Universal Studios with kids who don’t like Roller Coasters

My boys love going to theme parks and have been begging us forever to take them to Universal Studios in Orlando. I haven’t been eager, because who wants to go to Universal Studios with kids who don’t like Roller Coasters? My kids like kiddie and less intense Roller Coasters like Thunder Mountain at Disney World, but neither of them like Space Mountain. With that in mind, here are our best pics for kids in Universal Studios Orlando.

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man

This is a 3D simulation and movement type ride. You get loaded into a ride car with several rows that seats 4 people across and you wear 3D glasses. The ride car moves through the ride on all axises and doesn’t turn you upside down. The 3D effects are used to enhance the ride. It was a bit on the intense side, but both boys enjoyed it. Express Pass available. 40 inch height requirement.

Pteranodon Flyers

This ride is 80 seconds long and takes 2 people at a time, one sits in front of the other. There is no way to ride with your child side by side or holding their hand. It is in a bucket style seat and you swing side to side while you “zip line” through the tree tops. It is a fun ride and my boys loved it, but if your little one is afraid of heights, I would skip it. This ride is only available for children between the heights of 36-56 inches tall and an accompanying adult. An adult cannot ride this ride without a child.

Flight of the Hippogriff

This is more traditional type of roller coaster, but smaller and shorter than the bigger ones. It is designed for smaller kids who want the thrill, but who aren’t ready for the bigger coasters yet, hence the 36 inch height limit. It had more than enough excitement for my boys who insisted on riding this multiple times in a row. Express Pass available. 36 inch height requirement.

Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station

This train’s inspiration is obviously from Harry Potter. It is a ride from Hogsmeade to Kings Cross station. The train car is set to seat 4 people on each side facing each other. You have a screen on one side showing scenes from Hogwarts and the countryside as you make your way into London. You also see Shadows on the frosted doors on the other side of the compartment and hear favorite Harry Potter characters as they walk past. Nothing intense about this. Park to Park admission pass required.

The Cat in the Hat

This ride is very tame. You sit in a car that seat 2-3 in two rows each and it moves through scenes from the Cat in the Hat book. Both my boys declared this to be a ride for babies, but no one was afraid. Express Pass available. 36 inch height requirement.

Universal Studios

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

You walk into a theater room and sit down and you get a lap bar. You also wear 3D glasses. Your chairs move and vibrate as you go through the ride. The 3D action makes it a ride and a cute one at that. If your little one doesn’t like the 3D effects, skip the ride, but otherwise go and enjoy being transformed into a Minion. Express Pass available. 40 inch height requirement.

Shrek 4D

Lord Farquad is a ghost and he is still after princess Fiona. Sit down in a 3D theater to enjoy the show. The 4D is added when you get spritzed with water, bump around while riding a horse, and smell what Shrek does. It is a fun way to spend 5-10 minutes in air conditioning if you are there on a hot day. Express pass available.

The Hogwarts Express – Kings Cross Station

This train’s inspiration is obviously from Harry Potter. It is a ride from Kings Cross station to Hogsmeade. The train car is set to seat 4 people on each side facing each other. You have a screen on one side showing scenes from London as you make your way to Hogwarts. You also see Shadows on the frosted doors on the other side of the compartment and hear favorite Harry Potter characters as they walk past. There is a bit where Dementors walk past if your kids are afraid of this.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

This is a ride through Gringotts, the wizard’s bank. Both my boys declined to go on this ride, but I think it might have been ok for them. The line was through a very well created Gringotts bank. The ride was in a cart that sits 4 across in several rows. There is one big drop at the beginning. It felt half ride and half movie, since you are wearing 3D glasses. Express Pass available. 42 inch height requirement.

Men in Black Alien attack

You sit in a car that is 3 people across and has 2 rows and you get to shoot Aliens. Seriously, what could be better to grade school boys than shooting Aliens. You get points for shooting those aliens too and a total score at the end of the game. Towards the end of the ride there is a sequence where you get spun around fast several times, but that is the most intense part of the ride. My boys loved it and insisted on riding several times. Express Pass available. 42 inch height requirement.

Kang and Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl

Kang and Kodos are the aliens from the Simpsons, not that my kids knew that or cared. This is a ride where you sit two to a cart and spin in a wide circle on spokes from a center section while moving up and down. They ride this several times in a row since there was no line. We even let them ride this without adults since we could see them the whole time.

Let me know which rides your kids love!