Universal Studios
Universal Studios Orlando is the perfect option for families at Universal. While not as busy a working studio as the location in Hollywood, Orlando still gets some filming opportunities occasionally in the park. It’s fun to walk around the lands that could be movie or commercial sets and explore fun intellectual property like Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the brand new DreamWorks Land with fun for the whole family. 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 Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe click the link below to download the full guide for FREE.
Why Backup Plans Matter at Universal
Universal Studios is high on thrill rides and to be honest there are a lot of height restrictions even on rides in DreamWorks Land. 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 it’s 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.
Universal Studios Orlando Breakdown + Backup Plan Options (Ride by Ride)
A. New York
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (40″), Revenge of the Mummy (48″)
- Meet Bumblebee & Optimus Prime
- Catch the Blue’s Brothers or Beat Builders shows
- Treat the family to a giant pizza slice at Louie’s Italian Restaurant.
B. Diagon Alley (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™ (42″)
- 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.
- Watch the Tales of Beedle the Bard or Celestina Warbeck for a great entertainment break.
- Grab a Butterbeer or Butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s.
F. World Expo
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack™ (42″)
- Carnival Games in Simpsons Land
- Twirl n Hurl also in Simpsons Land
H. DreamWorks Land
Trollercoaster (36″), ET’s Adventure (34″)
- Meeting Poppy & Branch
- Watching DreamWorks Imagination Celebration Show
- Playing on Shrek’s Playground
- Grabbing a Shrek pretzel or a Brozone soft serve (beware of the mess with this one)
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 