As social distancing restrictions are removed at Universal Orlando, the resort’s imaginative playgrounds are coming back to life, and the Unofficial Guide has a fresh look at the recently reopened Fievel’s Playland at Universal Studios Florida.
Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone has seen many changes over the years, most recently with the closure of A Day in the Park with Barney, which has been replaced for the time being with the DreamWorks Destination character party. But one thing that’s remained a constant since the child-friendly mini-land’s inception is Fievel’s Playland, which sits right next to the iconic E.T. Adventure.
If you haven’t visited Fievel’s Playland lately, refresh your memory with this video walk-through of the playground shortly after its reopening:
The idea behind this whimsical playground is that you’ve been shrunk to the size of An American Tail’s rodent protagonist and let loose to explore the detritus in an Old West town. The playground contains ordinary household items reproduced on a giant scale, as a mouse would experience them.
Kids can climb nets, walk through a huge boot or 1,000-gallon cowboy hat, splash in a sardine-can fountain, sway along elevated wooden bridges, seesaw on huge spoons, and clamber onto a cow skull.
Most of the playground is reserved for preschoolers and grade-schoolers, but a combo waterslide and raft ride is open to all ages. The rafts of the three-story waterslide hold two people, so you should start faking that old war/football/child-bearing back injury to other adults in your group as soon as you get near the playland. You will get wet!
Most of Fievel’s Playland requires no waiting, so you can visit anytime and stay as long as you want. Most of the play sets are designed for kids old enough to run, climb, and slide by themselves. Be aware that some sections of the climbing structure may still be off-limits during your visit.
The extremely slow-loading waterslide carries only 300 riders per hour. Since its entrance is hidden in the back of the playground, you can often ride with little or now wait.
However, during warmer months, it’s possible for the waterslide to develop a wait of 20–30 minutes, and Express Passes are not honored. We don’t think the 16-second ride is worth that kind of wait. If riding the slide is important to your child, try visiting right after lunch or dinner, when many other families are still eating.
Are you excited by the return of Fievel’s Playland and other Universal Orlando playgrounds? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
For all there is to see and do at Universal Orlando, check out The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
