True or False? Universal Orlando is NOT for Young Kids…
You may or may not have heard the vicious rumors that your younger kiddos will be miserable at Universal… You should wait until the youngest is much older before going… Universal is only for teens…
These rumors are FALSE! Now, that’s not to say Universal is for everyone. Universal has caught wind of these rumors, and while they do a FANTASTIC job bringing the thrills, options for the younger crowds are expanding with the recent opening of DreamWorks Land and the even newer Epic Universe.
Height Requirements
While there are fewer attractions without height requirements than some theme parks, there are a surprising number of attractions your littles can likely still take part in. Currently, there are 3 rides in Universal Studios Florida (USF), 4 in Islands of Adventure (IOA), and 2 in Epic Universe (EU) that are listed as having NO height requirements. I know, that does not seem like much… But there are several more with a height of 40” or less.
Since 40” is a milestone that brings the majority of Universal’s attractions into the realm of possibility, and falls in the 3-5 year old category, I typically use this as a good way to see if Universal is the right fit for your family. At 36”, your little can ride 5 rides at USF, 8 rides at IOA, and 3 rides at EU. At 40”, that brings our count to 7 of the 14 rides at USF, 10 of the 18 rides at IOA, and 8 of the 11 rides at EU.
I LOVE what Universal does for kiddos who are interested in an attraction they are not quite tall enough for. Let’s say you have a little superhero who loves Spider-Man and wants to ride the ride, but doesn’t quite hit that 40” benchmark. Universal Team Members at the ride will measure, and when they find that the superhero is not quite ready, they offer a return ticket that will allow your child (and up to 6 people) to hop into the Express Line when they are tall enough. It makes for a great consolation tactic and offers your kiddo something to look forward to at your next visit!
Child Swap System
What do you do if you want to take a ride, but your kiddo isn’t tall enough? As long as you have 2 responsible (ish) adults or teens, Child Swap will be for you! No, this does not mean you are trading your child for one tall enough…
You and your child may still enter the queue with the rest of your party. Along the way, there will be a room where you can wait with your child while the rest of the party rides. One of the other members of your party can then circle back to the room and wait with the child while you re-enter the queue without having to go through the entire line again. All attractions with height requirements have this feature. Just let the Team Members at the attraction know that this is your plan, and they will direct you to the proper place and procedure!
What Else Can We Do?
Gosh…SO MUCH!
In addition to rides, Universal offers a lot to experience and look at that does not involve rides or height requirements. Not only do I fully recommend taking your time in general, but this is especially true with littles. Let them fully explore their surroundings. You will find that there are fun interactive elements and neat details around every corner.
Child-friendly play areas are located throughout every park!
- Universal Studios Florida- Here you will find DreamWorks Land, which includes play areas themed after Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda. Simpson’s Land offers some neat interactive features to find, and of course, The Wizarding World Diagon Alley is full of magical details and interactive spells that are my little one’s favorite.
- Islands of Adventure- This park offers play spaces in just about every land! Starting in Seuss-Landing, there are many interactive features and story elements throughout. Head up to the Wizarding World Hogsmeade for more interactive spells. Next, onto the Jurassic Park land for interactive games in the discovery center AND a themed play area in Camp Jurassic. Toon Lagoon is home to Me Ship, The Olive, a Popeye-themed area, as well as many interactive features throughout. Finally, Marvel Superhero Island also offers interactive features and story elements.
- Epic Universe- Epic may be one of the most interactive and detailed theme parks in existence! You will find a huge park and a water play area in Celestial Park. In the Isle of Berk, your kiddos will love Viking Training and seeing many interactive elements. The Wizarding World Place Cache offers even more spells and interactive portraits. Super Nintendo World will put your little gamer in Mario’s shoes, playing games and getting coins. The details in Dark Universe will blow your mind, but I would be cautious with little ones in this land as it may be a little scary for some.
After all that, you’ll also want to make time for the shows and characters! Every one of the parks offers amazing shows with something for everyone and character meet and greets galore. On our last trip, there was a character around every corner. I absolutely love how Epic is utilizing “resident” characters in each land that will make interactions natural and keep you feeling immersed.
Bottom Line: There’s still SO much here for you, even with your younger kiddos! Want more details? Download my free guide, Universal Orlando for Littles here. I list every ride for 40” and less, as well as the shows, characters, and play areas available at each park to help you plan your trip.
Want more planning help? I’ve got you covered! I live and breathe Universal and would love to help you plan your trip. I just have a quick form that will let me know your needs. Once you fill this out, I will reach out to you, and we can start planning your magical, immersive, epic vacation.
