7 Best Sights in Universal Orlando, Florida

Remember when you were content with just a swing set and monkey bars? Well, such playground standards have been replaced by theme play areas like this. Though the prehistoric camp is primarily for kids, some adults join in, racing along footpaths through the forests, slithering down slides, clambering over swinging bridges and across streams, scrambling up net climbs and rock formations, and exploring mysterious caves full of faux lava. Watch for the dinosaur footprints: when you jump on them, a dinosaur roars somewhere (and different footprints have different roars). Also look out for the watery crossfire nearby—or join in the shooting yourself. For people with disabilities: Much of this attraction is wheelchair accessible (its upper levels probably aren't). Great anytime.

In 2023, Universal Orlando joined the escape room trend to create two of its own, each one themed to a legendary film. After entering a classic movie theater and passing into a lobby, you'll embark on your chosen adventure—either Back to the Future: Outatime or Jurassic Park Escape—following a series of hidden clues and tasks through eight rooms to complete your mission. This involves either tracking down Biff, who's stolen Doc Brown's latest time-travel device, or solving a puzzle that will keep you from coming face-to-face with an escaped dinosaur (which technically could be avoided if you had Doc Brown's time-travel device).

You can go solo, but you might be assigned to participate with a group of other guests (no more than six other people). Plus it's much more fun solving puzzles, completing tasks, and looking for clues with a group. The venue is open daily, with the first experiences starting at around 10:45 am and the last ones at around 10:30 pm. In addition, two on-site bars serve beer and wine as well as specialty cocktails and mocktails.  Reservations are a good idea, and you should arrive about 15 minutes before the start of your experience, which will take about an hour to complete. 

In this interactive Seussian maze, kids can leave the adults behind and have fun at their level. Exploring involves climbing, jumping, and crawling around several of Dr. Seuss's fantasy creatures, as well as pushing buttons to animate them. Park designers have learned that kids' basic needs include eating, sleeping, and getting splashed, so they've thoughtfully added some interactive fountains as well. For people with disabilities: The area is wheelchair accessible. If you can talk your little ones into waiting, come at the end of your visit.

Disguised as a teetering-tottering ship that's moored on the edge of Toon Lagoon, this fantastic, three-story playground has, from bow to stern, dozens of climbing and other activities to keep kids busy. Toddlers enjoy crawling in Swee' Pea's Playpen, and with high-powered squirt guns, older children and their parents can take aim at unsuspecting riders twisting through the rapids over at Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges ride. The most excited participants are small kids, who can't get enough of the whistles, bells, tunnels, and ladders. Check out the view of the park from the top of the ship. For people with disabilities: The playground area is wheelchair accessible. Come in the morning or around dinnertime.

What ultimately amounts to a photo op (albeit a very intense one) begins with a guide offering the members of your group safety instructions prior to entering the paddock, where a life-size velociraptor resides. Once inside the paddock, the guide coaxes Blue (the dinosaur) into view, which sets the stage for souvenir photos. But with your back turned and a row of razor-sharp teeth directly behind you, the snapshots are usually framed with a look of fear. It can be a very interesting, and very intense, experience that easily frightens kids—and usually scares adults. If you can handle it, the souvenir picture might be worth the brief flash of fear.

This colorful, creative aquatic playground gives kids plenty to discover through a wide range of toys and activities that'll keep them busy and entertained. There are shallow wading areas, low-pitched slides (that probably seem stupendously huge from their perspective), spray guns, bubbling geysers, and dump cups. For people with disabilities: Guests in wheelchairs can transfer into the wading areas.

Directly across from Runamukka Reef is this shallow-water play area with kid-size slides, spraying fountains, singing whales, and a miniature water volcano. For people with disabilities Guests must be able to climb stairways unassisted or with help from someone in their party.