Me themed attraction.

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, is the first ride at the park based on a Universal-produced animated movie. The ride utilizes the motion simulator setup used for Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast, combined with HD 3D projection. The plot line goes as follows: Guests enter Gru’s home where they are asked by the super-villain to join his legions of minions. After going through “minion training”, riders join Gru and his daughters on a wild journey though the villains lab, finishing with a “dance party” with the minions, according to Theme Park Tourist.

Rumor now has it that Despicable Me may also make its way to Universal Hollywood in 2013. Rumors have been spreading lately that the park’s Terminator 2: 3D attraction may be headed out after this season, after all the third film of the trilogy as well as a fourth terminator film are already over 3 years past. Screamscape and other sources seem to feel the ride would, obviously, likely be a near-clone of the one opening at Universal Studios Florida. It could serve as a good attraction to add/update while Hollywood waits on their own Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which will take at least a couple years to construct.