The tremendous rattling started as soon as the first drop and didn’t let up until the end. We both had the same experience – heads banged around, necks hurting, backs unsupported. And to make matters worse, we were repeatedly pushed against the safety bar, which means our crotches were squashed against the vertical beam. We are both “no-handers” when we ride the other roller coasters, but for this ride we both clutched hard on the bar and prayed for it to end. I really believe this ride is a multi-million lawsuit waiting to happen.

In case you are wondering, we are not overweight or excedptionally tall or short, and we are not frail. My girlfriend is only 20 years old.

We have a feeling this may be isolated to a particular row or car. Each coaster has connected cars with three rows each. We rode on the last row of the first car but we didn’t see an identifying number for the two-car unit. We will continue to “chase” other new rollr coasters, but we will NEVER ride this one again. Be forewarned: ride at your own risk, and in our opinion the physical risk is very real. Good luck.

We purchased the Ride DVD, we thought it would make a good souvenir. DON’T PURCHASE THE DVD!!!! It cost us $31.90 and when we got home and watched it, we only feature in it for about 10 seconds! A complete rip off! It states everywhere that your captured on video during the ride, this is obvioulsy not true.
Enjoy the ride, but DO NOT buy the DVD!

And for the record, Orlando Attractions Magazine doesn’t center around Walt Disney World or SeaWorld. We center around whatever is happening at the time. If nothing new is going on at Universal for a few months, then it won’t have a big presence in the issue released during that time.

In our upcoming Fall 2009 issue, we will be including articles on Rip Ride Rockit and Halloween Horror Nights. Last year, we devoted 9 pages of one issue to Halloween Horror Nights and over the past 10 issues have published numerous stories on Universal Studios including The Simpsons Ride, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Hotel, Disaster, Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, Blue Man Group, and many more.

Yes, we do cover Disney very often – but that’s because there’s almost always something going on there. They have a much larger presence in Orlando than any other attraction or theme park company. But when there is something to cover at Universal Studios, we’re there.

The review above was my own personal opinion of Rip Ride Rockit based on riding it once in the third row. I plan on riding it many more times and if my opinion changes after being in a different seat, I will certainly post about it. And you’re right that Big Thunder may not have been a fair comparison, which is why I edited the post above to compare it to Expedition Everest instead.

This aside, the first half of the Rockit experience thrilled in its own unique way. My car’s “ipod” didn’t work, but thankfully it was jamming to ZZTop, which makes me realize how much other rides could benefit from a soundtrack. What if Dueling Dragons rocked out to “Gladiator?” But I digress.

Rockit fits well inside the family theme park scene and really shows off Universal’s ability to combine technical elements to create a “show” rather than a brief adrenaline rush. My greatest criticism actually had nothing to do with the ride – would they PLEASE change the half-Asian dude in the queue video? He belongs in a 70s version of Project Runway.

*PS – Do your research on the hidden tracks and how to access them. The fact that you can “rockit” to Kermit’s “Rainbow Connection” just tickles to no awkward end.

I’ll have to try it in the front row next time. It sounds a lot more fun than the third.

Personally, I’d prefer a scored soundtrack (even with various genres you can choose from) to the popular songs. I’d love to see them add that option later for those who want the songs to coincide with the movements along the track.

Rockit is no where close to the Hulk, Manta or Kraken.

For me, seated in the third row, right seat, I felt no air time and only occasional gentle G-forces. Perhaps for me, thrill is defined by inversions and that’s why my review came off as it did.

While I didn’t find RRR to be boring, I didn’t come off thinking “I have to ride that again!” like I did with Manta and always do with the Incredible Hulk. It simply seemed less intense. Again, maybe it’s just the lack of inversions.