The Top 12 Best Rides at Universal Orlando Ranked 2023

The Top 12 Best Rides at Universal Orlando Ranked 2023

The Top 12 Best Rides at Universal Orlando Ranked 2023

This is your complete guide to the top 12 best rides at Universal Orlando 2023! Universal Orlando is hands down the winner of Florida theme parks when it comes to thrills and adventure. Especially in the last few years, Universal Orlando’s rides have pushed the boundaries with groundbreaking technology. The Universal roller coasters alone are worth a trip down to Florida, with the addition of Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and Velocicoaster.

In this article, we are going to talk about and rank the top thrilling rides that you can experience while visiting Universal Orlando Resort. In our opinion, the best rides at Universal Studios are some of the most thrilling, and the most underrated in the theme parks. As Annual Passholders, we’ve ridden all the best Universal Studios rides more than a handful of times and can tell you the best of the best.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal crowd calendar!

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

The 12 Best Universal Orlando Rides Ranked 2023

Whether it be high-speed coaster or action packed simulators, Universal attractions are bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. Between the two parks at Universal Orlando, you can spend days adrenaline seeking due the sheer amount of high intensity rides. But, how really scary are these rides? As avid theme park goers, we can assure you that Universal Florida rides are worth the screams. Plus some of the rides are included with the Early Park Admission, which is included absolutely free with all of our Universal Orlando tickets, makes it even easier to get on some of the most popular rides at Universal with little wait. This means you can check out some of the best rides at Universal without getting caught in those long lines.

It’s important to note that around half of all Universal Orlando’s rides have a 40-inch or taller height requirement, making them not suitable for little riders. This is mainly due to the combo of Universal’s innovative ride designs, which are usually a combination of simulation and extreme thrill tech. Universal has the biggest and baddest rides in all of Central Florida, and we are here to rank them for you! We are going to be talking about both Universal parks, so to help understand where each ride is located, we are going to list out where each ride is located.

What are the best rides at Universal Studios Orlando ranked?

1. VelociCoaster
2. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure
3. Hulk Coaster
4. Rip Ride Rockit Coaster
5. Revenge of the Mummy
6. Harry Potter Escape from Gringotts
7. Dr. Doom’s Free Fall
8. Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
9. Hogwarts Express
10. Transformers 4D: The Ride
11. E.T. Adventure
12. Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls

What is the most fun ride at Universal Studios Orlando?

As a general rule of thumb, most theme park fans visiting Universal Orlando have agreed that the VelociCoaster is the most fun ride at the theme parks. The main reason is the state-of-the-art technology which includes two launches over 50 mph, a 100-foot-long zero-g-stall, and various drops, turns, and loops.

Personally, our Universal Studios best rides are located in the Wizarding World and on a motorbike with Hagrid or in Gringotts with Harry.

Related Page: Check The Cheapest Universal Orlando Ticket Prices

Best Universal Thrill Rides for Early Park Admission?

Did you know that Universal Orlando has a great benefit called early park admission? This extra hour is specifically geared towards the Wizarding World of Harry Potter making it very popular among vacationers. To make sure you are as prepared as possible here is the list of the best Universal rides to use during that Early Park Admission which is included absolutely free with all of our Universal Orlando tickets. 

Best Universal Rides for Early Admission Ranked 

• The VelociCoaster 
• Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts 
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Related Page: Discount Universal Orlando Tickets

Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls – Best Rides at Universal Orlando#12

Surprisingly Dudley Do-Right is the only Universal water ride to make the list of the best attractions at Universal Orlando. Guest will be delighted to hear that this log flume ride takes you through twists and turns, ending in a 75-foot drop. You are sure to get soaked when you ride this.

Dudley Do-Right just makes it on our list of best rides at Universal, as it is one of the longer attractions, and really packs a punch with it’s intense drop.

Who loves it? A flume ride is fun for everyone, but older generation will really enjoy the references to this classic cartoon.

Related Page: All of the Universal Orlando Roller Coasters Ranked 

E.T. Adventure – Best Rides at Universal Orlando#11

This heart-warming ride takes its guests on a gentle bike ride with E.T. through the sky as you try to save his planet. You might even get to hear E.T. thank you personally for your hard work. Now we understand that it might surprise some people that we include this on the list of the best Universal Studios rides, however, one of the main reasons is it’s the only original attraction from when the parks opened up in the early 90s. For that reason, we simply feel like no trip to Universal Studios Orlando is complete without a ride on E.T.

Who loves it? Everyone. While this is one of the slow rides at Universal Orlando, it overwhelmingly is loved by everyone.

Transformers 4D: The Ride – Best Rides at Universal Orlando#10

In this motion-simulation ride, you’ll be ride along with classic transformers like Bumblebee and Optimus Prime (on the big screen in 3D) to save the planet from Megatron and his goons. Be prepared to be immersed in another world where the lines between fantasy and reality get blurry! If you are prone to motion sickness, we do not recommend this best Universal ride, as it does tend to aggravate that condition.

Who loves it? This is a great ride for Transformers super fans. With tons of Easter Eggs and different characters throughout the ride, superfans will love trying to find them all.

Hogwarts Express – Best Rides at Universal Orlando#9

Although the Hogwarts Express is the only ride on this list in which you’ll need a park-to-park ticket to ride this ride, we simply love everything about this attraction. It’s also going to be considered the calmest attraction to make the list of the best rides at Universal Studios. Guest can hop on the train at King’s Cross and be transported to Hogsmeade Village or vice versa and enjoy the view of the Hogwarts Express windows showing you images of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Who loves it? Harry Potter fan or not, everyone loves this train ride between parks. One of the other main reasons why it made the list of the best rides at Universal Studios is because the Hogwarts Express actually has a different experience each way. For this reason we just feel like guests get to enjoy so much more then some of the other attractions in the parks.

Extra Tip: Be sure to keep an eye out when Universal Orlando has both parks open for Early Park Admission as guests can also ride the Hogwarts express during this time with almost no wait!

Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – Best Rides at Universal Orlando#8

Put on your 3-D glasses for this high-flying virtual reality ride. Guests get to join Spider-Man as he soars above the streets chasing bad guys. Although this ride is starting to become outdated it is in fact one of the very few Marvel rides located in all of Orlando, and we still find Marvel Super Hero Islands to be a huge draw for fans looking to meet some of their favorite Universal Orlando characters in the parks. Guests will also be delighted to see a few cameo appearances from the create of the Marvel franchise Stan Lee throughout the ride.

Spider-Man continues to be one of the best rides at Universal, as it is the perfect blend of actual props and screens. You feel totally immersed and like you’re actually with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Who loves it? Classic Marvel character fans who don’t get motion sick. This one is a doozie.

Related Page: All of the Harry Potter Rides Ranked

Harry Potter Escape From Gringotts – Best Rides at Universal Orlando #7

Harry Potter Escape from Gringotts is one of Universal Studios Florida rides that combines an array of technology such as 3D screens, coaster tracks and amazing story telling. This ride is nestled in Diagon Alley and features all of our favorite Harry Potter characters following the story in the Deathly Hallows film. The reason why this Universal attraction comes in at number 7 is that while it is thrilling, it definitely is suitable for kiddos, too.

As one of Universal Studios new rides, so you can expect there to be innovative surprises throughout the attraction. So, dive into the Gringotts vaults, battle Lord Voldemort and ride on the back of the dragon with this Universal Orlando thrill ride. Escape from Gringotts is definitely one of the best rides in Universal Studios.

Who loves it? Every Harry Potter fan ever! Not to mention, anyone who loves a thrilling ride with an amazing line queue.

Related Page: Universal Orlando Florida Discount Tickets

Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall – Best Thrill Rides at Universal #6

Dr. Doom’s is across from Universal Studios over at Islands of Adventure park and packs a punch for those afraid of heights. This ride will pump adrenaline as you’re testing out Doctor Doom’s newest weapon to suck the fear right out of your soul. This ride launches you into the sky and then lets you free fall back down the earth causing for an explosion of butterflies in your stomach.

Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall is one of the most thrilling rides Universal Orlando has to offer on just height alone. Who isn’t afraid to plunge straight into the ground? So if you’re looking for a major rush, jump on our number 6 most thrilling ride at Universal.

Who loves it? Thrill-ride junkies!

Related post: Complete Guide to All Universal CityWalk Stores

Revenge of the Mummy – Best Rides at Universal Studios Orlando #5

When it comes to Universal Studios thrill rides, The Mummy is at the top of the list. The Mummy ride at Universal has some of the older animatronic technology that has stood the test of time and made this ride a fan favorite. You start the ride traveling through the riches and ruins of The Mummy sets, being tempted by treasure rooms and then being attacked by scarabs.

From there this Universal thrill ride quickly turns into a rollercoaster and blasts you right through the mouth of The Mummy. The coaster portion of this ride is not that long, but we love it! That’s why Revenge of the Mummy comes in at number 5 on our list of best rides at Universal Orlando!

Don’t forget to bring Brendan his coffee!

Who loves it? Anyone who loves classic scary coasters will love this ride. Younger kids may be able to make the height requirement, but parents should consider if they will be too scared on this ride.

Related post: Complete Guide to the Universal Superstar Shuttle

Rip Ride Rockit Coaster – Universal Thrilling Rides #4

Rip Ride Rockit is technically the only Universal Studios roller coaster offered in the nostalgic park. From the outside, this coaster looks to be one of the scariest rides in Universal Studios, with its extreme 17-story vertical lift and a deep, intense drop. You can rock out while riding along on this coaster, through twist and turns even entering Universal Studios’ backlot area!

While this coaster is thrilling, it is also rather outdated and has no inversion loops. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for Universal Studios Orlando rides that’ll get your heart pumping.

Who loves it? Teens and tweens can’t get enough of this ride, along with adults who love thrill rides.

Related post: Universal Studios Mardi Gras: Your Guide to Florida’s Biggest Party

Hulk Coaster – Universal Thrill Rides #3

The Incredible Hulk Ride in Universal Orlando is a wild coaster that is featured in Islands of Adventure park on Marvel Island. This is one of Universal’s biggest rides featuring inversions, a zero-G roll, a cobra roll and several vertical loops. Launching guests at 67 mph, the Incredible Hulk ride in Orlando is extremely intense and is not for the faint of heart.

Even if you aren’t a huge Marvel fan, the Hulk ride will still entice those who are looking for a pure rush. It also isn’t one of the newer Universal Orlando rides, so the wait time might not be as bad as others. That’s why the Incredible Hulk is number 3 on our list of best thrill rides in Universal Orlando.

Who loves it? Anyone who can’t get enough of roller coasters that go upside down.

Related post: Complete Guide to Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal Orlando

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure –  Best Universal Orlando Rides #2

Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure might not be our number one most thrilling ride in Universal Orlando, but it is definitely our favorite! It is one of Universal Orlando’s new rides and has stolen the hearts of thrill seekers and Harry Potter fans alike. Located in Hogsmeade Village, it is the perfect addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The different moving parts of this ride make it a one-of-a-kind attraction, pushing it near the top of our list and at the top of our list for the best ride to use with our early park admission Universal ticket! 

This ride won’t knock your socks off with fear, but with fun and magic! The backward thrills, high-speed bursts, and magical creature sightings are what make this one of the best rides in Universal Orlando! You will be entertained the entire time and we guarantee you will leave this ride with a huge smile on your face.

Who loves it? Older Harry Potter fans love the thrills and excitement of this roller coaster that whips around curves at high speeds and even goes backward at one point.

Related post: Complete Guide to Butterbeer at Universal Studios

Velocicoaster – Best Universal Orlando Rides #1

Coming in at number on is the Velocicoaster, which is the newest ride at Universal Orlando Resort. It is now the most popular Jurassic Park ride in Orlando, and takes the cake when it comes to thrill. You can find this intense coaster in Universal’s Islands of Adventure where it remains ready to launch you into danger. This intense attraction is probably the scariest ride in Orlando, with two launches over 50 mph, a 100-foot-long zero-g-stall, and various drops, turns and loops. You’ll be dangled upside down over water, twisted through various rocks and trees while being chased by beloved velociraptors. This ride is not for the faint of heart and quite easily takes the title of the best thrill ride at Universal Orlando.

Who loves it? Every roller coaster enthusiast out there is chomping at the bit to hop aboard this one-of-a-kind roller coaster. This ride will definitely not be for the timid of heart. It will take over the number one spot for Universal thrill rides once it opens.

Related Page: Shop the Latest Universal Orlando Ticket Deals 

Which Universal Orlando Park is Better for Rides 2023?

A very common question we receive when guests are asking about the best Universal rides is, which Universal Orlando park is better for rides? And we think this is an easy one with Islands of Adventure being the best park at Universal Orlando for rides. The main reason is it is home to the two newest thrill rides at Universal with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motor Bike Adventure and of course the VelociCoaster.  

Best Rides at Universal Orlando FAQ

Q: What is the most thrilling ride at Universal Orlando?

A: The most thrilling ride at Universal Orlando Resort is VelociCoaster, which has two high-speed launches along with barrel rolls, intense hang time and more. VelociCoaster is the fastest ride at Universal Orlando with speeds maxing out at 70 mph.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

Beat the crowds with our discount Universal Orlando tickets! All guests who purchase their tickets from The Park Prodigy will get EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter absolutely FREE! This could save you a ton of time in the parks and avoid buying express passes!