Universal with infant

[alloyd1170]

My dad wants to take the kids (4 yrs and ~12-18 mos) & I to Universal for a few days. The 4 yr old has been to Disney several times so Im not worried about him and rides (except the big roller coaster types). Ive never been to Universal and dont know about the rides. My big concern is can I take the baby on my lap on some of them (ie Dumbo, Small World type things), and for others do they have a parent swap like they do at Disney so we can both ride with my son. Im thinking Disney might still be a better bet with the baby, but would love a change. Thanks!

alison

 

[3jsmom]

I would love to know this also since we'll be visiting with a 10 month old Hope someone can share some insight with us. We'll also be visiting Magic Kingdom for 1 day and I haven't found out what if any rides the baby will be able to go on with us there I have read that some Universal rides have baby swap areas/rooms not sure which though

 

[Notatourist]

Nearly all of them have swap areas, it's called Child Swap there, let the attendants know what you want to do and they'll let you know how to handle it at each attraction. In some cases there are rooms, a bench area, all sorts of stuff.

 

[KRWong]

Just wanted to add...that we took our son 6 mos at the time to both US and WDW...by far the baby swap procedure at US that Notatourist told you about is the best! Very easy to follow, nice waiting rooms in a/c, and no waiting in a line to get back on for the second ride. At Disney, we had to get a "fast pass" for the baby swap and then wait in the fast pass line again. It's not that bad, but US is much easier. We go in about 6 mos and DS will be 3, still not tall enough for some rides! Have fun!

BTW, guest services is so nice there! One day we forgot, of all things, diapers! They gave me 4 and told me that if I needed more to please come back. I didn't have to leave the park or buy them! How nice!

 

[3jsmom]

So at Disney on all rides one of us will have to get a Fast Pass and wait to return until the fast pass time? What happens when the Fast Passes run out? How is this really their famed baby swap so both parents can ride without having to wait thru another line? If that is really the way the system works then I'm glad we're only visiting 1 day. I can't even find a list anywhere of what rides the little one will just be able to sit on my lap for. How frustrating!

 

[amshowers]

We just returned from our Disney/US<IOA vacation. At US there are alot of shows so I don't think you'll have many problems with a little one,and they have barney, woody's kidzone,curious george. I think US is more family friendily,but if you have a hopper I would hop to IOA for Suess Landing baby can with you in that area, and maybe spiderman (such a great ride) for your 4 year old. I just wanted to explain Disney baby swap, 1 adult gets in line and tells cm the are babyswapping and they give you a fastpass ticket (you don't get them from the machine), and you and 3 other people can come back and ride anytime, you get in the fastpass line and wait about 10 min. at the most. I enjoy US/IOA, but think disney has a better baby swap because you don't have to sit in a room and wait, you can take your little one to ride something else.

 

[KRWong]

Thanks amshowers, I didn't explain the Disney baby swap very well. I just like the US swap areas, because we could cool off and relax a minute while the others rode, then I'd hop back on with the other two kids. With DS being 6 mos, we couldn't ride anything else while we waited at US, and even at Disney would didn't do anything except wait for the others to ride. I think it would depend on which ride they were doing and where if I found something else to do with little guy. This last trip to Disney he was just over 2 and he loved just walking around looking at things, the geyser at Thunder Mountain RR, Poohs Playful Spot while we rode Snow White for the 100th time! Other than Test Track (check out the KidCot area!), Soarin (he slept while I waited), and Star Tours (he shopped, loves Star Wars). I definitely didn't think it was horrible the way Disney does it, I think it's just fine.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

oops! double post, please ignore!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

So at Disney on all rides one of us will have to get a Fast Pass and wait to return until the fast pass time? What happens when the Fast Passes run out? How is this really their famed baby swap so both parents can ride without having to wait thru another line? If that is really the way the system works then I'm glad we're only visiting 1 day. I can't even find a list anywhere of what rides the little one will just be able to sit on my lap for. How frustrating!

It's actually called a Rider Switch pass/ticket. It gets you in the Fast Pass line, but it's good any time, there is no return window. I think ours were even good for several days, not just the day we got them.

I don't know of a list of rides you can take the baby on, but basically, they'll let you do so on any ride without a height requirement. I took my dd in a Snugli on just about everything when she was tiny.

I'm a little confused on Universal's child swap, though. Although it's nice that the second adult to ride doesn't have to wait in line at all, it sounds like the child has to wait in the line with both parents, is that right? My 3yo is going to be really bummed out if she has to wait in line for something she can't even ride!

 

[KRWong]

Well, I never thought of that!!!! LOL

My DS was over 2 and he didn't seem to mind at all, but that was then...my next trip is in November and he'll be 3 1/2...he may not be too happy to have to skip Spiderman this year! He wasn't real happy to have to sit in the non-moving seats at Jimmy Neutron!

Seriously, you can read my other post, I always felt US child swap was better than Disney, but I never looked at it from that angle! DS was an infant the first time we took him there and I loved having the nice cool a/c room to relax in with him while we waited!

Thanks for the heads up! I'll let you know after November!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

Thanks to everyone for responding. I feel much better now about taking the baby to US/IOA. We are planning on staying onsite (AAA deal) and it looks like with our room key we can bypass all lines. I like the sound of the waiting rooms too.

alison

 

[Booogie27]

I'm a little confused on Universal's child swap, though. Although it's nice that the second adult to ride doesn't have to wait in line at all, it sounds like the child has to wait in the line with both parents, is that right? My 3yo is going to be really bummed out if she has to wait in line for something she can't even ride![/QUOTE]


No, the child doesn't wait in line. One parent goes in the regular line, either by themselves, or with the other people in the party, while the other parent takes the baby/child through the ride exit line, to the child swap area. This almost always was a nice air conditioned room with cartoons playing on the tv, benches/chairs and a drinking fountain. The ride exit is visable from this room, and you can see when your party has finished their ride. Then you hand over the baby/child, and you just walk across the exit of the ride, to the front of the line, and they tell you where to get on the ride. It was a great set up.

 

[alloyd1170]

Regarding the child swap-we have an infant and a 4 yr old. Lets say my son & I ride while my dad stays with the baby. Can my dad then do the swap and ride with my son or would they need to get back in line since it would be two times for my son?

alison