How scary are the Universal thrill rides compared to WDW?

[APH]

I recently returned to WDW as an adult solo traveller trying to rediscover lost youth and had such a good time that I'd like to revisit the experience in some form next year.

Since I've just done WDW it would be too soon to return there, so Universal Studios would be the next best option.

However, I have heard that Universal studios specialises more in coasters so I'm concerned that fear would overcome any fun.

At WDW my primary emotion on the Tower of Terror was terror, although that may be because it was my first ride at the Park, and I was taken by surprise; RnR Rollercoaster was thrilling and enjoyable, and not very scary; and Space Mountain and Expedition Everest were bearable, and definitely 'thrilling', but I'm not sure if I really enjoyed them or not.

How do the Universal rides compare?

 

[damo]

There really are only a couple of major coasters at Universal. Hulk is great fun....I feel if you can enjoy RnR then you can enjoy it. To me, Space Mountain and Rip Ride Rockit are extremely rough and I don't ride either of them anymore. Expedition Everest makes me sick. Mummy at Universal is tons of fun and if you can do RnR, then you can absolutely enjoy the Mummy.

The rest of the rides are just plain fun. That's my opinion, of course.

 

[pattyw]

Agree with @damo ! There are some rides which may be scary to some. King Kong has an eerie regular queue line with a few scares and the ride itself is a little intense. Jurassic Park has a Splash Mountain-like drop. I am a roller coaster wimp but The Mummy is my favorite ride! It's a little scary but very fun!

 

[APH]

Thanks both. How does Rip Ride Rockit compare to Space Mountain, because Space Mountain is probably close to my limit of fear tolerance?

I think it is sudden drops that unnerves me most, although Space Mountain also has a couple of moments were you feel like you're going to lose your head to a collision, something that Expedition Everest doesn't have.

 

[pattyw]

I can't do RRR. It climbs up a steep incline and has a steep drop! (Looks like you are laying on your back!!) I like Space Mt, Thunder Mt. But RRR is outside so you can see where you're going if that helps.

 

[BrianL]

Thanks both. How does Rip Ride Rockit compare to Space Mountain, because Space Mountain is probably close to my limit of fear tolerance?

I think it is sudden drops that unnerves me most, although Space Mountain also has a couple of moments were you feel like you're going to lose your head to a collision, something that Expedition Everest doesn't have.

RRR is MUCH more of a big coaster than Space Mountain. It is very tall, steep, and fast. To put it in numbers, Space Mountain has a top speed of 28 MPH, while RRR has a top speed of 65 MPH! Even though it appears to, RRR has no inversions because the the track twists on the loop so you are always right side up. It's still one heck of a coaster. Personally I really love it, but if ToT was causing you discomfort, RRR is probably not for you (though if you liked RnR then that's really much more intense than Space Mountain or ToT, so it may be okay for you - ETA: RnR has a top speed of 57 MPH).

At Universal, Hulk and RRR are the biggest coasters. Mummy is more like Space Mountain, though a bit faster (40 MPH top speed and launched). Dragon Challenge was the other "big" coaster, but it is now gone. The rest of the rides are pretty much simulator type attractions that don't have true drops and such, though Forbidden Journey and Simpsons are pretty rough and sometimes make me queasy.

 

[macraven]

I don’t have issues with any of the rides except RRR

Will not do it for the reasons @pattyw stated

I have watched the ride stop and peeps evacuated with the ride hung up partially on the first climb up the hill

Practically riders on their back in the first portion for that climb

No way I could use the stairs to walk off that ride

 

[damo]

The intensity part of RRR does not bother me. I don't actually find it intense. I just find it, like Space Mountain, to be incredibly rough and not enjoyable in any way.

Rock n roller coaster goes 57 mph, so it is very comparable in speed to Rip Ride Rockit. However, RNR is MUCH smoother, so is a much more fun ride.

It really isn't true that Universal specializes in coasters. They really don't have any more than anyone else.

 

[GoldmanTrust]

The scariest thing about RRR is probably the climb. I always pray that the ride wont break down while climbing!

It is great fun, but definitely a ride some people skip. It is one of my favorite coasters.

Hulk is awesome as well. It has no big and steep drops but a lot of twists and turns and goes really fast.

The Mummy has a short drop but is REALLY entertaining. That ride just makes me smile. Love everything about it.

None of these coasters compare to anything at Magic Kingdom. I havent been to other disney parks in decades so I cant comment on that. But I went to MK last fall and all of the three coasters above are more intense than anything at Mickeys place.

But I say: Go for it! I used to be timid when it came to coasters. But my daughter is a daredevil and dragged me on Hulk and RRR. No I have done many many coasters and love them!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

My kiddo won't go outdoor coasters, so we don't do them. We still have a great time, and there is more than enough to do! She dared me to go on Hulk once, so I did, but the joke was on her - I love coasters!

Mummy and Gringotts have some coaster-like components (Mummy is like a ride that leads to a short coaster; Gringotts has a drop at the beginning but it turns into more of a simulation ride), but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend both to someone who enjoys RnR. In both cases, they aren't JUST a coaster.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

(1) My non-coaster riding preteen/teenagers love Universal because of the theming. They would be happy to explore the HP lands with wands and play in the Jurassic Park playground, which is the best we've seen at any theme park.

(2) Universal is not a coaster park in the way that amusement parks like Cedar Point are. At the moment, there are two big coasters. As a slightly wimpy coaster rider, I hated RRR because I had a headache after, and I LOVED Hulk because it is smooth, thrilling, has a great launch, and has no huge drops that hurt my stomach. I think you will like Hulk if you liked RnR.

(3) Universal is also not really a "everyone can ride" park either like Disney is for the most part. Although he has fun with the non-ride activities, there are actually very few things that my teen who doesn't like any drops, spins, or screens can ride. What Universal does really well is the rides that are thrilling in a fun way. How you feel about those rides is unique to you -- some people are affected by screens in different ways or the fast spinning in Men in Black; some people are frightened by certain jump scares or certain images. At Disney, Expedition Everest scared me because my mind played tricks on me and it felt like something bad was really going to happen, but I love almost everything at Universal, including Forbidden Journey. I don't think of Mummy as scary at all because I'm entertained by what's happening.

 

[PHXscuba]

I recently returned to WDW as an adult solo traveller trying to rediscover lost youth and had such a good time that I'd like to revisit the experience in some form next year.

Since I've just done WDW it would be too soon to return there, so Universal Studios would be the next best option.

However, I have heard that Universal studios specialises more in coasters so I'm concerned that fear would overcome any fun.

At WDW my primary emotion on the Tower of Terror was terror, although that may be because it was my first ride at the Park, and I was taken by surprise; RnR Rollercoaster was thrilling and enjoyable, and not very scary; and Space Mountain and Expedition Everest were bearable, and definitely 'thrilling', but I'm not sure if I really enjoyed them or not.

How do the Universal rides compare?

I've been on everything at Universal, WDW and Disneyland, plus Six Flags over Texas, in the past 4 years. I would rank Rockin Roller Coaster about with Hulk if I had to classify two things together. Hulk might be a little more intense.

Honestly, I spent the first third of Rip Ride Rockit wondering if I had enough life insurance! Probably one of the most intense rides. That being, said, I did talk myself into riding it again with my kids a couple years later.

With the closure of the Dragon coasters, those are really the most intense. The Mummy ride is kind of like someone combined Space Mountain -- inside, short drops and sharp turns -- with Dinosaur. That is my favorite ride at Universal.

PHXscuba

 

[TaylorsDad]

RRR is the one ride I usually skip at Universal. I love thrill rides so its not because it is too scary. The ride, for me at least is just too rough in all the wrong places. I have never had a good experience riding RRR. Its like Kings Island Son of the Beast rough.

 

[jaceraden]

I think this one really depends on the person and their own "scare scale". I thought RRR was amazing but I am poop scared of Soarin'. EE took me a few rides to embrace but now I love it. Hulk was instant love.

 

[soniam]

Thanks both. How does Rip Ride Rockit compare to Space Mountain, because Space Mountain is probably close to my limit of fear tolerance?

I think it is sudden drops that unnerves me most, although Space Mountain also has a couple of moments were you feel like you're going to lose your head to a collision, something that Expedition Everest doesn't have.

I don't like big drops either. Rip Ride Rocket makes me want to wet myself with fear just looking at it Hulk looks really intimidating too, so I don't ride it either. I ride all of the coasters at WDW. I don't mind the drop on Everest, since it's backwards/in reverse. Don't ask me why that matters Rock n Roller Coaster is my limit. I won't watch any videos of it with the lights on, because I might see something I don't like. Barring motion simulator issues, you should be fine riding anything at Universal, except Rip Ride Rocket and possibly Hulk. Universal doesn't have many medium grade coasters. They are mostly extreme or baby coasters. Mummy is really fun and not bad at all. Forbidden Journey just really has no comparison to any coaster or any other ride I have done. I have felt ill after riding it the morning after spending too much time at Margaritaville So maybe watch any hangovers. I have never actually gotten sick on it, just felt that way. The flume water rides, especially Jurassic, look pretty steep, so I haven't done those. Splash Mountain exceeds my drop limit a bit, but I enjoy the dark ride part at the beginning too much to avoid it.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks both. How does Rip Ride Rockit compare to Space Mountain, because Space Mountain is probably close to my limit of fear tolerance?

I think it is sudden drops that unnerves me most, although Space Mountain also has a couple of moments were you feel like you're going to lose your head to a collision, something that Expedition Everest doesn't have.

Would you believe that 7DMT is faster than Space Mt? It’s not the speed that appears to be getting to you but the motion. SMt is basically a wild-mouse type ride but since in the dark, you are unprepared for the sudden shifts.

EEverest backwards portion does something to my equilibrium near the end portion. Wish it were just a bit shorter (and the Yeti worked haha)

FYI, repeat rides may leave you feeling completely different. I find SpMt rougher ride than the mummy. The mummy does have one drop/shift that catches me every single time I ride it for some reason though lol.

 

[bchbetha]

I didn’t find RRR rough at all. I’ve been on far worse (there are a few at Cedar Point that are misery!). The first hill on RRR is intimidating but it’s a fun ride, especially if you pick a fun song!

 

[Barbanellie]

Just my own two cents as we are just returning home from a trip to both WDW and USO. If you like Rock'n'roller at Disney, I think you would be fine on Hulk at a Universal. I was very intimidated by it at first, because it's all outside, so you see what you are getting into. But the ride is extremely smooth, not jerky at all. It is just very fast, and goes upside down a few times but everything goes by so fast, you don't get that drop feeling in your stomach from rides like Tower of Terror or Space Mountain.

I rode Rip Ride Rockit once 4 years ago, but didn't this trip. The rode itself I had found fairly mild, but the start unnerved me to much, I can't face going on it without someone very convincing going with me!

 

[damo]

I didn’t find RRR rough at all. I’ve been on far worse (there are a few at Cedar Point that are misery!). The first hill on RRR is intimidating but it’s a fun ride, especially if you pick a fun song!

That's the problem with RRR, there are some cars that are very smooth and the ride is really fun. However, there are some cars that are so rough that you get really shaken up. You just never know what car you will end up in.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

That's the problem with RRR, there are some cars that are very smooth and the ride is really fun. However, there are some cars that are so rough that you get really shaken up. You just never know what car you will end up in.

Yes. I love sitting in the front but the back can be pretty jarring.