13 Can’t Miss Rides & Attractions at Universal Studios Orlando

A trip to Universal Studios typically goes hand in hand with a Walt Disney World vacation for many tourists. It makes sense to visit both parks after paying for a pricey flight and hotel. While both parks are completely different, they are alike in that they both offer world-class themed rides, entertaining shows, and top notch resorts. In my opinion, Universal is the better park especially for movie buffs. I often plan my vacation here and skip Disney, especially during the hot summer season (this park has the better water rides for sure !). Plus, I love all the coasters, the creative queues, the movie nostalgia, and the amazing Harry Potter recreation.

If you are squeezing both theme parks into one trip, I recommend at least 2 days at Universal as there is so much to do. For those limited to just one day, definitely purchase a multi day park-to-park pass. It will be nearly impossible to get on all the rides and see all the shows in a single visit (especially if you visit during the busy summer season). Plus, you need the park-to-park ticket to take the wonderful Hogwarts Express train ride (which actually saves you some walking time). Update: With the new Epic Universe which just opened in May of 2025, there is even more reason to book a longer trip.

Here is my guide to my most recommended rides and experiences within both parks. I don’t necessarily like one park better than the other, although I’ll say that Universal has the best movie themed rides and I like Diagon better than Hogsmeade. Islands has the better coasters, water rides, and the amazing new Hagrid coaster. Take a look at the winners and be sure to incorporate at least a few into your trip plans!

1. Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley, part of the extravagant, Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a must-see for Harry Potter fans: the only place in the world where you will feel as if you are really in the films. I visited Diagon right after it opened back in 2014 and with each new trip, I find something interesting that I overlooked the first time around. It never gets old and I am just as fascinated as I was on my first trip.

The films are brought to life in a magical & creative way with all your favorite shops, treats, and characters from the franchise making appearances. Even if you are not a “Potterhead,” you have to admit that they did an excellent job designing this park. The excitement of Harry Potter fanatics is in the air and you cannot help but join in! You will see guests wearing full robes (I don’t know how they do it in the heat) and casting spells with their interactive wands. I now own 5 wands myself (Ron, Harry, Snape, Dumbledore, and Luna) and even bought a beautiful holder.

The highlight here is the “invisible to muggles” London shopping district, featuring a handful of shops recognizable from the movies. Rides include:

• The Hogwarts Express (depart King’s Cross station for Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure)
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (a fun themed 3D/roller coaster ride with a fun queque through the Wizarding bank with realistic looking goblins.

As you walk around the Diagon Alley shops, you will be transformed into the world of Harry Potter. I am taken right into the movies as I look for wands in Ollivanders, sip a refreshing Butterbeer, and purchase a Chocolate Frog for the ride on the Hogwarts Express.

My favorie shops

Ollivander’s Wand Shop: Pick out your own wand! A must for any true Harry Potter fan!

Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes: Pick up joke gifts including Sneakoscopes and Extendable Ears.

Magical Menagerie: Shop for stuffed animals featured in the films, from owls to hippogriffs.

Madam Malik’s Robes for All Occasions: Here’s your chance to get your own wizard robe. Also available: Mrs. Weasley’s adorable Christmas sweaters.

Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment: Shop for all different sorts of magical wizard products such as crystal balls and hourglasses.

Quality Quidditch Supplies: Pick up all your Quidditch supplies and stock up on apparel from your favorite team.

Borgin and Burkes: Head down dark, creepy Knockturn Alley to stock up on your Death Eaters novelty items like skulls and other dark gifts. This creepy alley appears just as it does in the movie with an overall sinister feel and cool special effects including a dark, stormy sky.

Watch out for the dragon on top of Gringotts which blows hot air on you as you pass by.

If you need a bite, you can stop at the Leaky Cauldron for fish and chips and treat yourself to a frosty butterbeer or butterbeer ice cream for dessert at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour.

The cobblestone streets, friendly decked out staff, and general enthusiasm of the crowds adds to the excitement! The combination of great movie themed rides, gifts, special effects, and treats easily make this my number one experience at either parks.

2. The Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands)

One of my favorite coasters in Orlando is still The Incredible Hulk Coaster even though I’ve been riding this one since my first trip over 15 years ago. One of the coolest aspects of this ride is the intense take off. It’s an exhilarating experience as the speed increases from 0 to 40 mph in just 2 seconds! The Hulk zooms on to a heart pounding speed of 67 mph as you travel through 7 inversions and 2 underground tunnels filled with mist.

I make sure to get on it at least once on every visit and sometimes I hop in line again depending on the crowd levels. Fortunately, the line has been relatively short in recent years as visitors head over to the newer attractions. This ride is so fast that you barely have time to anticipate the scary corkscrews, loops, and drops. It’s over before you know it and then you are back in line ready to experience it all over again!

3. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands)

Jurassic Park may be one of the park’s older rides (it opened back in 1999), however, that doesn’t mean it lacks at all in the excitement department! I love the movie theme, the iconic theme song playing as you wait in line, and the much needed cool down. As you make your way around Isla Nublar, you will be surrounded by realistic dinosaurs. The big thrill comes with the unexpected 85 foot drop at the end. You will definitely get soaked on this one and that’s a good thing when the temps are 95 and super humid! This easily makes my list of best water rides.

4. E.T. Adventure

E.T., which opened way back in 1990, is one of Universal’s first rides (the park opened in 1989). Don’t listen to the naysayers who consider this to be an outdated ride. It’s so cute and nostalgic especially for those of us who grew up in the heyday of Spielberg’s big blockbusters.

With all the new dizzying motion simulators rides, this ride is a nice relaxing break with one of the best queues through a cool redwood forest. Take advantage of the shorter wait time as many tourists skip right pass it in favor of newer attractions. It’s so dark and cool inside for a much needed break from the sun and heat. It’s one of the park’s most iconic rides and I end almost every trip with a relaxing bike ride through the night sky.

I really love the set design especially the portion where you bike across the starry sky: it really feels as if you are riding a bike across the moon. Oh, and the gift shop here is fantastic! So many adorable stuffed E.T.’s! Update: I finally caved in and bought one of the adorable E.T. red hooded sweatshirt stuffs.

5. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (Islands)

Islands of Adventure best group water park ride (it holds 12) is sure to leave you absolutely soaked. I’ve seen similar rides at other theme parks but the theme here is really cute. It’s a treat during the brutal summer season. This is the ride to go on after several hours walking around in the sun and sweating in hot, overcrowded lines. This refreshing circular raft ride offers more than enough opportunities for getting wet. Everyone in your party will get totally soaked on this one!

You will twist, turn, and experience small drops as if you are on a whitewater rafting adventure (although a tad less intense, of course). A must for anyone who doesn’t mind walking around the park wet for the next few hours. The best aspect of this ride is that your whole group can enjoy it together! And even if it’s busy, the line moves pretty fast as they have multiple rafts going which hold a lot of people.

6. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands)

At Hogsmeade, you will find the first addition to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, still as popular as ever. Since The Forbidden Journey opened in 2010, tourists have raved about this creative, intense ride. It’s one of the first rides I went on after this section of the park opened and still one of my favorites! This unique simulator ride takes you through several areas of Hogwarts, including an exciting section through a quidditch match. The ride is fast paced and intense. Fortunately, it will not make you overly dizzy with a headache like most of the other motion simulators. Mike gets major motion sickness but he can usually handle this one.

The combination of a large IMAX screen, animatronics, special effects, and robotic arms on the seats results in a fantastic, entertaining thrill ride that is sure to please all fans. You will twist and turn in every direction possible as you travel to each of the classrooms and follow Harry on his broomstick. Here’s your chance to get as close as possible to the feeling of riding a broomstick. How cool is that?!

What’s more – you will enjoy guest appearances from most of the main characters you have loved throughout the years, as well as those who gave you nightmares (love the spider and dragon effects!). This is a ride you need to venture on at least twice to take it all in. The ride is so fast you barely have a chance to absorb what is going on, however, that’s part of the fun!

The best part of the ride is the queue through Hogwarts Castle. Some of the wait is outside, but the majority of the line travels through the cool, dark castle which is nice on hot, sunny days. Fortunately, the line is not nearly as long today as it used to be. I remember waiting outside for hours when this ride first opened. Today, I sometimes get through the line in less than a half hour.

I would say this is the best queue I’ve ever seen. Movie sites include: Dumbledore’s Office, the Gryffindor Common Room, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Special effects including appearances by Dumbledore, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and the sorting hat, falling snow, and talking portraits, make you feel as if you are truly walking inside Hogwarts.

7. Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Islands)

Don’t let Ripsaw Falls location in Toon Lagoon area fool you into thinking this is just a kiddie ride. Quite contrary, this exciting water raft ride is entertaining for the whole family. The theme is super cute and colorful too: it’s based on the Dudley Do Right’s cartoons of the late 60’s.

I like this ride so much so that I usually ride it at least twice depending on the line and weather conditions. You will make your way along several turns and a few small drops before arriving at the final 75 foot tall double drop. A bit scary for a water ride, but so much fun! The waiting line is seriously hot and humid which makes the refreshing final drop (where you will get totally soaked) even more exciting.

On a side note, the seats are really small. Mike is 6’4″ and only rode this once as it was an incredibly uncomfortable squeeze. Not the best ride for tall people – definitely check out Popeye and Bluto’s instead!

8. Men in Black: Alien Attack

While I am not a huge fan of the MIB movies, Alien Attack is one of my favorite rides. It’s one of the few which I make a point to go on at least twice. Your whole party will have a blast competing with each other to see who can zap the most aliens! This ride feels like a blast to the past, back to the good old days of arcades! Great special effects and tons of spinning add to the excitement! The queue is pretty cool too (and nicely air conditioned) and the line moves pretty fast.

9. Hogsmeade (Islands)

While Universal is home to the newest section of The Wizarding World (Diagon Alley), Islands of Adventure is home to Hogsmeade, the original Harry Potter attraction. This section of the park opened in 2010. I’ve been visiting since then, and it’s fun to come back and see all the changes over the years including the addition of one of Orlando’s best coasters.

This section includes 3 great rides: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and Flight of the Hippogriff.

My favorite shops:

Honeydukes: Browse floor-to-ceiling collections of treats, including Chocolate Frogs & Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

Dervish + Banges: A great place to shop for themed merchandised based on your favorite house (mugs, clothing, wands, brooms, they have everything!)

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods: After your ride on The Forbidden Journey, you will be brought into this large shop filled with everything Harry Potter, with souvenirs ranging from a sorting hat snowglobe, to a Marauders Map. Lots of Hogwarts themed souvenirs such as t-shirts, mugs, picture frames, keychains, etc. This is the perfect place to stock up for early Christmas gifts!

Be sure to check out the Hogwart Houses Quidditch chess set up front by the register. I would totally buy this if I had $400 to spare.

The Owl Post: Send out a letter or postcard with an official Hogsmeade stamp.

Every detail from the snow-capped mountains to the design of the shops and pubs is just perfect. As you meander the snowy village, you can browse in festive shop windows (complete with special effects and movie props) and purchase ButterBeer in a souvenir glass. It’s a magical experience for Harry Potter fans: it’s even better than you imagined!

At Three Broomsticks, you can enjoy comfort food like Shepherd’s Pie and Rotisserie Chicken in a fun themed setting. Lots of fun drinks like butterbeer, themed beer, gillywater, pumpkin fizz and juice are available.

10. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands)

A new feature is seemingly added to The Wizarding World every year or 2, which is not a bad thing for all the Harry Potter fanatics out there! I love looking forward to something new and exciting with each trip. The newest addition to Islands theme park is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.

As expected, the wait for this hot ride can be very lengthy (at times, several hours!). This is one to get to right at park opening if you are using the special admission perk from your resort. On my last vacation, my group got to this ride right at opening (with early admission) and we still waited over an hour and a half. I guess that is better than our initial 4+ hour wait when this ride first opened. Seriously, it’s worth the wait though!

This fast coaster of up to 50 mph takes you through the Forbidden Forest with lots of surprises along the way. This is one fun rollercoaster which includes so many unexpected twists, turns, & drops. This ride features the most launches in the world at 7, and it’s also the first coaster to feature at free fall vertical drop (17ft). The outdoor queue takes you past Hagrid’s Hut and inside through a Care of Magical Creatures class so you will have some stuff to look at while you wait. Half of the line is in the direct sunlights, so be prepared!

Here is a view of the ride seat which is pretty cool. Note: this is a photo opp in Diagon Alley. You can choose the motorcycle or the side car. I like the motorcycle better – just don’t press down the bar too much (my thigh was killing me afterwards!). The seats are a bit small so it isn’t the best ride for bigger or taller people. Mike, at 6’4″ prefers the motorcycle which offers a bit more room but still is a tight fit.

11. Skull Island: Reign of King Kong (Islands)

This ride replaces Hollywood Rip Ride Rock It on my list which was a super awesome ride that sadly closed in summer of 2025. Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to replace it sometime in 2027. It will include a 170 foot vertical spike so it sounds pretty intense (I can’t wait to check it out). But back to Kong, this is a pretty intense ride as well and I love the themed queue.

You’ll board the vehicle and journey into cave ruins and the jungle until being surrounded by predators like Vastatosaurus Rex and Kong on all sides. The 4D special effects are pretty cool. According to the Universal website, this is the first ride that operates on a trackless system.

12. Hogwarts Express (Universal & Islands)

The Hogwarts Express is a convenient means of transportation between the theme parks. It’s nice because you no longer have to walk the far distance between the 2 parks. And thus, you can save precious time – every little bit counts! They really did a perfect job recreating this one (seriously, it is as good as it gets). I love the movie character appearances and fun special effects along the way. The views of the British countryside from the train’s digital windows are peaceful and realistic, making you believe you are really traveling to London.

Grab a chocolate frog at Honeydukes and board at either of the 2 stations: Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure or King’s Cross station at Universal Studios. Be sure to take advantage of all the iconic photo opportunities: take your picture by the Hogwarts Express, the Knight Bus, and Platform 9 3/4. Also be on the lookout for a clever mirror trick at King’s Cross which makes it appear as if you are disappearing through a wall to the platform!

13. Revenge of the Mummy

The Mummy is a fun, special effects loaded roller-coaster based on the popular movie franchise which begun in the late 90’s. When I first started visiting the parks, I had never seen the films. I finally watched the movies and the ride was even more exciting. As you travel through the dark, you will encounter some scary surprises courtesy of awesome special effects (beetles, mummies, and fireballs). This is a a great ride for everyone in the family as there are no inversions.

It’s less intense than the roller-coasters at Islands, however, with the added bonus of extreme attention to detail, awesome special effects, and the uniqueness and excitement of traveling through the dark. The queue is pretty dark and creepy too which is an added bonus. In addition, there is a great Mummy themed gift shop to browse for gifts for yourself or anyone you know who likes the movies.

Honorable mentions

Horror Makeup Show (Universal): I passed this show about 10 times on various visits before finally checking it out. Talented makeup artists will show you some tricks as to how they make horror special effects look so realistic. The live demonstrations with audience members is a blast! It’s funny and creative and great education for horror buffs. I love the gift shop where you can pick up all sorts of horror collectibles.

Blues Brothers Show: I love the movie and I loved this show. Get ready for some soulful music on the streets of NYC. This one is definitely worth making time for – the whole crowd gets into it and the music is great! As a bonus, there is a great pizza shop called Louie’s in the are serving giant NY slices of pie.

Check out my show guide for more details.

The Simpsons: This motion simulator ride is incredible your first time, particularly for fans of the show. Yes, it loses a bit of its’ luster the second time as the thrills become predictable. This one jams you around a lot so avoid at all costs if you are prone to motion sickness.

Update: I visited the new Epic Park in June of 2025. You can read more about my experience. The park is definitely number 3 for me and honestly I would skip it over the other 2 if you are limited on time. That being said, I recommend adding the Ministry of Magic ride to your bucket list if you love Harry Potter (it’s the weakest of the 5 HP rides with a major wait, although still pretty cool). Frankenstein: The Experiment features the best tech in the park and Stardust Racer is an incredible new coaster.

Ride tips and info

Wear a lanyard (you can store your early admission pass & park ticket) and easily scan your pass to open the lockers and access the Hogwarts Express as opposed to scanning your phone each time.

Stay at a on-site resort to get hour early admission. Several Harry Potter rides are usually open (it changes throughout the year). I recommend Cabana Bay for the fun retro theme, great pools, and budget price tag.

*Download Universal’s free Wait Times App. This convenient app allows you to check ride wait times throughout the day. More rides = better bang for your buck!

Ride as a single rider if you don’t mind splitting up with your party. The wait is often half the time. You get to stand with your party until the end, and occasionally I still get on with my party anyways. We did this at the end of the day (after many hours long delays) for the new Ministry ride and got on in under 2 hours.

Rides to avoid with motion sickness: Simpsons, Spiderman, The Hulk, Minions, & Jimmy Fallon.

The best queues: E.T., Fast & Furious, King Kong, Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Men in Black.

Worse queues in the afternoon heat: The Hulk, Hagrid’s, The Simpsons.

I recommend skipping these if you are short on time: Dr. Doom’s Fearfall, Spiderman, Despicable Me, Transformers 3D, Jimmy Fallon.

Plan your trip during September to get on more rides (the least busy time at the park).

Stay at an on-site resort (Cabana Bay excluded) for free Express passes.

Save water rides for the heat of the afternoon.

Pack a poncho if you don’t want to get wet on the water rides. They are super pricey at the park.

Pack snacks in your backpack. Something to munch on during long wait times is nice.

Get to the park early and stay late. Get on as many rides as possible during the early and late hours when lines are at their slowest. I love getting on favorites again at night when the crowds begin to thin out.

General tips for a stress-free day!

*Bring your own lunch so you do not have to waste time waiting in restaurant lines (most require long waits especially in The Wizarding World). If you would rather not fuss with bringing food into the park, I highly recommend grabbing a slice of pizza at Louie’s Italian located in the NYC section of Universal or enjoying a frosty butterbeer and some snacks and then planning a bigger dinner later.

*Bring with a backpack with snacks and water. You will save yourself some valuable time. Most rides have free lockers available, so there is no need to worry about where you will put it during rides!

*Fill up your bottle for free as needed at Coke Freestyle stations.

*Make a reservation for lunch at Mythos, located inside Islands of Adventure, and frequently rated the best theme park restaurant. The cave interior is really good and their pad thai is fantastic.

*Save CityWalk restaurants until nighttime. Don’t waste your day at the park walking all the way over to CityWalk as this could easily eat up hours of your precious time. Bring your own lunch, treat yourself to an ice cream or butterbeer, and splurge on dinner later. I recommend Hard Rock Cafe, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, or Vivo Italian restaurant. Take a look at my Citywalk guide for more details.

*Check for special ticket deals on Universal’s website. Also, buy tickets in advance for cheaper rates. Keep in mind that the more days you buy, the better the value. The 3 day park-to-park is a great value.

*Don’t plan your vacation around busy holiday weeks.

*Wear gym shoes! You will be doing miles and miles of walking. My Fitbit records 25,000-30,000 steps per day!

*Wear workout clothes or any other type of apparel that dries easily. Although the water rides are great during the hot afternoon hours, it can get really cold walking around the air conditioned shops later if your clothes are still damp! Note: there are air dryers throughout the park, although they are not free.

*Contact lens wearer: bring with your glasses in your backpack. You never know if your eyes will start to bother you later in the day, or possibly get lost on one of the water rides.

*I eat a full breakfast before getting on the shuttle to the parks. This holds me over for a while, so I don’t have to waste time looking for something to eat at the park.

Check out more of my best tips for a smooth park experience