Universal is getting set to reveal their highly anticipated Epic Universe park with a grand opening on May 22, 2025. Many theme park fans have already experienced it during previews, and they’re giving rave reviews. I can’t wait to check out all the new coasters, dark rides, and shows in this brand new destination. Before getting there, it’s time to take a close look at Universal Orlando’s other two parks.
I visited Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure most recently in January and rode all their coasters. It was my first time on several of them, and the lineup offers a lot to any enthusiast. There are high speed thrills and inversions, excellent theming, and less intense options for younger guests. It’s a strong mix that will get even more impressive with the additions at Epic Universe.
Today, I’m just focusing on eight coasters that reside in the current Universal parks in Florida. I’ve ranked them 1-8 and describe the pros and cons of each ride. There are technically nine possibilities, but I’ve chosen not to rank the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley. While it uses a powered coaster for its vehicles, it feels like cheating to include that gentle ride here. Let’s dive into my Universal Orlando coaster rankings!
8. Trolls Trollercoaster, Universal Studios Florida
Type: Vekoma Junior Coaster
Opened: June 2024 (current form)
Top Speed: 21.7 mph
Height: 27.9 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: Bright theming should charm Trolls fans.
Originally Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, this rethemed kids coaster opened as part of the Dreamworks Land in June 2024. If you’re a fan of the Trolls movies, you might appreciate the bright colors designed to match the vibes of that franchise. It’s also good to have a starter coaster for young riders who aren’t ready for more aggressive rides.
The Trollercoaster is a pretty basic Vekoma junior coaster with a single lift hill followed by a small drop and a few turns. Love the name, though! The entire ride lasts only about 45 seconds, and it’s cramped for adults or older kids. There’s also a strange net over your legs to keep any loose articles from escaping. Like many kids coasters, it’s a slow loader and lines can move slowly on busy days. Even so, it’s worth a look especially if you’re hoping to get kids started on becoming enthusiasts.
7. Flight of the Hippogriff, Islands of Adventure
Type: Vekoma Junior Coaster
Opened: June 2010 (current form)
Top Speed: 28.5 mph
Height: 42.7 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: Great views of Hogwarts from the lift hill
This original version of Flight of the Hippogriff in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter also started as a different ride, Flying Unicorn. It was part of the Lost Continent area and rethemed to fit within the Hogsmeade area. While it’s also a kids’ coaster, this ride is a step up from the Trollercoaster. It has much better theming, especially in the queue as you stroll by Hagrid’s Hut (pictured above).
Universal has added three more Flight of the Hippogriff coasters at other parks, but they aren’t clones. This version is 100 feet longer than the Hollywood version, and that makes a difference on such a short ride. The best reason to check out this coaster is the incredible sight of Hogwarts nearby. There are a few thrills with the opening drop and zippy turns, but it’s over quickly. Be warned that even if you have Universal Express, you may wait a while if only one train is operating. This was our longest wait using Express on our January trip. Even so, it’s worth a ride just for the awesome views of the Wizarding World.
6. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios Florida
Type: Maurer Rides X-Car Steel Coaster
Opened: August 2009
Top Speed: 65.0 mph
Height: 167.0 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: Scary, cool vertical lift hill
I’d heard some many varied reactions to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit before I rode it earlier this year. It’s tricky because we had a really cool night ride while Cinesational played right at closing. I also enjoyed the on-board audio and chose “Sandstorm” by Darude (the electronic genre choice). My daughter also called it one of her favorite rides in that park. The vertical lift hill is frightening but also a good start, and and Rip Ride Rockit offers awesome views of the park. But it’s all not great news, however.
The track layout is strange and includes a surprising number of brake runs. It’s fun in one sense because you get a lot of moments to regroup, but it also kills the momentum. The other downside is the decrease of songs from 30 to five, which limits your ability to customize each ride. There is a long list of hidden songs, but most guests probably don’t know about it. Rip Ride Rockit still provides an exciting ride and is a little underrated, but it’s still behind the top five. It’s closing for good in September, and rumors are flying about Fast & the Furious or Ghostbusters replacements. I’m excited to see what’s next in this space and hope we’ll learn more soon.
5. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Universal Studios Florida
Type: Intamin Steel Launched Coaster
Opened: July 2014
Top Speed: 25 mph
Height: About 30 feet
Inversions: 0
Best Part: The tilted track and drop are a cool surprise.
The next three spots were the toughest to rank on this list because each one is so different. You might not even think of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts as a coaster. It’s primarily a 3D dark ride that uses screens and other effects convincingly. However, it does use a coaster track with a launch and tilted track, so I think it qualifies for this list. The trick is how to compare it to a more typical coaster like the Hulk. I love the full experience of Gringotts, particularly the queue with the Goblin animatronics and simulated elevator ride. Even so, this feels like the right spot for it.
Gringotts does the heavy lifting in Diagon Alley as the only ride within that stunning expansion. It definitely relies on screens, but it goes well beyond something like Transformers. The physical sets are massive and believably mix with the screens for an entertaining ride. It’s lower on the thrills than Forbidden Journey, but that also makes it more accessible. There’s so much to see before you even board your ride vehicles, and it will take multiple rides before you really grasp the full scale.
4. Incredible Hulk, Islands of Adventure
Type: B&M Launched Steel Coaster
Opened: May 1999 (retracked August 2016)
Top Speed: 67.0 mph
Height: 110.0 feet
Inversions: 7
Best Part: The cobra roll hangs you over the massive lagoon.
One of the most impressive sights in Universal Orlando is seeing the Incredible Hulk fly through its bright green track right near the water. This B&M steel coaster opened with the park in 1999 but feels a lot newer because of a major refurb in 2015. It was much rougher before that overhaul, which makes the current version an even better coaster. I remember having a serious headache after riding the Hulk in 2012, but recent rides have been easy. That’s saying a lot when you’re talking about a coaster with seven inversions and a punchy launch up the lift hill.
What makes the Hulk a lot better than the typical steel coaster is how original its elements feel, especially in the first half. The opening launch is followed by a zero-g roll and the biggest drop of around 105 feet. My favorite moment is the cobra roll, which gives a flying sensation as you hang above the lagoon. And we’re really just getting started! The current version also includes an improved queue, on-board audio, and just a better experience from start to finish. The Hulk might be the most intimidating coaster in either park, but the smoother ride makes it a standout coaster.
3. Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios Florida
Type: Premier Rides Indoor Steel Coaster
Opened: May 2004
Top Speed: 40.0 mph
Height: 44.4 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: The big launch up the hill transforms the ride perfectly.
I suspect this placement might draw the most flak, especially with the Hulk right behind it. Believe me; this was not an easy choice. It came down to me just really enjoying the full experience of the Mummy. If I only had time to ride one of them again before the parks closed, which would I choose? Like Gringotts, we again start with dark ride scenes, but this one more closely resembles a coaster. I love the cheesy tone of the early scenes, with Imhotep taking Reggie’s soul in front of us. Nothing is too scary or menacing. The backwards part is smooth compared to Expedition Everest, and the stage is set for more thrills.
I love the way that the Mummy kicks into high gear with its LIM launch up the hill. We blitz through small drops and turns with fog and projections around us. I won’t spoil the final surprise if you haven’t experienced it, but it’s a fun twist on the typical coaster set-up. There’s also a silly video with Brendan Fraser at the end that everyone remembers. The Mummy includes a highly themed queue and many exciting moments, and it won’t make you queasy. That combo leads to a top Universal coaster!
2. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Islands of Adventure
Type: Intamin Steel Motorbike Coaster
Opened: June 2019
Top Speed: 50.0 mph
Height: 65.0 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: Escaping the Devil’s Snare in the cave
There’s a definitive top two of Universal coasters, and both have opened in the past six years. That’s crazy! It makes me even more excited to experience Stardust Racers, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, and more at Epic Universe. Hagrid’s draws the longest lines at the two parks, and it doesn’t currently have Express. We visited on a fairly slow day in January and still waited an hour. It was totally worth it, though. Hagrid isn’t as intense as the Hulk or VelociCoaster but still includes exciting launches. In fact, there are seven (!!!) launches on this well-themed Intamin coaster.
I don’t want to over sell the figures, but the dark ride scenes bring so much to the experience. When you add in the interesting motorbike vehicles (including a sidecar), there’s so much to like here. Along with the many launches, there are a few cool surprises in the Forbidden Forest. I also love how you can’t see much of the track from around the park. The sounds of motorbikes speeding through the woods can be heard throughout Hogsmeade to add excitement. Don’t be put off by the long lines; Hagrid’s is a classic and represents a new era for Universal away from screen-based thrill rides.
1. Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Islands of Adventure
Type: Intamin LSM Launch Steel Coaster
Opened: June 2021
Top Speed: 70.0 mph
Height: 155.0 ft
Inversions: 0
Best Part: Believe the hype on the Mosasaurus Roll!
When I updated my Top Ten roller coaster rankings, there was no doubt about my top choice. I’d heard great things about the VelociCoaster before riding, but it still blew me away. The mix of incredible thrills, theming, and a smooth ride delivers like nothing I’ve experienced. The stats are impressive but don’t tell the whole story; taller and faster coasters still don’t achieve the same heights. The story incorporates the Jurassic World characters in a fun way as Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) even thinks a coaster with raptors is a bad idea. There are lots of cool touches throughout the queue.
The ride begins with a quick launch and includes several fun elements including an Immelmann loop. That’s really just the set-up for the main event, however. The second launch accelerates you to 70 miles per hour and into a massive top hat. It’s exhilarating! After a zero-g stall (also amazing), the stage is set for the grand finale. I’d heard about the Mosasaurus Roll and even seen a quick clip, but I knew nothing really. This heartline roll is one of the all-time great coaster moments, and the VelociCoaster deserves every ounce of acclaim it’s received. Go ride it as soon as possible!
Bonus: My Daughter’s Universal Coaster Rankings (Age 12)
1. Jurassic World VelociCoaster
2. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
3. Incredible Hulk
4. Revenge of the Mummy
5. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
6. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
7. Flight of the Hippogriff
8. Trolls Trollercoaster
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