Was able to ride this twice today (first time). Went single rider, inexplicably got row 5 both times, once on the right and another on the left. Waited maybe 30-35 minutes both times with a 75 minute posted wait. I almost don't know what the heck actually happened on this ride, but I loved it. I say that because the pacing of this ride is so fast and furious (tee hee) that it's like as soon as I was starting to process an element, I'd already be halfway through the next one. Also, I'm GP af and have ridden very few noteworthy coasters (Hulk and back row on Fire are basically it in terms of things that could be considered intense).
VelociCoaster blows those out of the water. Holy hell does this thing haul ass. It never lets up, and the way it's paced means there's never a dull moment. I guess I'll jot down some thoughts on each element?
Launch - The audio here is superb...and by "audio", I mean "POWER UP THE BASS CANNON". The bass from nuHulk's queue and launch (offride) seemed to find its way into the ride experience here, and it's hype as hell. The launch itself is fine, not insanely forceful I suppose, but gets you up to speed relatively quickly (and it is the first part of the ride after all). Really strange thing is that on my second ride, the audio in this scene was replaced with some kind of announcement. I was too amped up to pay attention to what it was actually saying before it ended, but it killed the mood a bit. The scene was silent when we actually launched, though the lack of audio made it slightly surprising I guess?
Immelmann - This thing is really deceptive. Looking at it from offride it's like "wow look at that hangtime," but from onride it's like "why yes, sir, please pull me down through this rockwork as hard as you possibly can". This is an element that really feels like a setup and payoff, with the actual inversion and hangtime leading into the much more exciting pulldown feeling, complete with a good headchopper.
Dive Loop - Low key one of my absolute favorite moments on the ride. The inversion here comes so suddenly and just like that, you're upside down and in airtime heaven. Sudden transition aside, I can't articulate exactly why I like this so much...maybe dive loops are just that cool? It just feels badass to go through.
Spaghetti Bowl - The train twists and turns so much here that I can't really recall it verbatim from memory, but everyone touting the airtime on the swooping turn down to the left after the dive loop is absolutely right. Lots of good forceful turns in this section, though I found it hard to see the raptors from where I was sitting. Still, the theming and rockwork really make this whole first half feel alive and grounded in a believable environment.
Second Launch/Top Hat - Being a coaster noob who's pretty scared of heights, I was apprehensive of this going in because it looked like the winning combination of tall and steep. In practice, you get an amazing launch and then you're cresting the top hat before you even really know what's going on. The drop has some great airtime and didn't rattle me at all, even at 80 degrees and 150(?) feet. I will say that from row 5, the little stall at the top felt like it took an eternity, which I kinda appreciated a bit. Obviously the front and back rows should feel pretty different here.
Inverted Stall - After the top hat, this was the element that had me the most nervous. I mean, from offride it looks like you're dangling completely upside down for a relatively extended period of time with only a lap bar. Some review I watched actually called this one of the least exciting elements, and...I have to agree? It's fun, but not nearly as heart stopping as it looks from offride. I guess this is as good of a time as any to say that despite some real concern about inversions with only a lap bar, I felt totally safe and secure. Not that I don't trust the ride engineers, but it's just something I had to experience to understand. As soon as we hit that first Immelmann, I paid basically zero attention to the restraints only being a lap bar. It's really that secure and comfortable (note: TMs will staple you).
Helix/Wave Turn Shenanigans - Some really amazing airtime on these turns, though I have to agree with some other reviews I've seen that the element that twists the train to the left before swooping down to the right underdelivers a bit. Didn't really feel anything too crazy when twisting left, though (shocker) the airtime on the following turn is fantastic. Overall, a fast paced section with good airtime that lets you catch your breath a bit since it's not inverting or ridiculously high or anything crazy. And you'll need to catch your breath.
OH GOD I'M FALLING OUT - *ahem*, I mean the Mosasaurus Roll. Everyone was saying the same thing but I found it hard to believe for whatever reason. From offride it just looks like a nonchalant barrel roll, but in practice...hoo boy. You start going through this element and everything's dandy, and then suddenly it's like the ride flips a switch and you speed up, or slow down, or...something, at just the right angle, to make it feel like the ride is doing its best to dump you into the lagoon. This roll feels like it takes forever, and making it through honestly made me feel like I survived something. Then there's a a nice little pop of airtime and you're headed back into the station.
Nearly element is a winner to some degree imo, but what I like most is how they're spaced out. With something like Hulk you get the best moment upfront and the rest of the ride can't possibly follow it. VelociCoaster not only spreads its iconic moments out, but also had wild swings in its style to keep you guessing. The first half's tight spaghetti bowl is nothing like the huge turns of the second half. The top hat is amazing, but it's only the halfway point. The Mosasaurus Roll is arguably the ride's best moment, and good god they actually save it for last! Ride's also an airtime machine. I don't know if the official word was 12 second of airtime, or 12 airtime moments, or what have you, but you're nearly always out of your seat at least a bit.
VelociCoaster is a giant win for Universal and is now my favorite ride at the resort (previously Hagrid's, and Spidey before that). I can totally see this being a gateway drug to other intense coasters. Also, IoA has an absolute murderer's row of attractions.