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Universal Orlando Resort in Florida is world-famous for its incredible theme park rides and shows. We love them all so much that being asked to choose a favorite ride can feel a little like being asked to choose a favorite child!
That said, we know you want to know what the best rides are before you head to the parks, so here’s our list of the best Universal Studios rides in Orlando.
Okay, now let’s get into the best Universal Studios rides in Orlando.
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6 Best Rides at Universal Orlando Resort
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The first one on our list takes us to the sister theme park of Universal Studios called Islands of Adventure. The original Harry Potter attraction at Wizarding World of Harry Potter is called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
This ride is located at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must do.
As you make your way through Hogwarts Castle, you’ll visit the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office and so much more. The queue alone is worth the wait. In fact, you can ask to take a “castle tour” to visit the various rooms in Hogwarts without even riding the attraction.
On the ride, you will soar above the castle grounds with Harry and his friends in an unforgettable adventure. Potterheads will revel in the opportunity to come face-to-face with magical creatures and scenes from the films and books, but the state-of-the-art technology will impress even those Muggles who aren’t familiar with the storyline. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind ride!
If you love roller coasters, another thrill in Hogsmeade at Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This brand new ride is so much fun for the whole family, especially thrill seekers. Besides the excitement of a roller coaster, this ride has some incredible special effects. Be sure you take advantage of the Virtual Line on the Universal Orlando App. This ride has super long wait times.
While you are at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can hop on the Hogwarts Express (train ride) between Hogsmeade and King’s Cross Station in Diagon Alley. It is a fun way to get from Islands of Adventure to Unviersal Studios.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Before we leave Islands of Adventure, we wanted to share another incredible ride at this sister park. You don’t need to be a Spider-Man super fan to love this technologically advanced attraction! In The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, as soon as you put on your 3-D glasses, you’ll join Spider-Man in a high-flying ride through New York City.
This is a motion simulator/virtual reality type experience, but the free falls and flying effects sure feel real! Some Marvel baddies made appearances and try to end your journey (and your life!) along the way, but it all ends well and it’s a lot of fun along the way!
Revenge of the Mummy
Heading over to Universal Studios, the Revenge of the Mummy is #4 on our list. This dark-ride-meets-roller-coaster is a heart-pounding experience any thrill seekers is sure to love regardless of whether or not you are familiar with the Mummy movie franchise. An elaborate, dark and creepy queue gives a lot of build up to the attraction, which almost immediately hurls you into danger.
The effects here are great with fire, water and more coming at you when you least expect it! We don’t want to give any spoilers, but there’s definitely a little extra surprise just when you think you have escaped the Mummy! This is an epic thrill ride.
Men in Black Alien Attack
Your entire family will love the next best Universal Studios Ride in Orlando. In this attraction, you become an MIB Agent Trainee whose job it is to save New York from aliens. To earn your MIB suit, you’ve gotta zap those suckers with your blaster!
Not only is it exciting to compete against your traveling part to see who can earn the most points, but the gags you’ll see along the way are funny as well. This is a fun one! And if you ask the agents out front, you may even be able to get a free “Immigration” Tour that allows you to go into the big immigration room to check out the props and get a photo op!
Escape from Gringotts
Another ground-breaking attraction and another Harry-Potter-themed ride, Escape from Gringotts may blow your Muggle mind! For starters, this attraction and story takes place in Gringotts Bank, which sits beneath an actual fire-breathing dragon at the end of Diagon Alley.
Once you enter the bank, you’ll make your way through the stunning marble lobby past frighteningly lifelike goblins. Not only is there a pre-show, but there’s also an elevator ride that takes you deep under ground before your adventure even begins. It’s multiple experiences in one ride!
Once you finally board your cart, you’ll find yourself trying to evade malicious villains like Voldemort and Bellatrix, as well as trolls and other creatures. Your cart will twist and turn through the vault and may surprise you with unexpected motions and sensations. Good luck with your escape. Hopefully Harry, Ron and Hermione will be there to help you!
Check out one of our Universal Orlando videos with Gringotts in a “point of view”.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Number one of the Universal Studios Rides in Orlando is The Incredible Hulk!
This coaster travels at nearly 70 miles per hour starting with a tunnel launch with Hulk-strength force! The 150-foot tall and 3,700-foot-long ride features seven inversions including a zero-g roll, a cobra roll, two vertical loops, and two corkscrews.
Lighting, music and other effects make it even more thrilling! It’s intense… in a good way! The Hulk is even fun to watch this one from the ground as it zooms through Marvel Super Hero Island at Islands of Adventure. You’ll know it’s coming when you hear the roar!
We know this roller coaster is not for everyone. For the younger visitors, be sure you check out Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. This family roller coaster is intended for the younger Universal Orlando visitors. This roller coaster is located in the kidzone at Universal Studios. Another kid friendly roller coaster is the Flight of the Hippogriff at Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hogsmeade. On this family coaster, watch out for huge animatronics at the very beginning of the coaster.
Check out one of our recent vlogs from Islands of Adventure, with Hulk!
There are so many other fun rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, including Fast & Furious Supercharged, Transformers 3-D, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. However, these are our favorite Universal Studios rides in Orlando.
Do you agree with this list of the best rides at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure? Which ones are your favorites?
Just as important as choosing the best rides, we can help you avoid the worst ones! Take a look at our list of the 6 Worst Rides at Universal Orlando Resort.
