Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Do you want to plan a trip to Universal Orlando? Looking for the best rides at Islands of Adventure?  If you are headed to Universal Orlando in Florida, one thing to note is that there are two parks. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. (three parks if you include the water park Volcano Bay)

We are going to focus on Islands of Adventure and particularly the best rides at Islands of Adventure.  I will give you an overview of the rides in each section and which rides at Islands of Adventure I think are the best.  I will only mention the best rides in each area (Not shows or interactive experiences!) 

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Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

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Get Ready for the Best Rides at Islands of Adventure

How Many Rides are There at Islands of Adventure? 

18

The newest rides are the VelociCoaster  (opened June 2021) and Hagrids Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure (opened in June 2019)

Which Universal Park has the Best Rides?

I love all the parks but the rides at Islands of Adventure are my favorite!   Harry Potterhas my heart!  Nothing can beat Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure! 

Don’t get me wrong the rides at Universal Studios are great!  I love the Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The rides at Volcano Bay are amazing I just don’t think you can compare water rides to amusement park rides.   

What Island of Adventure Ride Should I Ride First? 

Having a plan of attack is always a good thing.  As you arrive at the park, make sure you jump on the app and get a virtual queue for Hagrid (if needed).   

The lines that get the busiest during the day are Hulk, VelociCoaster, The Forbidden Journey, and Kong.  If you arrive early you can go straight to the ride you want to ride the most. 

If you have a multi-day ticket you can easily ride every ride and not have to feel stressed out.  

Hot Tip

A lot of people say go early but honestly, we have had great luck with staying late. The last hour of the park you can pretty much walk on any ride.  We even went during Easter/Spring Break time. It was packed! But at night, it was awesome! 

Best Islands of Adventure Rides

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Islands of Adventure is laid out so that you enter different sections of the park that are themed such as Harry Potter World, Jurassic World, Seuss Landing, Marvel Superhero Island, Skull Island, and Toon Lagoon.  

We are going to list the best rides at Islands of Adventure in each section of the park.

Harry Potter World

I highly recommend planning a trip to Harry Potter World.  It is my favorite section at Island of Adventures.  We will start with the Harry Potter rides.  There are four rides in this area, three of which make the cut of being some of the best rides at Islands of Adventure! 

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Height Requirement: 48″

Ride Time: 4 minutes

The Forbidden Journey ride is what started the Harry Potter magic at Universal, and it is amazing!! This is my favorite ride. Located in Hogwarts Castle (more on that later), the ride is a four-minute adventure through the world of Harry Potter.  As you fly on a broomstick you will go on the quidditch field, through the forbidden forest, and face a dragon. 

Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Roller Coaster?

The Forbidden Journey ride is not a roller coaster.  It is a motion-based dark ride that takes you through all of the best parts of Hogwarts.  There are no loops and you do not go upside down. There is a lot of jerking so you will be harnessed with an over-the-shoulder restraint.

The Lockers

There are lockers once you enter the castle.  You can not take anything extra on this ride.  The lockers are free and secure.  make sure to put your stuff in before you head on the ride, and take note of what locker you use.  If you have any issues with finding or opening your locker when you are done, the workers are very helpful.

Walk Through the Line at Least Once

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

The first time we went to Islands of Adventure, we purchased front-of-the-line passes.  They were awesome except on this ride.  Do not skip the line!

There is so much detail in every section of your wait.  It really feels like you are at Hogwarts Castle!  There is an interactive part of the line where Harry, Ron, and Hermione talk to you as well.

Guess What!! Even if you do not want to ride the ride you can still walk through the line. 

Rider Switch

Rider Switch is an amazing option on the Forbidden Journey ride.  If you have younger kids that are not tall enough to ride or you have a child that may be scared you can easily switch off riders and wait in a special room designed for little kids.

Motion Sickness

This ride can cause motion sickness for some.  That didn’t happen for me and I wanted to ride this ride over and over and over again.  I never got tired of it.

Hands down, I rank this ride the best of the best rides at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios!  

2. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Height Requirement: 48″

Ride Time: 3 minutes

Next, let’s talk about the most recent addition to the World of Harry Potter: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.  This is a themed roller coaster.  There are times when you go slow and experience a story and other times you are flying along the track just like a normal roller coaster.  

I don’t think I have ever experienced anything like this.  

How to Ride

Really important! You can not just go to the ride and get on.  You have to make a reservation on your app.  There is a QR code that you have to scan before you can enter the line.

When we went we got on our app at 9:00 am when the park opened and secured a time without a problem.  Later in the day, we reserved two more times to ride.  On busy days it may be a problem.  

The Lockers

There are lockers right before you get on the ride.  You can not take anything extra on this ride. The lockers are free and secure. Make sure to put your stuff in before you head on the ride. 

The Line

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

The line does have Hagrid’s house and garden.  It is not as themed as the Forbidden Journey ride but it is still fun to experience.  

The Ride

There are two options and experiences for this ride. You can ride on the motorcycle or you can ride in the passenger seat. 

We had the opportunity to do both and it was interesting that I being short (5’1) enjoyed being in the passenger seat more than the motorcycle and my husband (6′) preferred the motorcycle.  Maybe height has something to do with preference?  

This ride is fun!  I will not give away more of the magic that you will experience on this ride, but expect the unexpected! 

Is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Adventure Scary?

I didn’t think so.  I thought it was amazingly themed.  If you are afraid of the dark, you might find this ride scary. This is one of the best Islands of Adventure rides. 

3. Hogwarts Express

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Height Requirement: none

Ride Time: 5 minutes

The Hogwarts Express takes you between the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios.  It is basically transportation from one park to the other.  

You actually feel like you are on the Hogwarts Express with your favorite characters.  Depending on which way you are traveling the ride is different.

The Line

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

The line for this attraction can be very long!  Unfortunately, front-of-the-line passes do not include the Hogwarts Express.  Plan to wait!

Double Park Pass Required

The sad part about this ride is that a double park pass is required to ride.  So if you only have a one-day-one park ticket you are out of luck.

Is it Worth It?

Yes, if it is your first time visiting Harry Potter World.  You need to experience it.  However, what we found is that there was so much to do in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure that we only had time to do one park in a day. 

So yes we bought the double park pass to ride the Hogwarts express, but we didn’t get to experience both parks and yet paid a lot more for that ticket.

4. Flight of the Hippogriff

Best rides at universal orlando islands of adventure

Height Requirement: 36″

The other ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the Flight of the Hippogriff.  This ride is a junior coaster.  I think it is great to have an option for younger guests but it is just that; if you don’t have young ones with you, skip this ride. 

Your young Harry Potter fans will think this is the best Islands of Adventure ride.

There is a lot more to do and see in Harry Potter Worlds. You want some Harry Potter World souvenirs.

Does Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure have better rides?

As a general rule of thumb, we would say that Islands of Adventure is better for thrill rides and Universal Studios Florida is better for shows and entertainment.

Is Harry Potter better at Universal or Islands of Adventure?

When it comes to which Harry Potter park is better at Universal, Diagon Alley in Islands of Adventure is the clear winner. They have more shops, more merchandise, and the fun of trading your money for Gringotts bank notes. Plus, the younger kids will love the stuffed animals at the Magical Menagerie!

What is the craziest ride in Universal?

Given its wild stats, VelociCoaster is the most thrilling attraction at Universal Orlando. (Although, we have not included Volcano Bay's water park rides here, and the Ko'okiri Body Plunge, which is inside the volcano, may actually be scarier.) It features two magnetic launches, one of which propels it to 70 mph.

Is Universal Island of Adventure worth it?

It might come up a bit short on the consistency of its aesthetics, but Islands of Adventure more than holds its own when it comes to rides. It's currently the better of the two Universal Orlando parks when it comes to attractions, with fun and action for the whole family, and a nice diversity of ride styles to boot.