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One of the misconceptions most people have about Universal is that it is only geared towards teenagers. This is not true. While Universal theme parks are not a destination for everyone, there are plenty of things for the younger set to enjoy. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

If you are traveling with an infant:

- Make good use of "baby swapping". No, this does not involve trading your child in for another. Instead, it offers you the chance to ride a particular attraction, while your wife/husband/significant other waits with your child. When you're finished on the ride, they get to go. If you have children that are old enough to ride, they usually get to go twice (once with you, and once with the next adult). Make sure to tell the attendant at the loading area that you would like to do a baby swap.

Fear Factor:

Take the time to get familiar with the attractions located at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Some of them are VERY intense, and may not be suitable for all kids. Only you know what sorts of situations will scare your children, so pay attention to things like:

• Universal Studios:
  Back to the Future - 40 inches
  Men in Black - 40 inches
  
• Islands of Adventure:
  Dr. Dooms Fearfall - 52 inches
  Spiderman - 40 inches
  Dueling Dragons - 54 inches
  Pteranodon Flyers - 36 inches
  Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges - 42 inches
  Incredible Hulk Coaster - 54 inches
  Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - 44 inches
  Jurassic Park River Adventure - 42 inches

Some parents seem to enjoy berating cast members when their children are too small to enjoy an attraction. Here are some things to keep in mind. First, the cast members don't make the rules, the engineers who build the attractions do. Second, there is a really good reason why there are height restrictions. It's called safety. Parents who feel the rules don't apply to their kids, are usually the first ones to run to a lawyer when something goes wrong.

Here are some specific tips for touring with children:

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE

Seuss Landing
(CLICK HERE for RealVideo of Seuss Landing)
Seuss Landing is very kid-friendly. Fences, signs, and steps are intentionally set at a lower level for kids. What child has not read a Dr. Seuss book? The familiarity children have with the Seussian works will draw them in.

Children can also enjoy the rides on the island. On Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a Dumbo ride with a twist. You sit in large fish and navigate up and down in a circle like the Dumbo ride at the Magic Kingdom, but you need to listen to the song to avoid getting wet. When the song says go down, you best go down or you will get a shower! When the song says go up, head to the sky. The last part is a free-for-all where you just choose a spot and hope you will not get wet.

The Caro-Seuss-El is a carousel ride populated with various Seussian creatures. The creatures move up and down, just like any other carousel. The Caro-Seuss-El is accommodating to handicapped guests. Handicapped guests roll their wheelchair into a special area on the Caro-Seuss-El and the area bobs up and down like the other creatures.

The Cat in the Hat: Ride Inside is a dark ride based on the popular book, but it spins you around. Kids have fun on this ride, but you may want to avoid the ride if yours have motion sickness.

If I Ran the Zoo is a play area based on the book of the same name. Your kids can crawl through holes, squirt water on a small island, play tic-tac-toe with Old Joe, and interact with many characters.

The Lost Continent
(CLICK HERE for RealVideo of The Lost Continent)
The Lost Continent is home to Dueling Dragons, a roller coaster for brave souls. Although the island may not appear kid-friendly, there are things for kids to do here.

If your children are disappointed that they cannot ride Dueling Dragons, they can get a roller coaster thrill by riding the Flying Unicorn. There are not big loops or inversions. The coaster banks, turns, and goes up and down a few hills during the one-minute ride. The height requirement for the Flying Unicorn is 36 inches.

Kids can be entertained by the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad show. The show can be loud at times, so check to see if your kids are scared by loud noises. Otherwise, the plot of the show is pretty easy to follow and once the action starts, the fights, swings, ducks, falls, and explosions continue until the end. The Sinbad characters can be seen roaming around the Lost Continent before and in between shows. Even if you cannot see the show, do not miss the Mystic Fountain at the entrance. The fountain talks back at you and tries to make you wet. Most of the time, it succeeds. Kids seem to have the most fun talking back to the fountain and trying to get it to squirt them.

Sinbad’s Bazaar has many carnival-type games at an extra cost. Your kids may want to knock down bottles to win the huge Scooby-Doo stuffed animal.

Jurassic Park
(CLICK HERE for RealVideo of Jurassic Park)
If your children are not tall enough for the Jurassic Park River Adventure, they can meet a living Triceratops at the Triceratops Encounter. You can see one of three Triceratops: Sara, Topper, and Chris. The Triceratops will move, yell, and even go to the bathroom. Kids have a chance to pet the Triceratops if they are as tall as the fence surrounding the dinosaur.

The Jurassic Park Discovery Center is a mini-science center where every exhibit is based on dinosaurs. Children can play You Bet Jurassic to test their dinosaur I.Q., they can X-ray the insides of a dinosaur egg, they can have their DNA sampled to create a new dinosaur, they can search for dinosaur bones in a rock, and they can “Be-A-Saur” by looking through VR glasses in a dinosaur model. If a dinosaur happens to hatch in the nursery, your child may be lucky enough to name the newborn.

Camp Jurassic is another play area. Kids can run through caves, squirt each other, climb over rope bridges, and go down slides. Be careful because Camp Jurassic winds around a lot and it is easy to lose a child in there. Camp Jurassic is also home to the only ride exclusively for kids, Pterandon Flyers. Children must be 36 to 56 inches to ride. Anyone over 56 inches tall will need to ride with a child who meets the height requirement.

If your kids still want to get wet, but they are too short for the Jurassic Park River Adventure, they can stand in the splash zone for a dousing. The splash zone is by the Thunder Falls Terrace. When a boat comes down, it splashes a huge wave that hits anyone standing in the splash zone. You may even get more wet in the splash zone than on the ride itself!

Toon Lagoon
(CLICK HERE for RealVideo of Toon Lagoon)
If your kids do not meet the 44-inch height requirement for Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls or the 48-inch height requirement for Popeye and Bluto’s Bildge-Raft Barges, they can still have fun on Me Ship, the Olive. Me Ship, the Olive is a three-level interactive play area. It is Popeye’s ship modeled after his girlfriend. Kids can climb up and down the stairs, go down the slides, and play on a piano. An elevator is provided for those who cannot climb stairs. The most popular level is the second level. On this level, squirt guns are provided so you can nail the passing boats. Although the boat riders have a wetter experience in other parts of the ride, the squirt guns seem to annoy them the most. The guns bring out the little devils in children. The bridge to Popeye and Bluto’s Bildge-Raft Barges also has water cannons for 25 cents a shot.

Children can see their favorite Toon Lagoon characters around the island of during the Toon Trolley Show. Consult your park map for times.

Marvel Super Hero Island (CLICK HERE for RealVideo of Marvel Super Hero Island)
The three major rides on this island – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Dr. Doom’s Fearfall, and the Incredible Hulk Coaster – have height requirements (40 inches, 52 inches, and 54 inches, respectfully). The only ride that doesn't is Storm Force Acceleration. This is a teacups clone that is themed after the X-Men and Storm. If your kids have motion sickness, they may want to avoid the ride. Otherwise, just sit and spin the control as fast as you can!

Marvel superheroes appear on the island throughout the day and during the Meet the Marvel Super Heroes parade. Consult your map for times.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Production Central
Production Central has the Nickelodeon Studios Tour. Every kid in America who has cable TV probably knows what this network is. You can view the soundstages where Nick shows are produced. If you are lucky, you can see a show in production or even speak to a production personnel. You may also be able to tour the wardrobe department or the control room. In the wardrobe department, one lucky kid gets to eat slime and gak!

The end of the tour is the most fun – the Game Lab. In the Game Lab, kids and adults are split up and compete against each other in challenges. One kid even gets to dress their parents up in absurd outfits and have them do challenges. One lucky kid gets slimed! The host will ask for a slime volunteer. If your kid is interested, have him or her raise his or her hand high, jump up and down, and get noticed.You can be an audience member on a Nick show. Call (407) 363-8500 for more information or to see what shows may be taping during your visit.

Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone
Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone can be termed as “kid central.” This is an area devised for kids in mind.

Younger guests can watch A Day in the Park with Barney, starring their favorite purple dinosaur. Check your park map for showtimes. The show exits into Barney’s Backyard, an interactive play area where kids can make music, splash in water, or draw on the walls. Some activities are off-limits to those over 48 inches and 36 inches. Barney’s Backyard has its own entrance if you don’t wish to see the show.

Curious George Goes to Town is a wet and dry play area based on the Curious George books. You can squirt people below with water cannons or be the one below who is being squirted. You can go through areas and play with different wet guns. Watch out because people above may be trying to dump water on you! If you hear a bell ring, you better know which way you are going because a huge bucket of water will be dumped on you! If you are not inclined to get wet, you can take the dry path to the ball room. You collect balls around the room and then, using the huge guns on the second level, shoot them at people. The balls are so soft and lightweight that they do not cause any pain. In fact, most people do not know that they have been hit!

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster is truly a kiddie coaster. It basically spirals you down to the end. The height requirement is 36 inches.

Fievel’s Playland has many interactive play elements at a “mouse-eye view.” The centerpiece of the playland is the slide. You can take a two-person raft down a water slide.

The Kidzone houses the E.T. Adventure. You venture aboard bikes to find E.T. and bring him back home to the green planet, where only his healing touch can save the dying planet. The ride can be scary for kids during the opening chase sequence, but it is pleasant after that. E.T. may even call your kids by name!

Animal Planet Live is a show where kids can see dogs, cats, monkeys, and other animals perform tricks. You can have your kids watch the show to see what well-trained pets are like.

Characters like Shaggy, Scooby-Doo, Spongebob Squarepants,Lord Farquar, Shrek, Woody Woodpecker, and others make appearances in the Kidzone throughout the day. Check your park map for times.

San Francisco/Amity
Earthquake and Jaws can scare kids, so what else can they do in this area? They can see the Wild Wild West Stunt Show. Although there are loud pyrotechnics, kids can enjoy the comedic fighting and the comedic villains. If they like getting wet, they can get the added bonus of sitting in the splash zone. During a part of the show, you can get wet. It is not a sopping wet, but it will get you wet.

Kids can also see Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue. Like the Wild Wild West Stunt Show, there are loud pyrotechnics, but the show also has rock and roll tunes that can get the kids dancing on the bleachers.

New York
Twister is dark and loud. Dark and loud noises can scare kids, but they can also dance again in the Blues Brothers show. The show is standing room only, but the songs can be entertaining to kids. They’re not the Backstreet Boys, but your kids will probably not care.

If you still are unsure if a certain ride would be good for your kids, consult with the ride attendant or Guest Relations. They will give you plenty of information.

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