Universal for Kids?

[ArwenMarie]

Hi everyone, hope I am putting this in the right place!

Looking for info on Universal. My husband wants to go to Florida sometime in the winter (probably February) but he wants to try a Universal vacation for a change.

I am so reluctant!

Anyway, the details....We would be staying at Portofino Bay. We have two kids, age 10 boy and age 7 girl.

We are thinking five days total (not including travel days). I know that just being somewhere warmer in the winter will be awesome regardless, but I guess I am hesitant on Universal for my two kids. They are not daredevils by any stretch of the word!

What else...We aren't park commandos, so what takes a faster-moving family one day at Disney usually takes us two We like a lot of resort time, pool, hanging out, eating of course.

I guess my questions are this...Will there be enough to do at the resort and the parks there for five days? Knowing my kids as I described them above, will there be enough to do considering they tend to be cautious? Anything else you think I need to know would also be appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[RMulieri]

We did our first Universal only vacation last Jan ( and are about to leave soon for our next)..Our DD was 8 yrs old at the time, too short for alot and too timid for alot too.But she still BEGGED to go back again.We had a BLAST!! We stayed Portofino Club level ( and are again) for 5 nights.This next trip is 7.We did 4 days at the parks and pretty much toured leisurely.In the afternoons we went back to swim( we were lucky in Jan that year there was warmer than usual weather).Evenings were spent hanging at the resort( bocce ball court or listening to the opera singers at usk on the piazza) or citywalk .There is minigolf there now that wasnt when we last went and we still hd fun people watching and listening to music..We had such a great time we are doing it again.We left our first trip well relaxed and felt like we actually HAD a vacation..Unlike when we tour like commandos at Disney

 

[ArwenMarie]

We did our first Universal only vacation last Jan ( and are about to leave soon for our next)..Our DD was 8 yrs old at the time, too short for alot and too timid for alot too.But she still BEGGED to go back again.We had a BLAST!! We stayed Portofino Club level ( and are again) for 5 nights.This next trip is 7.We did 4 days at the parks and pretty much toured leisurely.In the afternoons we went back to swim( we were lucky in Jan that year there was warmer than usual weather).Evenings were spent hanging at the resort( bocce ball court or listening to the opera singers at usk on the piazza) or citywalk .There is minigolf there now that wasnt when we last went and we still hd fun people watching and listening to music..We had such a great time we are doing it again.We left our first trip well relaxed and felt like we actually HAD a vacation..Unlike when we tour like commandos at Disney

Thank you so much for your reply! Especially hearing that your DD who is around the same age as my kids had a good time.

My husband will be happy to hear this.

 

[Lynne G]

Look at the Universal website and U Tube to get an idea of the rides and shows in the parks.

With your hotel key, you get early entry to the Potter area in IOA, and it is worth it at least one morning.

You are allowed (and encouraged) to pool hop. Check out the pool areas of HRH and RPR, both have slides that the Portofino pools do not.

We loved the Portofino. It is a beautiful hotel, and not a bad walk or boat ride to the parks.

Have a great time. Your kids are a good age for the parks. Take in some of the shows: the pet one is fun and the horror make up show is great too.

You will be so spoiled by the unlimited express pass you get with your room key. The ability to enter almost all rides with a lesser time to wait is awesome. Unlike Disney, there is no need to plan. The parks are easy to navigate, and the City Walk between them is a nice area to explore, the Blue Man Group, Restaurants, Stores, Mini Golf, Movie Theater, Night Clubs.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Look at the Universal website and U Tube to get an idea of the rides and shows in the parks.

With your hotel key, you get early entry to the Potter area in IOA, and it is worth it at least one morning.

You are allowed (and encouraged) to pool hop. Check out the pool areas of HRH and RPR, both have slides that the Portofino pools do not.

We loved the Portofino. It is a beautiful hotel, and not a bad walk or boat ride to the parks.

Have a great time. Your kids are a good age for the parks. Take in some of the shows: the pet one is fun and the horror make up show is great too.

You will be so spoiled by the unlimited express pass you get with your room key. The ability to enter almost all rides with a lesser time to wait is awesome. Unlike Disney, there is no need to plan. The parks are easy to navigate, and the City Walk between them is a nice area to explore, the Blue Man Group, Restaurants, Stores, Mini Golf, Movie Theater, Night Clubs.

Thanks for the tips

I'm already loving the idea of not having to plan this trip as much.

 

[patrickpiteo]

Thanks for the tips

I'm already loving the idea of not having to plan this trip as much.

You gonna have a blast express pass is the best and will spoil you.. PBH is beautiful and we stay there 2 days on every Orlando trip. Its a quiet hotel that really makes you feel relaxed.

If you have a car you can take a night trip to downtown Disney.

We do that all the time..

 

[TheAviator]

Most definitely, a week is about perfect. That's what I normally do, although I could probably do 2 weeks. Don't worry you will be very pleasantly surprised. Many seem to have preconceived notions that Universal is a roller coaster park, its not at all. Its very much like Disney in the sense that most of the rides are themed. For example Jurassic Park, river adventure, you float down a river and get attacked by dinosaurs. Spiderman, you get to live inside a comic book whereby the use of 3-D and live action, the characters come to life, jump on your car and many other things. Harry Potter's main ride similar use of awesome 3-D and live action. You will not get bored. In fact I do not think I've seen one person not say after their first visit to Universal and Islands of Adventure, wow, now I get it, it is awesome.

 

[CerysG]

The first time we went was two years about and my DD's were 7 (while we were there), 10 and 13 and they loved it. The youngest and oldest like rides alot (the youngest was the only one who would go on the Mummy with DH and I....though I think she had her face in the rail you hold on for most of it) but the middle one found lots she would go on as well. I think she liked the sim rides like the Simpsons and Shrek etc. but she liked Spiderman as well. This time we are staying 9 nights at Universal doing the parks for 4 days but also doing Sea World, NASA, Discovery Cove and Aquatica...and then over to Disney! I think if you are a slow layed back kind of family you'll be fine. You can do the parks in the morings and head back to the hotel and pool later in the afternoon. We leave in a week and are so excited!

 

[Rip]

Look at the Universal website and U Tube to get an idea of the rides and shows in the parks.

With your hotel key, you get early entry to the Potter area in IOA, and it is worth it at least one morning.

You are allowed (and encouraged) to pool hop. Check out the pool areas of HRH and RPR, both have slides that the Portofino pools do not.

We loved the Portofino. It is a beautiful hotel, and not a bad walk or boat ride to the parks.

Have a great time. Your kids are a good age for the parks. Take in some of the shows: the pet one is fun and the horror make up show is great too.

You will be so spoiled by the unlimited express pass you get with your room key. The ability to enter almost all rides with a lesser time to wait is awesome. Unlike Disney, there is no need to plan. The parks are easy to navigate, and the City Walk between them is a nice area to explore, the Blue Man Group, Restaurants, Stores, Mini Golf, Movie Theater, Night Clubs.

One minor quibble, RPR has a play area, not a slide and the large pool at the Portofino does have a slide.

 

[ArwenMarie]

You gonna have a blast express pass is the best and will spoil you.. PBH is beautiful and we stay there 2 days on every Orlando trip. Its a quiet hotel that really makes you feel relaxed.

If you have a car you can take a night trip to downtown Disney.

We do that all the time..

That express pass sounds great!

Most definitely, a week is about perfect. That's what I normally do, although I could probably do 2 weeks. Don't worry you will be very pleasantly surprised. Many seem to have preconceived notions that Universal is a roller coaster park, its not at all. Its very much like Disney in the sense that most of the rides are themed. For example Jurassic Park, river adventure, you float down a river and get attacked by dinosaurs. Spiderman, you get to live inside a comic book whereby the use of 3-D and live action, the characters come to life, jump on your car and many other things. Harry Potter's main ride similar use of awesome 3-D and live action. You will not get bored. In fact I do not think I've seen one person not say after their first visit to Universal and Islands of Adventure, wow, now I get it, it is awesome.

Thanks! Glad to hear that a week is not too long!

The first time we went was two years about and my DD's were 7 (while we were there), 10 and 13 and they loved it. The youngest and oldest like rides alot (the youngest was the only one who would go on the Mummy with DH and I....though I think she had her face in the rail you hold on for most of it) but the middle one found lots she would go on as well. I think she liked the sim rides like the Simpsons and Shrek etc. but she liked Spiderman as well. This time we are staying 9 nights at Universal doing the parks for 4 days but also doing Sea World, NASA, Discovery Cove and Aquatica...and then over to Disney! I think if you are a slow layed back kind of family you'll be fine. You can do the parks in the morings and head back to the hotel and pool later in the afternoon. We leave in a week and are so excited!

Sounds like you have an awesome vacation planned! We are very slow and laid back, some would call us lazy

Have a great trip next week!

One minor quibble, RPR has a play area, not a slide and the large pool at the Portofino does have a slide.

Thanks for the picture. I was wondering about the slides actually because I was looking at RPR and Portofino. I find that kind of odd that RPR doesn't have a slide considering that it seems so cool for kids!

Thanks everyone, this has been so helpful. I'm excited. We are thinking about the Kids Suite at Portofino. Does anyone know which area of the the hotel they are located in there and any room requests that would put us in the best spot? Thanks again!

 

[rowan555]

Man, that slide at Portofino is so cute! We'll be at RPR next Monday - Thursday, and we'd planned on pool hopping at HRH. We may have to also make the long walk to Portofino so my daughter can have fun on that slide. Looks worth the walk, for sure.

Question - is complimentary ice water available poolside at the resorts?

 

[RMulieri]

Man, that slide at Portofino is so cute! We'll be at RPR next Monday - Thursday, and we'd planned on pool hopping at HRH. We may have to also make the long walk to Portofino so my daughter can have fun on that slide. Looks worth the walk, for sure.

Question - is complimentary ice water available poolside at the resorts?

Yes they have citrus water and ice water complimentary poolside..We will be at Portofino in 10 days..My daughter loves the slide at Portofino..All she does all poolday long

 

[SmallWorld71]

We took a 7 night, 8 day trip to Universal when the kids were 14, 11 and 7. We stayed at HRH. A few thoughts in no particular order:

1) It was extremely relaxing. Having the Express Pass was the best thing ever! So easy to just waltz in and out whenever we wanted and not have to worry about any type of touring plan. The only thing we got up real early for was to have one day of early entry for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter where we did Ollivander's and rode Forbidden Journey as a family. After that, the boys just did FJ using single rider.

2) I am a bit of a ride chicken. There def. wasn't as much for me as at Disney. But, still plenty to keep me happy. If your kids can handle the "sort of" thrill rides like Star Tours and Big Thunder, then you should be good.

3) Since we had 8 days, we did 1 day at Discovery Cove and 2 at SeaWorld. If you find there is not enough for you at Universal, it's easy enough to hop a cab to SW.

4) My kids loved the pool games at the Hard Rock pool. We pool hopped one day to Portofino Bay and my DD (7) enjoyed it. But, the boys (14 and 11) found it quite boring. There were mostly preschool aged children there when we went and they felt out of place. I assume that it was just who happened to be staying there at the time, but if you need to liven up your pool time, just head on over to the Hard Rock.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that if you're a slower-moving group (we are, too, though we always FEEL like we're moving fast! I have a sneaking suspicion that WE are simply inefficient) staying onsite at Universal is great.


When we first went, DS was 6.5. He was taller than 48", but didn't want to go near Forbidden Journey. DH was, and still is as far as we know, too big for the big thrill rides, including FJ. Only I went on FJ on that trip.

No one went on the BIG rides on that trip, there was no Hulk or Dr Doom or any of those rides.

And yet we had a FABULOUS time.

DH yearns to fit on the big rides, and he's working on it....meanwhile DS is now tall and brave enough to go on everything. He's still young enough, though, that I don't *want* him going on the big huge rides alone, so I go with him. I hate the big rides. Oh the things I do for him.

And DH still has a great time without going on the big rides.

Having the EP makes the whole day so much easier. Want to ride Flight of the Hippogriff (not a BIG coaster at all) 14 times in a row? Do it! Want to send your 48"+ kid on the Woody Woodpecker coaster ALONE 15 times in a row? They can do it. (at Universal you can go into ride lines and on rides alone once you're 48", unless of course the ride itself requires a taller height...at Disney it's an age thing, but at Uni it's height) Does someone want to ride One Fish Two Fish over and over? It's easy with EP. You don't have to hit the big rides to use EP.

It's just a good place and having the onsite unlimited Express Pass makes it easier.

 

[Darcy03231]

I am a certified, card carrying ride chicken. I won't go on any rollercoasters or stuff that goes upside down. I can do Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain once per trip, but that's it. I don't do Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, Rockin Rollercoaster, etc.

Having said that, I can ride a lot at US/IOA. There are some things I definitely won't do that my kids love and I just wait for them - - they're the thrill ride junkies.

I love our US/IOA vacations because they are definitely laid back and relaxing. Having the express pass I don't feel like we have to be there at rope drop and go go go all day. 5 days is a great amount of time. It will give you plenty of time to enjoy the parks and your resort.

Have a great trip!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks everyone! Sounds fun, I'm excited.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks everyone! Sounds fun, I'm excited.

 

[Victoria3]

I totally recommend checking out the shows too! A lot of them get overlooked and you get to get off your feet for a bit too.

Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue, Horror Make-Up Show, Animal Actors, Eighth Voyage of Sindbad.

 

[Darcy03231]

I totally recommend checking out the shows too! A lot of them get overlooked and you get to get off your feet for a bit too.

Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue, Horror Make-Up Show, Animal Actors, Eighth Voyage of Sindbad.

I think this is one of the best shows in any theme park!