Universal Studios Orlando: How to Spend a Day with Young Kids

Are you planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort with your young family and wondering where to start? In this post, I share how my own family spent a day at Universal Studios with two kids under 8 years old. I focus on non-scary attractions, while also featuring some more adventurous options for those ready to add some thrill. Plus, download my free “Attraction Guide for Families with Young Kids,” a condensed outline of kid-friendly attractions at Universal Studios to print and take with you.

Universal Orlando Resort currently has three theme parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay (a water park). Epic Universe, a fourth park, is slated to open in May 2025. This post is about Universal Studios, a theme park that brings movies and TV shows to life through immersive rides, shows, and attractions. The park features iconic areas, like Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Springfield from The Simpsons, as well as Hollywood-inspired experiences. 

My husband and I took our son, age 7, and daughter, age 4, to Universal Studios for the first time in February 2024. Our daughter absolutely will not do any activities that are dark and/or loud. Our son still enjoys the simple kids rides, but he is starting to show an interest in more adventurous attractions. I’m going to share how we spent a day full of fun for the whole family.

Quick Links

• Minions & Transformers
• SpongeBob, Simpsons & Animal Actors
• Lunch, Characters & Stunt Show
• Men in Black & Simpsons (again)
• Harry Potter & Dinner
• Free Attraction Guide for Families with Young Kids
• But Wait, There’s More!
  • Even more activities
  • Park tickets: Park-to-park and Universal Express
  • Wait times for park admission and attractions
  • When you go matters

Minions & Transformers

We entered Universal Studios when it opened at 9am and headed to Illumination’s Minion Land, a vibrant area inspired by the “Despicable Me” franchise. Our first stop was Villain-Con Minion Blast. Armed with E-Liminator X blasters, we stepped on the slow-moving platform and competed to become the next supervillain. The kids had so much fun that they asked to go again. The wait was less than 5 minutes, so we went back and saved the day again! This attraction is slightly dark and loud and features large screens with fast-moving animation.  Even so, it was the one exception for my daughter as far as dark, loud rides go.

If you’re looking to be a bit more adventurous and you are willing to wait 15 minutes or longer, you can head across the street and check out Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. In this 3D attraction, riders become Minions as they embark on a chaotic mission with Gru, his daughters, and the Minions. Minion Mayhem is considered to be Universal’s mildest motion simulator ride, although it is loud and features large images. It has a height requirement of 40”.

Next, we headed toward DreamWorks and Springfield: Home of the Simpsons. We were surprised to learn that we couldn’t enter these areas until 10am. So, my son and I decided to backtrack to New York to try Transformers: The Ride 3D. There was no wait, and we walked right on. This is a motion simulator ride that puts guests in the middle of a battle between Autobots and Decepticons. It was jolting and incredibly loud, and neither one of us really enjoyed it. I would not recommend it for toddlers, and you should use your discretion for older kids. This ride has a 40” height requirement.

Even if you don’t think the Transformers ride is for you, though, you should still walk by to see the huge transformer sculpture at the entrance and a chance to meet Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and the evil Megatron. You can also try to catch a glimpse of the Egyptian stilt-walker next door like we did.

SpongeBob, Simpsons & Animal Actors

Before we knew it, it was 10am and we were able to make our way towards the DreamWorks area. We were really disappointed to find that Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone was closed for renovations, as it was an important part of our plan for this park. Universal has since opened new attractions here, now called DreamWorks Land. It features a beginner coaster, Trolls Trollercoaster, and a whole host of kid-friendly play areas and activities themed around DreamWorks animation films, “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Trolls,” and more.

So, Plan B? My husband and son rode E.T. Adventure in Hollywood, which recreates the flying-bicycle chase scene from the 1982 movie. This is a dark but charming ride that features animatronics. The height requirement is 34”.

While the boys were riding E.T., my daughter and I visited SpongeBob Storepants right next door, where we met SpongeBob and Patrick and looked around the store. And here is fair warning that there are LOTS of opportunities to shop in the parks! We also visited here later in our trip and met Squidward. We didn’t have to wait more than a few minutes either time and got some fun pictures.

After that, we proceeded to Springfield: Home of the Simpsons. Here we rode the Kang and Kodos Twirl ‘N’ Hurl, a Dumbo-style midway ride with a Simpsons twist. My daughter liked using the lever to make us go up and down. She wanted to go again, and with a wait time of less than five minutes, we did! Plus several more times after that.

So, while I rode around and around with her, my husband and son played carnival games and won some stuffies. After we caught up with them, my daughter played a game and won a stuffed can of Duff beer. This is an odd prize for a child, but I guess that’s the Simpsons for you!

We then retraced our steps a bit to watch Animal Actors on Location. This 25-minute show takes place in a covered, open-air theater and features real dogs, cats, birds, ducks, and a pig. We even saw the dog who starred as Frank the Pug in Men In Black. The animals are trained to work as screen actors, and with sketches, jokes, and tricks, they put on a pretty great live show as well. I highly recommend Animal Actors on Location for the whole family. 

Lunch, Characters & Stunt Show

After seeing Animal Actors, we were ready for lunch. My husband and I grabbed tacos from Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck in Springfield. We packed lunches for the kids in a small lunchbox. I’m so glad Universal allows this because it really helped us keep our picky eaters fed and happy.

We found seats at Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield and ate our respective meals there. And, yes, you can find additional takeout options inside here. If you’re a Simpsons fan, you might want to check out Moe’s Tavern, which is also in this building. As a side note, we ate lunch at Today Cafe later in our trip. It is located near the park entrance, and so perhaps not as convenient as many other dining options, but it was the best counter-service meal we had.

Feeling refreshed, we decided that my husband and son would go to The Bourne Stuntacular, a 25-minute, live-action stunt show based off of the movie franchise. Taking place in a 700-seat theater, the show features classic stunts like fist fighting, gun battles, free falls, and a high-speed car chase. It also integrates video technology in the form of a huge LED screen, which enhances the entire experience. Both my husband and son were wowed by this show. I do want to note, though, that the show’s intensity and loud noises will be frightening for many young children. 

The Bourne Stuntacular is located on Hollywood Boulevard, along which you can meet a whole host of delightful characters in the Hollywood Character Zone. While the boys were watching the show, my daughter and I walked along the street, where we first met King Julien from Madagascar. My daughter was thrilled to meet him. We only had to wait in line for a few minutes, and he and his human handler were fantastic. I really can’t say enough good things about our encounter. It is one of my favorite memories of our trip!

We walked through the Hollywood Character Zone several times on our day in Universal Studios and came through later in our trip as well. We met a lot of characters here. They were all wonderful, and we never had to wait more than a few minutes to meet one.

Midday Break at Sapphire Falls

It was our plan to take a midday break from the park after lunch, and we did that next. We headed back to our onsite hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, to rest and swim. Sapphire Falls has an enormous pool that our kids loved. It was shallow in most places and had a great waterslide, too. Our kids also enjoyed riding the water taxi that runs between the park and Sapphire Falls. It was about a 10-minute ride, and it was so easy. The proximity to the parks and the amenities were exactly what we hoped for, and we were really happy with our decision to stay there.

Men in Black & Simpsons (again)

After our break at the hotel, we caught the water taxi back to the park. My husband and son went to the World Expo area to ride Men in Black: Alien Attack, which is, of course, based off of the popular movie franchise. The wait was about 25 minutes. They really enjoyed this ride, in which you use an alien zapper to shoot aliens on a ride through Manhattan. Riders are awarded a personal score and a score for their car, so it’s great for those with a competitive streak. Note that the vehicles spin, and it’s dark and loud. There is a 42” minimum height requirement.

Guests are not allowed to take bags or loose articles on Men in Black, and this is standard for many of the “bigger” rides and coasters. Lockers were available onsite, but they were too small for my husband’s backpack. He ended up running it over to me to hold on to.

And what did my daughter and I do? We rode the Twirl ‘N’ Hurl. Several. More. Times. This is when I started wishing there was more to do for young kids like my daughter. But I think the reopening of DreamWorks Land, as I previously mentioned, will help address that.

Harry Potter & Dinner

Our last big stop of the day was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. And, I want to say up front that I am only going to skim the surface on all of the amazing things this area has to offer. If you are a big Harry Potter fan, you will want to spend more time exploring here than we did.

As we entered along the London Waterfront, we looked at the purple Knight Bus and tried to spot Kreacher peering from a second-story window above 12 Grimmauld Place. We didn’t see him, but I hear he really does appear! You can also dial “MAGIC” in the red phone booth for a message from the Ministry of Magic. There was a small line to do this. So, we proceeded to Diagon Alley, which is the secret part of London where wizards do their shopping.

Diagon Alley is truly an immersive experience, and I personally thought it was incredible. For our 4-year-old, though, I think the dark and mysterious atmosphere was a bit unsettling. This was especially true when we came upon the 40-foot, iron-belly dragon sitting on top of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. About every 10 minutes, he growls and breathes fire. It is really quite a sight!

We all decided to try the Ollivanders Wand-Shop experience. We were ushered into a small, dimly-lit room, where an old wizard came out and chose one person to select a wand for. In our case, an adult from another party was chosen. My daughter was a little nervous and kept trying to ask questions. She was repeatedly shushed by the usher. Afterwards, the kids picked out their own interactive wands in the shop and we went back out to try some magic.

My son really enjoyed finding magic stations and trying them out. There is one where you can make water jump out of a fountain, for example. But, my daughter had just about reached her limit for this dark, mysterious, and sometimes loud place. So, we headed off to dinner.

But before I move on to that, I want to reiterate that there is so much more you can do and see in Diagon Alley. You may want to take some time to wander through the shops, eat at the Leaky Cauldron, try Butterbeer, or ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a 3-D roller coaster that is moderately fast and frightening. It has a 42” height requirement.

In addition, I want to share that we did ride the Hogwarts Express later in our trip. You must have park-to-park passes to ride, as this is a one-way trip from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure (or vice versa). We rode from Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure to King’s Cross in Diagon Alley. Our wait was about 25 minutes, during which we wound our way through the cavernous station. The train itself is sectioned into small rooms. We shared ours with one other family. The window in the room is a video screen on which images of London streets and countryside roll by with appearances by Harry Potter characters. There are images of Dementors, but they came and went before my daughter had time to be scared.

Now back to our dinner… We chose a counter-service restaurant that had a pre-order option so that we could spare the kids any more waiting. We ordered pizza, breadsticks, and salad from Louie’s Italian Restaurant in New York. It was fast, but it was also, well, disappointing. I would describe our meal as just okay.

This day was so exciting and full of fun. But, we were also tired and ready for some down time. So we worked our way back to the hotel for some dessert and much-needed rest.

Free Attraction Guide for Families with Young Kids

As a working mom with two young kids, I know how overwhelming it can be to get organized and make a plan for a big theme-park vacation. That’s why I created this free, downloadable “Attraction Guide for Families with Young Kids – Universal Studios, Universal Orlando Resort.” This two-page document lists all of the kid-friendly attractions I outline here in this post in a condensed format, complete with scare factor ratings, height requirements, and long wait alerts. Print it and take it with you as a guide. I hope it makes your planning less stressful and your vacation a lot more fun!

But Wait, There’s More!

I’ve covered a lot in this post, but there is SO much more. Here are a few additional tips for navigating Universal Studios with young kids:

• Even more activities
  • Universal CityWalk, the Epicenter of Awesome. CityWalk is an entertainment area that spans along the canal and between the entrances of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. You can find lots of dining options here: sit-down dining, like Hard Rock Cafe, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, and Margaritaville, as well as counter-service restaurants, like Panda Express, Burger King, and Voodoo Doughnuts. CityWalk also has Universal-themed shops and activities, including mini golf and a movie theatre. You do not need park tickets to enter CityWalk.
  • Parades and shows. I can’t write about a theme park without mentioning parades and shows! There was a Mardi Gras parade when we visited in February, and Universal offers other parades throughout the year. You can also find live music and other types of pop-up performances throughout Universal Studios, such as the Blues Brothers Show in New York or Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees in Diagon Alley. Check the Universal Orlando Resort smartphone app for daily performance schedules.
• Park tickets: Park-to-park and Universal Express
  • We purchased 2-park, park-to-park tickets, which enable you to move between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure during a single day. Park-to-park passes are also required to ride the Hogwarts Express. Park-to-park tickets start at $174 per person per day. The single-park ticket starts at $119 per person per day. Learn more about tickets here.
  • We did not purchase Universal Express passes, which allow you to skip the regular lines at many (but not all) of the park attractions. There are two types of Express passes: The Express pass ranges from $89.99-$289.99 per person per day and allows you to skip the regular line one time per participating ride. The Express Unlimited pass allows you to skip the line at participating attractions an unlimited number of times. It ranges from $124.99-$319.99 per person per day. And, yes, you must also purchase regular park admission tickets. 

• Wait times for park admission and attractions
  • Park admission wait times. Take advantage of early park admission if you are staying onsite and looking to ride the more popular rides and coasters. You should still get in line well before early admission begins, though, as the lines form quickly. For example, my husband and son got in line at Islands of Adventure on the Friday of Presidents’ weekend at 7:50am, and it took over 20 minutes to get admitted to the park (early admission began at 8am). My daughter and I got in the same line at 8:50am, and we waited for 40 minutes (regular admission began at 9am). Early admission to Universal Studios was not available when we were there.
  • Attraction wait times. We saw some wait times reach over 60 minutes soon after the park opened, and they only got longer as the day went on. This applied mainly to rides geared toward older kids and adults, such as Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Rip Ride Rockit. However, we also saw wait times for kid-friendly rides, like Hogwarts Express and Men In Black Alien Attack, reach 45 minutes and longer.
• When you go matters
  • We visited Universal Studios during the week leading up to Presidents’ weekend in February 2024, and we had good luck with crowds and wait times. I think it’s important to note that your experience may differ from what I describe here, depending on when you go. For example, we experienced longer wait times and larger crowds on the Friday leading into Presidents’ Day weekend than we did earlier in the week. Holidays, school breaks (including summer), and weekends will result in bigger crowds and longer lines.

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