RANKING Best Universal Studios Hollywood Rides – We’ve Ridden All

Universal Studios Hollywood offers 13 attractions including rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World. Universal Studios Hollywood is moving quickly to expand their offerings with a brand-new rollercoaster in the process of being built plus other new attractions like The Secret Life of Pets themed dark ride. Our list of Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked includes the best rides you cannot skip on your vacation.

Universal Studios Hollywood also offers character meet and greets, entertainment, and themed dining opportunities. Our full guide to Universal Studios Hollywood includes everything you need to know plus all the seasonal offerings like Halloween Horror Nights.

Universal Studios Hollywood is one of my favorite theme parks and I visit frequently especially to enjoy the newest offerings like Super Nintendo World. I utilize Universal Express Pass on my trips to help create the best theme park strategies for our readers including which rides on our Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked list you need to use Express Pass.

Let's get into all the Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked starting from least favorite to our top picks!

Universal Studios Hollywood Express Pass

Before we get into all the Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked, including my must-do favorites, let's talk about Express Pass. Universal Hollywood Express Pass is a paid service that allows you to skip the line at Universal. This is Universal's version of FastPass/Genie+ as it's often referred to at Disneyland.

There are two separate line queues for most attractions: the regular standby line and the Express Pass line. Since Universal Studios Hollywood sells Express Pass at a high cost (anywhere from $90 to $200 per person depending on the day) the line for Express Pass will consistently be less than a 15-minute wait. On our list of all the Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked, I will note which rides offer Express Pass.

Read my full guide to using Universal Express at Universal Studios Hollywooding including best strategies with or without Express Pass. 

13. Silly Swirly

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Under 48” Requires Supervising Companion

Silly Swirly is a traditional aerial carousel ride aimed at smaller children. The ride vehicle allows you to control how high up you go and you can get a great view of Super Silly Fun Land where the ride is located. This attraction is part of the larger Despicable Me themed area, Super Silly Fun Land, which is a great spot to take younger children.

Aside from the appeal for younger kids, there's nothing too spectacular about this attraction and it's not nearly as iconic as other aerial carousel rides (think Dumbo at Disneyland!) so I put it at the bottom of my list of Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked.

12. Super Silly Fun Land

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• Upper Lot

Super Silly Fun Land isn't necessarily a ride but an entire play zone located next to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. If you are looking for the best place to take younger kids at Universal Studios Hollywood, this is it!

Super Silly Fun Land is inspired by the carnival in Despicable Me where Gru takes the girls and offers more than 80 different water-play features. There is also a general playground without water elements for kids to enjoy. This area is also where you can find Silly Swirly.

Super Silly Fun Land also includes an arcade game, the same one from the Despicable Me film, called Super Silly Space Killer. Guests can try their luck to win their own stuffed unicorn at this arcade game. The area is also filled with plenty of Minion photo ops.

While this area isn't a traditional ride, it is a great area for guests to take young children and let them release some steam. There is a similar play area in the Lower Let called Dino-Play which is an area all themed around fossils near the Jurassic World ride. So whether you are located on the Upper Lot or Lower Lot, you have two options for younger kids.

11. DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• No Height Requirement

This attraction is in the style of an immersive show with a vibrating theater and 3-D interactive elements. Guests enter a large theater and join the characters of Kung Fu Panda on a mission to deliver the Liquid of Ultimate Power to the Emperor. During the show, you will feel like you're racing down river rapids, battling pirates, and moving along with the characters on the screen.

While you do not need to have seen Kung Fu Panda to enjoy this show, it ranks lower on our list of priorities as the theme for the show is beginning to feel a bit tired. The show has been in place since 2018 and I would love to see a more current film replace Kung Fu Panda. I would consider this show a skip unless you have smaller kids that like the film or you have extra time to spare.

10. The Simpsons Ride

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 40″

The Simpsons Ride is an indoor simulated rollercoaster ride. The ride vehicle for this attraction is rather unique as it's a small simulator that only seats about eight guests. This is a 3-D attraction and you will be bounced around along with the Simpsons on a trip to Krustyland. The animation for the attraction is great and if you love The Simpsons, you will find this ride hilarious. The attraction features tons of characters from The Simpsons television and at times you will feel like you're riding a rollercoaster along with The Simpsons family.

This is not a great ride for anyone claustrophobic as you enter this small ride vehicle, like a small pod, and the ceiling closes over you with a large window at the front to view the screen. It is also one of the Universal Studios Hollywood attractions notorious for triggering motion sickness in sensitive guests. Because of the style of the ride, I rank it towards the bottom of my Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked list. I personally do not care for the small enclosed nature of the ride vehicle so this one is usually a skip for me. But if you are not bothered by small spaces or motion sickness, then this is a ride worth checking out for Simpsons fans.

9. Flight of Hippogriff

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 39″

Flight of the Hippogriff is a kiddie-sized rollercoaster in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you're familiar with the rides at Disneyland, think of this like a Universal-style Chip ‘n' Dale's GADGETcoaster. The coaster itself features one large climb and a quick, sweeping drop before it ends. It is a very short attraction in comparison to others in the park. This is a great first rollercoaster for younger kids.

Flight of the Hippogriff View of Hogwarts Castle 

What makes this ride great for all ages is the impressive Buckbeak Hippogriff animatronic on the ride and the view of Hogwarts Castle. I recommend this ride for everyone, not just those with kids. But while the animatronic and castle views are great, I still would not wait more than 30 minutes for this attraction.

8. TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D

• Lower Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 40″

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D is a motion simulator attraction but it is one of the most well-done motion simulators in the park. The attraction is themed after the TRANSFORMER films and features 60-foot-tall screens with 3-D characters like Megatron, the Decepticons, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee.

This is the most fast-paced motion simulator attraction in the park so thrill seekers will enjoy this far more than the others. Like most motion simulators, there is the potential for motion sickness for sensitive guests and this is another one that tends to bother folks that have this issue. I personally enjoy this ride even not being a fan of the TRANSFORMER franchise and being prone to motion sickness. The size of the 3-D figures on the enormous screens is quite impressive and worth the experience to see.

7. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 40″

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a mild 3-D motion simulator ride featuring characters from the film like Gru, his daughters, and the Minions. Guests enter a large room, like a theater, and sit on benches on a platform facing a large screen. The show itself is based on the experience of guests being transformed into Minions and undergoing Minion training. The ride ends with a Minion-inspired dance party.

This is a cute ride and fairly mellow as far as motion simulators go. This is one of the most popular attractions in the park, largely due to its location by the front entrance (resulting in long morning lines) but also due to kids loving the Despicable Me franchise. Universal is smart to keep adding attractions (like the new Minons Land at Universal Orlando) that connect to these films. This ride is worth the wait if you have kids that love the films. If not, then I personally wouldn't wait long as the line for this attraction tends to move slowly.

6. Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride

• Lower Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 48″

Revenge of the Mummy is the most intense thrill ride (for now- see new rides coming soon!) at Universal Studios Hollywood. This attraction goes forwards and backward as you flee from the Mummy Imhotep, sometimes in the pitch-black. The queue and the attraction take you down to the depths of an Egyptian tomb from the popular Mummy film.

This is a fantastic thrill attraction with wonderful theming and impressive special effects. This is a must-see ride on our Universal Studios Hollywood ranked rides list. The only downside of this ride is that it's really short but still worth the wait to experience it. While this is one of the most intense rides at the park, it does not go upside down.

5. The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 34″

One of the newer attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is a dark ride themed after The Secret Life of Pets films. Guests will experience a ride through New York as they see various animatronics of the pets from the films and their antics including Max, Duke, Gidget, and Snowball. The theme of the ride is that you are one of the pets in the film and are about to be welcomed into your new home.

Must-Do Dark Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood!

This is a very well done dark ride and was a great addition to Universal Studios Hollywood as it really was lacking a central dark ride experience for all ages. This is my favorite Illumination film and I was so happy to see it get its own attraction. The Illumination film is popular with kids of all ages and adults so this ride often sees long wait times. The queue itself is especially impressive and full of details including a walk-through of Max and Duke's apartment in New York. This is a must-do ride at Universal Studios Hollywood!

4. Jurassic World: The Ride

• Lower Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 42″

Jurassic World: The Ride is one of the best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood featuring multiple dinosaur animatronics and ending in a thrilling drop down an 84-foot waterfall. The storytelling on this attraction is fantastic as guests begin on a relaxing boat ride through an exhibit of dinosaurs including the underwater Mosasaurus during feeding time, an animatronic baby Stegosaurus and Parasaurolophus. The ride then leads guests up a ramp into Predator Cove where you will go inside a dark area with all the best predators from the Jurassic World films like Velociraptors and a T-Rex. The best part is the fight between an Indominus rex and Tyrannosaurus rex before the big drop.

Will You Get Wet on Jurassic World: The Ride?

This is a must-see experience at Universal Studios Hollywood and one worth waiting for. This is a water ride so you can get wet but really it depends on where you are seated on the boat. Those in the front row can expect to get the most wet! There are some other surprise splashes before the big drop too so keep that in mind.

3. The World-Famous Studio Tour

• Lower Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• No Height Requirement

As we enter the top three of our Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked list, it gets a bit harder to pick a top attraction. So for these last three rides, they honestly are a bit of a tie for me when picking a favorite.

The World-Famous Studio Tour is an attraction unique to Universal Studios Hollywood since this theme park is also still a working movie set. You won't find this attraction at Universal Orlando, for example, although you may find similar elements of the ride (Fast and the Furious, King Kong) at that theme park as their own attractions.

What to Expect From the Studio Tour 

The Studio Tour is a 60-minute long experience that takes place on large Studio trams that take you through the actual backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood including actual movie and television sets. You will see examples of amazing special effects like a simulated flash flood, and airplane crash, plus scenes from Jaws. The Studio Tour also includes a 3-D simulated experience featuring Fast and the Furious and King Kong. Currently, guests on the Studio Tour can also see the original Jupiter's Claim set from Jordan Peele's NOPE.

This is absolutely a not-miss experience at Universal Studios Hollywood especially since it is unique to this one theme park! The World-Famous Studio Tour does not run after dark so make sure to plan to get on it before the sun sets.

2. Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge

• Lower Lot
• No Express Pass- access to land may be limited to a virtual queue or paid access
• Minimum Height 40″

Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is the newest attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood as part of the new Super Nintendo World. This is easily the most popular ride at the moment but not just because it's new! This is a stunning accomplishment and the attraction is a must-do experience.

What to Expect From Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge

The thing that sets Mario Kart apart from other simulator experiences is that this attraction uses head-mounted augmented reality (AR) goggles to create a multi-sensory experience of color, sound, and movement. The ride takes guests on their own Mario Kart race which includes a trip through Bowser's Castle, courses in the clouds, underwater, and even the Rainbow Bridge. You play by moving your head with the goggles on to collect coins and throw shells to get ahead.

The use of Augmented Reality in this ride is impressive and this is more than just your run-of-the-mill simulator experience. The interactive elements are extremely easy to navigate and by the end of the attraction, you will be having a blast. The ride does not rely entirely on AR either with extremely impressive physical elements.

This ride is a must-do experience but the wait times for this ride can easily reach wait times of two hours or more during busy months of the year like Spring Break, holiday weekends, and the holiday season. Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge was recently added to Express Pass.

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• Upper Lot
• Express Pass Offered
• Minimum Height 48″

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey received the number one spot in our Universal Hollywood Studios rides ranked list. This ride just continues to outshine the competition with its technological superiority and immersive elements as it combines screen technology and classic dark ride elements. The queue of this attraction leads guests through Hogwarts Castle where you will encounter moving portraits, Dumbledore's office, the Herbology Garden plus a classroom featuring projections of Harry, Hermoine, and Ron. Harry Potter fans will love this ride, including the queue. However, this ride isn't just impressive for Harry Potter fans but for all guests.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Ride Experience 

The attraction uses a robotic arm to transport guests on a bench that is magicked to fly by Hermione. The harness straps you in above your head and leaves your feet dangling. The ride does not go upside down but it will shake guests around a bit and tilt guests backward and forwards. You will feel like you're flying around Hogwarts with Harry and Ron before encountering physical dragons, dementors, and dangers found in the Forbidden Forest. The ride switches between screen moments and physical elements. This is an amazing attraction and one of the best that Universal has ever done. Between the queue and the ride itself, this ride easily beats out the rest to take our number one spot on the Universal Studios Hollywood rides ranked list.

While you are visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, be sure to check out some of the best Universal Studios Hollywood foods and restaurants here you should try!

Bonus Mention: WaterWorld

While not technically an attraction, WaterWorld is worthy of a mention when you're looking at the best experiences at Universal Studios Hollywood.

This stunt show takes place in a large arena surrounding a set inspired by the movie WaterWorld. The show includes wild stunts like jumping jet-skiers, firefights, massive explosions, and a huge plane crash onto the water. You don't need to know the film WaterWorld as the show itself does a nice job of giving enough context. This show is worth the time to build into your day at Universal Studios Hollywood.

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