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Helpful Hint

Few rides at Universal have height restrictions. You must be 48 inches tall to ride Revenge of the Mummy; 54 inches tall for Rip, Ride, and Rockit; 40 inches tall for The Simpsons; 36 inches tall for the Woody Woodpecker Nuthouse Coaster; and 42 inches tall for Men in Black. Just because your kids are tall enough to qualify, however, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let them into the attractions. Consult the ride descriptions for information about the scare factors.

Some attractions, such as E.T. Adventure, provide separate stationary seating for kids less than 40 inches, thus allowing families to go through the attraction as a group.

If you miss one of the major continuously loading attractions in the morning, hold off on it until two hours before the park closes. Midday waits of up to 60 minutes are common at popular attractions such as Men in Black and Revenge of the Mummy, but the crowds ease off a bit during the dinner hour.

If you plan to see Universal Studios in one day, it’s unlikely you’ll have time for an afternoon break. However, numerous theater-style attractions offer plenty of chances to rest up and let small kids nap. A lot of shows open around noon and begin a second performance around 2 PM. Ride in the morning and then catch a midday show, have lunch, and see a second show.

Most of the kiddie attractions—the Woody Woodpecker Nuthouse Coaster, A Day in the Park with Barney, Curious George Goes to Town, Fievel’s Playland, E.T. Adventure, and Animal Planet Live!—are in the same general area of the park. This means that you can park the strollers once and then walk from attraction to attraction.

The theaters that hold the Universal Horror Make-Up Show, and Terminator 2: 3-D are high capacity, so even if the lines look discouraging, odds are you’ll still be seated. Consult your entertainment schedule or check the board at the attraction entrance for showtimes, and then put one parent in line about 20 minutes before the show is due to start. The other can take the kids for a drink or bathroom break.

Headed to The Simpsons; Rip, Ride, and Rockit; Men in Black; or another intense attraction? Universal employees will help families traveling with a baby or toddler do a Baby Swap.

The Scare Factor at Universal Studios

Some of the shows and tours are family-oriented and fine for everyone, but several of the big-name attractions are too frightening for preschoolers. The motion-simulation rides may induce queasiness, and rides and shows are generally very loud. The volume level at Twister and Terminator can practically jolt the fillings from your teeth.

Universal seems to set its age rules based on how physically wild the motion of a ride is and, except for Revenge of the Mummy and Hollywood Rip, Ride and Rockit, none of the rides at the Studios bounce you around too much. They’re psychologically scary, however, and a few minutes inside Twister may lead to more bad dreams than the wildest of roller coasters. Indeed, Twister, Terminator 2: 3-D, Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, and the Universal Horror Make-Up Show have parental-advisory ratings, indicating that they may be too violent, loud, or intense for younger children.

Because the rides are based on movies, how your child reacted to the movie is a good predictor of how well your child will handle the ride. If The Mummy movie scared him, it’s a safe bet he’s not going to like the ride any better. Likewise a movie that was relatively tame in the theater will probably yield a mild ride. Read the ride descriptions and scare factor ratings to help you decide what’s right for your child.

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Universal Studios Attractions

Despicable Me 3-D

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Gru, the world’s most loveable villain, is bringing his three adopted daughters to Universal Studios Orlando for a brand-new mission. The 3-D experience, which replaces Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast, takes you deep into Gru’s secret lab and