Universal Studios Resort
Universal Orlando is our spiritual home; the place where we feel most content! The Universal parks in Orlando are like no other theme parks we have been to, as they take the word ‘theme’ to a whole new level. The minute attention to detail is beyond impressive; it is simply mind-boggling. This, combined with a selection of world-class rides, makes it an immersive experience like no other.
There are actually two separate theme parks within the Universal resort; Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. The two parks are connected by City Walk, a plaza of shops, bars and restaurants. They are also connected by the Hogwarts Express ride (see below). There is so much to do that we recommend at least three days across the two parks, to make sure you experience all they have to offer.
Universal Studios is themed around films and TV, with an emphasis on New York, Hollywood, and one half of the Harry Potter themed area (London/Diagon Alley). Islands of Adventure is split into different themed areas covering Jurrasic Park, superheros, cartoons, more films, and the other half of the Harry Potter world (Hogsmead/Hogwarts).
There is a very fine line between something being a show and it becoming a ride, and we don’t always agree on it! We have rated those experiences which have enough motion for us to consider them rides. However, there are also many other experiences - such as the Bourne Spectacular - which is an amazing stunt show that we recommend you check out, but we have not rated here.
Last visited January 2022
Hogwarts
Universal Studios
INVESTMENT
10
THRILL FACTOR
6
FUN &
LAUGHTER
8
STAFF &
FACILITIES
10
UNIQUNESS
10
VALUE
9
THEMEING &
IMMERSION
10
THOMPSONS'
RATING
10
Universal Islands of Adventure
INVESTMENT
10
THRILL FACTOR
7
FUN &
LAUGHTER
8
STAFF &
FACILITIES
10
UNIQUNESS
10
VALUE
9
THEMEING &
IMMERSION
10
THOMPSONS'
RATING
10
BEST BITS
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; every single bit of it. If you are a Harry Potter fan then this simply is a must-do experience. Even if you’re not a fan (why not?) the rides within the areas are breath-takingly good and there is still a huge amount to see and do.
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There is such a wide selection of rides and experiences that there really is something for everyone.
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A lot of the rides are truly unique experiences that you won’t find outside of Universal parks. They are at the forefront of new ride designs.
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Despite being world famous, Universal do not just trade off their name. They are constantly adding new rides and investing in their parks.
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When we say the parks are well themed we don’t just mean the rides themselves. Whole areas of the park are themed in immaculate detail, so that the shops and restaurants perfectly match the theme and combine to create an entire world around you. It is entirely possible to spend hours in some areas without even going on a ride.
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Many of the queues are so well themed that you actually want to spend some time in them. Waiting becomes not so much a hassle as an enjoyable part of the ride experience.
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Once the parks are open they are just that – open. Universal do not stagger ride opening times like some parks do, so everything is ready to go as soon as you walk in.
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The ride staff are really well organised and make sure that every seat is filled as far as possible. This not only reduces queue time, but it also makes the single rider queues a really good option (for groups that don’t mind riding separately).
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Rides on which you cannot take bags all provide free lockers.
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A small point but a welcome one at the end of the day is that the car parks are under cover, meaning your car is not roasting hot when you get back to it.
DOWN-SIDES
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There are not many queue time boards around the park. This can make planning quite difficult as you have to keep going to the ride entrances to find out what the current queue time is. Or pay to use data abroad and get this information on the App.
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The parks are not easy to get to by public transport, especially for those staying around Kissimmee or further south. They are easy to access by car, but there is a parking charge (as with all Orlando parks). We found Uber a good way of getting to the parks.
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The car parks are quite a long way from the theme park entrances, and the parks themselves are quite big. Be prepared for a bit of a walk.
TOP TIPS
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There are no water rides in Universal Studios but three in Islands of Adventure. For that reason, we suggest you follow the local weather forecasts and go to Islands of Adventure on a hot, sunny day.
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(related to the above) The water rides are very wet. We suggest doing them one after the other to avoid the need to dry off multiple times. We also suggest taking a change of clothes with you; including dry underwear (yes, you will get that wet)!
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Buying a souvenir mug (such as Butterbeer or Duff) gives you unlimited cheap refills across both parks on multiple visits. This is not well advertised.
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In order to hop between parks you need to buy a 2-park ticket. This is also required to go on the Hogwarts Express ride.
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The Bourne Spectacular stunk show is one of the best shows we have ever seen a we highly recommend a visit.
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You don’t have to pay for water if you ask for ‘iced water’ at any kiosk selling soda on tap.
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To fully experience everything Universal Orlando has to offer you will need more than one day in each park.
Universal Studios
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
6
6
6
4
Revenge of The Mummy
Thompsons' overall rating 7
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
8
9
5
8
Transformers
Thompsons' overall rating 8
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
8
9
9
7
The Simpsons Ride
Thompsons' overall rating 8
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
6
10
9
9
N/A
Hogwarts Express
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
1
6
10
9
N/A
Harry Potter: Escape from Gringotts
Thompsons' overall rating 10
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
9
10
10
9
Despicable Me
Thompsons' overall rating 7
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
9
8
6
N/A
ET Adventure
Thompsons' overall rating 5
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
5
6
5
7
Men in Black
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
4
6
8
7
8
Race Through New York
Thompsons' overall rating 5
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
6
8
4
N/A
Fast and Furious - Supercharged
Thompsons' overall rating 4
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
5
8
3
N/A
Universal Islands of Adventure
The Incedible Hulk Coaster
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
8
6
5
6
6
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman
Thompsons' overall rating 9
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
8
9
9
9
8
Jurrasic Park River Adventure
Thompsons' overall rating 8
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
7
9
7
N/A
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
Thompsons' overall rating 7
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
7
4
6
N/A
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
4
7
7
4
N/A
Storm Force Acceleration
Thompsons' overall rating 2
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
2
2
2
2
4
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Thompsons' overall rating 10
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
10
10
10
10
Flight of the Hippogriff
Thompsons' overall rating 5
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
6
6
4
4
Hagrid's Magical Creature's Motorbike Adventure
Thompsons' overall rating 10
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
7
10
10
10
10
Jurrasic World VelociCoaster
Thompsons' overall rating 9
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
8
8
9
7
9
Dr Doom's Fear Fall
Thompsons' overall rating 6
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
5
6
7
5
N/A
Harry Potter: Escape from Gringotts
A hybrid rollercoaster and dark ride experience, themed around the journey to the vaults of Gringotts wizarding bank. The story is based on the events of the seventh Harry Potter book, and riders come face-to-face with many key characters played by the actors who portrayed them in the films. The ride uses both 3-D screens and physical sets, and at times the vehicles move quickly between them. There is also a lot of simulated motion. Before the ride itself, you go through the marbled halls of Gringotts (complete with goblins) and take a ‘9 mile journey down’ in a lift to the vaults; all hosted by Bill Weasley and one of the goblins.
Our view: This type of ride is our favourite because it is so immersive. The transition from physical sets to screens is seamless and you really feel like you are part of the action. We think that the ride has just the right balance of thrill and enjoyment to appeal to almost everyone. The queue line is an experience in itself. This is the only ride situated within the London/Diagon Alley area, but the incredible detail of the surrounding area only adds to the quality of the ride.
Tips:
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We suggest taking your camera to get a few pictures in the queue line (making sure it is securely fastened away during the ride!).
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There is more leg-room in the front row of the car than the others. Those of you with longer legs (like Joe) might want to ask the attendants if they can be allocated the front row.
In Diagon Alley
Hogwarts Express
A gentle dark ride which also transports you from one park to the other. The ride takes place aboard the Hogwarts Express steam train, going from platform 9¾ at King’s Cross to Hogsmead and back. During the ride there is a simulated view from the windows, and various goings-on in the corridors outside your compartment. These simulations are different depending on whether you are going from London to Hogsmead or vice versa.
Our view: The joy of this ride comes mostly from the quality of its theming. Universal have created a replica of King’s Cross which is so exact that even the signs are printed in the right colours and fonts. The train is exactly as portrayed in the films, and the simulated story is good fun. This is a much more enjoyable way of getting between the parks than walking!
Tips:
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You must have a 2-park ticket in order to ride on the Hogwarts Express. These are checked before you board the train.
Flight of the Hippogriff
Similar to a mine train, this is a small, family coaster. The ride is themed around Hagrid attempting to train his new Hippogriff. It features small drops and banked turns.
Our view: This ride looks similar to a mine train but is smoother. It is a good ride for the younger kids, but not worth queuing more than a few minutes for.
Part of the queue for Escape from Gringotts
The Hogwarts Express
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
No description can fully do justice to this ride (but we will try). A highly themed dark ride based on a visit by a group of muggles to Hogwarts. The ride uses large screens and even larger animatronics, to tell the story of the riders flying around various Hogwarts locations with Harry and his friends. Riders sit on ‘enchanted’ benches of four people which move with the action on the screens and sets, creating the flying effect. Although classed as a simulator, this ride moves a lot more than other simulators.
The queue takes riders through various rooms within Hogwarts and is an experience in itself.
Our view: This is, quite simply, the best ride we have ever been on. When we came off it after our first time we were completely lost for words. The ride is completely immersive, with a level of detail and theming which has to be seen to be believed. The motion of the ride is smooth and perfectly timed with the action.
Tips:
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Take the time to appreciate the queue. If you are a Harry Potter fan there is so much detail to be enjoyed – watch out for talking portraits, the Fat Lady and Ron accidentally making it snow inside!
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You will need to go on this ride several times to see all the detail; there is just so much.
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This ride tends to be busy most of the day, but the queue moves quickly. And besides, the queue is part of the experience. It's good to do at the beginning of the day as it is quietest then, being at the back of the park.
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There is a helpful storage area within the seat for very small items, such as phones, wallets or sunglasses. Anything bigger will need to go in a locker.
Hayley drinking butterbeer
The Simpson’s Ride
A modern simulator ride which features a number of ride vehicles surrounded by a huge domed screen. Both the queue and the ride combine to tell a story of the Simpson family visiting the Krusty Land theme park whilst Sideshow Bob tries to kill both them and you.
Our view: For fans of The Simpsons this ride is an absolute must! The story is told with typical Simpson’s humour, and is great fun. Because the ride vehicles are almost completely surrounded by the screen, the ride feels very immersive. The scale of the ride is very impressive and unlike any other simulator we have been on. This ride is situated within its own Simpson’s world, featuring shops and restaurants from the show (you can even have a Duff beer in Moe’s!).
Tips:
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The ride is generally busy towards the middle and end of the day, so best to get there early. That said, there are multiple TV screens in the queue line which play classic clips from Simpsons episodes, and some new clips created especially for the ride, so you will be well entertained.
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The cars are two rows of four seats, and the view is better in the front row. Smaller children might not be able to see much from the second row.
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Just because the ride is themed on a cartoon it does not make it suitable for all children. It is big, loud and immersive, and we have seen lots of small children be scared by the scale of it.
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There is so much going on on-screen you will not see all of it the first time you ride. We suggest riding multiple times!
Drinking a beer in Moe's Tavern, Springfield. The Duff beer is specially made by a local brewery
Revenge of The Mummy
A combined rollercoaster and dark ride themed around the original The Mummy film, this ride has many features. At times it goes backwards, launches you quickly uphill and takes you around some banked turns in the dark. Characters from the film appear at different times in the ride and there are lots of animatronics and other effects which tell the story of the ride.
Our view: We really enjoy the many features of this ride; particularly the combination of special effects and scenes followed by the speed of the coaster. We can see how this combination of dark elements and coaster was a precursor to more recent rides, such as Escape from Gringotts. The coaster itself is so enjoyable because it feels unpredictable and even when you think it’s all over there is still more to do.
Tips:
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As a rollercoaster, this ride is not as thrilling as the warning signs suggest. This is not a thrill ride in the sense of Rip Ride Rockit, so don’t be put-off if you’re not a fan of big coasters. The main fear-factor comes from the theming around the ride.
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This is a good ride to do if it is a bit cold or raining outside, as it is entirely indoors and there are elements of the ride that really warm you up!
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Although there is a child-swap option, we feel that some aspects of the queue area can be quite scary for small children in itself. It is dark, enclosed and well-themed on the film.
Hogsmead
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
A rollercoaster which features a vertical lift hill, numerous high speed banked turns and steep drops. What makes this ride more unique is that there are individual speakers in the seats, and you can choose what music you want to listen to as you ride from a list of around 30 songs.
Our view: This ride is pretty fast and intense, and we both really enjoy the music element. It also features a lap bar restraint which allows the upper body to move more freely, which we feel enhances the experience. Unfortunately, it is let down by being a jerky and rough ride. It also seems to break down quite a lot (although this could just be our bad luck).
Tips:
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Hayley likes to listen to rock music on this ride, whereas Joe goes for country.
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Make sure you put everything in the lockers. You have to go through a metal detector before they let you on the ride, and they will confiscate any loose change.
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It is really hard to predict when the queue will be at its shortest on this ride. The best thing is to keep coming back to check.
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Don’t worry about where you sit. It makes very little difference to the ride experience, and the seats are tiered so you get a decent view regardless.
ET Adventure
A slow dark ride which takes riders through and above a number of physical sets based on the popular film. The ride cars are designed to look like bicycles, which ‘fly’ slowly over some of the sets.
Our view: The ride is well themed. For its age, the technology of the ride is impressive, although it looks a little bit dated in comparison to modern dark rides. If you are a fan of the film it is a very enjoyable experience. That said, we would not recommend queuing more than 20 minutes for it.
Men in Black: Aliens Attack
In this dark ride you play a new recruit helping the MoB agents to shoot the aliens who have invaded the city. The ride is a slow experience, with cars that travel through multiple sets replicating city streets. Each rider has a blaster to shoot at aliens (and, occasionally, other recruits). The queue features recreations of many of the sets from the films.
Our view: This is not one of our favourite rides but it is still good fun. Joe particularly enjoys the shoot, whereas Hayley prefers to just sit back and watch the action. It is worth doing once, but not worth a long queue.
Tips:
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The cars feature rows of three riders, meaning the single rider queue often moves quickly.
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Two cars go around the ride alongside each other, boarding on either side of the station. If you are in a big group it can be fun to split up so you go around alongside each other (and have the opportunity to shoot at each other).
Joe with Chief Wiggum
Despicable Me: Minions Mayhem
A motion simulator ride themed on the popular films. Riders sit on benches of four, in front of a large screen. The story is of riders being turned into minions and given their initial training. There is a very amusing pre-ride show, and an opportunity to have a boogie once the ride is over!
Our view: This ride is lots of fun. As with lots of other rides at Universal, the queue is part of the experience, with funny videos to keep you entertained. The ride itself is immersive and the simulator technology is impressive.
Tips:
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The motion of the ride is quite gentle and the story is very funny. We think it is suitable for everybody.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
A water rapids ride, themed around the popular cartoon series. The ride features fast-moving rapids and some small drops, as well as a lot of waterfalls and sprinklers.
Our view: This is the best rapids ride we have been on, and makes all others look tame. Although not a scary ride, it is really good fun and incredibly well themed for a ride of its type.
Tips:
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You will get soaked on this ride; it is completely unavoidable. We strongly recommend doing this on a hot sunny day, or taking a change of clothes with you.
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It is generally best to do this ride either immediately before or after Jurassic Park and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, so you have chance to dry out afterwards.
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There are quite a lot of water guns to shoot at riders on the bridge which leads to the ride entrance, but you have to pay for these. However, if you go onto the children’s play barge (near the ride entrance) and up one floor, there are several similar water guns which are free to use. They are also well hidden from riders so you can catch them completely unawares!
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Although there is a covered storage area in the middle of the boat for bags etc we do not know how waterproof it is. We suggest leaving bags and anything not waterproof in a locker.
Jurassic Park River Adventure
A water ride that features a boat journey through Jurassic Park with a large drop at the end. Within Jurassic Park there are many animatronic dinosaurs, which are very realistic.
Our view: The effects make this water ride one of the best of its kind. The ride is very well themed to make it look like your boat has accidentally veered off course and entered a restricted area. This builds tension before the drop at the end, which is big and you will get wet.
Tips:
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There are no free lockers available because you can take bags etc on with you. However, we recommend paying to hire one of the lockers at the ride entrance. They are not expensive and you can keep the locker whilst you go on the other water rides nearby.
Jurassic Park River Adventure
The entrance to Transformers The Ride 3D
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman 3-D
A dark ride experience which features both physical special effects and 3-D screens. Riders travel in cars which feature two rows of four seats. In the story you are a journalist travelling around the city to cover Spiderman’s battle with various super-villains. Whilst the ride is not a rollercoaster, there is a lot of sudden movement between sets. The technology behind the ride is the same as for Transformers: The Ride 3-D in Universal Studios.
Our view: We love this ride. The ride is themed on the Spiderman comics and the story has a light-hearted humour, making it great fun (and more suitable for all ages than Transformers). The effects are stunning and totally immersive.
Tips:
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It is best for children and smaller people to sit on the front row to get an unobstructed view.
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The queue area features a lot of sets and videos. It is worth taking a few moments to enjoy these.
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The queues are generally not too big for this ride, but it can get very busy when there is a superhero parade in the Marvel area.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
A launch coaster which features multiple inversions. The ride is themed around the Incredible Hulk story, with the launch representing the moment of transformation into the Hulk.
Our view: This coaster starts well but loses interest as it goes. The uphill launch straight into the first inversion is very good. This is followed by some other good drops and inversions at high speed. Unfortunately the first brake run reduces its momentum, meaning the second half of the ride is less fun. It is also quite jerky in comparison to newer coasters.
Tips:
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This ride is generally busiest early in the day. It is best left to the afternoon.
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
A log flume water ride which features multiple drops. The final drop is a fast and steep double-dip into a tumult of spraying water.
Our view: The ride is very good fun; even for people who do not know anything about the Dudley Do-Right cartoons. It is by far the best log flume we have ever been on.
Tips:
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Although the last drop is steep and fast, it is not as scary as it looks.
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There is no way of going on the ride and not getting soaked from head to toe. We strongly recommend doing this on a hot sunny day, or taking a change of clothes with you.
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The ride is in between Jurassic Park and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges. It is generally best to do these together so you only have to dry out once.
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Tall people will not be able to sit at the front of the boat as there is not enough leg room.
Storm Force Acceleration
A teacups ride.
Our view: No different from any other teacups ride, other than the limited X-Men theming. Not worth bothering with.
Incredible Hulk Coaster
Transformers: The Ride 3-D
A dark ride experience which features both physical special effects and 3-D screens. Riders travel in cars which feature two rows of four seats. In the story you are a new recruit to a special military organisation, working with Optimus Prime and the Autobots to save the world from Megatron. Whilst the ride is not a rollercoaster, there is a lot of sudden movement between sets. The technology behind the ride is the same as for The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman 3-D in Islands of Adventure.
Our view: We like this ride a lot. The combined effects and screens are seamless, giving a truly immersive experience. The story moves very quickly and there is always something going on around you; it is very impressively put together. We are not fans of the Transformers films so probably don’t find the story quite as engaging as some, but if you like the films then this ride will be mind-blowing.
Tips:
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The single rider queue is often much shorter than the main queue. If in doubt, ask the staff at the entrance; they will give you a good indication of how long/short the queues are.
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It is best for children and smaller people to sit on the front row to get an unobstructed view.
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The motion of the ride is not scary and the car never goes off the ground. However, some of the effects are very loud and there is a lot of robot violence. It might be a bit too intense for younger children.
The entrance to The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman 3D
Jurassic World: Velocicoaster
A launched coaster themed on a visit to Jurassic World where riders launch out of the velociraptor enclosure. The ride is in two halves, each starting with a launch. The first half features a number of tight corners, whereas the second has a faster launch into a large hill, and several inversions.
Our view: The ride is fast, intense and exciting. The theming through the queue and the first section of the ride is very detailed, and the second launch into the hill is breathtaking. The ride is generally very smooth, although the speed of the second half does reduce the smoothness a little. On balance, Joe prefers the first half whereas Hayley prefers the second.
Tips:
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It doesn't make much difference where you sit.
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There is a single rider queue which can reduce your wait time. It's worth checking with the staff at the entrance as they will generally give you a pretty acurate view of whether the single rider queue is longer or short than the main queue.
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You will need to put ALL your possessions into lockers which are located mid-way through the queue line. You will go through metal detectors before getting on the ride, so don't try and sneak anything through in your pockets.
Joe with one of Velocicoaster's inversions
The hill after Velocicoaster's second launch
Hagrid's Magical Creature's Motorbike Adventure
A combined indoor and outdoor launched coaster. The ride features seven launches (both forwards and backwards) and a range of other features, including high-speed banked turns and a freefall drop. The ride is themed on a ride on Hagrid's magical motorbike and side-car, meeting various magical creatures and plants from the Harry Potter stories. There is a constant naration from Hagrid as you go around the ride. The ride is unique in having two different seating positions; one rider on the bike and one in the side-car.
Our view: We were blown away by this ride and now rate it as our favourite launched coaster. Although not as fast as some, the ride is both thrilling and brilliant fun. The combination of different features makes every moment of the ride enjoyable. Plus, it is unbeliveably smooth, even at its fastest. We both agreed that it is slightly more fun sat on the motorbike, as you can hold the handles and pretend to drive! But the side-car is fantastic as well.
Tips:
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Despite having been open for a few years the ride gets really long queues. There is no way of avoiding that.
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The queue area features a range of sets. Apparently there is also sometimes a video featuring Hagrid and Arthur Weasley, but we did not see that.
Doctor Doom's Fear Fall
A launched drop tower which shoots riders straight up and then drops back down. This is repeated with smaller launches and drops. The ride lasts around 20 seconds.
Our view: We don't like drop towers, but launched drops towers are quite fun. This one is well themed and enjoyable, although not worth more than a short queue.
Race Through New York
A simulator ride themed on a race through the streets of New York (and a few other places) to get to a TV studio in the time. The ride stars US TV host Jimmy Fallon, and the ride's theming is based on the Rockefella Building.
Our view: This is a perfectly decent simulator. The theming did not really work for us as we're not familiar with Jimmy Fallon, and we found him quite annoying. The ride technology is very similar to Despicable Me: Minions Mayhem, but that is a much better ride than Race Through New York because the theming is so much more fun.