Universal Orlando With a Baby – The Ultimate Guide
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I took my eldest son Oliver to Universal Orlando twice, once as a baby (6 months old) and again as a toddler (18 months old).
This was the first time I’d taken a baby to Universal Orlando and I learned a lot. From which rides are suitable, going through security with milk and baby food, visiting the baby care centers and more.
Universal Orlando Rides for Babies
What your baby can do at Universal Orlando depends whether they can sit up independently:
Babies Who Can’t Yet Sit Up Independently
If your baby is still very young:
- Have photos with Universal characters
- Ride the Hogwarts Express (requires a Park-to-Park ticket)
- Splash around at Tot Tiki Reef in Volcano Bay — a dedicated baby-and-toddler play area with shallow water, gentle geysers, and a mini volcano, all in ankle-deep water. Swim diapers required if not toilet-trained.
Babies and Toddlers Who Can Sit Up Independently
Once your baby can sit up unassisted, they can also go on the rides with no height requirement:
- Islands of Adventure: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish and Blue Fish; Caro-Seuss-el
- Universal Studios Florida: Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- Epic Universe: Constellation Carousel in Celestial Park; Fyre Drill on Isle of Berk. Hand-held infants are not permitted.
If your child is 34″ they can ride Yoshi’s Adventure in Super Nintendo World (our youngest Patrick was 34″ at around 19 months old). This is the lowest-threshold marquee ride Universal has ever built plus other toddler rides depending on their height.
DreamWorks Land is a great area for toddlers. The old KidZone closed in June 2024 and was replaced with an area purpose-built for under-6s with Trolls Hug Time Jubilee, character meets, and DreamWorks Imagination Cafe.
Most rides at Universal Orlando have Child Swap (also called Rider Swap). It means one adult can wait with the baby while the other rides, then swap without either of you queueing twice.
- The whole family joins the standard queue together
- At the merge point near the load station, tell a team member you need Child Swap
- One adult (with the baby) waits in a Family Room near the load area — usually air-conditioned, with seating
- The other adult rides. On exit, they swap with the Family Room adult, who rides via a short walk-on queue
Universal Orlando Strollers
You can bring your own stroller to Universal Orlando or rent one at the entrance. If you are visiting with a baby I suggest bringing your own stroller. The only type of rental available are the large plastic ones best suited to toddlers and small children.
Stroller rental costs $15 per day for a single and $25 for a double.
Universal has no size restrictions for personal strollers which means you can bring a wagon but I’d advise against it, especially during peak season as it may be hard to navigate the more crowded areas of the theme park.
Baby Care Centres, Feeding, and Nappy Changes
Each Universal Orlando theme park has a dedicated baby care center:
- Universal Studios Florida: Near Lost & Found, close to the front-of-park guest services.
- Islands of Adventure: Next to Guest Relations near the Port of Entry.
- Epic Universe: Next to Ministry of Magic. Includes a sensory room, a bottle-prep station with hot water, individual feeding rooms with rocking chairs, nappy-change tables, and vending machines.
- Volcano Bay: Baby-changing tables in the family restrooms near Waturi Beach and Krakatau; no dedicated baby care centre.
The baby care centers at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are small and bland when compared to the ones at Walt Disney World. Honestly, it was a bit of a shock the first time I visited. Thankfully, the one at Epic Universe is much better.
At 6 months Oliver was in the stroller for most of the day the Hogwarts Express, character meets, and Tot Tiki Reef were our main activities. At 18 months he could go on a couple of the rides with no-height requirements and splash around in the splash pad. Feeding also became a lot easier too.
Bringing Milk & Baby Food to Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando explicitly permits baby food, formula, bottles, and medicine to be brought into every park. Small glass baby-food jars and medicine are the exception to the resort’s no-glass rule although security will want to see each of the glass items individually.
If like me, you happen to forget or underestimate how much baby food you need during your day at the parks then Starbucks has puree pouches. If you’re short while staying on-site at a Universal hotel I’d suggest ordering from a grocery-delivery service like Instacart for the best variety and prices.
Universal Orlando Hotels
If you’re spending a lot of time visiting Universal Orlando during your Orlando vacation then staying on-site is a great choice. All on-site hotels have:
- Close proximity to the parks
- Free transportation to the parks
We stayed at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Dockside on both our visits. This hotel is part of Universal Orlando’s Prime Value tier with rooms from around $130 a night depending on the time of year.
However, the price wasn’t the main advantage to staying here. Instead it was:
- Kitchenette: This made it easy for us to sterilise bottles, store and warm any milk as well as prepare any toddler meals.
- Family Rooms: We had the one-bedroom with beds in both the main room and the bedroom. We used the bedroom for the baby’s cot which not only gave us plenty of space but meant we could watch TV in the main room without waking him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions I’m often asked about visiting Universal Orlando with a baby:
Are babies free at Universal Orlando?
Yes, children under three years old enter every Universal Orlando theme park for free, including Epic Universe. From age 3, child pricing applies to all four parks (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay).
What rides at Universal Orlando can a baby go on?
Rides with no height requirement that suit babies who can sit up include One Fish Two Fish and Caro-Seuss-el at Islands of Adventure, Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl at Universal Studios Florida, and the Hogwarts Express train ride (which requires a park-to-park ticket). Epic Universe’s Yoshi’s Adventure has a 34 inch requirement, making it the lowest-threshold marquee ride for tall toddlers.
Can you bring baby food into Universal Orlando?
Yes, baby food, formula, bottles, and medicine are all permitted, and small glass baby-food jars are the explicit exception to the resort’s no-glass rule. Universal also sells food pouches inside the Starbucks at the parks, though I have never seen formula stocked on-site.
Where are the baby care centers at Universal Orlando?
Universal Studios Florida has a baby care area near Lost & Found; Islands of Adventure has one next to Guest Relations at the Port of Entry. Epic Universe opened a dedicated Family Care Center next to Ministry of Magic in May 2025, with feeding rooms, a sensory room, a bottle prep station, and vending.
Are Universal Orlando rental strollers good for babies?
No, the rental strollers (around $15 per day for a single, $25 for a double) are rigid plastic and sit low to the ground, so they offer little support for an infant. I recommend bringing your own stroller, especially since rented strollers cannot leave the park you rented them in.
Can you do Child Swap at Universal Orlando with a baby?
Yes, Child Swap is free and available at every thrill ride across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. The family enters the queue together, then takes turns riding while the other parent waits in a Family Room near the load station.
