Rumors indicate that Mel’s Drive-In Restaurant at Universal Studios Florida will close for a refurbishment at the end of May to coincide with the grand opening of Minion Café.
Mel’s Drive-In Restaurant
Mel’s Drive-In is in the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida, around the corner and down the street from where Minion Café will be located. The 50s-inspired diner is based on the restaurant that appeared in “American Graffiti.” It sells quick-service burgers, fries, chicken fingers, milkshakes, and more. Classic cars are parked out front.
The refurbishment is reportedly not a major one, and the restaurant will just be closed for a few weeks or months. It would make sense for it to line up with the Minion Café opening so Universal Studios Florida doesn’t lose food and beverage space during Mel’s closure.
There’s a Mel’s Diner at Universal Studios Hollywood, too at every Universal theme park around the world.
Minion Café
Minion Café will be part of the new Illumination Avenue land. It replaces Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Café, which closed in 2022. Universal recently shared a job posting for Minion Café Team Members.
A Minion Café also exists at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Florida version will reportedly have a similar menu but with a few different items. Universal will push mobile ordering at the new quick-service restaurant. An exact opening date has not been announced, but it’s expected to open this summer.
Read a Minion Café review from Universal Studios Hollywood.
Illumination Avenue
Illumination Avenue will include the pre-existing Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, as well as the new Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast and Minion Café.
Villain-Con Minion Blast replaces Shrek 4-D, which permanently closed in January 2022. Villain-Con was featured in the first “Minions” spinoff movie, and the ride will feature various villains from the franchise, including the Vicious 6. The ride will purportedly be a shooting attraction with guests on a moving walkway.
Villain-Con Minion Blast and Minion Café are scheduled to open this summer.
While construction continues on Villain-Con Minion Blast and Minion Café, the façade of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is also undergoing a refurbishment. The ride remains open but construction walls, scrim, and scaffolding are up around the entrance. The refurbishment is likely because of concerns about falling debris. A noticeable missing brick was spotted just above the attraction’s entryway in late January. At that time, a large covered purple entryway was installed, seemingly out of an abundance of caution. That covered entryway remains in place.
Production Central is also home to Transformers: The Ride 3D and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. At this time, the exact layout of Illumination Avenue is unclear in terms of dividing the area up as the Minions attractions currently sit between Transformers: The Ride 3D and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
The exterior wall of the Transformers: The Ride 3D show building behind Minion Café was recently painted bright blue and will reportedly have “Illumination” painted on it next.
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The post RUMOR: Mel’s Drive-In Closing for Refurbishment, Minion Café Opening in Late May at Universal Studios Florida appeared first on WDW News Today.