Queue Chronicles

From high-speed launches to immersive storytelling, these are the five roller coasters we never skip in Central Florida! Did your favorite make the list?

(May contain some spoilers for the rides!)

🎢 Since moving to Central Florida, we’ve had the chance to ride a ton of roller coasters—some amazing, some… not so much (stay tuned for our upcoming interviews where we’ll spill on our favorites, least favorites, and theme park hot takes!).

With so many great rides in the area, we’ve narrowed it down to our top five must-ride coasters—the ones we never skip.

Now, we will be doing a Top 10 list, but we’re holding off until we can publicly discuss the highly anticipated Epic Universe coasters. Trust us, we’re dying to talk about them, and as soon as we can, you’ll get all the details!

For now, here are the five coasters we can’t miss (in no particular order):

VelociCoaster – Universal’s Islands of Adventure

An intense, high-speed thrill ride set in Jurassic World, VelociCoaster is everything we love in a coaster—

✅️ Powerful launches

✅️ Multiple inversions

✅️ And an absolutely wild heartline roll over the water (my personal favorite).

And all of this? Just a lap bar holding you in. It’s a dream for thrill-seekers like us.

The queue is a major plus. Universal nailed the immersion—you’re stepping into the raptor paddock, surrounded by animatronic Velociraptors that feel a little too real. As Dr. Malcolm would say: “Must go faster!“

🛑 Heads up: This ride has mandatory lockers and metal detectors, so no loose items (phones, bags, etc.) are allowed. But we love that lockers are integrated into the queue now—gone are the days of renting one at the front of the park.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – Universal’s Islands of Adventure

A true story-driven coaster, Hagrid’s is one-of-a-kind. It’s packed with fun surprises, so we won’t spoil them all—but if you’re a Harry Potter fan, this ride is a must.

The soundtrack and narration add so much to the experience, and the ability to choose between the motorbike or the sidecar gives it a unique twist.

💡Pro tips:

🎢 The motorbike is the way to go for extra thrills!

🎢 If you can, ride at night—it’s a totally different experience with only your headlight guiding the way.

Some other notes:
✅️ No inversions! If you’re not a fan of going upside down, this one’s perfect.
🛑 Locker required for loose items, including bags and phones.

Iron Gwazi – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Confession: I hate old wooden coasters. They’re painful. But hybrid coasters? Rad. Absolute game changers—and Iron Gwazi is one of the best.

Once a rough wooden racing coaster, Iron Gwazi has been reborn as a smooth, intense hybrid with epic barrel rolls and massive airtime. It’s an absolute beast of a ride. (Guazi of a ride?🤔)

🛑 Now, the queue? Not much to talk about—it’s a standard line setup with no major theming. But honestly? The ride more than makes up for it.

Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom

This OG indoor coaster has earned its spot on our list not just because it’s fun—but because it’s pure nostalgia.

With its dark, star-filled room, old-school spaceship sound effects, and classic 70s-style queue, Space Mountain is just a vibe. It may not have the speed or inversions of modern coasters, but there’s something timeless about zipping through the dark with those iconic swooshing sounds.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – EPCOT
One of Disney’s best new attractions, Cosmic Rewind, is a game-changer for coaster design. We were thrilled when the virtual queue finally ended, so we could ride it multiple times a day without planning our entire time around it.

This coaster is smooth, full of surprises, and completely unique. The rotating ride vehicles allow for storytelling mid-ride, all set to a killer retro music soundtrack (which changes each time you ride!). If we had to describe it, it’s like an upgraded Space Mountain with a Guardians of the Galaxy twist—but even better. The queue is also a huge win, featuring:

✨️The Wonders of Xandar exhibit
✨️Models of Nova Corps ships & uniforms
✨️Pre-show scenes (or “cut scenes” for the gamer in me) where you’re “transported” to a Nova Corps ship for your mission

Seriously, it’s worth the hype.

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Honorable Mentions
Of course, Central Florida has no shortage of amazing coasters. We can’t forget:
🎢 Mako & Manta at SeaWorld
🎸 Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios
…And plenty more!
But these five? They’re the ones we never skip when we hit the parks.
What do you think? Do you agree with our list? Which coasters are in your top 5? Let us know in the comments!
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Final Thoughts
This Top 5 list is just the beginning—we’ll be back with a full Top 10 once we can talk about the coasters at Epic Universe (we’re counting down the days!). Until then, stay tuned for more coaster breakdowns, ride tips, and hot takes from the parks!