Experience the Thrill of a Lifetime on Jurassic World VelociCoaster: Universal’s Most Heart-Pumping Roller Coaster Yet!

Welcome to Jurassic World.

When you board the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando, you are embarking on a journey into a prehistoric world. Ah, see there to your left, the noble velociraptor explores its paddock, roaming these few acres just as it used to roam the earth millennia ago. Come feeding time, you can truly appreciate what made them the most lethal predators of their day.

And should you end up on the menu, you’ll also appreciate why Ian Malcolm said, “You know, at times like this one feels, well, perhaps extinct animals should be left extinct.”¹

However, this paddock full of hungry dinosaurs is totally secure. (Probably.) It’s the high speeds and wild inversions that you really need to look out for on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster!

Join the Jurassic Hype

The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is located in the Jurassic Park section of Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and from exterior to queue to coaster track, this ride is wonderfully immersive!

Incorporating narratives into thrill rides can be a challenge; they move so fast that there’s no time to tell a story! In the world of roller coasters, stories are measured in feet, and it’s hard to pay attention when you’re screaming at the precipice of a 140-foot drop.

That being said, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster takes full advantage of your pre-coaster wait time to engage you in a fun narrative that fits the franchise and elevates the ride experience. This coaster would be impressive based on stats alone, but the theming solidifies it as a truly amazing coaster, as shown by its snatching of the Theme Park Insider “Best Roller Coaster” award in both 2022 and 2023!²

The Jurassic World VelociCoaster queue includes easter eggs like books published by notable characters such as Ian Malcolm and Alan Grant, a video about the raptors’ veterinary care starring Dr. Henry Wu, and the real star: a live (animatronic) raptor. Just before the ride begins, you’ll enjoy a pre-show with Claire Dearing and Owen Grady, the most recent Jurassic protagonists, as they give conflicting reports of how your ride will go.

If you’re inclined to listen to Owen (and who isn’t inclined to listen to Christ Pratt?), you really ought to turn back.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster Ride Experience

Of course, with an average wait time of 60 to 90 minutes, you’ll probably ignore Owen’s end-of-the-line advice and go for a ride through the raptor paddock anyway. (Or maybe you skipped the line with Express Pass or the single rider line – but you’re still not going to heed Owen’s warning, are you?) That means there are some things you need to know.

Since you’ll be in the middle of a raptor paddock, you must be able to outrun said raptors. Velociraptors run at around 25 mph but are capable of 40 mph sprints, which means you have to go even faster. Therefore, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster has a launch speed of 70 mph, making it the fastest roller coaster in any Universal park.

To be clear, there are two intense launches (one at the start and another about halfway through), an 80-degree, 140-foot drop (called a “top hat”), and four inversions. The highest point of the VelociCoaster is 155 feet, making it the tallest, fastest launch coaster in Florida.³

While the Jurassic World VelociCoaster drop sounds pretty scary, many riders report that it actually pales in comparison to the launches, which is to say, the drop is intense, but the rest of the ride is even more intense.

This is just one way in which the VelociCoaster subverts expectations. While we’ve come to expect “the drop” to be a coaster’s biggest moment (like Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit), it’s actually a toss-up between the launches and inversions for this one. Additionally, right when you think VelociCoaster is going to slow down to climb that an enormous hill is actually the moment it speeds into its second launch. There is no braking when raptors are chasing you, and not being able to predict the coaster’s movements is part of what makes it so thrilling.⁴

The VelociCoaster is also special thanks to the nature of its inversions, including a revolutionary high-speed barrel roll just over the surface of the lagoon. That’s right: you turn 360 degrees at a swift 50 mph! There’s also a dive loop, an inverted stall, and a 100-foot stretch that gives you a feeling of zero gravity. Forget flight simulators, just ride the VelociCoaster!

Oh, and did we mention that all of this upside-down action happens with only a lap bar to restrain you?? (Obviously, the ride has passed safety tests, but the lack of traditional over-the-shoulder restraints for these loops adds a sense of freedom – and possibly fear – to the experience.)

As with Mako at SeaWorld, VelociCoaster riders also report feeling a distinct left-to-right tilting motion, rather like the weaving of a running raptor. While this could potentially trigger motion sickness in some riders, many report that because the ride is so smooth and because the tilting isn’t present for the entire two-minute duration, they’ve done surprisingly well. Indeed, VelociCoaster does not receive as many motion sickness complaints as other rides (like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey). However, we would still advise caution if you’re prone to motion sickness.

VelociCoaster is truly one of the most exhilarating rides you can experience at any park. Anywhere. Because of the thrilling nature of the ride, staff are strict – we’re talking metal detector strict – about having you stow loose items in the queue’s lockers (which are free to use). Cellphones are strictly prohibited on VelociCoaster because loose items could potentially fly out and severely injure guests.⁵ But don’t worry about not being able to get a photo of the ride – VelociCoaster takes your picture so you can purchase it at the exit!

VelociCoaster vs Hulk vs Hagrid: FIGHT!!

All right, we’ve established that this coaster is pretty intense, but is VelociCoaster scarier than Hulk and Hagrid? Short answer: yes. Long answer: definitely yes.

The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is far more intense than Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and while The Incredible Hulk comes close, it’s still outpaced by these apex predators. Riders report that VelociCoaster is much smoother than Hulk and feels much faster, even though there is only a 3-mile difference in their top speeds.

VelociCoaster was designed for top intensity and air time. If you enjoy the sensation of floating out of your seat, then VelociCoaster is for you! However, if roller coasters make you nervous… you may want to work your way up to this one.

Even if the VelociCoaster is biting off more than you can chew for now, there’s no reason to miss out on the raptor action. You can still do a raptor encounter with Blue (the star of the Jurassic World raptor squad) or meet a trainer carrying around Sierra and Tango, Universal’s adorable baby raptors!

The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is not only Universal’s most intense coaster, but it is also its best. In fact, it’s simply one of the best coasters ever. Full stop.

If you are a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, a roller coaster enthusiast, or both, then the VelociCoaster is absolutely your number one must-ride for Universals Islands of Adventure. Just remember to “hang on to your butts!”

Have you already ridden the VelociCoaster? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! Oh, and tell us who your favorite raptor is, too!

See you on the next adventure!

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Featured photo: Universal Orlando Resort

Gallery photos: UL Unsplash, UR Kelly Verdeck via Flickr, LL Unsplash, LR Jeremy Thompson via Flickr