Universal’s Epic Universe is officially the most ambitious theme park in the world, but if you’re traveling with kids in that “sweet spot” of 8 to 12 years old, the experience is a whole different ballgame. They aren’t toddlers anymore, but they might not be ready for the “intensity” of a full-on horror house just yet.
We recently travelled to Epic Universe and it was truly an awesome amusement park – or more like an immersive park. There are 11 rides in total making it very manageable to hit all the rides in 1 day. We spent time discovering all 4 portals (note: portals are the world’s where each theme comes to life: Mario, How to Train a Dragon, Harry Potter and Monsters)
After navigating the portals, here is the honest truth about what worked, what flopped, and what is just plain “too scary” for the average tween.
🐉 The Winners: Best Rides for Ages 8-12
In this age range, kids want thrills they can brag about without feeling genuinely terrified. These four rides are the absolute “must-dos.”
1. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (Isle of Berk)
This is the “Goldilocks” of coasters. It’s not a “kiddie” ride, but it won’t leave them shaking. It’s a launched coaster that makes you feel like you’re truly soaring on a dragon.
- Why they’ll love it: The views of the Isle of Berk are stunning, and the “near-miss” moments with the water are thrilling for 10-year-olds.
2. Mine-Cart Madness (Donkey Kong Country)
Universal has changed the game with the “sideways” track technology here. It looks like your cart is literally jumping over gaps in the track!
- Why they’ll love it: It feels like playing a video game in real life. It’s bumpy, fast, and has that signature Donkey Kong humor that hits perfectly for this age group.
3. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (Ministry of Magic)
Located in the 1920s Paris section, this is a massive technological marvel. You board a “magical lift” that moves in every direction.
- Why they’ll love it: The stakes feel high as you help Harry and the gang catch Dolores Umbridge. It’s intense but relies on incredible sets and motion rather than just “scares.” There is no dark magic style moments like there is on Forbidden Journey (which my kids did not like at all). Both my kids who are on the timid side really loved this ride.
4. Curse of the Werewolf (Dark Universe)
This spinning coaster is the perfect entry point into the “spooky” side of the park. It’s located in Dark Universe but is surprisingly family-friendly. It’s more of a roller coaster then a scary ride, and if they like Mine cart Madness, they’ll love this one as well.
- Why they’ll love it: The spinning adds a layer of fun that masks the “scary” theme. It’s fast-paced and great for kids who think they’re ready for “horror” but still want a fun ride. My 9 year old was a little unsure about this one, but ultimately had a great time – the line hype up made him belive that it would be a lot scary then it actually was… which was really just a rollercoaster with a literal twist.
✨ The “Surprise Hit”: Constellation Carousel
You might be tempted to walk past the carousel, thinking it’s just for toddlers. Don’t make that mistake. Located in the heart of Celestial Park, the Constellation Carousel is a masterclass in theme park design that actually kept my kids enageded. My 9 year old was pumped to see there was a dragon he could sit on!
- Why it works for the 8-12 crowd: This isn’t your grandma’s merry-go-round. The ride vehicles (celestial lions, dragons, and bears) actually rotate 360 degrees while they move, and the entire floor system uses a “dance” choreography that makes it feel more like a synchronized show than a circle.
- Pro-Tip: Ride this one at night. The fiber-optic lighting on the ceiling (the “Star Tracker”) and the glowing animals create a “vibe” that tweens will actually find “aesthetic” enough for their social media or just a cool memory. It’s the perfect “chill” moment between the high-intensity coasters.
🏎️ The “Meh” List: Rides That Didn’t Quite Hit
Not every “headliner” works for every age. For the 8-12 crowd, we found one major disappointment.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
While the line for this ride is arguably the best in the park, the ride itself can be a bit frustrating with too many moving pieces and the ride itself being very slow.
- The Issue: It’s an Augmented Reality (AR) ride that moves very slowly. For kids used to high-speed Mario Kart on the Switch, the slow “on-rails” movement feels a bit lackluster compared to the coasters nearby.
I also found it to be really confusing as an adult to understand what to do, and my visors were coming off. I think Universal missed the mark on this one. My kids thought the ride was good – but is it worth standing in line for 3 hours to go on, absolutely not.
🚫 The “Maybe Skip” List
If you’re short on time, these are the ones you can safely walk past if your kids are over age 8:
- Yoshi’s Adventure: It’s a very slow, cute omnimover. It’s great for 5-year-olds, but your 11-year-old will likely be bored within the first 30 seconds. There was a bit of challenge where you had to press the eggs when you saw them, but I didn’t really get that. I considered this one more of a tour of mario land vs. a ride. If the line is long and you don’t have express, I would skip.
- Fyre Drill: A “soak or be soaked” boat ride. Unless it’s 95°F and they are desperate to get wet, the novelty of spraying water targets wears off quickly for the middle-school crowd.
Power-Up Bands: Not a ride, but additional add on (think the wands in Harry Potter World) We did not get these and didn’t feel we were missing out on a ton. If you spend a lot of time in Super Nintendo World, the bands are worth it for the 8-12 age group. But at $45 a pop, and the need to connect to a smart phone, it wasn’t something I was interested in adding on (and I heard many families in lines saying similar things to their kids).
☄️ Stardust Racers: The “Big Leap” Coaster
If your kid is asking for more speed after Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, this is the main event. Located in Celestial Park, Stardust Racers is the park’s crown jewel—a dual-launch racing coaster that reaches 62 mph.
Is it too intense for an 8-12 year old?
This is the “big kid” coaster of the park, but it’s surprisingly approachable for adventure-loving tweens. Here is the breakdown for parents:
- The Thrill: It’s fast and features the “Celestial Spin”—where the two racing tracks crisscross while inverted. It feels like you’re flying through space.
- The Comfort: Unlike older coasters that can be “head-bangers,” this ride uses a lap-bar-only restraint. Your kids won’t have their heads knocked against a shoulder harness, making it an incredibly smooth experience.
- The “Cautious” Advice: It has a 48-inch height requirement. If your child has done Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and loved it, they are ready for this. It is a step up in speed, but it lacks the terrifying “story” elements of the scary rides, so the fear factor is purely about the wind in their face.
If your child has ever done a big roller coaster, and loved it, they would be ready for Stardust Racers. If this is their very first coaster ever, I would maybe work their way up to this one – I’m an advid coaster rider and this was a lot of fun but also intense during some moments like the famous Celestial Spin.
😱 The “Scary” Warning: Monsters Unchained
If your child is sensitive to jump-scares or dark environments, be careful with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
- The Vibe: This is arguably the most intense ride Universal has ever built. It uses KUKA robotic arms (like Forbidden Journey) to toss you around while life-sized, terrifying animatronics of Dracula and the Wolfman lunge at you.
- Verdict: For many 8-12 year olds, this is a “one and done” or a “hard pass.” Save it for the thrill-seekers in the family! My 11 really wanted to try this one, but halfway through the pre-show line experience decided this was not a ride for him, so we bailed.
💡 Quick Tips for Parents
- The Untrainable Dragon Show: Don’t skip the shows! This one features a life-sized Toothless flying over the audience. It’s a great way to sit down and cool off while still seeing something “Epic.”
- The Universal Express Pass is worth it’s weight in gold, where we didn’t invest in the power up bands, we did invest in Universal Express Pass. The day we went was so busy (Saturday, Holiday weekend) with a lot of rides listing over 200 min wait times. Yes, 200 min! We only had 1 day to explore Epic, and the Express Pass made such a huge difference, we never waited more than 30 min, and by lunch we had managed to ride Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge, Mine-Cart Madness, Constellation Carousel, and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, 3 of which are arguably the most popular rides at the park.
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