PHOTOS: Villain

Jun 01, 2023

Villain-Con Minion Blast will officially open with the rest of Minion Land on August 11. Until then, the ride has been operating sporadically for technical rehearsals and now Annual Passholder previews — which means we can finally take photos inside.

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is themed to the fictional Villain-Con featuring the Vicious 6. The convention was featured in “Minions,” set in 1968, while the ride is set in the modern day, with Villain-Con visiting Universal Studios Florida.

The exterior queue has been repainted and features Villain-Con banners, but otherwise isn’t super themed.

A large “Welcome to Villain-Con” banner is across a fence.

Villain-Con signs are on the trash cans.

Posters on the purple walls advertise some of the businesses we’ll see later in the queue, including Malicious Motors.

A poster for “Corrupt Companions” seems to parody Illumination’s “The Secret Life of Pets.”

As guests go down a thin hallway, they pass under screens providing exposition for Villain-Con and the ride.

There’s a Team Member podium at this point to help facilitate the line.

Several fake security cameras are around the doorway leading inside and a sign reads “Attention all Villain-Con guests. Scanning in progress.”

Inside is a large “Welcome to Villain-Con International” mural. There is also another warning sign here — the first was at the entrance — and a poster with info about the E-Liminator X that you’ll pick up soon. After this, guests enter the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall is full of booths representing various villainous businesses. At the center is a Villain-Con information booth. Upon entering, guests face two boxes. One is for villains to deposit their weapons and another is for lost and found. A screen shows how to use the E-Liminator X.

The sponsors of the convention are Henchman Placement Specialist, Manic Energy Drink, Villain Network Channel (VNC), and Bank of Evil.

On the other side is more info about the convention.

Today’s Breakout Sessions are:

Photos of the keynote speakers are next to the schedule.

The speakers are El Macho, Broadsword, and Vector.

A map of soundstage V is in the center.

Numbered booths are in a grid across the map.

To the left is Hall M, which is labeled as the blaster charging station. Next to that is The Lair, the villains’ cafeteria and concessions. Then there are elevators, followed by “Doomsday Device Storage Area and Coat Check” and “Lethal Lounge.”

The largest box is just labeled Vicious 6. At the bottom are logos for the booths we’re about to visit.

Other logos across the map include Evil Apparel, VNC, Scarlet Overkill, Lethal Nature, El Macho, and “Custom Mugshots.”

On the right is “Henchman Hangout,” “Lost and Stolen,” and “False Sense of Security Room.” A box of important information states:

A group of booths in the center is highlighted as con-artist’s alley.

More sponsor ads are on the booth.

A corkboard is covered in flyers for various events and services.

El Nerdo and El Macho will face off at 10pm in Hall B.

Frankie Fish Lips (“The Mystical Creature Tells it All!”) is appearing at Aquatic Tank #20.

A cosplay contest is in Hall A at 8pm.

Need to change your identity? A 12-step program designed by mad scientists and criminal masterminds is available at booth 803.

A bumper sticker advertises Evil Apparel at booth 781.

If you want to dance battle Evil Bratt, you can in Hall C in 9pm. The only weapon you need is your body.

There’s one more ad for Manic Energy Drink’s new PX41 infused flavor, available for a limited-time at Villain-Con, booth 823.

One of the businesses with a booth at Villain-Con is Malicious Motors. They advertise high-tech bikes and cars perfect for your getaway.

There are cages of vehicle parts.

There is a collection of air fresheners with scents like freshly stolen cash, poisonous gas, fear, and new getaway car smell.

Two of Malicious Motors’ custom vehicles are the Grim Gasser and Desert Hawk.

A green motorbike with axes at either end is atop the booth.

A screen shows off some of Malicious Motors’ features, like “bigger on the inside” Mobile Lairs.

Or their handy tailgate removal system.

License plates beneath a poster for the Smash Bug and Swamp Blazer are CR1M1N4L, BORN-BAD, SH4DYL4DY, 4BODING, V1L3 F1END, and G3T4W4Y.

There’s a wheel and dashboard on the booth.

70,122 on the odometer appears to be a reference to the July 1, 2022 release date of “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

The speedometer reads 67.90, for June 7, 1990 — the opening date of Universal Studios Florida.

The auto-targeting system has 05.281985, clearly for May 28, 1985.

Looking for some weaponry? Visit Unlawful Outfitters at booth #1209.

Missiles are atop this booth. There’s also a billboard for Change of Identity hanging above.

An axe hangs over the Unlawful Outfitters sign.

Inside are cases of interesting weapons.

There are tanks of gases in the corner.

Blueprints show various robot inventions and a fart gun.

The E-Liminator X is in a display case.

Next, go shopping for an evil pet at Corrupt Companions.

A screen on a large tank shows off a gator-like creature.

One display case shows off products like friend tags (shaped like axes, throwing stars, skulls, and more).

There is a studded dog collar.

Pollito from “Despicable Me 2” has written a book about “how to weaponize your chicken.”

Cans of Corrupt Delights food for gators, feral felines, chickens, spiders, XL K9s, and more are stacked in front of the book.

Eau de Beast will help you “mark your territory.”

The Corrupt Companions sign resembles a sun or throwing star-shaped dog tag on a chain.

Crates in the corner warn guests not to feed the genetically modified animal.

There are portraits of various villains and their corrupt companions.

More products are in another display case, including bags of Corrupt Delights food.

There’s even gator balm if you want to take home the creature in the tank.

Next door is Devious Destinations, sure to send you on a mischievous vacation.

Posters advertise trips to volcanoes, Egypt, and the Moon.

Villains can “scheme in style” with Lair B&B, travel through time with Flux’s Time Tourism, or visit Freedonia.

A display case has a sandy shelf covered in vacation essentials like passports and a coconut drink.

There’s a case for EarBugs, a remote eavesdropping device by Snoop.

There’s a Freedonia passport for Gill T. Mann (a reference to Universal’s Gill-Man or the Creature from the Black Lagoon).

The Little Book of Conversation Killers is a must-read for all anti-social travelers!

A Devious Destinations magazine features the 15 best skull-shaped islands and expert packing tips for a quick getaway.

Bandit Bingo travel edition has players checking off a gullible heiress, screaming baby, mysterious key, armrest war, annoying talker, hackable wifi, and more.

5 million copies of this guide to thieving while traveling has been stolen, so it must be good.

The tube of face block provides full identity shield protection.

Before leaving, guests pass by Diabolique Boutique.

A screen shows off different fashions, between artwork of fire and money-themed clothes.

A spiked boot is in a display case.

There are also matching spiked glasses.

Guests loop through this room a few times before exiting into the Vicious 6 hall.

You then pick up your E-Liminator X.

Younger guests who can’t lift the blaster may be given a toy version.

And then it’s time to ride! Check out our full walkthrough of Villain-Con Minion Blast and our honest review.

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Shannen has been a Disney Parks fan and lover of dogs since childhood, despite Pluto's attempt to eat Shannen's Minnie Mouse doll the first time they met. They've made up now. You can email Shannen at [email protected]

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