Universal Studios Orlando Height Requirements: Everything You Need to Know

Being prepared for rides is an important part of the planning process for a theme park vacation. Today we are sharing details on the Universal Studios Orlando height requirements as well as the scare factor to help set expectations for your trip to Universal Orlando.

Universal Studios Florida is one of the parks at the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks. It has attractions based on Minions, Harry Potter, a DreamWorks Land and more.

The tallest height requirement at Universal Studios Florida is 51″ for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and there are attractions that do not have a height requirement like Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast.

If you are looking for height and ride information for Islands of Adventure check out this post: Guide to Islands of Adventure Height Requirements and Ride Scare Factor.

Universal Studios Orlando Height Requirements

For this article we are focusing on Universal Studios Florida and what to expect for minimum height requirements, child swap options, and if the ride is good for older kids or small children, or both.

There is something for all ages to enjoy, but it helps to know the Universal Studios height requirements and what is the best age to visit with your kids.

Universal Studios Florida Lands:

• Hollywood
• Illumination’s Minion Land
• New York
• San Francisco
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley
• World Expo
• Springfield
• DreamWorks Land

What to Know About Safety

One thing to keep in mind is that Universal height requirements exist for safety reasons and should be taken seriously. If you have questions during your visit a team member is available to help.

Height Requirements for Universal Studios Orlando

Below is the Universal Studios Florida height requirements. I also wanted to share my opinion on the “scare factor” of the rides to help you decide if it is a good fit for your family.

Hollywood

• E.T. Adventure: Must be 34″, Under 48″ must be accompanied by an adult. E.T. Adventure is a dark ride but it doesn’t have anything necessarily scary to it other than being dark and a bit loud.

Illumination’s Minion Land

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Must be 40″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Those under 40″ may ride on the stationary seats. This ride is not scary.
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast: No height requirement, must be able to stand independently. This ride is not scary.

Read my full Guide to Minion’s Land.

New York

• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon– Must be 40″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. This ride is not scary and is fun for all ages.
• TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D– Must be 40″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. May be a little scary, it is loud. Kids familiar with Transformers should be fine.
• Revenge of the Mummy– Must be 48″ to ride. Scary for some kids. Roller coaster in the dark with “jump-scares” and fast speed.
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit– Must be between 51″ and 79″ Scary for guests who don’t like heights or fast roller coasters. Guests can watch this before they decide to ride.

San Francisco

• Fast & Furious – Supercharged– Must be 40″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. This ride is not scary but there is a scene at the start of a party with scantily-dressed girls as well as gun violence. It is what you would expect from the movie.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley

• The Hogwarts™ Express – King’s Cross Station – No Height Requirement, Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Not scary.
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts– Must be 42″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Guests familiar with Harry Potter are not likely to get scared. This is an indoor 3D roller coaster that has drops.

World Expo

• MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack– Must be 42″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Not scary, indoor spinning/shooting ride.

Springfield

• The Simpsons Ride– Must be 40″ or taller. Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Not scary for most riders.
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl– No Height Requirement, Under 48″ must ride with an adult. Not scary.

DreamWorks Land

• Trolls Trollercoaster: Must be 36″, Under 48″ must be accompanied by an adult. This would be considered a “kiddie-coaster”. Guests can see it before riding.

Are Universal Studios Orlando Rides Scary

Every family and every kid is different and you should consider the needs of your family when planning your visit.

My kids do not like the Halloween scares, like skeletons and surprises, and for that reason we waited to ride The Mummy until they were ready.

They have no problem with Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts even though that may frighten some children.

Some attractions require a supervising companion for small children and most of the thrill rides offer child swap options for those not waning to ride.

Child Swap allows guests to wait in a line, while someone waits with a non-rider, then switch without waiting as long to ride. Talk to a team member at the attraction for more information.

It is always a good idea to familiarize your family with the characters from the rides before your visit. My kids love all things Harry Potter and Super Heroes so they are not frightened by the Harry Potter attractions.

I created my own scale to explain what to expect when visiting, 1 being not scary at all and 5 being scary for most kids.

Not Scary At All

• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl: Dumbo like ride, Not Scary At All (1)
• The Hogwarts™ Express – King’s Cross Station: Train Ride, Not Scary at All (2)
• E.T. Adventure: Dark Ride, May be a bit scary if you are not familiar with E.T. (2)
• Trolls Trollercoaster: Kiddie Coaster, Not Scary (1)
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Simulator ride, Not Scary (1)
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged: Not scary at all. (2)
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon: Simulator Ride, Not Scary (1)
• The Simpsons Ride: Simulator Ride about The Simpsons. (1)
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast: Standing shooting ride, not scary. (1)

Thrilling Scares

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: Intense Roller Coaster (5)
• TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D: Comic Book Violence, Indoor 3D ride, (3)

Halloween Like Scares

• Revenge of the Mummy: Indoor roller coaster themed to the Mummy movies. (4)
• MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack: Not Scary Alien shooting ride (2)
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: Indoor roller coaster themed to Harry Potter (4)

Best Age to Visit Universal Studios

There is so much to do at Universal Studios that even the younger ones can have a blast.

If you are planning a one time visit I would suggest your child is at least 42″. That allows them to ride the majority of the attractions and really take advantage of the park.

The scare factor is also a little less at Universal Studios as opposed to Islands of Adventure.

It is important to consider the height requirements, scare factor, and temperament of your child when deciding what attractions to ride at Universal Studios.

The good news is once you arrive there are other ways to enjoy the park. DreamWorks Land is a new kid-friendly area that has playgrounds and splash pads, opening June 14, 2024.

We love spending time exploring Diagon Alley, meeting our favorite characters, and enjoying the food and shows.

I hope this guide to Universal Studios Florida height requirements helps you plan your theme park vacation. Be sure to check out our 1-Day Universal Studios Itinerary and What to Do at Universal Orlando: 25+ Can’t Miss Things to Experience for more planning tips.

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