If you have kids, chances are they’re begging to go to Universal Studios Singapore. For my 4 year old, it was the highlight of our Singapore trip!
But it’s not exactly a walk in the park (pun intended!) So here are 10 tips we’ve gathered together to help you have the most memorable time at Universal Studios Singapore with kids. Enjoy!
1. Buy Tickets Online in Advance
Save time queuing at the entrance by purchasing your tickets in advance. I booked ours at KKday because not only are the prices cheaper than if you book straight, but we also got a $5 SGD meal coupon per ticket. Yay!
Kids 3 years of age and under are free.
2. Prepare for the Heat
It gets really hot and humid in Singapore so make sure you’re ready. Remember to double check even if the forecast is rainy. It drizzled when we were there but it was still unbelievably hot.
Some things you may wanna take note of:
- Let everyone (especially the kids) wear light, breathable clothing
- Bring a fan: We all took turns holding the battery operated fan because everybody wanted to use it!
- Prepare sunblock, hats and even umbrellas (double purpose, for when it rains)
- Hydrate well: See next tip!
3. Bring Your Own Water Containers
I would tell you to bring lots of water BUT outside food and drinks are discouraged inside the park. Not to worry though because there are water stations all around. And trust me, you’ll be doing a lot of refilling so bring your own water containers.
If I were to do it again, I would put ice cubes in all our insulated Tiger containers so that I get to have cold water all day!
Alternatively, you can purchase cold drinks and coolers, which we did. But be aware that they are, of course, sold at sky high theme park prices!
4. Do Your Research on the Height Restrictions for Rides
If you have little kids with you, be sure to check out the different height restrictions already beforehand to avoid disappointments and wasting time.
We lined up for around 30 minutes for the Elmo ride and at the last minute there was a height check. My son barely made the cut but by grace, they let him in anyway. (Side note: Despite the height restriction, The Sesame Street ride was absolutely calm; it just moved at a slow, steady pace the entire time.)
For reference, read this official Rider’s Guide provided by Universal Studios Singapore.
5. Double-Check the Attraction’s Storyline (For Young Kids)
Just because your kids make it to the height requirement, it does not automatically mean that the ride is age-appropriate for them!
I made the mistake of convincing my 4 year old that Shrek 4-D was a great idea (and I even brought the baby in because they said we could; wrong move!) Just 5 minutes in, my 4 year old was already cowering and kept saying “I’m scared, I’m scared!” And my 7 month old screamed in terror when he heard Fiona shriek. I had to make a quick exit with the baby. Oops. Haha.
Shrek 4-D’s storyline is a little on the scary side (ghosts, prisoners, dungeons) and I would not recommend it as suitable for younger kids. In fact, a lot of the rides in Universal Studios Singapore are not very young kid friendly, so you may wanna watch previews of the rides online first (check YouTube!)
6. Plan Your Route
Traveling with kids means you need to manage your time and energy well. Nobody wants tired and cranky kids early on during the day! So after researching about the rides, it would be wise to plot the attractions you plan on taking already so you maximize your time.
Start off by viewing the online park map at the official website. Don’t forget to take note of the possible dining options as well.
At the same time though, keep your schedule flexible. Be open for changes because much of what you can accomplish would really depend on the wait times and maintenance schedules (if any,) for each ride.
7. Consider Getting an Unlimited Express Pass*
* Recommended if you have kids who can get on most of the rides already.
An Unlimited Express Pass allows you to skip the lines at most rides. Note that this is NOT an entrance ticket. You have to purchase it on top of your entrance ticket (Eep!) But it should be well worth it if you aim to maximize your day at the park.
As mentioned above, this is better suited if you have bigger kids and would like to go on a lot of the rides. If you have young kids or babies, it may not be worth it to splurge on express tickets as you won’t be able to use it as much (because of the height restrictions on rides) But of course, that decision is entirely up to you.
Universal Express Access is not valid for Canopy Flyer, Treasure Hunter, Amber Rock Climb, Magic Potion Spin and for any front row access.
8. Get a Copy of the Show Times & Character Appearances
If meeting Puss in Boots or a Transformer Autobot is a must for your kid, then you should definitely grab a copy of the schedule. You can get this at any cashier in any of the gift shops.
9. Bring a Stroller
Strollers are a must at theme parks when traveling with younger kids because there’s a LOT of walking. By comparison, Universal Studios Singapore is not as big as Disneyland parks in the US but it’s still a huge area to cover, especially for tiny little legs!
Make sure you bring a stroller. We brought our Looping Squizz and it was super useful. Don’t worry as you’ll be able to leave them outside the rides at designated stroller parking areas, whenever you go on one.
Alternatively, you may rent a stroller near the park’s entrance. As of the date of this article’s writing, a single stroller will cost SGD15 and a double stroller is SGD20.
10. Think Twice About Bringing Baby
In general, Universal Studios Singapore is NOT geared towards babies and toddlers. Bigger kids (I’d say 4 and up) would enjoy it more.
If you can leave the baby at home, you would be able to enjoy the park better. Or if you could postpone your trip here til’ baby is 4, that would be most ideal. But if you HAVE to bring baby, like we did, just take note that he will most probably not be able to enjoy any of the attractions there at all (and consequently, you may not be able to do as much as well!)
Need more convincing? Check out this related article: Should You Bring Your Baby to Universal Studios Singapore?
Overall
Universal Studios Singapore generally caters to bigger kids; the rides, themes and shows are not very suitable for babies or toddlers. Although my 4-year old son had an enjoyable time at Universal Studios Singapore (can’t stop raving about the Puss in Boots ride,) I’m sure he would enjoy it more if we went back again in a year or two.
Overall we had an enjoyable time! Hope you have a wonderful time with the kids as well!
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