Parental Guidance for Rides

[mab2012]

Is there any kind of parental guidance / violence content / rating system for the rides at Universal?

For example, I just watched a YouTube video showing the Transformers ride (the one I watched was for Hollywood, but I'd guess the Orlando ride is similar). My 6-year-old easily clears the 42" height requirement, but I don't think the *content* of the ride is appropriate for him, or even for my 9-year-old. There's no way I'd let my kids watch the Transformers movie (rated PG-13), and the ride looks like a shorter version of the same. Possibly even more intense, since you're meant to feel like you're in the middle of it all. For a start I'm pretty certain it would scare the crap out of them, but my bigger concern is a personal conviction that desensitizing young children to extreme violence is an all-around bad idea. (I know this isn't a particularly widely held viewpoint, and I'm not at all judging what other people choose to do with their children - it's just not for my family.)

So the question is, are there other rides at Universal that I need to look out for? Ones where the content, if subjected to a movie-style rating system, would likely score a PG or PG-13 rating for violence and/or intensity, even if the safety restrictions (ie. height requirements) are low? Universal considers Transformers "Best for Families", so I'm guessing I'm not going to get any help there.

 

[clsteve]

That's a very subjective question. Probably your best bet is the one you're taking - if you wouldn't let them watch the movie, it's a good bet the ride's going to be off limits as well. Why it's hard for anyone but you to answer is even rides like Despicable Me and the Shrek movie have loads of funny cartoon violence in them.....

 

[damo]

That's a tough one! Lots of rides at Universal and Disney can be terrifying for kids even if they have a PG rating! I suggest you go through the youtube ride-throughs and make a decision that works best for your family.

 

[clsteve]

That's a tough one! Lots of rides at Universal and Disney can be terrifying for kids even if they have a PG rating! I suggest you go through the youtube ride-throughs and make a decision that works best for your family.

Ha!

My 7 year-old little sister was scared to death of getting back on Snow White after riding it in the 70's. To this day, she still brings it up. She may have been the only one in America happy to see it torn down.......

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there any kind of parental guidance / violence content / rating system for the rides at Universal?

For example, I just watched a YouTube video showing the Transformers ride (the one I watched was for Hollywood, but I'd guess the Orlando ride is similar). My 6-year-old easily clears the 42" height requirement, but I don't think the *content* of the ride is appropriate for him, or even for my 9-year-old. There's no way I'd let my kids watch the Transformers movie (rated PG-13), and the ride looks like a shorter version of the same. Possibly even more intense, since you're meant to feel like you're in the middle of it all. For a start I'm pretty certain it would scare the crap out of them, but my bigger concern is a personal conviction that desensitizing young children to extreme violence is an all-around bad idea. (I know this isn't a particularly widely held viewpoint, and I'm not at all judging what other people choose to do with their children - it's just not for my family.)

So the question is, are there other rides at Universal that I need to look out for? Ones where the content, if subjected to a movie-style rating system, would likely score a PG or PG-13 rating for violence and/or intensity, even if the safety restrictions (ie. height requirements) are low? Universal considers Transformers "Best for Families", so I'm guessing I'm not going to get any help there.

Find the youtube videos of rides. Watch them.

I don't remember the Transformers ride as being anything but noisy and chaotic. Of course, I feel the exact same way about the movie (only seen the first one). Add confusing to both. I just read through the kid's in mind page about it; yeah, I remember almost none of that, and my son doesn't pay attention to the naughty stuff (nor did I as a kid; I didn't understand it, so it just went right over my head). I just remember confusing, noisy, and chaotic.

Ha!

My 7 year-old little sister was scared to death of getting back on Snow White after riding it in the 70's. To this day, she still brings it up. She may have been the only one in America happy to see it torn down.......

Snow White is one of the worst, most confusing, rides ever made. And it has "scary" in the name. There were many people happy to have it replaced in WDW. Remember, though, it's still in Anaheim. (which is the only place I've ridden it...not sure if it was a carbon copy in WDW)

 

[johde]

Snow White is one of the worst, most confusing, rides ever made. And it has "scary" in the name. There were many people happy to have it replaced in WDW. Remember, though, it's still in Anaheim. (which is the only place I've ridden it...not sure if it was a carbon copy in WDW)

There are some slight differences between the Disneyland and the former WDW version. WDW's was longer. To the original question. I'd start with attractions for Kids and work from there. https://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Rides-For-Kids.aspx

 

[donnajherren]

My 7 year-old little sister was scared to death of getting back on Snow White after riding it in the 70's. To this day, she still brings it up. She may have been the only one in America happy to see it torn down.......

Add my kids to that list. LOL The first year we went to WDW as a family, the ride was still there. My girls were 5 & 6, and they had nightmares about that ride.

 

[mab2012]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will just have to research all of the rides and YouTube screen any that I think might be iffy. It's not the cartoon violence so much as the action-style death and destruction that concerns me, but I do agree that it's a pretty subjective question.

Four weeks until we leave... one more thing for the TODO list!

 

[pesto78749]

Ha!

My 7 year-old little sister was scared to death of getting back on Snow White after riding it in the 70's. To this day, she still brings it up. She may have been the only one in America happy to see it torn down.......

This was me too! My brothers took me on it when I was 6 and it was horrid! My mom made then ride its a small world with me about 10 times in a row to get me from shrieking after that. Thank goodness for parents like you who think, would my kids like this? I say if your not sure ride it with rider swap first then decide!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Hmmm - I don't know how to quote anymore...
Anyhow, with me it was Mr Toad's Wild Ride at WDW. I am still frightened if I see a train coming any where near an intersection. I even rode the ride my first time in DL at age 36 to conquer my fear. I wasn't a fan of Snow White, but it didn't have a lasting impact on me. Go figure...
I agree with your previewing rides and considering what does or does not set your children off. You will be the best judge of what might push their buttons - or not. An explanation of movie magic might fix any unexpected issues with reactions; but for content, it's a personal decision. My "OK" for my kids is different from yours and even mine changes as each of my children change and mature as well. Glad you asked the question - thanks for the reminder that I need to preview rides myself

 

[macraven]

Hmmm - I don't know how to quote anymore...

go to the right hand side of this page.
click on the quote buttonthat is in blue.
then click on the reply button next to it, also in blue.

a new box will open up and you wll see what you quoted.
put your reply after the quote.

then hit the post reply button the right hand side of the page.

 

[keishashadow]

Hmmm - I don't know how to quote anymore...
Anyhow, with me it was Mr Toad's Wild Ride at WDW. I am still frightened if I see a train coming any where near an intersection. I even rode the ride my first time in DL at age 36 to conquer my fear. I wasn't a fan of Snow White, but it didn't have a lasting impact on me. Go figure...
I agree with your previewing rides and considering what does or does not set your children off. You will be the best judge of what might push their buttons - or not. An explanation of movie magic might fix any unexpected issues with reactions; but for content, it's a personal decision. My "OK" for my kids is different from yours and even mine changes as each of my children change and mature as well. Glad you asked the question - thanks for the reminder that I need to preview rides myself

Mr Toad's ride is still alive & well at DL, woohoo!

many attractions at the various parks are adaptations of classic literature (Brothers Grimm from the early 1800's) ranging to current, popular movies.

HP books & films have many dark & violent moments, Universal has treaded very lightly in that aspect imo to appeal to a broad demographic.

My family isn't particularly sensitive and enjoy a good scare. my kids & even my 3 year old grand daughter loved the parks from day one. Our tradition is to always work in watching some of the movies in anticipation of our visits.

OP - It is refreshing to see a post from a concerned parent before their trip, versus coming back and complaining the ride didn't suit them, etc. Reviewing ride-through videos and any applicable film content should be helpful to you

 

[Music City Mama]

Is there any kind of parental guidance / violence content / rating system for the rides at Universal?

For example, I just watched a YouTube video showing the Transformers ride (the one I watched was for Hollywood, but I'd guess the Orlando ride is similar). My 6-year-old easily clears the 42" height requirement, but I don't think the *content* of the ride is appropriate for him, or even for my 9-year-old. There's no way I'd let my kids watch the Transformers movie (rated PG-13), and the ride looks like a shorter version of the same. Possibly even more intense, since you're meant to feel like you're in the middle of it all. For a start I'm pretty certain it would scare the crap out of them, but my bigger concern is a personal conviction that desensitizing young children to extreme violence is an all-around bad idea. (I know this isn't a particularly widely held viewpoint, and I'm not at all judging what other people choose to do with their children - it's just not for my family.)

So the question is, are there other rides at Universal that I need to look out for? Ones where the content, if subjected to a movie-style rating system, would likely score a PG or PG-13 rating for violence and/or intensity, even if the safety restrictions (ie. height requirements) are low? Universal considers Transformers "Best for Families", so I'm guessing I'm not going to get any help there.

I haven't been on Transformers yet, but when we were there almost 3 years ago, the boys were 9 and 5. Let me preface this with my kids don't frighten easily, but I remember thinking that Terminator 2: 3-D was kind of inappropriate for them as was the Horror Makeup Show (specifically the clips of the movies at this show). Now that the kids are older, 12 and 8, I still don't think they're completely appropriate for them, but I know they don't get scared by much, so I will allow it for a ride/show on vacation. I'm sure we'll go on the Transformers ride, but there is no way the 8 year old will be watching the movie anytime soon. The 12 year old hasn't even seen it, but of course they know what the Transformers are from cartoons/toys. If you're hesitant about Transformers, I would say definitely do not do Terminator 2 or the Horror Makeup Show.