Universal for people who don't like roller coasters?

[mickey765]

My family loves Harry Potter, but cannot manage simulators or big roller coasters. (Big Thunder at MK was too much for them) Would a day at Universal be worth it? Are there other things that you recommend doing apart from Harry Potter (which would be our priority) that do not include roller coasters?

 

[macraven]

UO is not coaster heavy.

Take a look at the park maps online for UO and you can read up on the attractions and rides in the two parks.

 

[only hope]

It is worth it for big HP fans- if you can do the HP rides. I can not tolerate big coasters either, though I can do Big Thunder as long as I'm not in the front half. I've put what to expect motion-wise for the rides without giving away the plot- but in case you don't want to know that much, I've used a spoiler tag.

Spoiler: Ride details

Forbidden Journey is a ride where you sit on a bench that is on a robotic arm that very smoothly tilts and goes up and down throughout the attraction. At one point you are just past flat on your back. Some people with motion sickness can't do it. The coaster at Hogsmeade has been there for many years. It used to be called the Flying Unicorn. It's about on par with the Goofy coaster at MK. The Gringrotts ride is a coaster but mostly it's more like a motion simulator, with long periods of sitting still in front of various screens to watch the action.

Universal does have a lot of big coasters but there are other things too, as can be found on the website and app. Huge HP fans can easily spend almost the whole day exploring Hogsmeade, London, and Diagon Alley, especially if you buy an interactive wand. I once spent an hour just happily reading all the painted advertisements on the walls in Diagon Alley.

 

[schumigirl]

Universal certainly isn`t a big coaster park. There are only two large coasters at Universal....Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit…...

Smaller ones are The Mummy and the new Hagrid ride. Much tamer but fabulously themed. They are both fast.

Definitely have a check of the online park maps from the Universal Orlando website and see what else is available would suit your family....there are plenty of other things to do in the parks, including shows and plenty of places to chill out and smell the roses......

 

[mickey765]

ok.. I've looked at rides... I do think that the park does contain a lot of coasters compared to WDW, and plenty of simulators and other rides that can cause motion sickness. We would prioritize HP anyways over everything else, I was just wondering if there are any other rides that are worth it apart from Harry Potter stuff that won't trigger motion sickness..

 

[only hope]

E.T.!! If anyone is very prone to motion sickness, as in can't do anything with drops, tilting, or screens, then there is almost nothing to do. There are only two dark rides, E.T. and Cat in the Hat. Cat in the Hat does have some slow spinning. There's also a trolly in the sky in Seussland that shouldn't cause any motion sickness as long as one doesn't mind being a few stories up in the air. Seussland is amazing too. I mean, it doesn't take nearly as long as HP but for Seuss fans there are a ton of details to find. Same with the Marvel area if you are a comics (not the new movies) fan. The Toon Lagoon area has a ton of visual gags and photo ops.

 

[keishashadow]

ok.. I've looked at rides... I do think that the park does contain a lot of coasters compared to WDW, and plenty of simulators and other rides that can cause motion sickness. We would prioritize HP anyways over everything else, I was just wondering if there are any other rides that are worth it apart from Harry Potter stuff that won't trigger motion sickness..

“Simulators” not quite sure what you mean there. Have you done RoTR or the millennium falcon ride (far worse than spiderman for me) flight of passage is a definite trigger for me experiencing motion sickness. Have learned to look down at the floor at certain parts to avoid being out of sorts for an hour or so. It makes the Simpsons ride seem tame by comparison.

The HP ‘rides’ have some moments that may not be your cup of tea either. I get unsettled when the dementors emerge, actually got stuck in that spot at a weird angle last time upon it.

Everyone is different, you can ask five people and get as many different replies. Suggest you google ride thru videos for the specific attractions, always helpful at any park.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

My family loves Harry Potter, but cannot manage simulators or big roller coasters. (Big Thunder at MK was too much for them) Would a day at Universal be worth it? Are there other things that you recommend doing apart from Harry Potter (which would be our priority) that do not include roller coasters?

Personally, I think if Big Thunder is too much, then Forbidden Journey will be too much. My mom can’t handle Big Thunder and got queasy on Transformers. She then wouldn’t try Spider Man. The Mummy was a bit much for her. Despicable Me almost made her sick too. I wouldn’t let her on Simpsons because it actually makes me sick...but when it was Back to the Future it didn’t. She wouldn’t even attempt any of the HP rides or any coasters. I think the only things she will ride at Universal are ET and the 3 rides in Seuss land. Besides that, she does enjoy the atmosphere of the park, watching the performances of the Blues Brothers, Celestine Warbeck and the triwizard pep rally.

 

[bchbetha]

If motion sickness is your problem, not fear (which is how I read your coaster comment), why not see if something like Bonnine (sp?) the non-drowsy motion sickness med would work?

 

[disneyseniors]

If motion sickness is your problem, not fear (which is how I read your coaster comment), why not see if something like Bonnine (sp?) the non-drowsy motion sickness med would work?

Right! If it is motion sickness, then you might do what my daughterinlaw and youngest grandson did at Universal. They used Dramamine (or a similar) anti-nausea patch behind their ears. I honestly thought nothing would help them as they both get very motion sick. They both used the medicine and didn't have a problem at all. They rode all the rides (except RRR) and had a ball. I was really surprised because both of them get really car sick on a simple straight road drive.