7 tips and tricks to make your visit to Universal Orlando with little ones as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
Universal Studios Orlando is the perfect vacation destination for kids (and of course kids at heart!) However, when traveling with little ones in tow (especially when theyโre on the younger side like our one year old daughter Sage), it can become quite stressful. To help avoid that, here are the 7 tips and tricks I picked up on our recent visit.ย
Universal Studios is split up into two parks, so you can either pay to go to one or upgrade and visit both. If itโs your first time, I think itโs worth the upgrade. Universal Islands of Adventure has most of the best rides (in my opinion) and Universal Studios has The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley. If youโre a Harry Potter fan, this is a MUST see.ย
While Florida is known for its warm weather, you never know whatโs going to happen, so Iโd always suggest dressing your little one in layers. That way if they get too hot or cold you can adjust accordingly. Also make sure what theyโre wearing is comfortable. Skirts and dresses may not be the best option for going on rides! I recommend shorts, a tee, comfortable sneakers and a zip up hoodie or sweater. Also be sure to bring a spare change of clothes in case of accidents or spills!
You donโt want to bring too much with you. Donโt forget, everything you bring youโll need to carry around! But there are a few essentials that we packed that really helped us out on the day. Youโll want to make sure you haveโฆ
They do allow you to bring food, water bottles and small coolers into the park – just no alcohol. We bought a packed lunch and lots of snacks for Sage so we didnโt have to worry about finding food she could eat. And for us we had a large green smoothie before leaving the house and just ate lunch out at the park. If youโre looking for some fun and yummy options, here are the best places to eatโฆ
Of course, thereโs not just lunch options at Universal. There are some DELICIOUS snacks available too! Iโd definitely recommend getting a hot butterbeer (only available in winter). This tasted like a fancy Starbucks drink, or what I would describe as hot butterscotch ice cream with whipped cream on top! Iโll warn you itโs very very sweet so you might just want to share one. The
fresh fruit cups available throughout the park were also a nice refreshing treat. Also check out the soft pretzels (one of Mr Mattโs favourite foods!). On your way out through CityWalk (the front entrance area with shops and restaurants) donโt forget to stop at Voodoo Doughnuts for some fun and delicious flavours of donuts. Although they have some wild flavours I highly recommend the apple fritter and old fashioned glazed.ย
You want to make sure you arrive as soon as the park opens so that you can make the most of your time and get in some big rides before the queues get too crazy! Head to the most popular ones first to avoid long line ups. You can also utilize the single rider lines to beat the long lines and head straight up to the ride. Another time saving hack is to take the Hogwarts Express train within the park to travel between parks. Sadly it was closed both times we visited, but we were told itโs almost never closed.ย
Love a bit of thrill? These are the best rollercoasters to go onโฆ
Looking for more toddler friendly options? There are no rides at Universal Orlando that allow lap sitting babies, however these are the eight rides and attractions that allow children at or under 40 inches to rideโฆ
Food is always a great way to keep the little ones happy! Bring lots of snacks in a grab snack cup so that they can hold it and help themselves while you walk round the park. We did freeze dried strawberries and puffed rice, but you could also go for chopped up fruit, fruit smoothie melts or something like these lentil cracker puffs. Also make sure you bring water for the whole family. These no-spill sippy cups are great for small children, and this hydro-flask for kids is great for once they’re sipping from straws because it keeps their drinks cold.
If youโre little one still naps during the day, donโt forget to bring a few items that will help send them off. A noisy theme park isnโt exactly a great sleep environment, so having a light blanket to cover the stroller and darken it a bit, and a portable sound machine, can really help.ย
When it comes to choosing which stroller to bring, I recommend bringing your main stroller as opposed to a small travel one. It might seem like a travel stroller is easier to bring, but your main stroller will be more comfortable for sleeping in and will provide more shade from the sun. Itโll also provide you with more storage underneath so you donโt have to carry so much around! Make sure to also bring a rain cover for your stroller, just in case! They are thin and small enough to store underneath. We always have ours with us because you just never know! Donโt forget to also bring some stroller toys to keep your little one entertained, and a few shows to play on your phone.ย
Even though Sage enjoyed all the sounds, colours and things to see, I do think the best age to take your kiddos is when theyโre about 3 and up. This is a great age because theyโll be able to go on more rides and enjoy the park fully.
If youโre wondering how to navigate getting on rides with your little one, thereโs a really handy โchild swapโ setup at Orlando. Stroller parking is available at all attractions, and there are lockers for most rides. Park up your stroller, switch your little one into a carrier and walk them through the lines. Once you reach the front of the line, there is then a section to wait and swap with your partner so you both can enjoy the ride without lining up twice! These waiting areas are quiet, have seating, and some even include a changing table and TV for entertainment! Iโd also recommend bringing your diaper bag with you into the line, and bringing snacks, a book or a toy so that your little one doesnโt get bored while waiting.
Thereโs an app for everything these days, and Universal Orlando is no different! Their free app helps you to plan your day and navigate the park, as well as check wait times and show times. This is super helpful for making sure you get on the maximum number of rides. Thereโs free wi-fi at the park too, making it easy and convenient to download and use the app. You can download it from the Google playstore here, or the Apple app store here.
There you have it – your guide to visiting Universal Orlando with kids! Obviously I have a one year old, so things may well change when Sage is a little older, but for now weโre learning as we go!
What are your top tips for visiting Universal Orlando with kids? Iโm always looking for new tips, so let me know in the comments below!ย
If you want to see more of my travel tips, check out my Baby Travel Essentials post and my Top Tips For Flying With A One-Year-Old.
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