The crowds are surging at Universal Orlando, with an average of over 20 million visitors per year! As someone who's logged hours and hours testing and re-testing these attractions (tough job, I know!), I'm excited to share my insider's guide to the best 15 rides at Universal Orlando. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or looking for family-friendly adventures, this comprehensive guide will help you make the most of your visit.
Let me tell you - ranking these rides wasn't easy. I've experienced each attraction multiple times during different seasons, crowd levels, and times of day. My rankings consider four key factors: thrill factor, theming, technological innovation, and overall experience. Here goes...
Top 15 Universal Orlando Rides Ranked
1. Jurassic World VelociCoaster
My heart still races every time I approach this beast! The VelociCoaster isn't just Universal's newest coaster - it's their best ride ever.
This engineering marvel features a 155-foot top hat, four inversions, a launch that hits 70 mph in 2.4 seconds and by far the smoothest coaster at Universal. But what really sets it apart is how the thrills are woven into the story. You're racing alongside a pack of velociraptors through a realistic Jurassic environment. The queue itself is worth exploring - packed with Easter eggs from the films.
Best time to ride: Head here first thing in the morning. I've found the shortest waits are typically during meal times, especially during dinner hours. Pro tip: I've found it is generally best to avoid the single rider line as this never seems to be a time saver.
This ride once cost me $85! I love raising my arms high in the air over the top hat, it makes the drop even better, so much so I had been trying to convince my wife to do the same, she wasn't for it. But then one time during a spur of the moment madness, I said just before the launch, "If you put your arms in the air over the top hat and all the way down the drop, I'll buy you a Loungefly", it was an offer she couldn't resist, and she's never ridden it without doing this since!
2. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
This isn't just a ride - it's a master class in storytelling. I've ridden in both the motorbike and sidecar positions, and each offers a completely different experience. The motorbike (my personal favourite) gives you a more commanding view and feels more thrilling, while the sidecar lets you better appreciate the incredible animatronics. It's no surprise that this ride generally has the longest wait time in the park, but it really is well worth the wait.
Note: As of the end of May 2025 Hagrid's in now included in the Express Pass! Hagrid's is generally not included in the Express Pass. I've only known special events and ride closure (once you are well into the queue) to be a way of getting an Express for this ride.
3. Revenge of the Mummy
Hidden secret: Look for the hidden "Brendan Fraser" references throughout the queue. The front row offers the best view of the effects, but the back row gives you the strongest launches.
4. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
This blend of coaster and 3D technology perfectly captures the magic of the Harry Potter films. The queue through Gringotts Bank is honestly half the experience - take time to watch the animatronic goblins counting their gold.
Pro tip: If you are on one of the end seats be careful not to hit your head on the cart as it spins, this caught my wife off guard the first time we rode it but that didn't stop her from wanting to go back on it later that day though! Fantastic ride. This was the second ride I'd ridden at Universal Studios and that's when I knew this place was truly special, I was amazed!
5. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Tip: this is a great ride to go on when you've been destroying your step goal day after day as it allows your feet to dangle giving them a well deserved rest.
6. MEN IN BLACK: Alien Attack
This interactive shooting ride has more depth than you might expect. My experience is that it generally has one of the shorter wait times of the top 15.
Insider tip: keep hold of the trigger throughout rather than pressing to shoot for more points and be ready for Zed to say "Push the red button" as there are 100,000 bonus points on offer!
7. Doctor Doom's Fearfall
This twin tower drop ride delivers intense thrills in a short package. The Marvel theming sets it apart from typical drop towers - Doctor Doom is "harvesting your fear" for his latest experiment.
Pro tip: Request the right tower for slightly better views of Islands of Adventure, though both sides deliver identical drops. Morning rides offer stunning views of the entire park in the best lighting. Bang for buck / wait time to thrill ratio this would top the charts for me.
8. E.T. Adventure
9. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Choose your music carefully - it makes or breaks the experience! However, the recent reduction in music choices and the confirmed closure of the ride have left fans feeling nostalgic and eager to experience it before it’s gone. The rumoured September 2025 closure means the ride’s days are numbered, and if you want to experience this iconic coaster, it’s best to plan your visit as soon as possible.
10. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Recently retracked and smoother than ever (but still not all that smooth sometimes), Hulk remains a top-tier thrill ride. That initial launch through the gamma-ray tube still gets me every time - 0 to 67 mph in like 2 seconds! The best seats are in rows 3-5 for the perfect balance of smoothness and intensity.
Tip: the ride photo for this one is a long way into the ride, practically at the end
11. Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
A classic that revolutionized theme park rides with it's amazing 3D technology and in ride water effects. The 4K HD upgrade makes a huge difference - try to spot Stan Lee's cameo during the city scenes! Best time to ride is during the last hour before park closing; I've often walked right on with no wait.
Insider tip: The front row isn't always the best - rows 2-3 actually provide the optimal viewing angle for the 3D effects.
12. Jurassic World: River Adventure
This water ride perfectly balances story and thrills. You will get wet, but not soaked - unless you're in the front row during the T-Rex area! The animatronic dinosaurs are especially impressive at night when the lighting creates more dramatic shadows.
13. Transformers: The Ride 3D
While similar to Spider-Man in technology, Transformers offers its own unique thrills. The screen transitions are seamless, and the motion base is more aggressive. Best experienced from the middle of the vehicle where the 3D effects work optimally.
Motion sickness tip: Focus on Optimus Prime during the action sequences - he's usually centered in the frame.
14. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
The NBC-themed waiting area is surprisingly entertaining, it has the best pre-show and ride safety video ever! I've even seen the Ragtime Gals performing on the stage in the queue. If you are really lucky you may even get to meet Hashtag the Panda!
15. Trolls Trollercoaster
Recently transformed from Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster, this family coaster now features vibrant Trolls theming and music. While the track layout remains, the ride experience is completely refreshed with new scenes featuring Poppy, Branch, and other favourite Trolls characters. Perfect first coaster for young thrill seekers - the 36-inch height requirement makes it accessible for many pre-schoolers.
Tips for Maximizing Ride Experiences
After countless visits and quite a few mistakes, I've developed some foolproof strategies. Express Pass is worth every penny during peak seasons - I've seen wait times drop from 120 minutes to 15 minutes! But here's a money-saving trick: check out the prices of staying at one of Universal's Signature Collection hotels, it has been known that a one night booking here which includes Express Passes for all guests booked into that room can work out much better value than buying Express Passes. You'll get Express Passes for 2 days, the day you check in AND the day you check out!
Single rider lines are your secret weapon, if you use them wisely. I've saved hours using them, especially on The Mummy, Gringotts, Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man. Avoid using single rider on Hagrid's, VelociCoaster and Rip Ride Rockit as these never seem to save any time, probably due to the ride vehicles accommodating two people. Just know that you'll miss some queue theming, so maybe do one Standby queue to experience everything as well.
Seasonal Ride Considerations
Florida weather can be unpredictable, but don't let that stop you! Some of my best ride experiences have been during light rain - people take cover in shops or even leave the parks but most rides stay open. The only real closures happen with lightning in the area, even then you can get lucky - hurtling upwards on Doctor Doom's as the sky lit up with lightning is still equally one of my most thrilling and scariest ride experiences ever!
During holidays, especially Christmas and Spring Break, early morning is crucial. Staying in a Universal hotel gives you Early Park Access; I've ridden Hagrid's once, VelociCoaster twice before and been sat in Croissant Moon before official rope drop!
Accessibility and Height Requirements
Every major ride has a test seat outside - use them! They're especially important for Hagrid's and Forbidden Journey, which have stricter restraint requirements. For families with young children, the Child Swap programme is brilliant. Parents can take turns riding while the other stays with the little ones in a comfortable waiting area.
Conclusion
Universal Orlando's rides keep getting better every year. From the groundbreaking technology of the VelociCoaster to the immersive storytelling of the Wizarding World attractions, there's something for everyone. My best advice? Plan ahead but stay flexible as not one trip to Universal Orlando Resort has followed the itinerary that was made before travelling!
Don't forget to check ride schedules for your specific dates, as refurbishment schedules can change. And keep an eye on Universal's announcements - with Epic Universe opening soon, this list might need updating sooner than we think!
Have I missed or mis-ranked a ride or two? Let me know in the comments!