VelociCoaster is a new standout attraction at Islands of Adventure. As soon as guests enter through Port of Entry, the sight of the looming coaster is one of the first to greet them across the lagoon. For coaster enthusiasts, VelociCoaster is an easy must-do, but if you’re a nervous rider (like me), you may be seeking out some second opinions to help you decide if it’s something you believe you can tackle.
This article will compare the intensity of VelociCoaster with other coasters within the Universal Orlando Resort to help you make the best possible decision for your situation.
I rode VelociCoaster for the first time in May this year after months of procrastinating and putting it off because of that intimidating top hat hill. The feeling of dropping down a coaster’s hill has always been the worst part for me, and because of it I usually draw the line at coasters slightly smaller than VelociCoaster.
Regardless, I couldn’t call myself any sort of a park expert without having tried it at least once, so I buckled down and finally made my way in. After an hour or so of standing in and admiring the immersive, dinosaur-filled queue, I was ushed into the second row–there was no getting out of it now.
As the train pulled out of the loading station and into the preparation for the first launch, I had just enough time to question my life choices alongside a squad of panting, snarling velociraptors before the ride officially started. The track weaved through decorative rock formations and along wide arches that made me feel like I was close to falling out, and before long we were being launched a second time, up and over the top hat. Compared to the rest of the whirlwind of a ride, I hardly felt the drop and it was over in an instant. Now, I had plenty of time left to enjoy the feeling of being upside down and dangled over the water before returning to the station to be welcomed back by the team members.
I had done it. I had ridden VelociCoaster and lived.
Would I ride it again? Yes.
Was it worth the wait? Yes.
Was it scary? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Although the ride has a lot of extreme elements, there are very few alternatives that give me as much of an adrenaline rush as VelociCoaster. It was an absolute blast.
Now to get down to the nitty-gritty of it… can YOU handle VelociCoaster?
First and foremost, I’m going to level with you–it’s the most intense coaster on Universal property. You’ve ridden Hagrid’s, and maybe you’ve ridden Hulk too, but VelociCoaster is a whole different animal. Don’t let that discourage you, though. In fact, a lot of the elements VelociCoaster boasts are shared with other attractions around the resort.
It’s somewhat of an amalgamation of the other coasters–the tall drop of Rip-Ride, the launches of Hagrid’s, the upside down-ness of the Hulk… if you enjoy any of those aspects on the original rides, it may be worth giving VelociCoaster a try.
One of the things that really adds to the thrills is the lap bar. Unlike the similarly thrilling Hulk coaster, VelociCoaster does not have over the shoulder restraints to make you feel fully secured. Instead, the ride features a lap bar similar to the Mummy or Hagrid’s. You feel less secure in them, but it allows for lots of extra movement for your hands and makes your body feel like it’s coming up out of the seat as you round tight curves or sail over hills. Steep banking maneuvers and long upside down portions will have you gripping that lap bar a bit tighter, and if you like to scream on rollercoasters, your throat will be sore after a ride on VelociCoaster (I speak from experience).
If you’re unsure, try to get a seat near the front of the coaster–you can always make this request to the team member organizing the loading platform–that way you experience less of the weightlessness and intensity that you do toward the back.
For nervous first-time riders, I highly encourage you to give this ride a try. You may love it, you may hate it, but ultimately it’s only a few minutes of your life, and maybe you’ll even get a good story out of it. Just make sure to take a quick breather afterward until your legs stop feeling like jelly!
