Jurassic World VelociCoaster Review

Dinosaurs do know how to build an excellent roller coaster

This is one of the best roller coasters in the world. 10/10. Ride it.

There. That’s the review, I don’t need to say much more. Thanks and until next time! ...what do you mean I need to say more than that? Okay, let's see the GOOD things about it, then. This is probably going to take a while.

The Good

Let's just say that this is an amazing ride for those that love roller coasters without tons of loops and sharp turns, and prefer something that is all about speed and great moments of air time when it feels like you are walking on the moon. Walking on a moon, all from the plush comfort of a velvet-covered chair, by the way. Yeah, the VelociCoaster is that comfortable. I want one of those seats to replace my office chair back home, honestly.

This is a “Top 5 best Roller Coaster in the World” according to the Golden Ticket Awards and multiple YouTubers. The VelociCoaster gets packed rather easily, which is usually the case with good rides and popular rollercoasters, so it’s normal to see waiting times ranging from 60min all the way to 120min. The good news is that Universal’s FastPass service – called the Express Pass – works for the VelociCoaster, which is a huge bonus. 

There’s not much to say about the queue itself, even if it features a few realistic animatronics like our friend above. Yeah, he doesn't look happy, but the poor guy is trapped and all he wants to do is to also ride this amazing coaster. Oh well. Another cool part happens a few minutes before boarding your vehicle, as you will come face to face with a big tv screen featuring everyone’s favorite actor, Chris Pratt! Funny enough, Chris Pratt also appears in another amazing ride, which is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Disney’s EPCOT. That guy is on a roll!

The VelociCoaster is fast but, more importantly, the seat is extremely comfortable. This ride is all about speed, going up, going down and screaming… yep, prepare your lungs and scream as loud as you can. The starting section is fun and actually quite immersive, as you are launched forward to simulate your vehicle running against raptors in a fierce competition. You can even hear them making... raptor sounds, or whatever that is. Then its time to go up for some air time and enjoy a few sharp turns that never feel like you are being aggressively shoved to the sides like a test dummy.

The best part for me happens a bit after the initial launch, when you are catapulted forward once more to climb a steep hill, giving you the chance to enjoy a full second or two of air time before a huge drop. It’s amazing, and it feels like this small moment gets frozen in time. 

Some people prefer the final section, with a few corkscrews near ground level, which are also pretty nice, but my heart belongs to the air time and awesome drops. It's very rare for coasters to get better as they go on, instead of the first few seconds after a launch or a main drop, so the VelociCoaster delivers here as well.

The Bad

What is this thing called "the bad" in a review about the VelociCoaster!? What madness is this!? Okay, this coaster is not perfect, and the main problem is very easy to notice: the VelociCoaster gets crowded rather easily and fast. Queue times are usually around 100 minutes, which is understandable: if a ride is popular and good, it's going to get crowded. No attraction in the world can escape that.

It's important to note that the VelociCoaster has a strict policy against bringing anything with you on the ride. I mean anything, be it your cellphone, a lucky charm, a T-Rex tooth or a loose coin inside your pocket. They have X-rays before you board the vehicle and park operators will know if you’re trying to ride with your new iPhone hidden somewhere. They aren’t afraid to set out a live velociraptor after you if there is a suspicion you are trying to be sneaky. 

The good news is that the VelociCoaster also has metal lockers right as you go past the main entrance. The lockers aren’t very big, but there is enough space for a single backpack, so make sure to store all your belongings inside.

This is my favorite kind of roller coaster. Enjoyable, fast, not bumpy at all. It's awesome to see recent roller coasters making changes to make seats more comfortable and going for speed instead of having dozens of loops over and over and over again. I don’t even think there is a traditional loop here, although there’s at least one barrel roll near the end. As I said, those pesky raptors are all about going fast, so expect to find this here. 

Plus, you'll walk away headache-free once the ride concludes. Hooray! It's time to hop back on for another round. And another. And another.

Will Kids enjoy it?

The VelociCoaster has steep height requirements, and your children will probably need to be at least 9 years old to come to this amazing attraction. Will they have lots of fun with the raptors? This depends if they love roller coasters and high doses of adrenaline. You should probably bring your children to rides like Doctor Doom's Fearfall and Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure before trying the VelociCoaster, only to see if they enjoy those rides. If they are having fun, then it's almost a safe bet that they will love their time with Chris Pratt and all the dinos.

It's also a good idea to climb the rollercoaster-tier-list before coming to the VelociCoaster. Bring your kids to Disney World and try rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Expedition Everest and Rock N' Roller Coaster before trying this imposing, beautiful steel giant. The VelociCoaster is one of the most intense rides in Florida, so it's a good idea to prepare your children before they are ready to race against those pesky raptors.