Islands of Adventure
Islands of Adventure is the perfect option for families at Universal. Every land is themed after a story from a book and between Seuss Island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park there is truly something for everyone here. When you take kids to Universal you’ll want to be aware of height requirements ahead of time. Universal has a really great rider swap program, but maybe your whole family doesn’t want to wait for a ride or you want to split up because someone gets motion sickness. For whatever reason it’s always a good idea to have a back up plan and this post is going to break down the rides and give you easy backup plans for the major thrill rides.
If you want these in a quick to digest version + the backup plans for Universal Studios and Epic Universe click the link below to download the full guide for FREE.
Why Backup Plans Matter at Universal
Islands of Adventure is high on thrill rides and to be honest there are a lot of height restrictions even on rides in Seuss Island. If you’re not prepared you could have some disappointed kids so make sure to give them a heads up on what they’ll be able to ride and not ride and have some good alternate plans in order.
In addition, lines can get long and downtime does happen. Sometimes the best laid plans do fall apart so its always a good idea to have something to fall back on that doesn’t rely on the most popular attractions in each park.
I make sure to help all of my clients have a flexible plan for theme park days because that is the key to success when taking younger kids to theme parks.
Backup Plan Options by Land
A. Marvel Super Hero Island
The Incredible Hulk Coaster (54″), Doctor Doom’s Fear fall (52″), The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® (40″)
- You can meet superheroes like Wolverine, Spiderman, and Storm. If you stick around long enough you can also usually find Green Goblin and Doctor Doom causing a bit of chaos.
- Ride Storm Force Accelator, a teacup style ride without a height requirement making it a good option for the whole family.
- Grab a snack at Auntie Anne’s and explore the land. Super Hero Island has so many hidden things to do within the land. Push the buttons on phones and on walls and see who you can hear talking.
B. Toon Lagoon
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (44″), Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (42″)
- Stand on the bride and watch the boats come down Ripsaw Falls soaking everyone
- Explore Me Ship, The Olive, a fun interactive playground area for littles. Look for the free-to-use water blasters to spray people riding on Bilge-Rat Barges
- Grab a snack at Cathy’s Ice Cream and enjoy the land
D. Jurassic Park
Jurassic World VelociCoaster (51″), Jurassic Park River Adventure (42″), Pteranodon Flyers (36–56″)
- Explore Camp Jurrassic, a huge interactive play area. Be warned younger kids will need a bit more supervision the space is very large and could be easy to get lost.
- Head into Dinostore (The Discovery Center) on the lower level and stick around long enough to see a baby dinosaur hatch
- If you have kids tall enough/short enough – ride Pteranadon Flyers. This ride is more thrilling than it looks and so much fun if you have kids within the very specific height requirement.
E. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (48″), Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ (48″), Flight of the Hippogriff™ (36″)
- Purchase a wand and spend time doing spells in the windows. This is something you could do all day with adventure options within the app.
- Ride Flight of the Hippogriff if younger kids are tall enough it is a great first family coaster
- Grab a Butterbeer and watch a show like the Frog Choir or the Triwizard Spirit Rally
Child Swap Tips for Islands of Adventure
Universal’s Child Swap program is actually really great and an awesome way to keep your family together during vacation. While the above options may be great for when rides are down or waits are long, my family always goes through the lines together and uses the family room at the loading area of each ride for rides our two year old is not tall enough for yet. The rider swap happens very quickly with these family rooms being close to the loading area and doesn’t require waiting in line a second time like rider switch at Disney World.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Plan Alone
At the end of the day, someone not hitting a height requirement—or a ride going down—doesn’t have to derail your trip. With a flexible plan and a few solid backup options, you can keep your day running smoothly and avoid those “now what?” moments that lead to frustration.
This is exactly what I help my clients do. I take the guesswork out of planning, build flexible strategies into every park day, and make sure you feel confident walking into Universal—even with little ones in tow. You don’t have to figure this out on your own or spend hours trying to memorize every height restriction. I’ve done the work for you.
If you want all of these backup plans in one place plus the breakdowns for Universal Studios and Epic Universe, grab the FREE Universal Ride Heights + Backup Plans Guide below. It’ll give you everything you need to prepare, stay flexible, and enjoy your vacation without the stress.
And if you want some extra support planning your trip, my services are completely free to you. Click the FREE Quote request button below to get started working with me.
Nicki M Travel 