Want to stay cool at the Universal theme parks? Check out this guide to the water rides at Universal Orlando to include in your visit to the parks.
Universal Orlando has many rides and attractions for guests, including water rides that range from a refreshing mist to completely soaked!
The water rides can be found at the three theme parks: Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay (water park) as well as the fourth park, Epic Universe, that will open in summer 2025.
In my experience there is usually someone in the group that loves the water rides and someone who is pressured into riding them.
I fall some-what in the middle. In the summer months I am all in! When it is colder out I tend to avoid them but can be talked into riding with my kids!
Overview of Universal Orlando Parks
Below is a quick overview of the water attractions at each Universal park as well as the height requirement to ride.
Universal Studios Florida:
- Panda Village Splash Area
- Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres
Islands of Adventure:
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Minimum Height 44″)
- Jurassic Park River Adventure (Minimum Height 42″)
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (Minimum Height 42″)
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (No Minimum Height, Must be able to independently sit-up, no hand-held infants.)
Volcano Bay:
Volcano Bay is a water park and all of the attractions are water based. There are 19 water attractions including a wave pool beach, a not so lazy river (TeAwa The Fearless River) and Krakatau Aqua Coaster.
For the purpose of this post I am going into details about the water rides at the theme parks. If you want more details on Volcano Bay read this: 14 Volcano Bay Tips for Your Visit to the Universal Water Park
Epic Universe:
Epic Universe is currently being built and all the rides and attractions have not been announced. I will add to this list as updates are made.
- Fyre Drill (No Height Requirement)
- Astronomica (No Height Requirement)
Best Water Rides at Universal Orlando
The best Universal Orlando water rides will depend on the ages of your group.
If you have older kids and adults you may want to prioritize the thrilling attractions. For guests with toddlers and young children, the splash areas will be your best option.
If you are visiting with older kids visit the Islands of Adventure water attractions. If you have young children Universal Studios water attractions are best.
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges- Islands of Adventure, You will get soaked! Fun for all ages.
- Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls- Islands of Adventure, You will get wet. May be too intense for young kids.
- Jurassic Park River Adventure-Islands of Adventure, You will get wet, typically not soaked. Might be scary for young kids but most are fine.
- Panda Village- Universal Studios, This is set to open June 14, 2024 and will include a splash area for young children.
Water Rides at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Orlando water rides are best for young kids. There are not a lot of areas to get wet.
There is not a water ride at Universal Studios but there are kid-friendly splash and play area.
DreamWorks Land
DreamWorks Land is where you will find the interactive splash playgrounds. This includes Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp which will have a water bucket and splash area.
Guests can also cool off at Shrek’s Swamp with a playground that features interactive water elements.
Water Rides at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal’s Islands of Adventure water rides will get you soaked! If you like thrilling water attractions Islands of Adventure can’t be missed.
The Toon Lagoon area at Islands of Adventure has 2 rides and spray areas to get wet. As you walk through Toon Lagoon there are spray areas that can cool you off without waiting for an attraction.
Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls
Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls is more intense than your typical log flume ride. It has a 75 foot drop that may be too much for younger guests.
The ride itself is not very scary, except for the steep drop. The anticipation of getting drenched is what makes this ride fun!
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is a raft rapid ride that you either get totally soaked or not wet at all. It is really random but plan on getting soaked!
This ride is usually the one I ride last because it will drench you through your clothes and shoes.
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Jurassic Park River Adventure is located in the Jurassic Park area of the park. This boat ride adventure takes guests through Jurassic Park and finds them escaping a T-Rex.
You will most likely get wet on this ride!
Other Water Attractions at Islands of Adventure
If you have younger kids you may want to check out a few tamer ways of cooling off at Islands of Adventure
The Mystic Fountain in the The Lost Continent is an interactive fountain that will talk to you and spray you with water.
Seuss Landing
Seuss Landing has two places to cool off for younger kids.
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is an interactive flat ride where guests have to move their fish up and down to avoid the water spraying at them.
You will not get soaked but it is a good place to cool off.
If I Ran the Zoo is another play area in Seuss Landing that has a few minor water elements. You can also play in this area and not get wet, so it is great with kids!
Water Rides at Epic Universe
Epic Universe will open in 2025 and has not announced all of the rides and attractions. Here is what we know so far:
How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk
How to Train Your Dragon will include a Fyre Drill, a boat ride where guests compete to out-soak each other.
Celestial Park will have a small splash fountain area, Astronomica, for guests to cool off in.
Tips for Water Attractions at Universal Orlando Resort
Best Time to Ride
The most popular water rides at Universal are Jurassic Park River Adventure and Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls.
The wait times fluctuate based on the weather. If you are visiting during the summer months or on a hot day, expect long wait times.
The afternoon lines will be longer than the early morning lines.
On cooler days the Jurassic Park River Adventure almost always has lines while the two other water attractions are not as busy.
If you want to skip the lines consider purchasing a Universal Express Pass or staying at a Universal on-site resort that includes Express Pass.
Plan Your Day Around the Water Rides
If you are spending a few days at Universal consider choosing a time to focus on the water rides.
We will ride all the water attractions starting with Jurassic Park and ending with Popeye’s to get soaked, and then head back to our hotel to change.
More Tips for Water Rides
If you do not want to be soaked all day consider packing ponchos and flip flops. Use a locker to store your sneakers and ride the attractions without soaking your shoes.
You may feel silly wearing a poncho but we are always happy we have them. After the ride you can either toss them or put them in a bag to dry out at your hotel.
Bring ziploc bags or ask at a gift shop for an empty bag to store them. This has saved us from being soaked for our entire day.
Universal water rides can be a great addition to your Universal Orlando vacation. They are some of the best attractions at the parks and I love including them in our days at the Universal theme parks.
Suggested Read: What to Do at Universal Orlando: 25+ Can’t Miss Things to Experience
Want to hear more from me? Subscribe to my Five for the Road Substack where I share the latest posts from the blog, plus destination and theme park news I am excited about. It is like a coffee chat delivered to your inbox. 🙂
Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
Leah
Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.
