A trip to Orlando wouldn’t be complete without visiting Universal Studios, home to the best movie themed rides & attractions in the world. Islands of Adventure is great for thrill seekers who love roller coasters and water rides!
In addition to great movie themed rides, Universal is also home to City Walk, an entertainment destination like no other featuring themed restaurants such as the Hard Rock Café and Margaritaville, live shows such as Blue Man Group, and several nightclubs.
This 4D ride, which simulates being on a rollercoaster really feels like a genuine experience. Any Simpsons fans out there, I highly recommend making room for this thrilling adventure featuring all your favorite characters.
Check out this location at:
Universal Studios - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
This fun themed roller coaster features plenty of inversions and super fast speeds of 67mph. Lots of twist and turns make this coaster worth the lengthy wait! Tip: Wait for the front seat for an extra intense ride!
Check out this location at:
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure – 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
This extremely fun water log flume ride with an exciting double drop and plenty of twists and turns is definitely one of Universal's best rides. A thrilling ride, which also doubles at the ultimate cool down, Dudley's comes in as Universal's most underrated ride experience!
Check out this location at:
Islands of Adventure – 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
This massive addition to Universal includes lifelike replicas of Diagon Alley (found at Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (found at Islands of Adventure). You can do almost anything Harry Potter related here, from sipping a butterbeer, to purchasing your own interactive wand, to sending out a letter with an official Hogsmeade stamp at the Owl Post.
The Hogwarts Express provides a new convenient mode of transportation between the two parks. Although you could spend all day exploring the shops, treats, and themed restaurants within both parks, don't forget about the rides!
3 great Harry Potter themed rides, the Forbidden Journey (a ride through the castle at Islands) and Escape to Gringotts (a thrilling 3D ride through Gringotts Bank at Universal), and Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure (a fun themed coaster) are must-dos even though it might cost you a few hours in a hot waiting line.
Check out this location at:
Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios – 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Another thrilling water ride to check out at Islands of Adventure is the thrilling whitewater adventure aboard Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges. Featuring thrilling drops, turns, & waterfalls, you are sure to get drenched and cool down (at least for a few hours!).
Check out this location at:
Islands of Adventure - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Jurassic Park: The Ride is a thrilling water ride featuring lush landscaping, animatronic dinosaurs, and an intense unexpected 80 foot drop in the dark.
Check out this location at:
Islands of Adventure - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
This fun & fast rollercoaster travels through complete darkness and features scary special effects such as realistic looking beetles and fireballs. An absolute blast!
Check out this location at:
Universal Studios - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Enjoy a thrilling coaster ride like no other as you travel up 17 stories on a straight vertical lift, before proceeding on to multiple inversions and loops on a thrilling 65mph ride, complete with a song from a genre of your own choosing. This ride is not only Orlando's tallest coaster, but also features the world's only non inverting loop!
Check out this location at:
Universal Studios - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
It's an oldie, but a goodie. The classic E.T. ride almost never has a long wait anymore due to the popularity of the new Harry Potter park. Fans of the classic Spielberg hit must check out this cute adventure through an island of E.T.s. As you soar through the starry night skies, you'll soon arrive on E.T.'s home planet.
Check out this location at:
Universal Studios - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
CityWalk is the perfect place to stroll around after a long day at the park. Themed restaurants, shops, bars, movie theaters, mini golf - you can treat yourself to a wide range of fun activities, thereby giving your feet a much needed break!
Hard Rock Orlando is my favorite Hard Rock location out of the 10+ I have visited. It is located right in the middle of Universal City Walk and makes for the perfect end to an exhausting day at the park. A really fun atmosphere, friendly upbeat servers, great memorabilia and music, and a touristy setting make this location extra special!
Check out this location at:
Universal City Walk Orlando - 6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
