What I love about Universal Studios Hollywood: Living on the west coast makes this an easy theme park to get to for us and it’s possible to do almost everything in one day with some planning and ride prioritization (an Express Pass also comes in handy). We prefer two days so we can go at a relaxed pace and ride our favorites more than once. However, once we were in the Los Angeles area and added a day on to our trip to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and we had a fantastic time with just one day at the park.

Universal Studios Hollywood General Tips & Considerations

  • Planning:  In my experience, this is the easiest park to plan for as there’s only one theme park. We tend to visit during the busiest times of year (over a long weekend or when schools are on break) so we always purchase the Express Pass and stay at a nearby hotel.
  • Ticket Selection: The ticket options are different than those offered at the Orlando Resort. There are one day, two day, Universal Express (which includes park admission), as well as an early access ticket for Super Nintendo World. You can review the ticket options here https://store.universalstudioshollywood.com/PurchaseTickets
  • Age: There seems to be more options for younger children at this theme park (for example the addition of Secret Life of Pets, Super Silly Fun Land, and Kung Fu Panda) versus the rides at the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks. It’s probably still a good idea to check the height requirements for the rides which you can do here https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/search-results/filtered?attraction_experience=rides-attractions&attraction_location=all_K2ALLAttractionLocationLocationFilter,lower-lot,upper-lot,allparks,citywalk,on-site-entertainment&attraction_interest=
  • Download the Universal Studios Hollywood App: (There is a different app for Universal Orlando Resort.). Like the Universal Orland Resort app, I don’t end up using this app as much as I do at Disneyland or Disney World as Universal doesn’t have a ride reservation system like Genie +. I primarily use the app to view ride wait times, get a virtual line return time, and for mobile ordering food. You can read more about the app here https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/the-universal-studios-hollywood-mobile-app
  • Things Change: It’s a good idea to keep current by reviewing other online tips. One of my favorite resources is https://www.undercovertourist.com/  
  • Go Early: As with the other theme parks, the best time to beat the crowds is in the morning and then late in the evening.
  • Burbank Airport (BUR): The Burbank airport is smaller and less crowded than LAX and is about 5.5 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood Transportation: Some nearby hotels (like the Sheraton and Hilton) offer shuttles. Since we are traveling from out of state and don’t want the hassle of renting or parking a car, we stay close by so we can walk or take the shuttle.

Dining

  • Our favorite restaurant in the park is the Three Broomsticks which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Other than that, breakfast at the park can be tricky (not that many options early in the day though there’s a Starbucks in both the upper and lower lots). Therefore, eating breakfast at your hotel before heading into the park is another good option.
  • There are many quick serve dining options for lunch and dinner in the park, but there aren’t any restaurants that take reservations within the park itself.
  • We usually make reservations to eat dinner at one of the restaurants in City Walk. During our last visit we ate dinner at Dongpo Kitchen. The reviews for the restaurant are mixed, but we enjoyed it and found it to be kid friendly as well.
  • You can check out dining options in Universal Studios Hollywood and City Walk here https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/search-results/filtered?attraction_experience=dining&attraction_location=all_K2ALLAttractionLocationLocationFilter,lower-lot,upper-lot,allparks,citywalk,on-site-entertainment&attraction_interest=
  • You can also use the app for mobile ordering food (including selecting the pick up time) in the park as well as for some places in City Walk (like Voodoo Doughnut).
  • If you fancy an adult beverage, I recommend you try one of the tiki inspired drinks at Isla NuBar.

Where to Stay

  • If you are traveling to Los Angeles from out of town, I recommend staying at a nearby hotel. Universal Studios Hollywood has quite a few partner hotels to choose from which can be viewed here https://vacations.universalstudioshollywood.com/hotels
  • You can also book vacation packages and some packages include early entry (30 minutes) into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the park opens. You can view vacation packages here https://vacations.universalstudioshollywood.com/vacation-packages
  • During our last trip we stayed at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. It is very close to the park so we could walk or take the free shuttle. The shuttle turned out to be a huge benefit as our last visit was during a heat wave. We would walk in the morning and then take the shuttle from City Walk back to our hotel in the afternoon to cool off and then head back to the park in the evening when it was cooler. We enjoyed staying at the Sheraton Universal and would recommend staying there with one caveat. One side of the hotel is less updated and closer to the freeway (and hence noisier). We prefer staying in the tower side which is more updated and quieter.

Maximizing Your Time

  • Take advantage of early entry if it’s part of your package.
  • If you don’t have early entry, still try and arrive about 30 minutes before the park opens to the public (because they will often let people in a few minutes early) and make sure you have already purchased your tickets to avoid having to wait at a ticket booth/ guest services.
  • Especially during busy times, consider purchasing the Universal Express Pass which includes all- day admission to the Park and one-time express access to each ride and attraction.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood has an Upper Lot and a Lower Lot so you’ll want to plan rides accordingly. Check the wait times via the app, but you may want to do the Harry Potter rides in the upper lot first thing in the morning and then head to the Lower Lot since there is a tendency for most people to do the Upper Lot first.
  • Some rides have single rider lines (like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey). Single rider lines are usually shorter and can be a good option if you don’t mind riding without your group.

When to Visit

  • If you are visiting any time during a school break or near a long, holiday weekend it’s going to be busy (but don’t let that deter you, it can still be fun especially with a little planning!).
  • If you have flexibility in scheduling, review the crowd calendar (like the one linked below) for dates when crowds are lower https://www.undercovertourist.com/los-angeles/crowd-calendar/
  • If you are visiting during a busy time, beware that the Wizarding World can reach maximum capacity and they will restrict access to the area. We usually try to go first thing in the morning to ride the rides, then back in the evening to check out the stores, practice magic (with an interactive wand), and watch the light show on Hogwarts Castle.

Other

  • Lockers: Some rides )for example, Forbidden Journey and the Mummy) at Universal Studios Hollywood require you to store your things in a locker (including small purses). Don’t worry! They have this system down and it doesn’t take long to put your things in a locker and then proceed to the line for the ride. The only consideration is that you may want to think about what size bag you are bringing in and wait until the end of the day to buy souvenirs so you aren’t having to stuff too much into the locker.
  • Don’t miss the Studio Tour! It is very cool (as well as a good break from walking) and not available at the Universal Orlando Resort. Make sure to check the schedule as the last tours occur before park closing.
  • Also, don’t miss WaterWorld! This stunt show is incredible and also not available at the Universal Orlando Resort.
  • Accessibility information can be viewed here https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/accessibility-information