Visiting Universal Orlando is like going to Disney World's big brother to enjoy a fun vacation. While Disney is sometimes associated with children wearing Mickey ears, Universal is seen as more edgy - the place where teenagers can have fun riding roller coasters and dress up as Hermione Granger. This is sometimes true, but I think it’s a bit of an urban legend when people say that Universal Orlando isn’t great for children or even toddlers.
With the launch of Epic Universe, there are more options than ever for little ones to have fun. Universal Studios has amazing Minions rides, and Islands of Adventure features a full-on Seuss Landing that kids just adore. There are even better options for teenagers, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but it’s safe to say that Universal as a whole is a top tier destination for guests of all ages.
Visiting Universal is awesome, but it also requires some preparation, even more so if you are going with the little ones. This guide will help you with things like:
- Picking the Best Hotels for Children at Universal Orlando
- Bring or Rent a Stroller?
- Breastfeeding at Universal Orlando
- Our Tips for Traveling with Children to Universal Orlando
- What to Do at Universal Orlando with Children
Okay, the intro is long enough as it is, let’s get started!
Picking the Best Hotels for Children at Universal Orlando
One piece of good news about Universal is that there aren’t nearly as many hotel options as there are at Disney World. Sometimes, having too many choices can make it more difficult to select the right one for you and your family. Much like Disney, Universal separates its hotels into different categories: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier.
Every Universal resort offers a very valuable perk: early park admission, allowing you to enter a theme park one hour before the gates officially open. That might not sound like a lot, but in that one hour, adults (or teens) can head to Islands of Adventure and ride the VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure with minimal wait times.
The Premier Resorts also offer a FastPass called Universal Express Unlimited, which gives you access to the express line at most popular rides. Just a heads-up: the resort Express Pass will not be valid for Epic Universe during its initial months.
A Value Resort starts at around $170 per night, while a Premier Resort starts at about $430. If you want to know more about the different resorts at Universal Orlando, make sure to check out or guide.
Here are some of our favorite choices for families with children, along with the starting price for each:
- Dockside Inn and Suites ($170): A great option for those on a budget. Dockside Inn and Suites has a Starbucks, two swimming pools, and buses that take guests to every Universal theme park.
- Universal Stella Nova Resort ($220): A hotel with standard rooms and a basic swimming pool. The main perks? It launched in 2025, so it’s brand new, and it is located within walking distance of Epic Universe. If your trip is more about Epic Universe than the other theme parks, this is a great option.
- Sapphire Falls Resort ($280): Sapphire Falls Resort is the only Preferred resort and a great choice for families. It has a large swimming pool, on-site restaurants, and is within walking distance of Universal CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. There is also boat transportation just a minute away, taking you to CityWalk.
- Hard Rock Hotel ($550): A Premier hotel that looks edgier than the competition. It has one of the best pools in all of Universal Orlando and is a five-minute walk from Universal CityWalk, making it the closest resort to the theme parks and a great option for families with strollers.
Bring or Rent a Stroller?
Most families visiting a theme park have the same question: should I bring my own stroller or rent one at the theme park?
Universal Orlando offers double strollers for rent near the entrance of each theme park. They cost $40 per day.
You can also bring your own stroller. While Disney doesn’t allow wagon strollers, there aren’t any specific rules about wagons or stroller dimensions at Universal Orlando. The benefit of bringing your own stroller is that your kids are already comfortable with it, and you won’t have to pay a rental fee. The downside? You’ll need to carry it everywhere.
Some guests choose to buy an umbrella stroller at Walmart for around $15 after arriving in Florida, then simply leave it behind at the end of their trip. Another option is renting from Kingdom Strollers, which delivers and picks up strollers at your hotel, resort, or even the airport. They have great reviews online!
We also have an in-depth guide called Strollers, Wheelchairs & Services Offered by Universal if you want to learn more about strollers and additional services at Universal.
Breastfeeding at Universal Orlando
According to Universal, “Nursing facilities and a companion restroom are available at Family Services, located to the right of Lost & Found in Universal Studios Florida, and at First Aid in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Diaper-changing facilities are available at all restrooms.”
All nursing stations are located inside the First Aid buildings, and you don’t need to pay to use their services. You just need to enter the First Aid building, ask for a nursing room, and you’ll have all the privacy you need!
Our Tips for Traveling with Children to Universal Orlando
Bring a Backpack
Do we even need to say this one? Of course, you’ll need a backpack, for yourself, your significant other, and, most importantly, your children. This is where you’ll store their favorite toys, diapers, medicine, an extra T-shirt, and everything else you need to make your day at the park more relaxed. Remember, you’ll likely arrive early in the morning and stay until night, so pack everything your kids might need to stay comfortable.
Bring Food & Snacks from Home
Yes, food and snacks will also go in your backpack. This is a great tip for toddlers, young children, teenagers, and even yourself. Remember, some ride lines can take up to an hour, and this problem will be even more evident at Epic Universe. Having something like Pringles or Oreos can be a lifesaver. A quick snack can help keep your kids relaxed and tide them over until your next meal.
Check Ride Heights Before your Trip
It’s always a good idea to check ride height requirements before visiting Universal Orlando. Many attractions require guests to meet a minimum height before riding, especially roller coasters and some motion simulators.
Some rides you might assume don’t have a height requirement actually do, like E.T. Adventure at 34 inches and The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! at 36 inches. Check that information in advance to plan your ride itinerary!
Good news: we have a Universal Orlando Ride Height Requirements & Child Swap guide that can help you prepare for your next trip!
Make use of the Child Swap Service
Do you want to ride the VelociCoaster but can't because you’re traveling with your children? Good news, Universal offers a service that makes it easier for adults to experience some of the best rides while their kids wait nearby.
Here’s what Universal says about their Child Swap service: "Each ride and attraction has a family room where one member of your party can wait with the little ones while the rest of your party rides. Once they are finished, switch places so whoever rode can stay with the kids, and the adult(s) who sat out can enjoy the ride."
Watch Harry Potter movies!
Harry Potter is a huge part of Universal Orlando and has a strong presence in all three of their main theme parks. If you have young children, show them some of the Harry Potter movies, teach them who Dumbledore is, what Wingardium Leviosa means, and that bald sorcerers played by Ralph Fiennes are not nice.
Watching the movies will definitely make your trip to Universal Orlando even better, not only when you ride something like Escape from Gringotts, but also when it’s time to board the Hogwarts Express or enjoy meet and greets at Hogsmeade.
What to do at Universal Orlando with Children
The Best Rides at Universal Orlando for Children
There’s a lot to see and do at Universal Orlando, especially for children. For an in-depth look at the top rides for kids at Universal, be sure to check out our specialized guides:
We’ll also list our top three rides for children at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, just for fun. We won’t include rides or experiences with height requirements, meaning everyone is welcome to enjoy them.
At Universal Studios, our top three choices are DreamWorks Land, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, and Kang and Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. DreamWorks Land is actually a whole new area with multiple rides and activities, like a splash zone and a Kung Fu Panda theater, so it could easily be considered three, four, or even five attractions in one. Go there!
For Islands of Adventure, my choices are Camp Jurassic and Seuss Landing. Yeah, I’m cheating and showing only two choices... or am I? Seuss Landing is a big area (even bigger than DreamWorks Land) with multiple playgrounds, dark rides, and a carousel for kids. It’s a favorite among younglings. Camp Jurassic also deserves your attention, as it’s a huge exploration area that manages to be even better than The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Meet & Greets
Want to meet some Minions, SpongeBob, Shrek, and Puss in Boots? Universal Studios focuses more on characters from DreamWorks and movie franchises like Back to the Future, Transformers, and MIB: Men in Black, while Islands of Adventure features meet-and-greets with dinosaurs (probably not real ones), the Avengers, and Dr. Seuss characters. You can also meet some random Harry Potter wizards at both theme parks.
For more information about meet-and-greets at Universal, make sure to check out our Meet & Greet Guide to Universal Orlando.
Go for a Butterbeer
You can't visit Universal Orlando without trying a Butterbeer! This is the classic drink from the Harry Potter movies, and another reason why you should watch the movies with your little ones. There are so many different types of Butterbeer, and they are all delicious. Start with a traditional Butterbeer, then try a frozen one, and why not a hot Butterbeer later on? Don't worry, Butterbeer doesn't actually contain any alcohol.
