Universal - worth visiting w/a 5 yr old?

[bas71873]

Are the rides, etc. at Universal too "much" for a five year old? Should we put off visiting Universal for a year or so longer? Height I'm not concerned with, she's very tall for her age, but the Dinosaur ride at AK scared her to death (and she's a thrill seeker and loves Dinosaurs), so I wonder if it will be a waste of our time right now?

 

[Eeyore1925]

I think everyone can have fun at Universal, but to get the most out of it, I would wait until she is a bit older.

I took mine when they were 9 & 7. DD9 was a thrill ride fanatic at the time and loved all of the wild rides she could get on. The shows either scared her or bored her. DS7 didn't do much of anything.

Went again when they were 13 & 11 and IOA is now their favorite place to visit while in Orlando.

 

[Babyboo]

We took our just 5 year old in December and she loved the rides. Men in Black, Flying Unicorn, Dudley Do Rights Rip Saw Falls, Cat in a Hat, One Fish Two Fish, playing in the water area, Jimmy Neutron to name a few that she loved and rode over and over.

I wouldn't attempt the Dinosaur ride as my DD doesn't like to be frightened.

 

[Metro West]

We took our just 5 year old in December and she loved the rides. Men in Black, Flying Unicorn, Dudley Do Rights Rip Saw Falls, Cat in a Hat, One Fish Two Fish, playing in the water area, Jimmy Neutron to name a few that she loved and rode over and over.

Not to mention the Curious George play area and E.T. I'm sure she will have a great time!

 

[Not My Fault!]

My first time I went to Disney I was 8 and it was a blast, but Universal is more for teens and the rides are somewhat wild. I allways see parents waiting in the stroller room because the kids are scared. You can also go to www.universalorlando.com and see the height restrictions. There are areas for little kids, but the best rides at Universal are pretty intense.

 

[pixeegrl]

I don't agree that it is more for teens at all. I think it is a complete family experience with something for everyone! I know my boys 6,9, and 13 are going to have the time of their life! There is plenty for a young one to do there as long as you take the time to discover it!

 

[wdwgypsy]

IA has lots for younger ones Jurrasic Park has several thing involving dinosaurs except the river ride. I wish they woould have an out for younger kids before the lift so the kids can see the animatronics on the ride before the scare part. But there is Camp Jurrasic, Petradon Flyers, and the Discovery Center for the dino-phile. The barge rides like AK Kali rapids. The Boat Olive play area. Flying unicorn beginner coaster and of course Dr Seuss rides.

US had the woodywoodpecker kids coaster, water play area, etc go to thier website and see.

I think she would have fun. I think the Mummy, DD, Hulk and a few others would be a little intense for her. But then again maybe not.

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

i wonder if my 2 year old that is 32 inches can ride the woody coaster

 

[ckay87]

I don't agree that it is more for teens at all. I think it is a complete family experience with something for everyone! I know my boys 6,9, and 13 are going to have the time of their life! There is plenty for a young one to do there as long as you take the time to discover it!

Ditto. I never understood the "mostly for teens" statement. It's no more geared toward teens than any other park.

I've said this before and I'll say it again...there are ways that Universal is BETTER for little kids than Disney. We underestimate the need for little kids to just play. At Disney, although they appear to cater to the little ones, all the activities are very structured. You have full days of wait-ride-wait-ride-wait, etc. This wore my kids down and FAST when they were little. They craved time to run around and play. Once they got to Universal, they were like "Wooo hooo, we're free!!" They got into that Curious George area, for example, and it was like they had died and gone to heaven. There are a couple areas like that.

I'd say most rides, even, would be completely ok for her. Maybe just a handful of the disaster simulators (Twister, Jaws) would be over the top. My kids adored Terminator when the were little!

Oh and one more thing, about the Dinosaur ride at AK - I'm a 38 year old die hard thrill seeker and Dinosaur had me peeing in my pants. I held my boys close to me and screamed for my life. Not fun.

 

[goofy!]

Ditto. I never understood the "mostly for teens" statement. It's no more geared toward teens than any other park.

I've said this before and I'll say it again...there are ways that Universal is BETTER for little kids than Disney. We underestimate the need for little kids to just play. At Disney, although they appear to cater to the little ones, all the activities are very structured. You have full days of wait-ride-wait-ride-wait, etc. This wore my kids down and FAST when they were little. They craved time to run around and play. Once they got to Universal, they were like "Wooo hooo, we're free!!" They got into that Curious George area, for example, and it was like they had died and gone to heaven. There are a couple areas like that.

I'd say most rides, even, would be completely ok for her. Maybe just a handful of the disaster simulators (Twister, Jaws) would be over the top. My kids adored Terminator when the were little!

Oh and one more thing, about the Dinosaur ride at AK - I'm a 38 year old die hard thrill seeker and Dinosaur had me peeing in my pants. I held my boys close to me and screamed for my life. Not fun.

I have to agree here. My youngest has been going to Universal since he was three. By the time he was 6, he had announced that he was "too old" for Disney

But this was because of all the play areas. Although he waited anxiously year after year to be able to ride the big three, he really wanted to go to spend the maximum amount of time in the Camp Jurassic and Curious George.

He is now 11 and my other two are 20 and 17. Last week, we brought our 25 year old niece who had never been. One of the first things the 17 year old wanted to show her? Camp Jurassic. Both sons (the 17 and 11 year olds) kept telling her about all the awesome rope bridges, water guns, hideouts, etc that you can play on.

I have to agree that the rides are not everything. Being able to play on excellent themed play areas is just as important for a 5 or 6 year old. Or even a 17 year old kid at heart with fond memories of playing

 

[ky07]

I have to agree here. My youngest has been going to Universal since he was three. By the time he was 6, he had announced that he was "too old" for Disney

But this was because of all the play areas. Although he waited anxiously year after year to be able to ride the big three, he really wanted to go to spend the maximum amount of time in the Camp Jurassic and Curious George.

He is now 11 and my other two are 20 and 17. Last week, we brought our 25 year old niece who had never been. One of the first things the 17 year old wanted to show her? Camp Jurassic. Both sons (the 17 and 11 year olds) kept telling her about all the awesome rope bridges, water guns, hideouts, etc that you can play on.

I have to agree that the rides are not everything. Being able to play on excellent themed play areas is just as important for a 5 or 6 year old. Or even a 17 year old kid at heart