Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Universal Studios Passholder, planning your day around the best rides at the park requires a little bit of know-how. That includes knowing what each park offers.
From pulse-pounding coasters to raptors to magic castles, Universal Islands of Adventure might skew a little on the wilder side than its Universal Studios counterpart, but everyone from thrill-seekers to just-here-for-the-butterbeer fans will find they have plenty to see and do here.
While planning a day at Islands of Adventure might not require the same level of strategy planning that one of the Disney World parks might, it’s always important to know which rides are attracting the highest crowds and longest waits.
So, to help you make the most of your visit (and maybe avoid a little bit of those 90+ minute waits), we put together a breakdown of the top 7 best rides at Islands of Adventure to help you decide what’s worth hitting first and which ones are best left to the diehard fans.
Not every ride is for everyone, and that’s totally fine! That’s why each breakdown features a description, our honest take, and maybe a couple of planning tips you’ll be glad you knew before you hit the turnstiles.
7. Skull Island: Reign of Kong
If you like your theme park attractions to be a combination of suspense, giant creatures, and a little bit of “did something just touch my leg?” then this ride is for you. Hop on a dark ride that neatly blends animatronics with 3D screens for a deep venture into Skull Island and all of its “inhabitants.”
Height: 36”
Thrill Ranking: 5/10 (the tram ride itself is quite tame, but the scenes are loud and intense!)
Why we love it: Air-conditioning and an indoor queue that’s out of the sun aside, the combo of sets and screens does a unique job of making you feel like you’re in the middle of the action-packed movie. Plus (and no spoilers here!), the finale is just impressive…and maybe a little intimidating.
Strategy Tips: You’ve got a few hours in the morning to get here before waits really build, but they can get quite long and stay that way most of the afternoon. However, you’ll see another dip in the evening, so you can put it off for later if needed.
Note: It’s worth mentioning that while highly immersive, the queue is dark in parts and more than a little creepy. Fun for some, but maybe not for others (or nervous kiddos)!
6. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Set inside the iconic Hogwarts Castle and mixing high production sets with screens, this dark ride is unlike anything you’ve been on before. Fly alongside your favorite Harry Potter characters while you dodge, weave, and swoop out of encounters with the creatures of Hogwarts – including one highly aggressive tree.
Height: 48”
Thrill Ranking: 8/10
Why we love it: The sets, the screens, and even the queue provide a storytelling experience that is so immersive, it’s enough to warrant a visit. And no, you don’t have to know what we meant above by the tree to enjoy the experience. Even non-Potter fans will find themselves mesmerized, and lovers of “intense” rides or coasters tend to enjoy this one especially.
Strategy Tips: Similar to Kong, this ride gets busy because it’s popular, but it is quick-loading and will often see a lower wait for much of the morning and then the evening.
Insider Tip: NAUSEA WARNING. We’d be remiss not to mention that, as incredible as it is, lots of people find this attraction difficult to ride. To be completely frank, this is the first ride ever in our lives that we both thought we were going to hurl.
If you’re a big Potterhead but not a fan of intense rides, you can still walk through the queue and Castle and dip out at the end. In fact, we recommend it!
5. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Swing through the streets of New York and dodge baddies with your neighborhood Spidey in a classic 3D motion simulator dark ride that moves you through sets and screens for a full Marvel experience. And don’t let the fact that this ride has been around forever fool you. It holds up!
Height: 40”
Thrill Ranking: 6/10
Why we love it: While we personally can’t ride all the screen rides due to motion sickness, if we had to pick, we’d say this is the one we’re gonna go for. It’s classic Universal: fast-paced, funny, and full of details and cameos that fans will love. The scenes are fun, and it’s the perfect ride for the whole family, since kids and teens especially tend to enjoy it.
Strategy Tips: We recommend hitting it early, right after doing the Hulk Coaster if that’s in your plan. It’s often a good idea to do Hulk, then Spider-Man, then Kong in the early morning, OR reverse that and do it after 6 or 7 pm when waits fall.
4. Jurassic Park River Adventure
What do a peaceful boat ride, a dinosaur-filled jungle, and an angry T. Rex have in common? No idea. But it’s somehow the perfect recipe for this total theme park classic. Take a scenic boat tour through Jurassic Park where things may not exactly go according to plan. It’s calm and it’s scenic….until it isn’t.
Height: 42”
Thrill Ranking: 7/10
Why we love it: Because not everything can start out like a nature documentary and end with an 85-foot dark plunge. That thematic whiplash actually nails the suspense of the original Jurassic Park movie, so between that, the dinos, and the scenery, it feels like the real deal. We consider it a don’t miss!
Strategy Tips: The wait and demand for this ride really depend on the weather. On hot summer days, you’re going to see long waits. When it’s not super busy or super hot, though, you can often see a reasonable 5-20 minute wait. Also, nearly half the time we get in line when it’s posted 20-25 minutes, it’s almost always just a 5-minute wait.
3. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Thrill-seekers rejoice! This one doesn’t ease you in, it blasts you into a high-speed, high-inversion adrenaline rush fueled by the rockin’ soundtrack coming from your personal in-seat speaker – all on a fittingly green steel track.
Height: 54”
Thrill Ranking: 9/10
Why we love it: That launch is no joke, and neither are the seven inversions. It’s loud, it’s fast and it’s unfiltered, chaotic coaster energy from launch to finish.
Strategy Tips: This ride is super popular and sees high waits almost all day, up until the very end of the night. The best strategy is to hit it within the first 15 minutes of the park opening, or right after Early Park Admission if you have that.
2. VelociCoaster
Hopefully you learned nothing from the Jurassic World movies because your tour is through the infamous raptor enclosure. Coaster-lovers, this one is for you. Engineered to maximize your screams and your airtime (read: butt leaving the seat), this coaster redefines “thrilling,” easily making it the most extreme ride at Universal.
Height: 51”
Thrill Ranking: 11/10
Why we love it: You’ve gotta trust the process on this one because as intimidating as it looks, it’s one of the best coasters we’ve ever ridden. With a silky smooth track, (some really crazy surprises), and a seriously impressive tophat (that gives you views of the park you won’t even notice because you’ll be screaming your head off), this is one for the books!
Strategy Tips: All of the coasters in this park are pretty epic, and therefore have pretty long waits as well. VelociCoaster and our #1 below are often going to be the longest waits in the park, meaning if you don’t have the Express Pass, you’re likely going to do some waiting at some point. Try to hit one of these EARLY if you have Early Park Admission, and then save the other and get in the queue the last 5 minutes of the night (Hint: Take it how you will, but VelociCoaster is even scarier in the dark!).
1. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
The name is long (and the lines are usually longer), but from queue to loading zone, this attraction is worth every minute of the experience. Here’s your chance to finally ride Hagrid’s Motorbike – either in the main seat or sidecar – as you fly through the Forbidden Forest and encounter any number of creatures you’ve only ever read about.
Height: 48”
Thrill Ranking: 8/10
Why we love it: Despite being a rollercoaster, it’s a ride that is still accessible to a lot of age groups, making it something the family can enjoy together over and over. The scenery, the track, and the twists and turns that make you feel like you’re absolutely flying, create what is hands-down the most immersive, incredible ride experience at Universal. We’d go so far as to say this and Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are probably the greatest rides in Orlando.
Strategy Tips: See above for VelociCoaster. You’re going to have a wait at some point (without an Express Pass), but these rides are some of the VERY few rides we will say are worth an hour wait.
Insider Tip: Choosing your seat is important, because each side gives a totally different experience. If you need a little bit of direction, the motorbike is a more exciting ride than the tamer sidecar.
Honorable Mentions
Not all rides can be considered the best of the best, but here are a handful that we’d still recommend working into your day!
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
Welcome to a log flume ride that is probably ten times wetter than any other log flume ride (we promise, you WILL get SOAKED). However, it’s a hilarious and really well-done ride that is so much more than just the final drop. It’s a trip, and you’ll likely be giggling the entire time. We say do it – while wearing a poncho and hoping for the best.
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
It might look puny, but there’s something really charming about this kids’ ride that takes you on a high up visual tour of the park. Don’t miss it if there’s a short wait or you have young ones. Almost everyone we have talked to – adults included! – always says they end up loving this ride as much as we do.
Pteranodon Flyers
Another epic kids’ ride that’s high up, it’s a cute and gentle thrill for the little ones. There is actually a height minimum AND maximum, and a supervising adult can accompany a kiddo.
Wait, what about navigating the main Disney World parks? Our itineraries are packed with expert tips, strategy, and pro know-how to make your Disney planning a breeze – and there’s something for everyone!