Top 19 Rides at Universal Orlando
Orlando’s Theme Parks have so many fun and different rides and attractions to choose from. To help save the hassle of picking the best rides at Universal, we put together a list of the top 19 rides at Universal Orlando.
Universal Studios Rides
1. Fast & Furious
Feel what it’s like to be a part of the Fast & Furious gang. Get supercharged and put the pedal to the metal with Dom, Letty, and Hobs on this action-packed experience.
2. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Rip Ride Rockit is a thrill-seeking roller coaster. On this ride, you choose music that plays for your seat while you ride. But you have to be quick as you only have a minute or so to pick your song.
3. Men in Black Alien Attack
Similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, here you help rid the world of aliens. The more aliens you hit with your laser gun the more points you obtain.
4. Revenge of the Mummy
This very popular indoor roller coaster is set to reopen very soon. It is said that it is intermittently open for the time being but odds are this ride is currently closed. However, once reopened we highly recommend you try it out. This ride is not for the faint-hearted and can be scary at times.
5. The Simpson Ride
Like most indoor rides at Universal, this is a virtual ride. This virtual roller coaster follows the Simpsons through Krustyland and Springfield bringing quite the experience.
6. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
This 3D ride follows that of the Harry Potter movie franchise. The storyline of this ride matches that of Deathly Hallows Part 2 when Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into a vault at the Gringotts bank.
7. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
The name is pretty self-explanatory but what you don’t know is the entire building and layout of the decor before the ride is phenomenal.
8. Transformers: The Ride-3D
Transformers is a virtual 3D ride that follows the Transformers in their fight to beat the Decepticons. It can get pretty intense so it may be scary and too much for younger riders at times. But adventurous and thrilling nonetheless.
9. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Minion Mayhem is catered to the little ones and is all about the Despicable Me characters with plenty of minions of course. This is a 3D virtual ride that is very entertaining and fun.
10. E.T. Adventure
Help E.T. and his friends in an adventure like that in the 1980’s film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Have your very own iconic moment of riding the bicycle in the night sky like that from the movie!
11. Hogwarts Express – Kings Cross Station
Experience what it is like to walk through the brick wall to platform 9 ¾. Then take the Hogwarts Express just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione from their time attending Hogwarts. This ride is a transportation service for you to get from Universal Studios Park to Islands of Adventure where you will walk out of Hogsmeade Station to enter Hogsmeade, which will lead you to Hogwarts.
Best Show
12. Bourne Stuntacular
The Bourne Experience is one of the newer shows at Universal. This is a stunt show that has live performers acting as if they are in a Jason Bourne movie. Unlike most rides, this show is about 26 minutes long, so be prepared to enjoy the show and the a/c.
Islands of Adventure Rides
13. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Ride on a motorcycle or in its sidecar on this high speed roller coaster adventure with Hagrid from the Harry Potter franchise.
14. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Walk through Hogwarts to follow Harry, Ron, and Hermione on an adventure of a lifetime on your very own flying broom. You go through what feels like a Harry Potter movie. You come across the whomping willow, dragons, spiders, Draco Malfoy, and much more!
15. Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Known for its theming, this ride is exhilarating to say the least. Great for Jurassic Park and thrill seekers alike, this roller coaster is a must-ride.
16. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
This ride gives you the ultimate Hulk experience. The storyline of this ride is supposedly riders have the same gamma radiation exposure as the Hulk that “turns” everyone into their very own Hulk. This roller coaster is the ups and downs of what it is like being the Hulk.
17. Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Go on a jungle excursion that follows King Kong and watches his battles with prehistoric species. The ride walk through can be rather scary for children and the ride is rather dark as well. Otherwise, it is a fun adventure!
18. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Follow Spider-Man on his latest quest to find the stolen Statue of Liberty and rid New York of its latest villains.
19. Jurassic Park River Adventure
If you are up to possibly being wet from a ride, then this is one for you. Depending on where you sit on this ride, you have the potential to be soaked. Meanwhile, during this ride, you get to venture through Jurassic Park being thrilled and surprised by the water and the dinosaurs.
FAQs
- Are locker rentals mandatory for riders to use in order to go on the rides?
If you have a bag or items that you cannot fit in your pockets then yes. For most rides that use lockers, you should utilize them since the seat space may not be big enough for your belongings. Some rides like Hagrid’s MotorBike have metal detectors, so you may need to leave your phone in a locker otherwise you will not be allowed to ride.
- Where are ride lockers located?
All roller coasters and some other rides at Universal have corresponding lockers that are located right next to or in the same vicinity as the ride.
- Are the lockers free?
Yes, but only for the time you spend in line and on the ride that the lockers are associated with. If you walk away from the ride and go on other rides while your belongings are in the lockers, the timer will most likely run out on your free locker rental. This means you may be expected to pay for your locker usage.
- When is the best time to get in line for the more popular rides? Or when should I expect shorter wait times?
We recommend that you go to the park opening to be able to ride your most sought-after ride. Wait times will be longer as the day progresses, so the earlier you get in line the better. Ride times may dip around typical eating times; however, they may remain at long wait periods either way. For the shortest wait times possible, we recommend you visit the parks during the week rather than on the weekend.
Final Thoughts
Have you tried any of these rides before? Which one of these is your favorite? Let us know what you think! We hope this article helps you with your trip to Universal Orlando. Enjoy riding the top rides at Universal!
