(Review) Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express: is it a good first coaster for kids?

Even though my seven-year-old son has already tackled “big kid” theme park rides like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Islands of Adventure and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I was beyond excited to bring him to Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.

Why? Because the entire park is designed just for kids like him. He is big enough for all of the rides, and none of them are too intense. I think we scarred him a bit by letting him ride the Matterhorn when he was five. He was technically tall enough, but maybe not mentally or emotionally ready for the Yeti.

As we approached the ride, we were greeted by colorful posters featuring various characters from the “Trolls” films dancing to different genres of music. The queue had minimal theming aside from that, but it was painted in an eye-catching pink color that reminded me of a Troll’s hair.

What to expect on Rhonda’s TrollFest Express

Child’s rating: 7 out of 10

The ride vehicle itself was modeled after none other than Rhonda from “Trolls Band Together,” a beige caterpillar bus with gorgeous lashes and a beautiful smile. Basically, she was adorable.

Once on board, we pulled down our lap bars and took off on the not-too-fast, smooth ride that lasted about 30 seconds. That may seem short for a roller coaster, but when you consider the fact that it is geared toward kids who may have never stepped foot on a roller coaster before, I think it was a good choice.

My son did comment on how quickly the ride was over, but I do picture a kid getting off this ride with a huge smile on their face after conquering their first roller coaster (unlike the tears on my son’s face after we unknowingly pushed him past his comfort zone on Disneyland’s Matterhorn).

Despite its short run time, Rhonda’s TrollFest Express had a surprising number of twists and turns, and even a couple of drops. Even I was a little surprised the ride packed that much punch, but I wouldn’t call it intense by any means.

Who is Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express best for?

Rhonda’s TrollFest Express has a minimum height requirement of 36”, and children over 48” tall can ride without a supervising companion. My kids hit 36” before they turned four years old, making this one of the more family-friendly coasters out there. 

The low height requirement makes Rhonda’s TrollFest Express a perfect “first coaster” for younger kids. Or, for someone like my son who has already experienced more intense coasters, it could serve as the first coaster they ride all by themselves without a grown-up, if they are over 48″ tall.

By comparison, the Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster on the other side of the park has a 39” minimum height requirement, and the supervising companion rule still applies.

Parents of younger kids will appreciate that there is stroller parking right outside of the queue and that a large portion of (though not all) the queue is covered from the hot Texas sun. If you have a large bag or loose items, Universal team members will place your items next to the ride vehicle for safekeeping while you ride.

Overall, I think Rhonda’s TrollFest Express is unique in that older kids and adults may consider it to be over too quickly, but kids in the 4-to-6 age range who have the opportunity to make this ride their first-ever roller coaster will be beaming with pride. But then, of course, there are adults like me who just love riding on a caterpillar bus in a sparkly, Trolls-themed land.

I would prioritize this ride if you have very young children (considering that is the park’s demographic, that should include most guests who visit Universal Kids Resort) who aren’t ready for bigger coasters or kids like my son who can ride without a parent for the first time.