The 10 best thrill rides at Universal
The 10 best thrill rides at Universal
At Florida Travel with kids, we LOVE Universal! Universal Orlando is home to some of the most thrilling rides in the world. From high-speed water slides to hair-raising roller coasters, there’s something for everyone. Here are our top 10 best thrill rides at Universal!
I thought it would be fun to create a list of the best thrill rides at Universal. This list will also include a “scare rating” because some of these rides can be intense!
If you love thrill rides, you’ll love this list. However, if you don’t love thrill rides, well, you might want to check out the “scare level” to see if these rides at Universal are right for you.
I like to get around as needed during my Universal Orlando vacation, so I like to rent a car. I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates available whether you’re flying into Orlando or Sanford.
The most thrilling rides at Universal
Keep in mind that this list of the scariest rides at Universal, or most thrilling rides at Universal, is subjective. Therefore, you may feel differently about these rides than we do.
I did include a child perspective for most of these rides. However, if you’re a parent trying to figure out which rides will be good for your kids, make sure to check out the “kid rating,” too.
The Velocicoaster
The brand-new Velocicoaster has to make the list of the best thrill rides at Universal. Opened in June 2021, this ride is the fastest in Orlando and has multiple launches, a crazy top-hat that, and four inversions. One of the inversions lasts for several seconds and is quite intense!
Pro-tip: I recommend trying to choose the front of the coaster vs. the back. The front is a much better experience, in my humble opinion.
This is probably the scariest and the most thrilling roller coaster at Universal, followed closely by the next two on this list.
Kid Rating: One of the best theme park rides ever. (Garrick rating: Best queue ever, will not ride, ever!)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
You can’t miss this big, green monster when you walk into Islands of Adventure. With seven inversions, The Incredible Hulk is the most “loopy” ride in Universal.
That is not a technical term; I made it up. If you like inversions, you’ll love the Incredible Hulk Coaster!
Kid Rating: If you go to Six Flags, you’ll find 5 rides just like this, so it is fun but not unique.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
You’ll probably notice Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit when you’re walking through CityWalk. This is one of the best thrill rides at Universal, thanks to the 176-foot, 90-degree lift at the beginning of the ride.
Although this ride has no inversions, it’s still very thrilling due to its unique start and a top speed of 65-miles-per-hour.
Rip Ride Rockit also lets you jam out to your favorite rock songs. In addition, you can check out the Rip Ride Rockit Secret Song list to find out even more songs that aren’t listed on the ride.
Kid Rating: This is a fast coaster, but the scariest part is the incline at the very beginning.
Dr. Dooms Fearfall
Do you love feeling like you’ve lost your entire stomach? Well, then you’ll love Dr. Dooms Fearfall! At 150 feet, this ride makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. But then, it drops you very quickly at speeds up to 40 mph.
Kid Rating: It’s not worth the wait in line for such a short ride that will make you feel sick.
Revenge of The Mummy
Revenge of the Mummy is one of the most underrated rides at Universal. I have more underrated rides in my ultimate Universal Orlando planning guide.
This ride was originally revamped where the screens are now better quality. The ride is one of my favorites, and I hope you’ll love it too! Although it can be intense due to being in the dark, and, well, mummies, it’s lots of fun!
Kid Rating: If your kids are scared of the dark, they will not enjoy this one. Otherwise, it is fun and not too fast.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is unique and has a lot of special features. From 5 launch sections to a drop section, Hagrid’s is not your typical rollercoaster.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is unique and has a lot of special features. From 5 launch sections to a drop section, Hagrid’s is not your typical rollercoaster. Instead, riding in a motorcycle-like ride vehicle, this rollercoaster is much more thrilling than it seems.
The downside of Hagrid’s is that it tends to experience downtime and delays more often than your typical roller coaster due to being such a technical ride. The queue also makes me a bit claustrophobic now that social distancing has been relaxed at Universal.
Kid Rating: One of the best rides at Universal Orlando. As long as you don’t get stuck at the bottom of the drop section! Yes, this happened to us once. That will take your scare factor up to a 10 really quick!
Make sure you don’t miss 30+ Movies to watch before going to Universal. The Harry Potter movies are a must-see!
Jurassic Park River Adventure
There are three water rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. However, Jurassic Park River Adventure is the only water ride to make the list of the best thrill rides at Universal.
Jurassic Park starts as a slow and peaceful boat ride, but things never go right in Jurassic Park. 😉 This ride is pretty tame but does have a drop with speeds up to 50 mph.
Also, the dinosaurs might scare younger riders, but any dinosaur fans will LOVE it!
Kid Rating: One of the best rides at Universal if you love dinosaurs.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is one of my favorites – if not my very favorite – rides at Universal. I love the theming, and the ride is a lot of fun.
There are some scary elements, such as a “drop” in the beginning and some parts of the rides at dark. There’s also “he who shall not be named,” who is terrifying. 😉
Although this is a hybrid coaster/screen ride, the screens do not make me as sick as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride is worth a long wait, and the queue is amazing too!
Top speed: 30 mph (estimated)
Kid Rating: An enjoyable ride, but some kids might be scared by Nagini (the snake.)
Ko’okiri Body Plunge
I had to add some thrilling “rides” from Volcano Bay. Although, I have to admit; I haven’t been on Ko’okiri Body Plunge.
While I love rides, I have issues with enclosed spaces, and body slides are also not my thing. So, Ko’okiri is a hard no. That said, my 13-year-old son has been on and loves this ride.
He says it’s the scariest ride in all of Universal!
Top speed: Faster than the speed of light. That’s a guess. 😉
Kid Rating: It is probably the scariest “ride” in all of Universal.
Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Although it’s not as scary as Ko’okiri Body Plunge, the Krakatau Aqua Coaster is definitely one of the best thrill rides at Universal.
Krakatau Aqua Coaster may even be scary for younger riders. This unique coaster follows magnets on at the track and changes the game for water slides. But, of course, it’s no ordinary water slide; you’ll have to see it for yourself.
Top speed: 45 mph (estimated)
Kid Rating: A very unique water coaster that is a lot of fun and not very scary.
The best thrill rides at Universal.
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best thrill rides at Universal. Did your favorite make the list? Let me know what you think the #1 most thrilling ride at Universal is in the comments.
Universal Travel Tips
Planning a Universal vacation? Here are some tips and tricks to make your vacation epic:
Where to buy Universal tickets
If you haven’t purchased park tickets, I highly recommend buying your tickets through Undercover Tourist. There are many really scammy sites out there, so make sure you’re booking through an approved partner (like Undercover Tourist.)
I also highly recommend staying at a Universal Resort!
Perks to staying at a Universal resort include free transportation throughout the day and early park admission. The Premier Resorts (Portofino Bay, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock) also include a free Express Pass for every day of your stay.
Check the pricing for your dates on Expedia here:
Don’t forget that you’ll get a free Express Pass for your entire group if you stay at Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific.
Are you planning a Universal Vacation?
I know that it can be overwhelming, especially with three parks, new resorts almost every year, and a HUGE new park coming in a few years! I am a graduate of the Universal Orlando Resort Travel Agent Training Program, and I’d love to help plan your Universal vacation! Contact me on my Travel Agent website for more info. Please note that I only take on a select number of theme park clients!
If you plan to DIY your vacation, I understand that too! I highly recommend buying tickets through Undercover Tourist if you choose not to use a Travel Agent. There are a lot of really scammy sites out there, so make sure you’re booking through an approved partner (like Undercover Tourist) or an approved Travel Agent.
About Florida Travel With Kids
Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here. Have you stayed at Aventura Hotel and Cabana Bay Beach Resort? Which did you prefer? Let us know in the comments!
Did you enjoy this post? I would love it if you would pin it for later! Or, make sure to share it with your friends on social media if they are looking for things to do in Florida with kids.