Universal's Newest Roller Coaster Is Dedicated to 'Jurassic World' - and It's Opening This Week

Universal Orlando's new Jurassic World VelociCoaster opens this week on June 10, 2021, and it promises to bring the iconic film franchise to life with unbeatable thrills. In fact, it will be Florida's fastest and tallest launch coaster, and the world's first roller coaster based on the film franchise, with Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong reprising their roles for the new attraction.

Riders will race alongside velociraptors in an exciting chase with just a lap restraint holding them in. The ride will feature high-speed launches - the fastest will take guests to 70 miles per hour in just 2.4 seconds - and a 360-degree barrel roll above the Islands of Adventure lagoon. But the excitement doesn't stop there.

A "top hat" will take riders 155 feet into the air before plummeting them down on an 80-degree drop, which will be Universal's steepest roller coaster fall. Guests will also get to experience several exciting seconds of airtime throughout the ride. According to the new specs, it sounds like the new Jurassic World VelociCoaster will be one of the most thrilling rides ever created by Universal.

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This roller coaster will be the newest addition to the Jurassic Park land at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The area currently has a Jurassic Park-themed water ride called Jurassic Park River Adventure and a Raptor Encounter, where guests can get up-close with a velociraptor.

After amusement parks around the globe closed last year amid the coronavirus pandemic, theme park fans were left wondering when new attractions and rides would open. Disney World recently announced that Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, based on the beloved 2007 Pixar film, will be opening this year, and Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park just opened this month.

Elizabeth Rhodes is an associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure who loves all things theme parks. Follow her adventures on Instagram @elizabetheverywhere.