Trip Tip: What can kids do at Universal Studios?

[BarryHom]

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Production Central
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera simulator ride has a 40-inch height requirement. If your children do not meet this requirement, they can ride in the stationary seating (which has no height requirement). An interactive play area is at the end of the ride. You can stomp on piano kids and play a Flintstone piano, complete with prehistoric birds squaking the melody. It is possible to play a tune on this piano if you stomp carefully enough. Various screens allow you to add color and sound effects to several Hanna-Barbera cartoons. You can also pose in Fred Flintstone’s car. You do not have to go on the ride to enter the interactive area. You can enter it through the Hanna-Barbera Store.

Production Central also has the Nickelodeon Studios Tour. Every kid in America who has cable TV probably knows what this network is. You can view the soundstages where Nick shows are produced. If you are lucky, you can see a show in production or even speak to a production personnel. You may also be able to tour the wardrobe department or the control room. In the wardrobe department, one lucky kid gets to eat slime and gak!

The end of the tour is the most fun – the Game Lab. In the Game Lab, kids and adults are split up and compete against each other in challenges. One kid even gets to dress their parents up in absurd outfits and have them do challenges. One lucky kid gets slimed! The host will ask for a slime volunteer. If your kid is interested, have him or her raise his or her hand high, jump up and down, and get noticed.

You can be an audience member on a Nick show. Call (407) 363-8500 for more information or to see what shows may be taping during your visit.

Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone
Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone can be termed as “kid central.” This is an area devised for kids in mind.

Younger guests can watch A Day in the Park with Barney, starring their favorite purple dinosaur. Check your park map for showtimes. The show exits into Barney’s Backyard, an interactive play area where kids can make music, splash in water, or draw on the walls. Some activities are off-limits to those over 48 inches and 36 inches. Barney’s Backyard has its own entrance if you don’t wish to see the show.

Curious George in town is a wet and dry play area based on the Curious George books. You can squirt people below with water cannons or be the one below who is being squirted. You can go through areas and play with different wet guns. Watch out because people above may be trying to dump water on you! If you hear a bell ring, you better know which way you are going because a huge bucket of water will be dumped on you! If you are not inclined to get wet, you can take the dry path to the ball room. You collect balls around the room and then, using the huge guns on the second level, shoot them at people. The balls are so soft and lightweight that they do not cause any pain. In fact, most people do not know that they have been hit!

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster is truly a kiddie coaster. It basically spirals you down to the end. The height requirement is 36 inches.

Fievel’s Playland has many interactive play elements at a “mouse-eye view.” The centerpiece of the playland is the slide. You can take a two-person raft down a water slide.

The Kidzone houses the E.T. Adventure. You venture aboard bikes to find E.T. and bring him back home to the green planet, where only his healing touch can save the dying planet. The ride can be scary for kids during the opening chase sequence, but it is pleasant after that. E.T. may even call your kids by name!

Animal Planet Live is a show where kids can see dogs, cats, monkeys, and other animals perform tricks. You can have your kids watch the show to see what well-trained pets are like.

The Toon Trolley makes appearances in the Kidzone throughout the day. Check your park map for times.

San Francisco/Amity
Earthquake and Jaws can scare kids, so what else can they do in this area? They can see the Wild Wild West Stunt Show. Although there are loud pyrotechnics, kids can enjoy the comedic fighting and the comedic villains. If they like getting wet, they can get the added bonus of sitting in the splash zone. During a part of the show, you can get wet. It is not a sopping wet, but it will get you wet.

Kids can also see Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue. Like the Wild Wild West Stunt Show, there are loud pyrotechnics, but the show also has rock and roll tunes that can get the kids dancing on the bleachers.

New York
Kongfrontation is dark. Twister is dark and loud. Dark and loud noises can scare kids, but they can also dance again in the Blues Brothers show. The show is standing room only, but the songs can be entertaining to kids. They’re not the Backstreet Boys, but your kids will probably not care.

 

[FINFAN]

Thanks for this great info Barry....just what I needed to help decide on buying the current 7 day deal for US/IOA. Now I just need to talk DH into it! Have a great day.

 

[BarryHom]

When people ask if a ride is good for their X year old, I always recall some rides on BTTF. I rode it twice in a row. The first time, I rode with a kid who was about 7 years old. At the end of the ride, he cried. On the next ride, I rode with a kid who was about the same age. At the end of the ride, she said, "That was so cool! Let's do it again!" Her parents were in the back seat and looked pretty ill! I also remember a ride on Jaws where two kids who were about 5 years old rode in front of me. Every time Jaws showed its fin, the kids cried and cried!

 

[BevS97]

The first time, I rode with a kid who was about 7 years old. At the end of the ride, he cried. On the next ride, I rode with a kid who was about the same age. At the end of the ride, she said, "That was so cool! Let's do it again!"

This is exactly the problem - every child is different.

we took our dd to US/IOF when she was 3.5, we started in Suess Landing - had a go on the Carosuessel - that was great, then tried Cat in the Hat - that was not good - she was really scared and not keen on trying anything else. She refused to go on the One Fish Two Fish, although I think she would have liked it, she was just too spooked from Cat in the Hat.

We chilled out a bit and played on Me Ship Me Olive. Then entered the Jurassic area. This is not for little kids at all. There is no way I would let my dd go on the Pteranodon Flyers. The way the seats are arranged there is just no way to comfort her if she get's scared, plus I don' t trust her to still still and not fall out of the thing.
The play area in her has dinosaurs roaring at every step, and again she was terrified.

In the end, I would say all she enjoyed was the Carosuel, the water play area in Suess Landing (this was brilliant), Circus McGurcus and Me Ship Me Olive.

As for Universal Studios- can you say Barney??? We did that show 3 times in a row! That was really all that was suitable for her, although she absolutely loved the Blues Brothers show.
We tried Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera in the stationary seats, but had to come out- that is quite a load scary film if you are a timid 3 year old!

I don't want to give the impression that we had a rotten time at these parks - I thought they were both amazing, but they weren't suitable for my dd. In the end, we used the baby swap a lot, and spent a lot of time just soaking up the atmosphere. When we go back to Orlando, she will be 5 and she is getting braver all the time, so we'll try the parks again and see how we get on.

Bev

 

[EMMADOO]

From what I have seen and heard, the live show at Nickelodean Studios is not done in the summer. Only during the school year.
If you are able to go during that time, here are a few numbers and hints to get in the audience and or be seen on tv.

tickets are handed out near the slime geyser at 2 pm Monday through Friday. First come, first served. Don't push, be nice.

If you go in wearing Universal themed clothing, you are more likely to be on tv and/or be selected to participate in the show but it is not a guarantee.

If you go in wearing Disney related clothing, you may experience some good natured teasing before the show starts taping and you will not be on tv. They do not do advertising, as they call it, for the competitor.

the number for Nickelodean shows is............407-224-6355

the number for Universal Studios Audience Center...407-363-8500

best of luck and hope to see you next slime.