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The Best and Worst of Universal Orlando.

Universal Orlando: Now which is the best ride? Which is the worst? Which show is the best? Which show is the worst? Which resteraunt is the best? Which is the worst?

From Katie White
Posted August 2, 2010 at 7:13 PM
I recently saw a post of the best and worst of WDW. Well now, I would like to know of what you think is the best and worst of Universal Orlando. For park, I'm just asking which is your favorite because there is only 2 parks. Now which is the best ride? Which is the worst? Which show is the best? Which show is the worst? Which resteraunt is the best? Which is the worst?

Please go farther than just best ride worst ride. Say best rollercoaster, worst ..., best water ride, worst...,, etc. (action show, live show, whichever) And if I left anything out up there, just add it in.

I will post my best and worst later on.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Javi Badillo
Posted August 2, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Best simulator: Spiderman( I havent ridden Harry Potter Yet)

Worst Simulator:Jimmy Netrun

Best Rollar Coaster: the Hulk

Worst Rollar Coaster: Woody Woodpecker

Best movie show: Sherk 4D

Worst Movie show: Posideon Furry

Best live show: tie between Terminator 3d and Horror Makeup show

Worst live show: Fear Factor Live

Best Water Ride: Popeys

Worst Water Ride: Jaws

Best Land: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (i havent even seen it yet but i know that it is the best)

Worst Land: Lost Continet(theming great but there are no good attractions)

From Jon Landis
Posted August 3, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Following that format:

Best simulator: Forbidden Journey (HP, but lines are nuts!)

Worst Simulator: Jimmy Neutron

Best Roller Coaster: Dueling Dragons was cool, fast with lots of g-forces. Hulk was slow and plodding and seemed to be all about disorienting you. Didn't ride HW Rocket as the line was always long and it just didn't look overly impressive to me.

Worst Roller Coaster: If you're like my family and seek out intense roller coasters (Top Thrill, Intimidator 305 at KD, etc) nothing at Universal is really intense. They are all fun though, but I wouldn't wait too long for Hulk. Once you're finished with the take-off up the hill, you've experienced the best part of the ride.

Best movie show: Shrek 4D

Worst Movie show: None that I found, although wasn't a huge fan of the Spiderman stuff, mostly because I am completely unfamiliar with the genre

Best live show: Terminator 3D (Horror Makeup show was well done, but more of a comedy routine than a makeup show)

Worst live show: Probably Twister

Best Water Ride: Still prefer Jurassic Park

Worst Water Ride: Jaws

Best Land: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is what everyone wants to say, but I thought the overall theming was best in the Dr. Seuss area. Mostly for kids, but very nostalgic for adults too. HP was great too, but I expected bigger and more room. Felt very cramped, some of that feeling generated by the crowds, and some by a few poorly designed sections that created traffic flow bottlenecks.

Worst Land: Midway area of Universal Studios

Best Restaurant: Had to be Mythos, although I wasn't blown away by it. Its just that its so different than anything else there that it has to be the best at Universal. Everything else was same old park fare. Don't expect Epcot. If you want burgers, Mel's Diner at Universal Studios is the place to go. Burgers are huge, and there is plenty of seating indoors.

I would also make it a point to see the Beetlejuice rock show if you are familiar with the movie. A lot of people love the Mummy, but I found it to be a great themed ride through, followed by a pretty weak and short dark, indoor coaster. Its OK, but geared more to scare kids. Don't expect a real intense ride.

MIB is a nicely themed indoor shooter ride. Well done. And, the Dr. Doom Tower ride is really cool, but very short. If you don't have Express Pass, wait until the line is short, otherwise you'll find that you just waited a long time for a 30 second experience.

Be sure to check out some of the shops as they have many neat items in displays, some of which aren't for sale - just neat stuff.

From Nick Markham
Posted August 3, 2010 at 2:10 PM
^ HULK! SLOW? Are you joking!

From Katie White
Posted August 3, 2010 at 6:54 PM
I do have to agree with Nick. How do you find Hulk as slow? No offense but the last time I checked 67 mph, which is the faster than the top speed at Dragon Challenge(55 mph), is not slow.

From Russell Meyer
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Hulk's second half (after the MCBR) is pretty pedestrian, especially after the super-intense first half. However, I wouldn't call it plodding, just poorly paced.

From James Rao
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:43 PM
My last trip to Universal was in 2007, so I am a bit out of date, but I'll give my two cents, if you don't mind.

Best Overall Attraction:
Spider-Man - best ride, ever

Best Coaster:
Revenge of the Mummy - until the Yeti gets fixed, RotM is the best narrative coaster in the world

Best Show:
Terminator 2 3D - still impressive 20 years after the movie was released

Best Restaurant:
Mythos - simply one of the best

Worst Attraction (tie):
Storm Force Accelatron & Dr. Doom's Fearfall - these common midway rides just don't belong in a park of this caliber

Worst Coaster:
Pteranodon Flyers - long wait for...nothing

Worst Show:
Fear Factor Live - I wish all this reality TV crap would just stop (apparently it has, cause I think this one is gone for good!)

Worst Restaurant:
Thunder Falls Terrace - it wasn't horrible, just so darn average

From Formula 40
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:37 PM
People sometimes complain about the roughness of the Hulk compared to much smoother B&M coasters. I find no problem with it simply b/c I think it fits well with the overall theme of the ride. It's based on Dr. Banner's experiment turning into a disaster, thus the ride gives you that out-of-control feeling. It wouldn't have this feeling if it were super-smooth like Dragon Challenge. So I can tolerate roughness on this ride.

From Jay Glenn
Posted August 4, 2010 at 6:43 AM
Best Roller Coaster- Hungarian Horntail
Worst Roller Coaster- Woody Wood Pecker's

Best ride- Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey
Worst Ride- E.T. Adventure

Best Land- Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
Worst Land- San Francisco

Best Live Show- Terminator 2
Worst Live Action- Whatever is playing in Toon Lagoon

Best Water Ride- Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges
Worst Water Ride- none

Best Restaurant- Circus McGirkus Cafe
Worst Restaurant- Louie's in New York

From Elizabeth Gray
Posted August 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM
My favorite ride at I o A is ICE on the dueling dragon coaster (The one on the right) Just brilliant.

Does anyone know what the name for Ice coaster is now? Thanks

From steve lee
Posted August 4, 2010 at 6:54 AM
Formula, the problem with Hulk isn't that its rough - the problem is we've all ridden it when it wasn't rough and know how bad it is. Rumor has it they're going to give it some TLC soon, which hopefully will get it back to how it used to be.

From Jay Finch
Posted August 4, 2010 at 10:06 AM
The ice coaster is now called the hungarian horntail.

From Elizabeth Gray
Posted August 4, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Thanks Jay!

From Katie White
Posted August 4, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Here is my best and worst:

Best Ride Overall- Currently Men in Black, my opinion, but from what I have heard Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Worst Ride Overall- Jaws

Best Coaster- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Worst Coaster- Woody Woodpecker

Best Water Ride- Popeye's
Worst Water Ride- Jaws

Best Simulator- Simpsons(Still haven't rode Harry Potter)
Worst Simulator- Jimmy Neutron (I do enjoy it though)

Best 3D/4D- Spiderman
Worst 3D/4D- Terminator

Best Live Show- Horror Makeup Show
Worst Live Show- Sindbad

Best Land- Harry Potter
Worst Land- Lost Continent

Best Restaurant- Mythos
Worst Restaurant- I have never ate at one I would consider the worst. I normally eat at Mythos in Islands and Mel's in USF which are both great.

From Formula 40
Posted August 4, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Best Attraction: Amazing Adventures of Spiderman
Worst Attraction: Storm Force Accelerator

Best Coaster: Revenge of the Mummy
Worst Coaster: Woody Woodpecker's Nutty Coaster

Best Simulator: Simpsons Ride
Worst Simulator: Jimmy Neutron

Best 3d/4d show: Terminator
Worst 3d/4d show: Shrek

Best Land: Marvel Super Hero Island
Worst Land: Lost Continent

Best Dark Ride: Men In Black Alien Attack
Worst Dark Ride: Twister

From Vini Santos
Posted August 10, 2010 at 7:34 PM
Best Attraction:Revenge Of The Mummy
Worst Attraction:Twister(Needs Huge Refurb)

Best Coaster:RipRideRockit(Little Bit of Airtime)
Worst Coaster:Woodpecker

Best Simulator:Harry Potter Forbidden Journey
Worst Simulator:Jimmy Neutron

Best 3D/4D Attraction:Spider Man
Worst 3D/4D Attraction:Jimmy Neutron

Best Land:Jurrasic Park
Worst Land:Amity Island

Best Dark Ride:Harry Potter Forbidden Journey
Worst Dark Ride:Twister

From Javi Badillo
Posted August 10, 2010 at 8:45 PM
Jimmy neturn isn't 3D

From Jack Maclaughlin
Posted March 31, 2011 at 4:42 PM
hi

From Jack Maclaughlin
Posted March 31, 2011 at 5:03 PM
Best Coaster: Hulk/ Worst Coaster: E.T. Adventure Best Water ride:Jurassic Park/ Worst water ride:Jaws Best Stimulater: Harry Potter/Worst Stimulater: Jimmy Nutreon Best 3d:Spiderman/Worst 3d:None Best live show: Disaster/Worst live show: Twister Best Restraunt:Mels Dinner/ Worst restraunt:I havent ate any where bad! Best Movie show: Shrek4D/Worst movie show:Terminater Best Land: Harry Potter/Worst Land:The lost continent The most kid friendly place was Dr.Seuss! :) I hope these tips helped!! :)

From Rob P
Posted April 1, 2011 at 4:21 AM
Just as you'd expect we have polarised opinions on what is best and worst.
Not that the question isn't valid or relevant. It's just that, in the final analysis, I would imagine that the votes will probably even themselves out.
With the notable exception of Jimmy Neutron which appears to be universally ( no pun intended ) condemned.

From Tyler Bell
Posted April 1, 2011 at 5:14 AM
Jimmy Neutron, E.T, ARE THE WORST

From Jack Maclaughlin
Posted April 1, 2011 at 9:08 AM
The ice rollar coaster is called the dueling dragons not the hungorion horntail!!!!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted April 1, 2011 at 9:29 AM

Jack, my understanding..and someone please correct me if I'm wrong..is that the ride is now called Dragon Challenge, not Dueling Dragons. Hungarian Horntail is one track, but I'm unsure if it's the former Ice. The name of the other track is escaping me right now, but I'm pretty sure it contains the word "fire."

Also, I'm not gonna get into semantics, but I personally wouldn't call E.T. a roller coaster or Jaws a water ride.

And don't get me started on your use of the word "Stimulator" for "Simulator." These are family parks and this is a clean forum. :)

From TH Creative
Posted April 1, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Why so many "haters" catagorizing attractions as "Worst." All of Universal Creative's attractions rank at the top of my favorites list (Especially 'Men in Black: Alien Attack').

There are no worsts at UO. I mean it's not like its the home of "Pi-RAO-tes of the Car-RAO-bbean."

From Zach Nelson
Posted April 1, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Mike is right. Formerly known as Dueling Dragons, "Dragon Challenge" now features a choice between the Hungarian Horntail (ice) and the Chinese Fireball (fire).

From Sara M
Posted April 1, 2011 at 1:52 PM
For IOA

Best Ride - Forbidden Journey Worst Ride - petrydactal flyers because they wont let me on :(

Best Water Ride - Jurasic Park

Best Place to eat - Mythos Worst Place to eat - Comic Strip Cafe

Best Show - Olivanders

Universal Studios

Best ride - Mummy Worst ride - Twister Best Show - Blues Brothers Best place to eat - Richter Burger


From Andy Milio
Posted April 3, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Best: everything
Worst: nothing
lol I kid, I kid. But I couldn't say I really hate anything at Universal, it's all great
But this is coming from the Universal fanboy...

From Mike Seary
Posted April 3, 2011 at 6:45 PM
(Only based upon attractions I have experienced)


Best:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Spiderman, Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpsons

Great:
Dragon Challenge, Hulk, E.T., T2 3-D, Popeye's Bilge Rat Barges

OK:
Men In Black, Disaster, Jaws, Doctor Doom Freefall, Rip Ride Rokit, Dudley Doright's Ripsaw Falls, Cat in the Hat, Lucy Tribute,

Meh:
Jurassic Park River Adventure, One Fish/Two Fish, Hippogriff, Shrek 4-D, Jimmy Neutron, Twister,

Poop:
Storm Force Accelatron, Pteranodon Fliers, Poseidon's Fury, Fear Factor Live (hopefully it's closed for good), High In The Sky Trolley, Ollivanders (on the basis of it being nothing more than an elaborate sales pitch for a fake wand that you had to wait in line to see).


As for food,

Best:
Confisco Grill (also 4 dollar shots of Jameson for happy hour last time I went!)

Good:
Finnegans

Blegh:
Circus McGurkus

(Special Note)
Emeril's... just DON'T. Not to say the food was bad, but neither it nor the service warrant the hefty check you will invariably see at the end of your meal. Wasn't impressed.

From Fred Koury
Posted April 5, 2011 at 8:58 AM
Best Overall Ride- Forbidden Journey
Worst Overall Ride- Storm Force Acceletron

Best Coaster- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit(The coasters are all pretty good though)
Worst Coaster- Pteranadon Flyers

Best Water Ride- Dudly Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
Worst Water Ride- None(for those who don't like Jaws i suggest riding it at night)

Best Simulator- Simpson's Ride
Worst Simulator- Twister(this ride needs to go!)

Best 3D/4D- Spiderman
Worst 3D/4D- Jimmy Neutron

Best Live Show- Blues Brothers
Worst Live Show- Fear Factor Live

Best Land- Wizarding World
Worst Land- World Expo(Nothing to it really)

Best Restaurant- Lombard's(although I will say I love going to Burger Digs in Jurassic Park because I always seem to be starving when I pass the place)

Note- They need to do something with Poseidon's Fury. The building looks awesome and the theme is good I just would prefer a ride to a walk through tour that takes an hour out of my day)

From Terri Pierce
Posted April 5, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Best Overall Ride- Forbidden Journey
Worst Overall Ride- I haven't ridden many of the rides people would consider "Worst".

Best Coaster- Mummy (Haven't ridden Rip Ride yet)
Worst Coaster- Nothing compares to the Ninja at SFOGA so EVERYTHING is amazing ;)

Best Water Ride- Rip Shaw
Worst Water Ride-If you still consider jaws a "Water" ride

Best Simulator- FJ
Worst Simulator- Jimmy

Best 3D/4D- Spiderman
Worst 3D/4D- Terminator

Best Live Show- Horror Makeup
Worst Live Show- Animals Live (Do it once and done)

Best Land- How do you choose? Lost Continent used to be amazing, Suess Landing is favorite for nostalgia, Marvel/Toon Most detailed, all of Universal is just Classic!
Worst Land- Probably the lands in Universal... (Most all can use some updating)

Best Restaurant- Three Broomsticks
Worst: Burger Digs or Richter's. Never had a good experience here... but did eat at off times (like 3 in the after noon.. not busy at all)


I feel like they really need to do something with the Lost Continent. This was such a cool land and there is nearly nothing left! I used to love walking through here looking in all the shops and just sitting and listening to the atmosphere!

From Jack Maclaughlin
Posted April 5, 2011 at 2:48 PM
Mike,Jaws would be awater ride because u do get wet if you are on the end! ET is a coaster cause its on a track! My bad on the dragon i just wentand rode it two times im so sorry i forgot the names ! my bad again!

From Todd Houts
Posted April 6, 2011 at 2:13 PM
Jack, please don't take this as contradiction, but E.T Adventure is generally not considered a roller coaster but rather a dark ride. (Peter Pan and Snow White at the Magic Kingdom would be other examples of dark rides.) One could argue that all dark rides are roller coasters, but the term is usually used to distinguish between a guided indoor ride (it doesn't have to be "dark") on a track - usually powered and very controlled, generally without free fall.

A roller coaster is generally defined by a free moving vehicle that travels along a track usually with sharp changes in elevation or direction but basically following the rules of physics.

There are some rides that straddle the line (like some kiddie powered roller coasters) but dark rides more often have many, many vehicles on the track at the same time since the ride is designed to prevent collision. You can't overload the track of a roller coaster with many, many trains because there are points (like down a hill) where the ride vehicle cannot be stopped. Instead braking systems are strategically located for safety or to dictate the number of trains that can be on the track at any given time.

You might want to Google "Dark Rides". They have just as many enthusiasts as roller coasters do. You may find yourself exploring a whole new group of rides to see the differences; rides you might have passed up if you didn't know just how unique each one really is.

From Dan S
Posted May 11, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Best attractions (in a general order) The Mummy, Harry Potter and the forbidden journey, spider man, the hulk coaster,

Not so good attractions:( I am going to not state the children's zone rides here, because we all know that most of them are not very good) Disaster, Twister, the doom drop thing, and the hippogrif ride.

other rides i enjoy that should be checked out: Jurassic park, jaws, dr seuss, Terminator, MIB and the simpsons.

From kristyn barney
Posted May 22, 2011 at 6:25 PM
i swear the only ride i dont like on both sides is disater...thts it i love everything in universal

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