The rides at the Universal Orlando Resort are more restrictive than those at many other theme parks. While you should still find plenty to enjoy, it’s important to take note of those you can and cannot ride, as well as the actions you’ll need to take to board them safely. Make sure you do these four things before every attraction.

1. Check your height

Height signs are a standard inclusion at all theme parks, but they’re more prevalent at the Universal Orlando Resort than they are at parks within the Walt Disney World Resort. If you’re used to the leniency that’s typical of many restriction-free Disney rides, you might be surprised at what you’re restricted from in Universal’s parks. In addition to having minimum height restrictions for many of its rides, Universal Studios Florida even has a maximum height requirement on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Another height consideration beyond the standard minimum is the height range for required supervision. Children who are tall enough to ride, but under 48 inches tall cannot ride attractions alone at Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

There’s one unique case where this is reversed. Pteranodon Flyers at Universal’s Islands of Adventure is designed for children between 36 and 56 inches in height. Riders who are taller than 56 inches must be accompanied by a child who falls within this height range. Children under 48 inches in height are still required to ride with a companion who is 48 inches or taller.

2. Try out the restraint system

Image: Jeremy Thompson, Flickr (license)

Many of the seats at the Universal Orlando Resort are extremely restrictive. These cannot accommodate guests with larger body dimensions. Even something like broad muscular shoulders could keep you off an attraction, depending on the style of the restraints. The Universal Orlando Resort advises all guests with a waistline of 40” or larger to use the test seats.

Attractions with potentially troublesome restraints have test seats out front so you can see if you’ll fit before you get in line. If you reach the attraction and don’t fit in the restraint system, you’re out all the time you spent in the queue, so it’s worth the effort to try out a seat first. Most seating systems have green, yellow, and red lights on them. If it’s green, you’re good to go. Red means that you won’t be able to ride under any conditions.

Yellow lights indicate that you’ll fit in a modified restraint system. This means that you’ll need a specific seat to fit on the attraction. You may need to wait for the modified seat to become available, or wait for a particular ride vehicle to reach the dock. Let the team member at load know that you need a modified seat so they can direct you accordingly.

Rides with restrictive seating systems include:

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Dragon Challenge

Universal Studios Florida

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit