Best Universal Studios Florida Attractions & Ride Guide
Our Universal Studios Florida ride guide reviews the park’s top attractions, with numerical scores for every show, roller coaster, simulator, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you’re planning a trip to Universal Orlando, it’s a great place to start when making a rough roadmap for the best things to do–and what’s appropriate for your family.
To that later point, we’ll focus on height requirements, scare-factor, intensity, and motion sickness. These are all common concerns among Walt Disney World fans and frequently questions we’ve received from readers. Sarah has issues with almost all of these things (save for height, but at least that’s objectively measured), so we can offer a subjective assessment of what might present problems. We’ll also try to compare each attraction to a counterpart at Walt Disney World.
If you’re wanting to know how we would spend an ideal day in USF, read our 1-Day Universal Studios Florida Itinerary. We could spend much of the day simply wandering around the park, doing only a few attractions while enjoying the entertainment and seasonal offerings, both of which are not covered in this ride guide. That touring plan covers an actual, substantive day in Universal Studios Florida, whereas this guide gives you the info you need about each attraction to determine whether to include it in your day.
Numerical scores are on a scale of 1 to 10, and only take into consideration overall quality relative to that specific type of attraction. Dark rides are judged against other dark rides, roller coasters against other coasters, and so on, to create a relatively level playing field. There are a few 9 or 9.5/10 attractions below that probably could’ve been given 10/10, but just aren’t quite on par with their gold standard counterparts.
Regardless, this guide to Universal Studios Florida’s attractions should give you an idea of which attractions are must-see for you, and which ones you won’t have time to do. Note that this list only covers USF; we’ll have another one for Islands of Adventure soon.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (8/10) – This is like a typical 3D/4D theme park movie theater meets a motion simulator. The ride moves in sync with a movie, which features the daughters of Gru and the Minions while touring and partying your way through Gru’s lab. It’s cute, funny, and endearing, a lot like the movies themselves.
Being a film with motion simulator components, there’s obviously the potential for issues there. Calling it a tour of Gru’s lab undersells the action, as it’s fast-paced with drops, twists, and turns. However, it’s relatively mild as compared to pretty much everything else at Universal and it now is a 2D film that doesn’t require the 3D “minion goggles.” Moreover, it’s one of the newest attractions utilizing some of the newest tech, which makes it pretty smooth. In terms of a Walt Disney World comparison, think Star Tours meets MuppetVision with Minions instead of Muppets. Guests must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″—48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Persons under 40″ (102cm) must experience this attraction from an adjacent stationary seat.
Shrek 4D (3/10) – This 3D movie features the adventures of Shrek and his Donkey friend as they attempt to rescue Fiona. It’s awful and often has long lines. If your comedic sensibilities are trapped in the early-aughts and you still find the novelty of animation with self-aware and semi-satirical “humor” to be funny, you might enjoy it. Everyone else should stay far away.
It’s a typical 3D film in a theme park, with antiquated projection and glasses. Shrek 4D also has moving seats and in-theater effects like squirts of water. It’s comparable to MuppetVision 3D at Walt Disney World, minus the humor. Kids might be scared of the dark or startling effects; everyone else might be scared by how bad it is.
Transformers: The Ride 3D (9.5/10) – In this action-packed thrill ride, a bunch of talking, shapeshifting cars fight over a spark plug. It’s either a stand-in for the Holy Grail, the One Ring, or Rosebud. Honestly, I’m not sure–I’ve done this ride dozens of times and still have no clue what’s happening at any given moment. Lots of stuff, all of it awesome. The chaotic energy suits Transformers: the Ride. I struggle to come up with a good Walt Disney World comparison…Flight of Passage mixed with a portion of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, maybe?
Transformers: the Ride 3D is (obviously) an attraction requiring 3D glasses, and also with fast and intense movement, sharp turns, and a mild drop. If you’re susceptible to motion sickness, avoid Transformers. (It’s too intense for Sarah.) Guests must be at least 40″ (102cm) to ride. Children between 40″—48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (7/10) – Let’s start with the Walt Disney World comparison here: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is like an outdoor Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. It’s an un-themed roller coaster that leans heavily on thrills and a fun soundtrack (in this case, you choose the music). In terms of fundamentals, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a sit-down X-Car roller coaster on a 3,800-foot steel track, with 17-story vertical ascent and a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is fairly intense–a coaster enthusiast’s ride. At least, it was when it debuted. Even though it’s relatively new (debuting a little over a decade ago), it feels older. It’s now jarring and bumpy…sort of like Space Mountain. Guests must be at least 51″ (130cm) and no more than 79″ (201cm) to ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (5/10) – Housed in the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza, this is is a loving tribute to the Tonight Show and its legendary hosts over the years, plus Jimmy Fallon. Race Through New York highlights the show’s humor and some recurring gags while offering an exhilarating race through New York City (hence the name) on Fallon’s custom Tonight Rider vehicle. What you think of it will largely depend upon your fondness (or lack thereof) for Fallon’s incarnation of the Tonight Show. I prefer the waiting area to the ride itself.
In terms of Walt Disney World comparisons, the closest attraction is Star Tours. Race Through New York uses a Virtual Queue and boarding group system instead of a traditional line. The attraction itself is a 3D motion simulator, albeit with crisp visuals and only mild intensity–but at a high speed and with sharp turns. It’s not recommended for those who easily get motion sickness (Sarah didn’t have issues with it, but YMMV). Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″—48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Revenge of the Mummy (9.5/10) — Based on the film franchise, this is a thrilling roller coaster with show scenes and great special effects. But there’s more to it than exhilaration and impressive technical effects. Revenge of the Mummy’s central conceit is silly, with a mockumentary vibe that you’re on set with Brendan Fraser who really needs his cup of coffee. It’s hard to explain, but the attraction works on multiple levels, with a tongue-in-cheek pre-show followed by a slightly darker ride. Revenge of the Mummy is a cult classic attraction among Universal fans, and for good reason.
Guests must be at least 48″ (122cm) to ride Revenge of the Mummy. It’s not overly intense–anyone who can do Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or Expedition Everest will be totally fine. As far as the Walt Disney World comparison goes, it’s also like a mix of those two; probably a bit closer to Everest but totally indoors.
Fast & Furious Supercharged (3/10) – Adapted from a stop on the tram tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, this ride features hydraulic platforms and colossal screens to simulate a high speed chase through Los Angeles. Fast and the Furious is one of my guilty-pleasure movie franchises, but this ride is idiotic beyond belief. It’s one of the worst major theme park attraction I’ve ever experienced. Other fans of the popcorn flicks might like it–what do I know.
While it’s fast-paced and chaotic, Fast & Furious – Supercharged is relatively mild in terms of movement. The speed of the visuals might cause motion sickness, though. Sarah is usually fine with it, although she closes her eyes for the high-speed portions. (Probably a good idea for everyone, regardless of motion sickness.) Guests must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″—48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
The Simpsons Ride (8/10) — This “theme park within a theme park” attraction that spoofs other parks while taking you and the Simpsons to Krustyland via a motion simulator. It’s fun for everyone, but more so for longtime fans of the Simpsons who will appreciate the many characters, in-jokes, referential humor and gags, and that trademark Simpsons humor.
The ride system is recycled from Back to the Future The Ride, and sometimes that shows its 30-year old age. Guests suffering from motion sickness report this as one of, if not the, worst rides at Universal Orlando. It’s similar to Star Tours, but with smaller ride vehicles situated in front of a larger screen (somewhat like Soarin’ on that front). Guests must be at least 40″ (102cm) to ride. Children between 40″—48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl (4/10) – It’s a spinner. Like Dumbo except with the cynical aliens from Treehouse of Horror episodes of the Simpsons.
Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts (10/10) – This attraction is an experience from start to finish. Entering through the opulent lobby, you meet animatronic goblin bank tellers. From there you enter a security checkpoint and have your photo taken, then pass through an area that sets the stage for the 3D track-based motion ride-through. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is my favorite of the Wizarding World attractions in both parks. I prefer Escape from Gringotts because it offers a linear narrative that’s also thrilling and varied, leveraging an array of technologies along with physical environments. This is one of the best theme park rides in all of Orlando.
While very different in both style and substance, I’d call Star Wars Rise of the Resistance the closest Walt Disney World comparison. The key differences here are that there are more screens, 3D glasses, and it’s more thrilling. Not quite on par with Revenge of the Mummy or Transformers in that regard, and worth the gamble if you’re on the fence (in large part because it’s such a good attraction, which skews the “risk/reward” calculus). Guests must be at least 42″ (107cm). Children between 42″—48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Hogwarts Express via King’s Cross Station (8/10) – A relaxing train ride between London and Hogsmeade (in Islands of Adventure) with screen-based scenery of the countryside, etc. It’s a clever way to park hop between the two parks, while remaining immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. However, and perhaps unpopular opinion here, but I don’t think the technology utilized has aged particularly well. It’s not all that old, but suspension of disbelief can be a challenge with the tech.
There’s nothing like Hogwarts Express at Walt Disney World. The obvious comparison would be the various trains and railroads, but this is more screen-based attraction than leisurely transportation. Anyone should be able to ride Hogwarts Express without issue.
Men In Black: Alien Attack (9/10) — Sorry Walt Disney World, but this is the best shooter ride in Orlando. It’s similar to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin or Toy Story Mania…but better. You’re the newest Men in Black recruit, on a mission to shoot as many aliens as possible. The attraction features a variety of scenes and sets with physical props. While the franchise that inspired it is arguably dated, the ride itself is top-notch.
Guests must be at least 42″ (107cm) to ride. Children between 42″—48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion. The attraction has a few sudden turns, but no worse than Toy Story Mania.
E.T. Adventure (9/10) — I could go on and on about the greatness of E.T. Adventure. While the exterior and outside queue are straight out of the 1980s, the interior queue and ride portion of E.T. Adventure are still fresh. The ride introduces zany characters that are unfamiliar to most but equally as bizarre as ET. This makes it feel a bit campy, but the whole of the experience holds up well and is fun. None of this should come as any surprise given that E.T. is national treasure that will be cherished by future generations of Americans for billions of years to come.
E.T. Adventure is the best Fantasyland-style dark ride in Orlando. It’s like Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom, but with more fluidity and a better movie (that’s right!) as its basis. It’s appropriate for guests of all ages and there should be no issues with its movements or scare-factor, although E.T. and the alien inhabitants of the Green Planet are admittedly a bit creepy looking. Guests must be at least 34″ (87cm) to ride. Children between 34″—48″ (87cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-up Show (9/10) – A behind the scenes look at how monster-movie special effects are created and brought to life. Universal’s Horror Make-up Show features onstage demonstrations that deconstruct effects including blood-spurting fake knives, facial prosthetics, mechanical effects, and artificial limbs.
For the most part, Universal’s Horror Make-up Show is more sarcastic than it is scary, with humor leveraged remarkably well to diffuse any tension. There are a couple of shocking moments, but quickly devolve into laughs. Very young children might be scared of this, but that type of thing is difficult to predict. No older kids or adults should have issue. It’s mostly good-natured dad jokes with an interesting and engaging presentation of monster movie effects. As for a Walt Disney World comparison, it’s sort of like Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, but minus the action and with a behind the scenes look at a different type of movie-making.
Animal Actors on Location! (6.5/10) – Live outdoor stage show featuring dogs, birds, pigs, and other animal performers and their trainers as the actors do gags and tricks. Some of the animal actors have appeared in high-profile films and since “retired” to Universal Orlando. If you’ve been to a major zoo, you’ve probably seen a show like Animal Actors. This one is more polished and has higher production quality.
Animal Actors is like UP! A Great Bird Adventure Show at Walt Disney World, minus the meet & greet characters and plus other critters. If you’re afraid of birds, you might want to sit off to one side. Otherwise, there should be no issues with this show.
The Bourne Stuntacular (9/10) – This live action, indoor stage show features actors engaging in stunts, with special effects and music. The Bourne Stuntacular’s twist on this familiar theme park concept is that it utilizes a truly massive digital screen to instantly transport the show and audiences to any setting around the world.
In terms of a Walt Disney World comparison, it’s like Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular meets a behind the scenes Disney+ special about the Mandalorian. (That’ll only make sense if you know how the show is shot.) Should be good for all audiences that are down with action movies.
Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster (4.5/10) – A short “rite of passage” roller coaster for small children. Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster is incredibly similar to Magic Kingdom’s Barnstormer, just swap Goofy for Woody Woodpecker. Guests must be at least 36″ (92cm) to ride. Children between 36″—48″ (92cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration (9/10) – This is Universal Studios Florida’s nighttime spectacular that features music, water, and light. Cinematic Celebration features pulsating scores from Universal’s most iconic movies (Jurassic World, Fast & Furious, E.T., Harry Potter, etc.) with dancing fountains erupt and scenes are projected onto mist screens. There are also spotlights, pyro, and projections on the buildings that form the backdrop.
It’s Universal’s take on World of Color at Disney California Adventure. We don’t think it’s quite that good, but perhaps that’s our bias towards Disney intellectual property. (In my view, Universal leans a bit too heavily on recent hits over classics, which invariably makes things feel dated after a few years.) Nevertheless, it’s a stunning nighttime spectacular, and a satisfying end to your day at Universal Studios Florida!
Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more. For regular updates, news & rumors, a heads up when discounts are released, and much more, sign up for our FREE email newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Which Universal Studios Florida attractions are your favorites? Which ones do you normally skip? Any simulators, roller coasters, or other attractions that are too intense or cause you motion sickness? Do you agree or disagree with our ratings? If you haven’t visited Universal Orlando yet, which USF attractions are you most excited about? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your questions and thoughts in the comments!
Perfect timing. We leave for Universal in five weeks. We opted for USF over Disney (huge Disney fan), simply because they seemed to offer less and charge more than in times past. I’m reading (again) Harry Potter 1 in preparation. I think the Wizarding World is on par with Galaxy’s Edge, and far superior to Pandora (although FOP is my favorite ride anywhere). Very excited to try the Hagrid ride, so I’m looking forward to your IOA review.
BTW, I’m a huge fan of yours and recommend your blog to anyone planning a trip. We did a Disney cruise in December 2019, with five days at WDW during Christmas week. We checked your blog every day for updates on Rise of the Resistance. Thanks to you, we got Boarding Group 59, and had a fantastic experience at HS on Christmas Eve.
Keep up the good work.
As great as Gringott’s is, I’ve got to put Revenge of the Mummy above it. A ride so good AmusementToday had to retire their “Best Indoor Rollercoaster” award because the Mummy won 10 years straight with no sign of a true competitor in sight.
Tom, I’m somewhat surprised by your Gringott’s review, as I found it to be an interesting concept, but a little dull in execution (queue excepted, as that was terrific). Just my opinion, of course! Thanks for the great commentary – I’m loving the increased Uni coverage!
You probably noticed that Fast ad Furious is THE EXACT SAME RIDE VEHICLE as Kong: Skull Island. Except used terribly. And Transformers is the same vehicle as Spider-Man. Again, in my opinion, used terribly. My entire take on Transformers could be summed up by the great Brick Tamland: “LOUD NOISES!”
I agree on Gringotts and Mummy being some of the best in the park. I haven’t been to USF since spring 2017, but it appears the only “great” addition since then is the Bourne show. And MIB is the only shooter ride that I ever beat by husband at, so it’s a favorite.
There’s lots I like about Universal, but I can only do so many screen-based/3D attractions per day before my sensitivity kicks in.
Tom! Despicable me and ET left me feeling underwhelmed and also wondering what all the hype is about. The Simpsons ride was also very disappointing and very outdated. I found it depressing. I’m surprised you rated these so high.
1. Hagrids (I actually prefer it over ROTR as far as thrill- ROTR was impressive in theme and scale but..)
2. Forbidden Journey
3. Rip ride rocket
4. Revenge of the mummy
5. Escape to Gringotts
6. The hulk
7. Skull Island
8. Spiderman
9. Transformers
10. Men in Black
I know everyone with motion sickness has a method for surviving theme parks, even if it’s just to avoid certain rides all together, but as someone who is affected really easily (Soarin’ gets to me if I don’t take medicine), I was really concerned about Universal and its reputation for being a screen heavy park. During an impromptu couple of hours at UO a couple years ago, I was shaking getting off Minions lol (on top of motion sickness I’m also terrified of heights and speed; it’s unclear why I go to theme parks).
Anyway, even though they make me drowsy, I take motion sickness meds like Dramamine. Armed with more confidence that I could survive that aspect of the rides, I was a little more daring with the screen rides on my last trip and found that if I forced myself to keep my eyes open for the first “drop” or fast scene, it usually helped orient me to the motion and I was able to relax and enjoy the ride. Like after being nervous on Minions a couple years ago, Simpsons is now one of my favorite rides haha (and for WDW comparison, I went from keeping my eyes open for maybe 5 seconds on Flight of Passage to now enjoying the entire ride).
All that is to say that if you can find a way to manage your motion sickness, a lot more is doable at UO. But for the other sickies out there, my experience has been that the rides on bigger vehicles with less exposure to the screens have felt less intense. F&F, King Kong, etc are actually pretty tame. Simpsons and Jimmy Fallon both have simulated rollercoasters, although Fallon has a lot less going on than the Simpsons. Simpsons is probably too much for anyone who gets sick easily and can’t take motion sickness meds.
And as a drop wimp (I went on Slinky Dog once and refuse to ever risk my life like that again), I read a million reviews before going on Gringott’s and kept seeing over and over how short the drop really is and it’s just anticipation that makes it feel bad. No. It’s not Splash Mountain, but it is a real drop and has more of that stomach feeling than Pirates. I loved the rest of the ride and it’s at the beginning, so I put up with what I consider those seconds of torture about once per trip, but people who don’t like drops should know it’s not a baby one.
Just a couple thoughts for anyone like me who is a 5-year-old in an adult’s body when it comes to rides.
Kimberly – you are my ride twin! I can’t believe someone who could create something as cute as a minion could turn around and create such a completely horrifying theme park experience! I too wondered what they would do with my dead body when Slinky Dog FINALLY came to a stop! Thanks for the tip on keeping your eyes open – I shut pretty much as soon as I sit. Dramamine is coming in practically in an IV but doesn’t seem to help much. Thanks for the laughs!
My problem is that I suffer from vertigo, not just motion sickness and it results from the crystals in my ears moving out of the right spot to the wrong spot. I have to do an Epley Maneuver to get them back in the right spot and it doesn’t always work when I do it. So I have to go to a Physical Therapist to get them to put those danged crystals back in the right spot.
I have to admit, Universal has been making strides to be top notch. I used to consider them a step above Six Flags and below Disney, kinda like an AAA baseball team. About 10-15 years ago, they seem to be trying to change their brand. Went first time in early 2000’s then several years later and could see a change but didn’t think I’d do anything but a day trip. Fast forward a few more years and we decided to do 4 days at WDW and 2 at Universal. I think this was right around when Harry Potter ride opened. It seems they are moving forth even more that our next trip south (was supposed to be this past Nov) which could be this fall or maybe a year from now that I think we’ll do a split trip again, maybe 3 days this time but we’ll see.
My family of four actually prefers Universal over Disney parks. The attractions are just more themed to appeal to an older crowd. While we have loved all of our times at Disney over the years, my sons are now teenagers and would prefer the thrill rides over Peter Pan, Slinky Dog Dash.
The biggest issue with Universal Studios is that some of the attractions are showing their age and thus the level of enjoyment has diminished. Shrek and Simpson’s ride just need to be replaced. MIB is need of some freshening up as well. The things that we like most about Universal Studios that DIsney doesn’t provide.
1) The food at City Walk is better than anything that you will find around the Disney theme parks, and being able to stroll out of the park and eat at Big Fire, NBC Grill etc…. is much more convenient to driving over to Disney Springs.
2) The availability of Single Rider lines and Express pass means that we basically don’t wait in lines at Universal Studios. With social distancing making lines long, the express has been a must purchase for us. Prior to pandemic changes, we used single rider lines and never saw more than a 20 minute wait in any attraction. Once WDW ended the paper fast pass program, we essentially quit going to the Disney parks. The crowds got to large and we found that a day at DIsney become nothing more than, three fastpass rides plus two or three others that always had short standby. Flight of Passage for example was an attraction that we didn’t experience until it had been open for four or five years simply because if you didn’t have a fastpass to weren’t going to get on the ride.
Thanks Tom! My son and I have not been to US/IOA since 2012 and my hubs and daughter have never been. We are booking for May as a Graduation trip for my son. My hubs is a big scary cat when it comes to rides and heights and drops. He was angry with me last year about the drop on Pirates of the Caribbean at DL. I tried to argue the fact they don’t even have seat belts! All that said, this post was super helpful! Any drops on Gringotts? I am trying to plan what him and our daughter will be able to ride. She is 5 and understandably apprehensive about rides. lol
If he doesn’t like the drop in PotC, he definitely won’t like any of the Harry Potter rides except the train.
I’m first and foremost a Disney fanboy – shareholder, been to every single park around the world, etc. But can we just call a spade a spade? Universal is OWNING Disney in the covid era. I went in August and there was no comparison. Universal has more entertainment, more dining options, and overall is just more normal in these very abnormal times. Some may say Disney has a bigger spotlight on them, and therefore must be more “cautious” with their reopening. I would argue that the spotlight behooves Disney to step up and LEAD. Which they are most certainly not doing.
“But can we just call a spade a spade? Universal is OWNING Disney in the covid era.”
We’ve said this in pretty much all of our Universal park updates since last fall. The only reason it’s not mentioned here is because this post is intended to be evergreen.
Great article Tom! Have you also done a ride review/Disney comparison article one like this for IoA? Would love to read that, too!
Not yet–coming in the very near future!
How near? 😉 We leave in 20 days for Universal. We’ve done Disney countless times, but this will be our first trip to Universal.
While waiting you may want to check out Tom and Sarah’s ranking all the rides and shows at WDW from worst to best. It’s a fun read. I printed it out and reread it every trip to WDW or when I need to shake up some memories. Be forewarned he ranks one of these a bit higher than the average bear would. Perhaps I’m not good looking enough? I believe this is the link https://www.disneytouristblog.com/ride-rankings-disney-world/
Thank you for this. We’re a Disney family, so we don’t do Universal Studios. But with all the changes Disney’s been making, they’re offering less & less, but charging more. Getting rid of the Magical Express was the final straw for us. I was thinking of trying Universal next year instead, but we’re not Harry Potter fans. And it seemed liked Universal was pretty much nothing but HP. Thanks for showing there’s more to Universal than just Harry Potter.
I’m not a Harry Potter fan and I very much enjoy Universal. It definitely helps if you like a few of the Universal IPs, though! 🙂
Also I would add unless you actively dislike Harry Potter (like it makes you upset to think about), you will enjoy the lands. The theming is so well done that even if you have zero context you can appreciate how much effort and design went into the various lands and their attractions. (Kind of like how you can enjoy Pandora at Disney World even if you aren’t familiar with the Avatar movie.)
I would have described myself the same way two years ago, but my girls started getting into Harry Potter so we decided to give Universal a chance. It is wonderful! I am not a huge Harry Potter fan, but the attractions are amazing. Just really, really, really good. Hagrid’s is the best coaster I have ever been on, and Diagon Alley is mind-blowing. The Universal hotels are also better than Disney. We ended up buying an annual pass, and the passholder rates are so cheap. We stayed in the two room suite at the new Endless Summer Dockside resort for $119 a night. A similar room at Disney would have been three times that.
I like that instead of just cutting everything, Universal has figured out a way to make things work. We visited in November and March, and they have found ways to have parades without parades, and they have kept the entertainment going in creative ways.
The last two or three times that I rode SHREK. . . it seemed broken. The image was so fuzzy and there seemed to be multiple faint images moving along side the real image. I was disappointed each time. I remember when the 3D was crisp and eyepopping. Are they ever going to fix it? It is like the polarization of the projector is off. Anyone else see have the same experience?
My guess is that Shrek’s days are numbered and it’ll never receive any significant upgrades. I haven’t done it since reopening (and have no plans to ever do it again) but it was like that the last time I did it, too.
Simpsons is HORRIBLE!
I get motion sick but I can do Minons (feel it a little), Star Tours, pretty much any of them.
I did Simpsons and they MUST have LOTS of issues because a voice came over and said are you OK and I had to say NO. They stopped it (I believe only our car) and we got off. The rest of the family said they hated it so much they have never gone back either.
I was sorry as I like the Simpsons and was hoping I could enjoy it just like Minions, etc.
Fast and Furious is HORRIBLE (1/10). Not interesting, not exciting. King Kong is SOOOO much better for at IOA!!! Literally the queue for Fast and Furious was more interesting to all of us than the ride. We won’t waste our time this next trip. So sad since it is a new ride but the whole story line is just so lame and the videos boring!!!
Transformers is fine. We ride it but Spiderman is MUCH better. Same ride idea but Transformers is all over the map and hard to follow the story. I would say (7/10)
You are right on with Men in Black. Some of my family says it makes them motion sick from the spinning but I do it multiple times in a row. It IS the best shooting ride in Orlando and we love Toy Story Mania.
I really wanted to see Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration last trip. Partway through the family was pulling me away to go get dinner. We love World of Color but this show the music was uninspiring and the videos were not as clear.
Thanks for sharing your ratings and reviews on the various attractions at Universal Studios Florida. Always good to get differing opinions! 🙂
Great job using the WDW comparison in order to enhance your blog. It gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for this guide. It also makes me more likely to try Universal and see for myself. Without your comparison I don’t finish reading the whole article. Smart!
You’re welcome, glad that helped. Some attractions are difficult to compare, but hopefully this gave you a rough idea of what to expect.
How does Animal Actors on Location! compare to the show at Sea World?
I’ve never seen the show at SeaWorld–sorry! Hopefully someone else can help with that comparison.
We went to an animal show at Sea World several years ago and it was good. But the funniest part was when the guy playing the guitar wanted everyone to sing along with his song. He played “Brown-eyed Girl” and nobody knew the words. It was hilarious and the best part of the show. He was really surprised that no one knew the words, other than “brown-eyed girl” in the entire song. I think that was the most memorable thing about the entire day at Sea World
My opinion: we really didn’t care for Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts. I guess compared to the other Harry Potter ride, this one was too quick. It seemed like you got on and then it was over. It was fun. I would give it 7/10 just because I love Harry Potter. The Make Ups show was a shocker to us too. We didn’t think it would be that good but it was. I liked Shrek but I have to say if Muppets had those kinds of seats, it may make it more fun. I think Shrek is more playful 5/10.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reviews!
I don’t know anyone else who prefers Gringotts, especially hardcore Harry Potter fans, so my opinion is definitely in the minority on that one. It’s totally personal preference–I prefer the more plot-driven nature and think it does a better job of mixing up the tech/effects.
Thank you so very much, Tom. I also like how you compared these attractions to WDW attractions and I can take it from there with my motion sickness. If we ever get to Universal, I’ll print this out and take it with me.
I really like the way you tied everything back to a Disney ride, makes it very easy to follow and provides a great frame of reference. Thanks for paying particular attention to motion sickness.