First family trip to Universal- rides for little kids

[wdwcp2001]

First time trip to Universal Orlando!

I will be visiting Universal in May with my husband and our 6 & 3 year old boys. We are staying at the Cabana Bay resort in a family suite for 3 nights. We are planning one day at the resort and one day at the parks- we get free one day passes through my husbands job and are excited to use them! We are planning to do both parks in one day. My 6 year old is tall but is not into thrill rides at all (doesn't like Splash Mountain at WDW because of the hill at the end). They both love minions and superheroes so I think they will enjoy themselves but definitely not planning on anything too daring as far as rides.

Here's my list- anything I'm missing? Which park is better to start with as far as crowds? We will be at there the Tuesday after Memorial Day so I'm expecting it will be busy.

Minions
ET
Shrek
Fievel's playground
Curios George area

Pteranodon Flyers/Jurassic area
Seuss Landing/rides
Spider-Man (6 year old)

My kids haven't read Harry Potter (neither have I!) but we will check out those sections if we have time but it's not a priority since they won't get the references.

Also are there any character dining experiences? I haven't seen much on that.

I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions!! Thank you!

 

[imprint]

Some to consider:

Men in Black (Buzz Lightyear)
Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon (should be open then. It should be like Soarin)
Storm Force Accelerator (Tea Cups)
Woody Woodpecker and Flight of the Hippogryph are both family coasters

Something to consider, since you only have one day for both parks, is the big playgrounds (especially Camp Jurassic) can eat a lot of time. You might want to consider padding your time there in your schedule.

 

[Seeker615]

I would check out the Hogwarts Castle even if you don't ride it. It's beautiful and the moving portraits are really cool.

If the Animal actors show is still there it is a lot of fun.

Look for the various characters walking around. They are usually very easy to meet. We met Sponge Bob, Dora, Scooby and Shaggy, Woody Woodpecker, Minions and the cast of the Simpsons. Oh also there are great super hero meets over at IOA.

 

[wagman67]

Yeah, you are going to lose them to Camp Jurassic...awesome place...my boys are spaced 3 years apart, and last year they were 17 and 14...and still loving it (they have been every year since they were 8 and 5).
Don't forget Toon Lagoon...Ripsaw Falls is really fun (I know you mentioned one did not like Splash Mtn, but maybe he'd like this) and Bluto's Barges will get you nice and soaked.

Wear swim gear, in May you will love it and dry quickly.

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah, you are going to lose them to Camp Jurassic...awesome place...my boys are spaced 3 years apart, and last year they were 17 and 14...and still loving it (they have been every year since they were 8 and 5).
Don't forget Toon Lagoon...Ripsaw Falls is really fun (I know you mentioned one did not like Splash Mtn, but maybe he'd like this) and Bluto's Barges will get you nice and soaked.

Wear swim gear, in May you will love it and dry quickly.

Let me just say if he doesn't like Splash Mountain, there's no way he'll like Ripsaw Falls - much more fast moving and exciting, and way more big drops. Bluto's Barges on the other hand is a better version of Kali River - might be good for the 6 year old.

No one mentioned the Animal Actors show. A good mid-day break activity where you can sit down for 20 minutes in the shade.

 

[wookiebeck]

Maybe you could upgrade the ticket at customer service (or maybe not if it is a comp ticket) for only a few $$ more and enjoy more park time. It is soooo easy to get from CBay to parks that you might want to just drop back in for a few hours the next day. I also love the resorts. Even with two pools, I can't use up 12 hours at CBay with a theme park across the street.

 

[georgina]

There's the Twirl & Hurl in Simpsons area, but I've never been on it! Looks like a Dumbo-type ride.

 

[thebrundogs]

First time trip to Universal Orlando!

I will be visiting Universal in May with my husband and our 6 & 3 year old boys. We are staying at the Cabana Bay resort in a family suite for 3 nights. We are planning one day at the resort and one day at the parks- we get free one day passes through my husbands job and are excited to use them! We are planning to do both parks in one day. My 6 year old is tall but is not into thrill rides at all (doesn't like Splash Mountain at WDW because of the hill at the end). They both love minions and superheroes so I think they will enjoy themselves but definitely not planning on anything too daring as far as rides.

Here's my list- anything I'm missing? Which park is better to start with as far as crowds? We will be at there the Tuesday after Memorial Day so I'm expecting it will be busy.

Minions
ET
Shrek
Fievel's playground
Curios George area

Pteranodon Flyers/Jurassic area
Seuss Landing/rides
Spider-Man (6 year old)

My kids haven't read Harry Potter (neither have I!) but we will check out those sections if we have time but it's not a priority since they won't get the references.

Also are there any character dining experiences? I haven't seen much on that.

I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions!! Thank you!

We went in December with a 3 yr old and a very tiny 7.5 yr old. They liked the ones you mentioned, plus Flight of the Hippogriff and the Woody Woodpecker coaster (Woody is similar to Barnstormer, Hippogriff a bit rougher, but my turning 3 yr old liked both), as well as Storm Force Acceleration (like the teacups) and the Simpsons twirl and hurl (Dumbo). My 7.5 yr old also enjoyed MIB and the Simpsons ride, and she LOVED Spider-Man and Transformers. We did child-swap for those. She also really liked Escape from Gringots, but I wouldn't recommend that to a kid who doesn't like thrill rides.

 

[wdwcp2001]

Thank you everyone!! This is all really helpful!

 

[macraven]

from the uo website:



Kid's Rides.

• 
  
  
  The Cat In The Hat™
  
  Whirl Through the Pages of the Book

• 
  Caro-Seuss-el™
  
  World's Most Unusual Merry-Go-Round

• 
  One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™
  
  Listen to the Rhyme & You Won't Get Wet

• 
  The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™
  
  Ride High Above Seuss Landing

• 
  Pteranodon Flyers®
  
  Get a Prehistoric Bird's Eye View

• 
  Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
  
  Become a Minion on This Hilarious 3D Ride

• 
  E.T. Adventure®
  
  Ride Your Bike Across the Stars

• 
  Kang & Kodos'
  Twirl 'n' Hurl
  
  Go on an Intergalactic Spin!

• 
  Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster®
  
  The Nuttiest Kids' Ride Ever

• Kids' Play Areas

• See All Amazing Rides at Universal's Islands of Adventure®

• See All Amazing Rides at Universal Studios Florida®

Rides For Kids
Flight of the Hippogriff™




Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl




Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• GET UPDATES AND OFFERS

If you're old enough to have fun, you're old enough for the kids' adventures at Universal Orlando's theme parks. You'll find a number of rides and attractions just right for our younger visitors.

Many of the rides at Universal's Islands of Adventure® were designed with kids in mind, especially in Seuss Landing™ where you can experience One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™; the Caro-Seuss-el™, and The Cat in the Hat™. In Marvel Super Hero Island®, the whirling and swirling Storm Force Accelatron® tests your super powers. Then soar over Jurassic Park® on the wings of our Pteranodon Flyers®. And in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, you can swoop past Hagrid’s hut on the family friendly coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff™.

At Universal Studios® you'll find several attractions that bring your children's favorite films and TV shows to life. They can fly across the stars on the E.T. Adventure® . Crash through Krustyland on
The Simpsons Ride™, and enjoy an intergalactic spin on Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl. Go positively nutty on Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster® , a gentle roller coaster perfect for little thrillseekers. And join Gru, his daughters, and the mischievous minions on a hilarious 3-D ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.


Universal's Islands of Adventure

• 1. Caro-Seuss-el™
  2. The Cat In The Hat™
  3. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™
  4. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®
  5. The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™

Universal Studios Florida

• 1. E.T. Adventure®
  2. Shrek 4-D
  3. MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™
  4. The Simpsons Ride™
  5. Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster®

• go to www.universalorlando.com and you can pull up more info they have for children entertainment in the parks.