Universal Orlando is known to bring all the thrills. From VelociCoaster, to Revenge of the Mummy, and even Skull Island: Reign of Kong, there is plenty of action-packed adventure for a more mature audience. But what about for the tadpoles? While some of the attractions around the Universal Orlando Resort are geared more towards the older frogs, there is plenty to do around the resort for the younger children. Whether your child wants to be transported to into the world of the Trolls in DreamWorks Land, or practice their spells in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the magic is there and it is real.
Universal Orlando is home to eight ribbeting hotels, two thrilling theme parks, one wild water park and one electric entertainment district. There's fun to be had everywhere you turn. While hitting your long list of must-dos may seem like a daunting task, here are the things you definitely shouldn't miss out on during your vacation.
Top Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando Resort with Kids
Kick It in a Kids' Suite
The Universal Premier hotels have some of the best accommodations on property. Your tadpoles are sure to go crazy when they open the door to their own personal bedroom and find a Jurassic jungle or a mob of minions awaiting them. The Jurassic World Kids' Suites at Loews Royal Pacific Resort have beds modeled after the fictional park's gyrospheres and the Despicable Me Kids' Suites at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel have custom-designed missile beds just like Margo, Edith and Agnes do in the movie. Even if your tadpoles normally like staying up late, these rooms are going to make them actually want to go to sleep — which is a good thing because you've got a busy day ahead of you!
Premier resorts also offer hotel guests free Universal Express Unlimited ride access which allows you to skip the regular lines. If you're not staying at a hotel that offers this benefit, I'd still recommend purchasing them for your whole squad anyway (or at the very least, regular Universal Express passes which allow one-time access per ride). There's nothing my tadpoles hate more than waiting in long lines, especially in the Florida heat. The Express pass never fails to cut down a ride's wait and free up the amount of time in your day. Additionally, every on-property resort offers hotel guests Early Park Admission which will give you one-hour early access to either Universal Studios OR Islands of Adventure and half-hour early access to Universal Volcano Bay. Both of these benefits are invaluable features that significantly help to decrease your stress level and maximize your froggy fun!
Fuel Up Like a Rockstar
Fuel is the equivalent to caffeine in my personal opinion. The good news? Every Universal Orlando Resort hotel has a Starbucks in the lobby. Furthermore, there is a Starbucks in both Universal Studios Florida as well as Universal Islands of Adventure. Our family enjoys getting a quick start to the morning while visiting the parks, so the convenience of having a place to grab some coffee and breakfast sandwiches and get out the door is a game changer. For those looking for a slower start to the morning, I recommend either the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, or Three Broomsticks in Islands of Adventure. Both of these restaurants are a part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and offer more sustenance at a slower pace. My boys love starting their day with some sausage and eggs.
Make a Game Plan
The most difficult thing to do at any theme park is navigating wait times and deciding what to do when — especially when you have tadpoles who get hot and tired easily! My number one tip is to decide which thrill ride (if any) you want to hop to first. Get to the gate at opening and head straight for it — lines fill up quickly. The two longest waits right now in the theme parks tend to be the two newest coasters: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Jurassic World VelociCoaster (both at Islands of Adventure). Both have Single Rider lines which open periodically throughout the day, so if you feel your tadpoles are old enough and they are indeed open, definitely go that route for a significantly shorter wait time! You'll wait in line as a group but be split up on the actual ride itself.
If your tadpoles don't quite measure up yet (or just aren't ready for them), both of these rides (and many more) offer Rider Switch so adults can ride without needing to wait in line a second time. And speaking of ride-readiness: It's always a good idea to check on height requirements ahead of time to avoid disappointment on the big day. We're also big proponents of watching ride videos ahead of time on YouTube to minimize any potential surprises. Both of these steps can play a big part in creating your game plan for the day.
At Volcano Bay, Krakatau Aqua Coaster tends to see the longest wait times. After grabbing those lounge chairs in that prime spot on Waturi Beach, you definitely want to hop there first and, if needed, use your TapuTapu device to tap into the virtual line.
Catch Up with Your Favorite Characters
There's no shortage of character sightings in the parks. They often make for some of the most memorable moments of any vacation! However, there are five specific encounters this fam makes sure not to miss out on. Once you've finished racing with the raptor pack on VelociCoaster, meet them in person at Jurassic Park's Raptor Encounter. At any given visit, you'll be able to get face time with Blue herself or the newest addition, Bravo, and either of the two baby raptors, Sierra and Tango. Learn how these ferocious creatures are trained and, if you're brave enough, slowly approach them to snap a quick photo. Are you, or your children a big fan of the Marvel Superheroes? If so, you will want to spend some time at Marvel Super Hero Island for a chance to interact with characters like Spider-Man, Captain America, the Green Goblin and others.
Over at Universal Studios is one of Universal's best meet-and-greets where you can snap a pic with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee or the fearsome Megatron. We really enjoy hanging out with Bee who plays some rockin' tunes but we also love it when Megatron makes an appearance. (Don't worry! His bark is worse than his bite.) Just a hop away from the bots in Hollywood is Spongebob Storepants where you can partake in nautical nonsense with Spongebob, Patrick and Squidward. Lastly, grab a photo with America's favorite family and other residents of Springfield, U.S.A in The Simpsons Character Zone! You can usually find them hanging out next to KWIK-E-MART from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Universal Orlando's newest land was specifically designed with younger children in mind. DreamWorks Land brings a land of imagination with characters of some of our children's favorite films. Hop on over to Shrek's Swamp Meet where you can interact with Shrek, Princess Fiona and the hilarious Donkey just outside of Shrek's iconic cottage. While visiting the swamp, spend some time exploring the fun playground where your little can venture down the infamous "fart slide." Hang out with the Dragon Warrior himself at Po Live!, a digital, interactive meet and greet experience where Po will attempt to teach you cool Kung Fu moves, cook some delicious stir fry and babysit his little cousin, Ling Ling, all at the same time. Chill out at DreamWorks Character Zone where you can meet, greet and interact with characters like Gabby from "Gabby's Dollhouse" and more! Finally, finish your time in this land by checking out DreamWorks Imagination Celebration where all of the characters come together and remind us of the importance using our imaginations.
Build Breaks into Your Day
If you're planning on spending one full day at each park (which I highly recommend in order to see and do everything), it's important to take things slow. The pressure to get on every ride can be intense but there's no way your tadpoles are going to make it through the day if you don't take a few moments to sit down and relax. If you're just looking to sit for a bit, Universal Studios has three shows that you shouldn't miss out on. Get to know some famous furry friends at Animal Actors On Location (a tadpole fave), experience the epic stagecraft of the Bourne Stuntacular or learn the tricks behind Hollywood's most horrific effects at Universal's Horror Make-Up Show (which can be a little intense for the younger crowd with fake blood, but leans more funny than frightening and is a good pick for tweens and teens).
If you'd rather rest outside of an attraction, there are some really nice spaces to check out at each theme park. At Universal Studios, you're going to want to head to Battery Park for benches and a gorgeous soundtrack courtesy of TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D. Also, if it's not too scary for your tadpoles, Knockturn Alley in Diagon Alley has some of the best air conditioning in the parks. Another great place for rest, or a reset is in DreamWorks Land, where you can "find your happy place" at Poppy's Playground. This is a shaded play area nestled under a giant, 20-foot mushroom featuring colorful flowers and bugs with an endless array of fun bouncing and climbing structures for the tiniest of trolls.
At Islands of Adventure, hop to the backside of Mythos for a serene sanctuary that you'll most likely have all to yourself (plus an incredible view of the rest of the park across the lagoon)! For more quiet hidden gems, take a look at our recommendations for where to take sensory breaks at Universal Orlando.
While it's entirely possible to get a good break in at the parks, don't be afraid to hop on back to your hotel in the middle of the day if nap time seems to be in order, especially if you're staying on property. Transportation to and from the parks is incredibly convenient and you'll be back inside the gates and on another ride before you even know it. Nothing truly beats a good power nap (that goes for parents too!).
Map Out the Tadpole-Friendly Attractions
If there's one thing I know, it's that no two tadpoles are alike. Lily likes completely different attractions than Tad enjoyed when he was her age. One thing you can't go wrong with is knowing which rides shouldn't scare them one bit — regardless of how big a thrill-seeker they are. Like I mentioned earlier, Lily loves the bright colors and whimsical characters found in Seuss Landing. Caro-Seuss-El, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! are all very easy-going. The Cat in the Hat is also a froggy favorite! If you're not dealing with a fear of heights, hop to Jurassic Park where your tadpoles can soar gently through the air on Pteranodon Flyers. (Parents, you actually can't ride this without a tadpole accompanying you, so take advantage while you still can!) Islands of Adventure is also home to Flight of the Hippogriff, a tadpole-friendly coaster that offers amazing views of Hogwarts Castle.
Marvel Super Hero Island has some big thrills in the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Doctor Doom's Fearfall, but a slightly less intense option in that area is the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. The only drop is a simulated one but it does feature loud noises, darkness and a fire effect so proceed with caution. The same warnings go for Transformers over in Universal Studios. Universal Studios is actually home to quite a few simulators! Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and the Simpsons Ride are all must-dos. Also in Springfield, you'll love Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl which is very similar to One Fish, Two Fish.
The last two attractions you don't want to skip out on at Universal Studios are MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack and E.T. Adventure. MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack spins a lot but is a great interactive shooting ride for some friendly family competition. On E.T. Adventure, travel to the Green Planet on a slow-moving (flying!) bicycle to help the beloved extra-terrestrial save his home planet.
Opening on June 14. 2024, tadpoles can climb aboard the iconic Caterbus and join Poppy, Viva, Tiny Diamond and more as they attempt to escape evil spiders on Trolls Trollercoaster — a bright orange and yellow family-friendly rollercoaster — in the brand-new DreamWorks Land.
From body slides to raft rides, and rivers to reefs, nothing in Volcano Bay is too intense if your tadpole is a good swimmer. If not, I recommend staying away from TeAwa the Fearless River, Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides, Ko'okiri Body Plunge and Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides. It's much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your tadpole's safety.
Keep Your Tadpoles Entertained at Mealtime
While it may be tempting to fill up on Butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour or the Big Pink doughnut at Lard Lad Donuts, sitting down for meals is helpful when it comes to making it through the day. Luckily, CityWalk has a variety of restaurants — some even with delightful table-side entertainment! Meet Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her trusty robot companion, Jacques, while you're dining on decadent chocolate dishes at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Party with stilt walkers and balloon artists at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville as you sing along to the tunes of the tropics and count down to the eruption of a margarita volcano. Challenge your tadpoles to a fun game of foosball or just enjoy any big game (playing on nearly 100 HD screens) at NBC Sports Grill & Brew.
Other items at CityWalk restaurants the tadpoles love ordering are the Tableside S'mores at Bigfire and the uniquely flavorful fusion at the Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, Burgushi. If your tadpole isn't too eager to walk out of the gates, it's always a great idea to let them know the fun isn't stopping just because you've left the park.
Join in on the Festivities
Universal Orlando is known for some epic events. While these times tend to be a bit more crowded, it's worth it for all the additional fun, food, decorations, parades and shows that come to the parks. During select days in spring, Universal Studios is home to Florida's Biggest Party, Mardi Gras! Here you'll find outrageous street performers, live music, mouthwatering food and spectacular floats. Our bead collection at home is bordering on the extreme but the tadpoles love catching them as they fly through the air!
Summer is sizzling at Universal Orlando, and we're not just talking about the weather. What we're really referring to is the exciting new hoppenings kicking off this summer in 2024! In addition to the all-new DreamWorks Land, three more frogtastic entertainment offerings are making their debut.
First up is Hogwarts Always, a brand-new project show that will be displayed across the magnificent Hogwarts Castle at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade. The show will highlight a school year in review at Hogwarts, have four separate endings celebrating each Hogwarts house and end with dazzling pyrotechnics! Hogwarts Always begins on June 14, 2024 and will run on select nights.
Parent frogs, this one isn't just for the tadpoles — the next-level CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular lagoon show will also make its EPIC debut on June 14, 2024, at Universal Studios Florida. Your kiddos won't believe their eyes as the lagoon comes to life with 288 fountains shooting up 131 feet complete with 4K projections and ... 600 drones hovering above to create an unfrogettable cinematic display! The musical score includes nostalgic tracks from the beloved films, "Jaws," "Ghostbusters," "Back to the Future," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "King Kong," just to name a few.
Premiering on July 3, 2024, get ready for the Universal Mega Movie Parade! It will be Universal's grandest daytime parade ever, featuring 13 floats, nearly 100 performers and jaw-dropping special effects. As the parade marches by you'll witness a towering 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man leading the "Ghostbusters" float, the adorable Caterbus and gigantic rainbows on the "Trolls" float, a live drum line marching beside the "Jaws" float and a dino-sized finale with a Gyrosphere, Raptors and a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex on the "Jurassic World" float!
If you're eager for June, you'll be happy to know that there's new specialty merchandise available in the theme parks now! Check out the new interactive bubble wands inspired by "Trolls" and "Jurassic World." These wands not only interact with each other but also with specific floats once the parade kicks off on July 3rd.
The most wonderful time of the year is even more wonderful at Universal Orlando as the holidays are celebrated at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, and even the hotels! During Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley (and London) get beautifully decorated in garlands and lights and the Frog Choir and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees perform special shows for the holiday season. It's also the prime time for sipping on some delicious Hot Butterbeer (although now, you can get it year-round). Over in Seuss Landing, the Grinch and those holiday-loving Whos take over during Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure. The big green guy comes out for a who-larious photo opportunity and takes the stage throughout the day in the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, a live retelling of the classic tale with music by Mannheim Steamroller. Like I mentioned earlier, the holiday cheer even extends to the hotels where you'll find traditional feasts and holiday decor, plus exclusive benefits if you're a hotel guest!
Frogtastic Tips for Traveling with Tadpoles
- Hoppy news! Tadpoles under the age of 3 get in for free! While they may not be able to get on the majority of rides, there are still plenty of places you can have fun with your littlest froggy. Help them unleash their inner explorer at Camp Jurassic, a multi-level prehistoric playground in Islands of Adventure. Enter the strangest zoo around and encounter unusual creatures at If I Ran the Zoo, a fanciful play area also in Islands of Adventure. Teach them the ways of the Waturi at Tot Tiki or Runamukka Reef, perfectly-sized play structures in Volcano Bay.
-
- There will be tons of fun ways to burn off a sugar rush at the all-new DreamWorks Land in Universal Studios! Climb, bounce and splash around at Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres, an ogre-sized play area featuring four fun slides, wet play areas, a playground and even Shrek's outhouse. Play with Mama Luna's many cats on vivid interactive screens at Mama Luna Feline Fiesta, a new interactive experience that takes place in Mama Luna's retirement home for cats. Create your own melodious masterpiece and trigger a choir of ever-changing frog ribbits by stomping on an array of interactive lily pads at King Harold's Swamp Symphony. (If you need us, we'll be here all day.) Help the pandas of Panda Village wash and dry their laundry and encounter fun interactive elements, such as a gong, mischievous, giggling baby pandas and oversized merry-go-round noddle bowls at Po's Kung Fu Training Camp, a wet and dry play area inspired by the hit "Kung Fu Panda" films. Lastly, hop on over to the DreamWorks Theater where hit pop songs, high-energy dancing, advanced technology and more combine to transport you to the worlds of your favorite characters. Welcome to DreamWorks Imagination Celebration, a multisensory adventure where popular DreamWorks stories leap off the screen and come to life!
- Bring a change of clothes! Whether it's at a play area, on a flume ride or just because of the rainy Florida skies, you and your tadpole are bound to get wet at some point in the day. If your tadpole tends to be fussy about being wet (like Lily gets), it doesn't hurt to have those dry clothes on standby. Lockers are available to rent throughout the parks so you don't even need to carry them around all day!
- In addition to clothes, don't froget to bring any medicine you or your tadpole might need, baby food/baby formula if necessary, reusable water bottles so you can fill up at any water fountain around the parks and small snacks such as fruit, raisins, crackers or dry cereal. Rations really come in handy when your tadpole gets hungry while you're waiting in a long line!
- Those webbed feet can get tired pretty easily walking around these big parks! Luckily, there are double strollers available to rent at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. You can even bring your own from home if you find it more convenient!
- It's easy to become separated. Make sure your tadpole has your contact information on them in case they get lost. Additionally, upon walking through the gates, establish an easy-to-find meeting place, such as Guest Services at the front of each park. Also at the front of each park is the First-Aid location — each features a nursing station so you can feed your littlest tadpole in comfort and privacy if need be.
- Most importantly, remember that this is a vacation for the entire family! Everyone should get the chance to have fun. If your tadpole is too small for a ride or simply opting out of it, take advantage of the "child swap" program where one member of your party can wait with your tadpole while the rest of your party rides. You can then switch places with that person so every frog can enjoy the ride!
Tadpoles are very unpredictable creatures but coming to the parks as prepared as possible is the best thing you can do. Do you have any tips for visiting Universal Orlando Resort with smaller frogs? Share them in the comments below and don't froget to save some green by purchasing your park tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Related: Our Top Tips for Going to Universal Orlando with Teens and Tweens
Hoppy planning!
