Baby Swap

[oklamomof4boys]

Does US/IOA have baby swap like Disney? We have been to Disneyland many times but never Universal. We will be staying onsite one night- giving us the express pass for 2 days. I'm not so concerned about those days. But we will have 7 day passes so we might go some other days when we are not staying onsite.

My youngest is tall enough for most ( if not all) of the rides, but he has a heart problem so he can't ride many of the rides- but he is only 8 so I wouldn't want to leave him by himself. If they have baby swap, will they let us use it even though he is not a "baby"? Also, if they have it, is baby swap ever faster than express pass? At Disney, on Tower of Terror, we all waited in the queue together and then one of us waited with him next to the elevator and then switched right after the line. It was MUCH shorter than Fast Pass. Do they ever do anything like that? I am so unfamiliar with things at Universal.

 

[phamton]

It is similar to the Tower of Terror experience. You wait in line together and then someone goes to Baby Swap area with the child. It is near the load area of the ride and is usually an aircondtioned room with chairs. That way you don't have to wait in line twice.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Depends on the ride really. ROTM, and hulk they will direct you up the exit ramps of the ride to the child swap area. Its called Child Swap at Universal, because they realize, babies are not the only ones who dont like to ride certain things. And really, I think the Universal child swap is a lot better than disneys baby swap. In most cases they give you a place to sit and wait where you can see the rest of your party exit the ride. Also works out well so that you dont have to sit the whole time, say if a ride has a wait of about 45 minutes or so. You can time it out so that you have about 30 minutes to go do something else (say see the blues brothers across from the mummy) and only wait in child swap for 15.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Thank you so much! I assume we just tell a worker ( does Universal have a name for them like CM with Disney?) where the line forms that we want to use Child Swap? Do you know if any/all the waiting areas are in the shade? That would be wonderful if they were- with his heart it is good for him to get out of the sun and rest for a bit.

I got flamed on a Disney board one time for suggesting it would be nice to have a place in the shade to sit and wait with him- basically I was told in a not nice way if he can't handle the heat, maybe we shouldn't go on vacation during the summer. We are careful with him and take breaks but it isn't always possible to vacation other times of the year. And he is getting to the age where he resents going back to the hotel in the afternoon.

Also, do they have Child Swap on every ride?

 

[Figment22]

Do you know if any/all the waiting areas are in the shade? That would be wonderful if they were- with his heart it is good for him to get out of the sun and rest for a bit.

The majority of the child swap areas are actually inside in the A/C. Just off the top of my head, Mummy, Men in Black, Spiderman, Hulk are all inside. Jurassic Park River Adventure is outside but it's definitely shaded. I'm not sure where the child swap is on Dueling Dragons but the loading area is inside the castle so my assumption is that even if you're waiting on the opposite side of the platform, you're still in an interior area and certainly not in the sun.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Thank you for all the information! That is wonderful news that the areas are air conditioned. When I ride after we swap, can I take one person with me, like at Disney, or do I ride by myself?

 

[Figment22]

Thank you for all the information! That is wonderful news that the areas are air conditioned. When I ride after we swap, can I take one person with me, like at Disney, or do I ride by myself?

You'll be able to ride with one of the members of your party. I think you'll find Universal to be very accommodating!

Have fun!

 

[yaytezIOA]

Dr. Doom, Dudley Do-right, Popeye, and JPRA are the only rides with an outdoor childswap, and they are all shaded. The only ride I dont think has a child swap is JAWS. Everything else either has stationary seating, or child swap at the Studios. Dueling Dragons has a room away from everything with nice cold AC right next to the ride exits. Much more accomodating than disney. I may be mistaken on this one, but I think dragons they have a special chair that shields mothers who breastfeed as well....could be mistaken.

 

[Notatourist]

Yatez?

Do-Right's is INDOORS! It even has benches and things for the kids to play with on the wall....

 

[yaytezIOA]

Yatez?

Do-Right's is INDOORS! It even has benches and things for the kids to play with on the wall....

Does it??? I thought it was right there by the boat exit. Shows how much I know.

 

[nymomof3]

jaws definetly had a babyswap, it was outdoors and right near the exit, if i remember it was in a shady area. hope this helps

 

[Figment22]

Also, do they have Child Swap on every ride?

To clear up any confusion, this is directly from the official Universal Orlando website:

http://www.universalorlando.com/pi_gs_tpservices.html#childswap

CHILD/BABY SWAP AREAS
These areas are available at each attraction, at each park, to allow parents to take turns watching their child while the other rides. For further information or instructions, please ask a ride attendant upon arrival to the theme park.