Universal with a baby

[Tygerlilly]

We are planning on a trip to Orlando next year. By then our baby will be one. Is visiting Universal worth it with an infant? It will most likely be just my hubby and I and the kiddo. Do you feel like there is enough that will be able to enjoy while totting around baby?

 

[glocon]

As long as you plan on utilizing child swap you should have a great time!

 

[RMulieri]

Depends on who the trip is for and what you want out of it. If it is for you and DH , As long as you are willing to use the Child Swap , You will have a great time. .Alot of the rides ( even for the kiddies) don't allow handheld babies/toddlers and have height requirements.There are a few ( like Seuss Carousel and One fish ,2 fish) that will allow it .There are also play areas like Curious George that he/shewill love.The Jurassic park playground is also fun, but there are alot of older kids that play there so you will need to be cautious .

 

[Tygerlilly]

Thanks! I'm hoping that in the two years it takes to make this trip happen, I might be able to convince the newly crowned grandma and grandpa that they want to go on a trip too and then we can all have fun (I'd help pay for their tickets since they'll be babysitting). Last time we went my parents needed a mid-day break, so I'm sure they won't mind kiddo sitting during that time and hubbs and I can play.

Good to know about some of the rides not allowing me to hold onto baby while it moves. I obviously wouldn't take baby on Hulk, but I figured some of the slower ones should have been fine. Good point.

 

[macraven]

since you are only 8 weeks pregnant now, go now to the darkside.
you'll have a better idea of what is in the parks and make the first hand decision

 

[Tygerlilly]

I wish I could! I live in Oklahoma and we have a family wedding to go to in Indiana in June and I don't get more vacation days until August.

Maybe I can convince hubby to take a quick trip down there in Sept. The weather will be cooling down and slightly less crowded. Just won't be able to do a lot of rides...

 

[macraven]

I wish I could! I live in Oklahoma and we have a family wedding to go to in Indiana in June and I don't get more vacation days until August.

Maybe I can convince hubby to take a quick trip down there in Sept. The weather will be cooling down and slightly less crowded. Just won't be able to do a lot of rides...

right after labor day, rooms are cheaper and park crowds don't exist.
leave for a flight at noon friday, hit the parks when you arrive.
take the latest flight out on sunday, and go to work on monday.


see how easy i can plan things......

 

[Tygerlilly]

Lol. We work 4 days a week, so we actually have Mondays off as well. Yay for an extra day.

Now I just have to convince hubbs to get on a plane.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Thanks! I'm hoping that in the two years it takes to make this trip happen, I might be able to convince the newly crowned grandma and grandpa that they want to go on a trip too and then we can all have fun (I'd help pay for their tickets since they'll be babysitting). Last time we went my parents needed a mid-day break, so I'm sure they won't mind kiddo sitting during that time and hubbs and I can play.

Good to know about some of the rides not allowing me to hold onto baby while it moves. I obviously wouldn't take baby on Hulk, but I figured some of the slower ones should have been fine. Good point.

Have you considered bringing Grandma and Grandpa and just having them stay in an onsite hotel with the little one? If they are not big theme park fans but want to spend time with the family, they might enjoy hanging in the hotel and at the pool and lunching at City Walk with the little one more than they would the parks. You could save money on park tickets and upgrade to club level. We are going in May with a 2 1/2 year old and she will be staying in the hotel with Grandma while we do the parks. Grandma has little interest in the parks. We will take the little one to the park with us for a few hours a day to give Grandma a break, of course.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Have you considered bringing Grandma and Grandpa and just having them stay in an onsite hotel with the little one? If they are not big theme park fans but want to spend time with the family, they might enjoy hanging in the hotel and at the pool and lunching at City Walk with the little one more than they would the parks. You could save money on park tickets and upgrade to club level. We are going in May with a 2 1/2 year old and she will be staying in the hotel with Grandma while we do the parks. Grandma has little interest in the parks. We will take the little one to the park with us for a few hours a day to give Grandma a break, of course.

That might be a good plan. My dad is a HUGE photography nerd, so I'm sure they'd love to pop into the parks for a few hours each day just to wonder around and explore (we went to IOA when I was 17, but never made it to USO). Plus they like the not too overwhelming rides and any with a motionless seat will be a hit. But even if they take baby for just a few hours to nap, that's plenty of time for me and hubby to go play while they travel back, rest up, and then finally meet back up with us for dinner.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Update:

Hubby said a trip in Sept sounds great! After some serious research, it seems at 6 mo pregnant, I can still go on 8 or so rides, just using the stationary seats. I'm planning on 7 nights, 8 days with 3 days at Universal, one at Sea World and no plans for the other 4. We're getting the 5 park pass which gives us unlimited access to all three plus two water parks (hello lazy river!) I'm super excited now!

 

[mrsabbott]

There are also many different shows and things to experience, even if you don't get to ride many rides. If you end up waiting until after baby is born, the baby swap is pretty awesome and trading off and using the single rider lines is another option.

 

[macraven]

the child swap set up is not just for those with babies.
many families use it when they have an older child that will not do the ride.

i see many older kids in the MIB child swap room that can't handle the spinning on this ride.
so nice that the darkside has this provision for their guests.