Have you ever wanted to take a trip to Gringotts or the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter? Or do you want to swing through New York City like the Amazing Spiderman? How about a haunted trip to an antique museum where a mummy comes to life and attempts to steal your soul?
If any of these rides sounds like your cup of tea, or if you simply want a thrill, Universal Orlando is the perfect place for you. Combining thrilling rides, spooky haunted houses, and enjoyable water sports, this resort has something for everyone.
Let me walk you through 21 of the best rides at Universal Orlando.
1. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Winding through Universal Studios Florida, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a crowd favorite – and for a good reason. A thrilling rollercoaster that runs at 65 MPH, the Rip Ride Rocket also takes you down a 167-foot drop.
You can choose your own music from the secret song menu, as well!
2. E.T. Adventure
As the name suggests, this ride recreates a scene from the movie E.T. You sit on a magical bike and take a journey to E.T’s home planet. The ride is gentle, giving you a break from some of the more thrilling rides at the theme park.
The ride is perfect for a romantic date and takes place inside an air-conditioned room.
3. The Revenge of the Mummy
On the surface, this is just an indoor rollercoaster inside an antique museum. In reality, it is anything but.
As the rollercoaster passes through the museum, it picks up speed all of a sudden. Later, the mummy tries to steal your soul, and the ceiling catches fire. The entire ride is a rush to be remembered.
4. Fast & Furious-Supercharged
If you’re a Fast and Furious fan or just a car enthusiast, you will love this ride. It takes you on a thrilling chase with some of the most popular characters from the franchise.
You can even take pictures with cars you like and view a video detailing the ride ahead.
5. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Simulation rides are always fascinating. If you agree, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is worth a try! It is a motion-simulation ride that can make you dizzy but is worth your time!
Ever wondered what the inside of Gru’s house looks like? Well, this ride is a chance to find out!
6. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
One of the longest rides in Universal Orlando, lovers of water sports will enjoy this ride. It takes you through a refreshing raft ride that has a lot of spinning and soaking involved.
Simultaneously, you’ll watch a story of Popeye saving Olive from Bluto, both entertaining and comical.
7. Transformers: The Ride – 3D
Universal Studios Florida has its fair share of thrill and motion rides, and Transformers: The Ride – 3D combines both. It involves saving the world from Megatron and is a sure favorite for Transformers fans.
The ride gets jerky, but the movement, combined with the simulation, makes the journey worth it. You also need to wear 3D glasses during the ride for a more immersive experience.
8. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
You can find this ride at Islands of Adventure, and yes, it is another motion simulation. It follows a tour of New York City, except you feel as if you’re there, moving through the buildings like Spider-man.
During this ride, you accompany Spider-Man on his quest to get the Statue of Liberty back.
9. Flight of the Hippogriff
Harry Potter fans will love this one. The small, family-friendly rollercoaster gives you a great view of the Hogwarts castles and the Harry Potter world.
This ride is not as thrilling as some of the other rollercoasters, but it is a great introduction for people who don’t visit theme parks that often.
10. Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon
If you want to take a ride through New York City without Spider-Man, you should try out Race Through New York! This is yet another motion ride that takes you on a trip across New York City.
Fans of The Tonight Show will love this ride as Jimmy Fallon is the one taking you through it!
11. Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
This ride is perfect for people who love water rides and those who enjoy an adrenaline rush. First, you get into a capsule, and then, at any time – without warning – the lifeguards push you onto the ride.
The ride consists of a long, winding water slide. You twist and turn in that enclosed slide before the full-body plunge.
12. Men In Black: Alien Attack
What would you do during an alien attack? Find out with Men in Black: Alien Attack! Your mission: shoot as many aliens attacking your city as possible.
While taking out aliens, you need to be wary of your neighboring cars, too. Shoot those cars to distract them while you score the highest number of points!
13. Escape from Gringotts
Harry Potter fans are sure to love this one. First, you enter the Gringotts bank, meeting the Goblins. Then, you attend a pre-show with Bill Weasley. After that, the ride begins.
The ride is a 3D and steel coaster combined, taking you through the caverns below Gringotts. The twists, turns, and mysterious events make you hold your breath from beginning to end.
14. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Some Blast-Ended Skrewts, a type of hybrid beasts, have gone missing, and you need to go into the Forbidden Forest with Arthur and Hagrid to find them! If you want a combination of a fantastical storyline and a thrilling coaster, this ride should be at the top of your list.
This ride is a blast – except when you make that 17-foot free fall.
15. Jurassic Park River Adventure
If you board this ride expecting a cool reprieve, you’re in for a surprise. The dinosaurs at the beginning of the water ride seem calm, but then the T-Rex escapes.
Fans of Jurassic Park know the rest. Everything descends into chaos, the ride drops, and you get very, very wet.
16. Kang & Kudo’s Twirl ‘n Hurl
Unlike many of the rides in Universal Orlando, this one is perfect for children. Based on the Aliens in The Simpsons, the ride is a spinner, where you sit on flying saucers.
You hear insults and comedic comments from characters throughout. For a more enjoyable ride, you can raise and lower the saucers!
17. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Every Potterhead dreams of walking the halls of Hogwarts, and this ride brings those dreams to reality. You encounter the Sorting Hat, moving pictures, and talking characters.
The ride involves a 3D motion simulation, a rollercoaster, and a quest to escape from a dragon with Harry Potter and his friends.
18. Doctor Doom’s FearFall
If you enjoy free-falls and drop-rides, DoctorDoom’s FearFall might be up your alley. The drop is fast, and the ride is high. You fall 185 feet faster than the speed of a free fall.
Though very high, the FearFall goes up and down so fast that you barely notice the height as you go.
19. VelociCoaster
This coaster is the best new attraction in Universal Orlando. It features 4700 feet of steel track, near-misses, and references to the Jurassic Park movies.
There are props from films, introductions to characters, and a raptor animatronic! The mosasaurs rolls, the no-gravity stalls, and the heights make for an unforgettable experience.
20. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Another enthralling and adrenaline-filled ride, this rollercoaster takes you through a steep journey peppered with sudden drops, inversions, twists, and turns.
The ride goes up to 67 MPH and starts with an uphill catapult. People who can’t handle such thrills should think twice before getting on board. The feeling of accomplishment after riding it is worth it, though.
21. Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Do you want a fun water ride but feel the Ko’okiri Body Plunge would be too much? Try out the Krakatau Aqua Coaster! It is equally fun but less thrilling.
You take a raft ride up the Volcano and enjoy some twists and turns, all while getting splashed in the water.
Conclusion
At Universal Orlando, you can enjoy a number of rides. These include Harry Potter-themed rides such as Flight of the Hippogriff and superhero-themed rides such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. You can even enjoy water sports, including Jurassic Park River Adventure and Krakatau Aqua Coaster.
