The Top 10 Rides at Each Universal Orlando Theme Park
Universal Orlando is loaded with awesome thrill rides, simulator rides, and rollercoasters the whole family can enjoy. It is one of my favorite places to go on vacation. Today I’ll be ranking the Top 10 Rides at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.
The Top Ten Rides at Universal Studios
#10 Kang & Kodo’s Twirl ‘n Hurl
Kang & Kodo’s Twirl ‘n Hurl is more like a glorified county fair ride. However, it is pretty cool and if you like The Simpsons you will appreciate all the stuff the aliens say during the ride. It’s a cool looking ride in the heart of Springfield next to The Simpsons Ride.
#9 Fast and Furious Supercharged
This ride has some cool effects but is relatively cheesy. If you’re a fan of the Fast and Furious franchise you should ride it, but otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s not really worth the wait in my opinion.
#8 Hogwarts Express
This is actually a train ride that takes you from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure and vise versa. However, it’s actually really neat. While you’re riding there are lots of special effects that make it feel as if you are in the world of Harry Potter. The train transports you from Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. Even better, the Hogwarts Express provides you with two different experiences depending on which way you are going.
#7 E.T. Adventure
E.T. Adventure is one of the oldest and most lovable rides at Universal Studios. It’s such a fan favorite that it has not been replaced (unlike Jaws and Back to the Future). The E.T. ride has lots of cool things about it. Waiting in line is even kind of cool because of all the trees and props from scenes in the movie. You feel like you are flying over the city on a bicycle with E.T. in the basket in front of you. But the ride goes even further by taking you through a delightful land at E.T.’s home planet. At the end of the ride E.T. even says your name. This is one of the most outdated rides at the park, but it’s air conditioned and definitely worth doing.
#6 Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Minion Mayhem is a really cute simulator ride that will probably closer to the top of the list for any little kid. You get to be transformed into a minion. The queue lines and preshow areas are themed like Gru's laboratory, and you get prepped to become part of his Minion workforce. You'll wear 3D glasses and experience the thrills and spills of Minion training alongside Gru and his daughters. The ride throws you right into the middle of the mischievous world of the Minions! Expect wacky antics, silly situations, and of course, Gru's signature brand of villainous humor. This ride has 4D elements like mist, wind, etc. It’s a great ride for the whole family to ride together. After the ride is over you’ll exit into a giant dance party with upbeat music and colorful lights.
#5 Transformers The Ride 3D
If you like the Transformers movies you’ll love Transformers The Ride 3D. Even if you don’t like the Transformers movies or if you’ve never seen them, it’s still a really cool ride. It throws you right into the heart of a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The special effects make you feel like you are right in there with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, dodging danger and battling Megatron. This ride is has a lot of fast paced action. Little kids, especially little girls, probably won’t like it. Make sure you check the character meet times and get your picture made with Optimus Prime, Megatron, or Bumblebee. The larger than life Transformers are really neat in person as they interact with the crowd. It’s a lot of fun to be personally insulted by Megatron!
#4 Men In Black Alien Attack
The Men in Black Alien Attack is a great ride for a lot of reasons. It’s cool if you like the Men In Black movies, it has lots of action and special effects, and you can compete against each other. You become an MIB recruit and get armed with a laser gun to zap aliens and rack up points. You can even target your lasers at other vehicles to make them spin around. There are cheesy jokes, wacky aliens, and lots of iconic locations from the Men in Black universe. It’s a lot of fun no matter what age you are.
#3 Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is one of the best rollercoasters you’ll ever ride. It’s 167 feet tall and goes up to 65 miles per hour. The seating provides an unobstructed view and a more open feeling than most rollercoasters. There are multiple launches that make for multiple adrenaline rushes. There are lots of exciting turns and twists. But the coolest and most unique thing about the Rip Ride Rockit rollercoaster is that you get to choose your favorite genre of music which is then blasted in your ears while you ride it. There are cameras attached to video your reaction to the entire ride.
#2 Revenge of The Mummy
The Revenge of The Mummy ride is amazing. It is a very thrilling ride that will surprise you many times. It’s an indoor rollercoaster that speeds up to 45 miles per hour with lots of tight turns and drops. It takes you on a wild journey through an ancient Egyptian tomb filled with mummies and other spooky things. The darkness makes the ride extra intense. Just when you think the ride is over and you see the usual “you did it” type of ending you’re in for another big surprise as the ride isn’t quite over yet. More drops, turns, and launches are in store before it ends. It even has hot fire and creepy music to seal the deal as one of the more complete rides at Universal Studios. I’ve seen little kids cry while riding this one, so keep that in mind if you are thinking about riding it with young kids. However, for teenagers and adults it is an incredible experience.
#1 Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
This is one of the coolest rides ever made. Even if there was no ride at all it would be worth it just to walk through the line to get there. It’s like being inside a Harry Potter movie. There are tons of special effects and fun surprises all along the way including a walk through the Gringotts Wizarding Bank! You will be amazed and dazzled by the Gringotts lobby where you’ll get to see all the goblins doing their banking work. The line can get extremely long at times so I would highly recommend getting Fast Passes so you can cut down your wait time.
When the ride begins it feels like you are literally flying through the labyrinth below the bank. You run into all kinds of characters including Bill Weasley, Hermione, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. Just when you feel safe one of the giant bank security trolls rips your cart down with him. While you’re plummeting down Bill comes along and barely saves you again. Hermione and Harry show up again and tell you to get out of there fast. You then travel deeper underground as you try to escape from Gringotts. As usual, things go wrong and your sudden doom is immanent until…. Well, I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you, so you’ll just have to ride it for yourself. But I promise you it is an awesome ending to an amazing ride. If your tickets include early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I highly recommend taking advantage of that and going early. This is one ride you will want to ride more than once!
The Top 10 Rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
#10 Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
This is a raging rapids ride similar to a lot of others at many theme parks. It is Popeye themed and you are attempting to rescue Olive Oyl from Bluto and a super-sized octopus as you go barreling down the rapids. You will definitely get soaked on this ride.
#9 The Cat in the Hat
No matter your age, you will enjoy The Cat in the Hat ride. It feels like you are in a big Cat in the Hat storybook as you twist and turn through each scene, trying to clean up after the Cat in the Hat before Mom gets home. There are lots of neat characters and gadgets including Thing 1 and Thing 2.
#8 The Incredible Hulk Coaster
As soon as you arrive at Islands of Adventure you will notice The Incredible Hulk Coaster. You can hear Hulk screaming and see the giant green rollercoaster tracks filling up the skyline. The ride has an extreme launch as you are blasted out up to 67 miles per hour and propelled upside down into a gravity roll. If you like rollercoasters you will enjoy riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster.
#7 The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride
This may look like a ride for little kids, but it’s actually quite enjoyable. You get a good look at Islands of Adventure from up above as you stroll through Seuss Landing on tracks featuring the Sneetches and other popular Seuss stories.
#6 The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
This is one of my favorite rides at Islands of Adventure, and it’s one that I usually ride multiple times. It’s a 3D simulator ride with lots of action and some really realistic feeling free falls. There are lots of special effects and 4D features like heat and mist which make it feel even more real. I highly recommend this one.
#5 Jurrasic Park River Adventure
This ride has been around for a long time, but it is still one of the best rides at Islands of Adventure. When your raft passes through the ginormous Jurassic Park doors and you hear the Jurassic Park theme song playing it really sets the mood and makes you feel like you’re in the movie. There are lots of big dinosaurs everywhere and really neat scenery. After dodging some raptors and other dangerous dinosaurs you come face to face with a giant T-Rex. Just before he swallows your raft whole you plunge down and crash into the water at the bottom, making a huge splash that soaks half the raft. It’s a really cool ride you’ll be sure to enjoy.
#4 Skull Island: Reign of Kong
This ride is really unique compared to the other simulator rides because there are giant screens on both sides of the vehicle you are in. You’ll be attacked by all kinds of dinosaurs and eventually saved by King Kong himself. It’s an amazing ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
#3 Jurrasic World VelociCoaster
The VelociCoaster is the newest rollercoaster at Islands of Adventure. It is a really intimidating rollercoaster located in Raptor Paddock. You’ll twist and soar above the land and water at really fast speeds. The great thing about this rollercoaster is how smooth it is. It doesn’t jerk you around and beat you half to death like a lot of rollercoasters do. If you like rollercoasters you’ll love the VelociCoaster.
#2 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This is a one of a kind ride that will delight any Harry Potter fan. You join Harry and his friends on an adventure with lots of broom riding and close calls as you go down passageways and corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchfraft and Wizardry and soar above the castle grounds.
#1 Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a highly themed, immersive roller coaster with lots of surprises. You join Hagrid and fly into the Forbidden Forest where you encounter lots of magical creatures. The rollercoaster goes forwards and backwards and even drops down and changes tracks completely… or at least it feels like it does with some clever imagery and moving parts. There’s a cool unicorn at the end too. Be advised you cannot use an Express Pass for this ride, but you can schedule a time window to ride it. If you are short on time and can’t ride everything at the park, make sure you ride this one. You will love Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
The Top 10 Rides at Universal’s Volcano Bay
These are the best rides and slides at Volcano Bay.
#10 Tonga of Taniwha Tubes
Two people can go down this tube slide together. Tiki statues spray you with water as you slide by.
#9 Punga Racers
These body slides send you through underwater sea caves and shoot you out the bottom.
#8 TeAwa The Fearless River
You have to wear a life vest for this one. It’s basically a rapid river with lots of big waves and churning rapids.
#7 Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
Cross the rope bridge and then take a huge plunge down these slides. They shoot you out about six feet above the pool below, so there is a big drop and a big splash.
#6 Pihi of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Ride
This is a five person raft ride with dramatic drops and a big funnel. It’s a cool ride that’s lots of fun.
#5 Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
Drop from the top of the volcano through trap doors and take a plunge. Two people can do this at the same time and you’ll shoot down intertwining tubes in a race to the bottom.
#4 ika Moana of the Honu ika Moana
This is a really fun five passenger raft ride with lots of twisting, turning, and dropping.
#3 Honu of the Honu ika Moana
This is a raft water slide ride five people can ride together. It shoots you up a massive slope and back down again.
#2 Krakatau Aqua Coaster
I love aqua coasters and this one is one of the best I’ve been on. Four people can ride together in a canoe style raft. There are lots of dark twists and turns inside the giant volcano before you emerge and plunge through a waterfall.
#1 Ko’okiri Body Plunge
This is one of the scariest water slides you will ever see. You take a 70 degree fall through a drop door and plunge 125 feet to the bottom. You’ll definitely get an adrenaline rush on this one.
