Rider Swap?

[Wes1stTrip2016]

My best friend and I are traveling together with our boys (mine will be 6, hers will be 8) in March 2017.

Best friend has horrible motion sickness.

Will it work for us to use rider swap, so that I can ride with my son, then I can ride with her son?

OR

Are there ride descriptions that would tell us which rides seat 3 together so that I know before getting in que that I can sit between the boys - which is the more ideal situation.

My DS in already 48" tall, so we will ride everything that allows for his height.

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW at Universal if you're 48" and meet the requirement for that particular ride, you can ride alone. It's not as strict as Disney is when it comes to that (where you have to be 7+ to ride alone).

I have to go to yoga right now, but if others haven't given a breakdown when I get back I'll look at the 48" and under rides for the ones that allow 3 across.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

Thanks!

 

[macraven]

Height requirements can be found in the UO site and in the links sticky

 

[damo]

Rides that are two across are Rip Ride Rockit, Seuss Trolley, and Pteranodon Flyers. You should all be able to ride at the same time if you want.

Men in Black is three and they should enjoy that one.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

Height requirements can be found in the UO site and in the links sticky

I read the height requirements, made a list of everything I know we can ride - more curious about the seating arrangements and how 1 Mom is going to ride with 2 boys at the same time.

 

[damo]

I read the height requirements, made a list of everything I know we can ride - more curious about the seating arrangements and how 1 Mom is going to ride with 2 boys at the same time.

The 8 year old can ride in the row in front for all of the 3 seater rides. HOw tall is the 8 year old? Probably neither can ride Rip RIde Rockit.

There are a couple of kiddie coasters but they are outside and I don't think there even is a rider swap for them. I think you can only fit 2 on Woody Woodpecker's Coaster and not sure about Flight of the Hippogriff...pretty sure it is only wide enough for 2 as well.

Make sure you take them to the Curious George Ball Factory. They'll have a ton of fun there.

Where are you staying?

If you want to list the rides that you are planning on going on, we can tell you the best way to approach them.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

The 8 year old can ride in the row in front for all of the 3 seater rides. HOw tall is the 8 year old? Probably neither can ride Rip RIde Rockit.

There are a couple of kiddie coasters but they are outside and I don't think there even is a rider swap for them. I think you can only fit 2 on Woody Woodpecker's Coaster and not sure about Flight of the Hippogriff...pretty sure it is only wide enough for 2 as well.

Make sure you take them to the Curious George Ball Factory. They'll have a ton of fun there.

Where are you staying?

If you want to list the rides that you are planning on going on, we can tell you the best way to approach them.

My son is a tad taller then the friend that is 2yrs his senior! So neither I imagine will be taller than 49-50" at best by March. =)
We are staying at the La Quinta on Major Drive - going to LEGOLAND on Monday then US/IOA on Tues & Weds.
We will ride everything they can fit on - both of the boys are daring and will want to try anything & everything! Its the Mom's that wont be so gungho!! LOL

 

[kohlby]

Yes, you can use child swap like that if needed. I've never used the rider swap at Woody Woodpecker but they do have it - it's not a room. They have you wait near the exit. I presume Hippogriff would be the same.

However, since they are both 48", maybe they would like to ride together for the rides that only fit two. My younger two kids loved it the first time they were able to ride together without me. (They are three years apart but almost the same size). Woody Woodpecker and Flight of the Hippogriff are two two-person rides that come to mind. Actually, on one trip, I even helped another adult out by riding with one of his kids. He had two under 48" kids and only one adult and my kids wanted to ride together.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yesterday ran away from me!

The only coaster I can think of that both can go on and that's only 2 across is Hippogriff. But the 8 year old will be FINE sitting in his own car for it. The 6 year old would be, too; mine was!

Pteranodon Flyers (which seems simple enough that the other mom might get fooled into thinking she can ride it, but to me it's THE scariest, and barfiest, ride at Universal) is a 2-seater as well. But it's one behind the other: https://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Islands-of-Adventure/Pteranodon-Flyers.aspx We've only ridden a few times (I've gone on it once) so I can't remember the rules, but it would either be the kids together and you alone, or perhaps you and one of them and the other alone. And that would be the same for the other 2-seaters.


You can very likely get an image of every ride vehicle by googling something like *the name of the ride* and *vehicle*. That's how I calmed myself down after we got home and I couldn't figure out how my son hadn't fallen straight out of Rip Ride Rockit LOL.


Was just thinking about Forbidden Journey. It's like a bench, with things in between so you can't look at the person next to you, with 4 seats. So that won't be a problem to sit in between them UNLESS you're a size 20+, in which case you might need to sit on the outside seat, which means the kids are next to each other and not flanking you.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

Yes, you can use child swap like that if needed. I've never used the rider swap at Woody Woodpecker but they do have it - it's not a room. They have you wait near the exit. I presume Hippogriff would be the same.

However, since they are both 48", maybe they would like to ride together for the rides that only fit two. My younger two kids loved it the first time they were able to ride together without me. (They are three years apart but almost the same size). Woody Woodpecker and Flight of the Hippogriff are two two-person rides that come to mind. Actually, on one trip, I even helped another adult out by riding with one of his kids. He had two under 48" kids and only one adult and my kids wanted to ride together.

I like the idea of the boys riding alone together just not waiting in the lines alone together.

Do you suppose us Mom's could wait with them, let us decide if we want to ride or not, and if they want to go alone or we Mom's don't want to ride, we can let them go and run to the exit to meet them??

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

Yesterday ran away from me!

The only coaster I can think of that both can go on and that's only 2 across is Hippogriff. But the 8 year old will be FINE sitting in his own car for it. The 6 year old would be, too; mine was!

Pteranodon Flyers (which seems simple enough that the other mom might get fooled into thinking she can ride it, but to me it's THE scariest, and barfiest, ride at Universal) is a 2-seater as well. But it's one behind the other: https://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Islands-of-Adventure/Pteranodon-Flyers.aspx We've only ridden a few times (I've gone on it once) so I can't remember the rules, but it would either be the kids together and you alone, or perhaps you and one of them and the other alone. And that would be the same for the other 2-seaters.


You can very likely get an image of every ride vehicle by googling something like *the name of the ride* and *vehicle*. That's how I calmed myself down after we got home and I couldn't figure out how my son hadn't fallen straight out of Rip Ride Rockit LOL.


Was just thinking about Forbidden Journey. It's like a bench, with things in between so you can't look at the person next to you, with 4 seats. So that won't be a problem to sit in between them UNLESS you're a size 20+, in which case you might need to sit on the outside seat, which means the kids are next to each other and not flanking you.

Great advice to google or even YouTube each ride to get an idea of the seating and or the barf factor and make a list from there.

I asked above, but I will ask you as well - can we Mom's wait in the lines with the boys, let them board then boogie for the exit to meet then when they get off. We will be there during Spring Break and I am anticipating lines and would not allow them too wait alone. Thanks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you suppose us Mom's could wait with them, let us decide if we want to ride or not, and if they want to go alone or we Mom's don't want to ride, we can let them go and run to the exit to meet them??

Absolutely. EVERYONE can enter the ride lines at universal. Even infants. And then anyone who is allowed to ride can then decide to not ride. (those who aren't allowed to ride move off to the swap room or the exit before you get to seating)

 

[macraven]

There was a time I would walk thru the line with my 3 boys and then would exit and let them get on the ride

I waited for them at the exit area

I was not found of the coasters they wanted to do but did wanted to know when they did get on

Some rides the wait could be long inside the building and it helped me knowing when they got on so I did the walk thru with them

 

[kohlby]

Great advice to google or even YouTube each ride to get an idea of the seating and or the barf factor and make a list from there.

I asked above, but I will ask you as well - can we Mom's wait in the lines with the boys, let them board then boogie for the exit to meet then when they get off. We will be there during Spring Break and I am anticipating lines and would not allow them too wait alone. Thanks.

Yes. I've even seen groups of just adults with one adult waiting in line and then not riding. It's really easy.