Suggested Itineraries

Create an Itinerary

Pick three or four things that you must see or do and plan your day along a rough geographical guide. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are both relatively small, so walking from one end of the park to the other isn't as daunting as it is at some of the Disney parks.

Choose Age-Appropriate Rides/Shows

Here, as in Walt Disney World, height and age restrictions aren't bent to accommodate a screaming child. Even where restrictions don't exist, some shows have loud music and pyrotechnics that can scare young kids. Check the attraction descriptions that follow to make sure your child won't be unduly disappointed or frightened.

Overall, Universal Studios does a much better job in the way of entertaining their guests while they wait in line for the attractions. Many have preshows or TV screens with previews or introductions to the attractions. They've also got it all over the House of Mouse when it comes to beating the sun -- many of the attractions here have waiting areas under some sort of cover or, in some cases, indoors (unless the line is so long that it extends beyond these areas, which it sometimes does in the busiest seasons). It is also exponentially easier to get from your car (or resort) to the parks. From the parking lot, if you have kids and all of the gear that comes with them, pack your stroller and bring it along -- you will be able to walk directly to the parks, but it can be a long haul for small feet (and there are no trams from the parking decks to the theme parks). Elevators, moving sidewalks, and covered walkways will take you up to the entrance of CityWalk. And, if you're staying at a Universal resort, you'll be glad to know that all three resorts are relatively close by and are serviced by a water taxi (and the Hard Rock is within walking distance) that'll drop you off in CityWalk. I'm not saying that you will not have to wait at all -- it can take several minutes -- but not nearly as long as some trips at Disney can.

Lots of Character -- Universal Studios Florida has a host of street characters and shows to entertain the crowds that flock here. The lineup includes: Lucy and Ricky, in which Lucy pulls guests into an impromptu conga line; Sarita and Rico, two Latin characters who get guests singing and dancing to high-energy tunes such as "Hot, Hot, Hot" and "Mambo #5"; and the Men in Black show, in which the agents know there are a lot of aliens in the park, and they must put unsuspecting guests through a humorous screening test. Note: Characters rotate and often appear only seasonally.

Universal Has a Few 'Toons, Too -- While the options pale in comparison to Disney, Universal has character meet-and-greets on a rotating basis. At Universal Studios Florida, you may run into Woody Woodpecker, SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek, and Jimmy Neutron, among others. At Islands of Adventure, the cast may include Spider-Man, Popeye and Olive Oyl, Beetle Bailey, the Cat in the Hat, Betty Boop, or Boris and Natasha.

A Suggested Itinerary for Families with Young Children

Waste no time: Hoof it to Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, where you and your kids can spend most of the day. If they're 36 inches or taller, don't miss multiple rides on Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster. Try to make an early pit stop at Fievel's Playland (especially its water slide, which is slow-moving and has longer lines after 10:30am). Then adopt a leisurely pace to see E.T. Adventure, A Day in the Park with Barney, and if you can squeeze it in, Animal Actors on Location!

Take a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard to Mel's Diner for a burger and a shake (and a brief reprieve from the chaos) before heading back and letting the kids loose at the wet-and-wild Curious George Goes to Town. After your kids have run down their batteries a bit, you can rest your feet at an afternoon showing of Animal Actors on Location! (if you didn't catch it before lunch) before heading back to Production Central to blast off on Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast.

A Suggested Itinerary for Older Children, Teens & Adults

A single day is usually sufficient to see the park if you arrive early and keep a fairly brisk pace. Skip the city sidewalks of the main gate and Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time until later. Go to the right and tackle the Simpsons and Men in Black Alien Attack then make a counterclockwise loop to catch Fear Factor Live, Jaws, Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride . . . Starring You!, Revenge of the Mummy, and Twister . . . Ride It Out. Break for lunch at some point in the midst of that quartet (there are plenty of eateries along the route), and then tackle the 'toons at Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast and the Shrek 4-D adventure, before catching the fun in Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time. If you can manage to wait, save Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit (debuting in early 2009) for last (lines will be longest early in the day).

A second day lets you revisit some of your favorites or see those you missed. With the pressure to hit all the major rides lessened, you can take on the park in a more leisurely fashion ensuring a more enjoyable experience. You can also visit the Universal Horror Make-up Show and Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue.