3 yr old- Only Disney or Universal Studios?

[Rain27]

Hi everyone!

My wife, 3 yr old, and I are planning on going May 1-May 9; a total of 9 days, 8 nights. Which means we have 7 park days.

We visited Disney World last year just before the pandemic shutdown and spent 5 park days with 2 in Magic Kingdom.

We have been extra craving Disney and now that my son is 3 and more cognizant, we feel it’s time to go back!

Unfortunately, Disney seems to be in its skeleton as of late, and we will surely miss the parades and fireworks. Not sure if all our days would be well spent here.

So this time, do you guys we would have fun new (Universal Studios) to compensate?

My biggest gripe with visiting Universal is that the 6 play areas are closed and I am worried my son won’t have much to do (he just hit 40 inches).

So I am thinking either 5 park days Disney/2 US (maybe a day Volcano Bay) or everything in Disney.

Anyone have any insight? Much appreciated!

 

[JFDIS]

There are exponentially more rides/entertainment at Disney for a 3 y/o.

 

[Specter]

My wife, about to be 2 year old daughter, and myself have a trip tentatively planned for next March and debated this very same thing, because DW loves Harry Potter in addition to Disney and would love to see that. But there is so little to do at US that we are having a hard time convincing ourselves to go this trip. I think that we will most likely stick to Disney for our next visit and then try Universal when DD is a little older, particularly since she is on the petite side. Just my .02, enjoy your trip whatever you do.

 

[randumb0]

I would choose Disney for a 3 year old.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

We are planning on taking a nearly 3 yr old to Universal this fall, but it doesn't look like she will be able to do much, unless she has a major growth spurt in the next 7 months. I don't know if I would still do Universal if she was 3 and needed a ticket.

 

[kwdw]

There just not enough for the little one at Universal. If the DW really needs to see WWOHP, just do one day there with a park to park ticket. It will cost a fortune, but might make her happy. But honestly, we rarely split stay WDW and US/IOA. Tickets are cheaper the longer you stay, and it just feels extra expensive to combine the trips.

 

[Rain27]

There just not enough for the little one at Universal. If the DW really needs to see WWOHP, just do one day there with a park to park ticket. It will cost a fortune, but might make her happy. But honestly, we rarely split stay WDW and US/IOA. Tickets are cheaper the longer you stay, and it just feels extra expensive to combine the trips.

I was thinking of staying all at Disney, but with the removal of parades and fireworks (and other stuff), I am worried we run out of things to do if we just stay all 8 nights there.

 

[Missingmypooh]

I was thinking of staying all at Disney, but with the removal of parades and fireworks (and other stuff), I am worried we run out of things to do if we just stay all 8 nights there.

You are correct, there’s not enough currently.

is the Orlando science center an option? Or LEGOLAND? My 3 year old loves both of those.

I’d say do a bunch of character meals and such to pass the time, both those are slim right now!

 

[Timandalicia]

Hi everyone!

My wife, 3 yr old, and I are planning on going May 1-May 9; a total of 9 days, 8 nights. Which means we have 7 park days.

We visited Disney World last year just before the pandemic shutdown and spent 5 park days with 2 in Magic Kingdom.

We have been extra craving Disney and now that my son is 3 and more cognizant, we feel it’s time to go back!

Unfortunately, Disney seems to be in its skeleton as of late, and we will surely miss the parades and fireworks. Not sure if all our days would be well spent here.

So this time, do you guys we would have fun new (Universal Studios) to compensate?

My biggest gripe with visiting Universal is that the 6 play areas are closed and I am worried my son won’t have much to do (he just hit 40 inches).

So I am thinking either 5 park days Disney/2 US (maybe a day Volcano Bay) or everything in Disney.

Anyone have any insight? Much appreciated!

Just Disney.

 

[BethanyMouse]

We are staying for two weeks in August. We plan on a quick trip one night to City Walk but otherwise plan to sit back and just enjoy disney at a slow pace. We hope for some pool nights and resort exploring. We also considered Universal but with a 2 year old there just isn't enough to sustain her attention beyond Seussland......

 

[TreeFalls]

I just got back from Universal, we took my 5yo and our older kids who love Harry Potter. He could do lots of things because he is over 42 inches, but all the things he would have liked most (playgrounds!) were closed for COVID. I don't think it would be much fun for a 3yo.

 

[ucf_knight]

Our kids are 5 and 7 and we still won’t go to universal until they are both tall enough for the rides there.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Our son had fun at Islands of adventure the second day was universal and yes he liked it but not as much to do.
Our third day we went to SeaWorld and saw Sesame street

 

[Skywalker3]

If the play areas/water play areas were open, I'd say go on. We did a couple trips before the kids were tall enough for rides, but there were those areas for them to enjoy/run around. Without that , will be harder to find fun things for them to do. One trip, all our son did was run around in the water areas, got soaked. I just brought extra clothes for when he was done. They'll still be lots though for the adults to enjoy, if you decide you just want to try it. A lot of rides have actual areas for families to wait for rider swap, so that's nice. Keep checking on kids' areas, maybe they'll open before your trip.
we LOVE US/IoA, and hope to go back this fall. We also did 2 Disney trips in Oct/Nov and had wonderful times.
Legoland is lots of fun, especially at that age. And Sea world has the Sesame St area, if you want to try that.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I wouldn't bother going to Universal for a 3 year old. Stay at Disney. Go to Blizzard Beach.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I have a 3yo! No way I'd go to Universal with him. There's nothing for him there.

My advice - do Disney. Do the parks, Blizzard Beach, a day at Dinosaur World (near Tampa), and/or Legoland. I really don't think you'll have an issue filling your days just with the Disney parks if you really want.

 

[unrequited23]

Never underestimate to power of the pool.

 

[aac2407]

Hi, I just want to comment on my experience at Universal with my 2 little ones! I have 5 and 3 year old boys! They LOVE universal! My 5 year old is just under 48” so he can ride quite a bit, but my 3 year old is super short only about 38”. He couldn’t ride much, but what he could ride he absolutely loved (the one fish two fish ride and pteradon flyers were his faves). As a parent staying or even just booking one night at an express hotel is so worth it! Skipping lines to ride stuff is so much better then having to wait in hour long lines at Disney. Also, if you have boys Universal is more the “boy” park with dinosaurs, transformers, etc. All their faves! We stayed 4 days our last visit and it was the best! Just another perspective! We are doing a split stay in May with Portofino at universal for Memorial Day weekend and then Disney for 6 nights at the poly. We will see what they like better. I’m hoping my older son is 48” then to ride the fun rides (Hagrids...sooo good)!