Just Back. Loved everything, except for child swap

[cuchu2005]

Ok, we are mostly Disney People, and we dedicate two days of our vacations to Universal, one for IOA and one for UO.

We had a great time. Did everything we wanted and loved both parks.

We especially liked the way Universal manages Characters M&Gs which seem less formal that at WDW, and so much natural!

But the area where I see a big fail (or maybe it was just us and there's other way around it) is in Child Swap.

The way they instructed us (and last year too) implied taking the non riding child through the queue (which in the case of Forbidden Journey can become a pain), and then be trapped in a room with just a movie, and full access for that non riding child to get a look at all the fun he/she is missing. All that invariably ended up, at least in our case, in tears.

When younger DD was 2, there was no biggie, because she had no clue. But now, with 3 she realizes that the rest of the family is doing stuff she can't and she doesn't like one bit.

In WDW, with the rider switch pass, all she sees is a CM handing a ticket, but right after that we take her to do something fun, while the rest of the family rides.

Lucky for us, we had a pretty quiet day at UO, so we decided to do std by twice to give her the opportunity of doing something fun, instead. But some attractions (especially at IOA) did not allow that (ie: Forbidden Journey).

So, the big question, do any other swappers have this same problem or for those more experienced Universal experts is there a better way of doing it?

Thank you,

Mx

 

[schumigirl]

I have never used child swap as our son is 19.......not an issue. But we had friends stay at Universal over Christmas with their children for the first time.

They were used to Disney as they had been many times, but they said they preferred the Universal child swap it was better for them. Not sure why exactly as we didn`t elaborate much on that topic.

But glad you had such a lovely trip and enjoyed both parks

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

From what I've noticed, a lot of people like UO's child swap. It allows the family to stay together through the line (instead of being split up anywhere between a few minutes and a few hours), and kids get to see what's in the queues. I think it's especially important for Forbidden Journey... the castle walkthrough, in my opinion, is just as impressive as the actual ride. All you see of the ride is the loading platform (which I would think would be difficult for a child to see at all, considering there is a low wall separating the platform with the moving belt/ride). I'm sorry that it resulted in tears for your child, though. I think it would be wise to explain that it would be way too frightening for a little child, but it's something to look forward to.

In the case of Forbidden Journey, you might have taken her over to Flight of the Hippogriph (if she's 36 inches) while the other parent went in the Single Rider's Line.

I guess I was the only kid that sighed with relief when I didn't make the requirements for big rides!

 

[cuchu2005]

From what I've noticed, a lot of people like UO's child swap. It allows the family to stay together through the line (instead of being split up anywhere between a few minutes and a few hours), and kids get to see what's in the queues. I think it's especially important for Forbidden Journey... the castle walkthrough, in my opinion, is just as impressive as the actual ride. All you see of the ride is the loading platform (which I would think would be difficult for a child to see at all, considering there is a low wall separating the platform with the moving belt/ride). I'm sorry that it resulted in tears for your child, though. I think it would be wise to explain that it would be way too frightening for a little child, but it's something to look forward to.

In the case of Forbidden Journey, you might have taken her over to Flight of the Hippogriph (if she's 36 inches) while the other parent went in the Single Rider's Line.

I guess I was the only kid that sighed with relief when I didn't make the requirements for big rides!

That would have been the solution, but DW went to FJ with Dd7, so single rider was not an option.

And the queue got her interested for a while, but when we got stuck, it was hard to keep her calm. More so thinking that her going through the queue was innecessary.

Something similar happened in Jurassic Park.

Well, maybe I'm too used to RSP at WDW.

Thanks for the responses!

Mx

 

[RMulieri]

We loved the child swap..We used it alot last visit .DD was 8yrs old though and enjoyed hanging out in the rooms and watching the movies.I thought it was better than Disneys system.At Disney, I hated walking around in the heat ( but nowhere far) and invariably spending more money to occupy DD while we waited for Dh so I could ride.We liked being able to chill out in the AC and watch tv at Universal.More often than not though, DD liked watching the rides load/unload.She likes to people watch..But different strokes for different folks

 

[bumbershoot]

See I hate swap at Disney. The family is split and the watcher now has to go DO something, they can't relax. Since we are only 3 people, having the family split means one of us is alone. And while we choose to do alone things often, being forced into alone time isn't always awesome.

Alas we got to universal too late. The rides he could not do either could not be done by any of us (or would not), and FJ was not going to be entered even to see the castle because it spooked him too much. Everything else he went on. No switching with seats and movie playing for me! And now he goes on everything but Mummy, which is still too creepy for him.

For future trips, assuming the overall height req for the ride is met, kids can ride alone after 48". So single rider is an option for future trips, in case you didn't know that. If everyone is brave enough of course. My 8 yr old isn't there for FJ yet, but soon I'm sure. He rides alone on some other rides there and at Disney.

 

[peekies722]

Are you allowed a certain number of riders to ride with you, once the first adult rider has returned or would 2nd adult rider have to go alone?. I'd like to go on FJ, but I'm a scaredy cat, I'd like to go on with my returning two older ones so they can hear me scream like a banshee.

 

[damo]

Are you allowed a certain number of riders to ride with you, once the first adult rider has returned or would 2nd adult rider have to go alone?. I'd like to go on FJ, but I'm a scaredy cat, I'd like to go on with my returning two older ones so they can hear me scream like a banshee.

Yup,they can ride again.

 

[peekies722]

Thanks for the response, Damo

 

[macraven]

i have heard and read of many people complaining about the child swap at disney before.
this is the first time i have read of any complaints about UO's child swap program.

keeping the family together until riding time is great.
having a set apart room with a movie running for those that wait is wonderful.

 

[Tekneek]

The first time we did child swap was at Universal/IOA and we actually preferred that to the Disney way (which we did for the first time a few days later).

Do Universal rides tend to load/unload at the same place? My recollection is yes, but it has been years since I was there last. That may be a factor in the different approaches to this.

 

[damo]

The first time we did child swap was at Universal/IOA and we actually preferred that to the Disney way (which we did for the first time a few days later).

Do Universal rides tend to load/unload at the same place? My recollection is yes, but it has been years since I was there last. That may be a factor in the different approaches to this.

They load and unload in close proximity.

 

[DorianDonP]

Don't have a child but everything I've read about UO's child swap has been positive and preferred over Disney. This is the first negative experience I've read about.

I'm pretty sure if I was a kid, and I got to see the loading of a fun ride, but I had to go watch a movie, I'd prolly be upset too lol. So I def can see how a kid would be upset about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm pretty sure if I was a kid, and I got to see the loading of a fun ride, but I had to go watch a movie, I'd prolly be upset too lol. So I def can see how a kid would be upset about it.

Well with FJ you split off before boarding, at the Sorting Hat, so I don't think they get to see that.

MIB they probably get to see, from afar, the seating, and then they can look out the window over at people being seated and offloaded (or at least offloaded) but it's not like they are being walked right past it.

Those are the only ones I've noticed.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Is it possible for a 12 year old to go in this movie room while the rest of the family rides? She is my youngest and I am comfortable with her being alone in a room while we go on a ride that lasts 5 minutes as long as I know she is in a place where she won't wander off. She is a big ol' chicken when it comes to rides. (Don't tell her I said that, she gets highly offended when I call her a chicken)

 

[RMulieri]

Is it possible for a 12 year old to go in this movie room while the rest of the family rides? She is my youngest and I am comfortable with her being alone in a room while we go on a ride that lasts 5 minutes as long as I know she is in a place where she won't wander off. She is a big ol' chicken when it comes to rides. (Don't tell her I said that, she gets highly offended when I call her a chicken)

I don't see why not.My 8 yr old made the height requirements on both Forbidden Journey and The Mummy and didn't want to ride and they let her go into the Child swap room

 

[macraven]

not a problem for your 12 yo to stay in the child swap room.

 

[mjohnson96]

The way they instructed us (and last year too) implied taking the non riding child through the queue (which in the case of Forbidden Journey can become a pain), and then be trapped in a room with just a movie, and full access for that non riding child to get a look at all the fun he/she is missing. All that invariably ended up, at least in our case, in tears.

I see your point here, I honestly am one of those that loves the UO swap over the WDW swap because I get to stay together and then don't have to worry about having to find the family after the ride is over. But I might change my tune this year when DD who is a big 3 at 40 inches can do some rides and not others.

the good thing is that we are staying onsite so if it does come a problem I can use the Express pass to just ride again and not worry about the swap option.

 

[damo]

The rides only last a few minutes. It isn't like anyone would be trapped in the swap room for very long.

 

[Courtpaige]

We just returned from UO/IoA and think the child swaps are heaven sent! We would ask before we queued for particularly lengthy lines if myself and my 2 year old could go to the child swap right then. There was always a way in without queuing and we were always allowed. I think MIB and Simpsons may have been the only ride we would have had to queue.

My particularly favorite child swap area was for the Despicable Me experience. We waited in the Dancing Room and my 2 year old got a lot of one on one attention from the minions and the cast members She loved it. The one downside was having "Boogie Fever" stuck in my head for so long because we spent so much time in there.