We are a die hard Disney family that decided to give the Universal Orlando parks a try as we realized our kids were becoming fans of thrill rides.  Overall, I would say this is the major difference between Disney and Universal: Universal targets the tween to young adult crowd with thrill rides. My kids at 8 and 10 are both fans of roller coasters and Harry Potter so it was the perfect time to take them.  Below I list our favorite rides and restaurants in each park as well as rides we would skip the next time we went.  Be sure and check out my overall “Tips and Tricks” for the parks, as well.  I am also a Travel Agent and my services are free, so feel free to contact me to book your trip yb*******@gm***.com.

Universal Studios Florida

Don’t miss:

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.  Adorable pre-show leads to a 3D movie ride with simulator.
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.  I am not the biggest roller coaster fan, but this was one we did several times.  With a steep drop at the beginning that was surprisingly fun and the ability to choose your own personal soundtrack during the ride, this was a don’t miss.
• Transformers.  Amazing simulator effects paired with a 3D movie.
• Revenge of the Mummy.  In a poll of a group of 6, it was voted a favorite at the park amongst all of us.  A ride plus a roller coaster with stunning effects!  I would say if Space Mountain and the Indiana Jones ride had a baby, it would be this ride.
• Knight Bus.  This was something we missed in our pre-park research.  The Knight Bus with its attendant and shrunken head are posted to converse with you and take pictures.  Visit this at early entry before the lines form!
• Hogwarts Express.  If you have a park-to-park pass, you can ride the famous train between parks.  It was my personal favorite because it was so well done.  Also it is a different show depending on which park you ride it from.
• Ollivanders.  This can be done in either park, but has a shorter wait in this one.  I might be biased because my two children were chosen for the experience, but it was extremely well done.

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.  I am pretty sure this is the most well thought out ride in the park.  From the queue where you meet up with the goblins, to loading your mine car, you will find yourself amazed.  A few roller coaster drops, but mostly 3D effects.
• Men in Black.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  For you Disney fans, think Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
• The Simpsons Ride.  All great fun for any Simpsons fan: a 3D motion simulator ride.
• Mo’s Tavern.  You can walk into a real-life Mo’s Tavern and order a Duff beer and a Flaming Mo.  Don’t forget about the famous “DOH-nut”.
• Leaky Cauldron.  A great place for your British pub fix and Butterbeer.  We enjoyed this one more than the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.  If you had to choose between the two, I would go here.  The logistics of being delivered food and the theming was better.

What to Skip:

• Shrek 4-D.  As my mother put it, “It was like getting kicked in the back by a kid on an airplane for 30 minutes”.
• Twister.  This is being replaced by the Jimmy Fallon experience in the near future and I don’t think we will miss it.

Islands of Adventure

Don’t miss:

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall.  It’s not as scary as it looks and you will get amazing views!
• Spiderman.  Wow.  I mean wow.  This was jaw-dropping fun.  A 3D ride with motion simulator and other real-life effects.
• Jurassic Park River Adventure.  We all loved it the first time when we were splashed lightly after the big drop at the end (not as big a drop as Splash Mountain).  We were a little surprised the second time when we doused with a wave that drenched us head to toe.  We still haven’t figured out why, but it is a well done ride all the same.
  
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  It’s a great ride with a lot of surprises.  Most of us came off a little queasy though so beware!
• Dragon Challenge.  If you love roller coasters, you will love both of these.  We loved the Chinese Fireball (red) more, but I would say these far surpass Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as far as thrill factor.
• Hogwarts Express.  If you have a park-to-park pass, you can ride the famous train between parks.  It was my personal favorite because it was so well done.  Also it is a different show depending on which park you ride it from.
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley.  Ok it’s for little kids, but we all loved it.  A gentle ride with great views of Seussland.
• The Cat in the Hat.  The Disney fans in us felt right at home on this ride! Think Winnie the Pooh!
• Three Broomsticks.  A great place for lunch and to get your butterbeer.  However, if you only have time for one English pub in the two Harry Potter lands, I recommend the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.

What to Skip:

• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges.  This is a hard call because it *is* a great ride.  However, you aren’t getting off without being soaked as though you jumped in the river.  This makes for a soggy day or at the very least, a soggy walk back to your hotel/car.  We don’t think it is worth it.
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.  We loved the drops and the surprise turns and twists, but we didn’t love the lack of theming (what is with the whole entire tunnel you go through spray painted black?) and the fact that you are soaked to the bone.
• Flight of the Hippogriff.  OUCH.  I don’t think I’ve ever been on a more bumpy, uncomfortable roller coaster.  Maybe it is isn’t built for adults.