🎢 Ranking Universal Studios’ Roller Coasters
- Sam Mader
- Apr 19
- 5 min read
Let’s talk loops, launches, and laughs—here’s your ultimate Universal Orlando coaster showdown!
Hi, I’m Sam and you should know–I’m a roller coaster fanatic. As a kid, I collected coaster books, memorized the top rides in the world, and obsessed over how they worked. I even dreamed of becoming an engineer to design roller coasters (and yep, I did become an engineer—but no coasters on the résumé... yet!). I was even a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts for a few years. While getting older may have slowed my ability to ride coasters back-to-back, my love for a good thrill is as strong as ever.
Universal Orlando has a fantastic mix of roller coasters for every age and thrill level—and yes, I’ve ridden them all (except one). People always ask me, “What’s the best coaster?” Truth is, it depends on what you’re into: Power and speed? Story and theming? Kid-friendly fun?
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So let’s break it down! First up, some category winners… then my personal ranking of all 12 Universal coasters, from my least favorite to the most epic.
🏆 Best Universal Coasters by Category
🧒 Best Kid-Friendly Coasters
🏆 Tie: Flight of the Hippogriff (Islands of Adventure) & Trolls Trollercoaster (Universal Studios) - For the little thrill-seekers, both these rides are perfect—they’re short, sweet, and come with the shortest height requirement (36”).
🎭 Best Themed Coasters
🏆 Tie: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure & Hiccup’s Wing Gliders These aren’t just coasters—they’re full-on experiences.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures (Islands of Adventure): A must-do both day and night. Expect surprises like sudden drops, falling backwards, magical creatures, and one of the best queues in the parks. Pro tip: Ride the motorbike side if you can! Make sure you check out our Ultimate Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for more tips on maximizing your visit to this area.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (Epic Universe): Think Hagrid’s energy, Berk edition. Fly through dragon training and hatching grounds with Hiccup as your guide, and don’t miss the Toothless animatronic!
⚡ Best Thrill Coaster
🏆 Toss-up: Velocicoaster vs. Stardust Racers Both are adrenaline machines with smooth tracks and stunning visuals. Velocicoaster wins points for the iconic barrel roll over water. Stardust Racers brings synchronized dueling madness. You can’t go wrong with either and I highly suggest trying both!
P.S. We know it hasn't opened to the public yet, but we're obsessed with Epic Universe! Read more about it here!
📊 Full Ranking: Universal Coasters, Least to Most Favorite
No matter what kind of coaster fan you are, Universal Studios has something extraordinary to offer. Here’s my personal countdown of all 12 Universal Studios coasters, from the ones that would have thrilled me as a kid to heart pounding thrills.
12- Flight of Hippogriff
Great for kids and Hogwarts views. The only memorable thing in my mind is the Hippogriff animatronic. Height restriction is 36”.
11- Trolls Trollercoaster
Same idea as Hippogriff, but with Trolls. Slight edge because it fits perfectly in the Dreamworks kids zone and it is newer. Caveat: It is a tight fit for us taller folks (I am 6’1”). Height restriction is 36”.
10- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
This is closing in September, but still belongs on the list for now. It is iconic for its vertical climb and the ability to select your song to enjoy. Sadly, the ride seems rougher these days and the song playlist is no longer impressive. It will be sad to see this go, but excited to see what will take its place. Height restriction is 51”.
9- Incredible Hulk
The launch from the tunnel is unforgettable. My first ride on Incredible Hulk was in 2019 and we were the first ride of the day so we had no idea you went shooting out of the tunnel and we still talk about it. This is a great coaster but rougher than the newer rides. RIP to my brother’s phone that fell into the water, which can no longer happen thanks to metal detectors. Height restriction is 54”.
8- Curse of the Werewolf
New family friendly coaster at Epic Universe! Spinning cars make each ride unique, but not ideal if you’re anti-spin. It is hard to see the werewolf animatronic during the day and you can miss it completely if you are faced in the wrong direction. Height restriction is 40”.
7- Revenge of the Mummy
How can you not like Revenge of the Mummy? Fast, indoor, fire effects, cockroaches, mummies…what more do you need? Also, don’t mess with Brendan Fraiser and make sure he gets his cup of coffee. To me, this is a classic and a must ride every time I visit the parks. Height restriction is 48”.
6- Mine-Cart Madness
Haven’t ridden this yet since it was closed while I was at previews, but this is where I think it will land based on feedback. My friend said it is a lot of fun, but also called it the whiplash coaster. The theming is great and you actually jump the track at least once! Height restriction is 40”.
5- Harry Potter and Escape from Gringotts
3D meets coaster in all the right ways. The queue is insane so take your time (and don’t forget your phone). This is a perfect blend of story and thill, especially for those Harry Potter fans. Height restriction is 42”.
4- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
I adore this ride at Epic Universe. Hiccup’s storytelling brings the ride to life as you soar over the water and take in the dragon tower and hatching grounds. Plus starting the ride with Toothless is priceless. Don’t forget to take in the dragon facts while waiting in line. Height restriction is 40”.
3- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures
One of my favorites (which shows you have good 1 and 2 on the list are). Universal knocked it out of the park with this. Epic theming, incredible surprises, and the mayhem you have come to expect with Hagrid. This is truly a great ride that you will want to try during the day and at night. Height restriction is 48”.
2- Stardust Racers
I believe this is the best dueling coaster in the world. Perfect synchronization with launches, flips, speed, and power make it feel like the trains are playing with each other. Both tracks are great although consensus says the green track is a little crazier. Extra points for the flux capacitors at the back. If you are looking for speed and power, this will be your #1. Height restriction is 48”.
1- Velocicoaster
After much thought, Velocicoaster takes the crown for me! The barrel roll over water, raptor theming, and high-speed thrills make it my #1. It’s sleek, smooth, and just so satisfying. Height restriction is 51”.
So… what do you think?
Did I rank your favorite too low—or just right? Drop your coaster hot takes in the comments below, and let’s ride this debate out! 🙌🎢