Gearing up to visit Universal Studios Hollywood this summer? We’re sharing our top attractions for Preschoolers!

If you followed along on our Instagram Stories yesterday, then you know that we visited Universal Studios Hollywood for my birthday.  I got a TON of messages from y’all asking what I thought of Universal Studios Hollywood for a Preschooler, and I wanted to share my thoughts.

Lydia has a TOTAL blast!  We ended up visiting from about 2 pm until about 9:30 pm.  We did NOT bring a stroller, and she was fine walking the whole time.  Universal Studios Hollywood is the perfect size for four or five years to walk everywhere, and I loved how easy it was to hop between different sections.

There were a ton of special summer activities and attractions that we wanted to be sure to check out while we visited, so I made a list before we went.  

Universal Studios Hollywood: A Preschooler’s Guide

Universal Studios Hollywood is full of great food, fun attractions, and amazing experiences for all ages.  These were our favorites that we tried out as a family.

DreamWorks Theatre featuring “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest: This adorable immersive movie experience was the FIRST thing we did when we arrived, and it was ADORABLE.  The simulation ride takes you on an adventure with your favorite panda (and bonus, it’s nice and air conditioned in the theatre)!

Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop: MUST DO.  Be sure to visit Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop if your preschooler is a Kung Fu Panda fan.  The talking puppet has a personalized conversation with your family, and Lydia kept BEGGING to go back again for another chat.  

Meet and greet with Po and Tigress: Gotta love those character meet and greets! Po and Tigress were especially animated and really took the time to interact with Lydia.  Plus, the lines weren’t long!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: This was MY FAVORITE.  We’ve recently started watching all the Harry Potter movies with Lydia and she was FREAKING out when she entered.  From the shops to the castle…….it literally feels like you’ve stepped into Harry Potter’s LIFE.  We waited in line to experience the wand selection at Ollivanders…..and it was amazing.  Lydia even got her own “training wand”….she carried it around the rest of the day and slept with it last night (how cute is THAT).  If you purchase an interactive want, you can unlock spells all around the World including a new Incendio fire-making spell and the Alohomora unlocking spell! 

Foodwise, I could eat inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter forever and be totally happy.  We got frozen Butterbeer twice (calories don’t count on birthdays, RIGHT?), ate at Three Broomsticks (they just added a TON of new lunchtime menu items including Ploughman’s Lunch, Cheese Toastie with Chicken and Sunday Roast Sandwich) AND they have the new Butterbeer Ice Cream (yes, we ate that too).

We all rode the Flight of the Hippogriff™, it was really fun and Lydia begged to go on it again.  I also loved exploring all the shops (if you’re headed to Universal Studios Hollywood SOON then be sure to check out Gladrags Wizardwear…..they’ve got REALLY cool high-end costume replicas of Professor Severus Snape’s robe and Hermione’s Yule Ball dress, in both adult and kid sizes). 

Our final stop of the night? The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, they’re STUNNING and happening from now until August 19, then again on September 1-3.  These are a MUST VIEW…..so be sure to stay past bedtime.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Lydia LOVED LOVED LOVED this simulation ride (and seeing her in the 3d Minion googles was the CUTEST thing ever.  This ride is another great spot to beat the heat when needed!

Robbie and I are actually talking about sneaking back over to Universal Studios Hollywood for a date night…… the Jurassic Park Ride will be going extinct on September 3 in preparation for the new Jurassic World Ride coming in 2019 and we really want to try it out (plus who doesn’t love a water ride in the summer)! Plus, we want to check out the Raptor Encounter.

Have you been to Universal Studios Hollywood recently? What are your top tips for visiting with preschoolers?

california