I love a good theme park, so Orlando is one of my favorite cities to visit! And although I have a big place in my heart for that “other” magical place, I truly love Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure Orlando.
Why do I love Universal so much? Well, lots of reasons! But here’s a few:
But today’s post is all about the rides at Universal Studios. What will you find there? Which rides can little ones go on? What rides might be too intense for some? What do I think are the best Universal rides?
Read on for my Universal Studios rides list, and start making your game plan for your next adventure!
Universal Studios Orlando is packed with fantastic rides for visitors of all ages. Fast, slow, funny, scary, and everything in between. But if you’ve never been, or you just want to remember what’s there, here’s your guide to all of the rides at Universal Studios Orlando!
I’ve grouped the rides by section, starting near the front of the park in Production Central, heading straight back into New York, going clockwise around the lake, and finishing up in Hollywood (which actually has no rides, but be sure to catch both the Horror Make-up Show and the Bourne Stuntacular).
Now let's go ride!
Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Race Through New York,
Starring Jimmy Fallon
Revenge of the Mummy
Transformers: The Ride 3D
Fast and Furious – Supercharged
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Men in Black Alien Attack!
Springfield: Home of the Simpsons
The Simpsons Ride
Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
Trollercoaster
Po Live! Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp
Shrek's Swamp Meet
Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres
Minion Land officially opened on August 11, 2023. The Minion-themed attraction is located on Illumination Avenue at Universal Orlando Resort.
If you’ve ever wanted to become a Minion, this ride is for you! On the screens throughout the queue line, you learn that Gru is hiring people to get turned into Minions, and “Minion Quizzes” are given to test your “Minion IQ.” This helps to keep you entertained while you wait — which could be a while. Minion Mayhem usually has one of the longest wait times in the Universal Studios park, and on busy days you could be facing a 2–3 hour wait.
During the ride, you get trained by Gru’s adopted daughters on how to be a Minion, which goes a bit wrong when Agnes, the youngest, needs to save Gru’s anniversary present, celebrating their adoption day.
The ride vehicles sit 8 people total, 4 in front and 4 in back, and the auditorium of ride vehicles all face one screen. The vehicles are simulators which rock from side to side and make you feel like you are moving forward and back, while staying in one place. There are also stationary seats for those who would prefer to experience the ride without movement.
This ride is perfect if: You like the Despicable Me movies, enjoy a medium thrill, and want to laugh AND cry (happy tears).
Grab your blaster and put your villainous skills to the test with this interactive gaming experience. Guests can equip themselves with a blaster of choice and customize its abilities by connecting it to The Official Universal Resort app. Once connected, they can track their scores, embark on assigned missions and unlock more powerful blasts to "battle our favorite villains featured in the Despicable Me franchise, from the iconic Vector to the most recent supervillain supergroup, The Vicious 6," says Meledandri. Even better: all it takes is a simple tap. When the game ends, they'll stumble upon Evil Stuff, a retail store full of "evil" merchandise, like Villain-Con shirts, fanny packs and teddies.
Villain-Con Minion Blast has an extra level of fun built in, with an interactive app you can engage with on your phone. However, you can have a full and fun experience on the ride without using your phone or the app at all. If technology gives you anxiety, don’t worry about the extra layer of complexity!
This is not a sit down passanger ride: Guests grab an interactive blaster and step onto a motion-based pathway to start blasting.
Villain-Con is listed as a kid-friendly ride, but young ones must be able to walk on and off the moving platform. Children under 48″ tall will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Guests may board the ride while seated in a standard wheelchair without having to transfer.
One of the tallest rides in Universal Studios, towering over the park at 167 feet tall, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a major roller coaster that goes 65 miles per hour. Probably the most harrowing part of the ride is the beginning — it takes you up toward the sky at a 90-degree angle before dropping you into a series of drops, loops, twists, and turns.
To add to the fun, you can choose from a wide variety of music to listen to while you speed through the ride. This is one that is fun to go on multiple times, because you can choose different music, giving you a unique experience every time.
This ride is perfect if: You like serious thrills and want to rock out while you ride!
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is a 3-D simulation ride that takes you through the streets of New York (as well as some other unexpected places), as you race Jimmy Fallon in his Tonight Rider. Like Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, you are seated in a large room with a big screen at the front. The seats move as you look at the screen, making the whole experience seem very real. But I think the best part of the attraction is the queue! There are fun interactive games to play and hilarious clips from the Tonight Show to entertain you while you wait your turn.
This ride is perfect if: You are a fan of the Tonight Show and/or simulation rides.
Universal has a lot of 3D and simulation-style rides, so Revenge of the Mummy is a nice treat because it’s a true, indoor roller coaster! The queue line starts off on the set of The Mummy movie, where you hear that news of a curse has been going around. You soon find out that the curse is real, and the spirit of Imhotep is here to take your souls.
The scary elements can be a bit intense — for young riders. The ride goes backward, as well as forward, and incorporates a launch and a false ending. Ghostly swoosh!
This ride is perfect if: You like high-speed, story-driven, indoor coasters.
Transformers: The Ride is an indoor experience that utilizes 3-D screens to put you right into the story. You ride along with Evac as he tries to get the Allspark out of the city and away from Megatron. The ride vehicle drives along a track as it bumps, shakes, tilts, and turns, while 3-D imagery makes everything seem even more real and intense. And the minimum height is only 40 inches, so brave little ones can join in on the fun!
This ride is perfect if: You’ve always wanted to be a Transformer or you have little ones who enjoy a medium thrill.
Fast and Furious – Supercharged takes you on a ride based on the Fast and Furious movies. With screens on both sides of the ride vehicle (party bus!), it makes it seem like you’re really there with all of the characters you know. And of course, it wouldn’t be Fast and Furious without cool cars and big explosions.
This ride is perfect if: You like the Fast and Furious movies, enjoy a medium thrill, and love rocking out on a party bus!
Note! This attraction is rumored to close in August and remain closed throughout the Halloween Horror Night season.
Important: You need Park-to-Park privileges to ride the Hogwarts Express because it connects Universal Studios Florida to Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You cannot ride if unless you have a ticket that grants you access to both those parks on the same day. The entrance to the Hogwarts Express is actually just outside Diagon Alley.
Universal Studios came up with an innovative way to get guests from one park to another: let them ride the Hogwarts Express! This takes what could have been a boring tram ride and makes it into an immersive Harry Potter experience. You’ll need to have a park-to-park pass that allows you admission into Universal’s Islands of Adventure, because that’s your final destination.
The Hogwarts Express looks exactly like the famous train from the books and movies, and you can see magical scenes out your “window” as you travel (be sure to watch the window AND the compartment doors), taking you to the Hogsmeade area in Islands of Adventure. Sure beats walking!
Be sure to take the train both ways, because the experience is different depending on your direction!
This ride is perfect if: You’re heading to Islands of Adventure or you love Harry Potter!
Reminder: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split across the two Universal Orlando theme parks. Hogsmeade, the other half, is in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This park (Universal Studios Florida) is home to Diagon Alley.
Located in the heart of Diagon Alley, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a thrilling theme park attraction that simulates a high-speed chase through the underground vaults of Gringotts bank. Many of the thrills and challenges Harry and his friends face in the movie are experienced by riders, including an escape from a dragon. Its special effects and animatronics make it one of the best rides at Universal Orlando. The ride is immersive, making you feel like you’re really in the movie!
This ride is perfect if: You love roller coasters or you’re a Harry Potter fan!
Here you will find delicious traditional British fare including Bangers and Mash, Fisherman's Pie, Toad in the Hole, Ploughman's Platter and more; plus a kid's Menu offering Fish And Chips, Macaroni Cheese, and Cottage Mini Pie.
Nestled within Carkitt Market is the walk-up counter where yo can cool off with a variety of drinks including Butterbeer(Cold or frozen, and ice-cream), Pumpkin Juice,Tongue Tying Lemon Squash, Wizard's Brew beers, and more.
Must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcohol with a valid photo ID.
At this small beverage kiosk in Diagon Alley you will find Gillywater and specialty elixirs that, when combined with water, transform before their eyes into unique, colorful, and flavorful beverages!
Wizards and Muggles of every age can indulge in scoop and soft-serve ice-creams with fantastic flavors like Butterbeer, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Earl Grey and Lavender, and more, along with Pumpkin Juice, teas, ciders and water. Plus pastries, crumble cake, and shortbread(available in the morning hours).
This establishment serves a variety of beers and other beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Non-alcoholic offering include Butterbeer, Frozen Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Gillywater (bottled water), and Pumpkin Fizz.
Must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcohol with a valid photo ID.
Sugarplums is a smaller version of Honeydukes in Hogsmead. It sells delicious sweets like Cauldren Cake, Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans! You can also find Pumpkin Juice and Gilly Water (bottled water).
On Men In Black Alien Attack, you become new recruits to the Men In Black alien-fighting agency, with a test of your skills that turns into a real alien emergency!
Everyone piles into a ride vehicle with individual seats (3 in front and 3 in back) equipped with a laser blaster. As you ride through the city streets, you blast aliens at every turn! The ride keeps track of your score so you can see who is the best defender of the planet.
Pro tip: Near the end of the ride, press the red button when instructed for an extra 100,000 points!
This ride is perfect if: You like interactive rides and have a competitive spirit!
If you’re a fan of The Simpsons, you’ll love the Springfield area of the park, which is perfectly themed to make you feel like you’re in the cartoon!
Head to the huge Krusty the Clown head to ride The Simpsons Ride. You’ll enter a simulator vehicle and follow along as Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa are forced by Sideshow Bob to ride an unfinished roller coaster. What happened to Maggie? She’s just hanging out with Grandpa…right?
This ride is perfect if: You love The Simpsons and want to feel like you’re part of the show!
The other ride in Springfield is the Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. These friendly aliens won’t try to eat you…or will they? The Twirl ‘n’ Hurl is a “Dumbo”-style ride where you can control your spaceship up or down as you ride in a circle.
Despite the name, this is a pretty tame ride, great for little ones.
This ride is perfect if: You or your family members prefer a calmer ride.
Hop onto the caterpillar Caterbus on this family-friendly coaster. You’ll join Poppy, Tiny and the twins Satin and Chenille as you try to make an escape from spooky spiders.
DreamWorks Land is replacing the former Kid Zone area which closed back in January of last year. Newer properties like Shrek are replacing the Fievel's Playland area with trolls replacing the Woody Woodpecker's Nut House coaster and surrounding areas and Kung Fu Panda is replacing the former Curious George Goes to Town. There will be a theater show and rotating meet and greet space.
This ride is perfect if: You have little ones
Meet and talk with Po on a digital animated screen. He’ll train you in the ways of kung fu while babysitting his mischievous baby cousin and cooking some delicious snacks. Skadoosh!
This is perfect if: You love Kung Fu Panda and want to feel like you’re part of the show!
Guests can visit Shrek’s Swamp Meet to interact with beloved characters Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey, the noble steed eager to joke around and converse with guests, just outside of Shrek’s cottage.
This is perfect if: Your want to meet Shrek, Fiona and Donkey
This ogre-sized play area features four fun slides, wet play areas and a playground where guests can climb, bounce and splash around as well as venture into Shrek’s outhouse.
This is perfect if: You have little ones that want to have big fun!
In this area, you can still ride E.T. Adventure, shop in SpongeBob StorePants, eat at KidZone Pizza Company, and watch Animal Actors on Location!
E.T. Adventure is the only traditional dark ride in the park, but in my opinion, it’s also one of the best family dark rides there is! Maybe it’s nostalgia, but this one holds a special place in my heart as I hope it does for you.
E.T. Adventure is the only current ride at Universal that was there when the park opened back in 1990! This dark ride puts you on a bike, “pedaling” through the forest to save E.T. from government agents, before flying over the city and eventually bringing E.T. to his home planet.
The ride vehicle is suspended from above, which makes the flying feel real! This is a relaxed ride with music you might recognize from the movie. The queue line features behind-the-scenes clips and interviews with the movie’s cast and crew, before sending you into the forest to board your bike.
Before you enter the forest, a worker usually asks your name. At the end of the ride, E.T. says goodbye to you, calling you by your name! Or at least he tries. E.T. doesn’t always get it right, but that’s part of the charm.
This ride is perfect if: You prefer a gentler kind of ride or want to feel like you’re back in the ’80s.
All of the rides at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure accommodate a system called Child Swap, also referred to as Kid Swap or Baby Swap. This allows younger guests to skip a ride (either because they are not tall enough or they do not want to go) and gives everyone else in the party an opportunity to hop on the attraction without having to go through the queue all over again.
Here is an example of how it works: Mom, Dad, Older Brother, and Younger Brother want to go on a ride, but Younger Brother is not tall enough. They all enter the queue together and walk to the loading area. Then, Mom and Older Brother jump on first, while Dad and Younger Brother wait off to the side. When the ride is over, Mom and Older Brother wait with Younger Brother while Dad gets his turn. Once complete, everyone exits the attraction together.
To use the system, inform the attendant stationed in front of the ride’s entrance that you would like to use Child Swap. It is important to ask before you enter the queue, because each attraction handles Child Swap a little differently; some feature separate rooms, others have designated areas, and one or two may have a separate line depending on just how busy the parks are when you visit.
As you can imagine, all of the Child Swap rooms are basically the same – a lightly themed area where family members wait for their compatriots to finish up their ride. However, you do see some small variation between them, particularly in the newer attractions; at The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, for example, “newspaper” clippings are posted on the walls, reporting the current Marvel Universe happenings of the day (“the day” being the late ’90s, of course), while Fast & Furious – Supercharged boasts a number of neat toys and Easter eggs (you can definitely tell it’s one of the newest additions to the resort).
In addition to the rides, there are lots of other things to entertain you at Universal Studios! There are shows, play areas, and special events.
As you wander the park, you’re likely to come across plenty of performers — singers, dancers, characters, percussionists, and more! Try to catch those when you can, but you may also want to carve out time to catch the larger shows.
In Diagon Alley, catch performances by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees and The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
Direct from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley - Sway and groove to the dulcet tones of wizarding world sensation (and Molly Weasley's favorite singer), Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. The swinging show features never-before-heard songs including 'A Cauldron Full Of Hot, Strong Love', 'You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart', and 'You Charmed The Heart Right Out Of Me'.
Even though most of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone was shut down in early 2023, you can still watch Animal Actors on Location!, where they demonstrate how Hollywood animals are trained to perform on movie sets. It’s a cute show, and the animals are impressive! If it’s your first time or you just really love seeing the animals perform, it’s probably worth finding time to catch one of the performances.
In Hollywood, you’ll find the Horror Make-up Show. The performers are very funny as they show how some of the special effects are performed on horror movie sets. It might be too intense for the younger crowd, though.
The queue/pre-show area takes place inside a lobby within a recreation of the Pantages Theater. The lobby area includes multiple displays on Universal Horror films including Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Psycho, Jaws, The Thing, Van Helsing, Bride of Chucky, and An American Werewolf in London. The lobby also includes displays on the Universal Monsters, The Munsters and Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights. Multiple HD TV monitors display behind-the-scenes information of recent Universal Horror films including Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Van Helsing, King Kong and The Wolfman. After viewing the displays, guests line up and then enter the main theater.
Universal Studios out did themselves! This show is incredible! The way they’ve combined digital and real-life elements blurs the line between what’s real and what’s Hollywood magic. You’ll definitely leave asking, “How did they do that?!”
At the end of the day, catch the Cinematic Celebration over the water and enjoy images and scenes from your favorite Universal movies.
Catch Universal’s Superstar Parade or a seasonal parade. They are a great way to relax, enjoy a snack, and see lots of fun characters as they dance by.
When it comes to putting on spectacular events, Universal Orlando Resort doesn't hold back. Universal Studios Florida has long been home to one of the nation's premier events — Halloween Horror Nights. If scary isn't your style, you'll find other year-round, family-friendly Universal Orlando events such as Mardi Gras and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
JANUARY
Rock the Universe (Universal Studios Florida) — Jan. 26-27, 2024
Save the dates and get ready to Rock the Universe! Florida’s biggest Christian music festival returns January 26 and 27. Rock the Universe 2024 will be an event you don't want to miss, featuring Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Casting Crowns, We The Kingdom, LECRAE, and more! Enjoy a weekend of faith and fun for a discounted rate, exclusively for Passholders.
FEBRUARY - MAY
Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval (Universal Studios Florida) — Feb. 3 to April 7, 2024
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Halloween Horror Nights 31 (Universal Studios Florida) — September to October
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort — November and December
Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure)
Grinchmas (Universal's Islands of Adventure)
Copyright © 2023 Heart's Desire Adventures - All Rights Reserved.
As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: © Disney
© & ™ Lucasfilm LTD. All rights Reserved
Disney Cruise Line - Ships Registry: The Bahamas Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2023 Universal Studios. All rights reserved
© Nintendo. Nintendo trademarks are properties of Nintendo.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.