One of the things we loved most about Universal Orlando was how different every ride felt. Some were adrenaline-pumping, others were surprisingly fun, and a few… well, we could have skipped. I wanted to share what stood out for us — the good, the surprising, and even the rides that didn’t live up to the hype.

Our Favorite Thrill Rides:

Jurassic World VelociCoaster: Hands down, this was our favorite ride of the entire trip. It’s fast from the start — and somehow gets even faster halfway through. With huge loops, crazy twists, and sharp turns, it’s an absolute thrill from beginning to end. Worth every bit of the anticipation!

The Incredible Hulk Coaster: Another top favorite. Launching from zero to full speed within seconds gives you such an adrenaline rush. It’s intense, but so smooth and fun.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: This ride surprised us with how much we loved it. It's fast, offers a custom music selection (you pick your own song), and the ride itself is longer than we expected, with multiple drops, loops, and thrills.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: This one was so neat because the two cars actually separate during the ride, making it feel like you’re part of the Gringotts adventure. A great mix of coaster and immersive story.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (inside Hogwarts Castle): I had ridden this before, but it never gets old. It’s one of the most unique ride experiences out there — part simulator, part physical sets, and it truly makes you feel like you’re flying through the world of Harry Potter.

Revenge of the Mummy: A surprise favorite for everyone — dark, fast, and full of twists and effects. Even those of us who don’t normally love roller coasters came off smiling.

Dr. Doom’s Fearfall: A simple but super fun ride where you’re launched straight into the air. One of my daughters loved it so much we rode it multiple times.

Hidden Gems and Pleasant Surprises:

Flight of the Hippogriff: From the ground, it looks slow and simple. But once you're on it, it’s much faster and more exciting than it looks. A really fun surprise!

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon: Honestly, we didn’t have huge expectations, but this ride turned out to be a blast! It's silly and light-hearted, and we all came off smiling.

Street Entertainment: The random performances around the parks added so much life! We saw:

• A Movies parade with floats (including a giant dinosaur!)

• Blues Brothers performing after driving up in their car with a giant speaker

• A trash band where performers used trash cans and pipes to make music (very cool!)

• A cute Marilyn Monroe show outside Mel’s Diner

• Even some magical performances in Diagon Alley

What We Skipped (or Would Skip Next Time):

Fast & Furious – Supercharged: This was definitely our biggest disappointment. There was a lot of pre-ride talking, walking through rooms, and building up the story — but when we finally boarded the ride, it was over before we knew it. It felt rushed and underwhelming. We were really surprised how short and uneventful it was, and honestly, we were glad we didn’t wait long to experience it.

Water Rides: We skipped rides like Jurassic Park River Adventure and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls mainly because of the long wait times — and because we didn’t want to walk around soaked for hours. If you're planning on doing water rides, definitely consider packing a change of clothes or hitting them right before leaving for the day.

For the Younger Audience:

While we mainly focused on the bigger rides (since we had teens), we did hop onto The Cat in the Hat ride in Seuss Landing. It was super cute, and even the teens enjoyed it. You can definitely tell it’s geared more toward younger kids, but it was a fun, light break in between all the thrill rides.

The Express Pass Difference:

Having the After 4 PM Express Pass made a huge difference for us — especially on a busy holiday weekend. For favorites like The Mummy, it meant we could ride it (and re-ride it!) without wasting hours in line. For rides like Fast & Furious, it honestly saved us from being frustrated. If we had waited an hour or more for that, we would’ve been pretty upset. On lighter crowd days (like Sunday), it made park hopping and trying new rides a breeze.

Takeaways for Families and First-Timers:

• Must-rides: VelociCoaster, Hulk, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Mummy, Dr. Doom’s Fearfall, Gringotts, and Hogwarts Castle

• Hidden surprises: Don’t skip Flight of the Hippogriff, Jimmy Fallon’s ride, or the random street shows

• Skip if tight on time: Fast & Furious – Supercharged

• Water rides: Be prepared to get soaked if you decide to brave them

• Express Pass: Absolutely worth it for busy days and hitting the best rides quickly

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