Top Roller Coasters at Universal Orlando – Your Ultimate Thrill Guide

Planning a trip to Universal Studios Orlando soon? Make sure you’re prepared and you know exactly the rides and roller coasters that this incredible them park has to offer! The roller coasters at Universal Orlando can range from tame to very thrilling, so there is something for everyone!

In this article we are going to break down the different rides, the wait times, level of intensity, where it’s located and how much fun you’ll have during it! Not a roller coaster fan? Check out the article we did on rides that aren’t roller coasters at Universal Orlando.

Universal Studios

  • Revenge of the Mummy: One of my favorite rides in the entire park is “Revenge of the Mummy” located towards the back end at Universal. The mummy is inside this large, bank looking building where you enter inside and go through a maze of unique decorations such as mummies, paintings, torches, skeletons etc.
    • Intensity – This ride is pretty much half in the pitch black darkness adding to the thrill of the coaster. However, it’s fairly tame at the beginning but picks up towards the end with a lot of sharp turns and drops and increases in speed. However it’s still a great coaster for both the thrill seeker and someone not as daring.
    • Wait Times – this is a fairly popular ride in the park but I have never really had to wait much longer than about 30-45 minutes. They move you right along and keep the line moving very efficiently.
revenge of the mummy location universal studios
  • Harry Potter & the Escape from Gringott’s: Another staple at universal is Harry Potter Escape from Gringott’s! This coaster is located inside of Diagon Alley towards the back left of universal. If you’re a huge Harry Potter nerd like myself then you’re going to love and appreciate this ride immensely.
    • Located inside of Gringott’s bank, the line takes you outside and then comes back inside to the bank area where there are animatronic goblins working all around you. The detail inside the bank is incredible and a Potter nerds dream come true! Through there you will go inside an “elevator” taking you “underground” to the vaults. Head up some stairs and you’re at the boarding platform. Half the fun of this ride is the line in my opinion! Looking for more info on Harry Potter world? Click for the guide here.
    • Intensity: Similar to “Revenge of the Mummy” the ride is inside with animatronics and screens around you. You’ll see famous harry Potter characters like Bill Weasley, Bellatrix, Voldemort, Griphook as well as the main trio! The ride intensifies towards the end with jets shooting up and around turns and drops, and the screens make everything seem so real! A very exciting and thrilling ride.
    • Wait Time: This will most likely be the longest wait time of any ride at Universal due to it’s popularity. You can expect to wait over an hour here easily, but the time passes quickly with the beautiful interior of the bank.
  • Hollywood’s Rip ride & Rockit – I am going to keep this brief as this will be closed in early September. However if you go this summer, the coaster is very fun and thrilling with twists, loops, and of course the music blasting in your ears makes it a very fun roller coaster to ride before they close it for good. The 90 degree uphill climb make it very unique and add an extra thrill as well.
    • The moving walkway and non-stop aspect of the ride will get you in and out in less than 45 minutes, so the wait time isn’t terrible. It’s a fun and thrilling coaster and if you have the chance to ride it again before they close it for good, then you absolutely need to do that!
  • Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster – Looking for a tamer and more gentle ride? A roller coaster for kids, this is a good ride here for you. Located on the south side of the park near the entrance area in the kids zone. Looking for a small coaster to take your kids on, they’ll absolutely enjoy this one.
    • Wait Time: Wait time on this ride is no more than 15 minutes so no need to worry about that

Islands of Adventure

  • Incredible Hulk Coaster: One of the most iconic roller coasters at Universal Orlando is of course the Incredible Hulk coaster. Located right at the front of Islands of Adventure, the iconic launch out of the purple tunnel is the first thing people see and hear when exploring the park for the day. The ride of course is Incredible Hulk themed, with lab experiments, props and characters in the waiting line. Not as detailed as the Harry Potter designs are, but still fun for any comic book nerds or Incredible Hulk fans.
    • Intensity: The Incredible Hulk Coaster is one of the most intense and thrilling rides in the park. The immediately launch you out of the tunnel into a barrel roll and then a cobra roll. The ride is very fast with lots of loops, turns and upside down parts but boy is it a thrill and so much fun!
    • Wait Times: Similar to every ride in the park, they move you through very quickly. The wait times go down later on in the day but you can expect to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for this ride. But it’s absolutely worth it
incredible hulk roller coasters at universal orlando
  • Hagrid’s Motor Bike Adventure: Another exciting coaster in Islands of Adventure is of course the new Hagrid’s ride located in Hogsmeade at the Harry Potter World. This ride puts you on Hagrid’s Motorcycle with several launches, tunnels, hills and more! With a walk through the forest, this is an outside coaster and tons of fun, so everyone should be able to ride and enjoy this.
    • Intensity: This ride has several launch areas where you go from 0 – 60 mph in a matter of seconds, so those parts can get you a little queasy but they’re also the best parts of the ride! You feel like you’re right there with Hagrid on the back of his motorcycle flying through the air.
    • Wait Time: You need to check-in online for this ride and reserve your spot due to it’s popularity. Due to how new the ride is, it’s of course the hot and popular roller coaster everyone wants to check out. So either try to get here early for this ride and head there later in the day as the line dies down towards the night time.
hagrids motorbike adventure
  • Flight of the Hippogriff – This is a rather smaller roller coaster and more family-friendly. Located in Hogsmeade of Harry Potter this ride is outside and takes you on a short and exciting journey through the trees. As mentioned it’s more of a tamer ride, so if you’re an adrenaline junkie and thrill seeker like myself, then you could probably skip this ride. However if you want to see how it is go for it.
    • Wait Time: The wait for this ride isn’t bad. Probably about 30 minutes give or take. It’s right next to the castle so if you enjoy tamer rides or have some younger kids with you, they will enjoy this ride.
  • Velocicoaster: In my opinion, the best and most thrilling of all the roller coasters at Universal. Even more so that the Incredible Hulk. This ride is new, fast, innovative and so much fun! It only has a lap bar but you get launched twice up some vertical hills, doing twists and barrel rolls and loops. It’s a fast ride that’s also a very cool experience as everything is Jurassic World themed. You go through tunnels, watch some dinosaurs escape from their cages, and soar through the air and over the water. A truly thrilling ride for any adrenaline junkie!
    • Intensity: As mentioned, this is a very intense ride, not for the faint of heart, but it’s also the most fun roller coaster in Islands of Adventure and I’m sure many would attest to that. This ride launches you upwards, backwards, sideways, upside down and doesn’t let up. Definitely needs to be on the thrill-seekers bucket list.
    • Wait times: Due to the popularity, this ride had a very long wait time. We waited almost two hours in line here outside for the most part. A long wait but absolutely worth it.
Velocicoaster at universal studios orlando roller coaster

Conclusion – Roller Coasters at Universal Orlando

When planning your next trip to Universal, plan our your time and the rides you want to hit. Hopefully this guide can help you choose what to ride and when to ride it. The roller coasters at Universal Orlando are all truly one of a kind, and they’re all so unique and exhilarating in their own way.

We’re planning on visiting Universal Studios new park, Epic Universe, this summer. And once we do I will absolutely have a guide on that.

Looking for the best Universal park guide from someone who has been there several times in their life? Click here to check out the guide on how to plan, best things to do, places to stay and eat!

If you’re questioning whether or not you should buy the fast pass, we have an article on that as well here