5 Best Rides at Universal Studios Florida (& 2 Worst)

Leah

July 8, 2025

et adventure at universal studios florida

If you are planning a visit to Universal Orlando you need to know about the best rides at Universal Studios Florida. These are the rides and attractions you should include in your day. In this post I am sharing my top Universal Studios Florida rides and 2 of the ones you may want to skip.

The best rides at Universal Studios Florida will really depend on personal preference but I think we can all agree a good theme can make a ride great. I like a mix of storytelling and mild thrills so this list will have a mix of both.

Rides that make my list are the most popular, tend to have the longest wait times, and offer a fun guests experience. My picks range from big thrills to nostalgic attractions and even include a show at the parks.

Let’s dive into the best Universal Studios Florida rides that we always include in our trip to the park. If you are planning a day at Islands of Adventure be sure to come back and read this: 5 Best Rides at Universal Islands of Adventure (and 1 Worst)

Best Rides at Universal Studios Florida

After visiting the Universal Parks as a family of five for over a decade, these are our top picks for rides at Universal.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

From start to finish Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts tells a story and is immersive and fun. The queue is stunning. Even if you don’t ride you should ask to walk through Gringotts Bank. It is one of the most impressive queue I have ever seen.

Once on the ride you will board a ride vehicle and wear 3D glasses. This is a screen based mild thrill roller coaster that is so much fun. After riding make sure you explore Diagon Alley, it is one of my favorite places to walk around at the park.

queue for escape from gringotts at universal studios

Revenge of the Mummy

Revenge of the Mummy has been at the park for over 20 years and it has undergone track refurbishments this thrilling indoor coaster has stood the test of time. This is a great ride you don’t want to miss.

the mummy at universal studios

E.T. Adventure

I love E.T. Adventure. This is a dark ride that has guests saving E.T. to bring him home. I will be the first to admit that this may not be for everyone but the nostalgia is what makes us ride it each and every visit.

Guests board a bicycle and travel to E.T.’s home planet. It is odd and right out of the 1980s but this original Universal attraction is a must when you visit the park.

ride entrance et

The Bourne Stuntacular

There are a lot of great shows at Universal and I am including The Bourne Stuntacular in this list because even though it is not a ride, it is an attraction you should include in your visit.

The show offers high tech special effects and live action storytelling and is a hidden gem at the park. It is located on Hollywood Blvd and easy to miss. Definitely check it out.

the bourne stuntacular show at universal studios

Men in Black

Men in Black is a alien shooting ride that also spins its guests as you train to save the planet from aliens. If the line is long consider using the single rider line, this is usually a 5 minute wait-but be prepared to be split up from your group.

Men in Black (and E.T. Adventure) are one of the few rides that do not use screens. This ride mostly consists of animatronics and static scenes.

men in black at universal studios florida

Before I get into my picks for the worst rides at Universal I want to mention Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. This is a very popular roller coaster that would make the list but it is closing August 18, 2025.

I am sure it’s replacement, when announced, will make the list. Rumor is a ghostbuster roller coaster but nothing has been shared by Universal yet.

Worst Rides at Universal Studios Florida

I couldn’t have a best rides list if I didn’t share my worst rides list. Of course, this is my opinion but I typically skip The Simpsons Ride and Fast & Furious-Supercharged.

The Simpsons Ride has a fun story but the ride itself is jarring and often makes me nauseous. Fast & Furious queue is fun but the ride itself just feels cringe.

If it is your first visit to Universal Studios I always suggest riding as many things as you can and deciding for yourself what you think are the best and worst.

If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.

Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.

Leave a Comment