We just returned from a trip to southern California that included a day at Universal and IMHO I don't think it is worth the money for a 3 year old. They may get to see a few characters that they recognize but almost all the rides and attractions are geared to older kids. The characters are either roaming the park haphazardly or only come out for short periods of time around the ride that they are associated with, so you never know who you will see. I have a 6 year old and a 9 year old and they liked the Simpsons Ride and Shrek 3-D and the Waterworld and Animal Shows and they were excited to see Spongebob but a lot of the attractions and shows were either not too interesting to them or too scary for them. We did the studio tour and even they were too young to appreciate it. Backdraft and the Special Effects Show could be scary for a preschooler. There is a lot for adults to see and do but again, this is only my opinion, if you're looking for something for a young child to enjoy, Universal is probably not it.