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Universal Orlando with a 4 year-old

Universal Orlando: Anyone with any ideas on how best to spend 2 days at Universal Orlando with a four year-old and three adults?

From Jonah Sirota
Posted September 20, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Doing one day at IOA Oct 7, and one day at USF Oct 8 with my 4 1/2-year old son, and his aunt and grandpa. Any advice about how to balance the grown-ups' wish to spend a bunch of time at WWoHP with making sure my son will have age-appropriate fun stuff. We won't get early entrance, and we weren't planning on buying express pass, unless you feel it is money feel spent?
Thanks for your help!


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

From Dominick D
Posted September 20, 2012 at 11:57 AM
One, Express isn't needed in October. Universal really isn't the ideal place to take a 4 year old (Disney would be the better option), but there are some things to do there with a 4 year old.

IOA:

Suess
Storm Force
Spiderman (if he's tall enough)
Jurassic Park Discovery Center (and the flyers if you can handle a long wait)

USF:

Kidzone
Despicable Me (if he's tall enough)


WWOHP is your first and main priority. Everything else can be done whenever. At USF, HRR or Despicable Me is the main priority.

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted September 20, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Dom you forgot shrek 4-D, popye if he's tall enough, men in black, disaster.

From James Rao
Posted September 20, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Regarding the Harry Potter section of IOA, remember that unless the child is 48" tall, all he can do is tour Hogwarts (can't ride Forbidden Journey), ride the Hippogriff youth coaster (formerly the Flying Unicorn), and visit the Wand shop. Further, Dueling Dragons... I mean, Dragon Challenge has a 54" height requirement.

Set expectations accordingly so your kid is not completely disappointed.

From Orrin Carstarphen
Posted September 20, 2012 at 2:37 PM
In IOA you have the entire Suess section (4 rides) and dont forget ET and the Woody Woodpecker coaster in Universal Studios.

From Tony Duda
Posted September 20, 2012 at 5:20 PM
Universal Studios has the Superstar parade at 2 pm (now) which would be good too. The closing-time cinema spectacular may not entertain him.

From Jonah Sirota
Posted September 21, 2012 at 7:47 PM
Thanks! I will check out the new parade at USF, we'll do all the cool stuff at IOA, and I won't forget ET. Anyone have a sense if whether MIB is a good idea? I remember thinking it was really fun, and silly, but I wasn't thinking like a four year old.

From Dominick D
Posted September 21, 2012 at 9:22 PM
He has to be 42 inches to ride. Might not be the best choice at that age.

From Jonah Sirota
Posted September 22, 2012 at 4:19 AM
He's 43.5 in!!! But the more I think about it the more I don't think he's ready for the intensity. We'll start with ET and the friendly aliens before moving on to the hostile ones!

From robert morris
Posted September 27, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Go there all the time with a 2 and 6 year old.

Depending on height: Spiderman and Stormforce (teacups at a nightclub)

Popeye if tall enough, Camp Jurrasic is blast, along with discovery center(make sure he names the new dinosaur)

Touring shops Hippogriff and tour the castle, mystic fountain will kill 5 minutes and posedions fury if under 20 minutes

All of Seuss including All the places you Go reading

Take advantage of child swaps for adult rides as most have tvs and/or play areas set up

From robert morris
Posted September 27, 2012 at 7:33 AM
For USF Desp Me has stationary seating so all ages can enjoy, just one adult has to give up ride effects. Shrek is a given and do twister, disaster, horror make up show, animal actors and of course barney have no restrictions

Child swap at simpsons has a tv as does the mummy

Mib if tall enough should be fine more cartoonish aliens than evil, ET is like a longer peter pan and good, curious george is also pretty fun and for adults too, imagine a snowball fight in florida

Avoid t2 and plan around riprockit

If really wanna make a sacrifice have the adults go to barney

Depending on ur kid beetlejuice and blues brothers can be good or bad

But parade is great and so are mini parade elements, character greets

Overall Universal is fine for kids just not hyped for them, so sometimes easier lines

Also forgot Fieval for 15 minutes and have someone do the slide with the kid

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