(Review) I rode Jurassic World Cretaceous Coaster with my son: what parents should know
“Big thrills, little dinosaurs”
Before I ever stepped into Jurassic World Adventure Camp at Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, I knew exactly where my 7-year-old son wanted to go first: Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster. As a dinosaur-obsessed kid, spotting the coaster from our hotel room only made the anticipation grow.
Before I even stepped foot into Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, I knew which land would be my son’s favorite — Jurassic World Adventure Camp. Like a lot of kids his age (he’s seven, by the way), he is absolutely and completely obsessed with dinosaurs. From the shows and movies to our ever-growing collection of toys, he is fully embedded in the “Jurassic World” universe.
What to expect on Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster
Child’s rating: 9 out of 10
In Jurassic World Adventure Camp, you can meet baby raptors, climb and explore in two dino-themed play areas, and ride three kid-friendly rides. One of those rides is Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, one of the park’s two roller coasters.
Cretaceous Coaster is the larger and more thrilling of the two coasters in the park. It has a minimum height requirement of 39” and kids taller than 48” can ride without a supervising companion. This is 3” taller than the minimum height requirement for Rhonda’s TrollFest Express and the tallest height requirement of any ride in the park, another indicator that this coaster will pack an exciting punch.
Photo by Dani Meyering
Despite being near the back of the park, you can see Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster from most spots within the park, including theme park view rooms at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel. Even before our day in the park, my son could see the ride from our window and was anticipating checking it out.
Ride experience and storyline
The queue itself didn’t have much theming, save for a few Jurassic World posters that reminded me of the ones near the lockers on Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando, but there were covered areas and fans.
If you have bags or loose items, the team members will ask you to place them to the side so you can grab them when you exit the ride.
The rugged, blue and gray ride vehicles emblazoned with the Jurassic World logo looked like the staff Jeeps on Isla Nublar from the newer films. The ride begins with a slow climb up a lift hill before going through a series of twists, turns and a couple of smaller hills before pulling back into the station.
Photo by Tarah Chieffi
Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster also has one of the more well-developed storylines in the park. Baby Anklyosuarus Bumpy went missing somewhere inside the park and we were on a mission to find him.
I wasn’t sure when or where he would appear, and I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but let’s just say everyone in the car said “Awwwww,” in unison when we spotted him. My son said finding Bumpy was his favorite part of the ride.
Photo by Dani Meyering
WATCH: See the Cretaceous Coaster in action by watching our video below.
Who should ride Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster?
In total, the ride lasts about a minute and a half. Unlike Rhonda’s TrollFest Express, my son had no complaints about the length of Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster. My son thought it was one of the best rides in the park, and I agreed (the only ride we enjoyed more was the Bello Bay Cruise in the Minions vs. Minions section of the park.
I would recommend this ride for kids in the six-to-eight-year-old range, but younger kids could ride it if they are tall enough and you know their comfort level with coasters. Alternatively, older kids who are still too scared of big coasters may prefer this pared-down alternative.
Photo by Tarah Chieffi
Need help planning your day? See our complete guide to Universal Kids Resort for everything families should know before visiting.
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