On our last day in Los Angeles, we spent our day in Universal Studios Hollywood. The theme park is situated in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. It is conveniently located near other attractions in Los Angeles, making it an excellent addition to your itinerary if you’re seeking thrilling rides. Universal Studios Hollywood features multiple themed lands and is divided into the upper lot and lower lot. In this post, I’m sharing our first-time experience at Universal Studios Hollywood and some tips to help you make the most out of your visit.
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- Before you go
- Super Nintendo Early Access Experience
- Universal Express
- Rides
- Must-see attractions
- Get your celebratory buttons
- Universal CityWalk
- Parking information
- Tips to enjoy your visit
- Where to stay
Before you go
Universal Studios Hollywood tickets are priced based on the date of visit, with peak days and seasons being more expensive. To avoid crowds, plan your visit on a non-peak weekday. If you want to skip the lines, consider purchasing a Universal Express pass. Also, download the Universal Studios App for a more convenient experience. The app allows you to place food orders in advance, check waiting times, show schedules, and navigate the theme park.
During our visit on a Monday, we bought the Super Nintendo World Early Access and the Universal Express Pass. Was it worth it? Keep reading to find out.
Super Nintendo Early Access Experience
Our first order of business is to visit Super Nintendo World. Everyone is heading to the lower lot for early access, as it’s the only way to visit Super Nintendo World. We had one hour to explore Super Nintendo World. Note that if you didn’t purchase a powerband, there is only one ride inside the Nintendo World. Other areas are exclusive to people with powerband. But don’t worry too much, you’ll have the opportunity to take pictures with Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach in a much shorter queue and you can also go to the Toadstool Cafe. We didn’t purchase the powerband, so after the Mario Kart: Bowser Challenge, we made an online reservation at the Toadstool Cafe at 8:45 a.m.
Universal Express
When you enter the theme park, they will scan your QR code on the mobile app, and then give you a physical Universal Express Pass. Whenever you want to use the pass, just present it to the staff at Express Lane. Universal Express Pass allows you to skip the line at certain attractions and rides. Note that you can only use this express pass once at the same attraction, so use them wisely.
When deciding whether to buy the Express pass, I would recommend checking the crowd calendar first. We got the pass on a Monday, expecting large crowds like Disneyland, but most rides had only a 15-20 minute wait. We could have easily enjoyed the rides without the express pass.
Rides
Our park strategy is to try all the rides in the lower lot first, then proceed to the upper lot. Universal Studios Hollywood is smaller than Disneyland Resort Parks and I find it easier to navigate. Here are the rides that we tried and our feedback.
Lower Lot Rides
If you want to take on thrill rides once the park opens, this is where you want to head to. This is where you will find thrill rides such as Jurassic Park and The Mummy.
Mario Kart: Bowser Challenge
This is the only ride in Super Nintendo World. In this ride, you’ll have to wear a Mario Hat with a special lens and play Mario Kart. It is a 4D ride where you’ll drive through the course, collect coins, and throw turtle shells to win. It’s a fun game to play and compete with friends. Don’t worry if you wear eyeglasses, you don’t have to overlap them like other 4D rides.
Jurrasic World
This is a thrilling water ride that you are guaranteed to get wet. I love that it begins with a gentle cruise like you are touring the Jurrasic World and suddenly there is an alarm that escalates and something’s hunting you. It made the ride very interesting. This will be a scary ride for those who are afraid of heights.
Revenge of the Mummy
This is one of the rides that I liked in Universal Studio Hollywood. It is an indoor thrill ride with amazing details. There is no loop, just quick drops and the ride also goes backward. It was a really fun ride. We rode it three times. I highly recommend it.
Transformers
This is another 3D ride where you join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee on a mission to keep the AllSpark out of the enemy’s hands. It is truly impressive how it makes you feel you are really part of the mission. The ride is quite safe but there will be sudden turns and some parts move quite fast, so supervise children.
Upper Lot Rides
In the upper lot, you will find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as different motion simulation rides and family-friendly rides.
Flight of Hippogriff
This is an outdoor roller coaster located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The roller coaster is not too fast and it ended rather quickly. I don’t find the roller coaster thrill on this ride, but it is a great option as a family-friendly ride.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Join Harry Potter and friends on a thrilling journey, as you soar in the sky and fight off dementors. This is an indoor ride, which is quite dark with some dementors and giant spiders. You’ll have to leave your belongings in a locker before going on this ride. This might be a little scary for kids. But, if you are a fan of the movie, don’t miss this ride. I like this ride over the Flight of Hippogriff.
When in the Wizardly World of Harry Potter, don’t forget to order yourself a cup of Butterbeer, or some ice cream 🙂
The Simpsons Ride
The Simpsons ride is a 4D ride, simulating a roller coaster. While waiting for your turn, you’ll be entertained by Simpsons characters and watch a short pre-show video. I am not a fan of the Simpsons or virtual roller coasters, so this is not on my top list. But fans of the Simpsons might like it.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Just watching the teaser while waiting at the entrance spell mayhem as the minions are always up to something. It was a fun little ride, kind of like a virtual roller coaster. But very family-friendly and it will fill the room with laughter. A must-ride for minion fans.
DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
At the DreamWorks Theatre, you will join Kung Fu Panda to deliver an important item to the emperor. It is a fun motion simulation ride that makes you feel like you are on a rapid river, on a pirate ship, etc. It is a perfect ride for families who want to take a break from the rides.
The Secrets Life of Pets: Off the Leash
On this ride, you’ll join the adorable pets on an adventure. This is a kid-friendly ride, so there are no drops, nor is it fast. The whole ride brings you around and shows you how the pets journey around New York’s streets. I love the last part where they project you as animals too.
Must-see show/attractions
There are two must-see attractions in Universal Studio, so make sure to check the schedule and don’t miss it.
Water World
As the name implies, you have a great chance of getting wet while watching this show. Well, it depends on where you sit. Some seats are marked, where you are guaranteed to get wet. We were seated on the top rows as we didn’t bring extra clothes to change but also got some splashes during the show. So, choose your seats carefully. The show has all the action and special effects that you’d expect from the movies. It is a very entertaining show.
Studio Tour
The Studio Tour is celebrating its 60th anniversary with amazing behind-the-scenes, and experiences. It is a one-hour tour, so go to the toilet before you join. It certainly exceeded my expectations of the tour. I highly recommend you join this tour when you visit Universal Studio Hollywood. I won’t give you too much detail to avoid spoilers.
Get your celebratory buttons
Similar to Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood also gives out complimentary celebratory buttons such as first-visit, anniversary, birthday, etc. You can ask for it at the Guest Relations counter or any other shop. The lady also gave us “Super Nintendo 1st Anniversary” buttons.
Universal CityWalk
Before you leave, check out Universal CityWalk. It is a shopping complex just outside the theme park. This place has a lot of restaurants and shops. You will find a lot of collectibles, novelties and game shops.
Parking Information
If you are driving to Universal Studios, it’s important to plan where you want to park ahead of time. There are three parking options available, each with different pricing: General Parking, Preferred Parking, and Front Gate Parking. As the name suggests, Front Gate Parking is the closest parking lot to the theme park, but also the most expensive one. If you don’t mind walking a long distance back to the parking lot after a full day at the park, you can park at General Parking, it’s the most affordable but also the farthest away.
We chose to park in the Preferred Parking lot. Some preferred parking lots, such as the Woody Woodpecker lot, offer parking spaces very close to the main entrance.
Daily Rates for each vehicle are as follows:
- General Parking Before 5 pm – $35
- General Parking After 5 pm – $10
- Preferred Parking Before 5 pm – $50
- Preferred Parking After 5 pm – $20
- Front Gate Parking – $70
Tips to enjoy your visit
- Arrive early before the park officially opens. Head to your preferred rides or popular rides first to avoid long waits.
- It’s best to go on a weekday to save money and time, and to avoid crowds. Try to avoid weekends and public holidays if possible.
- Purchase your tickets online to save money compared to buying them at the front gate. We purchased our tickets from Klook.
- Consider bringing or wearing quick-drying clothes if you plan to go on rides such as Jurassic Park or sit in the front row at Water World
- Wear comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking in the theme park
- Pack sunscreen and a cap
- Bring a refillable water bottle instead of purchasing bottled water to save money and reduce environmental impact
- Download the Universal Studios App for helpful information during your visit
Where to Stay
While in Los Angeles, we stayed at the Heaven on Hollywood Apartments. The apartment was approximately a 20-minute drive from Universal Studios Hollywood. In case you’d rather stay closer to the theme park. You can consider staying at the Hilton LA Universal City, Sheraton Universal, or The Garland, as these hotels are all within 2 miles of the theme park.
If you will visit Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, don’t forget to check out my post here, where I share preparations and tips to enjoy your magical day at Disneyland. Other posts you might find helpful during your stay in the United States:
- How to prepare for a long-haul flight in economy class
- How to prepare for your first road trip
- Visiting San Francisco For the First Time
- Our 6D5N Itinerary: Visiting Los Angeles for the first time
- Great places to see Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
- Rating the most popular theme parks in Los Angeles