Tackling Universal Studios With a Toddler

Disproving the naysayers: You CAN have fun at Universal Orlando with your toddlers and young children!

Universal Studios tends to be known as a theme park for teenagers and adults, deterring guests from traveling there with small children or toddlers. We’re here to tell you that not only can you do Universal with toddlers, but you SHOULD!

While there may not be a ton of rides that your toddler can enjoy, there are some rides plus many other attractions and shows that your littles will love.

Today, we will guide you to having a fun and successful day at Universal Studios Orlando with a toddler!

This post is part of our Universal Orlando planning advice series

How to Plan Your Day at Universal with a Toddler

When visiting a theme park, we always recommend going in with a game plan. Traveling with a toddler can be tricky in any scenario, but when you visit somewhere as busy and hectic as an amusement park, you will want to be sure to have a plan going in. 

• Know which rides and attractions they will like the most and prioritize these. This doesn’t always mean going there first – many a toddler parent will have the same thought! – at the very least, schedule stops around rides and attractions you or any older kids in your group might be interested in so that there’s some balance in the day.
• Know what you can and can’t bring into the parks – even if your toddler is walking more independently at home, theme parks are an entirely different ball game; you’ll want a stroller! You will not only have an easy resting spot for your tot but a place to store everything, too. We cover more on your Universal packing list below.
• Don’t try and be a superhero – tackling both of the Universal Orlando theme parks in one day is HUUUGE, even if you skip many attractions. Be realistic about how much you can fit in a toddler day out and work in reasonable rest breaks. We would always recommend spending a minimum of 2 days and staying on-site when visiting Universal with young children.

Park Tickets for Toddlers

Children under the age of three are admitted into the park for free with an adult – a pretty good incentive for bringing your toddler along to Universal!

Children aged 3-9 do require a child’s ticket for admission. The cost of tickets for children is as follows: 

• 1 Park – 1 Day: Starting at $114+ per day
• 2 Park – 1 Day: Starting at $169+ per day

Children aged ten years and above and adults:

• 1 Park – 1 Day: Starting at $119+ per day
• 2 Park – 1 Day: Starting at $174+ per day

What to Pack for Universal With Toddlers

When you have small kids, packing a good day bag for Universal is essential. There are a few can’t miss items that we recommend keeping in your bag to ensure that you are prepared and ready to go: 

• Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, etc.) – The Florida sun can be brutal, so it is important to keep yourself and your kiddos protected in the heat.

• First Aid Kit – While there is first aid available within the park, we always find it helpful to keep a basic first aid kit on hand for any minor injuries or accidents.

• Change of clothes – You never know when your toddler might have an accident or spill something all over their clothes. We recommend keeping at minimum an extra t-shirt in your park bag if you need to make an outfit change. Add shorts, too, if they’re still in toilet training.

Strollers For Universal

The chances of your toddler making it the whole day walking around an amusement park are slim to none, so we always recommend making sure that you have a stroller for the day. You can choose to bring your own stroller, or there are double strollers available for rent at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. 

Unlike Disney, Universal Studios does not have limitations or restrictions on the type of stroller or size that you can bring into the parks; however, we recommend going for something a little slimmer or easy to maneuver through the parks (we talk about our favorite travel strollers over here). 

If you choose to rent a stroller, there are only double strollers available from both of the parks, and the flat fee for rental is $35 per day. 

There are marked stroller parking zones outside all rides, attractions, and restaurants.

Change Tables and Nursing Facilities at Universal Orlando

All restrooms at Universal come fitted with change tables, both males and females.

For those who might still be nursing their toddlers, nursing facilities are available at:

• The First Aid Station at Family Services, located to the right of the Lost And Found in Universal Studios Florida
• The Health Services main station, located on Canal Street in the New York area
• The First Aid Station at Universal Islands of Adventure
• The First Aid Station at Universal Volcano Bay

Because of the nature of the rides and height requirements for safety, there are not a ton of rides suitable for toddlers at Universal Studios.

That said, there are some great rides, shows, and attractions that your toddlers can still enjoy and will love!

Let’s break it down between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure:

Toddler Attractions at Universal Studios Florida

• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast – A fun interactive experience where you will join the Minions to blast your way to supervillain stardom!
  • Height Requirement: No height requirement, but handheld infants are not allowed.
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

• ET Adventure – A moderately thrilling but gentle ride through the sky.
  • Height Requirement: 34″ (87 cm)
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – Spin through space in your own flying saucer with the loveable aliens from The Simpsons.
  • Height Requirement: No minimum height is required
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

• Hogwarts Express – The Hogwarts Express will transport you from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade and back. The train experience is fun and gives your little ones a chance to enjoy some scenery as they look out the windows.
  • Height Requirement: No minimum height is required
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

• Hollywood Character Zone – The character zone, located in Hollywood, gives you and your littles a chance to meet some notable characters. Some familiar faces you may run into include Marilyn Monroe, Woody Woodpecker, Scooby Doo, and Hello Kitty!

• Meet Spongebob and Patrick – Head to the Spongebob Squarepants Bubbly Store for the chance to meet Spongebob Squarepants himself as well as his buddy, Patrick Starr!

Current Refurbs & Closures at Universal Studios Florida

It is essential for families with littles to note that many of the little kid-friendly features at Universal Studios Florida are currently undergoing a major refurbishment:

Of particular note here, no Woody Woodpecker Nuthouse Coaster or the Fievel’s Playland which were both ideal toddler choices at Universal Studios Florida.

The replacement has been announced as “DreamWorks Animation Land” – due to open in 2024 (stay tuned; we’ll be back in Florida next year with an update!!)

Taller Toddler Rides at Islands of Adventure

If you have a toddler over 36″, you have a couple more ride options:

• Flight of the Hippogriff™ – a moderately thrilling roller coaster-style ride in the Wizarding World section of the park.
  • Height Requirement: 36″ (92 cm)
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – A cute and kid-friendly kids’ roller coaster ride around Suess Landing.
  • Height Requirement: 36″ (92 cm)
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
• Pteranodon Flyers – Moderately thrilling flying ride over the Camp Jurrasic play area.
  • Height Requirement: 36″ (92 cm)
  • Any rider under 48” must be accompanied by a supervising companion over 56″.

For your taller toddlers and those approaching the kindergarten years, pop over to our guide to the best kids rides at Universal where we break down height limits and our own kids’ favorites so you can best plan your day.

Additional Tips For Visiting Universal With Toddlers

• Be Patient – Doing anything with a toddler can be a challenge, but try to remember that you are at an amusement park for fun, so try to relax, be patient, and have fun making memories with your little ones! We always feel way less time-pressured at Universal than at Disney, as there’s not nearly the same urgency to keep ride and dining reservations.

• Stay Hydrated – Orlando is hot! It is important to stay hydrated, not just for toddlers but for yourself as well. Staying hydrated will ensure that you can tolerate the long day. You can bring in 2 liters of water per person.

• Consider a Break – If you’re worried about staying at the parks for the full duration of the day, consider taking a break mid-day and heading back to the hotel for a rest or even a nap before getting back out there for the rest of the day – this is easily done if you’re staying at a Universal Resort. Your park tickets give you full-day admission, so you easily come right at opening, then come back after lunch and nap in your room to tackle a few more hours in the afternoon as queues and crowds start to drop.

We hope that this guide has helped you to feel prepared and ready to spend a day with your toddler at Universal Studios Orlando. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll do our best to answer based on our personal experiences in Orlando with toddlers.

More Universal & Orlando Helpful Planning Tips

Planning your trip to the Sunshine State, we have plenty more helpful guides to help you understand what the city is like for families and take you well beyond Disney package holidays!

• Our Ultimate Beginners Guide to Planning A Trip to Universal Orlando -the ultimate starting point for everything we’ve not covered here!
• Top 10 Things to Do in Orlando With Toddlers & Preschoolers
• The Best of Disney World with Toddlers – Which theme park would you tackle first while traveling with littles?
• Things to do in Orlando beyond the 2 Big Theme Parks – from animal interactions to great parks, nearby State Parks, and the Space Coast, all within a day trip from Orlando
• How to get from MCO (Orlando Airport) to Universal – Fastest and cheapest ways
• If you’re not staying at a Universal Onsite Resort (Which you SHOULD!), try these hotels in Orlando that offer a shuttle service to Universal AND Disney!
• Is it worth it to get a rental car in Orlando? When it is and isn’t convenient to have your own wheels – plus what you can expect to pay for parking at Universal
• Get beyond Orlando; these are the best beaches close to Disney & Orlando if you want to combine this to be a Florida beach trip too (psst, you totally should do both!)

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