Universal Studios with timid 7yr old

[alc571]

What is there to do??? We got the City Passes that include a days admission. When DH and I were there in 1998 for our honeymoon we LOVED it. I actually remember more about US than DL! We couldn't resist not going again, even if we only do the backlot tour.

My question is what is there to do with a 7yr old who is afraid of most rides? For example, he HATES: roller coasters, It's Tough to be a Bug 3D attraction, dark rides, fast rides, etc. Oh ya, and he's afraid of characters...lol

He loves POTC, IASW, tea cups, Buzz, Little Mermaid, Spaceship Earth, etc.

Is there more than just the backlot tour? He wants SpongeBob's autograph, but apparently mommy has to get that for him!

 

[SMD]

I haven't actually been in the park in a long time, but I sometimes drive on the lot and see the trams. I'm pretty sure the tram tour still includes King Kong and Earthquake and maybe even some other scary stuff.

Also, POTC at DL has 2 significant drops you should be aware of at the beginning of the ride.

 

[novanic]

Not that I will be of much help but I sympathise, your child sounds just like my 7 year old!!! I always say he's afraid of his own shadow! We also have the same dilemma and didn't really need Universal on the City Pass as I'm not sure there is much there for him.

 

[alc571]

I haven't actually been in the park in a long time, but I sometimes drive on the lot and see the trams. I'm pretty sure the tram tour still includes King Kong and Earthquake and maybe even some other scary stuff.

Also, POTC at DL has 2 significant drops you should be aware of at the beginning of the ride.

Is the King Kong part dark? I'm not worried about the earthquake part as he seemed to like the blowing up/water part at Hollywood Studios' backlot tour.

The drop in POTC in WDW is his favourite part. We've warned him that the drop is bigger in DL and he says he wants to do Pirates first when we get there.

We would normally skip US if it wasn't for the City Pass, but figured its pretty much free when you look at the costs to buy all the tickets separate and what we paid for the City Passes thru Costco. We figured even just to walk around the park to kill time before we can checkin would be worth it.

 

[SMD]

You used to enter a soundstage where you drive onto a bridge and King Kong shakes the bridge trying to get to your tram, but I was just reading about it, and apparently now dinosaurs circle the tram and King Kong saves you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong:_360_3-D

Now it looks like you drive into a building, put on 3D glasses and the action happens on screens around you. Here's a video.
http://youtu.be/pGeTHueErfE?t=1m50s

 

[GenGen22]

Our boys don't like scarry roller coaster rides and stuff like that and we took them to US and they had a positive experience. They boys were 8 & 10 and now we are returning at 12 & 14 cuz they really wanna go back... They have the shrek 4-D ride, the simpsons ride and the whole kid area for kids to do. They also have the waterworld show that I don't think is scarry if he likes stuff that blows up etc., the studio tour and from what I have heard that the transformer ride is like Harry Potter or Spiderman at Islands of Adventure, Florida which isn't scarry. I wouldn't take him in the house of horrors if he doesn't like haunted houses the ones where people jump out at you or the jurassic park ride if he doesnt like extremely huge drops as that one is pretty intense but most of the stuff should be ok.

 

[StageTek]

“Earthquake” is loud with fire explosions and a “flood” and the tram shakes
rather violently. Since it’s inside the feel is different than the Hollywood
Studios attraction.

“King Kong” is now a 3D movie. The first part is dark - the tram enters a
holding area before entering the main area. The movie is loud and the tram
shakes. It’s a jungle and dinosaurs attack the tram then Kong attacks the
dinosaurs.

It seems like he will be okay with both.

“Shrek” is very much like “It’s Tough to be a Bug” in that it is a 3D movie were
the seat shakes and water is sprayed.

 

[Turbanator]

Is the King Kong part dark? I'm not worried about the earthquake part as he seemed to like the blowing up/water part at Hollywood Studios' backlot tour.

The drop in POTC in WDW is his favourite part. We've warned him that the drop is bigger in DL and he says he wants to do Pirates first when we get there.

We would normally skip US if it wasn't for the City Pass, but figured its pretty much free when you look at the costs to buy all the tickets separate and what we paid for the City Passes thru Costco. We figured even just to walk around the park to kill time before we can checkin would be worth it.

He doesn't sound too scared, once your there you'll have lots to do