Visit classic favorites and explore uncharted territories!
Universal Islands of Adventure opened in 1999, effectively doubling the theme park entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort. As Universal Studios Florida has always celebrated movies and television, Universal Islands of Adventure takes the storytelling further, putting us in the middle of the tales we love. The park sprinkles close to twenty attractions across six themed lands, ranging from classic stories, comics, and cartoons to modern favorites like Jurassic Park and the Wizarding World.
Let’s celebrate the top ten attractions in Universal Islands of Adventure.
10 – The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
My first entry on this list isn’t gonna break any speed records. The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride (say that three times fast!) is a chill cruise above Seuss Landing. This slow-moving trolley elevates guests above the crowds to get a fantastic view all around Seuss Landing, with a few cool glimpses across Islands of Adventure Lagoon. The views from the trolley are especially festive during the holidays when all the Whos decorate the land for “Grinchmas.” The trolley also has a good re-rideability factor, offering two different ride tracks and several soundtracks sharing classic Dr. Seuss stories and characters. Fun Fact: There are rooftop scenes and characters only visible from the trolley, so this is a must-do attraction if you want to see all there is to be seen in Seuss Landing.
9 – Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
Fear is the fuel Doctor Doom needs to power his “Fusion Dynamo,” a weapon he intends to use to destroy the Fantastic Four and conquer the world. But what is the best way to collect fear? How about launching people 185 feet in the air and pulling them back down faster than the speed of gravity? That is exactly what awaits guests brave enough to volunteer for Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. After winding through a pretty cool and colorful comic queue, riders gather at the base of one of the two towers to await their turn to launch. Doom’s henchmen strap riders in, then it’s Blast Off! One giant launch to the top gives riders an amazing – albeit quick – view of Islands of Adventure (and beyond). A second smaller launch keeps the fear – I mean, fun – going a bit longer. This thrill ride is extremely brief, but it packs a powerful punch.
8 – Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Tucked into the time-stamped pages of Toon Lagoon, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges take guests on a wet and wild trip with Popeye as he sets out to rescue his girl Olive Oyl from the brash bully Bluto. This 12-person circular raft bobs and bumbles its way through raging rapids, near guests shooting water guns, and comes face to face with an 18-foot octopus. This ride is a bunch of laughs, but be warned – EVERY guest on the barge will get VERY wet! If you don’t want to walk around in wet clothes the rest of the day, then you may want to skip this one. Human-sized air dryers are available nearby (for seven bucks a pop the last time I checked). These help, but they don’t replace a set of dry clothes.
7 – Skull Island: Reign of Kong
I’ll start this discussion with the punchline – the giant King Kong animatronic at the end of this attraction is by far the best in all of Universal Orlando. But before getting there, riders of this attraction endure a back-and-forth struggle between Kong, several hungry dinosaurs, and other alien-like creatures. The action here is non-stop, and hugely entertaining. The intensity of the battle content may make little ones nervous, but experiencing it in a cargo bus-type vehicle with all the other riders somehow feels a little bit comforting. The queue for this attraction has that mystical danger feel too, which adds to the excitement of the attraction itself. In its bones, Kong is very similar to Fast & Furious – Supercharged over at Universal Studios Florida, but the story and presentation of Kong far outweighs Fast & Furious in my opinion.
6 – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
The second of three Marvel attractions on this list is Spider-Man, and true to form, Spidey is good clean fun. In this adventure, villains have stolen the Statue of Liberty and it’s up to Spidey to save the day. Guests face a full cast of the webslinger’s chief villains, including Doctor Octopus, Hobgoblin (watch out for his fireball!), and several others. Spider-Man is a 3D/4D indoor experience similar to TRANSFORMERS: The Ride at Universal Studios Florida, but what sets it a grade above is the combination of screens and practical effects (animatronics, steam, and heat) that capture the best of both technology. Pro Tip: Take some time to enjoy the queue line – it’s got tons of Marvel Easter Eggs.
5 – Jurassic Park River Adventure
A gentle boat ride through the friendly confines of Jurassic Park – what could possibly go wrong? This attraction starts as a calm ten-minute tour, meeting several docile herbivore dinosaurs. But it quickly turns into a thrilling escape, sending the boat through a raptor containment area and face to face with a giant T-Rex. The frenzy ends with an 85-foot drop to evade the jaws of the T-Rex. Dinosaur fans will absolutely love this ride, and non-dino fans will enjoy it as well. The splash-down is always fun, and gives a fun way to cool off from the Florida heat. Rest assured – unlike Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, guests on this attraction will get wet, but not soaked to the bone.
4 – The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Back on Marvel Superhero Island, the Incredible Hulk Coaster is 100% gamma ray-infused adrenaline. The queue line and pre-show set the stage for all guests “willingly participating” in General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ military experiment to create super soldiers. Following a series of warnings, the classic launch coaster shoots guests out of the gate, quickly reaching a top speed of 67 mph. Riders sail through seven inversions while rocking out to original music created by Patrick Stump – frontman for Fall Out Boy. This coaster is so intense, riders inevitably exit looking a little disheveled. Pro tip: If you want a photo with the super-sized Hulk marquee at the ride’s entrance, do it before you ride!
3 – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This may be my personal favorite attraction at Universal Orlando. Located in Hogwarts Castle near Hogsmeade, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a perfect union of motion simulation, screens, and animatronics. The story here is exceedingly simple – riders fly through the skies around Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. En route, they encounter a dragon, dozens of giant spiders, the Whomping Willow, and even Draco Malfoy. While the ride is amazing, the queue which winds through Hogwarts is endlessly fascinating, especially for Harry Potter fans. The talking portraits are brilliantly crafted and carry real conversations. Guests pass through several iconic classrooms, have a brief encounter with the Sorting Hat, and pay quick visits to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. Forbidden Journey is the ultimate immersive Harry Potter experience at Universal Orlando.
2 – Jurassic World VelociCoaster
The fastest roller coaster in Universal Orlando is a rush for the senses. VelociCoaster uses two different launches to send guests flying at a top speed of 70 mph. This coaster winds its way around Jurassic World and even comes close to Hogwarts – all while avoiding several velociraptors which are loose on the grounds. At one point, guests hang upside down over the lagoon bordering the raptor paddock, feeling almost close enough to touch the water! With a total of four inversions, this coaster gives a total rush to riders while being smooth enough to avoid too much shaking. This coaster is neck-and-neck with the top pick on this list. Tip: While waiting in the queue when approaching the loading area, enjoy the banter between Owen Grady (play by Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (played by Bryce Dallas Howard). These Hollywood heavy hitters knocked it out of the park for this queue video, and it is totally worth your attention.
1 – Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
“Yer a wizard, Harry!” Hagrid is one of the most beloved (and quirky) characters in the Wizarding World, and guests in Hogsmeade can join him on a wild ride through the Forbidden Forest on this “story coaster.” Guests riding in Hagrid’s iconic motorbike will travel close to a mile in length and enjoy seven launches, reaching a top speed of 50 mph. Along the way, they come face to face with a Blast-Ended Screwt (which Hagrid is desperately trying to keep under control), catch a glimpse of Fluffy the three-headed dog, and even pass by the Weasley family’s famous flying Ford Anglia. But beware the Devil’s Snare – it holds quite a surprise for guests.
“Hagrid’s” – as the coaster is familiarly known – is the most popular ride in all of Universal Orlando. It is also one of very few attractions not included in Universal’s Express Pass system. Pro tip: If you are a Universal Orlando hotel guest, get to Islands of Adventure for Early Entry rope drop to make the dash for Hagrid’s. If you don’t, then be prepared to wait in line for a while.
Honorable Mention – Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station
An actual transportation option which doubles as a very entertaining attraction, the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley is the cherry on top of the Wizarding World experience. The train “windows” show guests a different view depending on which direction they travel, and both feature fun character and creature cameos (the chocolate frog escape is my favorite moment!). And the sounds of students in the corridor are priceless. Pro Tip: Since the Hogwarts Express is a legitimate mode of transportation between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, guests must have a park-to-park ticket to ride the train.
Where does your favorite Islands of Adventure attraction rank on this list? Reach out with a message on social to let me know what you think: Instagram Facebook X
Also – Check out my top ten favorite attractions in Universal Studios Florida.
Are you interested in visiting Universal Orlando and experiencing all these exciting attractions for yourself? Reach out to Facts and Figment Vacation Planning to get the ball rolling. My travel planning services are absolutely FREE to you, and I can help you score the best, hardest-to-get deals to make your vacation more affordable and magical!
