Islands of Adventure’s Hulk Coaster is Incredible
Islands of Adventure’s Incredible Hulk is one of the best looking coasters you’ll find anywhere. The twisted mess of bright green track is built partially over the park’s lake. Hulk’s enclosed lift hill and massive cobra roll and vertical loops dominate the skyline at Islands of Adventure. The layout is right on top of the park, but not to its detriment. Hulk is perfectly integrated into the walking paths and spectators are frozen in their tracks as they pass under the marvel.
The experience starts with the pre-ride theming of the queue made to look like a scientific facility straight from the comic book. The station is a futuristic gamma radiation chamber responsible for turning Bruce Banner into the Hulk. Riders climb aboard the suped up, comfortable, four across trains in anticipation of an unforgettable ride.
Hulk has one of the best opening sequences I’ve ever 
experienced. First, riders are launched 0 to 40 mph (via a tire propelled launch system) up the enclosed lift hill. 40 miles per hour is nothing extreme, but riding through the long tube, up into the light of day only to be spun upside down by a zero-g roll over 100′ in the air is unbelievable. This is easily one of my favorite all-time inversions. It just has to be experienced. After the roll, the train plummets back down towards the lake and then back up into a super-sized cobra roll (seen here) offering two more high altitude inversions. Next, the train enters a massive vertical loop. The trains dives into an underground mist filled tunnel, flies back up and does a sweeping helix around the enclosed lift hill.
From here on, Hulk loses its great pacing. Immediately after the helix the train enters a quick corkscrew, then a smaller tighter vertical loop that wraps around an upcoming brake run. After a few more turns riders are pulled into the brake run as they pass through the previous loop. Then they drop down and into the final inversion, another corkscrew, and after a few more turns you hit the station brakes. While I’m glad that the ride doesn’t just end after the incredible opening sequence, the second half seems crammed and a lot less interesting than the first half. The back half is also uncharacteristically rough for a Bolliger & Mabillard coaster. Even B&M’s loopers are usually very smooth and forgiving. These tighter inversions supply a little head bang. The banging’s not unforgivable, but definitely noticeable. Here’s a view of the crowded back half.
The Hulk is an amazing roller coaster and truly a one-of-a-kind ride. The theming, originality, and overall rideability are top-knotch and I want to give it a 10. But The Hulk falls just short. See my rating scale here. Final Rating – 9.5 (Excellent Approaching Superior)
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Incredible Hulk? Leave a comment below.
December 6, 2008 at 07:00
Yea.. from all the bad things I've heard about Incredible Hulk ( said to be the world's most overrated coaster ), I don't think it deserves a 9.5 out of 10! The opening is something really special. The cobra roll and loop elements seem good, but nothing too special.And for the rest, meh…The second half is said to be boring as hell and rough. 9.5? NO WAY.
December 7, 2008 at 05:00
I agree with what you've heard that the second half isn't as good as the amazing first half, but after you've experienced the Hulk's first half for yourself you'll understand. You might not give it a 9.5, but you'll understand. You just have to ride it.Thanks for reading.
April 27, 2009 at 06:03
I must tell you that the opening sequence was unbelievable. Thinking that you have another 10 seconds to go before reaching the top of the hill and then thrust up the hill at 40MPH was unexpected and exhilarating. What an unbelievable coaster. The second half is fun, and the first half certainly more than makes up for it.
June 12, 2009 at 07:29
this was my first real coaster. it was the best launch on a coaster i have ever had. i think that it was better than kingda ka's launch and also volcano's launch. im going to cedar point july 1-3 so ill know if it is better than top thrill dragster. i love how alot of the ride is over water, but i appreciate the second half more than most. it was pretty fun, exhilarating, and overall a great ride. i just think that with all the stuff around it, it could have interacted with it more. like, maybe wrap around the free fall, or have a heavier themed back part of the ride. also on-board audio wouldnt be such a bad idea. but i would give it a ten.
July 1, 2009 at 14:54
I agree with you guys. If that brake run was the end of the ride, i would give it a 10 hands down!
July 1, 2009 at 17:40
i agree that first half has to be the best first half that i have ridden since kumba. i mean the launch which is inclined, the perfect blend of huge inversions its just perfect.
July 1, 2009 at 17:49
Yeah i think the best part about this ride is the launch then that zero g roll its just a perfect combination. Its so dark in there then you get outside and your world is spinning upside down!
July 23, 2009 at 07:23
i have heard that hulk is overrated and i can agree but hulk was about years old and B&M have so many coasters over the years with same inversions so you can't really call it overrated when its becoming one of B&M's oldest lopping coasters
July 23, 2009 at 07:53
I live about three hours south of Orlando, and I have year passes for Universal and Islands. I can tell you one thing. THE HULK IS NOT OVERRATED. Let's see… the only B&M launch coaster around, Tallest Cobra roll when it opened, half of it over water, 80 minute wait about 20 minuets after park opens. This, as I would put it, is maybe UNDER RATED!
July 23, 2009 at 09:53
i stay 2 hours north of orlando so i know what you are talkng about james,now people would argue that the lauch isn't really fast since only pumps the launch at 40 mph. now hulk isn't the 70 mph maverick or sure is heck even the 120 mph top thrill dragtster but how many coasters are lauched in a 45 degree angle upward. im not crying about about people who dont like it or being overrated but im laying down facts for those bandwagon folks who haven't ridden it and wanna say its bad
July 23, 2009 at 13:40
That zero-g roll so far up from the water is INSANE!!!!!And that launch is more powerful than i thought it would be. This ride is not overated. Its so popular people come out with hair sticking up and somehow "worn out"
July 23, 2009 at 15:34
The launch actually looks and feels faster. It looks faster because of the Tunnel. And I don't know for sure, but I heard that there are wind effects.
July 23, 2009 at 15:39
Yeah when I first saw the ride, I didnt know anything about it. I didnt know the inversions, speed, i didnt even know there was a launch. When they went out of the tunnel i was wondering where the speed came from. Now dont call me stupid i was 8. I got on and i didnt see a lift hill. All of a sudden i got shot out of the tunnel which was really scary at that age. But yeah the tunnel is pretty cool. I really like the cool things you can look at when your waiting in line
July 24, 2009 at 06:21
the theming really makes the ride feel like its coming directly from the comic book matthew, i think it feels faster than it is to james. i just think that its the incline that makes it feel like that because the rock n roller coaster at Disney launches at 60 mph but doesn't feel like while it only lauches about 45 mph when it reaches the top of the tunnel
August 20, 2009 at 19:38
OK, I am on vacation in Orlando as we speak- just rode Hulk today for the first time- I LOVED it! Exhilarating, ingenious, thrilling, unique–and it has a damn good sense of humor to boot. I was stunned when it launched, then I laughed all the way back to the station. I think it is quite impressive considering it's 10 years old. Hulk brings a lot of elements together in one ride–though I agree that the beginning is the most impressive, I really enjoyed all of it.
August 23, 2009 at 05:37
CarolinaGirl, thanks for the review of Hulk from your vacation. I'm glad that you enjoyed it so much. You're right, it is holding up pretty well considering its age. Probably because it's a B&M. Just a few more days until the Carowinds announcement. Stay tuned!!
October 30, 2009 at 12:52
CarolinaGirl, if you are still reading, the rule on blogging is nothing over G rated stuff
November 2, 2009 at 15:32
Im going to universal studios in december and i cant wait to ride this ride! i loooooove rollercoasters. i was at ioa when i was 7 but i was too small to ride now 7 years later were finally going back both my parents say that after the ride they both got headaches. is it really that bad? also can you do a review[i know its not a coaster] on Dr. Dooms Fearfall? thanks
November 2, 2009 at 15:35
Sorry thats suppposed to be Youtube.com/mrrct3videos i make virtual rollercoaster models and after i go to universal i think ill make some of the rides there
July 13, 2010 at 12:51
The initial launch, zero-g roll, and cobraroll make up one of the greatest moments on any roller coaster anywhere. However, past that, the Hulk is just a below average B&M that can border on rough throughout the second half. I've been on coasters all over the country, and the Incredible Hulk is not worthy of even being in my top 20 with a ride that is only great for the first 15 seconds.
July 13, 2010 at 13:42
no line whatsoever as of right now! and forbidden journey is the best thing ever made!