Touring Universal Orlando with Toddlers

Universal is known for its thrill rides and overwhelming immersive spaces, so what is there to do for a family with children under 3 years old? This article looks at many of the best attractions for toddlers at Universal Orlando plus touring tips and tricks.

Who Is A Toddler?

TouringPlans considers anyone a toddler between the ages of 1 and 3 years old, anyone not old enough for a theme park Child Ticket. Despite us not couting Toddler to include anyone over three, we think the toddler demographic can include children up to five years old in our guidance. As you know, we believe you know what your kids needs better than us.

Why Focus on Toddlers?

Universal is known or it’s world class attractions and themed spaces, but most are designed for teenagers to adults, not kids, and let alone toddlers. This means most of the rides and shows at Universal are designed for guests over the age of 13 based on height and, most importantly, engagement. Universal attractions love to want to drown, burn, maime, and steal your should, which is not conductive to a toddler based atomsphere. So this article will focus on the options offered to toddlers, from shows to characters to food and more.

Goals of Touring with Toddlers

When touring with a toddler we have three expectations:

1. Low waits, more fun.
2. Known characters over new experiences.
3. Comfort food.

Touring Suggestions

Ok so whe know the who, what, and why, lets talk touring advice.

🏥 Universal has First Aid and Family Care Centers in their parks that have everything you’d need; from care items to sensory rooms.

🌊 Take frequent breaks and avoid the melt down. Duck out of the parks in the afternoon and return to the hotel for pool and nap time (for the adults too!).

🎡 Most rides can be seen from outside the queue for any kids with riding anxiety (this was me at 5).

🍕 Famililar finger foods like pizza, chicken tenders, fries, apple slices, and more are available at dining locations inside and near toddler attractions.

🎡 Most toddler attratcions maintain low waits throughout the day, but some like Minion Mayhem, High in the Sky Seuss Trolly Ride, and Constellation Carousel get long waits later in the day.

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida argulably has the worst line up of attractions and shows for kids, and it’s only going to get worse. Bourne Stuntacular and Horror Make-Up Show are not toddler friendly; the rides focus on thrills; and everyone wants to burn, freeze, or kill you on the rides. But there are some great places for toddlers to play in the park with some fun attractions for them.

The main toddler area in the park is DreamWorks Land which features play areas, shows, and attrations based on DreamWorks properties. Here you’lll find Shreks’ Swamp play area full of slides and water features, a Trolls area for the youngest kids, and a water and dry play area inspired by Kung-Fu Panda. Rounding out the rides is the Trollercoaster, a 28 foot tall kids coaster that reaches a whopping speed of 22 mph. For kids who need to let some energy out to some music go visit the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration, a fun kids show featuring DreamWorks characters and dancing. DreamWorks Imagination Cafe also serves family friend fare like pizzas, chicken tenders, and mac and cheese.

Outside of DreamWorks Land are several attractions that we think toddlers will also enjoy. Kang and Kodos Twirl & Hurl is a Dumbo-like ride where guests board UFO ride vehicles that go in circles and up-and-down. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a mostion simulator featuring Gru, the GORLS, and Minions which includes non-moving bench seating for people who do not want to ride or don’t meet the height requirement. USF is known for its street shows, entertainment, and character meet and greets! We think kids will get a kick out of the Vamos! dance show in NYC, Marlyn Monroe outside of Mel’s Drive-In, the Blues Brothers show across from Finnegan’s, Beat Builders (if they can handle the noise) near the defunct Fast & Furious Supercharged, and the Diagon Alley shows Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees and Beedle The Bard. For dining we suggest Minion Cafe for the best food for adults that’ll appease kids.

Islands of Adventure

Islands is quietly one of the best parks for kids at Universal Orlando. There are several play areas, attrations, and shows kids will love. Lets go clockwise around the park, starting at Port of Entry. Toon Lagoon is a comic strip inspired land featuring Popeye, Dudley-Do Right, Nancy, Hägar the Horrible, Blondie, and countless more (hey it was designed in the 90s). There are many water play areas throughout the land for kids, from row boats sprining leaks to grey cloud rain storms, plus a huge ship playground near Popeye called Me Ship The Olive which is full of slides and play spaces for kids. Despite the scary dinosaurs Jurassic Park is one of the best places for toddlers in the park. Camp Jurassic is a massive playground featuring climbing nets, slides, suspension bridges, and more. Also the food in the land has some of the most kid-tested options like pizza, burgers, and chicken tenders. Seuss Landing is home to all things Dr Seuss, from the Cat in the Hat dark ride to How I Ran the Zoo playground. There are four great toddler rides in the land: the Caro-Suess-el carousel (get it?), One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish spinner, Cat in the Hat dark ride, and the High in the Sky Suess Trolly Train Ride monorail like ride. We also enjoy the Circus McGurkis Circus Stoopendus for its kids friendly menu of pastas, chicken tenders, and burgers.

Epic Universe

Universal’s newest park is still growing with new attraction on the way over the next five years. But there are already some great toddler experiences in the park right now! In Super Nintendo World is the toddler friendly Yoshi Adventure, a slow moving ride inside and outside around the land, and the Power-Up Band Challenges where toddlers can punch, spin, touch, and run around collecting coins and keys in the land using a Power-Up Band. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk has the most toddler friendly attractions in the park with the Untrainable Dragon music and stunt show; Viking Training Ground playground with slides, ropes, and more; and the Fyre Drill interactive boat ride has no height requirement and lots of opportunities to get wet. In Celestial Park is the Astronomica splash pad (see above photo) and the Constellation Carousel, a fun no-heigh requirement carousel featuring colorful celestial animals, lights and music. For dining we suggest checking out the Mac and Cheese cones in Isle of Berk, Meteor Astropub for its burgers and fries in Celestial Park, or Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World for fun Mario themed menu items.

Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay has three great attractions for toddlers. The Runamukka Reef is a water play area dump buckets, small slides, water shooters, and bubbling jets for all kids to play in and its sister site, Tot Tiki Reef, is  a water splash pad for toddlers with tikis that spray water and bubbling jets. Kopiko Wai Winding River is the park’s lazy river and they offer toddler life jackets and inner tubes for all for the lazy ride around the water park (just make sure NOT to get into the TeAwa Fearless River which has a wave machine!). All the dining locations at Volcano Bay feature great options for toddlers like pizzas and chicken tenders.

TouringPlans Touring Tips

• Take Breaks. Avoid the crash out and take routine breaks in the park and escape the Florida afternoon heat and head back to the hotel for the pool and a nap.
• Familiar Food can be found in and around toddler attractions and in lands focused on the younger guests. Expect to find chicken fingers, cheese pizza, french fries, mac and cheese, hamburgers, and more. We agree, they should offer more veggies as sides.
• Waits are best in the morning and evening for toddler attractions.
• Show Times for toddler shows such as  being after 10:00 AM and end before 5:00 PM. Focus on seeing shows in the morning if possible.