Park hopping at Florida’s theme parks? Top 15 rollercoasters at Disney, Universal, others

The summer season is finally here, which means millions flocking to Florida's theme parks until school starts up again.

So, which rides should thrill seekers and roller coaster enthusiasts head straight for?

We compiled a list of the top roller coasters between Central Florida's main theme parks, ranging from high-speed attractions to those with exhilarating inversions. Oh, and a couple where you can listen to music while riding.

Stardust Racers, Epic Universe

Starting strong with one of the popular rides to come from Universal Orlando's newest theme park. Stardust Racers at Epic Universe is a dual-launch coaster that hurls you across the cosmos. The coaster rises to 133 feet in the air and runs along 5,000 feet of track.

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For those wondering, there's no real difference between the yellow and green tracks. However, Adam Rivest, vice president of management and branding at Universal Orlando, recommended to the USA TODAY Network-Florida in May to "ride the green during the day and the yellow at night."

Speed: Up to 62 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 48 inches

Velocicoaster, Islands of Adventure

The Jurassic World Velocicoaster, inspired by the “Jurassic World” films, thrills riders at Universal Orlando Resort’s Islands of Adventure.

It wouldn't be a list of the best coasters without talking about Universal Orlando's game-changing Jurassic World Velocicoaster in Islands of Adventure.

Universal itself described the attraction as the "apex predator of roller coasters." It allows riders to race alongside life-like velociraptors, some of which are recognizable from the recent trilogy. The Velocicoaster is highly praised for its exhilarating speed, launching from 0 to 50 mph in 2 seconds.

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Speed: Up to 70 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 51 inches

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Islands of Adventure

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure media event at Universal Orlando Resort. This brand new rollercoaster is located at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Members of the media and special guests rode the adventure, and an event opening ceremony included Potter film cast members Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Evanna Lynch, and James and Oliver Phelps.

Just a short walk away from the Velocicoaster into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sits Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

This coaster literally has riders board a motorbike, complete with a sidecar. These seats offer slightly different ride experiences, with theme park experts claiming the sidecar is a little less intense.

It not only boasts high speeds and a thrilling track, but it also features some of the best animatronics at the entire park. Riders will be joined by Hagrid (the late Robbie Coltrane) inside his hut before they plunge into the Forbidden Forest to witness some magical creatures.

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Speed: Up to 50 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 48 inches

The Hulk, Islands of Adventure

Sticking in Islands of Adventure, it's not a proper theme park day without going on the Hulk coaster. Guests are asked totake part in a science experiment based on Dr. Bruce Banner’s research and are ultimately "blasted with gamma radiation," giving them the chance to move like the Hulk.

Speed: Up to 67 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios

Guests take a ride at Universal Orlando’s Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster.

Ever wanted to groove to music while riding a roller coaster? You're in luck!

Riders can listen to ABBA, Kendrick Lamar, Shania Twain, My Chemical Romance or DaRule on Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket while gliding over steep drops and fast turns.

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However, you'd better ride it while you still can! Universal Orlando announced earlier in June 2025 that the coaster will permanently close onAug. 18 of this yearto make way for a new experience. It is unknown what will replace it.

Speed: 65 mph

Height Requirement: Up to 51 inches

Rock 'N' Rollercoaster, Hollywood Studios

Moving over to Walt Disney World, Hollywood Studios housed several of the resort's more intense rides.

Rock 'N' Roll roller coaster allows riders to race along the darkened freeways of Los Angeles in a super-stretch limo to the tunes of Aerosmith.

Similar to Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, this ride will close soon but is expected to reopen. According to WDW News Today, the attraction will close sometime next year and be rethemed with the Muppets. So say goodbye to Aerosmith while you still can!

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Speed: Up to 57 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 48 inches

Guardians of the Galaxy, EPCOT

Also similar to Hollywood Rip Ride Ride, EPCOT's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind allows guests to jam out to tunes while riding. However, it's a surprise which of the six songs you'll get.

This coaster is the first reverse-launch coaster at the Disney resorts and has rides that take off on an intergalactic chase through space and time. There are appearances from all your favorite members of the crew, including Chris Pratt as "Star-Lord" and Zoe Saldaña as "Gamora."

Speed: Up to 60 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 42 inches

Tron Lightcycle Power Run, Magic Kingdom

TRON Lightcycle / Run will open in April at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

One of Disney World's newest attractions is already a favorite among guests.

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TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom is one of the fastest coasters at any of its parks.Similar to Hagrid's coaster at Universal, riders will board an unconventional seat. Straddle the seat like a motorcycle, leaning your upper body forward as you tuck your legs behind you, keeping your knees bent.

It keeps the aesthetic of the original movies, where you've seemingly stepped into a computer. Riders race against personified computer programs on futuristiclightcycles.

Speed: Up to 59 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 48 inches

Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest is an immersive roller coaster ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida.

You can journey into theicy peaks of the Himalayan mountains to locate a Yeti … without ever leaving Florida!

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Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest is one of the tallest coasters in the resort, where riders ascend 200 feet while boarding an old train car. It also has one of the more interesting queues in the entire resort, with "evidence" showcased throughout to aid the storytelling of the ride.

Speed: Up to 50 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 44 inches

Kraken Unleashed, SeaWorld Orlando

Be careful wearing flip-flops. SeaWorld is home to Orlando’s only floorless roller coaster, Kraken Unleashed.

"Riders’ feet dangle as they travel in open-sided seats, riding on a pedestal above the track at highway speeds to heights of more than 150 feet," the theme park writes.

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Speed: Up to 65 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

Mako, SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando's tallest and fastest roller coaster is found at SeaWorld.

Mako is a hyper coaster known for its "high speeds, deep dives, and thrills around every turn." It reaches speeds of up to 73 mph and can climb up to 200 feet high.

Speed: Up to 73 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

Manta, SeaWorld Orlando

Get ready to spin, glide, skim and fly like a giant ray!

SeaWorld's Manta is a steel flying roller coasterwhere guests are positioned horizontally to mimic these majestic manta rays. According to the Orlando Informer, it features four inversions: a pretzel loop, two twists, and a corkscrew.

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Speed: Up to 56 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

Iron Gwazi, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Ask any roller coaster enthusiast about the top attractions in the US and they will be sure to mention Busch Gardens' Iron Gwazi. Not only is it North America's tallest hybrid coaster, but it is also the world's fastest and steepest.

It is a wood and steel hybrid coaster design, combining the "innovation of a steel coaster and the nostalgia of a wooden coaster." According to its description, the coaster plunges riders from a 206-foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop,

Speed: Up to 78 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 48 inches

Montu, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Known for its speeds and inversions, Busch Gardens' Montu is also all the rage for theme park junkies.

"Montu has seven inversions, an unique Batwing inversion and was the first coaster in the world to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a simultaneous loop and roll), named for a German fighter pilot," Busch Gardens writes.

Speed: Up to 60 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

Sheikra, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

One of the most intense coasters in the state, Busch Gardens' SheiKra has riders climb 200 feet to a 90-degree drop — and lets them hang for a few seconds off the edge. Just get your heart rate going.

"Surrender to speed as you dive straight down into a 70 mph roller coaster whirlwind with an Immelmann loop, a second dive into an underground tunnel and a splashdown finale that drenches SheiKra fans waiting to catch their own piece of the fun," its description further states.

Speed: Up to 70 mph

Height Requirement: Minimum of 54 inches

POLL: Which of Florida's theme parks has the best roller coasters?

'The Mummy' to 'Seven Dwarfs Mine Train': See honorable mentions

Did your favorite not make the list? Unfortunately, we couldn't put every coaster on the list, but here are some more to check out between Florida's theme parks, as of June 2025:

Walt Disney World Resort

The Barnstormer

Big Thunder Mountain (Currently closed for refurbishment)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Slinky Dog Dash

Space Mountain

Universal Orlando

Flight of the Hippogrift

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Revenge of the Mummy

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Cheetah Hunt

Cobra's Curse

Air Grover

Kumba (Currently closed for refurbishment)

Phoenix Rising

Tigris

SeaWorld Orlando

Ice Breaker

Penguin Trek

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Super Grover's Box Car Derby

LEGOLAND Florida

Coastersaurus

The Dragon

The Great LEGO Race

Fun Spot America

White Lightning

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida rollercoasters: What to ride at Disney, SeaWorld, Universal