Through My Cooked Lens

Universal with a Toddler: A Journey of Snacks, Strollers, and Survival

Our adventure began not with a wand or a spell, but on a charter bus at the crack of dawn. My husband, our one-year-old son, and I were headed to Universal Studios, but there was a catch—my husband was chaperoning the high school Science Club. So while we were technically there for fun, he was there for work fun—which is just fun with extra stress.

The Bus Ride: Mayhem & Mattress Hacks

We hit the road at 5 AM, and thankfully, our little man snoozed peacefully until our first stop—Buc-ee’s, aka the land of brisket, beaver nuggets, and reckless spending. I had packed a travel mattress designed for a pack-n-play (lifesaver!), which I wedged onto the seat with my diaper bag to create a makeshift sleep/play zone. We originally tried one of those inflatable toddler airplane beds, but it was a complete fail—like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

After Buc-ee’s, reality hit. Food was required. He ate, he played, and then things got dicey. I had packed window clings (major fail—he just tried to eat them) and a Montessori busy board (moderate success). These held his attention for about 30 minutes, which is like an eternity in toddler time. The rest of the bus ride is a blur of toys, teethers, and survival mode. Honestly, I’ve blocked most of it out for my own sanity. Key takeaway: Bring ALL the snacks, ALL the toys, and if possible, sedate yourself (just kidding… kinda).

Hotel Life: Crawling to Freedom

Upon arrival, Cabana Bay Resort was a breath of fresh air—mostly because our little guy could finally roam free. We had dinner in the room from the diner, gave him a bath, and let him crawl his heart out before he finally crashed at 9:30 PM (a full two hours past bedtime—RIP our schedule).

Theme Park Chaos: Toddler Edition

Day one started rough because we made the rookie mistake of waking him up to rope drop the park after a late bedtime (bad idea). He was unimpressed by the rides but absolutely fascinated by the VelociCoaster—watching it zoom by was possibly the highlight of his trip.

We had lunch at The Three Broomsticks (he had mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and chicken), and then he and I headed back for a nap. He crashed before we even got to the gate. Here’s where things got tricky—my sit-and-stand stroller requires two hands to fold, and my husband had to stay with students. So, I somehow managed to hold my sleeping toddler on my Tush Baby, push the stroller, and pray for human kindness. Thankfully, a bus driver stepped in to help—shoutout to humanity!

That afternoon, we explored the Trolls Playground (first time I’d ever noticed it despite this being my fourth trip to Universal—lol). He loved it! Then we briefly checked out the Kung Fu Panda water play area, but since I forgot water clothes, it was a short-lived visit. We ended the night at Luigi’s with spaghetti and chicken alfredo, watched the parade, and finally returned to the hotel, where he bathed and crashed.

Day Two: A Roller Coaster-Watching Enthusiast is Born

On day two, we slept in (smartest decision we made all trip). We strolled into the park late, and he fell in love with watching the Rip Ride Rockit coaster. A hidden gem of this day? The grassy knoll near the stage area, where he could crawl around while we chilled.

We revisited the Trolls Playground, and this time, I remembered extra clothes! He got to splash around in the Kung Fu Panda play area—total win. We had lunch at Dino Digs, explored the Discovery Center, and then he took a glorious two-hour stroller nap (cue angelic choir). Later, we hit the hotel pool, which, as expected, was a massive hit—because what toddler doesn’t love a pool?

Day Three: Park Strategy & Parental Freedom

By day three, we had mastered the system—aka, we slept in again. My husband and I actually got to ride three rides together (rare parental win!). In the morning, I went to the park with the students while he stayed back with Coop. I grabbed lunch from Moe’s, brought it back, and then we swapped places so he could chaperone.

Coop and I had a chill day exploring the hotel, and he took a three-hour nap (pro tip: theme park overstimulation leads to prime nap conditions). That evening, he hung out with his grandmother, aunt, and uncle, who were also on the trip, so Mom and Dad snuck off for more rides before collecting our tiny overlord.

The Ride Home: Survival, Not Thrival

The return trip was a repeat of the first—except with even more exhaustion. We survived, but we definitely didn’t thrive.

Final Takeaways: What I Learned About Theme Parks with a Toddler

1. Snacks and a cup—these are your lifeline. I linked the one we use that is a straw cup and slightly spill proof without one of those pesky valves.
2. Travel toys—Busy boards, Squiz, teethers, anything you can strap to the stroller.
3. Extra clothes-The toddler will need minimum 3 outfits per day. ha!
4. Travel Mattress and Sheet-I prefer organic, and this one is Green gold certified.
5. Stroller selection is critical—Get one that folds with one hand, or just rent one at the park.
6. Food flexibility—If you’re crunchy, you’ll have to get creative with meal options.
7. Shade & sun protection—A stroller with a good canopy, sunblock, and a towel for extra shade.
8. Tush Baby carrier = MVP—It saved my arms and my sanity.
9. Set realistic expectations—It will be hard, but it can also be worth it.
10. Ride swaps—We skipped this, but if we had older kids, we probably would’ve used it.
11. Would I bring this stroller again? Nope. I’d either bring a better one or rent in the park.

Final Verdict:

Was it exhausting? Yes.
Would I do it again? Probably.
Would I change some things? Absolutely.
But hey, memories were made, and that’s what matters… right? (Asking for my sanity).