In 2014, we took a family trip to Universal Orlando Resort. We were all looking forward to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter so much that I hadn’t even thought about the rest of the rides. My oldest son was 17 at the time, and he was all about roller coasters. While I stood there Googling, “How Scary Is The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster?” he rode it four times in a row. Silently, I promised myself I’d get on it one day.
Watch our video: Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
There’s nothing quite like this attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which is why it immediately went on my bucket list. If I was going to overcome my fear of roller coasters, I’d definitely need to ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Now that I’ve done it, let’s talk about the experience.
How Scary Is The Incredible Hulk Coaster?
Before we dive in, let’s go over some of the ride specifications for The Incredible Hulk Coaster. One of the most important steps in getting over fear on rides has been thoroughly researching them before I climb in the seat.
If you deal with anxiety on roller coasters, don’t let anyone say watching videos ahead of time is a “spoiler.” The more you watch the videos, the more comfortable you will be when it’s time to join the queue. Being mentally prepared allows me to enjoy a ride more because I’m not sitting there stressing over the unknown.
Here are some details about The Incredible Hulk Coaster to know before you fasten your harness:
- Year built: 1999
- Engineer: B&M (first B&M coaster with a launch design)
- Drop height: 105’
- Total height: 110’
- Speed: 67 mph
- Inversions: 7
- Notable: Features an on board sound system that plays a ride-specific score composed by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.
The ride closed in 2015 for refurbishment and reopened in August 2016. They added new seats, changed the line queue, freshened up the theme, added new sections of track, new trains, and the onboard audio. If my son rode today, The Incredible Hulk Coaster would probably feel like a totally different ride than it did in 2014.
Looking at this list of specs could feel a little intimidating. In fact, just standing in the park watching this ride in action is a lot. We’ve written about Top Thrill Dragster and Yukon Striker, and can confidently say that Hulk is a tamer ride. That being said, it’s definitely the most intense thing you’ll experience at Universal Orlando Resort.
Launch on The Incredible Hulk Coaster
This is a launch coaster. That means that, rather than climbing a lift hill and then experiencing a drop, you’ll suddenly accelerate to its top speed. So, if you’re asking yourself how scary The Incredible Hulk Coaster is, you need to keep that in mind. Some rides, like Top Thrill Dragster and Do-dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland, launch from a stationary position.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster starts slowing climbing, like a traditional roller coaster, and then suddenly launches. You’ll go from 0 to 40 mph in about two seconds. If you’re not prepared for that, it’s pretty jarring. This is yet another reason why we encourage people who are very nervous to do a little research ahead of time.
One super cool thing about the launch on The Incredible Hulk Coaster is that it takes place in a tunnel. From the loading area, you’ll immediately enter this tube where it becomes a fully immersive experience. You’ll hear the beginnings of the music, as well as dialogue about gamma rays and some Hulky science stuff (no spoilers from me!).
Without warning, you’ll shoot straight out of the tunnel-like you’re being launched out of a cannon. Then, you’ll immediately enter a series of inversions. After that, the ride just never stops twisting and turning you till it’s over.
Harness System
Some rides have minimal harnesses. That is not the case on The Incredible Hulk Coaster. There are four seats in every row, and you’ll all be pulling down on some pretty heavy-duty, ratcheting, over-the-shoulder restraints. Fortunately, while you’ll feel secure, you shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
We’ve been on rides where you feel stapled in place or your head shakes around so much that it hits the harness, leaving you with a headache. That’s not what we’ve experienced on The Incredible Hulk. Of course, I still like to wipe down the areas that will touch my face with a disinfectant wipe. We can’t bring sanitizer on this ride because Universal makes passengers walk through a metal detector and screening process, but bringing a soft wipe is fine.
In addition to the shoulder restraints, you’ll have a seatbelt. It’s attached to the seat between your legs and clicks into the underside of the harness. Personally, given the intensity of this ride, I like having it there.
The Inversions
As mentioned, there are seven inversions on The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Honestly, you’re going to feel like you’re upside down (or at least sideways) for half of this ride. Some of the inversions are very quick (like the first two), and then others feel like massive loops.
If you hate the feeling of being upside down, you might want to skip it. However, I’ve got to say that the inversions on The Incredible Hulk Coaster are very smooth and as gentle as possible, all things considered.
There’s not even a single full inversion on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit over at sister park, Universal Studios Florida, but I’d say that ride is FAR rougher than Hulk. It’s not always about how many loops or turns a ride has — it’s about how it’s done. And we definitely prefer the design on this one.
The Best Things About The Incredible Hulk Coaster
It took me four years to gather the courage to get on The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Once I finally rode it, I was not disappointed. It was worth every minute, and I’m glad I got to ride the refurbished version. We’ve been on a lot of roller coasters, and this is one of our favorites. It’s not the most extreme, and it’s not the newest, but it’s a great option for thrill-seekers at Universal Orlando Resort.
Here are some of our favorite things about The Incredible Hulk Coaster:
- It’s just super cool. As Marvel fans, the way the Hulk bellows throughout the ride just adds so much to the experience.
- The green track and theming is fantastic. The tunnel, the line queue, and everything about it is really fun.
- At night, it’s hard to see the end of the tunnel, so the launch is extra fun. Plus, the whole thing is illuminated with green lighting in the dark.
- We love the subterranean dives. They incorporate fog/mist (which is a little less fun in the cooler months but amazing when it’s hot) to add to the mystique.
- The on-ride audio is sooooo good! The musical score by Patrick Stump really enhances the ride and is part of the reason why we love it so much.
Is The Incredible Hulk Coaster Scary? Yes. There are seven inversions on this launch coaster. The intense ride is elevated, though, by incredible Marvel-theming and a fantastic musical score. You might feel nervous, but if you let yourself enjoy the ride, you might also feel like a real-life superhero.
Plan Your Trip To Universal Orlando Resort
We absolutely love Universal Orlando Resort. We even like Volcano Bay, despite the fact that I’m not a fan of water parks. It’s clean, new, and well-maintained. Aside from that, this is just a great destination for couples and families.
One year, Josh and I went as a couple and stayed at the new Aventura Hotel. It’s modern and chic, but without the high price tag. When we took our four-year-old last summer, we stayed at the new family resort, Surfside Inn & Suites. We had a lot of space to stretch out and listen to him complaining about not being allowed on the big rides. We’ve got a budding daredevil on our hands!
Here are some helpful links for your next trip to Universal Orlando Resort:
- 5 Reasons to Stay at Universal Orlando Resort
- Top 5 Rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Top 5 Rides at Universal Studios Florida
- Where to Eat at Universal Orlando Resort
- 25 Magical Tips for Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- 5 Ways to Avoid Germs at Theme Parks
Check the calendar at Universal Orlando Resort for special events. For example, if you go in early September, you could check out Halloween Horror Nights while the weather is warm and the crowds are minimal. We highly recommend doing the R.I.P. Tour if you can because you can skip the lines at the houses and the rides!
