The Flying Dinosaur is the headline thrill ride of Jurassic Park at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, and one of the most common questions about it is the simplest one: how long does the ride actually last? The answer isn’t quite as straightforward as a single number, because “how long” can mean ride time, track length, or how long you’ll wait in line, and this ride has a notable answer for each.
This guide starts with that direct answer, then covers the full stats, what the ride is actually like, how it compares with the other flying coasters in the world (Tatsu and F.L.Y.), who can ride, and how to plan a visit without losing half your day to the queue.
Quick Answer
The Flying Dinosaur’s ride cycle lasts about 3 minutes from dispatch to the final brake run, one of the longest ride times of any coaster in Japan. That time comes from a track that’s 3,687.7 ft (1,124.0 m) long, the second-longest circuit of any flying roller coaster in the world, behind only Phantasialand’s F.L.Y. in Germany.
How Long Is The Flying Dinosaur Ride, Exactly?
There are really two different “how long” questions here, and the ride answers both impressively. In terms of time, riders are on the circuit for roughly 3 minutes, noticeably longer than the 1-to-2-minute cycle typical of most B&M coasters. USJ has marketed this directly: the ride compresses what was, at launch, the world’s longest flying-coaster course into that single three-minute flight.
In terms of distance, the track runs 3,687.7 feet (1,124.0 meters) from the station, up the lift hill, through all five inversions, and back to the brakes. That length is why the ride feels like it keeps going well past the point where you expect it to end, B&M’s other flying coasters are shorter and get through their inversions faster.
The one thing “how long” does not reliably describe is the wait. Standby lines for The Flying Dinosaur regularly run well past an hour on weekends, Japanese school holidays, and Halloween or summer event days, since it’s consistently ranked among USJ’s most popular attractions. Budget your time for the queue separately from the ride itself.
The Flying Dinosaur Stats at a Glance
Park: Universal Studios Japan, Osaka (Jurassic Park area). Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard. Type: steel flying roller coaster. Opened: March 18, 2016.
Height: 151 ft (46 m). Drop: 124 ft (38 m). Top speed: 62 mph (100 km/h). Track length: 3,687.7 ft (1,124.0 m). Ride duration: about 3 minutes. Inversions: 5.
Trains: 4 trains of 8 cars each, with riders seated 4 across in a single row, for 32 riders per train. Height requirement: 52-78 in (132-198 cm). Always check the official rider requirements before your trip, since park rules can change.
What the Ride Is Like
Like other B&M flying coasters, riders board while seated, then the seats tilt back into a horizontal position so you’re facing the ground with your legs stretched out behind you before the train is dispatched. You climb the chain lift already in the flying position, looking straight down at the park below.
After the drop, the layout runs through a zero-g roll, a first inversion, and a “fly-to-lie” element that turns riders to face the sky. It then goes into a half pretzel loop and a second pretzel loop with a small tunnel at its base. An airtime hill, a corkscrew, a helix, and an inline twist follow before the long brake run that helps stretch out that three-minute cycle. The Jurassic Park theming and pterosaur capture concept set the ride apart from other flying coasters, which usually rely on the flight sensation alone.
Records: Is It Still the Fastest and Longest Flying Coaster?
When it opened in 2016, The Flying Dinosaur broke the length record set by Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain, opened 2006) and matched Tatsu’s 62 mph top speed, making it the longest flying coaster in the world at the time.
Phantasialand’s F.L.Y. opened in Germany in September 2020 and took the length record, with a track just under 1.3 km (roughly 4,055 ft by some measurements) versus The Flying Dinosaur’s 1,124 m. F.L.Y. is a launched Vekoma coaster with a top speed of about 48.5 mph, well below the Osaka ride.
That leaves the current standings among flying coasters: Longest: F.L.Y. (Phantasialand), with The Flying Dinosaur second. Fastest: The Flying Dinosaur and Tatsu tie at 62 mph. Tallest: Tatsu, at 170 ft (52 m).
Who Can Ride
Riders must fall within the posted height range, listed as 52-78 inches (132-198 cm), and are expected to meet USJ’s general health and safety requirements, published on its attraction requirement pages. Because the ride holds you face-down and upside down, expect to store all loose items, including hats, glasses, phones, and cameras, in a locker before boarding; lockers are provided near the ride, and staff check riders for loose articles.
If someone in your group doesn’t meet the requirements or doesn’t want to ride, USJ normally offers a way for the rest of the party to ride while the others wait nearby. Ask a crew member at the entrance for the current procedure.
Planning Your Visit
The Flying Dinosaur is one of the most popular attractions at Universal Studios Japan, so plan around queues rather than around the ride’s own three-minute runtime. The park sells regular admission tickets separately from paid ride-access add-ons (Express Pass-style products), and both the price and availability shift with the date, season, and demand.
A typical Osaka pattern is that weekends, Japanese school holidays, and seasonal events draw the longest lines, sometimes well over an hour, while weekday mornings and evenings tend to run shorter. A few habits help on a busy day: ride early or late, check whether a single-rider line is running (reports suggest it can be shorter on some days, though it isn’t guaranteed), and decide about lockers before you get in line so you aren’t sent back after reaching the front.
Ride status can change without notice, since weather and maintenance can pause or close the coaster. For current opening hours, ticket types and prices, live wait times, and the official rider requirements, use the official Universal Studios Japan website as the source of truth.
How It Compares With Other Flying Coasters
Flying coasters are a small group, and B&M’s versions share the same face-down seating concept. Tatsu is taller and older, while The Flying Dinosaur is longer in both track and ride time, with a more compact, pretzel-loop-heavy layout. F.L.Y. is a different type of ride entirely, launched instead of chain-lifted, and it’s the longest of the three but also the slowest.
For a coaster enthusiast, The Flying Dinosaur’s combination of a near-three-minute ride time and 62 mph top speed has never been matched on another flying coaster, and it still holds a share of the outright speed record among them.
Small enough to ride with on most coasters, big enough for a phone, card and keys. Two zippers mean nothing falls out upside down.
A fan and a mist in one, rechargeable. Very popular in queue lines once the afternoon sun hits.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
The Flying Dinosaur ride length and stats FAQs
How long is The Flying Dinosaur ride at Universal Studios Japan?
About 3 minutes from dispatch to the final brake run, covering a 3,687.7 ft (1,124.0 m) track, one of the longer ride cycles of any coaster in Japan.
Is The Flying Dinosaur the longest flying coaster in the world?
No, not anymore. It held that title from 2016 until 2020, when Phantasialand’s F.L.Y. opened in Germany with a slightly longer track. The Flying Dinosaur is now the second-longest flying coaster.
Is The Flying Dinosaur the fastest flying coaster in the world?
Yes, it ties for the top speed among flying coasters: it hits 62 mph (100 km/h), matching Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
How tall is The Flying Dinosaur?
It reaches 151 ft (46 m) at its tallest point, with a 124 ft (38 m) drop.
How many inversions does The Flying Dinosaur have?
Five, including a zero-g roll, a half pretzel loop, a full pretzel loop, a corkscrew, and an inline twist.
What is the height requirement for The Flying Dinosaur?
Riders must be between 52 and 78 inches (132-198 cm) tall. Always confirm current rules on the official USJ site before your visit.
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