Planning an outing to a big theme park with small children can be very daunting if you don’t know what to expect. Here are some helpful tips for having a fun filled day at Universal Studios at Resorts World in Singapore with your kids.

Universal Studios in Singapore officially opened in March of 2010 and since then many new attractions and shows have been added. The park is divided into five different themed areas:  Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World and Madagascar. Although there is a lot to see and do, you can easily complete the entire park in just one day without feeling like you “missed” something.

The Rides:

Like most theme parks, Universal Studios in Singapore also has many rides for both young and old thrill seekers.

There are many rides that children of all ages, including the babies, can go on, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

• Dino-Soarin’ (this is similar to Disney’s Dumbo ride)
• Treasure  Hunters (a slow car ride)
• Accelerator (similar to Disney’s spinning teacups ride)
• King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Around (this is a carousel)
• Magic Potion Spin (a mini ferris wheel)
• Sesame Street Ride (this ride is coming soon)

For slightly older, taller and/or braver kids there are other rides at Universal Studios.  You still need to be accompanied by an adult and the height varies per each ride.

• Transformers The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle –  (need to be at least 102 cm)
• Enchanted Airways – (need to be be at least 92 cm)
• Canopy Flier- (need to be at least 92 cm)

There are also many adult roller coasters, if you get the chance maybe you can sneak away from the kids and ride a few on your own.

Shows & Attractions:

Not into the rides, you can always just stroll around and take pictures with the various characters walking the park, like Shrek & Fiona, Woody Wood Pecker, Marilyn Monroe, Frankenstein, Puss & Boots, and so many more.

Also, take a moment to catch one of the street shows; no lining up required:

• Madagascar Boogie
• The Rockafellas
• Sesame Street’s New York Street Shows
• Mel’s Dinettes
• Daddy O’s
• Hollywood Dreams Parade (Saturday, Sunday or a Public Holiday)

Once you are done strolling, you can always take a rest and catch a scheduled show (the times change daily, so make sure you get a schedule when you enter the park).  Here are some of the more child friendly shows:

• The Shrek 4D Adventure:  This is actually a 4D movie inside the Far Far Away Castle.  The theater is air-conditioned and the show is very entertaining.  The 4D movie is every 15 minutes, but you need to line up.

• Sesame Street’s “When I Grow Up”.  This is singing and dancing stage show, where the characters talk about their dreams and what they will be when they grow up.

• WaterWorld.  This is a stunt show.  I would recommend this for slightly older kids – since there is a lot of gun fire and explosions.

Where to Eat:
There are many child friendly places to eat at Universal Studios.  Most of the restaurants serve a child’s meal, which comes with a drink (soda or orange juice) and a take-home souvenir.  The food depends on the restaurant you choose.

Our favorite place to eat is the Discovery Food Court in the Lost World (local favorites). It is a big indoor air conditioned banquet dining hall right in the middle of the park, with lots of high chairs and a large seating area. A few of the things they serve are vegetarian noodles, chicken nuggets and Hainanese chicken rice.

Other child friendly indoor dining options include Oasis Spice Cafe (Middle Eastern), Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor, Mel’s Drive-In (All-American favorites), and Marty’s Casa Del Wild (Asian).  Although I recommend staying inside the park, there are also many dining options in Resorts World as soon as you exit Universal Studios like Chili’s, Hard Rock Cafe and the new Malaysian Style Hawker Centre.

Like most theme parks will also get your fair share of “junk food” at Universal Studios like cotton candy, popcorn, churros, slushies, cookies and ice-cream. So be prepared with a wallet full of cash and children on a sugar high. It’s not like you go to Universal Studios every day, so just turn a blind eye for the day and let the kids enjoy themselves (they can eat the spinach and broccoli tomorrow).

Admission:

Try to purchase your tickets online or in advance of getting there.  There is usually a long line at the ticket counter to buy tickets.  The online counter to pick up your tickets is really quick.  Also you can consider buying a season pass (my husband and I both have passes, so we are able to go all the time for short visits with our kids).  Children under 3 and under are free.  Adult ticket prices are SG$74.  Child (age 4-12) ticket prices are SG$54.

If possible, avoid going on a public holiday and weekends. The lines, especially on public holidays, even for the baby rides have a very long wait time. If you are going on an especially crowded day, I would recommend getting a “Universal Express” pass that helps you “cut” in line. It costs a little bit more (SG$50 on peak days, SG$30 on non-peak), but it sure beats dealing with toddler melt-downs in a 45 minute line.

Park Hours:

Make sure you get to the park early. It is always fun to be one of the first people in the park before the crowds arrive. There is usually a line of people waiting to enter the park when it opens. If you get to Resorts World early, after getting your tickets, you can take a picture in front of the big Universal Studios globe, go to the Hershey’s store or just walk around Resorts World and browse around all the shops and restaurants.

Universal Studios’ park operating hours are from 10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on normal days.  On special days/events the park may stay open a bit later; it’s best to check their websites for up to date information.

Hope you and your kids have a great day at Universal Studios Singapore.