Tackling Universal with Toddlers: A Guide for Parents

Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure

Out of all the lands in Islands of Adventure, Seuss Landing is going to be the MOST toddler friendly. When you enter Islands of Adventure, you are going to want to hang a right once you are through the main walkway, which will drop you over near the entrance to Seuss Landing. All of the rides in Seuss Landing will have a height requirement of 36 inches OR LESS, so it was built with your tiny ones in mind. It also features one of my favorite playgrounds: If I Ran the Zoo. If I Ran the Zoo features a water play area, slides, and lots of interactive features that gives kids a place to run and play. It doesn’t have a height requirement.

As for rides, Seuss Landing has four different rides! The Cat in the Hat is a classic dark ride that will take you through Dr. Seuss’s famous story. It has a 36 inch height requirement. My personal favorite ride in Seuss Landing is The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. This one also has a 36 inch height requirement, but has some of the best views of the park. If your tiny adventurers don’t quite meet that height requirement though, don’t worry. Caro-Seuss-el (the Dr. Seuss carousel) and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (similar to Dumbo) do not have a height requirement!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. At Islands of Adventure you will find Hogsmeade, home to Hogwarts, the Three Broomsticks, and other iconic moments from the beloved series. While Hogsmeade is also the home to major thrill attractions like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, it also has rides designed for smaller ones.

If you have a park-to-park pass you aren’t going to want to miss the Hogwarts Express. The Hogwarts Express departs from both parks, but a park-to-park pass is required to experience this attraction since it does drop you inside the other park. It is a different experience on each side and it has no height requirement. If you are looking to stay in Islands of Adventure, make sure you don’t skip Flight of the Hippogriff! Flight of the Hippogriff is a smaller outside coaster with a 36 inch height requirement that will make your small witches and wizards feel like they are one of the big kids.

On top of rides, Hogsmeade is also home to some non-ride attractions like Ollivander’s which can also be found on the Universal Orlando side. This is an interactive show that givess kids and adults alike the opportunity to get a wand. The best part? Those wands are interactive! Inside the box you will find a map showing you all the places in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you can cast spells.

Hogsmeade is home to a few shows that take place on the stage near Hogwarts. like the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Tournament show. And speaking of Hogwarts, make sure you find your way back there at night because select nights of the year it will be transformed into a stunning light show! If that’s still not enough Harry Potter fun for your kids, you can also opt for the walk through tour of Hogwarts that will allow you to exit before you get to the actual ride.

Face Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park probably doesn’t sound terribly toddler friendly, and normally I would agree with you, but Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure is actually home to some awesome kid-friendly activities! Let’s start with Camp Jurassic. Camp Jurassic is a play area that features water, caves with lights, dinosaur slides, and so much kid fun! It is also where you can find Pteranodon Flyers. Pteranodon Flyers is going to have a 36 inch height requirement but will take you on a smooth flying journey above Jurassic Park!

This land is also going to be home to the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, which is a hidden gem in Islands of Adventure. Here kids can learn all about Dino DNA ( you know you want to say it in the Jurassic Park voice) and where kids can even see baby dinosaurs hatch! If you are looking for more dino fun, also make sure you stop by the Raptor Encounter. When doing the Raptor Encounter there are two different options, the baby raptor and Blue. I would recommend skipping Blue since it is more intense and opt for the baby raptor which will be a better experience for your young paleontologists.

More Toddler Friendly Attractions at Islands of Adventure

Toon Lagoon is where some crazy awesome water rides are, one of them being Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. This one will be for those kids on the older side of toddler because it does have a 42 inch height requirement and be warned, you will absolutely get wet! If that one isn’t an option though, Toon Lagoon has two smaller splash pad areas at the entrances to the area as well as the Me Ship, the Olive which is a play area where kids can play on Popeye’s ship.

Marvel Superhero Island is going to have quite a few attractions for the adults, but it does have a couple that are more accommodating of smaller riders, like Storm Force Accelatron which has no height requirement, but is a spinning attraction, and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man has a 40 inch height requirement, but it is a more intense attraction that may not be a good option for every kid, so be mindful. If they are too small or the ride is too intense, you can take them across the way to meet Spidey himself!

Your List of Kid-Friendly Attractions

Universal Orlando may have fewer rides for kids, but the ones they do have do not disappoint! When you enter Universal Orlando if you walk straight you will find yourself at Minion Mayhem, one of my kids’ favorite rides! While this ride has a 40 inch height requirement for the moving seats, guests who do not reach that height requirement can opt for the stationary seats which has no height requirement, making this a great option for the whole family!

Other rides great for small ones are going to be E.T. (34 inches), a dark ride that takes you through plot points from the movie and E.T.’s home planet, Kang & Kodo’s Twirl ‘n’ Hurl (no height requirement), an outdoor ride in Simpson’s similar to Dumbo, and the Hogwarts Express (no height requirement) that leaves from King’s Cross Station and will take you back to Hogsmeade.

Universal Orlando has several entertainment options as well! Animal Actors is a great show with adorable animals that is a hit with most little ones, but there is also the Superstar Parade which will feature characters from Spongebob, Despicable Me, Secret Life of Pets, and more! Kids can also take their wands and use them throughout Diagon Alley which has spots for spells!

Experiencing Seasonal Offerings at Universal Orlando

Some of our favorite things to do at Universal Orlando Resort as a family take place around different holiday times or are seasonal offerings. Their Grinchmas celebration, Holiday Parade, Earl the Squirrel Scavenger Hunt, and Christmas at Hogwarts show are just some of the reasons we love visiting Universal Orlando during the Christmas season, but Universal has different offerings ALL YEAR LONG!

Right now is their Mardi Gras which has a festive and child-friendly parade where kids can catch beads and experience the fun of New Orleans, as well as their Mardi Gras tribute store which features elaborate sets, delicious themed treats, and fun merchandise. This store changes seasonally to reflect different things happening in the park and will go through several themes each year.

While Halloween Horror Nights is famous for its scares, that is obviously not something that interests most toddlers. Luckily, Universal also offers their Scarecrow Stalk each year which is a fun scavenger hunt where kids can explore the park and find different scarecrows and read their different spooky stories.

Everything Else You need to Know

Heading to any theme park with kids, especially tiny kids, can be overwhelming, that’s why Stuff To Do in Orlando is here to help you with all the info so you feel prepared for an awesome family day! Here are some bonus tips and things to keep in mind when visiting Universal Orlando Resort:

• Take time to meet the characters! Universal and Islands have characters out and make for a great activity for small ones.
• Make sure you stop by the playgrounds. Universal Orlando has some amazing playgrounds that are a great place for kids to get their energy out, especially after they have spent a lot of time sitting in lines.
• Make sure you know what to pack. Bring a good stroller, supportive shoes for kids, water bottles, sunscreen, and even some snacks.
• Take Advantage of the Baby Care Centers. If your littles are still in diapers, know where the baby care centers are! This can be a good quiet place to change them.
• Parents Don’t Miss Out! Universal Orlando Resort has the BEST set up for rider swap. Families are able to stand in line together and only separate once you get near the front of the line. Several of the rider swap rooms have air conditioning and often TV for the kids to watch, making it easy on the parent waiting for their turn.