Is the Universal Orlando Resort Worth Visiting

ByThemeParkPro Published

Are you considering visiting the Universal Orlando Resort on your trip to Florida?

I’ve travelled to Florida and Universal Orlando several times over the past decade. So, I am equipped to answer whether visiting Universal Studios is worth your time and money.

If you are interested in theme parks, the Universal Orlando Resort is well worth visiting.

Visiting Universal Orlando With Babies & Toddlers

Children under three years old do not need a theme park ticket to go to the theme parks at Universal Orlando. Instead, children under three years old can enter the theme park for free with an adult.

That’s because the number of attractions for kids under three at Universal Orlando is limited.

I visited Universal Orlando with my little boy when he was a baby. Once when he was six months old and again when he was 18 months old.

However, I didn’t go to the theme because of my son. Instead, I went to Universal Orlando because my wife and I wanted to enjoy the theme park.

That’s not to say our toddler didn’t have a fantastic time at Universal Orlando. However, when you compare his experience to a 7-year-old, for example, it will be very different.

Some rides at Universal Orlando are suitable for toddlers. These include:

  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: 40″
  • E.T. Adventure: 34″
  • Cat in the Hat: 36″
  • The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride: 36″
  • Pteranodon Flyers: 36″
  • The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman: 40″

There are only two rides that children under 34″ can ride. Those are;

  • Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
  • The Hogwarts Express

However, to ride The Hogwarts Express, you must also have a park-to-park ticket.

Kids of all ages can also meet characters at Universal Orlando, including:

  • Scooby Doo & the gang
  • Hello Kitty
  • Gru
  • Minions
  • The Simpsons

Visiting Universal Orlando With Kids

Universal Orlando is a family-focused theme park. So, it’s no surprise that it has many kid-friendly attractions.

However, your child’s height will determine which rides they can go on. Some of my favourite rides for kids at Universal Studios Orlando include:

  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: 40″
  • E.T. Adventure: 34″
  • Cat in the Hat: 36″
  • The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride: 36″
  • Pteranodon Flyers: 36″
  • The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman: 40″
  • The Simpsons Ride: 40″
  • Men in Black: Alien Attack: 42″
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: 42″
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong: 36″
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure: 42″
  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls: 44″
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: 48″
  • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: 48″

If your child is over three years old, they’ll need a theme park ticket for Universal Orlando. As such, I suggest measuring your child to ensure they are tall enough to go on several rides inside the parks.

If your child is over the age of 3 and shorter than 36″, I don’t think Universal Orlando is worthwhile. At least not for the child’s benefit, since the number of rides they can go on will be severely limited.

Visiting Universal Orlando With Teens & Tweens

Tweens and teens are the perfect age for the Universal Orlando theme parks.

At this age, kids should be able to go on all the rides inside Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Popular tween & teen rides at Universal Orlando include:

  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
  • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure
  • Jurassic World VelociCoaster
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong
  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack
  • Race Through New York, Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • Revenge of the Mummy
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D

Visiting Universal Orlando as an Adult

Before having kids, my wife and I regularly visited Universal Orlando. As an adult, you can go on all the rides inside both parks at Universal Orlando except Pteranodon Flyers.

Pteranodon Flyers has a maximum height of 56″ unless you’re going on the ride with a child.

Unsurprisingly, then, I think that if you are an adult and love rides and pop culture, you will thoroughly enjoy a day at Universal Orlando.

The best attractions inside the Universal Orlando theme parks for adults include:

  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
  • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure
  • Jurassic World VelociCoaster
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong
  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack
  • Race Through New York, Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • Revenge of the Mummy
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D

Visiting Universal Orlando & Walt Disney World

The Universal Orlando Resort is around 10 miles from Walt Disney World. Therefore, I’m often asked whether it’s worth visiting both Universal Orlando and Disney World on a trip to Florida.

In my opinion, it’s worth visiting Universal Orlando in addition to Walt Disney World if:

  • You’re travelling as adults-only
  • You’re travelling with teens or tweens (aged 8+)

The Universal Orlando Resort is very different from Walt Disney World. The most notable differences are:

  • Universal Orlando Resort is less isolated. You can easily walk to nearby hotels, restaurants and stores outside the resort.
  • Universal Orlando Resort’s theming is less ‘in your face’ compared to Disney.
  • Universal Orlando Resort has an older target audience of tweens and teens.

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