Earlier, Universal Studios Hollywood was a theme park for grown-ups because there were fewer rides for the younger kids, who tended to be shorter.
In recent years, the Los Angeles theme park has introduced rides that the younger children can enjoy – Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda, Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Flight of the Hippogriff, etc.
Today, Universal Studios Hollywood is a family-friendly destination attracting visitors of all age groups.
As a result, most rides have a minimum height requirement mentioned against them for the rider’s safety.
This article covers everything about Universal Studios Hollywood’s height requirements for rides.
Table of contents
Why do height requirements exist?
Like all other theme parks, Universal Studios Hollywood also uses minimum height restrictions to limit the size of riders allowed on board.
These restrictions are in place to ensure the riders’ safety during the riding experience.
The minimum ride height requirement is also mentioned upfront at all rides because Universal wants everyone to make well-informed decisions.
If visitors are unsure about their kid’s height, they can always get it checked just before queuing up for the ride.
Universal Studios Hollywood height requirements chart
Universal Studios Hollywood’s minimum height requirements range from 34 inches (86 cms) to 48 inches (122 cms).
| Ride | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash | 34″ (102 cm)* |
| Flight of the Hippogriff | 39″ (99 cm)* |
| Despicable Me Minion Mayhem | 40″ (102 cm)* |
| TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D | 40″ (102 cm)* |
| The Simpsons Ride | 40″ (102 cm)* |
| Jurassic World — The Ride | 42″ (107 cm)* |
| Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | 48″ (122 cm) |
| Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride | 48″ (122 cm) |
| Mario Kart – Bowser’s Challenge | 40″ (102 cm)* |
*All children under 48″ (122 cm) must be accompanied by an adult (14 years or older).
The average height of a four-year-old American child is around 40 inches (102 cm), which means most four-year-olds will qualify for some of the rides at Universal.
On average nine-year-old kids in the US are 50 inches (127 cm) tall, making them tall enough to go on all rides.
These height restrictions apply to all ticket holders – the General Admission ticket (the cheapest way to enter), the Express ticket (helps skip queues at the rides), and the VIP Ticket (gets you royal treatment).
Visual Story: 13 must-know tips before visiting Universal Studios Hollywood
Rides by minimum height required
All the twelve rides at Universal Studios Hollywood are of different kinds and appeal to diverse audiences.
Some of these Universal rides have waiting times as long as 45 minutes, while the queue at the others is only 20 minutes long.
This section lists the rides kids with a specific height can go on.
Rides for kids 34 inches (86 cm) or taller
The Secret Life of Pets – Off the Leash is an immersive ride based on the movie of the same name.
Kids taller than 34 inches (86 cm) can go, but children 34-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be accompanied by adults at least 14 years or older.
Rides for kids 39 inches (99 cm) or taller
Flight of the Hippogriff is the second ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the most family-friendly.
Children 39 inches (99 cm) tall can go on the ride, but children 39-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be accompanied by an adult at least 14 years or older.
If your child is 39 inches (99 cm) tall, they can go on two rides at Universal Studios Hollywood – Secret Life of Pets ride and Flight of the Hippogriff.
Rides for kids 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
Children 40 inches (102 cm) tall can start enjoying some of the thrill rides at Universal.
Besides the Secret Life of Pets Ride and Flight of the Hippogriff, they can also ride Transformer 3D, The Simpsons Ride, and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
But since they are still shorter than 48 inches (122 cm), they will need a companion older than 14 years.
Rides for kids 42 inches (107 cm) or taller
Children 42 inches (107 cm) tall unlock the thriller ride – Jurassic World.
This means they can go on six rides at Universal Hollywood –
- Jurassic World: The Ride
- Transformer 3D
- The Simpsons Ride
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Secret Life of Pets ride
- Flight of the Hippogriff
Rides for kids 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
Children who are 48 inches (122 cm) tall or more can go on all the rides in Universal Studios Hollywood, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Revenge of the Mummy.
They can go on all rides without any supervising companion.
Rides with no minimum height requirements
Universal Studios Hollywood height requirements aren’t for two rides – DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda and Silly Swirly Fun Ride.
On the Silly Swirly Fun Ride, children under 48 inches (122 cm) must be accompanied by an adult 14 years or older. While on the Kung Fu Panda ride, there is no such requirement.
King Kong 360 and Fast & Furious Supercharged, two 3D/4D experiences you encounter as part of the World Famous Studio Tour, also don’t have any mandatory height requirements.
WaterWorld and Universal’s Animal Actors, the two shows at the theme park, don’t consider how tall the visitor is.
So which ticket will it be?
The cheapest General Admission ticket is the Universal Express Pass, which helps skip ride queues, or the VIP Experience Tour, which gets you the royal treatment. If you are on a budget holiday, find out about Universal Studio Hollywood ticket discounts.
FAQs about height requirements
Here are some questions most parents (or kids!) have about the minimum height specifications at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Children who are 48 inches (122 cm) tall or more can go on all the rides at the Los Angeles theme park ride.
Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey and Revenge of the Mummy have the tallest height requirement of 48 inches (122 cm).
The average height requirement for Universal Hollywood rides is approximately 40 inches (102 cm). Kids this tall can go on five rides but aren’t allowed on three of the most thrilling rides – Jurassic World, Revenge of the Mummy, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
Yes, they are very strict. If the queue entrance staff has doubts, they will request the child’s height to be measured. It is important not to cheat because these requirements aren’t to keep kids from enjoying the trip but for their safety.
Children who are 48 inches (122 cm) tall or more can go on all the rides in the Lower and Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood.
Recommended Reading
– Universal Studios Hollywood Backlots Tour
– Universal Hollywood’s World of Harry Potter
Supervising Companion
Kids who meet the minimum height requirement of a ride but do not meet the 48-inch ride-alone height requirement must be accompanied by a Supervising Companion.
A Supervising Companion is defined as someone 14 years of age or older and meets all other attraction ridership requirements.
Child Switch Room
The Child Switch Room is useful when you have a kid who can’t board the ride because of height restrictions.
If you have a child who can’t or doesn’t want to go on a ride, one or two adults can wait with the child in the attraction’s Child Switch Room.
When the members from your group who went on the ride come back, those waiting with the child get their turn on the ride.
And since they were in the Child Switch Room, they don’t need to wait in the queue again.
All rides at Universal Studios Hollywood offer the ‘child switch’ program.
Hardcore theme-park fans visit both Universal and Disneyland. Find out how to go from Universal Hollywood to Disneyland Park and vice versa.
Sources
# Universalstudioshollywood.com
# Heightrequirements.com
# Tripster.com
# Wdwprepschool.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
Popular attractions in Los Angeles
Popular attractions in Los Angeles