VelociCoaster Guide and 12 Common Questions Answered!

This post may contain affiliate links from merchants including Amazon. Click for more information and disclosures.

Are you a fan of Jurassic Park or Jurassic World and have wanted to experience Velociraptors in real life?

VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure gets you up close and personal with the dinosaurs that have almost become celebrities in their own way.

But how do you know if this roller coaster is going to be right for you? Are you worried about if it’s too intense? Do you know the best way to ride it or how to shorten your wait times?

I want to use my experience as a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder and theme parks enthusiast with over 25 years of experience visiting, researching, and visiting theme parks to help you figure out the best way to ride this now-iconic attraction.

I’m going to give you my honest mini VelociCoaster review, tell you the best way to ride, and answer some of the most common questions about the ride in this guide.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster Ride Stats

Location: Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort

Year Opened: 2021

Top Speed: 70 MPH

Height: 155 feet

Drop: 140 feet

Length: 4,700 feet

Ride Time: 1:45

Number of Inversions: 4

More specs, including minimum height requirements, can be found on the Universal Orlando VelociCoaster website.

Mini VelociCoaster Review – My Personal Thoughts

VelociCoaster may be my favorite roller coasters that I’ve been on – it’s either this or my beloved Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood Park.

First of all, the theming is great. As someone who loves the Jurassic Park franchise (or most of it, at least), I love being able to see things like “live” raptors and Easter eggs and nods to the franchise throughout the queue.

The ride itself is so well-themed, you really feel like you’re in the raptor paddock during the first half of the ride. And the view from the station is quite impressive.

VelociCoaster is an impressive and intense ride. The launches are powerful, and the amount of airtime you get on the inversions is insane. Yes, you’re out of your seat when you’re upside down with only a lap bar holding you in – no over-the-shoulder restraints on this clever girl.

The final inversion, which has been nicknamed the Mosasaurus Roll, takes place just feet over the water and catapults you out of your seat. It’s not for the faint of heart. 

The second launch brings the ride to its top speed and launches the ride into its tall top hat. From there, it’s a dizzying amount of drops and inversions before you hit the final brakes.

My favorite place to ride is in the very front seat – you get an unobstructed view of everything and experience lots of airtime. I find the ride is also smoothest in the front, thought the ride as a whole isn’t rough.

VelociCoaster is also a spectacular ride at night. The lighting really gives it a good atmosphere, and being able to see the park lit up at night is an extra bonus.

How to Ride VelociCoaster

Getting to VelociCoaster is a bit of a trek, as it’s located at the back of the park in the Jurassic Park themed area. However, the ride’s impressive height make it easy to find, as it’s top hat is located next to the ride’s entrance.

Upon approaching VelociCoaster, there are three options to get in line: standby queue, Express Pass queue, and Single Rider queue.

The standby queue is the full, “regular” queue that guests wait in for the ride. Waiting in this line will usually take the longest, but you’ll also get the full thematic experience, being able to see everything in the queue line including theming, Easter eggs, and more.

Express Pass is offered on this attraction, so if you’ve purchased it or are staying at a Universal hotel that offers it, you’ll enter the Express Pass line. You’ll bypass some of the queue, and merge with the standby queue when it comes time to put your stuff in lockers.

The Single Rider queue bypasses the most theming and has its own locker room location. This line is not always open, and it’s up to the ride attendants whether or not it is. Remember that choosing to enter as a Single Rider means that you will not be able to ride with your party or pick your seat. If you want to do that, you’ll have to wait in the standby or Express queue.

VelociCoaster is also currently open for early theme park entry, meaning that you can get a ride on this coaster an hour before the park is open to the public if you’re staying at a Universal Orlando resort hotel or have an Annual Pass that comes with this benefit.

Being able to ride this ride during early entry is a huge perk, as it often gets long wait times. When I’ve used early entry to ride VelociCoaster, I’ve been able to get multiple rides on it before the line got longer.

Right before the locker room, you’ll see some “real” Velociraptors in their restraints. It’s one of the most impressive theming elements and animatronics at any theme park.

At a certain point in the ride line, you’ll have to put all your belongings in lockers, which you’ll lock and unlock with your park tickets. You’ll then go through metal detectors to make sure you don’t have anything on you. See an attendant if you need help accessing your locker because your tickets are on your phone.

After that, you’ll head into one more room that contains a video of Claire Owens welcoming you and Owen Grady warning you about the experience. Both of these characters will be recognizable by anyone who has seen the first three Jurassic World movies.

After that, you’re in the station! Head to your assigned seat, wait, sit down, and pull the restraint down to be checked. You’re ready to ride!

After your ride (and your adrenaline boost), you’ll head back to the lockers to retrieve your belongings. What will you do next – ride again or explore the rest of Islands of Adventure?

What makes VelociCoaster unique?

With its combination of storytelling and theming, powerful launches, intense inversions and drops, and comfortable seating, VelociCoaster offers unique features that not all coasters have. It’s considered one of the best roller coasters on the planet for a reason.

Is VelociCoaster one of the fastest rides?

Not only is VelociCoaster the fastest ride at Universal Orlando Resort, but it’s also one of the fastest roller coasters in both Orlando and Florida!

Is VelociCoaster more intense than Hulk?

That’s a matter of personal preference, but some people think VelociCoaster is more intense than Incredible Hulk. I personally feel that Hulk has a more intense first half and less intense second half, while VelociCoaster has a less intense first half and more intense second half.

Read more about how the two compare in my post comparing Hulk vs VelociCoaster.

How many times does VelociCoaster go upside down?

VelociCoaster turns riders upside down a total of four times.

What’s the maximum speed on VelociCoaster?

This ride’s maximum speed is 70 MPH, and is reached after the second launch into the top hat.

How big is the drop on VelociCoaster?

VelociCoaster is 155 feet tall and has a drop of 140 feet.

What’s the fastest ride at Universal?

VelociCoaster is currently the fastest ride at Universal Orlando as of the time this post is being written.

See which other rides are the resort’s fastest.

Is VelociCoaster faster than Stardust Racers?

Yes, VelociCoaster reaches a top speed of 70 MPH, while Stardust Racers at Epic Universe reaches a top speed of 62 MPH.

See more about how these two rides compare in my post about VelociCoaster vs Stardust Racers.

How much did VelociCoaster cost?

Universal has not officially said how much it cost to build VelociCoaster.

Does VelociCoaster have Single Rider?

VelociCoaster does have a Single Rider line, but it is not always open. If it is open, remember that using it will mean you’ll be split up from your party and will not have a say in which seat you sit in.

Does VelociCoaster have over-the-shoulder restraints?

No, VelociCoaster uses lap-bar only restraints.

What movie is VelociCoaster based on?

VelociCoaster is based on the Jurassic World movie series, which itself is part of the Jurassic Park franchise. Thematically, this ride takes place before the first Jurassic World movie when the park is open to the public.

Ready to Ride VelociCoaster?

Hopefully reading this guide has gotten you excited to ride VelociCoaster!

If you want to experience this thrilling coaster for yourself, let me help you plan your next Universal Orlando vacation.

With over 25 years of visiting, researching, and working in theme parks, I want to use my expertise to provide you with expert planning and honest advice to ensure you have the most fun, stress-free Universal vacation possible.

Reach out to start with a free Universal Orlando quote now – let’s make sure your trip is one to remember!