Travel Guides Family Friendly Amusement Parks
Universal Orlando
Blake Taylor
Universal understands that every vacationer’s dream is to be chased by a raptor at 70 mph. When it comes to roller coasters at Universal Orlando Resort, the coaster track itself is only part of the experience. What keeps visitors coming back are the stories, theming, and immersion that sets Universal apart from your average amusement park.
Universal Orlando Resort’s two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure) boast a total of nine roller coasters. (Plus, there are more coasters to look forward to when a new park, Universal Epic Universe, opens in 2025.) Appealing to little tykes and thrill-seekers alike, Universal Orlando’s roster of coasters has something for everyone, with attractions representing crowd-pleasing franchises like Marvel, “Jurassic Park,” and more.
That being said, how does one rank coasters so different from one another? Is it really fair to compare the tame Flight of the Hippogriff against the gnarly Incredible Hulk Coaster? Probably not, but we’re going to try our best. We’ll definitely consider the coaster itself — in other words, how the ride would be assessed if it was only an exposed track with no frills. However, we’ll also largely take into account those other factors signature to theme parks on Universal’s scale, like how well the ride tells its story and what makes it something you could only experience here. Is everyone ready to enter the queue? Here’s every roller coaster at Universal Orlando, ranked.
10. Not Eligible for Ranking: Non-Coaster Thrill Rides
Universal Orlando
For brevity’s sake, there are nine roller coasters at Universal Orlando. However, there are many other thrill rides that aren’t technically roller coasters. For our purposes, we’ll define a roller coaster as a ride in which a train of vehicles travels along a track with various elevations at high speeds. Sure, on The Simpsons Ride, guests join the famous animated family for a rollicking trip on a roller coaster at Krusty Land, but the ride itself is a simulator that simply mimics a real coaster’s movements.
Similarly, a handful of other experiences throughout Universal Orlando don’t meet the qualifications for our ranking but might be of interest to thrill-seekers all the same. At Universal Studios Florida, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon posit themselves alongside The Simpsons Ride as madcap simulators, while Transformers: The Ride 3D combines simulator technology with a traditional dark ride format.
Over at Universal Islands of Adventure, non-coaster thrills include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which swoops riders through Hogwarts on a robotic arm of sorts; the log flume-style Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Jurassic Park River Adventure; Skull Island: Reign of Kong, in which a truck drives into a huge wrap-around screen for a battle between King Kong and a dinosaur; Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, a drop tower ride; and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a ride with similar tech as Transformers: The Ride 3D and one of Universal’s most stunning experiences.
9. The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando
Never again. Plenty of folks swear by The Incredible Hulk Coaster as a classic, but we avoid it at all costs. One of Islands of Adventure’s opening-day attractions from 1999, Universal completely rebuilt The Incredible Hulk Coaster from scratch in 2016 when the ride neared the end of its initial service life. The designers’ goal was to create a smoother experience. Though it may not be as violent as before, The Incredible Hulk Coaster is still a rough-and-tumble experience that we endure rather than enjoy.
The premise is cool enough. Within the fiction of the ride’s narrative, as soon as the coaster train whooshes through the launch tunnel, riders have transformed into a Hulk themselves. Unfortunately, the roleplaying isn’t enough to save the coaster from being unpleasant.
In this case, “Hulk smash” means your head will smash everywhere. The ride jostles your cranium every which way, which gets especially rough during its upside-down segments. Taking place outdoors, there’s no supporting story material to speak of that might boost the ride’s rank for us. (This differs from, say, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, which makes an effort to form some semblance of storytelling beyond its queue.) This wouldn’t matter for the average park, but Universal isn’t the average park. On the positive side, The Incredible Hulk Coaster is mesmerizing to look at, especially from across the park’s lagoon from Seuss Landing or The Lost Continent. Guests must be 54 inches tall to ride.
8. The former Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando/YouTube
Nestled in a family-friendly area of Universal Studios Florida called KidZone, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster was a short ride with a long history. It opened in 1999 as a non-threatening kiddie coaster. Clocking in at less than a minute, it was a nice option for a child’s first roller coaster as they make their way up to the big leagues.
In 2022, Universal announced most of KidZone would shutter in early 2023 to begin construction on a new family entertainment area that would still include guests in the lives and adventures of their favorite characters. Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster closed, as did play areas themed for “Curious George” and “An American Tale.” (E.T. Adventure and Animal Actors On Location, adjacent attractions in the general vicinity of KidZone, aren’t going anywhere.) Though Universal hasn’t specified details for KidZone’s replacement, the area’s construction walls are lined with illustrations of characters from DreamWorks films like “Shrek” and “Trolls.”
Months after KidZone closed, aerial photographs showed most of the land’s attractions demolished, save for one outlier: Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. This brings our saga to its main point: While the experience of Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, as guests have known it, is no more, the actual ride is expected to survive the overhaul, likely themed to a DreamWorks franchise. The former Nuthouse Coaster had a height requirement of 36 inches, offering a mild thrill for younger guests not tall enough for the park’s more intense attractions.
7. Pteranodon Flyers at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando
This ride is for kids, and only kids. Unique among any other attraction at Universal, Pteranodon Flyers requires that riders be children between 36 and 56 inches tall. That’s right; it has a minimum and maximum height requirement. The one exception? If you’re over 56 inches tall, you can ride if you’re accompanied by a child who meets the specifications. (Sorry, solo travelers.) These narrow parameters give Pteranodon Flyers an air of mystery to those who have never ventured onto its track.
On Pteranodon Flyers, riders sit single-file in a glider-like vehicle, the track above them. Gently cresting above the surrounding Jurassic Park land, Pteranodon Flyers doesn’t contain any dramatic drops but does offer a moderate thrill as gliders freely swing side-to-side. Whereas most coasters are after the rush of the experience, Pteranodon Flyers values a Zen-like quality more.
While most guests frequent this area of Islands of Adventure for Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Jurassic Park River Adventure, Pteranodon Flyers is a prime example of the smaller-scale experiences that fill out this delightful land. Other overlooked but worthwhile attractions here include Jurassic Park Discovery Center, a hub for exhibits and presentations about the park’s “wildlife”; Camp Jurassic, the coolest playground of all time, if you’d even call it that; and Raptor Encounter, a one-of-its-kind photo-op with a “live” raptor, who may or may not attempt to bite your head off. Just a tiny bit different from meeting Mickey Mouse down the street, right?
6. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando
The calling card of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit — named after the concept of “ripping” music, which made more sense in 2009, when the coaster opened — is its ability to let riders choose the soundtrack. Upon boarding, each individual rider gets to select a song from a library of hit tunes. The choices include songs across different genres, from “Glamorous” by Fergie to “Living In Fast Forward” by Kenny Chesney. Guests in the know can enter codes to unlock “secret songs” not listed on the main menu. (Our go-to secret code? 901. It unlocks “Movin’ Right Along” from “The Muppet Movie.”) This is just one example of many hidden details throughout Universal’s rides and architecture.
In terms of theming, the outdoor layout of Rip Ride Rockit and its queue are about as nondescript as they come. The line is an unflattering series of switchbacks under a shelter, with nothing to really help it stand out. The coaster can also be a bit dizzying; we’ve been known to black out on this one. On the other hand, the ride’s visibility from outside Universal Studios Florida’s park gates makes a statement as guests arrive. It’s something of a teaser for the exciting day ahead of them. Furthermore, the incline up the first hill is insane — you travel straight upward, your face to the sky at 90 degrees. It’s a unique component that’s simultaneously nerve-wracking and awesome. Guests must be 51 inches tall to ride.
5. Flight of the Hippogriff at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando/YouTube
This tame outdoor coaster in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure is a pleasant ride celebrating Hippogriffs, the winged creatures first introduced in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” Located practically at the front steps of Hogwarts Castle, Flight of the Hippogriff gives riders the opportunity to soak in incredible, elevated views of the school, especially when ascending the coaster’s lift hill.
Though it’s easy to compare Flight of the Hippogriff to the kiddie coaster next door at Universal Studios Florida (see above), Flight of the Hippogriff is taller, faster, and longer, if only ever so slightly in all three categories. It also gets bonus points for including a majestic robotic figure of Buckbeak, Hagrid’s pet hippogriff.
When this coaster opened in 2000, it was known as Flying Unicorn — same track, different subject matter. Back then, the area of Islands of Adventure that’s now home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade was an extension of The Lost Continent. When Harry and company moved in, Universal re-themed Flying Unicorn into Flight of the Hippogriff. Guests must be 36 inches tall to ride Flight of the Hippogriff.
4. Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando
This indoor coaster is a tour de force of unexpected twists, a room made of fire, and appearances by Brendan Fraser. As you’ll discover, the actor is just trying to get a cup of coffee. Revenge of the Mummy opened in 2004 in Universal Studios Florida’s New York section. It’s one of the park’s most well-rounded attractions.
If you pay close enough attention, you might be able to follow the ride’s meta-story, though it’s a bit difficult to follow amidst all the action. Unlike many Universal attractions, Revenge of the Mummy acknowledges that the story of the movie “The Mummy” is fiction — that there’s no story world, per se, for guests to step into other than a fabricated movie set. That all changes, though, when the production crew discovers that the curse from the movie is real.
Regardless of whether guests perceive the intricacies of the plot, Revenge of the Mummy is a top-notch attraction all the same. Its different segments offer a well-paced ride with a little bit of everything: spectacle, story, and plenty of thrill. Its fastest, darkest moments are somewhat reminiscent of Rock ‘n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while its pauses for story exposition mirror the “Harry Potter” attractions throughout Universal (though Revenge of the Mummy, for what it’s worth, came first). Guests must be 48 inches tall to ride.
3. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando
The top three roller coasters at Universal Orlando could, in many ways, be interchangeable. They have their strengths for their own reasons (such as track layout, robotic figures, and screen technology), and your personal preferences toward those reasons will determine how you rank them. For us, #3 is (takes deep breath) Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure. (We’ll just say Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, if it’s all the same to you.)
The combo indoor/outdoor coaster, which opened in 2019, zips through the Forbidden Forest for a rollicking ride filled with surprises. As it turns out, we’re here for a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, instructed by Hagrid, featuring a whirlwind tour of animal friends both friendly and ferocious. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure utilizes impressive physical sets and robotic likenesses of its characters, unique among its screen-based sibling attractions in The Wizarding World. Hagrid himself looks especially realistic and is performed lovingly by the late Robbie Coltrane for the last time. As for the coaster, it’s one-of-a-kind, but we don’t want to spoil all the secrets.
Notably, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure does not accept front-of-the-line Express Passes. To avoid a long wait, visit during first thing in the morning (or better yet, during Early Park Admission on select dates, exclusive for guests staying at Universal onsite hotels). Guests must be 48 inches tall to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.
2. Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando
One of the most impressive coasters in the country, the phenomenal Jurassic World VelociCoaster is a home run. It opened in 2021 as an expansion of Jurassic Park within Islands of Adventure.
After you’ve experienced a few rides at Universal Orlando, you may notice a pattern within its attractions’ fictional narratives: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That trope is put to use here with spectacular results. In a twist for Universal, VelociCoaster is fully aware of its existence as a roller coaster. Within the story, though, we’re not at Islands of Adventure, but rather the actual Jurassic World theme park, and the roller coaster takes riders directly through the raptor paddock. “What could go wrong?”
The ride is magnificent. The outdoor coaster is intensely thrilling but unimaginably smooth. Featuring multiple launches, tranquil views, and dramatic movements, VelociCoaster’s many components don’t seem like they belong together, but create a symphony of a coaster if there ever was one. All the while, we are to imagine raptors viciously chasing the heels of the coaster train, and we even see a few of them throughout the queue and the densely foliaged ride path. The queue also features Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprising their roles from the movies as Owen and Claire, respectively. Their well-written banter about the ethics of the coaster makes for a hilarious prelude to the adventure that awaits. Guests must be 51 inches tall to ride.
1. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando/YouTube
“I know you’ve seen Harry Potter. Tell me where he is!” Not that anyone should necessarily enjoy being threatened by an evil wizard, but you can’t help being starstruck when coming face to face with Voldemort himself. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is an indoor double-whammy — part roller coaster, part simulator. Your ride vehicle moves along a very real coaster track, but it also pauses for story moments conveyed via motion-simulation screens. This coaster opened in 2014 inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, a completely different land separate from Hogsmeade at the park next door.
Taking place inside Gringotts Bank, riders enter the story at a very specific moment within “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” when Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into the bank, only to hightail it out of there on a dragon. Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter gleefully return as Voldemort and Bellatrix, respectively. The ride opened several years after the movies wrapped, and Fiennes and Carter seem to relish the opportunity to play these iconic characters one last time.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts tells its story with fantastic form and immerses riders into its fictional location with a finesse that can and should be studied. (At one point, an on-screen waterfall blends into a physical set piece effortlessly.) It’s a 10/10 perfect attraction, no notes. Guests must be 42 inches tall to ride.
