Universal Studios Hollywood is certainly one of Southern California’s finest theme parks, and a terrific aspect journey when you’re visiting Disneyland. This USH planning information affords ideas & tips that can assist you get monetary savings & time, keep away from crowds, the place to eat, and finest rides to do on the “Entertainment Capital of Los Angeles.” (Updated January 2, 2023.)
Universal Studios Hollywood goes to have a large 2023. Although the favored Halloween Horror Nights and Holidays at USH seasons at the moment are over till September 2023, so much is going on early this 12 months. Lunar New Year celebrations with conventional leisure and costumed characters like Kung Fu Panda, Minions, and Mandarin-speaking Megatron from Transformers.
Also in early 2023, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, a brand new restaurant and confectionery opens in Universal CityStroll. The world well-known studio tour has a brand new scene that includes Jupiter’s Claim from Nope. It’s additionally your final likelihood to see Universal’s Animal Actors and the Special Effects Show, which each shut on January 8, 2023. However, all of that is comparatively insignificant as in comparison with the 800 pound plumber within the room…
Super Nintendo World opens on February 17, 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood! This marks the official arrival of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and different iconic Nintendo characters to the United States theme park scene. It’s the second of three variations of the land; with the primary already open in Universal Studios Japan.
We had the possibility to expertise the USJ model of Super Nintendo World and it’s actually one thing particular. The dynamic land can be a visible spectacle of vibrant colours and architectural ingenuity situated inside a newly expanded space of Universal Studios Hollywood. Super Nintendo World will characteristic the groundbreaking Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge journey, in addition to many interactive actions designed to interact all the household throughout the charming Mushroom Kingdom.
Super Nintendo World is prone to tender open earlier than it formally debuts earlier than Presidents’ Day. At the very least, this blockbuster new land will provide Annual Passholder previews on January 29, 30, and 31; in addition to February 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Registration for these previews opens on January 5, 2023.
It ought to go with out saying, however Super Nintendo World goes to attract colossal crowds to Universal Studios Hollywood all through 2023. Mario is extra recognizable than Mickey Mouse, and thousands and thousands of youngsters and adults are undoubtedly desperate to step into their favourite video video games. This goes to show Universal Studios Hollywood right into a trip vacation spot for guests from across the nation.
Compounding the group challenge is the dimension of Super Nintendo World. The one at Universal Studios Japan is barely bigger, and it’s nonetheless very small. As a results of that compact footprint coupled with excessive demand, the Japan model makes use of a timed-entry system for accessing Super Nintendo World.
Officially, Universal Studios Hollywood has acknowledged that Super Nintendo World is not going to require advance reservations. Guests will be capable of enter the land as normal, as long as it’s not at capability. If Super Nintendo World is at capability, make reservation from the USH app whereas inside park, or kiosk on Lower Lot.
Some Universal followers have construed this as a “win” and indicative of Universal not utilizing comparable digital queues as Disney. However, that’s a bit deceptive. Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan is so small that it routinely hits capability inside minutes of official park opening, after which strikes to timed entry for the rest of the day.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique beast, with later-arriving crowds and completely different demographics. Nevertheless, our expectation is that demand for the brand new land will far exceed capability, and the remainder of the park will turn into a ready room of kinds for Super Nintendo World. That means large crowds and lengthy waits all through all the park all through 2023.
The excellent news is that Universal Studios Hollywood has improved tremendously within the final a number of years, so these in that glorified ready room for Super Nintendo World may have a blast! The Studio Tour, WaterWorld Stunt Show, and Jurassic World: the Ride (that includes a brand new Indominus Rex) are all superior.
On the family-friendly entrance, there’s the Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. We reviewed this in Universal’s New Dark Ride Rivals Disney’s Best! As the title suggests, that article is filled with effusive reward, as this family-friendly darkish journey based mostly on the hit movie franchise is completely improbable. It’s a terrific change of tempo from the same old thrill rides at USH!
Beyond that, Universal Studios Hollywood has modified a lot within the final 5 years–and for the higher. The greatest latest addition is the aforementioned Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. Prior to that, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was added to the higher lot. On the decrease lot, there’s the newly-redone Jurassic World space, which incorporates Raptor Encounter, DinoPlay, Isla Nu-bar, and Jurassic World — The Ride.
Huge areas of USH have already got been dramatically remodeled from how they had been a couple of decade in the past after we first purchased our Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Passes. The future past Super Nintendo World can also be shiny, with a brand new curler coaster that begins within the higher lot and descends to the decrease lot possible on the horizon, plus alternative stage exhibits and different leisure.
In the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, there are different long-term plans so as to add extra rides to this hybrid of a theme park and dealing movie studio. That ‘hybrid’ nature of the park is vital to Universal Studios Hollywood’s success, and what makes it distinct from each different theme parks in Southern California and different studio excursions at Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Sony.
This additionally makes it considerably completely different from Universal Orlando Resort, with far fewer points of interest (and just one park), however that doesn’t essentially imply it’s a pale imitator or inferior substitute. Much like Disneyland is smaller than Walt Disney World however affords a wonderful, albeit completely different expertise, so too does Universal Studios Hollywood. And a part of that is as a result of of its hybrid nature, not regardless of it.
With that mentioned, right here’s what it’s essential learn about visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, the place you’ll be able to journey the films!
When to Visit
Very few individuals are in all probability planning a visit to Los Angeles solely for Universal Studios Hollywood. Most of you’re in all probability including on a day as a part of your Disneyland or Southern California trip, so the reply to that is simple…everytime you’re coming to California.
In this regard, crowd patterns at Disneyland translate fairly equally to Universal Studios Hollywood. The busy season at one is the busy season on the different, and vice-a-versa with gradual seasons. Crowds at each are based upon faculty schedules–primarily these of Los Angeles and Orange County, California (however to a lesser diploma, the western United States). You can mainly check with our When to Visit Disneyland publish to find out when to go to.
As for when to go to California, we’re keen on the autumn and winter months. Summer doesn’t get humid like Florida and plenty of different states, however it may be sizzling. More importantly, that’s when everybody else involves California–that means crowds.
Park Tickets
There are a few good choices for saving cash on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets, each by way of Get Away Today. The first is shopping for a Disneyland + Universal Studios Hollywood combo cross. If you don’t plan on doing Disneyland, Universal’s “Second Day Free” ticket choice permits you to unfold your go to over a number of days.
Two full days is overkill, however we love doing a night one night time adopted by arriving for rope drop on day two. Even when you do each single present, attraction, 2 meals, and spend time exploring, you must be capable of accomplish every little thing in a single full day if you’re moderately environment friendly.
Spreading issues out over an evening and the next morning makes issues much more nice, and means far much less ready in line. Plus, it offers you an opportunity to expertise each day and night time within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (Speaking of which, large Harry Potter followers who wish to spend a whole day in Hogsmeade, after which elect to spend a second day doing the remainder of the park.)
If you’re contemplating doing greater than a few days, you would possibly contemplate an Annual Pass. This principally applies to Californians who would possibly wish to revisit later within the 12 months. We have the bottom tier (the “Season Pass”) and it value us barely lower than a 2-day ticket. There are blockout dates and this cross doesn’t embody parking, however it has been a terrific worth for us.
You may also discover low cost affords on 1-day tickets or Annual Passes at Costco, Ralph’s, Vons, and different California grocers. Sam’s Club and AAA typically provide reductions on tickets for his or her members, so remember to examine that out when you’re eligible.
Strategy
If you’re driving to Universal Studios Hollywood, add half-hour to no matter Google Maps estimates as your drive time so you’ll be able to arrive earlier than park opening. If you’re making an attempt to make it out of your Disneyland-area resort to Universal Studios Hollywood for rope drop, there’s an affordable likelihood you can be driving throughout a minimum of a part of rush hour. When you sit at your laptop and plan this all out at 11 p.m., this site visitors gained’t be accounted for.
The plus aspect to leaving early and arriving to USH at rope drop is that few different folks will do it. Los Angelenos are unfamiliar with the idea of being “on time” for the reason that site visitors gods roughly preclude that. Crowds have a tendency to point out up about 1-2 hours after park opening, and have a tendency to tour the park in a predictable method. If you will get forward of the wave of crowds, you’ll be able to actually come out forward at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Upon arrival, right here ought to be your priorities, so as:
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
- Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Simpsons Ride
- Transformers: The Ride 3D
- Jurassic World – The Ride
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
- Lunch
- Shows
- Studio Tour
Okay, a little bit of clarification for all of that. First, we strongly encourage all however essentially the most hardcore Harry Potter followers to skip Ollivanders. It’s mainly a pre-show for getting wands, and takes useful time early within the morning. Likewise, Flight of the Hippogriff is a waste of time when you’re over the age of 5.
Second, your most important aim ought to be getting all the way down to the Lower Lot points of interest (Transformers, Jurassic World, and Revenge of the Mummy) earlier than lunch. This space of the park, separated by a collection of escalators, tends to be lifeless within the morning. In reality, when you skip every little thing above these attraction and go straight to the Lower Lot, it is possible for you to to walk-on to those points of interest with no wait a number of instances.
Secret Life of Pets, Forbidden Journey, Simpsons, and Despicable Me are the 4 points of interest which are going to attract lengthy waits early-on. This is as a result of they’re the favored rides close to the entrance of the park. If you’ll be able to journey these earlier than the “crowd wave”, superior. If not, save them till the top of the day when strains will taper off.
If you’re keen to make use of it, Single Rider will save a ton of time throughout busier instances. Single Rider is obtainable on the following points of interest:
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Jurassic World – The Ride
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
- Transformers: The Ride 3D
While we like (and advocate) doing all the exhibits, the most important can’t miss at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour. Do not confuse its placement on the itinerary above because it being of low significance. It is the must-do at USH. (We solely place it later within the day as strains are likely to get shorter later within the day.) Do not miss it.
If you’re visiting throughout a season when the Nighttime Studio Tour is being supplied, we extremely advocate doing each the common Studio Tour and the Nighttime model. Every journey on the Studio Tour is completely different, however night time brings a brand new factor to the attraction.
Seriously, we can not stress it sufficient: do the Studio Tour. This is the defining attraction of Universal Studios Hollywood, and the one factor we make a degree of doing every time we go to. (Just don’t get your hopes up in regards to the Fast and the Furious sequence…it has extra cheesiness than the films, however with out the redeeming attraction and coronary heart.)
Gate A/Front of Line Pass
“Gate A” is Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Front of Line” cross, which is like FastPass at Disneyland, besides that Gate A prices cash. In some circumstances, a lot of cash. Prices for Gate A begin at +$100 the price of single day tickets and enhance in value relying upon the season (the busier it’s, the extra you pay).
We usually are not proponents of buying Gate A except you’re going through the peak of vacationer season (suppose summer time, spring break, or any nationwide holidays), and even then, we might advocate making the most of Universal Studios Hollywood’s many Single Rider strains or arriving at park opening and using an environment friendly park touring technique just like the one above.
If you observe our plan above, the Front of Line/Gate A cross is simply not needed the overwhelming majority of the time. Maybe it could be on like the ten busiest days of the 12 months, however we now have by no means had a difficulty doing every little thing in USH throughout a single day with out Gate A.
Where to Stay
There are a lot of variables that play into this. First, are you visiting Universal Studios Hollywood as a day-trip from Disneyland? Is the go to a part of a Southern California trip? A California highway journey? Let’s tackle every of those…
Disneyland Day Trip – Stick to your resort in Anaheim and simply drive there and again. Traffic apart, that is fairly easy. Universal doesn’t open on the first light, so that you’ll have an affordable quantity of transit time whereas nonetheless with the ability to make park opening.
Southern California Vacation – If you’re doing this and don’t thoughts altering motels as soon as–which is what we advocate–we’d counsel doing (a minimum of) a break up keep, having a resort in Orange County/Anaheim for the Disneyland, seaside, and no matter else within the O.C. portion of your journey, after which a separate resort in Los Angeles or close to Universal Studios Hollywood.
California Road Trip – If you’re doing a highway journey down/up the state (let’s say flying into San Diego and flying out of San Francisco with a one-way automotive rental), we might advocate Universal Studios Hollywood being what you do in your final day within the Los Angeles space earlier than heading north.
The night time earlier than, keep in L.A., however the night time after, drive as much as Santa Barbara. It’s a bit over an hour drive, however getting again to your (a lot nearer, distance-wise) resort in L.A. might take simply as lengthy that night time. Staying in Santa Barbara will get you away from the town and ready to get pleasure from dawn over the ocean the following morning with out having to struggle site visitors to go north.
When it involves particular motels close to USH, we just like the Garland and Sheraton Universal Hotel. Both are actually near the park, with the Sheraton being a brief stroll and the Garland being a brief (free!) shuttle journey. You’ll additionally discover the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City “on-site” at Universal Studios Hollywood.
There’s additionally a Metro Red Line station at Universal Studios Hollywood, making something alongside the Red Line tremendous handy to the park, together with choices in Downtown LA. Rather than going for a bland chain, you would possibly contemplate one thing eclectic or with old-Hollywood attraction, just like the Safari Inn.
When reserving in Los Angeles, be conscious of neighborhoods, parking expenses, and resort charges. If you discover a “too good to be true” worth, it in all probability is. If you’re selecting a resort particularly for USH, we advocate wanting north of downtown Los Angeles. Burbank and Glendale could be higher choices than Hollywood/Los Angeles. Neighborhoods like North Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, and Los Feliz are additionally good picks.
To get monetary savings, take a look at the Universal Studios Hollywood resort + ticket packages supplied by way of Get Away Today. They have a number of motels from which to decide on, however our high decide is certainly the Garland. It’s a terrific resort-style property with a ton of persona, nice rooms, and posh facilities. The Sheraton can also be stylish and good, however it’s the type of resort you would discover wherever.
Transportation
There are not any two methods about this: driving in Los Angeles sucks. And, when you’re visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll drive via L.A. to get there. However, that doesn’t should be the case!
As famous above, there’s a Metro Red Line station situated at Universal City, which is a brief stroll from each the park itself and CityStroll. The Metro Red Line is a subway working between Downtown Los Angeles and North Hollywood, with stops in or close to the Civic Center, Financial District, Wilshire Boulevard, Hollywood & Sunset Boulevards, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley.
Even when you’re staying in Orange County close to Disneyland, you will get to Universal Studios Hollywood with out driving. Simply take the Pacific Surfliner from Anaheim to Union Station in Los Angeles, the place you’ll be able to then catch the Metro. We solely advocate this for essentially the most traffic-averse, as it’s a little bit of a trouble.
Most folks will wish to drive themselves from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood. There aren’t any good shuttles, Uber is just too dear, and public transit could be convoluted and inefficient. Unfortunately, site visitors could be unhealthy too, and shouldn’t be underestimated. Plan on a minimum of an hour, and probably nearer to 2 relying upon site visitors.
For essentially the most half, when you’re visiting California and plan to go wherever off Disneyland property, you’ll wish to hire a automotive. Traffic could be intimidating, however when you drive between the hours of 10 am and three pm or 9 pm and seven am, you’ll be completely nice. We’ve finished a whole lot of one-day leases from rental automotive businesses inside strolling distance of Disneyland, after which have simply finished after-hours drop-offs.
As for airfare, rental automobiles, and different fundamentals, right here’s my customary information: for locating low-cost airfare, we advocate ITA Software by Google. It’s essentially the most strong airfare search engine on the market, though you’ll be able to’t e book via it. It affords latitude in selecting a number of airports, versatile journey dates, and extra.
Dining
Once you journey the films proper into the present store and purchase the films along with your American Express–official bank card of the Entertainment Capital of L.A.–it’s time to dine (at?) the films.
If you’re nice with counter service eating, Universal Studios Hollywood has a number of stable choices contained in the park. As a complete, I don’t suppose the culinary expertise is on par with Disneyland’s, however the highlights are greater than serviceable. The finest choices, in my thoughts, are the counter service eating places within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Three Broomsticks) and the Simpsons eating places in Springfield.
The meals at Three Broomsticks is expensive, however it’s near-table service high quality. The Simpsons meals is generally responsible pleasure stuff, however the burgers and waffle rooster sandwich are wonderful. Don’t knock them till you’ve tried ’em!
Then there are the snacks. Universal Hollywood’s snack sport is sturdy. Holy cow. Obviously, you’re going to wish to attempt Butterbeer–maybe all three varieties.
At Three Broomsticks, snacks deserving of your consideration are the potted cream and sticky toffee cake. Both are extremely scrumptious, and though you must share them, you in all probability gained’t wish to.
Then there are the donuts the dimensions of your head in Springfield, deserving of one other holy cow. There are some attention-grabbing varieties, however these ought to be break up. After consuming the maple bacon one just about on my own, my enamel damage.
One factor you would possibly wish to contemplate is buying a refillable Coke Freestyle mug. Depends upon whether or not you need a whole lot of Coke or the memento mug. Coke Freestyle machines situated all through the park’s eating places, and regular drink purchases in eating places usually are not entitled to refills. Unlike in Florida, there isn’t a Universal Dining Plan at USH.
Seasonal Events
Universal Studios Hollywood doesn’t do a lot in the best way of seasonal occasions. The one exception to that is Halloween Horror Nights, which you would possibly make an effort to see or to keep away from, relying upon your perspective. This is a tough ticket occasion during which you step onto the set of a few of your favourite horror motion pictures, and strolling via these units as actors try to scare you. This occasion is just not for kids below the age of 13, and is certainly grownup in tone.
Halloween Horror Nights are an enormous draw for Universal and so they positively appeal to an grownup crowd. If you haven’t any younger children and like horror motion pictures or exhibits like ‘The Walking Dead,’ you’ll in all probability get pleasure from this occasion and discover it value the price of the ticket. If you’ve gotten a youthful household, you’ll wish to keep away from it. If you’re touring through the months of September and October, be conscious of the Halloween Horror Nights schedule.
Christmas is widely known with decorations and Grinchmas leisure, however there’s nothing that requires advance-planning or round which you must schedule.
I feel that is in all probability covers nearly every little thing most individuals might want to know when planning a go to to Universal Studios Hollywood as an add-on to your Disneyland or Southern California trip. If you want to see a few of these matters coated in better depth, please let me know within the feedback.
If you’re visiting Universal Studios Hollywood along with your Disneyland journey, take a look at our different planning posts, together with how to save cash on Disneyland tickets, our Disney packing ideas, ideas for reserving a resort (off-site or on-site), the place to dine, and a lot of different issues, take a look at our complete Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts
Are you contemplating visiting Universal Studios Hollywood? If you’re a USH veteran, are you able to fill in any of the ‘gaps’ right here or add ideas of your personal? If you’re a first-timer, is there anything you’d prefer to know? Chances are you probably have questions nonetheless, so does another person! Please share your ideas within the feedback beneath.