How to Avoid Motion Sickness At Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios and motion sickness went hand in hand with me on my most recent vacation. But after several trips, I have discovered practical tips on avoiding motion sickness at Universal Studios Orlando. I’ve found ideal rides and remedies to enjoy my days with less nausea.

As someone living with migraine, I experience vestibular issues often, but that doesn’t stop me from traveling. It does, however, alter the way I live and how I feel dramatically! My motion sickness symptoms are dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vertigo, trouble controlling my temperature, general discomfort, and vomiting. The intensity of these symptoms intensifies with a stack of triggers. A stack of triggers could consist of lights, sounds, smells, spinning, flashing, or jerking, among other things. I’m here to tell you about some of the worst rides for motion sickness and some other better options.

“Migraine is linked with various co-morbid conditions, the most prominent being motion sickness. Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headache are common to motion sickness and migraine; moreover, migraine sufferers have a heightened vulnerability to motion sickness. 1.“

So that means everything is off-limits at Universal Studios Orlando, right? Not exactly, but not without sacrifice, I’ll admit.

Why Motion Sickness Happens at Universal Orlando

Many of Universal’s most popular attractions rely on screen-based simulation technology, spinning motions, or 3D effects. These rides trick your brain into feeling motion that your body isn’t actually experiencing, causing sensory mismatch. For people living with chronic migraine or vestibular migraine, this mismatch often leads to dizziness, nausea, or a full migraine attack.

Epic Universe — What to Know in 2025

Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe, opened in 2025 with some of the most immersive rides yet. As exciting as it is, the park also introduces several attractions that can be tough for people prone to motion sickness, vertigo, or migraine. Overall, this park held the fewest triggers for me. Yea! The immersive experiences and use of fewer screens were so helpful. Here’s what to know before you ride:

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – This ride blends screens with elevator-like motion, which can confuse your sensory system and trigger nausea. If you’re sensitive, proceed with caution—or consider experiencing the queue without riding. We got super lucky when riding this. It is usually a very long line. It had been shut down, and we got in line when they were just reopening it and flew through the line. The line is very immersive, and we almost wished we had more time to look around. I highly recommend it for some time because it’s all inside.

• Stardust Racers – A high-speed, dueling coaster that reaches up to 62 mph with inversions and quick twists. While thrilling, it can be overwhelming for those with migraine or vestibular issues. This was our favorite ride of the park. We rode yellow, we rode green, and then we came back at night and rode our favorite. It wasn’t jerky on my head or body and was thrilling. I rarely ride a rollercoaster more than once in a day, and we rode it 3 times.

• Curse of the Werewolf – A spinning coaster where the ride vehicle’s rotation depends on rider weight. The unpredictable spins may cause dizziness. The wolf spat in my mouth, yuck!

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – This dynamic dark ride is long and filled with visual effects that may provoke motion sickness or migraine attacks. Monsters Unchained can be less triggering than rides like Forbidden Journey—thanks to differences in visuals and motion design

Tip: Just because a ride is popular doesn’t mean it’s worth the migraine aftermath. Sometimes skipping a ride—or simply walking the queue to enjoy the story—can still give you the experience without the symptoms.

Overall, for me, the contrast with rides or situations caused fewer symptoms than other parks.

Tips to Avoid Motion Sickness at Universal Studios

I always bring my travel toolkit to ensure I have what I need.

Hacks

• Take ginger chews, Dramamine (non-drowsy), or Bonine before high-risk rides.

• Stay hydrated with water + electrolytes—both migraine and motion sickness worsen with dehydration.

• Test the queue—especially for Ministry—since some parks let you walk through without riding to experience the visuals without exposing yourself to movement.

• Sit center or toward the middle of the ride—this helps reduce lateral motion and jostling.

• Use the exit if you change your mind after the queue. Many rides allow you to walk through the story without riding.

Advice

• Keep your eyes open and focus on a fixed point.

• Tilt into turns to help your brain process motion.

• Don’t ride on an empty stomach—balanced snacks help.

• Stay alert—closing your eyes often makes nausea worse.

Migraine-Specific Travel Advice

If you live with migraine, motion sickness is often just one piece of the puzzle. Theme parks like Universal and Epic Universe are full of migraine triggers. The biggest advice I can give is Listen to your body – It’s okay to sit out a ride, find shade, or even head back to the hotel. Choosing health over “pushing through” makes the whole trip more enjoyable.

Do not ride on an empty or full stomach

I realize that with all the incredible food options at Universal Studios Orlando, this will be a tough balance. However, this recommendation could make a ride thrilling without feeling sick later. My family personally likes to eat and share throughout the day, but breakfast is important.  If you are interested in something sweet, we love donuts and tried both Simpson Donuts and Voodoo Donuts.

But that’s a lot of sugar! So I went hunting for something healthier, and I found Today Cafe! We had the best avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches while feeling surrounded by the Today Show crew. It was great to sit down and get inside for a bit while loving our food.

Be prepared

Although you have to pack light when visiting Universal Studios Orlando, be sure to pack motion sickness medication and remedies in your bag. My son got motion sick on a ride, and I wish we had packed it. By the time we walked back to the room, he had taken a ginger chew and rested for 20 minutes, and he was back at it. By being more prepared with motion sickness medication or remedies, we may have avoided leaving the park altogether.

Protect your senses

Sunglasses, hats, and earplugs lower sensory overload. Short breaks in quiet spaces are essential for recovery. Shop my full travel kit.

Wear comfortable clothes

This may seem obvious, but some go for beauty and dress up when visiting Universal Studios Orlando, but I go for comfort, especially around my stomach. As someone who gets queasy and nauseous with my motion sickness, I need to wear comfortable clothes meant for at least a full 12-hour day!

Universal Studios Orlando in January is cold! We went on a rare cold weekend and had a great time, but needed many layers to stand outside. On a side note, when I was all bundled up, I often forgot to peel a couple of layers off and ended up overheating on rides. I was wearing a Harry Potter scarf and items that kept me cozy outside but gave me heat flashes on the rides (especially the 3D ones!).

Stay hydrated

The Florida sunshine can cause anyone to feel weak, even before potential motion sickness. Remember to drink even when it’s cold. I suggest limiting your carbonated soft drinks to a normal daily amount as opposed to a theme park amount. I do, however, suggest trying a Butterbeer. Not for hydration, but for the experience. We tried all three ways to drink Butterbeer…frozen, cold, and hot. We loved the Moose Juice too!

Read the warnings on the app

For many reasons, I suggest following the app! Universal Studios Orlando has an app that describes the rides and any 3D or 4D rides I am cautious of.

See the Shows

Going to the shows is such a good way to acclimate and take a break between rides. Remember to check times and plan accordingly. They are all very different.

• Bourne Stuntacular– This show may make you motion sick as it combines real life and screens. The screens may be dizzying, but I found that by not wearing glasses (which are heavy on my nose and face), I was able to enjoy the show.
• Animals– My family is big fans of animals. I love dogs, but am terrified of birds. I closed my eyes during the flying parts, but found the show to be entertaining and gave great respite from the rest of the day.
•  Poseidon’s Fury– This experience was like nothing else I’ve seen. It was a mystery as to what would happen next, and I loved it.

Universal Orlando Rides Most Likely to Cause Motion Sickness

Motion sickness at Universal Orlando depends a lot on individual triggers. me I can handle intense roller coasters better than spinning rides, but 3D simulator attractions almost always leave me feeling the sickest. If you are like me, you may want to think carefully before getting on rides that rely heavily on screens and visual effects.

Here’s my updated list of rides most likely to cause motion sickness at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.

Simulator and Screen-Based Rides

These attractions use screens, 3D effects, and motion platforms that can overwhelm the senses:

• The Simpsons Ride – This was by far my worst experience. I had a major heat flash, nearly threw up, and ended up wrecked for the rest of the day. My advice is to skip this ride and go for the donut instead.

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – A world-class ride inside Hogwarts Castle, but also infamous for making people sick. It combines robotic arm motion with screen projections. The screens are what affect me most, and the combination was too much. Even if you choose not to ride, I recommend walking the queue to see the incredible castle theming.

• Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon – I enjoy the theming, but the screen jumps make me queasy. I have found that closing my eyes during certain moments helps me get through it.

• Transformers: The Ride 3D – The repeated transitions and visuals made me nauseated within minutes. It was not a ride I wanted to do again.

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – This ride vehicle spins as it moves between screens, which made it difficult for my eyes to adjust. It worsened my motion sickness.

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong – This one is milder than other simulators because you are in a larger vehicle with more to look at. Still, it is not particularly motion-sickness friendly.

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – I love Harry Potter, but by the end of this ride I was ready to get off. It combines coaster elements with screens, and I find that balance difficult.

Epic Universe Motion Sickness Rides (2025 Update)

Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe, adds more immersive attractions that are also challenging for those of us prone to motion sensitivity:

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – This ride combines screen-based visuals with motion platforms. This is the most motion sickness-inducing attraction in the park for me. I did not find it as triggering as Forbidden Journey.

• Curse of the Werewolf – A spinning coaster with unpredictable rotations that can be hard to anticipate.

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – A long, dark ride with nonstop visual effects and movement. This was better for me because of the animatronics. Not having screens was a benefit for my motion sickness.

• Stardust Racers – A thrilling dueling coaster. I loved this ride, but it is intense and not for everyone who struggles with motion sickness. We rode this ride 3 times and loved it during the day and even better at night. For some reason, roller coasters aren’t as triggering for me and this one isn’t jerky or painful for me.

• Constellation Carousel- We waited to do this one at night because I knew it would look beautiful. It is dark and glowing with lights. The carousel moves in circles and may be disorienting to some, but I found it relaxing.

High-Thrill Coasters to Approach with Caution

Roller coasters are a mixed experience for me. Some trigger migraine pressure without motion sickness, while others I skip altogether.

• Jurassic World VelociCoaster – This ride gave me head and pressure pain afterward that lingered, but it did not cause motion sickness. For me, it triggered migraine symptoms rather than nausea.

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – A fun and adventurous ride, but it involves a lot of motion.

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – I skipped this one entirely. Instead, I spent time with my son walking through the shops and enjoying the streets, which was a good alternative for us.

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall – My family rode it without me and immediately told me, “No way, this is not for you.” I trusted their judgment and stayed away.

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster – I was intimidated by this one but might try it in the future. My son was too short for the height requirement, so I was happy to wait with him and watch the green coaster roar overhead.

Spinning Rides

Spinning rides are usually easier for me than screen-based attractions, but they can still be unpredictable.

• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ’n’ Hurl – The name alone was enough for me to pass on this one.

• Curse of the Werewolf – While technically a coaster, the spinning element adds unpredictability and can be disorienting.

• Men in Black- shooting game starts tame, and a lot of spinning

• Cat in the Hat– This was a slower ride, but the attraction upset my stomach
• Storm Force Accelatron– This is basically Teacups from Disney, which are always a family favorite. I laugh so hard on this ride, but I tend to feel the effects of motion sickness.

Slow Spin or Stroll

Looking for slower rides but still want to have fun? I suggest trying these couple of rides. They spin and move at a pace my body and mind can relax on.

• Caro-Seuss-el
• One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!  I love this ride and the songs
• Yoshi’s Adventure- this does not have a shade and gets hot.

My Motion Sickness Takeaway

For me, 3D simulators are the biggest culprits. Roller coasters are hit-or-miss depending on my migraine triggers, and spinning rides are manageable only in small doses.

The two rides I absolutely will not ride again are:

• The Simpsons Ride

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Rides I sometimes do, but with caution, include:

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

• Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon

And the rides I avoid completely are:

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ’n’ Hurl

In the end, it comes down to knowing your body, your migraine triggers, and deciding what experiences are worth it. Sometimes the best choice is enjoying the themed queues, browsing the shops, or taking a break while the rest of your group rides.

Best Rides for People with Motion Sensitivity at Universal Studios Orlando

If you want to enjoy Universal without pushing your limits, these attractions are generally easier on motion-sensitive guests:

• Hogwarts Express – A fun, themed train ride with mild movement.

• Flight of the Hippogriff – A small family coaster with gentle thrills.

• ET Adventure – Classic slow-moving ride.

• Seuss Landing attractions – Family-friendly rides with softer motion.

• Shows & walkthrough attractions – Like Animal Actors or live stage shows, which are great low-trigger options.

Like my travel posts, here are some more adventures I’ve been on:

• Phoenix
• Disney World
• New York City
• San Antonio
• Travel kit
• Packing list

1. Cuomo-Granston A, Drummond PD. Migraine and motion sickness: what is the link? Prog Neurobiol. 2010 Aug;91(4):300-12. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.04.001. Epub 2010 Apr 21. PMID: 20416353.