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Age-Appropriate Ride Warnings

Universal Orlando: Should theme park rides carry a age-appropriate warning label/sign much like movies and video games do?

From steve lindstrom
Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Is anyone else concerned that Universal Orlando rides do not post age-appropriate warnings on their rides? How is a parent to gauge the scariness of a ride if no warnings about the content of the ride are included in the warnings? My 9-year old daughter was terrorfied by the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Andrew Carrieri
Posted June 2, 2011 at 7:14 PM
On this point, Universal Studios Florida used to--maybe they still do, I don't know--give its more adult oriented shows such as Twister and Horror Makeup a PG-13 rating to show their scariness.

From Nick Markham
Posted June 2, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Are you kidding me? Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a PG ride if it had a rating, but there is not one ride at Universal that deserves a rating any higher.

I am sorry it scared your 6 year old, but that is not Universal's fault. To be honest, there are older people who get scared and there are other 6 year olds who are completely fine. So you can't gauge a rating based upon a single experience.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 2, 2011 at 8:42 PM
Interesting thought!

I think the age thing might be subjective however,

From Ashleigh Noad
Posted June 3, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Certain attractions, such as Terminator, DO have age suggestions (I forget how the American rating system works, but I believe it was PG-13?!)

I agree with Anthony, it is subjective. Each individual child is different. I have a young step-sister, and when she was 6, she was petrified after Jurassic Park at IOA and wouldn't go a foot near the Tower of Terror at DHS. However, another young relative in the family, who was 6 years old, has been on both Tower of Terror and Jurassic Park and seems to have enjoyed the attractions and would do them again in a heartbeat.

A lot of guide books would give recommendations on ages, so perhaps in the future you could make a reference to those before trying out the attractions on children. However, if my memory serves me correct, the information board prior to the entrance to the attraction, has information about the ride itself as well as warnings that often say something along the lines of "May be unsuitable for young children."

From Terri Pierce
Posted June 3, 2011 at 5:13 PM
The Harry Potter ride is very hit and miss. If the child has seen all the movies or read the books I don't feel as though they would have been as scared.

I feel it's very subjective and up to the parent to research and decide. It would be a nice offering but I'm not sure that its completely necessary.

Disney used to have rides that were very frightening to children as well. Tower of Terror is still around and still scares people to death.

From Joshua Counsil
Posted June 3, 2011 at 10:09 PM
I brought this up in a topic about Family Guy a while back. I agree with age warnings, not restrictions, on certain rides. Alien Encounter may still be around today if age warnings had been in place.

From Carrie Hood
Posted June 4, 2011 at 5:49 PM
While it's a good idea for the parents of younger children, I think many kids now days are so jaded that little would scare them in a theme park environment if their over the age of.. say 10.
To be honest I can't recall even having been "scared" of a theme park attraction other then not being much for Roller Coasters until I was about 13 years old. I'd still ride them but not my favorite until then, this was during the age of Alien Encounters which was our favorite attraction to date.

Then again when I grew up you could still rent "R" rated VHS movies without being carded and didn't get carded at Movie theaters either!

From TH Creative
Posted June 6, 2011 at 7:20 PM
What I like about this suggestion is that it would provide an opportunity to DESIGN adult oriented attractions (dark rides / theaters [3D, 4D]).

Anthony Murphy reported on another thread about a rumored attraction based upon the writings of Steven King. But how about placing guests into a scene from 'Nosferatu,' 'The Exorcist,' 'The Blair Witch Project' or 'The Ring?' Using the resources of a major theme park operator to develop a powerful performance.

Which is really kind of interesting because with those resources, the top theme park operators (if they wanted) could probably create an experience so terrifying that (apologies to Messrs Stone and Parker) "it should not be viewed by anyone."

From Terri Pierce
Posted June 6, 2011 at 8:05 PM
I never thought about it that way TH. That would open a door for a lot of different themes and try types.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted June 7, 2011 at 6:41 AM
I don't recall seeing anything on hear about a rumored Stephen King attraction. I looked back some, but can find nothing. As a huge King fan, I'd like to see it..or at least read about the potential.

From TH Creative
Posted June 7, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Note to Mr. Gallagher - It was on the discussion thread titled "Universal Studios Orlando needs new rides (Not Including Island of Adventure)"

From Mike Gallagher
Posted June 7, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Thanks, TH..found it. Didn't see any hippos, though...

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