 |
 |
|
*IMPORTANT TIP* As a parent
you should know your kids well enough to know what
they afraid of, people have this image that rides
at USF & IOA are too scary for their kids. The
rides are only scary to kids who are too young to
comprehend reality from make believe. There are
rides that operate in the dark, if your kids are
afraid of the dark and most of them are there are
you may want to skip those rides. There are rides
that have loud explosions, if these types of things
scare your kids you may want to skip those rides.
If your kids understand what they are about to ride
is fake and they can't be hurt then they have no
problems riding the rides at the park. To tell you
the God Honest truth as a young kid on my 1st trip
to Disney, I was more afraid of the rides there
then I ever was of any rides I rode as a kid at
Universal. Rides like the Haunted Mansion, as a
kid of 5 you know what ghosts are and if they say
there are 999 of them and you can count to 10, and
10 seems like a lot you'll want to get the heck
out of there. That was me, when I 1st went on the
Haunted Mansion I believe I was crying because I
didn't want to go on, then I went through with my
eyes shut and my hands covering. My Dad was pulling
my hands down, telling me to look, telling me it
was fake, telling me it was ok, not to be scared
and it helped because the 2nd time I went on, I
had my eyes open. That was the same thing with the
Pirates of the Caribbean when I seen the 1st set
of skeletons I didn't want to go on. I was afraid
because at that age I couldn't tell reality from
make believe. So these are things you as a parent
need to know and prepare for before you go. Kids
today grow up fast and are fast to learn how fake
things are so as long as they know this they should
be ok.
*IMPORTANT TIP* Baby
Swap - I don't know if this system
is in place at the Disney Parks, but Baby Swap
where one parent can take the kids on a ride,
while the other stays behind with a child too
scared or to small to ride the ride. Once the
one parent gets off they can meet back up with
the other parent, and watch the child as the other
parent takes the kids back on the ride again.
This system is effective and is used a lot on
rides like MIB and Earthquake. So use it to your
advantage if you need to.
|
 |
Family Fun Attractions
• Shrek 4-D
• Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
• The Cat in the Hat
• Caro-Seuss-el
• Pteranodon Flyers
• E.T. Adventure
• Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• The Flying Unicorn
• The Magic Fountain
• Storm Force Accelatron
Interactive Play Zones
• Curious George Goes to Town
• Fievel's Playland
• Jurassic Park Discovery Center
• Camp Jurassic
• If I Ran the Zoo
• Me Ship, The Olive |
Fantastic Entertainment
• Animal Planet Live!
• A Day in the Park with Barney
• The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad
Character Meet and Greet
• Spider-Man and the Marvel Super Heroes!
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• The Cat in the Hat
• Kings Row and Comic Strip Lane
• Shrek & Donkey Interactive Meet and Greet |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
Production
Central is the 1st place you see when you walk through
the turnstiles. This is also a great place to point
out why Universal is a great place for kids. You
have SHREK 4D & JIMMY NEUTRON which are hugely
popular with kids.
SHREK 4D- All
the kids love this ride no matter what age, everyone
loves Shrek. Some small kids may get scared in the
preshow because of the darkness and torture theme.
It doesn't help when the host constantly says "Prepare
to be tortured" but just convince them its
just a movie and they be ok. During the show they'll
be smiling, laughing having the time of their life.
They will love this show, I have no doubt in my
mind if I had a money back guarantee I would put
it on this ride, the kids love Shrek. Once they
see it they'll want to go back on. Once you have
exited the gift shop you will see the Meet Shrek
Photo Op area, so your kids will want there picture
with Shrek (Shrek does not sign autographs, they
have a stamped signature that they will use.) I
can't say enough how much I love this ride, it has
become my favorite ride at the park now.
JIMMY NEUTRON-
All the kids love the Nick Toons and Jimmy Neutron
has a loyal kids following, the ride is based off
the TV Show, and picks up after the movie. The queue
to get in entertains the kids, when I went to Jimmy
Neutrons Annual Pass Holder preview, this kid was
in front of us on the 2 1/2 hour line, and every
time we would move up a foot the kid was so glued
on the TV monitor he had no clue the line moved
and the parents kept having to snap him out of the
trance and move him. So just the queue is entertain.
There is nothing scary about this ride. Your kids
will love this ride and beg you go on again and
again. That's why there always a HUGE line out front.
Outside the ride is a Nick Toon interactive area,
where they can meet Spongebob Squarepants (Who I
have observed is a lot more popular then Jimmy Neutron)
and you can also meet up with the "Boy Genesis"
himself Jimmy Neutron. Outside the building you'll
run into the Rugrats and the Wild Thornberry's.
|
 |
New
York, use to be home to King Kong, but now is home
to The Mummy, Twister & The Blues Brothers.
I love this area of the park just for the theme,
and the atmosphere that's why I have more area photos
of New York then any other area in the park. Its
a great place to wonder around in.
TWISTER RIDE
IT OUT- This ride you have to use your
best judgment, if you have a young child who is
scared of dark areas or loud noises, explosions
it's best to skip it. There is nothing scary about
the ride, it's just a windy, wet show with a fake
tornado and some fire oh and a flying cow. Its not
something I would think would scare a child but
kids under 2 I am sure it will.
BLUES BROTHER
REVUE- It's a musical act, the band is
back together and want to perform for you. I rarely
ever use to stop to see the show, then when I knew
my friend Mike Aiello would be playing Elwood, I
would stop by and catch the show. The show still
has a popular viewing crowd whenever I walk by.
The show has a lot of humor and has some guest interactive.
It's really a great show. Kids may not get into
the show because they won't know who Jake &
Elwood Blues are and with the Mummy next door they'd
more then likely want to ride that instead.
STREET BREAKS-
This is a show I don't waste my time
to see, this is more for the new MTV Generation.
It's a break dancing, hip hop, acrobatic dancing
show. It's entraining for the 1st time you see it.
I think the young kids will love this show for the
break dancing and high risk moves.
REVENGE of the MUMMY- This ride
is not meant for kids under 48' but there is a fantastic
queue for this attraction you can walk through,
and you can walk to the unload station and exit
the ride. The ride itself is not a bad rollercoaster.
It's thrill factor is a combination of Rock 'n'
Rollercoaster and Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster. |
 |
San
Francisco is home to Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue
and Earthquake, San Francisco is small and can be
zipped through for me in the 1 minute it takes to
walk from New York to Amity. Amity is a great place
for kids if you have the cash, there is a Midway
in Amity with tons of games kids love this area
for the games, parents hate this area because it
empties out the wallet quickly. The theme of Amity
is really great, you can actually imagine you are
in Amity, except for the Fear Factor stage, it is
tucked out of the way so it doesn't interfere with
the theme.
BEETLEJUICE
GRAVEYARD REVUE- This is another musical/dance
show... it is a great show that is extremely funny
and entertaining, if your kids are not afraid
of Beetlejuice, Frankenstein, The Bride, Dracula,
or The Wolfman they will absolutely love the show.
They have autograph sessions sometimes on slow days
after the shows so it's best to ask the attendant
out front when you go in if they will be having
one afterwards. They will announce it after the
show on the PA but most people do not really pay
attention to it.
EARTHQUAKE-
The ride is really boring, you have 3 long
boring preshows, it's probably about 20 minutes
in lengths but it will really feel like hours. It's
just really boring. The actual ride is a blast,
I can't say I hate the ride, but to get to the ride
you have to see the preshows, so because of that
I don't go on. The ride may be scary for really
young kids, but I can honestly say in the hundreds
of times I have been on Earthquake I have never,
ever seen a kid crying, or having a fit when they
were getting on, or during the ride. I have seen
people with kids about 2 that were ok. So I can
say in all honesty that it's ok for kids. You just
have to know your kids, if they are not afraid of
the dark, can understand that what's happening is
not going to be real they have no problems.
JAWS- This
is one of my favorite rides of all time, people
think it's corny and stupid, but it's a ride I have
to ride when I go. This is another ride where I
would say use your best judgment, can they tell
reality from make believe? There is one part where
you go into a dark warehouse, and buckets fall over
and there is yelling and screaming, so if they are
scared of dark areas that might be something to
skip. I have been on this ride a lot, I have seen
babies on this ride, and the babies didn't cry.
I have never ever been on this ride and seen a child
too afraid to get in the boat, I never seen a child
get upset while on the ride. It might happen but
I have never seen it in all the years I have been
on it. The ride is fun, it's cool and I think the
kids will love it.
FEAR FACTOR "LIVE"-
This is one of my favorite rides of all
time, people think it's corny and stupid, but it's
a ride I have to ride when I go. This is another
ride where I would say use your best judgment, can
they tell reality from make believe? There is one
part where you go into a dark warehouse, and buckets
fall over and there is yelling and screaming, so
if they are scared of dark areas that might be something
to skip. I have been on this ride a lot, I have
seen babies on this ride, and the babies didn't
cry. I have never ever been on this ride and seen
a child too afraid to get in the boat, I never seen
a child get upset while on the ride. It might happen
but I have never seen it in all the years I have
been on it. The ride is fun, it's cool and I think
the kids will love it. |
 |
World
Expo is home to two of Universal's biggest and probably
most famous attractions, Men in Black... which is
a laser tag shoot out with aliens in New York and
Back To The Future the timeless classic in which
you travel on a rocky flight through time to save
the very fabric of the space time continuum. World
Expo is the smallest area of the park and only consists
of 2 rides, 2 stores and one restaurant, so there
isn't much to do here.
MEN IN BLACK
ALIEN ATTACK- The only thing I can think
of that would prevent young children from riding
this is the height requirement which is 42"
the ride is a blast literally. If you have been
on "Buzz Lightyear" at Magic Kingdom this
is the same ride, just more fun, and better themed.
If you haven't it's laser tag, and everyone loves
laser tag. You get in your car and zap aliens for
points, you play against another team and whom ever
gets the highest score wins. This is not scary or
intense for any child.
BACK TO THE
FUTURE THE RIDE- Without a doubt Universal
Studios crown jewel, the ride that broke records
and broke the mold of stereotype theme park rides
and made the phrase "Thrill Ride". This
ride can be scary for kids I won't lie I have seen
kids crying and being taken off the ride because
they were too scared. I can't see why, I love the
ride, I love the movies and I can't imagine what
would make kids scared of the ride. It happens though,
but as long your kids are 40" tall and have
seen BTTF they'll love the ride and will want to
ride it again. Everyone I ever hear getting off
the ride always says "that was awesome, can
we go on again?" The kids love it, the
adults in the back might not once they whack there
head on the roof. As Michael J. Fox said in Back
to the Future "I guess you guys aren't ready
for that yet... but your kids are gonna love it"
|
 |
The
title says it all I think, this is KidZone a place
for kids and adults. You have everyone's favorite
Alien E.T. you have Curious George, Woody Woodpecker,
Fievel The Mouse, Animal Planet Animals and that
big purple dinosaur Barney. This is a playland and
the one thing your bound to find here is plenty
of water. I can tell you that kids love this area,
what kid doesn't love playing with water? It's fun,
heck I am 24 and I still go to KidZone and fill
up buckets and dump them on people and use the water
cannons to spray people.
E.T. "20th
ANNIVERSARY" ADVENTURE- This ride
is fun, there is absolutely nothing scary at all
about this ride, nothing at all. The ride delights
the kids, every little kid that I see on this ride
is just amazed. They love it, and they always wave
or say goodbye to E.T. at the end.
ANIMAL ACTORS
ON LOCATION- This is a real kid friendly
show, all kids love exotic and domestic animals
and this attraction offers both. It also showcases
a lot of animal talents which are both amazing and
fun to watch... this may be a show the kids might
want to see again before you leave.
A DAY IN
THE PARK WITH BARNEY- This is one show
you'll never see me at, although I do run this site
and I do think I need to get some pictures of the
show for the site but I cannot bring myself to see
that show in public by myself. All I can say is
what I know, and I know kids love Barney, and kids
love this show, you can tell by the crowds that
wait outside the show.
WOODY WOODPECKER'S
NUTHOUSE COASTER- This is a kids coaster,
it's top speed is 22MPH and it's biggest drop is
20FT. This is a ride for adults scared of the Big
Boy coasters (Me) and is aimed at the kids. This
is a fun coaster and your kids will love it.
FIEVEL'S
PLAYLAND- This is a water park play area,
where kids can slide down a 40FT water slide, and
get wet and just let loose and have fun.
CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO
TOWN- The same as Fievel's Playland but
at Curious George you get more soaked and there
is a Ball Factory at the end where you shoot foam
balls at targets and people, I've done it a few
times and is pretty fun as a competitive guy I wasn't
leaving until I hit all the targets. Which I did.
|
 |
Hollywood,
home of Universal's Horror Make-Up Show and
Terminator 2: 3-D, this is another well themed area
of the park. Like San Francisco I do Hollywood in
1 minute from the walk from Production Central to
KidZone, I usually don't see either of the attractions
because I've seen them so much they have gotten
old for me.
UNIVERSAL'S
HORROR MAKE-UP SHOW- This show
you'd have to use good judgment, while the show
does showcase special effects from Horror films
it does show clips of some scenes from films that
might be too scary for them to watch. The show is
more or less a comedy show and I've seen many kids
from 4 and up enjoying the show and getting into
what it going on.
TERMINATOR 2:
3-D BATTLE ACROSS TIME- A great show,
but a boring preshow and a long wait outside, and
you'll loose interest in the ride like I have. If
your kids have seen T2 they'll love this ride. This
is another ride that kids love, they love the effects,
they love the movie and they love Arnold. Kids love
the show so I don't see it being any problem for
young ones to go and see. |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
There is nothing in this area but shops and restaurants.
Early in the morning hours and towards closing you'll
find park characters from every Island making stops
in Port of Entry for pictures. |
 |
|
This
is the thrill ride area, Hulk, Spider-Man, Dr. Doom
home to the longest lines and most crowded area
of the entire park. The best time to do this area
is when the park first opens. The minimum height
requirement to ride any of the following rides is
40" tall so if your kids are not 40" tall
the only ride they can enjoy is Storm Force Accelatron.
They can still meet the Marvel Characters and sight
see the island.
THE
AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SPIDER-MAN-
This is an exciting high passed action 3D motion
based ride. Anyone over 40" can enjoy this
and I think any child meeting that height will
want to ride it and will enjoy it. There in nothing
scary or intense about it.
INCREDIBLE
HULK ROLLERCOASTER-
I can't comment on this ride I have never been
on it, and after the women who had a heart attack
on it I am sure I never will either. You have
to be 54" to ride it, kids love coasters
and this being ranked #1 in the country they will
want to ride it.
DOCTOR
DOOM'S FEARFALL- This is a great ride,
you have to be 52" tall to ride it, this
is a great chance to get some really nice shots
of Universal and IOA from the top of the lift
when you shoot up. This is a very short ride,
only 30 seconds total, and with a 75 minute wait
in the summer I would skip it.
STORM FORCE
ACCELATRON- With no height restriction
this is the only ride the kids under 40"
tall can ride. I like this ride since I am a strong
guy I can get that thing to spin fast. I always
say that was my work out for the day. I get off
dizzy, out of breath and tired arms. It's a fun
ride I really enjoy it, and I think the kids will
too.
|
 |
|
This area is a great place for kids to explore,
it's basically one big water playground. Water is
every place you look, so the kids will enjoy playing
around this area, just keep an eye on them since.
To ride both rides you have to be at least 44"
tall to ride.
DUDLEY DO RIGHT'S RIPSAW
FALLS- If your kids are 44" tall
they will enjoy this ride, the ride really has
that cartoon feel to it. There are 3 total drops
2 small drops and then the final 65ft drop.
POPEYE AND BLUTO'S BILAGE-RAT
BARGES- I don't see why this ride has
a height requirement, with the seatbelts in place.
However it does, 42" tall to ride. The ride
is the basic river rapids ride, this is my favorite
ride. I really love this ride it's fun and always
makes you smile. The kids love this ride, almost
every time I have been on this ride there are
some kids who say "Mom can we go on again"
on days were the line is 5 minutes or less you
can just remain on the ride, they don't make you
leave to go back on. People do that a lot during
the off season.
ME
SHIP, THE OLIVE-
This is a big indoor playground for kids, with
slides, rope climbs, and interactive fun things.
Also at the top are water cannons to spray the
people passing by on Bilage-Rat Barges. This is
another area kids will have a good time at.
|
 |
|
This is a great area for the young kids there is
so much to see and do here for them, from games,
to play grounds, to rides, to slides, to watching
dinosaurs hatch Jurassic Park will be a huge hit
with the kids. Everyone loves dinosaurs no one more
then kids and this area will really appeal to them.
The kids can watch a Raptor hatch, pet a Triceratops,
ride a Pteranodon, get a picture with a Spinosaurus
it really makes the kids happy. Also the entire
area gives the kids a little knowledge about the
dinosaurs as well.
JURASSIC PARK DISCOVERY
CENTER- The center piece of Jurassic
Park, this is where the kids can watch as a Raptor
hatches from it's shell. They can do x-ray scans
on dinosaur eggs. Take a DNA test to see what
they would look like as a dinosaur. They can use
high tech equipment to scan for dinosaur bones
in a slab of rock. They can even see what the
world looks like through the eyes of a dinosaur.
They can even play a Jeopardy parody game called
"Bet Jurassic" where they can test their
knowledge of Dinosaurs. Inside they can even see
the remains of a life sized T-Rex skeleton. The
kids will love this area, I really enjoy watching
the kids reactions to the Raptor hatching or listening
to the names they pick for the Raptor. I know
the kids will enjoy themselves here.
JURASSIC
PARK RIVER ADVENTURE- This ride has
a 42" height requirement, so if you are not
that tall you can't ride. The ride is not scary
or intense for kids, the only scary part of the
ride is the 85ft drop you know you have to face.
The ride is like Disney's Jungle Cruise with a
twist, the twist is the drop and the only difference
would be one has African animals and the other
has dinosaurs.
CAMP JURASSIC-
The kids will love this play area, this area has
it all, slides, water blasters, bridges, caves,
waterfalls, water play area, you name it and this
playground has it. I like the dinosaur footprints,
you step on them and from the woods comes the
roar from that dinosaur who matches that footprint.
Also in this area is Pteranodon Flyer which is
made for the kids, only adults with kids can go
on it. This is an area the kids will love and
spend awhile inside.
|
 |
|
This area is not all thrills, Dueling Dragons is
the only thrill ride. There is a kids rollercoaster,
and two shows here that entertain the kids also
a talking fountain everyone loves. It's fun to just
stand at the fountain and see people get soaked
and talk to the fountain. It does talk to you and
will answer questions, it's magical.
FLYING UNICORN ROLLERCOASTER-
This is a kids rollercoaster however you
must be at least 36" to ride it. This is
just like the Nuthouse Coaster at Universal at
KidZone. The highest point is like 40ft and the
top speed is 22MPH. The coaster is not intense
or scary and the kids love it.
DUELING
DRAGONS ROLLERCOASTER- This ride like
the Hulk has a 54" height requirement, and
is not intended for the kids. However don't dismiss
the ride, there is a cool castle you can tour
before you get to the ride. I don't ride the coasters
but on occasion tour the castle for pictures.
I think the kids would get a kick out of it.
EIGHTH
VOYAGE OF SINBAD- I personally don't
like this show, but the kids love it. It's got
the monsters and the villains, the superhero,
the comedy, the stunts and explosions. All the
stuff kids love. With all those elements it will
keep kids glued to their seats.
POSEIDON'S
FURY- This is the only attraction that
might scare some small kids, it's set inside an
ancient temple. While you walk through it's really
dimly lite and you got spooky sounds, lights flickering
so and this is before the show starts. Then when
you get in the power goes out, a voice tells you
to leave. I have gone through and have seen the
kids crying and screaming so I don't know if this
would be a show they should see. That's up to
you, if you know your child is not afraid of the
dark and know the difference between reality and
make believe they will enjoy the show. I would
use caution before going on and explain what will
happen.
|
 |
|
The kids will love Suess Landing, they can ride
all the rides here, play in the play ground area,
eat at the circus, listen to a tree tell stories,
meet the Cat In The Hat, see the Grinch, visit a
candy shop, ride a fish, go on a one of a kind Caro-Suess-el,
visit a beach, run a zoo, do it all. They will love
this area. I love this area and I am not a little
kid, I act like one, but I am a big kid at heart
and this area is great.
CARO-SUESS-EL- The
center piece of Suess Landing a one of a kind
carousel that reacts to the person riding it.
No two Suess Chracter on it is the same and they
all do different things and that makes riding
it over and over again really fun.
CAT IN
THE HAT- The ride follows the book,
it's basically a ride through the book. You are
put into the pages of the book. The ride is really
fun and anyone from kids to adults will love it.
ONE FISH,
TWO FISH, RED FISH, BLUE FISH- Think
Dumbo Ride at Disney and this is what this is
with fish, and water. Really a fun ride, I enjoyed
it.
IF I RAN
THE ZOO- I told you the theme of IOA
is water and yet again here is another water play
ground and people waste money going to water parks
when you got it all here. This is an interactive
play area with lots of things to do, and any kid
would enjoy it.
|
|
