Tell me about Universal Studio rides

[cola]

I've been to Universal Orlando 8 times and have never had to queue up for long for anything going week days outside US school holidays. Even Forbidden Journey was a walk on going at rope drop at normal park opening (no early access staying offsite). Weekends or US school holidays, front of line access would be a time saver.

 

[Marlea98]

Thanks Aussiedad - your comments duly noted and appreciated! Yes figure we will stay on site. Have now googled a bit more about some of the rides. The wet ones look fun. My only reservation is all the simulators as we will need recovery time in between so the days (2 thereof probably only) will have to be planned carefully.

We are staying at RPR for the early entry etc. Alicia reviewed it on her TR so I'm holding her responsible for everything.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[RachelleBeaney]

As part of future planning for a 2014 hopeful trip, I need to get my head around all the rides at Universal Studios Florida and IOA. I know we want to do HP (Kwelled in advance). Being lazy I figure everyone here can give me some shortcuts (I will also read up on the appropriate site on Disboards) - the regulars here have sooo much experience and I trust your guidance and I want to avoid an accidental wheel of doom experience!

Which rides are big fast roller coasters?

Which rides involve spinning or twirling? (and thus to be avoided at all costs by all of us)

Which rides are simulators? (and thus to be approached with caution by DD)

Which rides can we jump on with impunity (I won't say for littlies as half the rides littlies enjoy are way too scary for us!)

Favourites? To be avoided?

Thanks!!

There are some AMAZING rides at Universal Orlando! I actually think I enjoy the type of rides at Universal Orlando slightly more than those at Disney World , but of course Disney World has some amazing one's too..

Ok Big Coasters - you have 3:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida - this one was a big rough for me - most of the coasters at Universal are EXTREMELY smooth but this one wasn't - apparently they have refurbished it since I went and it's now smoother - but it goes straight up a vertical incline with only a curved lap restraint and a restraint that goes between the legs which I found quiet unnerving! Probably my least fav coaster at Universal

Dragon's Challenge - WWOHP - Islands of Adventure - my fav coaster in both parks - it's a duelling inverted coaster (meaning your legs dangle from a coaster fixed beneath the track) and it's got two tracks which 'duel' each other - if you sit in the front you can see three 'near misses' where the duelling carriages appear to be about to hit each other but vere off at the last second...it's fast and supremely smooth (keep your head back though)...a great coaster- really two in one!

The Incredible Hulk Coaster - is a great coaster two - it has a launch start and i believe you are launced from 0 - 65km per hour in 2 seconds - it reaches max speeds of 108 km/h - it has A LOT of inversions (upside down bits) and lots of really twisty ones too - but they happen fast and you don't really feel that too much

Simulator Rides
It's my opinion that there are only 2 'real' simulator rides at Universal (other rides are hybirds of simulators/moving track vehicle dark rides)...these are:

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the Simpson's Ride - I haven't been on Despicable Me - it's new - but it's aimed at kids so probably won't be as intense as the Simpsons Ride - I do love that ride because you are in cars that get lifted up to face a curved IMAX type screen and so your not in an 'enclosed' simulator vehicle as such - you feel more free - both are great may want to be avoided if you get motion sickness

Hybrid-Simulator-Dark Rides

This is what Universal does BEST - they have quiet a few AMAZING rides and they all seem to be in the hybrid dark ride, simulator, 3D computer image type...The Amazing Adventure's of Spiderman and Transformers are both AMAZING rides - they have moving track based motion simulator vehicles that move through live sets and projection screen showing 3D movie pictures ...the ride itself is quiet slow paced but seems fast and amazing when your on it...both can be a little scary but mainly because of the images of bad guys you see, not the actual ride itself

The Wizard World of Harry Potter of course has the Forbidden Journey which is another type of hybrid ride - this one has robotic arms attached to 'magic benches' which move along a track but can twist and turn you almost in every which way - combined with movie screens and live sets its an amazing ride but has much more motion than Spiderman and Transformers so I would imagine could possible cause motion sickness (I get very mild motion sickness on really spinny things and didnt have a problem on any of these rides)..It also has some pretty scary scenes involving Demetors and Spiders so if your taking young children perhaps warn them of that - overall it's an amazing ride and one of my favorites - if not my favorite in the parks, perhaps simply because I am a Harry FANATIC...I've read other people don't think it's as fluid as Spiderman or Transformers which is true - and the reason why some people prefer those rides- but it's still pretty damn amazing!

Dark Rides-Dark Ride Rollercoasters
Two of my favorite rides at Universal are dark rides/ dark ride coaster hybrids...The Revenge of the Mummy and ET Adventure...The Revenge of the Mummy is an amazing ride which starts out as a dark ride in a Mummy's tomb and becomes a speeding coaster in the dark - it's a great ride but pretty scary for young kids...ET Adventure however is fun for the whole family - i've heard people say it's old an outdated and maybe it is a little but I still think it's one of my favorite dark rides - you 'fly' on a 'bike' to ET's homeworld and there's some great sets and special effects, it's really not to be missed - the other dark ride they offer is the Men in Black shooting dark ride - this is fun and great for the family - provided they aren't scared of Aliens! Oh, there is also the Cat in the Hat dark ride over at Universal's Islands of Adventure - we didn't do that one so can't really comment but its very much targeted at kids - as is all of Suesus' Landing - which is a cute and very colourful area. We did do the High in the Sky Trolley Ride which is an elevator kids train which does give you great views of Islands of Adventure.

Water Rides
There are three water rides at Universal, all at Islands of Adventure - Dudley Do-Right's Rip Saw Falls is a fun flume ride but lacking in theming, Pop-Eye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges is a little better themed and you do get AWFULLY wet (it's a tyre river rapids ride)...but Jurassic Park River Adventure is probably the best with it's animatronic Dinosaurs and beautiful theming and scenery!

Other Rides
There are a number of kids rides in Suesus' Landing at Islands of Adventure including a train ride, caroseul, dumbo style spinner ride etc...There is also a kids coaster in the Curious George section of Universal Studios Florida as well as a kids play area, not sure how young your kids are but I think this area is geared towards toddlers and pre-schoolers...They are currently building another dumbo style spinner in the newly created Simpson's area of Universal Studios Florida (those are the rides that are like little spaceships attached to a central spinning point that move up and down while spinning around and around). If you want to avoid spinning then don't go on the 'tea cups' style ride in the Marvel Superhero Section of Islands of Adventure called Storm Force Acceleration and depending on how much spinning you despise - you may want to miss the spinner type rides in Suesus landing and the Simpson's area! There is also a 'drop ride' at Islands of Adventure called Dr Doom's Fearfall which actually shoots you up then drops you down - it's good but definitely takes the 'stomach' out of you if you understand what I mean!

Shows

There are some great shows/show attraction hybrids at Universal. Shrek 4D is a 3D movie with additional effects such as water/air effects and limited movement in the seats. Twister Ride It Out is a show that simulators a twister. Disaster is a show/ride that simulates an earth quake. Universal's Horror Make Up Show is very funny, though perhaps a bit PG rated, Animal Actor's on Location is a great show for all the family and those who love seeing animals. Beetlejuices Rock and Roll Graveyard Review is a fun, albeit slightly corny show about the Universal Monsters singing Rock and Roll - it has some good numbers! I didn't see Terminator 2 3D but I believe it's a combination of live action and 3D movie images. Over at Islands of Adventure there is a walk through show/effects attraction called Poseidon's Fury and a Stunt Show called the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad - neither of which i've seen, but look ok.

RESTAURANTS

There are a two stand out sit down restaurants at Universal. The first is Lombards at Universals Islands' of Adventure which is a Victorian themed seafood style restaurant (though it has other opition). They also offer a preferred viewing package for the nighttime show on Universal's Lagoon (which means you eat at the restaurant and then get to stand in a special reserved viewing area for the show).

The other stand out restaurant in Mythos at Islands of Adventure - it's an amazing place, no straight wall in sight and looks like a cave and the food is delicious! We really enjoyed it's great food, fun and different atmosphere and great staff...it's also not that expensive for an upper market restaurant and has a great kids menu too...

One other thing I would suggest, especially if you go at a busy time of year and can afford it, is staying on property or buying a VIP ticket to the parks. Both give you unlimited express passes to all participating rides in the parks (which is pretty much all of them bar the Forbidden Journey ride). You can buy a regular express pass for $20 - $50 per person per day (depending on the time of year) which allows you to skip the standby line once at every ride (in other words go in the 'quick line') but staying on property or buying a VIP ticket allow you to skip the standby line everytime. When we went it was easter time and busy. Spiderman's wait was around 50 mins and we walked on 4 times in a row! It was amazing. A three day VIP ticket runs at about $350 ish I think so it's more expensive than a regular ticket, but if you have a family and can afford to stay on property this is included as part of your stay!

Of course finally, if your going in 2014 and can wait until the end of the year I would - because the second phase of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley - is scheduled to open in 2014. While Universal hasn't given exact dates yet annual passholder block outs and rumours seem to indicate it's likely to open summer (June/July) next year - but I imagine it will be SUPER busy in the first few months. The new part of the Wizard World will be in the Universal Studios park (the existing Wizarding World is next door at Islands of Adventure) and you will likely need to two park ticket to visit both in one day and get on the Hogwarts Express Ride that will connect the two lands. Diagon Alley and it's shops and the Leaky Cauldron will all be there as well as a Gringott's Indoor Rollercoaster Hybrid Simulator type ride. Also if you stay on property it may be likely that you will be able to access the new area an hour before other guests (that is currently what you can do for the other Wizarding World of Harry Potter area) - but this does not include the new Cabana Bay Resort opening next year (which will also not include unlimited express pass when you stay there as it's a cheaper hotel).

I hope this information has been helpful, sorry if i've gone overboard! I really love these parks, their atmosphere and attractions are amazing and comparable in every way to Disney and you'll have a wonderful time there

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Wow rachellebeaney!! Mega thanks for so much detailed info - brilliant. A couple of the biggie coasters I will probably skip like RRR -the dark ones are definitely on my starred list. Good to hear different people's perspectives...and Marlea yes I have read Alicia's post-yep inspiring me too! Be interesting to hear how you find it.

 

[RachelleBeaney]

Your welcome ... Glad I could help