Timid, weak tummy, or tiny in tallness? Universal is still Universal!

All ages enjoying the interactive Mystic Fountain in Islands of Adventure

I hate being scared or in intense attraction situations.

You are not alone! I definitely fall into the timid category as well. Fear not (except it’s totally okay if you do)! Both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure have plenty to offer for us! If Harry Potter is your thing, in the Wizarding World (which stretches between both parks) you can watch four different stage shows while drinking butterbeer or pumpkin juice, or, after choosing your wand at Ollivander’s, roam the streets of both Hogsmeade™ and Diagon Alley™ performing magic!

Outside of the Potter universe, the parks are full of gentler attractions (such as the E.T. Adventure in Universal Studios) numerous stage shows (such as The Blues Brothers© or The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad), intricately thematic details around every corner (did you know that every character cut out on Marvel Island includes the name Adam, the first name of the illustrator? How many can you find?), and fantastic opportunities to spend the day people watching and photographing everything you see.

I get motion sickness.

You are not alone! I’m definitely in the tummy category as well. It is true that many attractions at Universal Orlando are motion simulators (screen-based) with either 3D or 4D effects. Luckily, not all motion simulators operate at the same intensity! There are three attractions that clock in between a 2 and 4 (varies person to person) that are recommended as first rides to test your stomach out before moving to other attractions – you don’t want to start too high and ruin the rest of your day!

• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. A madcap silly caper as your race Fallon through the streets of New York City (and far beyond!). Guests sit in a theater setting that tilts and bumps but remains stationary.
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong. An adventure ride through Skull Island where guests ride in an open truck along a track. The screen surrounds you in front and both sides, so for a first ride it’s recommended to choose just one side to look at. Scare factor on this one.
• Fast and Furious – Supercharged. Using the same ride technology as Skull Island, guests take part in a high-speed car chase while transporting a witness to safety. High-intensity factor on this one.

A complete motion simulator ranking (note: personal experience may vary) is at the end of this guide.

I’m bringing my kids.

Great! So am I! There’s plenty for tinies to experience. Seuss Island in Islands of Adventure and the Woody Woodpecker™ KidZone in Universal Studios are built with kids and families in mind! There are also numerous play zones and splash areas throughout the park and even one ride, Pteranodon Fliers, that grown-ups can’t ride without a tiny with them!*

The magic number is 42 inches. At this height, guests will be able to experience all but six of the attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It is up to parents and guardians to determine if attractions are appropriate from a motion sickness or intensity factor for riders who meet height requirements.

A complete list of attractions with height requirements is at the end of this guide.

*Please do not steal a child to ride Pteranodon Flyers, no matter how tempted you might be to do so.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Diagon Alley

I’m bummed I won’t see inside Hogwarts if I don’t ride Forbidden Journey!

Guess what? You don’t have to miss out! The majority of rides are equipped with a family room where non-riders can wait for the rest of their party. These rooms are right before the loading dock, so everyone can experience the queue if they wish! And that includes both Hogwarts Castle (the queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey©) and Gringotts Bank (the queue for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts©). Family rooms are air-conditioned as well. Plus, if someone is waiting with tinies while other party members ride, as soon as the riders return they can get right on the ride without waiting in line a second time!

The name’s Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid.

Hagrid, it’s so nice to meet you, and welcome to Universal Orlando Resort™! A heads up: there are a number of attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure that you, and others of larger stature, may not be able to experience. Outside of many of these attractions, there are test vehicles where you can sit and try out the restraint system. If the light turns from red to green, have an excellent time! If it stays red, you can enjoy the air conditioning of the family room and rejoin your party when they are done riding.

A complete list of attractions with test vehicles follows at the end of this guide.

Height Requirements

* Guests taller than 56 inches must be accompanied by someone between 36-56 inches.

** Guests under 40 inches may experience this attraction from the non-moving benches.

***Guests over 79 inches may not ride.

Motion Simulation Scale

These attractions are rated on a scale of 1-10 for motion simulation based on unofficial information from Universal Orlando Resort as well as an aggregate of guest experience. Individual experience may differ wildly.

Attractions With Test Vehicles