Universal Studios Florida’s Minion Land will officially open on Aug. 11.

Much of the area is already available to at least some guests as part of a technical rehearsal, including the new Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction. The land also sports a new Minions Cafe quick-service restaurant, the Evil Stuff retail store, the meet-and-greet area and food stands. 

The land is the only major addition to Universal Orlando Resort for 2023. Next year’s offering will be focused on a different Universal-owned animation studio, as DreamWorks will be taking over the former Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. 

You can hear me talk about the new Minion Blast attraction on the latest episode of “The Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast.”

‘Saw X’ and ‘The Conjuring’ are coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest

At the Midsummer Scream horror convention this past weekend, Six Flags Magic Mountain revealed it would be bringing two haunted houses based on outside intellectual properties to its Fright Fest event.

The two horror movie-based houses will be themed around “The Conjuring” and “Sax X.” The foray into movie IP is new for Six Flags, but is commonly seen every year at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. 

The event’s lineup will also include six other houses, including five featured at last year’s Fright Fest, along with Condemned – House Party, which was open during Magic Mountain’s Scream Break event earlier this year. 

Fright Fest, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, runs on select nights at Magic Mountain from Sept. 8 through Halloween. The haunted houses require a separate $25 Haunted Attractions ticket on top of admission to Magic Mountain.  

Knott’s Scary Farm preview sells out

Speaking of Halloween haunt events celebrating anniversaries, the 50th year of Knott’s Scary Farm is starting off with a special preview night on Aug. 24.

However, the event at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, quickly sold out after it was announced over the weekend, according to KTLA. 

If you weren’t one of the lucky few to grab tickets to the preview, you’ll have to wait until Scary Farm kicks off for real on Sept. 21.