Universal .....is it for toddlers?

[ppan77]

My inlaws want to take the grand kids to universal for a long weekend. Problem is we have the youngest kids ds3 and 7month dd. What can we ride with our kids? Is it really worth it ....is it as baby friendly as MK?

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

I personally do not find MGM, soon to be Disney's Hollywood Studios, very small child friendly. There are very few experiences that small children can enjoy. The backstage tour was far too intense for our children at three years old. The Movie ride is also far too scary. The Tower of Terror and Rockin' Rollercoaster are also out. I do not think my three year olds would have enjoyed the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

On the plus side, the playground there fasioned after the "I Shrunk the Kids" movies is really fun. My little ones enjoyed the Mupped 3-D movie and the Beauty and the Beast Show.

Other than the Magic Kingdom my kids really loved Epcot. They loved the "Big Ball" and the Land ride. We garden, and they have always helped take care of our plants, so they found that ride fascinating. My little ones really liked Maelstrom (sp?) and the 360 degree movies in Canada and China.
My son loved the train set in Germany, the juggler/accrobat in Italy, and the candy sculpter in Japan. They also loved to dance at the music performances. My children loved the silver clad perfromers who did contortions. That doesn't even begin to consider the kidcot locations.

I find Epcot the best place to take small kids, outside of the Magic Kingdom.

--Eeyore's Wife

 

[ppan77]

I agree with you about MGM but what about universal studios or island of adventure? Are they toddler friendly or about the same as mgm?

 

[brentalex]

Both Universal and Islands of Advernture have small areas that are toddler friendly, but mostly I think they are geared towards older kids. I think that of the two Islands of Adventure is definitly for older kids while universal itself is a bit more kid friendly. Neither is anywhere near as kid friendly as the MK

 

[bradk]

between the two parks, you can find enough to be toddler friendly for a day. i'm not sure i'd go out of my way for USO though.

shrek, nickelodeon, barney, dr. seuss and curious george are the key characters for that group

 

[Charleyann]

I personally think there is quite abite for toddlers to do! There is Barney, Scooby Doo, Dr. Suess Landing with lots of kiddie rides. How the grinch stole Christmas. There is Curious George water place and even the animal planet live! Spiderman and superheros for little boys......

The first time I took my DS he was 5 years old. He screamed in delight " Mommy, I didn't know Scooby Doo was real!" Everyone was laughing. He is now 11 years old and will not let me leave Florida without Universal/ Islands of Adventure!

I say go for it it! Your toddler should love it!

Charleyann

 

[puffkin]

We had my 19 month old there for Labor Day weekend. It is nowhere near as Toddler friendly as the Disney parks. We couldn't find much for him to do at all in IOA.....even some of the rides in Suess Landing were a little tough becuase he had to sit in his own seat or we wouldn't have been able to ride. Luckily he is a VERY brave (almost scarily brave) toddler and was ok with the rides, but most kids his age probably wouldn't have sat on their own.

There was a lot more for him to do at Universal Studios....but again we took him into a LOT of shows that most kids his age probably wouldn't like (Twister, Earthquake, Terminator, Jaws). The water area was GREAT and he LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Ball Works place and he enjoyed the Barney show and the Animal Planet show.

We have a VERY adventurous and tolerate toddler though, and we were running out of things to do with him by the end of our second day in the parks. Disney is MUCH more Toddler friendly....I would only recomment Universal Studios for 1 day at most with a Toddler.

 

[fairfax]

I have a 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son and we take them to US and IOA frequently. They always find plenty of things to do. In IOA, Suess Landing has many rides they enjoy. My two year old son has been going on the Cat in the Hat ride ever since he was able to walk on his own. There are fun playgrounds in both parks, and as others have mentioned shows that they enjoy. We have annual passes to both Disney and Universal and I'd have to say Islands of Adventure is the park we visit most frequently.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

OP, I see you are relatively new to the DIS Boards. I suggest you post your question on the Universal Planning Forum http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30rather rather than the WDW Trip Planning Forum. Although you have received some information here that could be helpful, you might get more responses on the Universal forum.

 

[claytonj20]

I took my youngest there when she was 16 mos, and honestly there was not alot for her there. Even some of the "kiddy" rides she was too small for (DR Suess' train for one that I remember) She is not very ride friendly either but she does like to watch her older siblings ride. Did she have fun? yep! I think I was more worried about finding something for her to do than she was!

 

[mom2LLN]

I personally think there is quite abite for toddlers to do! There is Barney, Scooby Doo, Dr. Suess Landing with lots of kiddie rides. How the grinch stole Christmas. There is Curious George water place and even the animal planet live! Spiderman and superheros for little boys......

The first time I took my DS he was 5 years old. He screamed in delight " Mommy, I didn't know Scooby Doo was real!" Everyone was laughing. He is now 11 years old and will not let me leave Florida without Universal/ Islands of Adventure!

I say go for it it! Your toddler should love it!

Charleyann

Which park is Scooby Doo in? I've also been trying to decide on which park and if my girls (5 & 3) would enjoy it or not. My oldest LOVES Scooby and this would be an awesome experience for her...this would definetly be the highlight of her trip.

Also, how are the Character Meals? Are they similiar to the ones at Disney? I've seen the Dr. Seuss one and was thinking about that. Is that the only one available?

 

[angela3676]

I think US and USIOA both have kid friendly areas. IOA has Seuss Landing and US has Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. Although I’m a total Disney fanatic and always will be my family and I enjoy going to Universal Studios too. Whenever we plan a WDW vacation it includes US. There is fun stuff for big kids and little kids.

 

[ppan77]

OP, I see you are relatively new to the DIS Boards. I suggest you post your question on the Universal Planning Forum http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30rather rather than the WDW Trip Planning Forum. Although you have received some information here that could be helpful, you might get more responses on the Universal forum.

thanks! I already did bc I wanted opinions from both my disney fanatics and also universal lovers and have gotten great responses on both forums!

 

[Tissa]

Scooby is at US. Last time we went Scooby and Shaggy were driving around in the Mystery Machine waving to everyone. My ds was thrilled.

 

[bradk]

i've only seen scooby and shaggy (outside of the macy's holiday parade) during one of the cartoon greets. shaggy and donkey (with shrek/fiona where shrek 4d dumps you out) are worth the price of admission alone in my opinion.

although - and i'm not sure how true this is, but this guy was on the up & up - i was told by a VIP guide there that they're not allowed to call him shaggy for licensing reasons, he looks like shaggy and he sounds like shaggy but his name is scooby's friend or something like that.

universal and their licensing issues