The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Universal Orlando Resort with Young Kids
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/IMG_2766-e0661fcb35514b59bba3256b9d322754.jpg)
Are you taking a trip to Universal Orlando Resort with young children? Read our guide for tips and tricks on how you can make the most of your stay.
Being a born and bred Floridian, I have always been a “theme park girl.” I grew up on rides, ranging from rollercoasters to carousels. I regularly went to character meet-and-greets, taking pictures and breaking out my autograph book. And I lived for both shows and parades. It was and is a love I knew I wanted to share with my own kids, when I had them. But I was always told Universal Studios Florida—now one part of Universal Orlando Resort—was a “big kid” park. I shouldn’t go there with young children. But in the summer of 2024 I was given the opportunity to do just that—and I jumped at the chance.Make no mistake: visiting Universal Orlando Resort with young kids is different. It takes preparation and planning—and lots of extra snacks, toys, and outfits. But Universal Studios is home to some of our favorite licenses and characters. In Universal and its neighboring park, Islands of Adventure, you can meet Poppy and Branch from Trolls. You can enter the world of Spider-Man, visit Seuss Landing, or ride along with E.T. And, of course, there’s the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There’s also the land of the Minions—a favorite of my son’s.But how did we make this trip work? Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Universal Orlando Resort with young children, from our hotel and travel arrangements to the best rides at Universal Studios for young kids.Where Is Universal Orlando Resort?Nestled in the heart of its namesake, Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort is located in Florida.What Parks Are Part of Universal Orlando Resort?Universal Orlando Resort has two theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It is also home to one waterpark, Volcano Bay, and a dining and entertainment complex, known as CityWalk. In 2025, a third theme park, Epic Universe, is slated to open. This new land will feature everything from famous Universal’s infamous monsters to Super Mario and friends.Is It Worth Visiting Universal Orlando Resort with Young Kids?Whether or not it’s worth visiting Universal Orlando Resort with young kids is highly subjective—and based on numerous factors, like time, travel accommodations, where you live, and your budget. If you live in the midwest, for example, a cross country trip may not be in the cards, but if you live on the east coast, a trip to the parks may make more sense. (We flew out of the New York area, making the trip less than three hours.) However, regardless of where you reside, one thing is certain: there is definitely enough for young kids to do in Universal. From rides and meet and greets to playgrounds, shows, parades, and other forms of street entertainment, there is a lot happening at Universal Orlando Resort.
Courtesy of Kimberly Zapata
Universal is home to many young kids' favorite licenses and characters, including Despicable Me, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, and Shrek. There’s Seuss Landing, for the youngest members of your party. Got a dinosaur lover? Be sure to visit Jurassic Park, where you can see dinosaur eggs, learn about dino DNA, and meet both baby dinosaurs and Blu. And if you’re rearing a mini witch or wizard, head over to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for some pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and—of course—the wand selection ceremony at Ollivanders, where the wand chooses you.Should You Stay At a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel If You Have Young Kids—and, if So, Which One Is Best?When it comes to staying “on property,” I’m biased. I adore kitsch and convenience. I’m also a big fan of the added amenities which generally come with on-site stays. And while this is true for any theme park, it is particularly prevalent at parks like Universal Orlando Resort, where hotel guests enjoy perks like early theme park access, free transportation, merchandise delivery, and—at select hotels—the ability to skip ride lines via Universal Express (a huge bonus with kids of any age). But what Universal Orlando Resort Hotel is best for young children? Honestly, it’s hard to say—what with eight official on-site hotels ranging from value to premier. But Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a special place in my heart with its retro theming, two massive pools, bowling alley, and arcade. Plus, there are affordable rooms and suites, a huge perk to those traveling with children of different ages. (I was able to put my youngest to bed earlier than the rest of my party, thanks to the layout of the room.) Our suite also had a full fridge and kitchen, which made stocking up on snacks and breakfast foods a breeze.
Courtesy of Kimberly Zapata
The location is ideal too. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is just minutes away from Volcano Bay, and you can walk to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and City Walk, if the weather is nice and you don’t mind the 15 to 20 minute trek. Oh, and there’s a Starbucks on site, a huge win for parents of young children (see also: early risers).What Universal Orlando Resort Rides are Best for Toddlers and Young Children?When it comes to theme park rides, very few places do them quite like Universal. Their technology is state of the art. Their theming is on point, and they are just plain fun. I’ve never had a bad experience on a ride at Universal Orlando Resort. But what Universal Orlando Resort rides are best for toddlers and young children?Well, if you are traveling with a smaller child, like I was—my kiddo is five but is only 40-inches tall, on a good day—you will want to check Universal’s height requirements. Many Universal attractions start at the 40-inch mark, including some of our favorites like Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. (We rode the latter four times!) Others are designed for even smaller riders, specifically the Caro-Seuss-el, Cat in the Hat, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!, Pteranodon Flyers, Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl, and my son’s absolute favorite ride of the trip, Flight of the Hippogriff. There’s also the Hogwarts Express, E.T. Adventure and the new Trolls Trollercoaster, to name a few.If your child is 42-inches or taller, there are a number of other rides available to them, including Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges and MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. However, it is worth noting that while your child may meet the height requirement for these attractions, some are in the dark and on the scarier side. Are There Other Things to Do, Like Character Meet-and-Greets or Shows?While we were in Universal Orlando Resort we did a lot: We rode rides. We ate some amazing meals. We saw shows, and we stopped to do character meet-and-greets. In fact, the first thing we did when we arrived (at Island of Adventure) wasn’t jump on a coaster or visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we stopped to see Spider-Man. Why? Because he’s my son’s hero and because there are no shortage of “other things” to do in Universal.In the new DreamWorks Land, an area of Universal Studios which is specifically geared toward younger children, you can meet Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. We did. You can also play in Shrek’s swamp before heading over to Po's Kung Fu Training Camp, an immersive water playground. There are sprinklers, water cannons, and a dump bucket. There’s also a giant gong and several noodle bowl-inspired “merry-go-rounds.” You can meet Poppy, Branch, and—if you’re lucky—Guy Diamond. You can also meet Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse and other Dreamworks characters. (While we were there, we saw King Julian and Puss in Boots.) And you can catch a fantastic show called the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration. I don’t want to spoil too much but trust me; it is a must-see!
Courtesy of Kimberly Zapata
In Seuss Landing, an area of Islands of Adventure geared toward the younger set, you can meet Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, the Lorax, and Thing 1 and Thing 2—to name a few. You can listen to stories told by all of your favorite Seuss characters, and you can sing and dance with them.Other fun “things to do” include Universal’s Superstar Parade, Animal Actors Live on Location, the Universal Mega Film Parade, and CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular. Also, if you have a Marvel fan, your favorite superheroes can be seen riding throughout Super Hero Island.Where Should You Eat?There is no shortage of good food in Universal Orlando Resort. Truly. My foodie heart was happy—and my stomach was full. But where should you eat if you’re traveling with young children? Well, that depends. Despite the fact that our youngest is not a great eater, we prefer to take time to have one full service, sit down meal a day. This is a welcome break from the heat—and “theme parking.” It is time to sit down and rest little legs, which is clutch if you opted not to get a stroller. (A fateful mistake we made on day one.) It is also a great way to hide for summer thunderstorms, if you happen to be traveling to the park during the rainy season. Some of my favorites include:Full-ServiceConfisco GrilleMythos RestaurantFinnegan’s Bar and Grill Counter-Service (with inside seating)Illumination’s Minion CafeComic Strip CaféRichter's Burger Co.Three Broomsticks The Leaky CauldronNOTE: Every full-service restaurant has a kids menu, and most have “picky” eaters in mind. Many can also accommodate allergies and intolerances. Other Important InformationIf you’ve decided you are making the trip to Universal Orlando Resort, you’ve likely sorted most of the details, i.e. your tickets are purchased. Your hotel is booked, and your travel arrangements are (more likely than not) planned out. But the finer details may need some finessing. So here are some tips for traveling to Universal Orlando Resort with young kids.Rent or bring a stroller. If you are traveling with a young child, you’ll want a stroller. Both parks involve a lot of walking, and having one is a good way to rest weary legs. Trust me. We didn’t have a stroller the first day of our trip and after walking more than five miles and logging more than 12,000 steps—on my pedometer—my son was exhausted. Don’t feel like bringing your own? Universal Orlando Resorts rents both single and double strollers.Utilize child swap and single rider lanes. If your child is too small and/or unwilling to go on a particular ride that you (or another child) want to experience, you have the ability to take advantage of child swap. Simply wait on line for the attraction with all members of your party. When you get to the front of the attraction, tell the attendant you are doing child swap. The parent waiting with the child who is not riding will then be guided to a family room. Once the ride is over, you will switch places with the adult who rode—allowing you to enjoy the ride without waiting in the queue again. Single rider lanes are another great way to reduce wait times when riders are too small and/or unwilling to go on a particular attraction.Download the app. Whether this is your first trip to Universal Orlando Resort or your fifth, you’ll want to have the app. Why? Because the app allows you to monitor wait times and make dining reservations. You can place mobile food orders and buy theme park tickets. It also has a handy map, which will help you navigate the parks, hotels, and entertainment and dining district.Plan for downtime, both during park and rest days. While this is something of a given—regardless of where you are vacationing—if you are traveling with young children, you’ll want to plan for downtime, both during park and rest days. This means buffering for breaks, snacks, shopping, the bathroom, or just sitting down. If you are staying on-property, you may want to plan a mid-day trip back to your room and/or the pool. Stroller naps can also be crucial. Bring a bathing suit—or a change of clothes. Whether you plan to visit Po’s new water playground or just spend a day in the parks, you’ll want to bring a change of clothes. The former will get your children soaked thanks to several sprinklers, misters, and a bucket of water—which dumps approximately every five minutes—and the latter? Well, let’s just say young children are prone to accidents and spills. Plus, they may sweat through their clothes or become victims of Florida’s unpredictable weather. In any case, having a spare outfit is a clutch.Be flexible. Even the best laid plans can (and will) change. You may have dining reservations at 5:00pm but still be on line for a ride—on the other side of the park—at 4:40pm. Your child may have a midday meltdown, causing you to pump the brakes on (well) everything. Or, like me, you may find yourself caught in the midst of a summer storm. On our final day, we planned to take our oldest on VelociCoaster while our youngest played in Camp Jurassic. Mother nature, however, had other plans. But regardless of what happens, knowing that things will not go according to plan is half the battle. Just go with the ebbs and flows as they come. Be flexible. Utilize the Universal app to the best of your ability, and—most importantly—have fun. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings