Things YOU need to know before you visit Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles California. Universal Studios Hollywood is a combination of a working movie studio and a theme park. It is the only Universal Studios location to have the studio tour, which is a must see attraction. Riding the studio tour you’ll get to see attractions like the shark from Jaws, the Bates Motel, and Whoville from Dr. Seuss.
1 – Tickets
– The front gate is the worst place to buy them
– Buy them in advance, Costco, AAA
– Demand pricing – $100-120
– Express Pass – $250 in the summer
– VIP Experience – $400
2 – Getting to Universal Studios
– Parking: $25
– Uber/Lyft is a good option
– Even better is the LA Subway (Metro) —
– Shuttles from Anaheim hotels
3 -When to go
– Avoid summer if possible – Crowded, hot, and expensive
– Weekdays are the least busy
– Use one of the “crowd tracker” sites to gauge how busy it will be
– One day is good enough, it’s a small park
4 – Shortest Lines
– At park opening (one hour before if you buy tix online)
– Plan for extra time to park, go thru security, etc
– And park closing
– Park Visit Plans
5 – Single Rider Lines
– Best way to get on rides quick
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Jurassic Park – The Ride
Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
Transformers: The Ride 3D
6 – Universal Studios App
– Park Map
– Show times
– Wait times
– Wait time alerts
7 – Starway
– Escalators that connect the Upper lot and lower lot
– Can take 10 minutes or more and peak times
– Minimize your time going back and forth
8 – Shows
– Plan your visit around the shows
– Water World, Special Effects, Animal Actors, Walking Dead
9 – Rides
= Studio Tour
– The most iconic ride here. 45 mins long.
– Ride it in the late afternoon or early evening for shortest waits
– Pay attention to the closing time
– Avoid the back row of the cars, thats where the engine is
= Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
– motion-based simulator ride through a replica of the interior of Hogwarts castle.
= The Walking Dead
– Walkthru Maze — PG-13 — not for the squeamish
10 – Universal Studios Citywalk
– 30 stores, 30 restaurants,6 Nightclubs
– 19 screen movie theater with a 7-story IMAX
