Universal Orlando already boasts several entertainment attractions within its vast compound. Their recent upcoming addition is a new Minions-themed land complete with a unique matching ride, according to the announcement of the Florida theme park authority.

The Minion Land

Scheduled to open in the coming summer, the new Minion Land will be located on the Illumination Avenue of Universal Orlando, Florida. It will also include a new themed ride called Villain-Con Minion Blast. The themed land is planned and developed in partnership between Universal’s creative team and the filmmakers from Illumination. While the award-winning team of Universal is highly lauded for their visionary creations, Illumination is widely considered one of the leading producers of event-animated films in the entertainment industry.

Other Offerings

Giving birth to the hugely popular characters, the Minions, the blockbuster Despicable Me from Illumination has been one of the most successful and fan-favorite animated franchises in cinematic history. So, it’s pretty obvious that the upcoming Minion Land of Universal Orlando will also include other surprises like the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction. There will also be a new Minion Café, as the sister location to its Universal Studios Hollywood counterpart.

The Experience

As per the Universal authority, the new Villain-Con Minion Blast promises to bring in loads of diabolical fun and a mischief-filled experience. The interactive blaster game will invite guests to test their villainous skills by competing against each other. Describing the Villain-Con as the biggest criminal convention on the planet, the theme park authority explained that the winning gamers will join as the newest members of The Vicious 6, the notorious supervillain group from Minions: The Rise of Gru. As a pioneering attraction of Universal Orlando, this new game ride will blend innovative screen technology with state-of-the-art gaming interactivity. The riders will use an interactive blaster to earn points while standing on a motion-based pathway and encountering immersive scenes from the films, with villains and mischievous Minions.

In North America, BBQ is generally associated with the Southern states. And this is not just about the low-and-slow meat cooking, barbecues are a great method of communication.

Most Southerners Agree That Georgia BBQ Exists

The reason why Georgian BBQ is not accepted as a thing globally is the lack of clear regional barbecue traditions compared to other Southern states. The truth is, Georgia’s style varies depending on the person describing it, and that’s what makes the Georgia BBQ so interesting as a topic and a unique experience every time you’re in the area.

What Should Be on The Menu?

What really defines Georgia-style barbecue is a blend of cooking with heart, soul, and history. All these, coupled with twangy vinegar, thickened tomato base, etc., are the recognizable flavors in the Georgia BBQ.

Judd Foster of South of Heaven BBQ in Carroltron says he discovered the existence of Georgia barbecue through his customers. After three years in Atlanta, the owner opened up a restaurant 50 miles west of the city. With the help of the Atlanta-based hip-hop duo OutKast, he made sure he included the following in the menu:

• Brisket
• Pulled Pork
• Smoked Sausage Sandwich (Big Boi)
• Homemade Beer Cheese, which is incorporated into the restaurant’s cheesesteak

The Smokers Are Important

Other BBQ owners believe it’s the smoker that matters most, and what’s not to like about a sweeter, smokier flavor? Georgians would feed a smoker all night, so that’s definitely something to taste on your meat.

Anna Phelps from Anna’s BBQ is sure that smokier meats are Georgia’s calling cards. Her father’s side hails from Greensboro – a small town located between Atlanta and Augusta, and she believes that the increased levels of smoke found in Georgia BBQ are due to the tried-and-true tradition of backyard charcoal cooking.

She also adds: “Everybody’s got a little bit of a different taste, but I don’t think it’s that different when you get outside Atlanta”.

Georgians also love Sunday suppers and family meals, which include mac and cheese, cornbread, collard green mandatory add-ons, chicken mull, and other BBQ sides that are often associated with Northern states.